Thankful

I'm thankful for a lot but mostly for my love.

Our Tiny Apartment-The Living Room

Working at an apartment complex for a year taught me a lot about how to look for apartments in a college town as well as what is good and bad about an apartment once you are lucky enough to find one. About 18 months ago Paul and I were over it. Our overpriced, 3rd floor, apartment, with screaming neighbors was just not our thang.

I was searching on Craigslist and suddenly found a crappy one bedroom, one bathroom ad and I knew I needed to see it. What made me HAVE to see this apartment, I'll never know. The pictures were awful and it looked like it was made in the 20s. But it had a yard, only shared one wall with a house, and was walking distance to the college. It literally had everything we wanted in a tiny apartment. (NO newlywed NEIGHBORS!!) So we wrote a check and it was ours.

Although it's tiny, it works perfectly for us. We've had to be a little creative and come up with ways to make our space work but it's been fun to have a minimalist style.

Almost every piece in the living room is either from IKEA or Target. Duh. :)

This tiny side table is probably my favorite thing we've bought specifically for our tiny apartment. We don't have room here for a kitchen table.. well I take that back. We probably do have room but it would literally take up half our living room. So we use this little guy when we need one. It usually sits over by our futon but get's moved to use for homework and eating dinner every day. Plus I think it's super cute.

We used to have a giant microfiber sectional that was suuuper comfy but, come on, it was totally not practical in our tiny apartment. We sold that sucker and bought this futon from Target. Since, our space has felt SO much more open and inviting.

This wall was completely blank a few weeks ago. Vinyl dots saved the day! Paul is still getting used to it. I think it's cute but he says "for a little girls room". haha. I don't know I can't really decide on them to be honest. For now they're staying though. 

We have tile throughout the apartment so we doubled up on our rugs in the living room. This just helps with keeping the place warm.

I LOVE this giant mirror we have. Definitely helps open the place up a little more. I also use it as my mirror when getting ready in the morning.

 And there we have it! Our tiny living room. I'm pretty proud of how it's turned out. Also check out that tiny christmas tree!! (insert heart eyes here)

Vinyl

When my sister and I started our vinyl business (hobby..activity..bonding time??) I didn't even know how to spell vinyl. I've practiced though and I no longer have to think about putting a y instead of an i before the l. So proud.

I'm so lucky to have an awesome sister who has awesome ideas and awesome machines. Her husband does window tint and has a giant plotter to cut his tint. So we thought, hey! We could probably use that when he's not looking and sell vinyl decals! So we made an fb, got some business cards and got to it. and I have to say, I'm surprised at how well we've been doing.

We did our first craft fair last Saturday and did AWESOME especially for our first show. We made about $500 and ate some Bambinos while doing it. It was a good day. I hate to admit, but I was extremely sore the day after. and like evvverywhere. I didn't know that being at a craft fair could make me feel like a ran a marathon.

I'm looking forward to getting my next work out in at the Hilcrest Craft Fair on Decemember 5th.

Obsessed

Yesterday marked three years since Paul asked me to be his forever. I can't believe how fast time flies by. Like one minute we're dating and kissing in potato fields and are completely dizzy with love and then next we're sleeping in the same bed (still dizzy with love) and what the heck? Where does the time go?

We were in Wal Mart the other day buying dish soap (or something random) and the cash register guy asks how long we've been married. He was completely surprised when I said it'll be three years in April. I love it when people think we're just barely barely married. That's just how it goes in Rexburg.

We go into the post office pretty frequently because of my Etsy shop and we ALWAYS go together. There's been maybe one or two times when I've had to go by myself or I've sent Paul alone. It's like a giant shock to the (amazing) workers there when we aren't together. "Where is your side kick?" They ask me. and I'm like, "Seriously.. I feel so out of place without him!". He is totally my side kick. We're best friends and we do pretty much everything together.

I get it. People think we're weird because we are seriously attached to the hip. I HATE leaving for class or him leaving for work because we're apart. Sometimes I call him while I'm on my way home to him.. just because I miss him.

We're obsessed with each other. and I love it.

A hopeful reading list

I'm studying to become an elementary teacher. I would feel incredibly guilty teaching children to read and love reading when I have put it on the back burner myself. I have a million excuses but the famous "I just don't have time" seems to pop up in my mind most often. I have this goal to read a whole list of Newbery Medal and Honor awarded books. I collect them (mostly from D.I.) and they are beautiful books. The feeling of buying a great find and adding it to my collection is something I always look forward to. I've read many of them but gosh those ones I haven't read have made me feel guilty.

Last semester I had a really great teacher who put the greatest emphasis on how important it is to read to children. We hear that all the time but it really stuck with me this time around. It's not just important for us to read to children but for us as adults to read and indulge in a creative and imaginative life other than our own. So. My goal for now until ever. I want to always have a book started and on my night stand. Currently The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle is open and waiting for me to finish the last chapter. 

 Currently reading and almost done!

One of my favorites! I love any book with talking animals.

Here is my list of books I'd love to read before graduation (in three semesters!! whhaa!).

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck

Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff 

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman 

The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane by Russell Freedman

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

It's Like This, Cat by Emily Neville

Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wojciechowska 

Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate  by Jacqueline Kelly

Tuesday Paul and I finally made it to Yellowstone. I've been having a hard week (maybe life) and Paul is the sweetest to try and make it better. We spent our entire day walking around, looking at the amazing scenery. It really is so beautiful there and I'm glad we live so close. He then took me to eat at a favorite pizza place in West Yellowstone and THEN the PlayMill! We saw Mary Poppins and it was so good. It was a really good day amongst some not so great ones. 

At the end of July Paul and I set off on our adventure to Arizona. I was fully expecting our car to break down or for some crazy utahard to rear end us but we were surprisingly lucky BLESSED to have nothing but safe travels. It was a looonngg drive let me tell you that. My bum has never been so sore. 

About half-ish way there we stopped near Page Arizona to see this magnificent sight. Horse Shoe Bend really is something everyone must see at least once in there life time. It's unreal! I did think I was going to pass out while hiking to and the heat!! (oh the heeaaat is ridiculous there) but we made it and it was so worth it. 

Oh, I'm so proud of the Grand Prix

 I blended right in with all the asian tourists there!