Brothers

Alana-age 2 Andy- age 4 1/2 (love the fanny pack and outfit!!!)

Alana- age 8 Conner- age 5

For the first 8 1/2 years of my life I only had brothers. They would pick on me, fight with me, and laugh at me when I got a round brush stuck in my hair. Being the only girl wasn't always fun. All I wanted was a sister. I guess I had to deal with brothers for a while first.
I got sick of getting all the teachers that loved Andy and people expecting me to be just as smart or good at sports as he was. Luckily I was smart, just not as good at baseball and such. Over the years we had our difficult times, but during high school he became my best friend. I remember sitting by the stairs in front of his door with my younger siblings and crying when he left for college. I came to rely on him being there for me that I wasn't sure what I would do. Somehow I made it through high school okay.
Conner on the other hand was the funny one, that brother that loved telling jokes and making everyone laugh. He still does. I must admit, being older I could get annoyed with him easily, I was never the best at being patient. We had fun though. We both enjoyed art (he's 1000x better than I am, honestly, he's amazing), we both did pole vault (not because we were especially good, but because we had heart), and I enjoy laughing at/with him at most anything he does.
This past week was hard for me. Josh didn't have school because it was his spring break, but I had no such luck. I was stuck inside my building working and getting frustrated with the whole operation I was dealing with. To add to the fun I got switched, not by my choice, from the perfect shift (8-4:30) to the not as good shift (noon-8:30, and Saturdays). I didn't get the time I wanted to hang out with Josh, but I did get to talk to both my brothers on the phone. It made me smile. I am excited for what they are doing now and I am so happy for them. They are both great and headed to even greater things this spring/summer (marriage and a mission).

I feel kind of weird now for posting this now, so sorry if it was weird or cheesy, I think I just needed to write it. And The pictures make me laugh.

The ZOOBI

My talented cousin Sarah has come up with what I think is an awesome idea. I don't even need a stroller but I want to buy one...
I stole this from her blog and I didn't post all the great pictures she had, but I just wanted to let you all know about it.

The ZOOBI Ultimate Stroller Caddy and Carry Tote


So what does it do, you say!?
First of all, it's a STROLLER ORGANIZER: 2 large zippered pockets hold all the valuables, you've got a cell phone pocket, a zippered pocket for keys/chapstick, credit card... AND it holds two drinks! (waterbottles, baby bottles, sippy cups, you name it!)
It has two buckles up top on either side that allows it to attach to any stroller - ones with two handles, ones with one big bar, etc...


Secondly, it's a CARRY TOTE: So you're at the park, Sea World, mall... and you want to leave the stroller, but not all the goods - Pop out the drinks, fold the bag in half (it velcros!) and VOILA! it's a tote with a shoulder strap.


Think this lil' gem can't get any better? Here's one final perk... Undo the zipper that goes all the way around and it unfolds into a full-sized, waterproof CHANGING PAD!!! WAHOO!


Doesn't matter if all your shtuff is still in the pockets, it makes for a little pillow at one end.

If you'd like to purchase one (Hint, hint), you can buy one from me directly, or online for $29.99. Right now, I've only got it posted on Amazon, so PLEASE check it out!
****For free shipping!! Use this code at checkout: ZBSPRING *******

2010 census

So, I have good news... I got a job! Unfortunately it isn't a permanent job, but it will be fore couple of months, and I am hoping it lasts through summer... I am an office clerk for the Denver office for the US Census Bureau. It is great because I do organization tasks and I work with about 4 managers so I have stayed pretty busy so far. I don't have to go knocking door to door which is great and I get full time hours, so I am not complaining. It feels really good to be working and I fell really good about what I do. I feel like I am good at being an office clerk and I know the managers are happy to have me there, which I also like. I am the youngest one in the office, or so I believe, and I may be the only one in there that doesn't remember the census from ten years ago... but that's okay with me.

Well, since everyone asked to see a picture of the bench I decided to post one. It isn't the greatest considering the space it is in, but it'll have to do. I want to make a real cushion for the top, but right now we only have the pillows I made for the couch so that part doesn't look great, but oh well... I really like having a bench and it is great to have for our shoes.

adventure in LA

This past weekend my parents flew me down to LA to go shopping! I needed to get fit for a dress for the wedding, so I came down and we went to Los Angeles. I lived in the area my whole life and it was my first time going downtown to the fashion district. It was bit raining and cold, but it was so much fun. I got some great fabric for some skirts and it makes me so happy!! I also love to barter- I enjoy seeing how much people will drop the price of a product, like going from $425 to $99, amazing.

One thing I have missed about being in Redondo Beach is being able to run on the strand. Thursday morning I woke up my brother and we went running pier to pier. It was so nice to run outside in the sun along the beach. Perfect. I only wish it didn't rain the other days so I could have done that each morning.

I wasn't able to go with Josh since he had class, so I missed him a lot, but let me tell you how amazing he is. I have been wanting a bench for next to the door to put shoes under and have another place to sit and such, so we talked a couple weeks about buying wood to make one, but when I got home it was made!! He made me a bench and it is perfect, just like I saw it in my head! I was so surprised. It was great. Thanks Josh!

a new dress

Let's be honest... we don't do much. I think you'd get pretty bored if I told you all about our trips to the library, so I'll just stick with not posting too often until I have something fun to say.

So my brother Andy is getting married in April, and I have to find an orange dress for the occasion, so since I have some free time right now I decided to try and make one instead. I realize this dress is not orange, but rather it is blue, I do know my colors, but I wanted to try out a pattern I had, let me know what you think. I made a belt to go with it because when I don't have the belt on it looks like I am pregnant, which I am not.

2009- 2010

DECEMBER:
A couple days after Josh finished finals we headed over to Utah to spend time in Ogden with his family. We had fun playing games, playing with the nieces and nephew, cooking, eating fruit by the foots, seeing the little village in Ogden even though it was freezing outside, watching movies, going to see Princess and the Frog/ Sherlock Holmes, walking around the Salt Lake Temple and more. Here are picture of the little ones. I miss them all.




Also in December my brother proposed to his girlfriend Dana and she said yes! We are really excited for them to get married and it is a blessing to see how happy they are together. Dana, sorry we couldn't be there for the break to get to know you better, but we look forward to getting to know you well soon. You two are great together.


JANUARY:
So far we have just been having fun hanging out with each other this year. Josh goes back to school on Wednesday so we have been enjoying the time off. I am actively looking for a new job, preferably one that pays me to work, so that has taken me lots of time. Josh gave a talk on Sunday about goals, so I'll tell you some we've set, or rather one that I've set, because I feel a greater need to tell others so that it pushes me to actually accomplish it. My goal is to run a marathon in June. I am not doing so hot right now, but I really want to do this, so I will, even if it is hard. My mom did a marathon 10 years ago and that's when I decided to one. She also just finished a half marathon and I can't believe how strong she is, she is amazing!

I just joined goodreads.com and so far I love it. It is nice to see what my friends have said about books so I know better what's good to read. I only have one friends so far, so if anyone else is on come be my friend. I have challenged myself to read 50 books this year, that is a lot, and I may not get even close, but I like reading so even if I only get 10 I'll be okay with that.

I know this is long, but I just wanted to post one more thing. My new favorite treat. I know it is winter and there is still some snow outside, but I like ice and cold treats such as ice cream, so Josh and I found this recipe for water ice. It may not be Rita's, but I think it is good, I may just not be as familiar with good water ice as I should be, considering I've only had it once, but I enjoy it, so I'm posting the recipe. It is really easy and it comes out really creamy.

Lemon Water Ice

1 qt water
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup lemon juice
Grated rind of 1 lemon (no white part)

Boil water and sugar together for 5 minutes. Cool. Stir in juice and peel. Pour into shallow bowl and put in freezer. As it starts to freeze, keep stirring the outside crystals into the center and mix in peel. Do about every half hour. When real slushy, stop and freeze overnight. To serve, you must scrape very thin layers of the slush off the top.

It took about an hour to start freezing and get slushy, but once it started then it only too like 2 hours to get to where I stopped stirring it and let it freeze overnight. Maybe I'm crazy, but I love it...

Photoshop

Since I am oh so busy at work... I wish I was, but since I'm not I have a lot of time at home to do housework and other stuff. I have been really enjoying playing around with photoshop. Maybe because when I look at a picture of me I tend to see things I'd like to change,so I do. I try not to do it too much to where I alter the photo significantly, but there are just so many fun things to do. Anyways, I know this post is really about nothing important, but I am home waiting for Josh to be done studying for the day and I had nothing else to do.
During Thanksgiving I took a picture of my brother Conner that I really liked. It was after we ate at his favorite place- J-dawgs. The old shed has a great red wall and I had to take a picture. After I took 2 pictures Conner got too embarrassed and we were done. Here it is the final product... And I know, I tell really good stories!