It's been a while

SO I haven't blogged in a while, and I just wrote an update on what we have been doing but somehow it got lost so now I am frustrated and will have to write a Readers Digest version of what I just wrote.

In July Chad and I both celebrated our birthdays, we went to Las Vegas for our birthdays and we also met up with my family in Huntington Beach to celebrate at BJs. We also had our 3-year Anniversery, I cant believe that we have been married for 3 years already. I don't even really remember what life was like not being married to Chad. He has been such a great support to me. Lately I have been really stressed out with working two jobs, and he is so good at listening to me and my complaints. I love this guy!

One of my best friends from High School is getting married and so we went to Palm Springs for a girls weekend. It was so much fun to spend the weekend with some of my best friends from high school. We decided this needs to be an annual occurrence.

My sisters have been home for the summer and I LOVE having them around. I cannot wait until they are done with school, and hopefully they will move back to California. I always tell them they have to marry someone from CA or someone that wants to live here otherwise I won't approve.

So that's a little bit of what we have been up to this summer. We have been back in California for a year now and love being here. I got a part time job at the beginning of the summer that is turning in to full time position in two weeks. I absolutely love this job, it is for a company called New Empire Entertainment, we provide insurance for the anything that deals with entertainment, like Movies, Recording Studios, Actors, the film equipment, etc. I have an amazing boss, I work right one the beach, I really couldn't ask for more. I am cutting down my hours at Cheesecake Factory which I am really excited about!

The house we are living in has sold and will be closing in the middle of September so we are moving out, but not far...next door! This works out great because we love the area we are in and it will be nice to stay in the same ward.

Our New Home!!

Well we finally did it, we got our own place to stay. After a year of moving frmo Utah we finally found a place to stay. Chad's parents made it hard to leave their home but we found a good place to rent and we both felt it was the right place to move into. Here are the details: Location-Redondo Beach, Sq. Ft: 1900, Year built: 1982, Bedrooms: 3, Bathrooms: 2 1/2, 2 car garage and small backyard. This home is for sale so we could be moving out soon but it is worth having a bigger place. I took some quick pics, we are still putting things together but this is what we have so far:

Living Room:

Kitchen:

Dining Room:

Stairs leading to the upstairs:
2nd Bathroom (the bathrooms are very dated)

My favorite room-The Master, I love having a king size bed, and I am obessesd with these pillows)

Master Bath

Cute little backyard.

July has been a very busy month so far. It was a lot of work getting moved in and we couldn't have done it w/o some members of our ward, Brent and Janice, and my mom! Thanks to all of you who helped.

I need to get caught up in blogging, and will do so once we get internet in our new place. For now I am still coming to Chads parents to use their internet!

Date Nights

We have to take our date nights midweek now since I never get the weekends off, but I am so glad that Chad still makes an effort to take me out, hes great! On Tuesday night we went out to watch the Laker game-Go Lakers! I am so happy they won, not only because I love the Lakers but because I had a SUPER happy hubby!

On Wednesday we went to the temple, unfortunately I couldn't find my recommend, so we ended up just walking outside and talking, enjoying the Spirit at temple. We both loved how peaceful it was, even though its in busy Santa Monica it felt as if we were away from the crazy-ness of the city.

-The End.

Yay for visitors!

Yesterday a few of my good friends from back home came up to Hermosa Beach and we spent the day playing volleyball, catching up, the boys were doing flips in the water, and watched the Laker game. It was so fun to have them come out and see where I live now. I had such a close group of friends in high school and I am so glad that we are still good friends!

Erica, Me, Cambria


David, Dale, and Nick

I had to throw this picture in, Chad brought me flowers the other day, I LOVE flowers! I have such a great husband!

Tournament Time

Last Saturday Chad played in a beach volleyball tournament with his friend and former roommate Jon. Jon and his wife Meggan and daughter Macy were in town from Colorado for Memorial Weekend so it worked out great that they could play together. It was a great day, the weather was perfect, we had our families there and some of Chads friends came down as well. I feel so lucky to finally be close to the beach after living out of California for so long, Chad and I both try and take advantage of it as much as possible. Here are some pictures of the day.

The Help

I just spent the last few days reading this book nonstop (I even missed part of the Laker game to finish the book). It is about three woman in the late 1950s or early 60s who live in Jackson Mississippi who work together to make a difference in racial issues. Two of the women are maids, who work for very little pay and are treated "seperate but equal" and the third woman is a white 23-yearl old whos desires are much different than the typical young southern woman; she desires to be a writer, instead of focusing on getting married. I loved the way Kathryn Stockett wrote this book and highly recommend it. I am now taking a break from reading for a few days before I start the Hunger Games!

Job Update

Here is where I work, the view doesn't get much better than this.

That is my first thought about my new job serving at Cheesecake Factory, is that I love the location, being right on the water is so nice!

10 things I have learned thus far:
1. Don't get stressed out
2. If that doesn't work don't let others see that stress is getting to you
3. I have become a GREAT multi-tasker
4. Treat everyone as though they are the most important people (hopefully it will be rewarded :) 5. Don't judge
6. Coming home with cash is awesome
7. Take responsibility for mistakes
8. Don't be sensitive, (develop TOUGH SKIN)
9. I miss my weekends spending time with my husband
10. Teamwork

I really like serving (minus the sidework ex. refilling all the salt and pepper shakers, sugar caddies, ketchups, restocking), it is such a fast paced environment and the time while I am there goes by SO fast. I enjoy being able to talk with so many different types of people, and hopefully make them happier than when they walked in the restaurant. I do however come home EXHAUSTED, and have nightmares that I forgot to ring something in right, or bring someone the wrong meal, weird I know. I am grateful though to be working. I know that it won't be forever, and am glad that I can help our little family progress.