Really trying to get back into the habit

Hello there blogger world! I'm really trying to get back into the habit of blogging regularly--especially since there's so much to do these days! Between marathon training and wedding planning and thesis writing (how, oh HOW could I forget about that?!?!)....

For some strange reason I've also been on a cooking kick. Which is fine. It's been fun so far.

Anyway, Tommy and I completed week one of the training schedule, ending yesterday with a four miler. We took Bandit to the dog park and ran around it four times. Best. Run. Ever. Not that I would run there again (can you say boring? I prefer one big loop--constantly changing scenery!), but I just felt so good. I'm excited to see if I can do two-four milers this week.

In wedding related news, WE BOOKED A VENUE YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Deer Valley here we come! There are some beautiful photos by the lovely Pepper Nix that really highlight the venue we have chosen. I just love the idea of getting married outside in the mountains, but luckily for us, if the weather changes, they have a beautiful indoor space too.

I also really really wanted to get married in Park City. Not that we have any special bonds with the place, but because our out of town guests will have much more fun in PC than SLC. They can easily get around without a car, there are things to do--shopping, galleries, museums, hiking, biking, site seeing, spas, etc etc etc--and since most of our guests are of the out of town variety, I just know they'll be happier there than our lovely capital city *cough*.

And now that we have that out of the way I can begin all of the other stuff too! Before we booked a venue I felt like I was getting too ahead of myself thinking about colors (what if they don't match the venue), bridesmaids dresses (need the colors first!), flowers (again with the damn colors!), food (half the potential venues provided it), etc etc etc. This huge weight means I can start planning everything else. And let's get real, planning is like my favorite hobby (Tommy says I have special planning hands--whenever I'm about to tell him of some special plan--say for the evening, or next weekend, or what I'm going to do with my day, I apparently [ok, I actually do it] clasp my hands together under my chin). So let the planning begin!!!!!

Oh one more thing...

Tommy and I are training for a half marathon. We're loosely following both this schedule and this one. Since it's not until April 10, we're doing each week twice. We're on the second addition of week one now, hopefully we can stick with it!

Wedding wedding wedding!

So....BIG NEWS: Tommy and I are engaged!

So far I only have a pinterest set up--not too sure how I feel about it yet but.....

Other than that, stay tuned for more wedding related fun!

New Years Resolutions (part two...I guess)

Guys, I did it. I am about three weeks into January and am fully sticking to my new years resolutions!

Well at least the first two, for now.

About the budget:

I get paid $747 every two weeks. Yikes, I know.
If it's the first of the month:

• $500 directly into savings

If it's the middle of the month:

• $40 into savings
• $460 into a different rent account

That leaves me with $287 for two weeks:

• $100 for groceries ($50 a week)
• ~$15-$20 for gas (this averages out over the month as I fill up when when I fill up, and it usually lasts me three to four weeks)
• The rest (~$160) is for fun. I realize that this is excessive, but I enjoy buying things! I can't be one of those super thrifty people. Not yet at least. I'm already saving for summer and car insurance, which means that in the short-term-long-term I'm set. Also, I haven't even spent close to this 160ish amount, and what I have left over by the time my next paycheck comes in goes straight into savings. 

Since I do have so much excess, I think after a few months I'll see what I can cut (maybe only $75 for groceries over two weeks?) That way I won't have to work over the summer, which is a number one priority right now :).

Anyways, guess what I'm supposed to be doing work, so I think I'll sign off for now and make this into a series. Hahahaha (evil laugh).

Get crafty, pt. 2

Ok guys, I'll make this one short seeing as it's waaaaaayyyy past Christmas...but look what I made:

 It was my only Christmas decoration, but I think it turned out well. My mom collects the pine boughs from a mountain in Southern Utah and just buys all the decorations during the previous year's sales. She makes these as presents for all of her neighbors and helped me make one!

 Close up. Basically you just wire the boughs together how you want them, and trim them to look good. My mom makes the bows, but they're not too hard...just a lot of bending and wiring. Then we glued on the ornaments.

 This is the one I made for my landlords.

Close up.

The end.