Stu and Angie Milne

Happy Three Years to Us

2011-12-27T11:10:00.000-08:00

Today marks three years of being married to my best friend!

We talked about it last night and decided that this year was the best so far.
Of course, we say that every year :)
This year brought us our sweet Maisy Jane, a new house, and so many new experiences.
I'm sure this next one will be just as wonderful, if not so much more!

love this

2011-10-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

deep beauty,
the kind of beauty that shines from inside out.
it is beauty that cannot be washed off.
it is spiritual attractiveness.

elaine s. dalton

blessing day

2011-09-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

On September 11th, our Maisy Jane was given a name and a blessing by her daddy. It was such a great day filled with the spirit and lots of time with family.

I was obsessed with how cute she looked in her dress :) She was lucky enough to get a custom-made blessing dress from her Grandma Willcox who is an award-winning seamstress! She looked like a little princess. The blessing was was short and sweet. Maisy got some stage fright and started to cry about a minute into it... But it was okay, I think Stu was impressed to say all of the most important blessings first and it was perfect. I'm so grateful for a husband who honors his priesthood, who has been able to bless our family so much through his worthiness. Maisy loves her daddy and it's clear why :)

I keep thinking back to the nights when I was pregnant and Stu and I would discuss name possibilities, we couldn't decide on one that we felt was THE ONE for our little girl. "Maisy" didn't make the list until about 2 months before she was born. I was working when I first heard the name and I remember looking it up when I got home. I found out that it means "pearl" and that pretty much sealed the deal for me... To me, pearls symbolize beauty and purity and I loved the added meaning behind the name. Stu still needed some time to be sure, but there was no doubt that she was Maisy Jane Milne when he saw her for the first time :)

We had a little family get together after church with some yummy food at my parents house. It was so nice to be able to spend time with all my family in one place. My grandma, Maisy's Great Grandma Laverne, was finally able to meet our sweet girl. It was so neat to have four generations in one place!

We love you Maisy, and are so grateful for the light you bring to our lives :)

Happy Birthday Goonie!!!

2011-08-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

Twenty-six years ago today, the world became a happier place because this guy:

was born!!!

There are so many things I could say about this man... But I'll try to keep the mushy gushy stuff to a minimum :)

My Top Ten Reasons Why I Love Stuart Parrish Milne:
(let's be real though, I have countless reasons...)

1. He is the kindest person I know. He is always thinking of others and always reminds me that everyone is fighting unseen battles, and I should be kinder to them too...
2. He's a manly man with a soft heart :) He will go play football, watch action movies, pump iron at the gym; and then come home and love on his girls and watch Extreme Home Makeover or Pride and Prejudice with me all snuggled up on the couch. And I know he looooves it.
3. He has always been super protective of me, and now as a dad, he is always looking out for both his girls. He still keeps a bat under his side of the bed, so watch out.
4. He makes the best pancakes this side of the Mississippi! Chocolate chip banana pancakes with peanut butter and syrup... Mmmmmm :) But really, he is such a great cook! And he's always willing to help with dinner (or pick something up) if I'm not too excited to cook that night.
5. He's the strongest, bravest, most loving man I know. And he is a HOTTIE with two T's.
6. He is the best snuggler in the world. I'll crawl into bed after a hard day, he'll wrap his big arms around me and I will melt off to sleep... every time.
7. One word that totally classifies Stu, is "hardworking." He works hard all day long to provide for his family and comes home exhausted, but will still help me fix dinner or wash the dishes. His last semester of school, he worked full-time and took 6 classes! He was gone from 7am to 10:30pm every day with no complaints... Honestly, I complained about it more than he did!
8. He is such a good daddy to our little girl. I love how he looks for her when he comes home and gets sad if she's taking a nap :) He loves to play with her, cuddle with her, and watch Monday night football with her. It's the sweetest.
9. He can always find a way to make me laugh. I know it's kind of cheesy, but you know that part in the movie Legacy, where Eliza makes her hubby promise to make her laugh everyday? Yeah, I asked Stu the same thing when we were getting married, but I should have known that wasn't necessary. Our life is full of laughs because of this silly guy :)
10. He makes me a better person. (I won't go into this one though because I know it will be all mush and I won't be able to stop myself from crying all over my computer)

Happy Birthday love! I am so grateful for you in my life :)

This picture cracks me up! He is the greatest, truly.

Two Months!

2011-08-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

Maisy is two months old today! And my has she grown in the last two months! We haven't had her check up yet, but I know what we'll find out... that she is a little gainer! She is already over 13 pounds and deliciously chubby. I love snuggling her and nibbling on her chubby arms and legs. Oh, and those cabbage patch doll cheeks! She is soooo kissable. We have just LOVED these last two months with our little girl. I can honestly say that although learning how to be a mom has been the hardest thing I've ever experienced, it is the greatest blessing. Thank goodness for my man Stu, who has eased into parenthood like a pro... We lean on each other a lot and I am so excited to keep learning and growing together as parents!

At 2 months, Maisy:

-is a great sleeper! She takes 3 great naps a day (most days) and sleeps about 6-7 hrs solid at night!
-is such a happy baby! About 4 weeks ago, we were concerned because she was so sad all the time :( we later found out that she had a pretty intense outbreak of eczema all over her body (we thought it was just baby acne for a long time) turns out, it is extremely itchy and uncomfortable, which is why she was always fussing. I felt terrible. But now that it's under control, she is so happy and smiley! I'm SO glad she's feeling better.
-needs to be swaddled tight, otherwise she will not fall asleep... If she breaks free of her swaddle, she will not fall back asleep for anything! She is VERY particular about her swaddles too. It just makes me nervous because I worry she'll get too hot, but she loves it...
-has discovered her little tongue! She loves sticking it out and making faces. Sooo cute.
-has the BEST hair! People stop me in the store to comment on it, some even asking if they can touch it (yeah, I'm gonna say no...) Her little faux hawk is so cute and can't be tamed! We try to brush it down after her baths, but it just ends up sticking straight up anyway...
-is our little water baby! She loooves bathtime and swimming with mommy and daddy in the pool. Plus, she is dang cute in her little swim suit :)
-still has deep blue eyes. The left one has a little bit of orange-ish color around the pupil, making me think that she may have her daddy's "sunflower eyes" after all. I'm not getting my hopes up though...
-loves her swing!
-sits up tall and proud in her bumbo! She loves sitting in it! She is so strong and loves to just sit and look around.
-seriously loves her daddy. She recognizes his voice when I'm talking to him on the phone and she perks up like crazy! She loves when he comes home and just stares at his face. So sweet.
-eats like a champ! Not too many know about my hard experience with nursing... I almost gave up soo many times, but she eventually got the hang of it and now she eats so great! I'm so proud of my little MJ. It's probably one of my most favorite things to nurse her and hold her close :)
-has her parents hearts, completely. We can't imagine life without our little joy.

This weekend we are flying up with my family to Oregon to be with my Gramma Billie. I am nervous/excited to take our baby girl on her first plane ride! I'm sure we'll have lots of pictures and stories from our trip!

sunday goodness

2011-08-07T22:04:00.000-07:00

I watched this video today and thought it was too cute not to share...

How sweet is Elder Scott's story about his wife?

"Marriage provides and ideal setting for overcoming any tendency to become selfish or self-centered. Don't withhold those natural expressions of love. Express gratitude for what your spouse does for you. Express that love and gratitude often. That will make life far richer and more pleasant and purposeful." -Richard G. Scott

Even from the very beginning of mine and Stu's relationship, I never had to doubt his feelings for me. He is the kind of person that shows his love in everything he is; whether it be by what he says, how he acts or the service he performs, it is all done out of love. I told him a couple days ago that sometimes when he says "I love you" I think to myself, "I know." Not like in a "well duh, of course he loves me" kind of way, but more that I can feel it without him ever having to say it. I hope I'm doing enough to make him feel the same way :)

Every day I thank Heavenly Father for the blessings of an eternal marriage. I love my husband too much. The idea that it could all end one day is just unimaginable. One of the men they interviewed in the video said, "It just has to be forever. It doesn't make sense for us to come this far and have it get this good and then not be perpetuated." AMEN brother.

preoccupied...

2011-07-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

Everything has gotten a little busier around here the last 5 weeks. I have a beautiful baby girl taking up most of my time so there is little time for blogging, cleaning my home, fixing my hair, eating... etc. I wouldn't change a thing. I love being with her every day, learning how to be a better mommy to my Maisy. She is changing so much! She's getting some delicious rolly-polly arms and legs, she's more alert and looks around like crazy now, and she smiles so big! (and not just when she lets out a toot haha) Some things haven't changed: she is still so sassy, cuddly, silly, energetic, and totally capable of melting everyone's heart... She has Stu and I wrapped around her little finger, we can't help it. Eventually, I'm sure I'll get back to posting more often and maybe even post my weekly meals and recipes again... But for now, I'm just loving life with my baby girl and sweet husband.

life is sweet.

25 days old and 25 pictures

2011-07-10T11:54:00.000-07:00

I have been so bad at getting my camera out for pictures of baby Maisy... I feel like every time I do, she starts to fuss anyway... even her newborn shoot was a bust! Thank goodness for camera phones (and instagram, which I am completely obsessed with!) otherwise I'd probably only have a few photos of our beautiful baby girl!

so new and so perfect :)

love love love those cheeks!

hearing screen... stu thought she looked like she was rockin out with headphones in...

going home

her favorite face... this one's called "blue steel"

such an angel

she loves to be outside! and spend time with daddy :)

bathtime... more like complete-total-relaxation time... she LOVES her baths!

dressed up for a playdate with friends!

obsessed with her cute toesies

so in love with daddy

Happy 4th of July!!!

Maisy and Grandma (my mom)

so happy

The last 25 days have been complete bliss... Not saying that there hasn't been hard times, but the happy, wonderful times FAR outweigh the not-so-great ones. We are so in love with our little babe, and can't seem to get enough of her! I love her sassy cry, her chubby cheeks and that she already has little wrist rolls, her fluffy hair, the way she smells (ohh my gosh it's heavenly), bathing her, taking a nap with her in our bed and waking up to her sweet face, how she calms down instantly when her daddy holds her close, dancing around the living room with her to Michael Buble (her fave), waking up with her at 3am to feed her and just cherishing the quiet moments with her.

what a beautiful little blessing she is.

introducing...

2011-06-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

Maisy Jane Milne
born June 15, 2011
7 lbs 13 ounces
20 inches

It's taken a long time for me to get around to writing this post... Getting used to life with this baby girl has been a fun/amazing/difficult challenge. It's hard for me to even get away from her to take a nap, let alone blog about her. She is just so amazing to me, I just want to look at her and hold her all day long. (sorry to those I haven't called/text back the last week, I promise I'm not ignoring you!) All I know is that Stu and I could not be happier, we just LOVE our little Maisy so much and can't seem to remember life without her.

So I started having contractions the morning of the 14th, not even an hour after I told Stu that "Today is the day! She's coming, I just know it!" Little did I know... I went to work like normal and after having 4 contractions during one treatment, I decided to start timing them. They were coming in at 15 minutes apart- no big deal right? After two hours they were about 12 minutes, then another two hours brought me to 10 minutes apart... We were only scheduled to work until noon that day, and by the time I left the contractions were about 7-8 minutes apart! I even went around and gave all the girls hugs in case I wasn't back the next day- I was so sure she was coming :) Haha. Stu decided to leave work to have lunch with me because we were thinking that we should probably have some time "just us" if she really was on her way! Well I got bummed because right after lunch, the contractions went back to 15 minutes apart! Dang it... That night I went and got a pedicure with two of my sisters and then went home after helping my little sister pack a little for college- noticing that my contractions were getting more uncomfortable as the day went on. About 9pm that night, they started getting downright painful, but still 7-8 minutes apart. (my Dr told me to come in once they were 5 mins apart) Finally about 12:45am I decided they were too uncomfortable and told Stu that we were going to the hospital and that I needed to shave my legs. (yes, I know.. I'm ridiculous) My contractions were only 6 mins apart, but while I was in the shower I had a few that were less than 3 mins apart! At this point, Stu started to freak out a bit and quickly got everything together. I had already put the emergency bag in the car that afternoon, so we were all set! We headed over the hospital and were checked in at 1:30am! We called my mom on the way who immediately left for the hospital to be with us. They checked me out and found out I was already at 6cm (I was at 3.5 cm at my last Drs appt). The nurse asked me if I was ready for my epidural in between contractions, and at first I wasn't so sure I needed it yet, but boy did that next contraction change my mind!

about 3am, after getting the IV and epidural... SO swollen and tired...

It took 4 tries by a nursing student before they got a successful IV... OUCH. But once that was in, they were able to get the epidural going! Once the epidural was in, we were all able to relax and Stu and my mom were able to get some rest because they told me it would be a few hours. It was so nice being able to look at the monitor and see the peaks indicating contractions and not feeling a thing :) I couldn't sleep a wink, I was so anxious! They kept checking me about every 2 hours and by 6am I was dilated to 8cm and Dr Huish came in to break my water. I was able to start pushing a little before 8am... This was probably the worst part (of the delivery) for me. I couldn't figure out HOW to push! I was numb from the belly button down for crying out loud... But I had good support in the room that kept me going :) I am so grateful for Stu and my mom, I really could not have done it without them! They were amazing. Finally, after the most tiring hour of my life, Maisy Jane Milne was born at 8:52am! Her lungs worked PERFECTLY- she had the cutest little cry right from the beginning. Stu was there to cut the umbilical cord and did a great job! (her belly button is sooo cute) As soon as I saw her, I feel like a gush of emotions just flooded from me... I just started bawling, which was kind of embarrassing, but I couldn't help it! I instantly felt an all-consuming love for my precious little girl. "Oh she is so beautiful," I kept saying over and over. Stu was right by my side the entire time and held both of us close, I know he was feeling the same way. We were already so in love with our little girl :)

The nurses then took Maisy (she technically wasn't named at this point) to wipe her down a bit and get her measurements. She was a perfect 20inches and weighed in at 7lbs 12.5oz. They gave her back to me to try and nurse her for the first time, and I just remember her feeling so small in my arms. She didn't really get to latch the first time because I started feeling some intense pains and the nurses took her away from me so they could see what was going on. They handed her off to Stu who kept watching me to make sure I was okay... Thankfully, Stu's mom and my sisters came in to see us about this time distracting him from what was going on with me. He proudly held her and showed her off to our families while the nurses took care of me.

The nurses knew soon after that something wasn't completely right and called my doctor back. Before I knew what was going on, I was getting rushed to the OR and was knocked out for a procedure because I started hemorrhaging. I remember looking around the room to make sure my two loves were taken care of. The next thing I remember is waking up in the ICU without my baby... It was terrible. Luckily, Stu was right there when I woke up. It took a while for me to understand what had happened, and even longer for me cope with the fact that I couldn't hold my little girl. Good news was that they were able to stop the bleeding to save me and my uterus for future Milne babies... The nurses reassured me over and over that our little one was perfectly healthy and that they were taking good care of her in the nursery. Stu spent most of his time with me, but he went down every so often to feed baby girl and spend some quality daddy-daughter time with her. They told me that she would need to stay in the nursery until I was well enough to go back down to the post-partum floor... I was devastated. She was able to visit me late that night though, and it was the greatest thing in the world to be able to hold her and see her sweet little face again.

I think I was a little bit determined to get better and back downstairs with her, so I did everything I could to heal fast! I ate every last bit of my meals, drank insane amounts of water, took all my meds and I even told the nurse to take my dang catheter out so I could show them that I could walk and use the bathroom by myself! Well, it worked :) I got to move down the next afternoon, and our family was complete again! So happy!!! Sidenote: I am so grateful for my husband, he is the most amazing man I know, and the most incredible daddy to our little girl. I've always called him my rock and my happy place because he keeps me grounded and can make me happy no matter what. He was so amazing during the whole thing---but he told me I'm NEVER allowed to scare him like that again... Oh I love him so much! And I know little Maisy ADORES him... She loves to stare at him and melts in his arms (kinda like her mommy). And we can't figure it out but she LOVES sucking on his, ONLY HIS, finger... so funny! We are so lucky to have this man in our lives :)

Anyway, we had to stay at the hospital a few more days so we were so grateful for the amazing support from our family and friends who did so much for us through prayers, service, and even just bringing us food or coming by to visit. We LOVE you!!! And seriously, our doctors and nurses (minus one...) were SO amazing! We could not have asked for better/kinder people to be working with us!

my mom, so happy to be a grandma

going home, finally!

We are so happy and have been so blessed since this sweet little girl joined our family.
She is incredible and we love her soo much!

pure sweetness

getting closer...

2011-06-05T17:31:00.000-07:00

Those of you that tried to convince me that the last month of pregnancy is kind of miserable, I fully believe you now... I heard it multiple times, but I just ignored it, thinking I would be fine. I mean, I did really well pretty much my entire pregnancy. Not too much sickness, just a little more tired and picky than anything. Well, I was wrong... The last two weeks have been pretty hard for me: my feet are BEYOND swollen (If you were to judge from the knees down, I'd look like I've gained maybe 200 pounds), my back is always aching, I can not get comfortable for more than 2 seconds, the word "sleep" is no longer in my vocabulary, I pee more times a day than I can count, and all I really want is for my sweet baby to be here already... It's torture.

Okay, now I'm ready to focus on the positive :) We're only about 2 weeks away from my due date: June 21st. That's only 9 days before Stu is done with school FOR GOOD!!! He has one last class that he is cramming in to the month of June, so that he can be finished and spend more time with baby girl and I. Last semester he took 7 classes! I am so grateful for him and his hard work. He is still working full time and then completing this night class that keeps him in a lab until 10pm every weeknight. Sometimes I'm mean and try to beg him to stay home so I don't have to be alone... I just have to remember he's doing it all for us, and that at the end of the next three weeks, I will have him all to my self again- NO MORE SCHOOL EVER!

Other good news: The Dr checked me again on Friday and there is some progression! I am now at 3cm and almost 90% effaced! I asked him if that meant I would be going a little earlier and he said, "well, you could go into labor in 5 minutes or you could still carry full term..." that was not the news I was wanting to hear after being in the office for almost THREE HOURS (I had to get another ultrasound and NST to make sure everything was alright). All I know is that some progress is better than nothing and I am happy for the extra 1.5cm :)

3D image of our sweet girl from Friday... doesn't she look extremely squished in there??? I just love her chubby cheeks!

baby shower

2011-06-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

My absolutely AMAZING sister-in-laws (Avery, Julie and Laurisa) and mother-in-law Joann planned a baby shower for me last month. Everything was incredible! I am so grateful for them, it was beyond perfect!

The decoration set-up was so TO-DIE-FOR cute, the food was amazing, and I'm so glad so many friends and family were able to make it out for the shower to make it so special :) it was so fun!

Ave hosted the party in her beautiful house, so many people commented on how gorgeous her home was! Ave and I made a few of the decorations (pom-poms and doily banner) and got everything set up :) I think it turned out super cute!

Stu's sister Julie MADE this cake the night before the shower (with no previous experience in using fondant) and it was so CUTE! Everyone was asking about it and we all told her she should start making cakes to sell! Isn't it incredible??? Wayyy too good to eat!

Stu's mom holding her most recent grandbaby Ruthie. She is the one behind most of the recipes for the amazing food we had at the shower. She even made her famous homemade rolls for the chicken salad, SOOOO good!

my sisters :) they helped a lot during the shower, I just love them. I was a little teary in this photo...
(does anyone remember how flat-chested I was before I got pregnant? well apparently so, because a few people made a point to tell me how boobylicious I was looking at the shower! haha! mmhmm you can bet one of the perks of pregnancy was getting out of the little girls section to go bra shopping haha... Stu doesn't mind either ;) not one bit)

A few of my dear friends from work! I really wish I had done better at getting pictures with people who came... I only have a few and I didn't even get a picture with my mom! :(

Opening the gifts was the most awkward part for me... I'm not a huge fan of being the center of attention and I got SO HOT opening all those presents! Good thing most everyone was focused on the super cute stuff for baby Milne and not me :)

I just thought this picture was funny. Apparently I'm really excited about the cute bee feet on this onesie...
so cute! I love all of the outfits we got and can't wait to put them on our little girl! There were so many cute things, Stu had to make three or four trips to get everything out to the car! I kind of lost it at the end of the shower, I just felt so overwhelmed with all my emotions... So happy and so grateful for such great friends and family and the support they have given us.

The amazing ladies behind the prettiest party I could ask for :) I love you all SO much and am so SO grateful for all you did to make it so perfect! Everything was absolutely beautiful (and delicious!). And thank you so much to all who came - I am so grateful for your friendship and love (and the cute gifts!) you made the day so wonderful!

ONLY THREE MORE WEEKS TILL BABY MILNE IS HERE!!! SO EXCITED!!!
ps I have another appointment this Friday, but last week I was measuring at 1.5cm and 80% effaced! She's getting ready!

35 weeks

2011-05-16T22:01:00.001-07:00

my sister took some pictures of us after church yesterday... love love love.
only 5 more weeks!!! we can't wait!

my babies are growing up...

2011-05-10T20:53:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it... My baby sister is graduating and heading off to college next month. How did this happen? My sisters are honestly my very best friends. It's so true when they say, "when a sister is born, so is a lifelong friend." I love them so much. This weekend was so fun, I spent so much time with Jams, taking her senior pics (probably my last photo session for a while...) and getting her ready for prom. But that's nothing new, we always have such good times together. Love you to the moon Jammers.. and I'm in complete denial that you are leaving in a month. Boo.

could she be any more beautiful? honestly...

lately...

2011-05-09T18:11:00.000-07:00

tired is my middle name.

yes my friends, the third trimester has definitely hit me like a big ol' semi-truck, and i feel like all i am is ex-haust-ed.

any tips for getting my energy levels up? i can hardly keep my eyes open once 3pm rolls around...

funny

2011-05-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

i saw this on my brothers facebook and could not stop laughing.

"Has anyone started looking for Bin Laden's horcruxes yet? Someone should probably get on that, I bet he has a few."

Stu didn't really laugh, so maybe it wasn't as funny as I thought...

I'm 23!!!

2011-04-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, someone asked me how old I am, in the "you are so young, how could you be pregnant" kind of way... I shocked myself when I said, "Oh I'm not that young, I'm 23." Wait WHAT??? I'm 23? Yep, I'm still getting used to it I guess. Although I wasn't too excited for the big 2-3, Stu and other family and friends made sure it was a GREAT birthday and helped me celebrate all week long!

Stu had class on my actual birthday, so he took me out to dinner the night before! We went to Anzio's Landing for the first time, it was so neat! It was a cute place, and the coolest part was that we could see the planes taking off and landing right outside the window!

All I wanted to do after was register for baby stuff (we're just sooo excited!) so we went to Target and went a little crazy :)

My actual birthday was a little more low-key, but so much fun! We had a little fiesta at work, Stu took me out for dessert on his lunch break, went and got pedicures with Danie, and a group of friends from work went to the Easter Pageant together! It was so fun! Plus, I was FINALLY able to open my presents from Stu (he wouldn't let me open them early :( little stinker) Then on Thursday, Stu's mom and sister took me to Mill Ave to see Atlas Shrugged (my favorite book-they finally made a movie out of it!) and to dinner. The movie was great, and I loved chatting and enjoying a night out with two of my favorite ladies!

We had a little weekend getaway planned at the Arizona Grand, seriously so FUN! We were in agreement that it was one of the best trips we've ever taken, and it was only 20 minutes away from home! The resort is amazing, it has a sweet water park, nice and spacious rooms, delicious food, and beautiful grounds! We will definitely be going back. We stayed two nights, so Stu left work a little early Friday so we could play at the waterpark an extra day!

We floated the lazy river, got some sun, and Stu went on the slides!

Stu even let me get pampered at the spa while he worked on his homework :) Ahh we never wanted to leave!

We ended the birthday celebrations at Benihana (did you know they give you $30 off your meal the month of your birthday?) it has been a tradition for us ever since we got married, so we couldn't miss it! We love it!

Needless to say, I had a GREAT birthday :) So grateful for the wonderful people in my life that helped make it memorable!

baby girl milne

2011-04-18T21:45:00.001-07:00

We had our 3D ultrasound last week to get a sneak peek at our beautiful little miss! Oh my gosh, we are so obsessed with her sweet little face!!! I carry a few photos of her with me everywhere I go, and can't help but look at her a couple times a day. She is beautiful. I can't wait for her to be here, only 9 more weeks until my due date! It's so wonderful/scary/exciting to know that she will be with us in just two more months! I can't wait till I can kiss these chubby cheeks and love on those cute little fingers and toes.

She tried to keep her face covered with her sweet little hands for most of the ultrasound, the little stinker... But our ultrasound tech Michelle (who we absolutely LOVE!) was persistent and stuck with us for over an hour to get some photos of her face. I'm soo glad she did! You can't really tell from these pictures, but she definitely had some chunky little arms, so so so cute!!!

how cute is this??? she is totally sucking her thumb! At my 20 week ultrasound she was doing the same thing! I think it is so precious.

I feel like we got a little glimpse of her personality at this last appointment... A teensy bit stubborn, but totally and completely sweet. (stu says the stubborn side comes from me) When she finally did show her sweet face, she was all smiles and completely melted our hearts. I can already tell that this little girl is going to get anything she wants from her daddy... Can you tell that we are already completely in love with this little girl? We just can't wait to meet her!

Also excited about... My birthday! I turn 23 tomorrow! So crazy!!!

pat's run 2011

2011-04-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

We did it!!! Team Milne (plus a couple of outstanding stand-ins) went out and completed Pat's Run for the 3rd year in a row! We missed Tan and Ave and their little ones since they are having a blast at the happiest place on earth right now- so fun! My sister Jamie took Avery's place and Julie's friend Troy ran for Tanner. It was so much fun!

(stu, angie and baby milne- our little family out for a run)

As predicted, this year was not too easy for me as I had baby Milne along with me for the ride... Stu didn't expect much out of me (I don't know if that's a good thing or not). He didn't even plan on me running any of the 4.2 miles and was excited for a nice little stroll along the course with me. Well, I've never been one to sit anything out and I was so pumped when we got to the starting line! It's hard not be when you see so many people running for such great causes! I told him I wanted to run as much as possible, so we settled on a nice easy pace that really couldn't be called a "jog" maybe more like a bouncy walk... My competitive nature set in a little too, so I had Stu time us on his fancy runners watch. Our time ended up being 57 mins 40 seconds (Stu stopped the timer for the almost 10 mins when we were stopped for a bathroom break at the halfway mark, it was hard running with this baby girl squishing my bladder with every bounce!) We "ran" most of the course, minus some of the inclines, and the spots where my friend Mr. Braxton Hicks decided he would like to join in on all the fun. I know my time isn't that great, but I am more proud of myself just for doing it. For crossing the finish line strong and doing the best I could.

Thankful List:
(because I know I could not have finished without these things)

-my sweet husband who I know was watching me every second to make sure I was okay, who supported me and ran by my side the whole time, who even told me that "these people probably don't understand why we're running slower because you don't look pregnant at all from the back!" when we got a rude comment from a snappy jogger telling us to get out of the way... Oh, I could have kissed him right then!!! I am so lucky to have this man by my side through it all, he is my rock.
-sweet strangers who helped me along by offering encouraging remarks. One lady totally made my day with her nice comment, and it definitely gave me a major boost right when I needed it. I did get a couple funny looks and one or two kind-of-really-hurt-my-feelings comments, but overall it was a great experience!
-porta-potties at mile 2 that saved my life! And the lady who pushed me to the front of the line after waiting a while behind the twenty other people that were needing to use them. I felt bad cutting, but heaven knows I probably couldn't hold it another second!
-"MORE" by Usher, I played it three times in a row on a particularly hard stretch. Such a great song to run to!
-people running while carrying the flag, and the troop of soldiers that ran together that offered up so much inspiration to Stu and I. It was hard not to get choked up when they ran by.
-and last but not least, we are so grateful to Mama J aka Joann Milne for getting us out to this event every year. She is responsible for putting it all together so that we can run it as a family. Isn't she awesome for running this every year?!! We love you Jodie!!!

ps thank you sweet friends for your comments on my last post. Seriously, you are all SO nice! It totally gave me the confidence I needed to get out there and FLAUNT this cute belly :) Plus, I think I would have been wayyyy too hot with that extra t-shirt, holy cow it was hot yesterday!

help?

2011-04-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, Stu and I are doing Pat's Run (this will be our 3rd year!). I'm sure it will be a little different for me this year, seeing as I'm almost 7 months pregnant. Running with this baby belly would be a little difficult for me... But I'm still going to go out there and give it my best shot! My only question is, is it embarrassing for me to go out in public in my usual workout clothes? I'm debating if I should wear a shirt over the top of my tank this year... I just don't want to get weird looks when I'm walking around with my belly out! I sent these pics to Stu to get his input, but he's obviously used to seeing me like this...

What do you think?
Would you look at me funny?

2011-04-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

IT'S FRIDAY!
SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!

i love the weekend. that's all.

my turn

2011-04-03T22:04:00.000-07:00

poor stu caught a bug... it seems like a cold, and it is totally rocking his body :( he had an insane fever this afternoon, and although he didn't eat too much today, he threw it all up and now he's back in bed. i hate seeing him like this... i am so glad i can take care of him though. he's been doing so much for me lately, it's kinda nice that he has to let me baby him for a little while. he definitely deserves it!

ps this weeks meal plan will be going off last weeks plan. because of all the sickness and stu starting his second block classes, we only stuck to the monday meal and everything else kind of just fell apart. i'm excited to finally get to those recipes!

things i've learned in the past 24 hours

2011-03-30T18:35:00.000-07:00

-apparently, the stomach flu is going around.
-stomach flu is quite possibly the worst thing to happen to humankind. i have never felt so miserable IN MY LIFE.
-even after you think you've emptied the entire contents of your stomach, you can still heave... and heave... and heave.... until you feel like your stomach is going to detach itself from your insides. so fun.
-you should not throw up in your sink. it will clog.
-one should not try to go into work after spending all night sitting in front of the toilet. this will result in getting sick at work, bawling like a baby in front of boss and co-workers, and ultimately getting sent home early anyway. so it's best to just stay home.
-fluid is of utmost importance when you have the stomach flu. keep hydrated, or else.
-my bed is the best thing ever. but tv is not good when you're nauseous. it just makes you feel worse :(
-Unisom is heavenly, and perfectly okay to take when you're pregnant. i was finally able to sleep, a solid 12 hours, all thanks to the miracle sleep aid.

And most importantly, although i already knew this...

i have the best husband ever. seriously.

he deserves mad props... staying up with me all night, holding my hair back, cleaning up my "sickness" all over the bathroom, holding me while i cried on the bathroom floor, holding me until i could fall asleep, picking me up after i left work to go home (only to end up 100ft away in the subway parking lot because i couldn't drive myself), calling my doctor to make sure everything would be okay with our baby girl, picking up my prescriptions and blue powerade so i could hydrate up, massaging my legs forever because they were aching for some odd reason, missing work for a couple hours to make sure i would be okay, going to bed with me at 6pm just so that i could fall asleep (i can't sleep unless he's next to me)... honestly, can we get this guy a medal or something? he is just the sweetest.

moral of the story: don't get stomach flu. if you do catch it, make sure you have a good hubby on your side.

meals for the week

2011-03-27T21:40:00.000-07:00

Monday: Pork Chops with Rosemary Potatoes and Green Beans
Tuesday: Pesto and Feta Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken - I had this at a baby shower this weekend and completely fell in love. I could tell that there was pesto and feta in it, the salad at the shower also had spinach mixed in which I loved. I'm going to try out this recipe and see if it's close, fingers-crossed! I'm adding grilled chicken too, so the recipe gets my hubbys approval...
Wednesday: Grilled Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce and Rice
Thursday: Shredded Chicken Tostadas - a new staple in our home, so easy and so yum!
Friday: out
Saturday: Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells - Stu saw this picture and thought it looked fancy and difficult to make... good thing it's actually incredibly easy! I guess I can trick him into thinking I slaved away in the kitchen :)
Sunday: Mini Turkey Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes - I think this recipe for meatloaf sounds delish! I'm going to try mini meatloaves in muffin tins, I saw this idea on a blog where they used mashed potatoes as frosting on top- so cute!

I am looking for some new dessert recipes!
Do you have one you want to share? I'll love you forever.

good news minute

2011-03-26T08:55:00.000-07:00

I love my church.

The Annual Young Womens General Meeting was broadcast last night. Although I no longer fit that category, I try to watch it every year. I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep, so I watched it and let Stu sleep in. It was a perfect way to kick off my Sunday.

watch it here.

pass it along

2011-03-23T23:01:00.000-07:00

One of the girls I have had the blessing of coming to know and love through work is Christy Horne. She is the sweetest, most down-to-earth person I know. Christy and her husband Chris are hoping to adopt, and I can't think of a more deserving couple. I can't wait for the day that they are able to bring a child into their home, there will be so many happy tears!

click HERE to read more about them

if you know of anyone who is searching for the right home to place their sweet baby, please pass along the message about this amazing couple.

menu time

2011-03-22T16:17:00.000-07:00

Last week we didn't stick to a menu. Stu and I had planned on getting away the last half of the week and hitting the beach, so I didn't plan out our meals since we thought we'd only be here two nights. Well... we ended up having to stay in town (although we did make a little "stay-cation" out of it) and we just kind of went back to our old routine when it came back to meal time. OH MY GOSH I HATED IT. Not the stay-cation part, just the trying-to-plan-dinner-the-day-of-with-what-I-have-in-my-fridge-and-ripping-my-hair-out part... and to be honest, we ate out a lot more than ate in last week. I'm never going back! I love my meal plans!!! here's our plan for the week:

Monday: Stu made yummy baked Mac n' Cheese from scratch.... Oh sooooo good. I love him :)
Tuesday: Grilled Salmon Tacos with Mango Salsa (same recipe as the grilled shrimp tacos, just sub in the salmon!)

Wednesday: Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice
Thursday: BYU is in the Sweet 16! We'll be eating pizza and other junk food while watching the Cougs beat Florida!
Friday: out

Saturday: Indian Fry bread (dinner AND dessert!)

Sunday: Family Dinner

YUM!

go cougs

2011-03-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

one word:
JIMMER.

blame it all on my roots...

2011-03-11T03:57:00.000-08:00

I have a confession. When I was nine, I had a crush on an older man. A much older man. His name, Garth Brooks. This love affair developed when I was young, I blame my dad and his love of country music... I carried this love into high school, even college, coming close to purchasing a 20x30 poster of the man for my bedroom. (I never did, more because I was worried that whoever (whomever?) I was rooming with would think I was creepy...) Anyway, you can imagine my joy when I found out he now has a show in Vegas!!! ...and the crushing sadness I felt when I found out tickets were $250. Darn. But I'm starting a Garth Fund, because I WILL see him in concert someday. Mark my words...

In the meantime, I'll just love on some Scotty McCreery...

Anyone else a little obsessed?

easy week

2011-03-06T07:48:00.001-08:00

meal plan for this week:

Monday: Chicken Tostadas with Spanish Rice and Beans - I already have shredded chicken pre-made (I made extra when I was making my crockpot chili last week, and packaged it up for an easy meal later on!) so this recipe will take no time at all. I bought corn tortillas and will be crisping them in the oven with a slight olive oil rub, way healthier than buying tostada shells at the store (and less expensive!)
Tuesday: Grilled Pork Chops with Homemade Cinnamon Apple Sauce, roasted potatoes and green beans - remember the "buy one, get one free" deal on pork that I mentioned last week? Well the pork roast that I bought for last weeks sweet pork salad recipe, bought us some delicious chops that i will be grilling up this week! (stu loves me for this, he LOVES pork chops!) also I saw this recipe for homemade crockpot applesauce (so simple, and i love that it doesn't have to come from a jar) so i'll be trying that out. So excited!

Wednesday: Teriyaki Chicken with Broccoli and Rice - The last two weeks, I haven't stuck to my Wednesday plan, because all I wanted was rice... Typically this is my long day at work, and I come home pretty beat and with an unsettled stomach (pregnancy drawback) so I figure I'll make a rice dish and see how it goes. And nothing is easier than this meal... chicken, teriyaki sauce, broccoli- DONE.
Thursday: Chicken Enchiladas (favorite recipe of all time, i'll get it posted so you can all enjoy its goodness)
Friday: out

Saturday: Crispy Wontons with Whole Wheat Noodle Stir Fry (meatless meal) - Stu and I made pork and veggie wontons together for our first Valentines Day (in), we had celebrated the Saturday before with a nice restaurant and then decided to stay in on the actual day with some good food and a great make-out movie. The food was awesome, and the kissing wasn't so bad either ;) Anyway, I think we'll do a veggie-tofu wonton this time, and also make up some cream cheese wontons with pineapple dipping sauce (knock-off of a RA favorite, SO GOOD) and kind of go off this recipe to get an idea. So inexpensive to make at home, and a really fun meal to make with your spouse. To this day, I still wonder if it was my cooking, or my kissing and charm that won Stu over...

Sunday: Family Dinner

This weeks grocery bill: $9.43

There wasn't a lot that needed to be purchased because we had a lot of this stuff at home, I just planned out our meals based on what we already had in the fridge/freezer- go figure! We were able to save too, because we knew what would be on sale from checking the ads that came out on Wednesday. Isn't that great?!! Now, I did spend about $45 at Costco last week on chicken, cereal, milk, eggs, CHEESE, etc. Our total grocery spending for all of February came out to be less than $120, which was probably my two-week spending average before... Seriously helping us save a TON. I didn't even feel guilty when I went on a girls trip to H&M last week :)

Oooh also, I wanted tell you all about Mint.com! There are so many free budgeting sites out there, but this is the BEST in my opinion. Especially if you have a smartphone, because it will send you updates on your spending and you can refer to it as many times as you want to see how you're doing to keep on track with your budget! We started doing this a year ago; we put all our information up, made up a rudimentary budget for different categories of spending (retail stores, groceries, gas...) and gauged our spending habits. You will get notifications (almost instantly to your phone) if you are over-spending in a certain category. *cough, cough* -retail... The best way to do it would be to look and see how much you have left in your budget for that category, and then spend accordingly, but sometimes it's more fun to be ignorant right? I'm getting better at it, and it definitely helps to keep a monthly budget. Try it out!!! It's so, so easy and helpful!

how have you been doing with your weekly meals??

shrimp tacos with mango salsa

2011-03-04T22:02:00.000-08:00

Stu is obsessed with the seafood tacos at Tia Rosa's Taqueria, thank goodness it's just down the street! I love their bean burros, heaven knows I wouldn't make it through this pregnancy without them.. Anyway, the only problem with the tacos is that they are $4 each! They are worth the $4, trust me, but we decided to try our hand at duplicating their recipe for the shrimp tacos at a fraction of the cost. Stu says they were amazing, and pretty close the the original! He flatters me...

Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa

corn or flour tortillas
large peeled and de-veined shrimp (about 5-6 per taco, we both eat at least two tacos each)
1/2 one lemon, juiced
1 sweet bell pepper, sliced up into 1/2 inch lengths
red onion
1 clove crushed garlic
2 shakes of cayenne or roasted red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tbsp of teriyaki sauce
1 tsp of brown sugar
dash of s&p

Mango Salsa:
2 mangos
1 roma tomato
red onion (not too much, about half of the amount of tomato used)
small bunch of cilantro

1. Cut about 3 thin slices/rings from the red onion and combine it in a large bowl with the lemon juice, red peppers, garlic, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, and other seasonings. Let the shrimp marinate in this for at least 30mins. I let mine sit for a couple hours in the fridge while I ran errands, but I think 30mins is long enough. If you're working with frozen shrimp, thaw it out the night before or soak it in lukewarm water until thawed, before placing it in marinade.
2. Heat up your skillet or grill pan (we have a flat top grill pan I like to use since we can't have a grill at our apt) and coat with a little bit of olive oil. Remove shrimp and veggies from marinade and cook about 4mins on each side, until the shrimp is opaque and a good pink color. I like to leave mine on the grill pan a little longer to get nice grill marks on it, yummm.
3. While the shrimp is marinating, start on the mango salsa. Cut up the mango in 1/2 inch cubes, dice up the tomatoes, and also about two thin slices of red onion. You'll want just a little bit of onion, and in small pieces so it's not too overpowering in the salsa. Cut the stems off the cilantro and cut the leaves into smaller pieces. Mix everything together and let sit in the fridge, the more time it has to set, the tastier it will be.
4. When the shrimp is almost done, heat up your tortillas (especially if you're using corn tortillas). I will stick them in the microwave for ten seconds and keep them from drying out, by laying a damp paper towel on top of them until I'm ready to use them.
5. Assemble your taco, shrimp and veggies first and then scoop a big spoonful of the salsa on top.

That's it! Pretty easy and SO good! It's also great with grilled salmon, even chicken if you don't like seafood! We ended up making 5 tacos last time, and everything was served with black beans and cilantro-lime rice. We were stuffed! Cost-wise, it was cheaper than us buying two of the $4 tacos at Rosa's, so it was definitely worth it! My favorite part of eating at home is knowing exactly what's in your food. I don't know how may calories is in one of the Rosa's tacos, but I'll bet it's a bigger number than the calorie count of what we whipped up. Restaurant food almost always has hidden fats and sugars that we don't know about, so it's better to eat in when you can!

our fave pizza dough recipe

2011-03-02T17:58:00.000-08:00

1 packet of active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
2 cups bread flour
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
2 tsp white sugar

(makes 2 good sized pies)

1. dissolve yeast into water in a small bowl and let sit for about 10 minutes.
2. combine flour, olive oil, salt, sugar and yeast mixture in a large bowl (or stand mixer bowl) and stir well. (i use my kitchenaid and dough hook which seems to handle the job very well).
3. cover and let rise until the dough has grown to twice its size, about 30 mins.
4. turn the oven on to preheat to 450 degrees. if you're using a a pizza stone, stick this in the oven to heat up while the oven is preheating.
5. flour your counter and roll out the dough to desired shape (we usually end up making hearts) and place on your baking sheet or pizza stone and cover with desired toppings. I like to brush the edges with a little olive oil, i'm not sure if it makes much of a difference though... Cook for about 12 mins until crust is golden and a tad crispy on top.
6. wait (if you can...) about 3 minutes to cool and then enjoy! SO GOOD.

anyone have a good whole wheat recipe?

i'm moving.

2011-03-01T13:42:00.000-08:00

sometimes i wish i lived in spain.
the architecture, the colors, the food...
but mostly,
for the mandatory siesta hour.
i love naps. nothing sounds better right now.

weekly menu

2011-02-27T18:41:00.000-08:00

I'm resisting the urge to eat girl scout cookies every night of the week for dinner... Does anyone else find those girls waiting outside fry's a little evil? To my waistline at least... To help make sure I actually cook something for dinner, here's my list. I'm accountable to all of blog land now :) Just don't ask me how many samoas I just ate while typing this... The crockpot is my best friend this week, three of these meals are pure slow-cooked goodness. I absolutely LOVE my crockpots, especially since I work until 5-6 some nights. It's so nice to just plop all my ingredients in it in the morning and have diner all ready when I get home, serious lifesaver. Plus, is there anything more amazing than coming home from church to the smell of a delicious roast?

Monday: Homemade Mini Pizzas (this was our plan for last Saturday night, but I had a hankering for some Senor Taco so we skipped out on the pizza... But we still have all the ingredients and can't let those go to waste right?)
Tuesday: Crockpot Chili and Corn Bread (Trader Joe's cornbread mix is my fave. Throw in a box of vanilla pudding mix, and you've got yourself some amazingly moist, delicious cornbread)
Wednesday: Homemade, oven-baked Mac and Cheese (I love, love, love the mac and cheese at Joe's BBQ with the crunchy goodness on top. Here's an attempt at duplicating it, although I'll probably alter this recipe quite a bit)
Thursday: Sweet Pork Salad, Cilantro Lime Rice and Black Beans (this is one of the first meals I made for stu when we were dating! Thank goodness it was delicious, who knows where we'd be otherwise..) ps pork is buy one, get one FREE at Fry's until Tuesday this week. Be sure to stop by and take advantage of this awesome deal!
Friday: hot date with my hubby
Saturday: Black Bean Burgers (hawaiian style) with Sweet Tater Fries (can you tell we like sweet potatoes?)
Sunday: Roast and Potatoes... mmmmmmm :)

My sister-in-law made me blush a little when she said she was so impressed with our weekly meals. I had to quickly admit that there really is nothing difficult with the meals I've been preparing, they are all cheap, quick, and super yummy. There have only been a few meals that took me longer than 20-30 mins to prepare and a lot of it by myself. (not saying that stu doesn't help, he's a GREAT helper! but sometimes he has school or other stuff going on..) Anyone can do it! Promise! I told her that having everything planned out and bought ahead of time is the best help. Try it out and let me know how it goes! I don't think you'll ever go back!

Have you tried any good recipes lately?
Wanna Share? I'll love you forever :)

good to remember

2011-02-25T10:06:00.001-08:00

stu will sing "i am a child of God" to baby milne in portugese sometimes before bedtime. he wants her to know, even now, that she is special, a daughter of God. i can't help but get choked up every time i hear him sing it so tenderly to my belly... it is so sweet.

it's funny how quickly i forget that i am a child of God too. it's easy to feel insignificant when i think of all the other millions of people in this world. but when i think about how much i already love this baby girl of mine, and how much i want in this world for her, how much i think about her... my child... that is the way He thinks of each and every one of us. we are His children.

remember, you are precious.

little late...

2011-02-24T08:55:00.000-08:00

Monday: out for pizza with a convert from stu's mission, visiting all the way from brasil!
Tuesday: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Basil Soup (easy and delicious, a definite FAVORITE at the Milne house)
Wednesday: Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice (taking out the deep frying action to make it healthier and less fatty)
Thursday: Homemade Lasagna with Garlic Bread and Veggies (ps lasagna is a lot easier to make than most people think, just a little time consuming, you should try it and WOW your hubby! SO much better than store-bought)
Friday: Dinner Date in at a friends casa. They have the CUTEST little boy who needs to be in bed early, so we'll be enjoying something yummy at their house. So fun!
Saturday: Homemade Pizzas: ham and pineapple, bbq chicken, pepperoni, spinach alfredo...
Sunday: Family Dinner, Stu's niece little miss Bela will be 3 years old soon! We are partying with his fam and eating LOTS of cake and ice cream to celebrate!

I got this out on the blog a little later this week, but we've been sticking to it pretty well still.. I shopped on Tuesday afternoon this week, hitting up the farmers market and grocery store in one shot. Did I mention how much I love the farmers market? Well I do, I have a serious love affair with that place. Where else can you get 4 bags of fresh produce for $13??? Amazing. I spent $30 on groceries this week, but most of it was for snacks to munch on at work... and ice cream...Total cost for dinner ingredients were around $16 (the mozzarella cheese was the most expensive part). So that averages out to be $4 per meal this week, that's pretty good right? Stu absolutely LOVES this new meal planning thing, he is so amazed at how much we're saving :) He loves it so much in fact, that he let me buy whatever I wanted at Joanns---yay for a new rotary cutter and mat! I'm getting started on a quilt for our baby girl, so I'm a little excited! Honestly though, the weekly plan has helped much more than our wallets. Preparing dinner is so much easier, knowing I have everything I need sitting at home. It saves time, money, and just makes meal time and dinner preparations go smoothly. It has taken all the stress out of cooking, and I am enjoying more again just like I used to. So worth it!

Sorry I'm so backed up on getting recipes up here...
I will post them soon, promise!

2011-02-20T17:31:00.000-08:00

recipe for a perfect saturday:
-one gloomy, rainy day
-netflix, to stream countless episodes of prison break
-one cuddle buddy, preferably a studly and loving husband
-PJs and slippers only, no real clothes allowed
-one phone to order in so you don't have to leave ALL DAY
-lots of blankets and pillows

It seriously was perfect. Stu and I stayed in, enjoyed the sound of rain outside our windows, and watched wayyy too many episodes of Prison Break keeping cozy and warm in our jammies. We thought about the fact that this part of our lives; the just us, one-on-one, not a care in the world except each other, part is coming to an end in about 4 months. A little girl will be joining us, and she is going to rock our world. Sometimes it's just a little bittersweet, thinking it won't be just us anymore. I told Stu last night, "our lives will never be like this again" and he just smiled and replied, "you're right sweetie, it's going to be better." He is so right. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to soak up every little bit of the next four months of "just us" time. I'm hoping a few more rainy days come our way...

2011-02-16T22:02:00.000-08:00

Almost 5 months! My belly is more noticeable to strangers now, I get asked "when are you due?" more times a day than I can count. (more on the weekends when I'm in my regular clothes, it's still hard to tell when I'm in my scrubs...) And I secretly LOVE it :) I get to feel her so much more now. It is amazing. Stu felt her for the first time last Sunday, it was such a precious moment. We were just waking up after our Sunday nap and baby girl decided she was going to have a little party in my tummy. She was kicking harder than ever so I thought Stu might be able to feel her if she kept it up. It took about ten minutes, but she finally gave us a good, HARD kick! Stu looked at me all excited and asked, "was that her???" and when I nodded, all he could say was, "I felt her, I felt her! I felt our baby girl!" over and over. It was so sweet, I couldn't help but tear up. He's such a cute daddy. He's so sweet to me too, I get spoiled rotten! Anytime I have a long day of work, Stuey makes me sit and rest and asks me what he can do to start prepping for dinner. He's getting to be quite the cook! He gives me daily foot rubs and always makes sure I'm comfy in bed surrounded by my millions of pillows. He's even brought me lunch at work, just to make sure I'm eating right. So sweet. And since we're on the topic of food... All I want to eat lately are bean and cheese burritos. (tia rosa's bean burro smothered with their green sauce is just HEAVEN) And fruit. And anything sweet. This little girl has an interesting appetite! I've been noticing lots of changes in myself within the last couple weeks: increasing weight, bigger pant size, lack of energy... all I know is that all of it is completely worth it. I am loving every part of being pregnant, even my swollen knees and cankles... so glamorous, I know. It's easy when I know that it's all for this precious little baby girl. So excited for the next four months!

Look at that 22 week belly!

i don't mean to brag, but...

2011-02-15T20:55:00.000-08:00

...my husband is amazing!
(for many reasons really)

Stu ran his first half marathon last weekend and he did so great! He's never really been a runner- he's athletic and has put his body through some brutal stuff, but I can say that this had to have been the toughest! I don't even think I can run 5 miles, let alone 13.1! Now, I don't think he would have decided to do this were it not for the cause... This was for Ethan's Run, dedicated to the babies who were born with congenital heart defects. Stu ran this race with his two brothers in honor of his niece Bela who has survived multiple open heart surgeries and will be celebrating her 3rd birthday at the end of the month! We love her so much and could not think of a better reason to run 13 miles!

Here he is getting close to the finish line... I was waiting for him about 100 yards away so I could see him come in. He finished strong! The last three miles were uphill, and the course ended up at Las Sendas so you can imagine that the last mile was just killer. I'm not sure I could still be smiling after all that, but here he is looking handsome as ever!

Tanner, Grafton, and Stu after the race. Way to go brothers!

I am seriously so proud of him! He told me a few months ago that he was going to run a half marathon, he put his mind to it and he did it! He spent time preparing for this goal, running and pushing himself after work so that he could be ready. I felt so bad because he couldn't do much running the two weeks before the race because he got a cold and just felt terrible :( Even without that two weeks, he did awesome! Way to go baby! You are incredible!

Since I'm already on this topic... I can't help it, I just love him. So I kind of thought everything was going to be low-key for Valentines Day, we sorta spaced it because we've both been sick and we had a crazy weekend. Well, instead Stu surprised me yesterday by taking me out to a romantic dinner at our favorite hidden italian restaurant. He had the whole night planned out with fun stuff for us to do together, which of course included lots of cuddle time. He always thinks of the sweetest things and knows just how to make me feel special. Don't you just LOVE husbands? :)

gotta love those blurry iPhone pics... Hope you all had a wonderful V-day!

dinner this week

2011-02-13T16:04:00.000-08:00

We have a busy week ahead of us, so everything is going to be a titch more simple, meal-wise. Although this weeks menu may sound pretty involved; each meal is easy and quick. (figure-friendly too, minus the ribs) We are also going out twice this week, something we wouldn't normally plan to do, but this week is special :) Since we'll be spending a little more in that area, I decided to budget a little more out of our weekly groceries and spent less on my Saturday shopping. It's amazing though, Stu looked at our meal plan and what we spent on food- he was shocked that these four meals could cost so little.. ah the joys of making your own food. Any one of these meals would cost more than our grocery bill if we got them at a restaurant, which ended up being less than $20 again, isn't that amazing?! Now I am still planning on going to the farmers market Tuesday afternoon for some fresh, inexpensive produce, but I'm sure my total there will only be around $10-15 (for a CAR-LOAD of fruits and veggies). Gotta love the farmers market :)

okay, I have a confession to make... I went to the store mid-week last week. For an avocado. Yes, just one avocado. I guess I forgot that I used all that I had for our Super Bowl get-together on Sunday and didn't have one for dinner on Wednesday. So obviously, I am far from perfection at this meal planning thing... But I'm working on it, and that is WAY better than running to the store last minute 3x/week for dinner.

Monday: Surprise dinner for Valentines Day :) Where will you be going?
Tuesday: Salmon Tacos with Mango Salsa, Black Beans and Cilantro Lime Rice
Wednesday: Black Bean Burgers and Sweet Tater Fries
Thursday: Shrimp Pasta with Guiltless Alfredo Sauce and Zucchini Fries
Friday: out with family, we're going to see Music Man at Higley Theater. My stepmom did the costumes, you should go!!!
Saturday: Oven-baked BBQ Ribs and Baked Potatoes (secret for cheap ribs: beef back ribs are usually around $1.99/lb! just make sure to look for the meatier ones)
Sunday: Family Dinner (I'd love some suggestions for a tasty dessert to make)

I've been trying to put recipes together to post on the blog (i didn't realize how hard it was to explain what you're doing while cooking) it's taking longer than I thought, but I'll keep working on it. I had a couple requests for the Eggs Benedict recipe, it is posted below... enjoy!

Which of these dinners sound good to you?
What recipe are you most interested in?

yummmmm

2011-02-12T19:32:00.000-08:00

This is probably my favorite breakfast ever. I get it every other time we go out for breakfast, and it never disappoints. I'm not a huge pancake person, although Stu is, I just LOVE eggs for breakfast. Best part is, it's not too hard to make! Seeing as I've tried eggs benedict in almost every breakfast place I've ever been, I know exactly how I like them. The Sugar Shack at Huntington Beach does it best (in my opinion) veering away from the traditional style of eggs "benny", they scramble their eggs instead of serving it poached- totally fantastic. Not to mention, it makes it so much easier to make at home! Have you ever tried to poach an egg? DIFFICULT. But if you do want to try to poach your egg, I heard white vinegar is the trick. Good luck. Anyway, for those of you that asked, this is the way I put together my favorite breakfast. Or lunch, or dinner...

eggs benedict with hollandaise sauce
and crackers&co style potatoes

6 eggs (you will use 4 of the yolks for the sauce)
2 english muffins, halved (i prefer sandwich or bagel thins)
4 slices of bacon (you can substitute with canadian bacon or sliced deli meat)
2-4 slices of cheddar cheese
1 tomato
1 avocado
handful of spinach

hollandaise sauce:

4 egg yolks
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1/2 cup of butter

1. Cook up the bacon until almost crispy, save the drippings in the pan to cook the potatoes in. If you use canadian bacon or another substitute, go ahead and cook this up too. You'll probably have to use some olive oil to cook your taters though. In the meantime, slice up the avocado and tomato and remove the stems from the spinach.
2. Scramble 4 egg whites and 2 full eggs together (remember the 4 yolks are going into the sauce) Toast your english muffins or sandwich thins, good ol' sliced bread works too.
3. Layer from top to bottom: toast, cheese, 1 slice of bacon cut in half to fit on top, spinach, slice of tomato, eggs.
4. Try realllllly hard not to give in and just eat this sans the sauce, you'll be missing out on the best part.

Now for the sauce: this is the only tricky part of this recipe. But trust me, it is WORTH IT. Hollandaise sauce is simply heavenly. I could drink it straight, only that would probably be gross. Secret tip: this recipe is easier if you have a kitchen helper, like a trusty spouse, to focus on the sauce while you make up the bacon and eggs. Or vice versa. Otherwise I would start making the sauce right before scrambling the eggs so everything stays warm.

1. Separate 4 egg yolks into a stainless steel or glass bowl (if you have a double broiler, you can use this too). Put the egg whites aside to save them for your scrambled eggs. Put a small pot with about an inch of water on the stove on Low-Medium heat. Make sure your bowl an sit in the top of the pot without touching the water.
2. Add the lemon juice and whisk the mixture "into submission" (a line from Julie and Julia). The yolks will thicken into a pudding consistency.
3. Melt the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds.
4. When the water starts simmering, (important: if it is BOILING, it is too hot, take it down a couple notches. Too hot water will turn your sauce into scrambled eggs, no bueno.) place the bowl in the pot and continue whisking. Pour in the butter little by little until the sauce thickens up a little, about the consistency of gravy. Take off the heat and keep in a warm place until you're ready to use it. (add a few drips of water and re-whisk if the mix gets too thick)
5. Pour over the top of eggs and layered goodness. Add a few shakes of pepper, if desired. DEVOUR.

crackers&co style potatoes:

2 Large or 5-6 small potatoes
2 tbs of flour
1 tsp of olive oil
1/2 tsp of lawry's seasoned salt
1/2 tsp of pepper

Have you ever had the potatoes at Crackers&Co? Or at the Farmhouse in downtown Gilbert? uh-may-zing. I wish I had the courage to just ask how they make them, but I guess that takes away the fun of testing my skills at recipe-matching. For what it's worth, I think this method is pretty darn close, and in Stu's words, "pretty darn fantastic." Slice up the taters before you cut up the avocado and tomato and start them in the pan. These are pretty low-maintenance and require little attention once you have them in the pan.

1. Slice up potatoes into rounds, about 1/4 inch thickness. Kind of like Au Gratin style... Place in a large bowl and coat with oil.
2. Mix the seasonings and flour together, then coat potato slices with flour mixture on all sides. Just sprinkle on potato slices while turning them in the bowl.
3. Add to bacon-greased pan on Medium and let sit for a few minutes on each side before turning them in the pan. Let them get golden brown and crispy, aka delicious. These should cook through just about the same time everything else is done.

This meal should feed 4 regular people, or one normal person and one hungry husband...

So this was the plan for our Wednesday meal. I was feeling sick, and Stu was at school, but I was able to have it all prepared and ready for him (and me) to enjoy within 40 mins. Needless to say, our stomachs were very, very happy :)

(was this recipe hard to understand? I'm still trying to get the whole recipe-writing thing down.. let me know if you have any questions!)

preparation pays

2011-02-08T15:02:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a few things lately to get our home (and my brain) more organized. I have been looking for ways to simplify our lives and get rid of unnecessary stress. One of the things that has really helped the last four weeks is a meal plan. Seems silly right? Most people already do this, and to be honest, I thought I had a good system in place before. Some of you probably have a similar system: come home from work, take a peek in the fridge to see what items we have to prepare a somewhat easy, mindless, "healthy" dinner. Think up a few options and relay them to hubby, who says he will be happy with anything, then end up making the easiest, quickest one because I am hungry NOW. Or grab something at Gecko Grill... Now it wasn't always like that, more often I had a plan in mind the night before or during the day and I ran to the grocery store to grab a few things to make something that required more thought and preparation, and that just made me frazzled. The last thing I want to do after working all day is go to a crowded grocery store and try to put a meal together. I used to buy a whole bunch of things at the grocery store on Saturday that sounded good at the time and forgot about them later on in the week... I usually ended up wasting money because stuff went bad.

So, four weeks ago I came up with a plan. I was going to make a weekly menu and STICK TO IT. Stu was still sleeping so I typed up my meal plan for the week and a grocery list of what I would need to purchase to make those meals happen. The best part was that I peeked in my fridge and pantry before making the list, making a mental note of what I had on hand, thought up some yummy meals I could make with what I had (so I could use up my current supply first), and then I compiled my list for the week. So easy! It seems like it would take more time, but trust me, it saves SO much time! and money! Read on...

I've been doing this for almost a month now, and it has been so great! I have made a total of 3 trips to the grocery store, 2 stops at the local farmers market, plus one trip to Costco to stock up on the essentials. Each Fry's run has totalled less than $20 each, less than $15 at the farmers market, the Costco trip was less than $50. Maybe that seems like a lot for some people, but that is REALLY good for us! I don't know about you, but it seems like $25 can go reallllly fast when you're at the grocery store. I'm one of those people who can see one item in the store and think up a whole meal pretty much on the spot, Stu can vouch, I love to cook and try new recipes. The problem with this was that I would end up filling up my cart with random things to make something I thought up, and in the end I would spend more than I planned or have multiples of the same stuff sitting in the pantry. Such a waste. Plus, having my grocery list ready helped our wallets two-fold because I was able to look in the weekly ads and see if anything on sale was worth getting for dinner. Saving even MORE money! Stress levels have really gone down too, way down. I no longer rush around after work to the store to get items needed for dinner, I already have everything waiting for me at home! It's amazing! We are eating healthier and happier, I love it- and highly recommend it!

This is an example of what we're eating this week, although I may have to
change up the weekend plans a little bit (I forgot Valentines day is coming up!)

weekly menu
Monday: Italian Parmesan Crusted Chicken, Garlic Butter Noodles, and Green Beans
Tuesday: Lemon Garlic Salmon, Brown Rice Pilaf, and Asparagus
Wednesday: Breakfast! Eggs Bennedict with Hollandaise sauce and Crackers-style Potatoes
Thursday: Rotini Pasta Bake with Broccoli
Friday: Date Night (any ideas for a romantic dinner out?)
Saturday: Juicy Lucy Hawaiian Burgers with Sweet Tater Fries
Sunday: usually family dinner, but I think I'll make something yummy for love day..

Do any of you have a similar plan?
How do you plan out your weeks?
let me know if you want to try these recipes!

this weeks fave

2011-02-05T08:56:00.000-08:00

(excuse the iphone photo, although i still think it looks amazing!)

Stu loved this new recipe I tried this week, and I must say I thought it was pretty tasty myself! We went out to Sauce last week and I tried out the Caesar Salad Pizza, which was good, but wasn't really my favorite, anyway it gave me an idea for this recipe. If your hubby is anything like mine, he will love it!

BL(A)T Salad Pizza

1 package of whole wheat pizza dough (fresh and easy has the yummiest, and only $1)
olive oil
S&P and various seasonings to taste
5-6 strips of bacon
1 cup cheddar cheese (i used less, just enough to sprinkle over the crust)
2 heads of romaine lettuce, chopped
2 roma tomatoes
2 avocados

Preheat oven to 450°F and roll out pizza dough on stone or regular cooking tray. Put a little corn meal or flour under the dough to prevent it from getting stuck. (it's best to leave your dough out of the fridge for at least 20 mins before rolling, but if you don't have time then it's alright)
Poke holes all over your dough and brush olive oil all over it. Sprinkle with s&p and any other seasonings you desire; I used a little garlic, a teensy bunch of rosemary leaves, and oregano. Stick in the oven until golden and crispy, about 10-12 minutes.
Cook up the bacon strips, and cut them into 1/2 inch pieces. Do this while the crust is in the oven, remember multi-tasking is key!
While the bacon is cooking and making the house smell all delicious; chop up the lettuce, and slice the tomatoes and avocados.
When the pizza crust is all golden, take it out of the oven and spread the cheese and bacon over the top and stick it in the oven for another 2 minutes to make the cheese gooey and delicious.
Slice the crust, it's easier to cut before you have all the toppings on it.. Then top it with the lettuce, tomato and avocado.
Behold the beauty of your creation for as long as you can hold off, then EAT! Stu thought it would be good with a little ranch or sweet baby ray's bbq sauce, it was delish!

Super easy and quick, and sure to put a smile on your hubby's face!

dear baby girl,

2011-02-04T15:22:00.000-08:00

we're past the halfway point! only about 19 1/2 weeks till you join your daddy and i! we met your beautiful brand-new cousin last night, and you were so excited! i think you felt her presence. you kept poking around all night and early this morning :) i absolutely love feeling you move. i'm starting to feel you more and more now, it's the greatest. more people are starting to notice you, one of my sunbeams even said that my belly "keeps getting HUGER" which half warms my heart, half makes me super self-conscious. i bought some new jeans this week so i didn't have to keep squishing you in my old ones and i think both of us are grateful. which reminds me, we bought a couple things for you that i am just obsessed with, i just love picturing you in them and can't wait to see what you look like! will you have daddy's sunflower eyes? i sure hope so. we found out last week that you are starting to hear things with your cute little ears, so we have started singing and talking to you even more. daddy just loves talking to you and kissing my belly, knowing that you're just a few inches away. every morning he gets on his knees and talks to you for a few seconds, telling you how much he loves you and i. we are so precious to him. you are so precious to us. keep growing healthy and strong little one, we are anxiously waiting for you!

love, mommy

productivity is my middle name

2011-01-31T09:13:00.000-08:00

i have the week off (yes!) i plan to keep this by my bed to make sure i don't let it pass me by. the weather is gorgeous, i have a million projects on my to-do list, and the future baby room resembles something off the hoarders show on TLC... i'm gonna bust out the beach cruiser, knock a few of these projects off my list, and get that room in order- fully taking advantage of this week! so excited!

[feel free to download and print off this image for your own home if you need a little extra encouragement in the mornings like me :)

just click on it to take it to its full size and then send it to your printer!]

love sundays

2011-01-30T21:17:00.000-08:00

Today was fantastic. I love great talks. I love the spirit. I love this thought:

"Service does not always mean performing a physical act of service for someone,
sometimes it means simply being the person you need to be for the person that needs you."

At first I was confused when I heard this, but then I thought about it a little more. I know that more often than not, the people who have served me most in my life were just being their normal, wonderful selves when they happened to serve me in a way I could not have even asked for. I hope I can be this to someone.

results are in!

2011-01-25T19:51:00.000-08:00

and we could not be more excited!

So we had our ultrasound today at 4:30pm (we absolutely LOVE our ultrasound tech Michelle, she is amazing!) but we had her keep the gender a secret from us for a couple of hours... She sealed up the photo with the gender in an envelope because we wanted to open it with all of our family tonight. Let me tell you, it was TORTURE!!! I thought I wasn't going to be able to handle it! I wanted to peek so bad! But, to even my amazement, I left that blasted envelope alone and got some yummy treats put together for mine and Stu's families to enjoy when they came over. It was really SO neat, we had my little sister Rachel read the note to everyone and she announced that we would be having a BABY GIRL!!! It was fun being surprised along with everyone else, I was so happy! I mean, am. I AM SO HAPPY! To be honest, I've had an inkling that there was a little girl in there, but everyone else thought it was a boy! Stu could not be happier, he is such a proud daddy and is already making plans to spoil his little princess rotten. Now I guess we just have to start figuring out what to call this little one, but for now I am just excited to say things like, "ah SHE'S getting so big!" or "I can feel HER moving!" instead of calling her "it" or "the baby." So if you want to pass along any cute names, we're all ears!!!

P.S. ahh I just can't stop grinning! I am just so excited!!!

place your bets

2011-01-23T08:04:00.001-08:00

We find out in 2 days whether we're having a

SO EXCITED!!!

I really have no idea what's been brewing in this belly of mine, so many people have their theories though... You know the whole, "if you crave veggies then you're having a _____" yada, yada, yada... Who knows if it's true? So to give you a better guess, here are some of the weird, I've-only-done-this-since-being-pregnant things over the last 4 1/2 months:

-I hate veggies. (just now, which is devastating because I usually love them!) ugh and salads gross me out.
-I have always been obsessed with berries and citrus, but now it's over the top... I can polish off an entire Costco-size container of strawberries in a day (by myself) and clementine cuties are my best friend. Also, I did not love apples before- now I eat them with a vengeance.
-I love anything sweet, but I also love salty and crunchy things like chips or cheeze-its.
-I sleep mostly on my left side. I hate that I can't sleep on my back anymore!
-My hair has gone limp limp limp! I can't get any volume without a ton of product.
-I didn't really start having "morning sickness" until about 9 weeks, but it has lasted for a good portion of the 2nd trimester. I hardly ever got sick in the mornings, it was usually all around nighttime. big thumbs down.
-This baby is HIGH MAINTENANCE. Our little soybean likes to be fed every two hours, pretty much on the dot. Otherwise the nausea sets in... No thank you.
-I gained a TON of weight right right at the beginning (like the first ten weeks), but haven't gained any since. Although I feel like I look like I'm at least 30 lbs up from when I started.
-I am tired. ALL. THE. TIME.

Haha I don't know if these give any hints as to what I'm having, it probably just means I'm big and pregnant and my body is doing some fun stuff right now! So fun!

what's your guess?

why stu loves me

2011-01-20T10:55:00.000-08:00

I make this recipe every once in a while, it's one of Stu's faves. It's super great this time of year while the weather is still a little chilly. This time I made little mini pot pies, and they turned out so cute (and delicious) This is a super easy recipe, especially if you use refrigerated pie crusts.



Chicken Pot Pie:
1 refrigerated pie crust (Pillsbury is the best) or you can make your own if you have a good recipe
3 tbs. flour
1/4 tsp. garlic powder (I never measure the seasonings out, but this seems about right)
1 lb. chicken breast cut into cubes
3 tbs. butter
1-2 cans chicken broth (depending on how much gravy you want)
3 cups frozen mixed vegetables
a little S&P to taste

Preheat oven to 425°F. Only heat to 410°F if making mini pies.
Combine flour, garlic powder, and S&P in medium bowl.
Add cubed chicken to bowl; and coat the chicken pieces in flour mixture.
Melt butter in large skillet oven medium-high heat. Add the chicken and any remaining flour to skillet and stir until chicken is brown, about 5 minutes.
Stir in broth. Bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits (for added flavor, according to rachel ray). Reduce heat to low, cover skillet and simmer until chicken is cooked through, and gravy starts to thicken up. Add the veggies and turn for about two minutes, not too long because they will cook in the oven. (no one likes mushy veggies!)
Line the bottom of your pie plate with one of the pie crusts and bake in the oven for about five minutes to make it nice and crisp. Do this right after you add the chicken broth. (it's all about the multi-tasking people!)
Plop the yummy chicken and veggies to your pie plate or other mini bake-safe dishes.
Top with pie crust; seal and crimp edge and make slits (or a cute cut-out design) to vent. Bake in oven until crust is golden, about 15 minutes.
Let cool for about ten minutes and devour!!!

2011-01-18T19:52:00.000-08:00

Almost halfway there!!! It's been a while since I updated... I was fortunate enough to catch a nasty little cold (on top of dealing with the fun pregnancy nausea) and didn't feel like doing much outside of work except sleep for the last couple weeks. [FYI: it's completely true when they say that illnesses take longer to get over when you're pregnant. If you're pregnant and you see that someone near you is sick, RUN in the opposite direction. It sucks.] ANYWAY, I'm just really excited because my little bump is getting more noticeable and I feel our little soybean (it's actually about the size of a bell pepper now) moving around from time to time! It is the most incredible feeling in the world. It doesn't happen too often, but when I feel her/him, it is such tender moment :) Like one time, Stu and I were checking out rockers at a baby store and I was just sitting there (not wanting to get up) when all of a sudden I felt a little prodding from INSIDE my belly. Indigestion? Nope! Our BABY!!! I can't help but shed happy tears every single time- it's the greatest. Anyway, now that I'm getting past the nauseous, only-eat-top-ramen-and-crackers phase I am LOVING being pregnant. Plus, we find out what we're having in one week!!! I can't wait! The best will be seeing how Stu reacts to the news, he is going to be such a good daddy...

WOAHHHH where'd that come from?
(excuse my post-nap, no make-up, frump look)

Completely in love with life and the little buddy growing in my belly

baby on board!!!

2010-12-19T14:43:00.000-08:00

We could NOT be more excited! We're going to be parents!!! We waited to announce this for a little bit, but I couldn't hold it in any longer :) We can't wait to start this new chapter of our life together!!!

We waited a little long to send out Christmas cards (I made them all up, but I just never got around to printing and sending them) So consider this our card this year!

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

2010-12-18T06:12:00.000-08:00

This past month has been a little crazy with work and stu finishing up his semester at school. We got all of our decorations up, started our Christmas shopping, even baked some yummy Christmas treats. But we haven't had time to do some of our favorite things! I can't wait for this next week, I have every night planned with fun "get-us-in-the-christmas-spirit" things. Here's my checklist :)

We had my office Christmas party a couple days ago, it was so fun! I love getting together and seeing everyone out of scrubs and ready to have a good time :) We got our first Christmas present at the white elephant gift exchange that my doctors hosted. Can I just say that I LOVE my job?!! Stu and I got a Wii and an extra controller to enjoy- good thing too, we are absolutely obsessed with JustDance!!! This definitely gave us a head-start on getting in the spirit for Christmas, so excited for this next week!!

here's a pic of all the ladies of RME (minus aubrey) LOVE THEM!!!

2010-12-17T05:58:00.000-08:00

I had a good talk with a friend yesterday. We just talked about what was going on in her life; it wasn't so much her story, but her insights related to the story that affected me. It lasted no more than 20 minutes, and I'm sure she doesn't know the impact she had on my day.

This is something I've been thinking on ever since.

There is only one source where all things negative originate: Satan. Any negative thought, negative judgement, negative action starts with Satan. He is manipulative, cunning, and he probably knows us better than we think we know ourselves. No good things come from him. If we give in to those negative thoughts, even momentarily, we give power to Satan. We let him win, even if it is for an instant, he has gained a victory.

A lot of my "negative" thinking is about myself... Now don't get me wrong, I am so happy about my life and the people in it. I LOVE MY LIFE. I know I am incredibly blessed. But I have weaknesses. And I know that my biggest one is to be overly critical about myself. (and i can be kind of a messy person) One thought can put a damper on my day, because I choose to dwell on it. And then of course I make it bigger than it is by analyzing other things that are "wrong" with me or I think about things I should be better at, or what I can do to make others happier. yadda yadda... vicious cycle. And I know I won't change over night. But I know that thinking about negative thinking in this way, remembering that these thoughts are coming from satan, that he is winning when I give in to these thoughts, well it just makes me want to fight it all the more.

I'm starting my new years resolution early... What do you say friends? Can we choose to combat satan one ugly thought at a time?

tender mercy of the day: yesterday was just a good day for self-reflection... As I was driving out to one of our other offices, I switched the radio station and found a classic- "the middle" by one of the greats, Jimmy Eat World. It's been one of my faves for years, I've heard it a million and a half times, but I think yesterday is the first time I've really listened to it. If you have some time, I would grab your ipod and click on over to it... it really is good for the soul.

planning a trip

2010-12-13T20:38:00.000-08:00

Guess what?!!

Mine and Stu's 2 year anniversary is coming up! (I know, crazy.)
I'm in charge this year, which means that I get to plan the trip and surprise Stu with something fun :)
Any suggestions? We really only have 2-3 days that we can be away from work/school so we're thinking it needs to be something close.

maybe some of this?

or this?

(i wish...)

I personally think just some(maybe a lot) of this would be beyond perfect...

2010-12-10T14:04:00.000-08:00

i need witnesses

2010-12-09T05:01:00.000-08:00

i, angie milne, will NOT cut my hair (only trim/shaping appointments) until it has reached optimal length. (approx. 24-36 inches) i needed to make this public so that i can be held accountable in case i get the urge to cut it short again...

this is the goal people:

oh dear...

2010-12-04T10:26:00.000-08:00

these bad boys have been so tasty lately...
not so good for the hips, especially when paired with all the yummy holiday treats i've been downing.
help...

christmas is coming!

2010-12-03T07:57:00.000-08:00

still need photos taken for holiday cards? 
interested in a mini-session??? 

$40 for 20 mins of quality photo time
at a location of your choice
and 15+ edited images on a disc for you!
email me for details:
angiehmilne{at}gmail{dot}com

p.s. isn't this family just the cutest?!! some of my favorite clients ever!

such a slacker

2010-11-29T18:52:00.000-08:00

is it so lame that i
really haven't blogged
about our life lately
because i've been such
a slacker at taking pictures?
i swear we do fun things... promise.

happy thanksgiving

2010-11-25T10:42:00.000-08:00

"Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings."

"This is a wonderful time to be on earth. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach. Our lives are blessed in countless ways. We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”'

"Do material possessions make us happy and grateful? Perhaps momentarily. However, those things which provide deep and lasting happiness and gratitude are the things which money cannot buy: our families, the gospel, good friends, our health, our abilities, the love we receive from those around us. Unfortunately, these are some of the things we allow ourselves to take for granted."

"When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. However, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given."

-President Tomas S. Monson (latest General Conference)

Stu and I have MUCH to be thankful for this year... Mostly we are so grateful for loving friends and family, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the copious amounts of turkey and gravy we will be feasting on today. Happy Turkey Day all!!!

2010-11-07T14:52:00.000-08:00

dear sickness,

you've been with me for the past 8 days, effectively RUINING my week off and messing with my weekend. just go away already. you stink, and I don't like you.

not even remotely yours,
angie milne

happy weekend

2010-11-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

2010-10-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

"Because of its sheer size, media today presents vast and sharply contrasting options. Opposite from its harmful and permissive side, media offers much that is positive and productive. Television offers history channels, discovery channels, education channels. One can still find movies and TV comedies and dramas that entertain and uplift and accurately depict the consequences of right and wrong. The Internet can be a fabulous tool of information and communication, and there is an unlimited supply of good music in the world. Thus our biggest challenge is to choose wisely what we listen to and what we watch.

As the prophet Lehi said, because of Christ and His Atonement, we are “free forever, knowing good from evil,” able to act for ourselves rather than be acted upon, “free to choose liberty and eternal life … or to choose captivity and death."

The choices we make in media can be symbolic of the choices we make in life. Choosing the trendy, the titillating, the tawdry in the TV programs or movies we watch can cause us to end up, if we’re not careful, choosing the same things in the lives we live.

If we do not make good choices, the media can devastate our families and pull our children away from the narrow gospel path. In the virtual reality and the perceived reality of large and small screens, family-destructive viewpoints and behavior are regularly portrayed as pleasurable, as stylish, as exciting, and as normal. Often media’s most devastating attacks on family are not direct or frontal or openly immoral. Intelligent evil is too cunning for that, knowing that most people still profess belief in family and in traditional values. Rather the attacks are subtle and amoral—issues of right and wrong don’t even come up. Immorality and sexual innuendo are everywhere, causing some to believe that because everyone is doing it, it must be all right. This pernicious evil is not out in the street somewhere; it is coming right into our homes, right into the heart of our families.

Let me say again that the family is the main target of evil’s attack and must therefore be the main point of our protection and defense. As I said once before, when you stop and think about it from a diabolically tactical point of view, fighting the family makes sense to Satan. When he wants to disrupt the work of the Lord, he doesn’t poison the world’s peanut butter supply, thus bringing the Church’s missionary system to its collective knees. He doesn’t send a plague of laryngitis to afflict the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He doesn’t legislate against green Jell-O and casseroles. When evil wants to strike out and disrupt the essence of God’s work, it attacks the family. It does so by attempting to disregard the law of chastity, to confuse gender, to desensitize violence, to make crude and blasphemous language the norm, and to make immoral and deviant behavior seem like the rule rather than the exception.

We need to remember Edmund Burke’s statement: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” We need to raise our voices with other concerned citizens throughout the world in opposition to current trends. We need to tell the sponsors of offensive media that we have had enough. We need to support programs and products that are positive and uplifting.

Of course the most basic way to protest negative-impact media is simply not to watch it, see it, read it, or play it."

M. Russell Ballard

Stu and I had decided to make some changes in what we watch on Tuesday nights. Reading this, I have no regrets and am more confident that our decision was the right one.

2010-10-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

dear stu,

& i love our life.
'nuff said.

love, me.

loving sunday

2010-10-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

i belong to the church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints
i know who i am, i know Gods plan
i'll follow Him in faith
i believe in the Savior Jesus Christ
i'll honor His name
i'll do what is right, i'll follow His light
His truth i will proclaim!

i'm back with the sunbeams and i couldn't be happier listening to their sweet voices belting this song all day.

2010-09-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

"To live greatly, we must develop the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility."

-Thomas S. Monson

i snagged this from a friends blog, definitely exactly what i needed today... i love the prophet.

wishing i could boycott mondays

2010-09-13T22:38:00.000-07:00

mondays are just evil.
going back to real life after having and awesome, relaxing, work-free, football-filled weekend.. just BITES.
and is it just me, or do they always seem to be more stressful than any other day?

MONDAYS... UGH.

thank goodness for hubbys who know just what you need to turn your day around. mmm i love my chipotle... I mean, husband :)

it's the most wonderful time of the year...

2010-09-04T16:15:00.000-07:00

GO COUGS!!!

2010-08-30T07:12:00.001-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

I don't have much time, but I wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the most amazing person I know! Stu turns the big 2-5 today! I LOVE you baby!

dear sister,

2010-08-29T13:56:00.000-07:00

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE???
You think you can just go away to college all grown up and stuff? No sir. Not allowed.

Jamie (baby sis) and I talked yesterday and cried about how much we're going to miss you. Even though you're only 2 hours away. But that's what it's like when your sisters are your best friends. The Three Musketeers. It's hard not to be able to see each other just when you want to, share clothes and exchange shoes, chit chat about every little thing imaginable, go on shopping trips and get some fro-yo therapy... I hate that you're gone.

But, I am so PROUD of you little sister. I am so excited for you; you get to live on your own, have new experiences with new friends, date college boys, learn to live the dorm life, experience a few all-nighters, feel your testimony grow by taking institute, eat hot pockets... I'm excited for the growth I will no doubt see in you by the end of this first semester. Jamie and I also talked about what an incredible person you are. So kind, so smart, so beautiful- inside and out. There's no question in my mind that you will do so well in school, and have the time of your life :)

i LOVE you Tina! Miss you so much!

p.s. I'm kinda glad that you have a weird-ish, lizard-obsessed roommate... that means you'll come home more on the weekends right?

so this is love..

2010-08-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

Let me set the record straight... cheetos and I have never had a good relationship. The idea of cheese-flavored puffy, crunchy snack sticks kind of gross me out. But then, Stu and I tried these somewhere and we quickly became addicts. You better believe that I lick my fingers clean of their cheesy/jalapeno-y goodness... YUM!
(try a bag!)

2010-08-15T22:40:00.000-07:00

"...temple work crosses worldly boundaries to bring eternal blessings to all the inhabitants of the earth. The temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are truly built for the benefit of all the world, irrespective of nationality, culture, or political orientation."

"The temple teaches us about the sacred purpose of life and helps us get our true physical and spiritual bearings."

"The temple recommend is a symbol of our faithfulness and determination to serve the Lord."
Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“Every foundation stone that is laid for a Temple, and every Temple completed, lessens the power of Satan on the earth, and increases the power of God and Godliness.”

Pres. George Q. Cannon (the beloved Cannon Centers' namesake)

Just a few of my favorite thoughts from this months First Presidency Message. Oh how I love the temple.

last weeks trip up to payson and flag!

2010-08-13T14:58:00.000-07:00

Stu and I have been planning a little getaway for a little while now. We hadn't gone any where for vacation since California, and we hadn't gone a trip together, just us, since maybe last fall? We had sooo much fun, especially since we got to get out of the heat for a little bit. We stayed at the Majestic Mountain Inn, with a name like that it has to be amazing right? Well it was! It was such a cute little place nestled in the pines. Plus we got to eat at our favorite Beeline Cafe, if you're ever in Payson you HAVE to go! PS get the pie, you won't be sorry.

Then we decided to head up to Flagstaff and see the Cardinals practice! Stu lives for football so it was fun to see our favorite players gearing up for the upcoming season. Plus we got to see our favorite ex-cougar QB, Max Hall practicing right alongside Leinhart and Anderson. So rad. We talked with some of his family and his super cute wife who said things are looking good for him.

one happy boy.

I love that we can enjoy so many things together. Of course with anything we're doing, as long as we're together, it's always fun. I love this guy. And I reallllly love making him happy :)

Our pick for the Cards starting quarterback! Still waiting for Leinhart to show up...

2010-08-10T21:54:00.000-07:00

We had the opportunity to go to Stu's brothers home today, so Stu could participate in blessing his niece before she goes in for an operation tomorrow morning. I watched as the brothers gathered around her sweet head and blessed her with the authority from Heavenly Father. It humbles me completely to know of the power these worthy men hold, I am so grateful for it. We will continue to pray for little Bela, and we know that Heavenly Father is watching over their family.

Please keep them in your prayers. You can read about Bela's amazing journey here.

sure do love this little girl.

better reality

2010-08-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

I know I'm pretty slacking in my posts lately, Stu and I have just been busy soaking up all the greatness of this Arizona summer :) I promise I'll get better, there's so much to update!

You know when you just wake up on the right side of the bed? Today was one of those days for me. Well, actually, I rolled out on the left side of the bed--but you know what I mean. I had to be at work early, and I woke up late, but I just felt so happy and eager for the day. I'm pretty sure it had to do with my dream last night. It was so weird, it was like I went back in time to the night Stu proposed and lived out my memory. I LOVED it. Well when I got home I looked back at the post I wrote about the night Stu proposed and was just filled with so many warm fuzzlies. Stu knew how much I love Kalai and bought us tickets to his concert and planned to propose afterward. It was the greatest. Here we are almost two years later... Sometimes I can't believe where our life together has brought us, it's incredible. One of my favorite of his songs is "Divide Me" -- these lyrics describe exactly how I feel every day when I wake up next to the love of my life.

I've waited my whole life to feel this blessed
now I'm comparing the dream to the way it is...
and i know i never dreamed anything up this good.

2010-07-12T23:35:00.000-07:00

beach love

2010-07-07T10:01:00.000-07:00

Status: just got back from an amazing week at Huntington. Stu's parents are big believers in 4th of July at the beach, which I am sooo grateful for. My only wish is that we were heading back there tomorrow for more.
Gosh I love it.

What's not to love? Jacks strips, sandy toes, tanlines, awesome company, patriotism, parades, fireworks, great reads on the beach, adorable littles, caramel apple pops, smashball, laughing till your cheeks hurt every night, milne family love... ahh take me back!

2010-06-27T08:49:00.001-07:00

seeing cardboard

2010-06-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

Packing, packing, and more packing... and it seems the end is nowhere in sight!

Well actually, Stu and I [mostly Stu] got a LOT of stuff packed away into boxes and some of our furniture moved into storage. We still have a week or so before we need to be totally moved out of our apartment, but we preferred to do it little by little so it's not so stressful. It's actually been kind of fun! I've made a list:

There's nothing like moving to help you...
--find all the things you thought got eaten up by the dryer monster or "borrowed" by your sisters.
--realize that you have WAY too much stuff. Serious de-junking time.
--remember how studly and strong your husband is :)
--convince your husband that it really would be lovely to have a truck of our own.
--wish that you had picked an apartment on the ground floor. or a different month for moving.
--find the bag of rotting potatoes, who knows how old. (oh THAT's where the smell was coming from...)
--think about all the projects you had planned, never to finish them. Slackerrrr.
--make you think about investing in a maid.
--see how stingy Craigslist shoppers can be. (ps if anyone is in the market for a tv...)
--feel super nostalgic about all the precious/funny/unforgettable memories you made in your home. Especially since this was our first home as 'The Milnes' and we loved it here.

Anyway, it's not all bad. It's kind of fun packing up your whole life anticipating the next great adventure that awaits you. We're excited.

On a side note, Stu and I found the greatest carne asada in the world. And we feel the need to let everyone in on the secret, share the goodness. Anyway, we felt we deserved a break around 6pm last night and decided to shower up and go on a little "explore the treasures of mesa date." I had heard about this place via blogland and decided it wouldn't hurt to try it out. This family opens up a little restaurant in their backyard on Fridays and Saturdays from 5-midnight. They only have carne asada: tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, and baked potatoes (loaded with carne and other good stuff)- but it's all SO good! Stu's fave was the quesadilla with everything (more like a burrito, I think) and mine was the taco with everything. I could eat five. We both LOVED the drinks they had, one was like a chocolatey horchata. Mmmmmm. All of it was really inexpensive and REALLY, really good. To quote Stu last night post quesadilla consumption, "I am amazing right now." If you want directions to mexican food heaven, let me know, I'll hook you up :)

2010-06-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

sometimes people are lame.
sometimes i get my feelings hurt.
sometimes i almost make illegal u-turns into grocery stores so i can buy happiness (ice cream).
sometimes i call stuart on my way home and cry to him.
every time he makes me feel better and i forget why i was sad in the first place.

thank goodness for husbands.

2010-06-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

milne life lately

2010-06-14T22:39:00.001-07:00

So much has happened in our little milne family last month!

We had the chance to go to a few play-off games this year and we definitely took them! Boy do we love our SUNS! They definitely had a good run and we're looking forward to the 2010-2011 season!

We've also had fun playing on a city league softball team with some friends, so fun! Sadly I don't have any pictures of our team, but I do have some of us at the batting cages... Yeah, I realllly had to work on my slow-pitch batting skills...

mmm look at that form!

Here's a picture of stu after his big-time slide into home. He scored the winning point with this run! (please excuse the messy apartment, it's not always like that.. )

These two were sealed in the Mesa temple on May 28th! It was such a perfect day and they were happy as can be. Some of Stuart's family that we don't get to see too often were able to come for the occasion and we had so much fun with them! It was seriously a week-long party! Stu and I are excited about all the fun times that lie ahead for them. Congrats Graf and Laurisa!

Jodie and Kev started a tradition last year, Memorial Day at Gainey Ranch! We had soooo much fun enjoying a relaxing day at the "fake beach" (as Benson calls it). Mostly, these pictures just remind me how pale I am...

Then it was off to girls camp for me! This year was ward camp and the theme was "Princess Bootcamp" It was a LOT of work and preparation, but man was it worth it! Our theme was based on two things, the mutual theme for the year (joshua 1:9-be strong) and President Uchtdorf's talk at the YW broadcast. Our focus was to strengthen others and ourselves, physically and spiritually so that we can make it to our own happily ever after.

It was a perfect mix of fun and the spirit, and I think everyone had a great time. We "rough it" in our stake, meaning we don't go to Lo Mia, we camp in TENTS. It's not as bad as the huge deal I make about it every year, and it really was beautiful out there!

right before our canoe got tipped and we ended up in the lake..

All of these YW are incredible and I have had the best experience working with them. They have taught me so much. I am really going to miss them! Love you girls!

Which brings me to our big news... We're moving! Well, just temporarily to Stu's parents house until our house closes. We are so sad to leave our first home and first family ward, but we know that exciting things are in store for us! We have made great friends and have learned so much from this last year and a half of marriage- life has been wonderful! Thank you all for your love and support!

Stay tuned to find out where we finally end up...

large update in the works

2010-06-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

but in the meantime... here's a pretty picture and some good reading

[picture from our trip to SLC two months ago]

"I want to draw your attention to something very significant, very extraordinary. On the first page of your Young Women Personal Progress book, you will find these words: 'You are a beloved daughter of Heavenly Father, prepared to come to the earth at this particular time for a sacred and glorious purpose.'

Sisters, those words are true! They are not made up in a fairy tale! Isn’t it remarkable to know that our eternal Heavenly Father knows you, hears you, watches over you, and loves you with an infinite love? In fact, His love for you is so great that He has granted you this earthly life as a precious gift of “once upon a time,” complete with your own true story of adventure, trial, and opportunities for greatness, nobility, courage, and love. And, most glorious of all, He offers you a gift beyond price and comprehension. Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own 'happily ever after.'"

---Elder Uchtdorf

read the rest of this amazing talk HERE.

girls night

2010-05-24T22:22:00.000-07:00

Stu's brother gets married on Friday! We are soooo excited! Avery (SIL) and I were talking about how much fun it's going to be because the three brothers are so close and we just know that we'll all be great friends because of it! I absolutely LOVE the sweet girl Grafton chose to marry, I feel like we've been sisters ever since he "put a ring on it!" We all get along so great, and have so, SOO much fun together! This weekend was her little bachelorette party (while the boys enjoyed burgers at Fudds) and it was hilarious/fun/a blast!

dinner at gecko grill

the cute little bride-to-be

all the fun girls after Laurisa opened her scandalous gifts :) yes, i felt OLD.

While all that was outrageously fun, the real fun begins Friday when these two are sealed together for all eternity.

I can't wait, it's going to be the party of the century.

Ris asked me to take some fun pictures of them to hang up at their reception, go here to see some of the others...

sneak peek

2010-05-18T21:22:00.002-07:00

seriously sooo excited for these two.
more to come :)

ahhh-mazinnnng

2010-05-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

last night, we got to see this:

LIVE!!!

Ahhh it was soooo much fun and seriously AMAZING. The best part: We started out with good seats (first row, third balcony). But halfway through the concert, a friend of Stu's Uncle Paul asked us if we wanted to move down. TO THE 12th ROW. FRONT AND CENTER. ummm hi, is that even a question?? I seriously died and went to show choir heaven. Second best part, two words: KURT HUMMEL. (i don't know his non-gLee name..) his Defying Gravity solo was wayyyy better than Rachel Berry's, and all I can say is I am going to be GLUED to the tv next week to watch for the Lady Gaga song they performed. ahhh still obsessssssssed!

a BIG shout out goes to this guy:

BEST. BIRTHDAY. PRESENT. EVER.
thank you so sooo sooooo much love! you-da, you-da bessssst!

i love so much that we love the same things, and enjoy doing so much together. we are the perfect match, in every way.

workin' it

2010-05-12T22:04:00.000-07:00

I seriously have THE BEST job ever. I work with so many fun girls that just make my day! Danie brought her camera to work this week and did a little post about us here. I stole some of our fun pics from her blog (love you danie!)

ash, danie and i. the color coordinating was completely unplanned!

all the assistants (minus amanda): DJ, Kenzie, Kim, Ashley, Danie, Me

the FROST team: Ash, Me (i look like a rodent), kim

so fun! love these girls!

Sometimes I can't believe how blessed I am to work for such great doctors and with some AMAZING, beautiful girls! This isn't even half of them either, the front office girls are so great and I just love them to pieces! I love RME!

the best part of my life

2010-05-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

better than i was, more than i am.
and all of this happened by taking your hand.
who i am now is who I wanted to be.
now that we're together, i'm stronger than ever, i'm happy and free.

oh it's a beautiful thing, don't think i can keep it all in
if you asked me why i've changed, all i gotta do is say your sweet name

it's your love
it just does something to me, it sends a shock right through me
i can't get enough.
and if you wonder, about the spell i'm under
it's your love

to my perfect match, i love you (super mucho)

alright already

2010-05-06T00:10:00.000-07:00

i don't even know if any of you follow my escapades in photography... but if you do, you may be pleased to know that i have finally updated le foto blog... go ahead, check it ouuuut!

angie milne photography

2010-05-04T21:49:00.000-07:00

forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. Kahlil Gibran

thank you bethany for this amazing new location for photos. ahhh-mazing. her pictures turned out incredible, i can't wait to share!

happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me

2010-04-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

yep, that's me. i turn the big 2-2 today!
wahoo!

confession time

2010-04-14T09:25:00.000-07:00

I stayed home from class last night...

To watch this:

and I don't feel bad about it. AT ALL.

i feel my saviors love

2010-04-04T08:47:00.000-07:00

i feel my Savior's love

in all the world around me
His spirit warms my soul
through everything i see
He knows i will follow Him
give all my life to Him
i feel my Savior's love
the love He freely gives me

I love my Savior, I can't begin to comprehend all that He has done for me. But I know that His love is real. I know that it can take away tears and sad times, I know it can ease loneliness, bear burdens; I know it can warm and comfort weary hearts. I am so grateful to Him, my Savior.

hope you have a wonderful easter sunday!

sometimes

2010-03-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

"sometimes life hands you a crap sandwich.. you just gotta smile and take a bite!"

-- Joann Milne

i have the best in-laws :) I hope this doesn't embarrass her... love you Jodie!

2010-03-23T21:34:00.001-07:00

rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine.

--mario fernandez

Today was not my favorite day. I kind of had a little "poor me" sesh as I sat at home staring out at the gloomy, rainy day. I was just kind of frustrated about a few things that are going on right now. It's been reaffirmed to me lately though, that attitude is truly everything. I can't change what happens, but I can decide how I'm going to react/think about it. The best way get out of a slump is to stop thinking about the bad and focus on the good. I know, easier said than done... That's where ice cream comes in. Luckily I have a great husband, great family and friends, and a whole lot of blessings I can focus on to pull me out of the dumps.

This picture is from a senior shoot last week. Doesn't it just make your insides warm?

two words: gordon bombay

2010-03-21T23:52:00.000-07:00

I started feeling sickness creep in last night night as Stu and I ran to the grocery store and grabbed some last minute essentials (aka two tubs of ice cream) to stock up before Sunday. This morning Stu started feeling it. Not good. So trying to take it easy, we ate some brothy soup for dinner and cuddled up to half-watch some classics. (half-watch because we were falling in and out of sleep the whole time)

I've come to this conclusion: D2 is one of the greatest movies of all time.

I don't understand it, I never get sick. Or I never did before. Now It seems like I'm sick every other week? I don't get it. Help? Hopefully we can recoup before our work week starts... in 7 hours... crap.

commencement

2010-03-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

my sister is b-e-a-utiful.
and i love her so much.
and i can't believe she is graduating.
this year.
hooooly cow.
this photo is from her senior sesh last week.
model? i think yes.

book your senior session today!

$30/30 mins and a disc of 15+ images.
announcement templates available
email at: angiehmilne@gmail.com

it's all over folks!

2010-03-15T21:50:00.000-07:00

Stu did the drawings this time, and I am ecstatic about his picks!
The fates (or the little pieces of paper with your names on them) have spoken...

aaaaand,

Congratulations! I'm excited to get with you this week for your sessions!

Email me at angiehmilne@gmail.com

Thank you to those who joined in on the game, I am grateful for your support! I really am loving this part of my life and loving learning to further develop my eye as a photographer. ps i am super happy with the quotes you all came up with, made my day!

If you did not win a free session, and are still interested in a mini-session, schedule with me this week!

$20 for 30 mins of camera time
and at least 15 images on a disc for you!

I'm currently editing photos from a wedding Stu and I shot this weekend. It was absolutely beautiful! Nothing beats taking pictures of beautiful people in love :) I'm excited to share my favorite images from the day! Coming soon!

everybody loves a giveaway

2010-03-13T07:14:00.000-08:00

Truth be told, since I've started my new job I've only opened my schedule to a few photo shoots in the last couple months. Thank you to those who have been referring, and sorry to those who I've had to send elsewhere. It's been MONTHS since I updated the photo blog. I need to get on that, it's pathetic... Thank you so much for your patience!

But I have some fun news! This week is spring break for me (no work and NO SCHOOL) and I would love to get some more time behind my baby! Plus I have expanded my photo editing software arsenal and I am soooo excited to use it!
So to celebrate spring break-ness, I'm offering 2 mini-sesh giveaways and a 50% discount off all shoots this next week! endless possibilities... product photography, baby pictures, senior portraits, family, friends, pets, bowling posse...

giveaway rules: (because they all need rules right?)

---three chances for entry:
. leave a comment telling me what you'd have in mind for your session and your favorite Office quote (if you do not partake in the awesomeness that is The Office, Heavy Weights (the movie) is a suitable alternative)
. FOLLOW ME... or die. Okay, totally kidding... maybe. (two points for you if you follow both blogs)
. Leave a nice large Diet Coke on my doorstep. Crushed ice please. (don't really do this, i would feel weird. i just needed a 3rd rule.)

---giveaway ends monday at 9pm
---mini-sesh must take place during this next week. march 16th-20th.

winners will receive:
---30 mins to 1 hour of camera loving
---a disc of fully edited images with rights to print
---one of my pretty florbric creations (floral-fabric? hmmm not too catchy, is it? i'll have to work on a better name...)
---and a new car! well not really, unless you like matchbox style. i can do that.

If you would just like to book a session for this week at half-price (steal!) email me and we can work out all the details. Weather this week is absolutely b-e-a-utiful! I will travel to various locations, I have a few 'regular' sites that I know and love if you would like ideas. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me!

Giveaway ends Monday at 9pm!!!
ps if you don't care about the giveaway, but would still like to post your favie office quote, please do.

newfound respect

2010-03-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

I had a really neat experience yesterday at work. Well, I don't know if "neat" is really the right word.

As I sat my first patient of the day, she handed me a form that she needed signed, one that I guess she had to take back to her military base. This may seem weird, but I've never really had much contact with any military personnel. As we talked, she explained that she needed to get her teeth taken care of before she left for her second tour. She was going to Iraq this time. I couldn't imagine she was much older than me, and when I asked, she said she would be celebrating her 22nd birthday next month. Same as me. I started to feel the tears build as she told me she spent her 19th birthday in Afghanistan. She met her husband there, they've been married for just over a year. Same as Stu and I. I just couldn't believe how young she was, and how much she has had to face already in her life. But she had no fear, no hesitation in her voice when she told me, "it's just what I've always planned to do." As she left, I teared up again and asked if I could give her hug, which seems like such a small act now. I just needed some way to show my gratitude. She was gracious and obliged, then left for another day of "work."

To all those who have dedicated their lives in service to this country and the millions of people you don't even know, thank you.

some mysterious feeling

2010-03-02T20:12:00.000-08:00

So... I have to preface this post with a "don't judge me" plea. One fateful night a few weeks ago, I convinced Stu to watch The Bachelor with me, and we got hooked. I've never been one to watch those types of reality TV shows, I always found them silly! But to be serious, we started to look forward to Monday nights and new episodes! (yeah, it's pathetic, I know) Well anyway, we only caught the last part of the season finale last night, just in time for Jake to send Tenley home. Idiot. Okay, I (and all the girls at RME) thought he made a bad choice. But I was thinking about what he said on the after-show (yes, we watched the after-show), that there was something he had with the other one, that he didn't have with Tenley. And he couldn't explain it, it was just a "mysterious thing." Although it may be debatable that he's truly "in love" with the other one... I feel like I can relate to that description of love. Love is a mysterious thing! A wonderful, incredible, all-consuming thing. Love helps me get out of bed in the morning, love makes me want to be a better person, love makes me super excited for the future, love makes this crazy life livable. I'm so happy to have found this :) love you so much Stu!

"You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed
sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head
spin like a record
crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh... you make me smile."

thank you uncle kracker

I don't know what brought this post on, I am just so in love with life, and the love of my life!