I hired Emily Henning, from Seaside Creative to make my vision come to life.  I love my new site!   Take a few minutes and look around.   First, you can see my branding pinterest board below.  

I loved taking the time to slow down the pace of life and have some time to meditate and enjoy the simplest gift of a sunrise/sunset.

WHAT.  THE.  CUSS?!

She later went on to say some other pretty brutal things.  I didn’t have a problem not letting her use my clothing toward her monthly sales goals when she wanted to ring up my purchase.  I told her nicely what she said wasn’t okay.  I went to the kinder associate to ring up my items.  Really, I’m really disappointed to say that I let this get under my skin.  Now I’m not posting my story and feelings to get pity or sympathy.  I’m posting this because I am certain that I am not the only person who struggles with feeling comfortable in their own skin.

Honestly,  this has been a lifelong struggle for me.

One blessing in my life has been my neighbor Tara.  Tara used to work at an eating disorder clinic.  We’ve had many talks about food, nutrition, perception of our bodies, how scales are evil and healthy living is key.  After my pant shopping experience I knew Tara would say the right things that I needed to hear.  Not because she was blowing sunshine my way but because she should really be an inspirational speaker for teaching people about self acceptance.

You want to know who I am?

I’m a person who doesn’t always have it together.  I’m retraining myself to have balance in my life after 7 months of having gallbladder problems deplete my emotional, physical and spiritual reserves.  I love to cook, eat and try new foods.  I’m trying learning to enjoy exercise.  I’m an awesome wife  ;-)   I’m a hard worker.  I try to be a great friend.  I’m a makeup addict.  In my favorite words from the book,  The Help, ‘I is kind.  I is smart.  I is important.’

I’m a pretty awesome person. Some days…I just forget.   My goal for you and for me, is to have more days that we remember our awesomeness!

Thanks Cindy for this photo of me cheesing it while doing jazz hands for the camera!

This fall we had family pictures taken by my great friend, Kristin.  I felt this was an appropriate time to share my favorites!

We love to laugh at our house.  That was actually one requirement in finding a husband.  I wanted to someone that could make me laugh every single day of my life.  I don’t remember what Craig said but it was funny and it was accompanied by a side of tickling.  I was laughing really hard.  Scrunch up your nose and close your eyes hard.  My FAVORITE!  I love the expression on Craig’s face.  I have a keeper.  I’m going to keep him forever….and then some!  Love you Babbage!

Fun Cheese Facts

• There are over 2,000 varieties of cheeses.
• Remains of cheese have been found in Egyptian tombs over 4,000 years old.
• In 1869, English Cheese makers Green’s of Glastonbury made and gave British Queen Victoria a wedding gift of a giant 1/2 ton Cheddar wheel.
• The terms “Big Wheel” and “Big Cheese” originally referred to those who were wealthy enough to purchase a whole wheel of cheese.
• The average American eats 32 lb / 14.5 kg per year of it.

Fun Cheese Game

• In car, when bored, each person in turn says the name of a cheese type, if can’t remember one then you are out, last person to name one wins!

Fun Cheese Joke

• What type of cheese is made backwards . . . . . . . . . . . . Edam!

Random cheese fact, game and joke found here.

• Craig GRADUATING from Utah State University with his degree in finance.  We celebrated by going out for a fancy dinner at Elements in Logan.  It was fun!  Since then Craig quit his job at Maceys and is working at Conservice as a billing manager.  It is a fun change.  I am really grateful that for the first time since we’ve been married we have the same schedule and actually get to see each other!
• Sending out Christmas cards.  Craig & I have been married for almost four years.  This year was the first time having our portraits taken since our wedding day and this is the first time we’ve sent out Christmas cards.  I loved our cards from Paper Coterie, a Utah based company.  The cute chevron card slid inside the red envelope with the cutout wording.  I liked how unique it was.

• Christmas Eve we spent with my family.  One thing we did was reenacting the Christmas nativity.  Craig was given the role of being one of the wise men.  The three wise men lovingly dubbed themselves as the three wise guy ninjas.  It was hilarious!  It was crazy fun to spend Christmas Eve with *ALL* of my siblings and their kids.  That’s the first time since my parents have been married (17 years)  that we’ve done that.  It was awesome!
• Christmas day was spent in Fillmore with Craig’s family and it was fun to see his siblings and Uncle’s family.  I took lots of pictures on our drive down and can’t wait to share them on my 101 in 1001 update.
  
• A few days after Christmas my little sister got married.  The crazy thing is that every now and then I still think of her as this little kid in middle school or just learning how to drive or taking her first semester of college…. let alone getting married.  I’m excited that Merril is a part of our family!
  
• I wanted to attend the wedding as a family member and encouraged my sister to hire another photographer for her wedding day.  I was excited that my sister followed my advice and hired my friend Kristin!  
• After the wedding we had big new year’s eve plans with our family in Salt Lake.  Instead we both got really, really sick.  Darn that flu.  We didn’t appreciate it at all.
• The next couple of weeks we have several exciting things up and coming.  My brother is getting married on Friday, we’re going to the Jazz v. New Jersey Nets game (Merry Christmas Craig) and then celebrating our 4 year anniversary!!!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year too!

Merry Christmas Burn Family!