This Is How We Do...our Monday night

 

 

 

Reasons we all need to be a little more like Katy Perry:

 

1. Last night she said her goal in life is to make people smile. That should be our life goal too. 

(She also said she hopes her songs make bad days a little better. But if I were to sing for my friends I think I'd make their bad day worse...)

 

2. She doesn't take herself too seriously.

Example #1: During part of the concert, she wore a cat costume.

Example #2: She has green hair under all those crazy wigs.

 

3. She isn't perfect, but she is CONFIDENT. She owns whatever she is doing and doesn't need your validation or care one bit what you think.

 

4. She works HARD- performing 129 shows all over THE WORLD! 22 songs A NIGHT! She started in May and will end in March of 2015. Most shows are back to back or have only one rest day in between. I don't know how her voice handles it.

 

WWKPD- What would Katy Perry do? 

 

To many more albums and concerts (you told us last night you want to do this for the rest of your life, and I'm holding you to it!)- thank you for the party last night Katy!

 

Now excuse me while I replay this entire concert in my head for the next 6 months.

 

xoxo

 

P.S. I am beyond flattered that people are asking that I share outfit details in my posts! I've hesitated to do this for a while but it's about time I try it out. I LOVE coming across a good find for a good deal, and really don't think fashion should cost an arm and a leg. I'm not doing this to try to tell everyone that I think I have a great outfit on, because I don't think that. I'm doing it so you can find good deals too! Nothing makes me more giddy than when I find a good deal from a friend or affordable fashion blog, and copying is the biggest form of flattery, right?

 

Black & White Houndstooth Pants: Old Navy ( I love the blue and black ones too!)

Graphic Tee: Old Navy (Who says only J. Crew can make a good graphic tee?)

Gold chain necklace: Nordstrom- I can't find it anywhere online but this is similar (My sister calls me 2 Chainz everytime she sees me wearing mine and I laugh every time)

Black  & Colbalt Blue Heels: Target

Leather Jacket (faux of course, I'm a poor newlywed): G by Giuliana Rancic - I know, SO random, but I have always loved her and saw her wearing it in her instagram and had to have it! Great quality, and I love the quilted leather detail.

Watch: Michael Kors

Bracelets: Alex and Ani

 

 

 

 

Celebrating Year 1

Our 1st Anniversary weekend may have been even better than our honeymoon. Brennan and I kept saying that the whole time! Something about just knowing eachother even better, loving each other 365 times more than the day you got married, and being able to look back on so many married memories made it so fun.

The day of our anniversary, Bren said, "I think I love you more now than I did on our honeymoon!" like he was surprised or something, and I said, "Well let's hope so!" I LOVE THAT BOY.

On Friday we both worked because we wanted to take Monday off and stay longer in Park City. We planned on going to the temple to do sealings after work but it took longer to pack than we thought, so we just went and walked around the temple grounds. It is BREATHTAKING right now! Almost as much magic in the air as there was a year ago that day.

(Side note- I have been getting a lot of emails about this jumpsuit, which make me so flattered! I saw it on J. Crew's site over the summer for waaaay too much money- but I admired it, and LOVED that it had sleeves! It's hard to find those. Well I kept checking back, and they knocked it down half price, but still too expensive. Then one day they were having an extra 40% percent off sale, and it was totally affordable! I even went to the store to order it so I could get an extra 15% off with my student discount. But small warning: when it came, the legs weren't as skinny as they looked on the model, so I got it altered for just $14. It is still on their site but for a lot more then the $80 I paid for it...but if you love it, keep watching it, it will go down! Also, order a size down, I thought it ran a little big. QUITE THE STORY, I'm done now haha.)

We then headed over to The Copper Onion just in time for our reservation. We've been wanting to try it for a while but had been saving it for a special occasion! I took one bite of their beef stroganoff and my life was changed forever.

And then it was up to Park City! We checked into our room and dived into our cake.

I have to give a quick shout out to my cake lady. On our wedding day, the cake went so fast that I just said to go ahead and serve it all. But as our anniversary was coming up, I was kind of bummed that we didn't have any saved in the freezer! So I sent her an email asking how much a small cake would be for our one year and this was her reply:

"Hi Ashley!

So nice to hear from you! We would be happy to make an anniversary cake for you! Just let me know what flavor you would like and we’ll have it ready for you on the 9/19. A 6” round cake is complimentary… Just let me know what you’d like.

Congratulations on your anniversary!"

---

Is there any sweeter sound than the word "complimentary"? Especially to poor newlyweds! Let me tell you something- Julie from Layers Cakes is the best cake lady in town, and I will tell everyone to use her for the rest of my life.

Pumpkin chocolate chip with salted carmel frosting anyone? We ate it for breakfast the next morning too.

We then gifted eachother with scheduled golf tee times and gift cards and money for SHOPPING, my second love in life.

The rest of the weekend, we partied hard

...with NyQuil.

Yep, we both woke up with colds. Bummer, but not really. Because there's something about a hotel bed and a TV right in front of your face with nowhere to be that says: "Let's watch football and movies for hours on end." We loved relaxing and not feeling guilty about it!

My sweet husband who ran to the store and got me all this goodness.

But we still made time to eat at some great restaurants- Davanza's, Sammy's Bistro, Windy Ridge Cafe, and Java Cow, shopping at the outlets, hot tubbing, and some BE-A-UTIFUL scenic drives.

I won't lie, it's kind of nice when your husband gets a nice camera and uses you as his practice-object! (Except for when I get attacked by mosquitos.) Now if only I had the patience to learn how to use it...

Best weekend, best husband.

But maybe that's because it doesn't matter what you're doing but who you're doing it with.

xoxo

Late Night Thoughts

1. What's worse- lying and telling people I now wear prescription glasses, or the fact that I just want to wear fake glasses sometimes? (My thoughts from the Madewell dressing room.)

2. Has anyone ever thought that maybe babies sometimes cry because they have an itch they can't itch or do I have something groundbreaking here?

3. There is something about blind copying someone on an email that just doesn't sit well with me. If they can't know it's going to someone else too should you be sending it? Seems sneaky.

4. Tonight at Chipotle Bren said, "White rice is healthier than brown rice right?" Palm to forehead- I have failed as a wife. And then the cherry-on-top comment after we ate: "Chipotle always gives me a stomach ache. I think it's just too organic for me." ................No words.

5. How do I even sleep at night knowing we are surprising Greta and taking her to the Katy Perry (or as she calls her- Kerry Perry) concert Monday!?

xoxo

A Letter to Our Future Children

To my little ones,

Even though you are not here with us yet, we really can't wait for you to be. But we have to wait a little while, because you're kind of expensive (worldly stuff, you'll hear all about it down here)-so we're saving, and I need some time alone with your dad- I know, selfish- but you'll understand why once you meet him. You see, we've been married for one whole year now, and it's been the best year of my life. We've learned so much about each other. I hope we're living up to your hopes and dreams of who you want as parents someday. We are far from perfect, but we are one thing-madly in love. Your dad loves me so so so much, I know it and can feel it everyday. But my love for your dad...there are no words for it, and since I can never find words good enough, I tell him every single day that he is my little miracle. More like my huge, gigantic miracle, but I don't want to come on too strong, you know? Kidding, kidding. But I thought it was fitting to write you this letter on our one year mark because you are the primary reason I keep this blog, and I just wanted to tell you a little bit about your dad why he is a miracle in my life.

Your dad graduated from college a few months ago. It isn't easy, it takes years, and hours and hours of homework, but it is SO worth it. We will work so hard so you guys can go too! Even though he is done with school, he never stops learning. He is always reading self help books, insurance books, and his scriptures. He is an insurance agent now and is working his tail off for our family. Sometimes, well very rarely actually, he gets stressed because he wants to provide for you guys, but he always stays positive, and that is something I admire about him.

He makes me laugh every single day. He is the funniest person I know, and I know you will think so too. He sings me funny little songs every morning as he's getting ready for work. I need to record one sometime, but I'm always too busy laughing my head off. But I'm sure he'll sing little songs for you too. Your dad is loved by everyone. I've never heard anyone say a bad word about him. He plays on little sports teams with his friends since high school, and he always tells me how he can't wait to coach your teams. He says you can play any sport you want, except football because it's too injury-prone. But I promise you we will support you in whatever you want to do. We can't wait to be your number one fans.

I know how good of a dad he will be by the way he loves your cousins. The first thing he does when he sees them is picks them up and kisses them to death-so be prepared. But really, I have never seen anything more precious in my life. I can't even comprehend how much he will love you if he loves them that much. It actually makes me cry thinking of the love you guys will feel from him.

Your dad has a strong testimony of the gospel, and when he shares it, it makes him cry-and not just a few tears. This may embarrass you when you're teenagers, but I've always thought it was adorable. It's something I love most about your dad- that he has an emotional side. We belong to a church that allows our family to be sealed and live together forever, and because of that I am forever grateful.

I don't know much, but I know that I love your dad, and that I ALWAYS will. 

We love you so much already and can't wait to meet you one day.

-Your Future Mommy

1 Y E A R

 

How did I ever live life without him? Happy first year of marriage Brennan. I know I tell you everyday, but you really are my little miracle.

 

If our first year was this good, I can't wait to see what's in store for us.

 

I wish I could marry you all over again.

 

Now let's go watch our wedding video 10 times and eat some wedding cake!  

 

xoxo

 

P.S. My wedding pictures are now on here, under the "Our Wedding" tab. I wanted to keep them to myself for a while, but I think this is a good day to share them. :)

#brennanandbaby

I don't know why I even came along to babysit Miss Jayda.

 

But it was such a fun night,

 

from laughing at every darling thing she said (While drying her off after getting out of the bath: "Hurry, hurry! I want to look at myself in the mirror." Or eating her crackers: "These are sooooooo yummy."),

 

to her pulling over her chairs from her mini table so her and Bren could sit together,

 

she was the most well behaved little girl I have ever seen,

 

and we really, really miss her.

 

We've talked about her everyday since!

 

So please Jayda, tell your mom you want to play with Bren & Ash again.

 

Actually, tell her we'd like to adopt you.

 

It would make all our dreams come true.

 

 

Oh, and it's about time for this hashtag: #brennanandbaby

 

xoxo

 



Brennan the Businessman

 

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A CUTER BUSINESSMAN?!

I have been begging Bren to put this on his social media for weeks now, but he hasn't so I just went ahead and put it on mine...hehe.

We designed this little postcard all by ourselves, just to let friends and family know that he is now graduated and doing insurance full time! I took the picture (this was the only one of about 15 that wasn't blurry HAHA, sorry babe), Bren designed the layout, and with a little help from a friend at work who has Photoshop and Illustrator, a postcard was born! It takes a lot more work than you think guys.

Funny story- As I was working on this at my desk one day, some guys I work with came in and said, "I wouldn't even read the postcard, I'd just call him because he's so dang good looking." TRUTH!

I am just so proud of Bren. His job is not a walk in the park. It's not one of those jobs where you can just sit at your desk and do nothing all day and still get paid, so we get super excited about every single sale, and he gets even more excited when he saves people lots of money! If you are ever looking for a change with your insurance, give him a call, he'll take great care of you!

Baby York

Yesterday I finally felt good enough to go see my brand new nephew!

YORK MICHAEL GREGORY.

Even if he wasn't my nephew, I'd tell you that he is probably the most perfect baby I have EVER seen. You know how most babies look a little mangled their first few days on earth? Nope, not York.

I was especially excited to meet this little guy because Kennan went to get an ultrasound a few weeks ago and told me he looked EXACTLY like Ezra. I can't believe they can tell these things in ultrasounds these days, by the way.

I have a special place in my heart for Ez, probably because he used to cuddle with me and told me on my wedding day I looked "booful."

And sure enough, they are twins! I am so excited to watch him grow up, and SIDE NOTE-

How good does Brennan look holding a baby?! I've never seen anything like it. How will my heart even handle it when it's our own baby?

Good thing I'll be in a hospital in case I pass out or something. Serious.

We love you so much York!

xoxo

I'm in pain

This has been my diet for the past 5 days (and most likely the next 15 days):

I got to learn the hard way
to stop brushing my teeth so hard (I'm a little OCD about it and I guess caused some damage?)
by getting an extremely painful surgery last week.
Text me if you want the gory details-
it will probably save you from having to have this same awful surgery.
And you know that song by Tim McGraw, "You find out who your friends are?"
100% relevant here.
Thank you to those who have visited, called, and texted me everyday to check up on me!
And especially to my angel mother, Nurse Angie,
and my poor husband who has had to deal with my grumpiness from being in so much pain.
He is a trooper.

The good news:
-I'm convinced that having a baby one day will be NOTHIN compared to this.
-Our sweet family friend did this $6,000 surgery FOR FREE! He is going straight to the celestial kingdom, and I am naming my children after him- Scott and Ferguson, but Fergie for short of course.
-I can still eat my favorite Cubby's mac & cheese -kind of.
- I am completely caught up on Bachelor in Paradise, the ultimate trash TV. (Finale party at my place tonight anyone? I can provide the applesauce.)
-I started Gone Girl and cannot WAIT for the movie!

So if you don't see any smiley pictures of me for the next little while,
it's because I physically can't. Waaaaaah.
But you better believe I'll be showing you my beautiful gums the second they're healed...HA!

xoxo

Goodbye Jeter

Sometimes I debate making this blog private
because I know I post about some things nooooooo one cares about.
Why would you care about a 15 year old red Jetta with 180,000 miles on it?
I don't blame you.
But this post is a must
since it will one day be printed in a book for our littles.
Because how many times have you heard your parents mention their first car they had together?

The car they met eachother in
The car they had deep talks in
The car they shared new music in
In fact- the car they first heard Taylor Swift's "Red" in.
The car that makes strange sounds if you go over 65 mph
The car that was taken on ZERO road trips together, because it's that unreliable.
The car they talked about marriage in
The car they had when they GOT married
The car that was in the shop while they were on their honeymoon, because it just needed a little break.
The car that had no car payment
The car that got him through college- and their first year of marriage.
The car that lasted as long as the human Jeter's baseball career- you guys are retiring together!

Thank you for the memories Jeter!
You were SO good to us.
Except for that one time
when we ran to Walmart after church to get milk
and you wouldn't start
and had to be towed away.
You knew we were breaking the Sabbath
and wanted to keep us in line.
Because that's just the kind of car you are
And we will never ever forget you.

The only dessert I ever make...

Our Labor Day weekend pretty much consisted of Bren buying a car and making peach pies. Since car shopping is one of the not-so-fun parts of life and no one wants to hear about that, here is a peach pie recipe for you:

 

 

 

PEACH PIE

(my grandma's recipe)

 

You will need:

2 cups boiling water

1 cup cold water

2 1/2 cups sugar

3/4 cup cornstarch

1/8 tsp. salt

1 3 0z. peach jello

1/4 cup lemon juice

10-12 large peaches, peeled and sliced

8 oz. cream cheese

3/4 cup powdered sugar

2 baked pie shells

whipped cream

 

 

Prepare 2 pie shells, set aside. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. In a separate bowl, make paste of 1 cup cold water, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Add to boiling water. Stir well, cooking over medium heat until thick (about 3 minutes). Add dry Jello. Stir and cook one minute. Remove from heat and add lemon juice.Chill in freezer, stirring frequently. Add sliced peaches to Jello mixture.

 

In a separate bowl, mix cream cheese and powdered sugar. Spread cream cheese mixture in bottom of 2 pie crusts. Pour Jello and peaches over cream cheese. Refrigerate until completely set. Serve with whipped cream.

 

 

Over the past 2 weeks, I have made NINE of these pies. Don't worry, not all for me. For family, friends, and neighbors, because I have to share my all time favorite dessert with everyone!

 

So if you want a peach pie, let me know. I'm looking for any excuse to make them.

 

xoxo

 

Oh and P.S.

 

...

 

Let's give it up for SEPTEMBER. Peach season, fashion week, beginning of fall, and my wedding anniversary! (I'm even working on finally putting my wedding pictures on here...only took me a year!) We all know the months that end in 'b-e-r' are the best months, and this is the start!

 

 

 



 





Downtown Date Night

We started our Labor Day weekend off by going to the last Twilight concert of the year. My friends' band, Westward the Tide was the opening band and I was so excited. This is huge for them!

 

We went with our good friends Sean & Tay, who happened to have VIP passes, which got us free drinks, food if we wanted, and these lovely blow-up couches- which I thought was kind of hilarious.

 

 

They. Were. GREAT. I love being a band groupie.

 

 

Bren awkwardly holding his VIP pass...

 

Then we headed over to Avenues Proper for some grub. It's right where you guessed it would be- tucked away in the Avenues. It was our first time going there and it did not disappoint!

 

Funny story- we were sitting waiting for our table and I turned to Bren and said, "Babe look how many pizza ovens they have!" ...Bren informed me those were for beer...

 

Bren ordered their burger and it was TO DIE FOR. I had at least 3 bites. And couldn't stop myself from eating those fries.

 

I got adventurous and ordered one of their most popular items- small plate version: CHICKEN & WAFFLES. It's hard to see, but under that egg is chicken sausage-sounds weird, tastes amazing. I would totally order it again.

 

After dinner we headed next door to Hatch Family Chocolates. I've heard so much about it and couldn't wait to try it!

 

We ended our downtown date with a frozen hot chocolate- HEAVEN. (Sorry about the bad iPhone pics, sometimes you just don't want to haul around a big camera, you know?)

 

xoxo