A place of our own

We finally found a place to move into! We're very excited about it, considering we've seen about 25-30 places (no joke). After a while we got really picky about what we wanted, and in the end we did a pretty good job of finding something that fulfilled our wants and needs, AND within our budget.

We will be able to move in in about a week and a half, which gives us some time to go apartment shopping....for EVERYTHING. I'm planning on scoring on some really great deals. Although, I DID fall in love with a great comfy chair thing the other day that was NOT a great deal....I'm hoping that someday it will be discounted more than what it was.

Part 2: Kauai

So remember when I said that I had an excuse not to post about Kauai (post-graduation/Christmas) because I didn't have WiFi? Well, that was only true for a couple of days, then we got a router.

So here I am finally blogging about Kauai! We had SUCH a great time. Kauai is absolutely beautiful! I wish Wolfgang and I would have gone there more often while we lived in Hawaii. So, to all my Hawaii friends that might be reading this- GO TO KAUAI!!! It's so much more open land and green (believe it or not) and not as crazy as Oahu.

On our trip we just took it easy, enjoyed the beautiful island and each other's company. I do have to say, unfortunately I don't have too many pictures this time. On this trip, I told myself to not take too many pictures, and to just enjoy the moment. I'm SO glad I stuck to that.

In short, this is a few things we did:
-went on beautiful drives
-went on a trek to a beautiful waterfall
-enjoyed the beach...duh
-and best part of it all... went on a catamaran on Christmas Eve and went on the Na Pali coast trip! I do have to say, it was absolutely the best Christmas present.

The weather was perfect, and we saw A LOT of marine activity! The crew even told us how lucky we were to see all that we did. By law, you cannot come within an X amount of yards to whales, but the whales came to us!! Literally, we got so incredibly close to some whales that jumped and breached for us numerous times, and one whale in particular came right up next to the boat, swam under the boat, then came up right next to the boat on the other side and came up to look at us, then disappeared again. Seriously, it was awesome and breathtaking. Such gorgeous and incredible creatures!

We seriously could of not asked for a better Christmas. What I loved is that we didn't really do presents this year, and the little amount we did do, it was so insignificant that it didn't really matter much at all, but what did matter most, was being together with our families and enjoying the moments together at such a great place. I LOVED it.

I could keep going on forever and ever, but I'll spare you. I've got a little bit of pictures for you to enjoy. Please note that in the slide show, starting with the dolphin pictures, that I did NOT take those pictures, but a great photographer that was on our boat took them, and graciously shared them.

Enjoy.

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Let's get this over with.

In case you haven't noticed, "Eat, Pray, Love" has been on my side bar for way too long. --->
I've been reading it on and off for months, between semesters and all...and I've already caved and watched the movie. It's a great book, I'm really enjoying it (it does have a few boring parts, I do have to say) but its about time I finish it.

I think today is the day.

mmmm CAKE.

For weeks at a time, I don't take the time to check out Cake Wrecks even though it is on my blog list. But, on days like today when I actually do go and check it out, I'm never disappointed, and always end up laughing foolishly (a word?) to myself at my laptop.

Go ahead, try it for yourself!

"labor" pains

I may not have any idea what it's like myself,

but this is FUNNY. and very clever.

carless and hungry.

Right about now, I'm really wishin that Cafe Rio delivered.

(Just one more step above your online ordering- you can do it!)

painfully uncreative

I'm constantly inspired by other people's creativity. And by inspired, I don't mean the kind where I jump up and say, "YEAH! I can do that!!" It's the kind of inspired that is like, "woah, that is SO cute!" think of how uncreative I am, then move on in my day and forget about it.

For church activities sometimes, they make and create things...I'm really glad they don't do it as much as they use to anymore, because I really didn't like them, cause it just reminds me of how creative other people are, and how painfully uncreative I am.

Well, hopefully sooner than later, we will be moving into a new apartment. I can't wait to (attempt) to decorate it and make it all cute...yet at the same time because of my awkwardness in creating, I'm scared to death.

I guess we'll just see how it goes when the time comes around!

Got (cheap) milk?

I love milk.

I grew up drinking it all the time- I can say that it is one of my favorite beverages.

After going to college, I didn't drink it as much, because there was not a lot of room in the fridge with 5 other girls, and it was inconvenient to go and get it when it was 0 degrees outside and no car.

Then, I went on to Hawaii, where it is at least $4.79/gal. You quickly learn to use it only if you need it.

I am rejoicing in the fact that milk is now only approximately $1.50/gal

I'm celebrating with a glass of milk.

nap time.

Looking for a place to live (and a job, and a car) is incredibly exhausting. Wolfgang and I have been looking at countless places online, and many in person. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful that we now actually have a choice of places to live, and it's been kinda fun.

After each one of mine/our "housing sessions" though, I feel so exhausted; physically and emotionally.

Good thing I don't have a real life yet, and I can take naps when I want- I better enjoy it while it lasts.

goals

Ok, don't judge, but I still haven't really sat down and solidified my "New Year's Resolutions," partially because I don't want to because they are all in my head and I think they are fine with just sitting there, and partially because I have a terrible memory (maybe I shouldn't rely on this whole "in my head idea afterall...") and partially because I'm just too lazy.

But, I HAVE come up with a few new goals of what I want to do while we are living in AZ, and here they are:

1-Brush up on my Spanish/Wolfgang learn Spanish
-Good thing Marriott ROCKS and gives their employees Rosetta Stone to their employees
for FREE! Whatever language(s) they want!
2-Visit the Grand Canyon, before it gets deathly hot
3-Go visit Mexico...but do some major research on where to go...I'm pretty sure "Rocky Point" isn't the same as it use to be when I was a child and we went several times.

I look forward to accomplishing these.

choose your symptom:

Getting sick is really obnoxious and inconvenient, but you've just got to learn to deal with it.

About two weeks ago, Wolfgang got sick with some sort of cold, and so conveniently lost his voice on his first day of work. He's almost completely better, so that's great news.

Now, the friend we are staying with, poor thing has shingles. Terribly painful and miserable, I'm glad I'm here to help her out a bit, and hoping for the best it doesn't get worse.

As for me, I have a terrible immune system, as those of you who really know me, know. I was so completely impressed that I stayed healthy among all the stress, traveling, moving, late nights, and so forth. Now today, I'm starting to feel a little bit like I'm getting a cold myself, BUT, I do have to day, I'm a pro with my buddy Zicam, and some vitamin C, and I think I will be able keep it from getting bad.

So, I guess we are just a house full of little sickos. Whether its coughing, sneezing, runny nose, aching, we've got all the symptoms covered!

"The Valley"

Hello friends.

Here I am again, being awful at blogging. I'm sorry that I still haven't posted about "Part 2" of the Christmas break, but I do not have wireless internet, and I don't want to take the time to transfer all my pics that I want to use for my post onto the desktop that I'm using. soooo....you're just going to have to wait.

It's official: we are living in "the valley," of AZ that is. So far...its OK.

Luckily, our very good friend of my family is ever-so-kindly letting us stay with her, until we find a place to live. She has been so extremely welcoming and hospitable. Her and I even went to the "Shrek" musical yesterday, and it was EXCELLENT! I secretly get a little jealous of those people with so much talent, and momentarily wish I had their lives.

I never thought I would move to the valley; growing up, I thought it was ugly, stinky, and ghetto. Well, it still is, if you go to the wrong places.

Wolfgang is enjoying his new job, and I'm (not so) enjoying looking for a job, a place to live, and a car and....everything else. But hey, it's a journey, and I'm really getting use to this no-job no-school life. =bad idea. Going from being a full time student with two jobs to absolutely nothing is really confusing at first, but then becomes very delightful.

Since we've moved here (less than a week) there has been a shooting/lock down at a mall not too far away, and a terrible shooting that I'm sure you all have heard of by now. Not sure if I'm ready for this huge city livin', but give me a GPS and a few more weeks or months, and I think I'll be ok.

It's time.

...to FINALLY document the last few weeks!

I will do them in parts, because I don't want to spend hours blogging, and it make it more fun if it isn't just one huge post, right?

I'm also going to try really hard to not put a million words in the posts; just short, brief, and to the point....with pictures (because that's all you care about anyways, right?) of course.


Part 1: GRADUATION!

After 5 grueling years for me (and only 3 for Wolfgang...I don't want to talk about it) we have finally graduated with our Bachelors Degrees! I can't even tell you how often I wanted to give up, honestly.

In those 5 years, I went to BYU-Idaho for my first 2 years, studying Psychology for about a semester, and the rest of that time my major was Biology. I LOVED biology, and marine biology was my motivation to go to BYU-Hawaii, but it just didn't work out.

I had an awesome time in Idaho, but I'm so glad I transferred to BYU-Hawaii. There I started out as a Biology major with an emphasis in Marine Biology, and ended up changing my major to something completely different, which I ended up getting my degree in: International Cultural Studies with an emphasis in Communications. This major has opened my mind and my heart more than I could have ever imagined.

Wolfgang graduated in Hospitality and Tourism Management. He is awesome at what he does, and he will no doubt be successful in anything that the future holds.

We shared our special day with both of our families, and some friends too. We were adorned with beautiful and thoughtful leis. It was a bitter sweet day, and I was just so happy to finally come to this point in my life, even though it was very surreal. I take great pride in being a BYU-Hawaii alumni! Both Wolfgang and I have been deeply blessed to have attended such a wonderful university, and to have found each other there :)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!

I hope you all had an enjoyable night of celebration.

As for me, I sure did, although it was unfortunately shared w/o Euro man.

A few years ago I learned and decided that bringing in the new year festivities are over rated, especially when you don't drink or do drug. So, I started to have ZERO expectations for new years, and just let happen whatever comes up!

Last night turned out well, my friend and I were both husbandless, so we went to two (married) "parties" as a couple, and she let me help her make an amazing artichoke and spinach dip...mmMM.

It was a fun night, and now I'm looking ahead to a new year and to all that it brings with it.

Today is the day of resolutions. :)