Friday, June 20, 2014

lately

L A T E L Y

This last month has been CRAZY to say the least. But, it also has been one of the best months of my life... and here is why.


1. I graduated nursing school.

Nursing school was by far the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, up to this point.  It pushed me further than I ever thought I could go, and opened my eyes in so many ways. I am so proud to say I graduated from the University of Utah's nursing program, which just got ranked to be #2 in the nation. Go Utes! I already miss these people, but I sure am not missing the homework...barf.







2. I turned 24

...and I'm still trying to figure out where my 23rd year went. Bry got me enough flowers for every room of the house, and spoiled me silly. I thank my lucky stars for that boy.








3. We celebrated our two year anniversary in Deer Valley. 

Sorry for the sap, but I can't even stand how in love I am with my blue-eyed boy. These last two years have been the best of my life, and I look forward to many more.  Let me just tell you something I love so much about him right now... Every time I get home from work, I open the door, and Bry is standing there with his arms outstretched to pick me up and give me a big hug and kiss. Every single time.  He is the only person in the world who can give me butterflies at any given moment. I just love him.
(video of our year coming soon)



4. I quit my job at Make-A-Wish Foundation

This was one of the hardest goodbyes I've had to do. It was my dream job. The kids that would walk through those doors were experiencing something unimaginable... full of pain, anxiety, uncertainty, love, hope, and courage. I had this incredible opportunity to step into their life for just a small moment, and create something full of magic, hope, strength, and joy. As I met with these kids, most dealing with a type of life-threatening cancer, I realized how intricate and fragile life really is.  Sometimes I left that building almost breathless, witnessing the amount of courage those families had to give every day, and realizing just how simple and "safe" my life really is.  I learned how faith always triumphs over fear, and how unconditional love makes hardships seem utterly small. Every week as I had the chance to listen to these children make their wishes, I had time to reflect on what it would be that I would wish for. I can honestly say that I am living out my wish and dream- I have the chance to be a nurse and to watch over and care for other human lives... lives that are precious beyond measure. I hope to bring to the children at Primary Children's Hospital the same light and hope those wish kids brought to me.  My life was changed in a marvelous way, thanks to Make-A-Wish. 

I can't wait to start granting wishes with my husband as a volunteer!




already miss these peeps ^

5. I studied my heart out for the NCLEX

The NCLEX, or state boards for nurses, is probably the worst thing to ever make an appearance on planet Earth. That test gave me anxiety like nothing else... I would literally wake up some nights with panic attacks. Basically, I locked myself in my house, studied 6-8 hours a day for a month straight, and would wake up with nausea every morning knowing the test was one day closer. It was AWFUL. During this time, however, so many people stepped up to the plate. I felt people's prayers, a random neighbor (or should I say "angel") brought me a huge bag of food one day just because, Bry would come home from work with pina colada and banana slurpees for me, he'd go on walks with me and quiz me on things I needed to know, plan fun date nights for me like s'mores and dinner up the canyon to take my mind off studying, and I had some other distractions to give me well-needed breaks.  Just know that if you're in the hospital, you can bet that the nurse taking care of you went through a whole heck of a lot to wear that uniform. 





^^i answered the door, and i was handed a huge bag full of food with some of my favorite things: a fresh salad, casserole, three tubs of ice cream, popsicles....
seriously who does that? my angel neighbor.

^this was the Sunday before my test. I was so nauseous, we left halfway through church just to go on a walk so I could calm down. 

6. I got to do a photoshoot for my brother and sister-in law's family

...and it was easy as pie since they are all so photogenic. sheesh. here are some goodies.










^good thing I have the best sidekick who always helps me with my photoshoots, 
makes the kids laugh, and who also loves to take pictures.


7. I passed that dang NCLEX

Here's the story in a nutshell.
I hiked to the top of Grandeur Peak.
I was planning on opening my results after the hike... nope.
I was about to DIE on the way up. SO nauseous and sick to my stomach.
I decided to just find out at the top because I couldn't take it any longer.
My hands were shaking.
I logged into my account.
All I saw were two words: "GRADE: PASS."
I screamed and hopped around for a good ten minutes.
HOLY CRAP I'M A NURSE!!!





^love this girl and glad I could share that memory with her.

Best feeling ever.


8. I did a century ride... and loved all 100 miles of it.

For those of you who have wanted to do a bike race, Little Red is your race. It's an all women's race, and just a party the entire time. You can choose different distances from 36 miles up to 100 miles. You stop for lunch halfway through your race, there are plenty of stops along the way, and it's mostly flat.  I hope to do it again and again.  I got in a bike wreck around mile 20 and feel lucky to have come out of it with no broken bones/broken bike. I was so glad I could finish the race, and do it with some of the girls I love most. Plus, I now have some sweet battle wounds, (and maybe scars) to show. :)




^^the 50-miler babes!  








9. world cup/REAL SL fever

So...we basically just watch soccer in all our spare time, and I'm not mad about it. GO USA! But we also got to cheer on our REAL SL team last week, and thanks to my brother in-law, had some fun seats. 




10. Started work as a nurse at Primary Children's. 
I don't have a picture of this one, but a hashtag will do...

#somebodypinchme

I am  L O V I N G  it.


11. Spent flag-day weekend at one of my favorite cabins
Some much needed family time.






^and this is what I lounged in all weekend. flannel, sweats, moccasins... my fav.


^ love these peeps. and how cute is my sister in-law who is due on August 6th!? can't wait to add another member to the fam.




^one of my favorite things about this cabin... the original wood burning stove. bry is obsessed.




Wow, life is good. Here's to more crazy months ahead!


xo
M E G



Monday, April 21, 2014

easter week

E  A  S  T  E  R

after this whole nursing school and NCLEX business is over with, 
i will be a little more devoted to this blog. that's a promise. 
But here's to an amazing easter week! 

And #becauseofhim it had more meaning and was filled with more love.

But here are some other reasons why it was a week to remember...

1. My brother Spencer got his mission call to SALVADOR, BRAZIL!! I am so proud of him for choosing to go and serve those people and bring them them happiest message. 



^handsome men!


2. I was able to share my commencement speech at a luncheon once again! Even though I wasn't picked as the official speaker that night as I had hoped, being runner-up takes away the chances of wobbly legs and a nervous stomach for that big day... and that's a plus! I am sooooo excited for graduation in 10 DAYS.


3. I finished sewing together my graduation dress... and just in time to wear it for easter. :)



^^I'll have a DIY on this pretty thing soon. :)

4. biking and trail running up bell's canyon with this stud.



 ^^ i mean, really!? utah, i'm yours.

 ^worth the climb!

5. Last but not least, Easter day... involving painting/dyeing eggs, a yummy sunday dinner, the annual "egg roll" in which Grandpa Emerson won, and spending time with some of the people I love most. Bry surprised me with his hidden egg-painting talent... I mean, Mario and Luigi!? GENIUS. We took those two eggs on the photoshoot they deserved.


 ^^the master at work.




^^ i died. too funny.



h a p p y   e a s t e r   e v e r y o n e !

x o

...the saddest part now, is having to take down the easter decorations. :( until next year!





xo
meg

Thursday, January 30, 2014

love day

fifteen days until love day
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo


i think this day should be more about loving than gift-giving... but sometimes a little surprise is fun too.

this post is to help all those boys men find something special for their sweetheart that doesn't rob their wallet.  girls can seem hard to shop for, i'm sure... but the reality is that we aren't too complicated when it comes to gifts. when a gift comes from someone we love who has given it some thought- we're easy to please. 

easy, right!?

these are things bry has given me in the past, and a few new ideas too. enjoy. xo


1. flowers  
flowers are a must. if you're looking for inexpensive, but pretty flowers, go to Trader Joe's.

 and boys... you never can go wrong with pink roses or peonies. just fyi.

2. a special box for the wedding ring  
isn't this perfect? i love the way it reflects light everywhere and makes my ring sparkle. find one here

 

3. pink lipstick
i love the maybelline vivid colors right now.
can't go wrong with "pink pop." and only $6 at target!


4. a love note 
these are the things i treasure most from bry. leave it on the pillow, hide it in her purse, put it in his pocket... make it an unexpected surprise.

for all you girls sending love notes, don't forget to seal the letter with a kiss. :)  



5. a love notes book 
this is something i did for bry last year. i made him a "love notes book" where he can keep all of our notes to each other. it's so fun to pull out and read every once in a while. also, super easy and inexpensive!


6. a pink necklace 
okay, what girl doesn't drool over jcrew jewelry? but who has $150 of extra money laying around? 
not most people... so find similar necklaces at one of my favorite boutiques: francescas


7. homemade valentines dinner 
bry and i love making our heart-belgian-waffles, and it ends up being more fun than eating out. this year, bry told me he wants to make me valentines dinner instead of going out- andddd my heart melted. i love him.


8. pink work-out clothes
if your sweetheart is anything like me, i can't have too many work-out clothes. if you're looking to spend a little more, anything from lululemon is always a winner. these are some work-out clothes i love and others i've had my eye on. 

 some of my favorite pink work-out clothes. ^




9. something for the kitchen
i've had my eye on these bowls for a year now, and i think i'm just gonna have to buy them soon. 
my husband doesn't always understand the need to have different dinnerware for special occasions... but all you girls understand, right? ;) i could never have enough. find these pretty things here


10. a pink fragrance
these four lovelies are some of my favorites.

the lotion: Victoria Secret's "warm and cozy" body lotion... amazing. find here 
the perfume: Aquolina "Pink Sugar..." your sweetheart will love. find here
the body spray: Victoria Secret's "Gorgeous." And it smells as good as it's name. 
the small perfume: Vera Wang's "Princess" perfume: one of my all-time favorites. find here


hope you got some good ideas! happy planning!

xo

m