Looking for a new car is hard work.

I've had my car since I was 15 years old.
2001 Mitsubishi Mirage, manual, two door little coup.
Gets anywhere from 30 - 40 miles per gallon, and she gets up and goes.
It's never had any problems at all, except for a few general maintenance things here and there.
With a 165,000 miles on it, my car has had a good life and still has a good while to go.
My car has been my baby.
Last February, some dumb girl hit my car while backing up with her big ol' Ford.
I cried.
I mean, it's just a car and no I wasn't injured, but it's my car.
Because it was in a bank parking lot (cops won't come if it's private property), and because it was my first time ever dealing with an accident (so I didn't really know what to do - what information to gather - how mad I should get), and because the girl was being real sketchy (pretty sure she didn't have insurance), she got away with it and my car's had a big dent in the left side ever since.

So WHY am I blogging about this?

Because my car is an essential part of our life. If my car was to die from "old age" or get damaged in an accident, Trev and I would have a really hard time going about our lives. We have different schedules with work and school, and we each like our independence of not having to rely on each other for a ride. I don't know how one car families do it!

As much as I love my car, I'm ready for a new car. With Trev's new job plus my job plus our savings account, we could afford to take out a car loan and make monthly payments. The words "car loan" make me me shudder too, but it's a good way to build up credit, especially if we want to buy a house someday. Besides, in this economy it's kind of hard to put down $14,000 cash on a car.

All of the cars we've been looking at are newer models (we're talking 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 models, people!) and each car has great reviews, pros, and cons. They're cars that get some seriously awesome gas mileage, which is great because we like to travel up North and to San Diego. We've even test-drove a couple of these cars, and we love the way the ride and how they look on the inside. And even though they're deemed newer models, the cars we're looking at come with a great price tag attached. So what are our car options right now that we're thinking of?

An orange 2013 Chevy Sonic

(Yes, an orange car. Does that really surprise anyone?)

A celestial blue 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage

A 2011 Mazda 3

So yes, instead of having a baby like several of our friends, we're getting a new car as long as things keep going well for us. Which one, I don't know yet. All three of these are great cars. I might be leaning more towards the Chevy Sonic... But now how the heck am I supposed to pick only one? Being an adult with money and wanting to buy pretty, new things is hard. ;)

Overwhelmed with love.

Now that it's Wednesday, I might want to tell you about how fabulous this past weekend was. Trev had been working all week getting his training done for Chrysalis, so it was nice to have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday together. Friday night we watched Harry Potter movies and I got my nails done for Valentine's day. Amanda is so talented at nails, and I will continue to recommend her to people until I die. 

Saturday I rolled out of bed, showered (carefully, might I add, so I didn't get my hair wet) and headed off to Evan's for Adam to do my hair. It was an all-day makeover (and I really didn't come out of it looking that different) but everything Adam did to me was either free or 30% off. He waxed my brows, cut my hair, colored my hair the lovely red color I love, and then added in some blonde. Adam even styled it for me with the beach wave Mormon curls that every girl in Utah loves to do. I love having a best friend that does hair, because he already knows what I like and don't like, and he's not afraid to tell me if what I'm asking for is stupid. It's also nice to be able to talk to my hairdresser on a personal level, instead of trying to make awkward conversation. I don't know what I'll do when Adam moves away from Cedar.

Love this hairdresser of mine. <3

With my hair looking good, we went to dinner and hung out with Tyler and Shannon Saturday night. I miss the days when they only lived 45 minutes away from us, instead of six hours. It was fun to talk to Shannon about her pregnancy, and plot and plan ways to announce what they're having (boy or girl, they find out today!) to friends and family. Talking with her made me totally baby hungry though; I even made a secret Pinterest board to handle it. Shannon kept saying, "You need to have a kid. By the time you have your first, we'll already have two! You need to have a kid." Thank goodness I have the IUD, or else Trev and I would have made a baby that night. ;) Hahaha not really, but thinking about having our own little one makes me so excited. I can't wait for our time to come. But for now, we'll have to handle being Auntie Tasha and Uncle Trevie to baby Cates. (:

Sunday was a lazy day that consisted of... well, nothing. Like usual. There was no football to watch, no shows to obsess over, and the Grammy's weren't till the evening, so we slept in really late, cuddled lots, I read a book and pinned on Pinterest, and Trev played his 3DS. And I know, we're sinners for going out on a Sunday, but I was dying for Mexican food and the chimichanga I had at Lupita's the previous Monday just wouldn't leave my mind! Trev hadn't been to Lupita's in a couple of years, so of course we had to go. Seriously though, they're the best Mexican place in town. 

Sunday night, just out of the blue as we were watching Beyonce shake her booty on national television, I suddenly had goosebumps and warm tingles and tears in my eyes as I was overwhelmed with love for my incredible man. I know, so cheesy. Trev and I fight sometimes, and we definitely have our not so fairy tale love moments, but I couldn't imagine taking on this life with anyone else. He is my absolute best friend in the entire world and dare I say, my soulmate. I love him with all of my heart, mind, and being, and it's hard to be without him for long hours as he goes to work. We've almost been married for six months, and I understand why people say that fall more and more in love with their spouse each day.

Speaking of love, Tedo text me this picture of my weirdo parents the other day. They're always making fun of me for taking lots of pictures, and they think it's hilarious when people do hearts or peace signs. I love that my parents have a sense of humor at least. We didn't think we'd be seeing them until the end of March for Tedo's birthday and the Festival of Colors, but Mom happened to drop the news to me the other day that they're coming down to Cedar City next month for a jackpot steer show and they want to stay with us. When I asked them when, she told me the 14th, 15th, and 16th, which happens to be the same time my mother-in-law, father-in-law, and brother-in-law are coming to Cedar City, as well as all of the Green side of the family for Grandma Wade's 80th birthday party, as well as it being Valentine's weekend, when I have a big PR event. I just LOVE that everything has to happen on that particular weekend. Having family involved makes me take on a whole new level of stress.

Happy hump day!

MLK Weekend

Shout out to this amazing man because without him, we wouldn't have had this
three day weekend. King also is remembered as the leader who did great things
and broke down a number of racial barriers that have stood the test of time.

I'm grateful that Trev and I got a three day weekend, even if some of it was spent working. Besides, any day that we don't have to go to school is great. I worked in the Copy Center Saturday and tonight, and Trev had training all day today for his new job. I saw him for a couple of hours this morning and I'll see him when I'm off work at ten. I don't like this whole not seeing the husband except for a few hours thing. :( Trev did come and visit me in the Copy Center after he got done with training, and he seemed so excited about his new job. I listened to him ramble on about his training and what he did/learned today, and I sincerely believe this job in an answer to our prayers. The HR lady pulled him aside after training tonight, and told Trev that his father-in-law gave him a great recommendation, and that she has complete faith in his abilities. Who knows, maybe he'll decide to switch to a special education teacher. My husband is a kind and patient saint, and Chrysalis is lucky to have him as an employee. While Trevor was at work today, I went to lunch with my friends Adam and Tabby. Adam is my gay ex-boyfriend/best friend/hairdresser and is always fun to be around. We talked hair, since he's giving me a "makeover" on Saturday. It has been a while since Tabby and I have been together, so it was good to catch up over yummy Mexican food.

Anyway, Saturday after I got off work we went to St. George to pick up my ring and hit up Costco for some necessities. Seriously, our Costco membership from Mom and Dad for Christmas was a great gift. Might I also add how nice it feels to have my ring back on my finger. I missed it. Morgan Jewelers fixed the broken piece and did an amazing job cleaning it.

Sunday was spent watching the NFC and AFC Championship football games. I really love football and I hope I have a son who plays in high school. I'll be the crazy mom in the stands yelling like a maniac, with the husband who pretends he doesn't know me. ;) I kept texting my brother Trevor during and after the games, and he decided to call me a band wagoner. (Definition of band wagoner: someone who claims they are a fan of a certain team when they win, and jumps ship when they lose.) I say nay, brother! I watched all the games I could this season and rooted on my Colts. And, when the Colts dramatically lost to the Patriots, it was time to root for the Broncos and former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. Hooray for my man Peyton Manning and the Broncos beating the Patriots and going to the Superbowl. It was a well deserved win, and I'm so happy that stupid Tom Brady and the Patriots aren't AFC champions nor are going to the Superbowl again. I kept waiting for Mr. Brady to break down into tears, because that's how the poor guy looked towards the end of the game. Who could blame him, his team did an awful job at stopping the Broncos. Trev and I are both looking forward to Superbowl Sunday. It's a good excuse to eat good food like bean dips and buffalo wings.

Alkadf;kljadflkjadflk;jadflkjasdflkjsadf. <----- January is dragging by sooooo slooooowwwwwwlllyyyyyy. I feel like it should be February already. Hell, bring on March and spring break. Anything but January, please! (If it could be summertime, that would be even better! Warm weather, tank tops, swimming, adventures...)

So....

Remember how I made a big long post about doing the 30 Series on Monday? 

You know, answering 30 random questions and putting them on your blog?

And remember how I was so excited and wanted everyone to get involved?

. . . Yeah, I'm not going to do it.

Hahahahahaha.

I guess I'm not good with journal/blog prompts either, because I honestly just sit and look at the screen and think, "What the hell am I going to write?" I like writing for kicks and giggles and when I feel like it, not because I feel forced to with silly prompts. But I left up my 20 random facts, because that's still something fun for people to read about me.

Anyway, moving on to more exciting news. . .

(No. I'm not pregnant. Quit thinking that.)

Trev got a new job today!

Hip hip, hooray! No more Chartwell's!

Lookin' studly for his interview. (:
#ilovemyhandsomehusband

Chartwell's has not been working out for us. Trevor hasn't been getting enough hours and money has been tight. He applied for a computer lab assistant job in the business building on campus before Christmas break, and they called him in for an interview last week. We ran over interview questions, bought him a new tie, and we were pretty confident he was going to get it. After all, Trev turned in a typed application, a nice cover letter, a letter of recommendation, and a resume. Most people applying for on campus jobs don't even put in half that work. Trevor left the interview feeling confident and we both thought it was an answer to our prayers. NOT. They said he was awesome and had a great interview, but they went with someone "more qualified." And by "more qualified," I mean that they chose a business major. 

The night before Trev's interview for the lab assistant job, I was texting my friend Hailey. She said that Trev should apply at Chrysalis. Chrysalis provides support and opportunities for individuals with disabilities to live, work, and participate more fully in the community. We have lots of friends that work at Chrysalis here in Cedar City and love it. We didn't think it was an option that would work for us, especially since Trev is in school. Well, Hailey convinced us (said they work really well with college students' schedules), so last Saturday Trev applied. Trevor decided it would be a job that would look awesome on his resume as a future educator, and he sincerely likes working with and helping people with disabilities. Dad said that Trev already works with someone who has disabilities daily (me) so he should be great at it. ;) Monday, Trevie called to see about his application and an interview and then called back again Tuesday because the HR lady wasn't in on Monday. The HR lady set up an interview and Trev went in for it today at 10 a.m. He walked out with a new job as direct support staff, and starts training next week. The job will be part-time for now and we're hoping for at least 20 hours a week at $8 an hour. During the summer he'll be full-time, so between both of us, we'll be raking in the money. (Kind of, because who knows what expensive thing will come up that we'll have to pay for.) My husband is really excited for this new job because he's going to be able to do things that he loves - working with, helping, and teaching people. 

It'll be weird not having Trev with me all the time now that he has this job. Because of his skiwompous hours at Chartwell's and because we've lined up our school schedules just right, we've been blessed to be able to spend a lot of time together. Trev's my best friend, my better half, and I get so lonely and sad when I'm away from him. But here's to bigger and better things, and for us to experience what our other married friends go through. At least with him working, I'll be able to work on his secret Valentine's day surprises. (Yes, I said surprises.) Muahahahahaha.

20 random things about me, because January is boring

It's January. Nothing really happens in January (January is such a depressing month because it's after the holidays, and it gets dark early, and school has started up again, and there's nothing fun to do!).We're going to school, we're working, we're sleeping, we're eating, we're loving each other. Our past weekend was spent watching football and Futurama, sleeping in, and just hanging out. Same old, same old.

So without further ado, here is 20 random things about me.

1. I could be deemed "white trash" because I spent the first 12 years of my life growing up in a yellow and white mobile home. I shared a room with my brother Trevor and we slept in a bunk bed - me on top, Trev on bottom.

2. I used to rodeo, and be a rodeo queen. I stopped right before I entered 7th grade because I didn't want to high school rodeo - it was too competitive and serious, and I liked riding for fun.

3. I have a love for theater, and I love being up on stage. Learning songs and dances and bringing a story to life makes me happy.

4. I waited for a missionary, someone who I'd only dated for two months (and rejected countless times before that because he was a "different cat" as my dad would say), and then I sent him on his merry way to Alaska. I was a kick ass missionary girlfriend, and I made up a perfect fantasy in my head about me and him, even though our relationship was unhealthy and not right for me. I wrote him off for Trevor in May 2012 after Trev and I had been dating for almost a month (even though I should have wrote him off sooner, haha!), thus becoming one of those girls who Dear John's her missionary. Oops. My ex is here at SUU now, and it's always awkward when I run into him and his wife, who he met and got engaged to a couple months after he was home. (As a side note, I've determined girls shouldn't wait for missionaries, but to each their own. I've had a lot of friends who it's worked out for, and a lot of friends who it didn't work out for. I'm personally so happy, blessed, and lucky it didn't work out, and that I have Trevor.)

5. My first boyfriend, my "first love", is gay. He's still one of my dear friends, and we have a good laugh about our three week stint as boyfriend and girlfriend.

6. I wanted to be a nurse, a flight nurse on the Lifeflight helicopter, for years and years and years. Then I became a CNA my senior year of high school, got to college, and decided I didn't want to be a nurse. (Fun fact: 

7. I always told everyone I was going to marry an Australian man. HA HA HA. That didn't happen. From the time I was 16 on, I told people I wasn't going to get married until I was 25, then I told people I wasn't going to get married at all. HA HA HA. Obviously, that didn't happen either.

8. My favorite TV show is Pretty Little Liars. Hahaha, I know, I'm pathetic right?

9. I have an intense love for Mountain Dew. In high school, we would sneak out of ag classes or go in between class break to go to Hart's and get a 32 oz. Mountain Dew. Every single day. It got to the point the Harts' employees knew what we wanted when we would pull up to the drive-thru window. I still drink some sort of Mountain Dew every day. It's amazing I don't have kidney stones. Or diabetes.

10. I was a member of FFA in high school; yes, Future Farmers of America. I wore the blue and gold corduroy jacket for six years, proudly. It's a lot more than cows, sows, and plows, though. I raised and showed sheep, pigs, and steers at fairs and livestock shows, I was apart of their officer team, and I competed in many, many events on a local, state, and national level. A lot of my interview skills and communication skills come from public speaking events in FFA. Some of my best friends were FFA members. 

11. If I was ever to go back to church and get a calling, I would want to be Girls' Camp Director. Girls' Camp was always my favorite part of the year, and I looked forward to the crafts, the camping, the food, the memories, and my leaders who always made it enjoyable. I want to make Girls' Camp fun and enjoyable for other girls.

12. My favorite color in the world is orange. My prom dress was orange and it was my favorite thing in the world. Trev and I decided that orange and green would be good wedding colors, so that's why I didn't have orange in our wedding.

13. Someone once told me I have the fashion sense of an old woman. I personally think I have no fashion sense at all. I try to get on the bandwagons with jewelry, skirts, pants, shirts, etc., but majority of the time I buy clothes that feel good and have nice colors. I could give a shit less if they fit the latest fashion trend.

14. I love meeting new people and I love being around people, but when I'm around my friends friends', I get really awkward and usually leave. Don't ask me why, I just do.

15. I love taking pictures and documenting life through my camera. The most used app on my phone is Instagram. No, I don't have some nice fancy-shmancy camera and no, I don't call myself a photographer. I just take way too many pictures. But at least when I die (and everyone else dies who's been apart of my life), Trev and my family will have a lot of pictures to choose from to display. There's nothing sadder to me when someone has no pictures or outdated pictures of themselves and others.

16. I don't have a lot of "girl friends." About 95% of the time, women of all ages drive me up a wall, and I can't stand them. So, when I find a girl I can connect with and get along with, I stick with them. Those girls are rare. I have about 10 girls that I love and adore, can get along with, and stay in contact with, but other than that, I would rather hang out with boys. Mainly my husband. ;)

17. Speaking of my husband, he is my best friend in the entire world. No one knows me better than he does. Like seriously, he is the straw to my berry, the hot sauce to my taco, the ranch to my pizza.

18. I was born with blonde hair - like really, really blonde hair. (Dad says if I would have been born with brunette hair, I would have been named Natalie.) I hated it so much that I started dying my hair in 8th grade, and I've been dying it ever since. So far I really like being a brunette with a tint of red.

19. I don't know if I'll be able to have children thanks to my messed up, endometriosis uterus. But thanks to my many adventures to Guatemala and Mexico, I have become more than okay with adopting. Trev doesn't care where our children come from, whether they be our own or adopted, because his number one goal is to be a dad.

20. I am emotionally detached about 90% of the time, meaning I don't really show or feel emotions unless something really, really big happens, or depending on my mood. For example, when Trevor proposed to me, I was overjoyed and excited, but I wasn't bouncing off the walls. I freaked out because I wasn't feeling "overwhelming feelings of love" that people seem to have in the movies or that I've seen my friends have. I've been like this since I was a little girl.

So, there's my 20 random facts! (It was painful to come up with this list. Doesn't everybody already know these things about me? Therefore not making it random? Whatevs.) Happy Monday!!

Another semester of school! (and other ramblings)

(Thought that this would my first week of school post ever, but I guess I'll have to wait until August to make that post now. Mixed feelings about it, but whatevs. Things have worked out for the best.)

Christmas break came to an end all too soon, and I wanted to cry when Trev's alarm went off at 6:45 Monday morning for him to wake up and get ready for class. It was so nice not having to worry about homework, classes, group projects... focusing on work and my husband was fabulous. But we both have a pretty nice semester laid out for both of us. One of my professors is in Washington D.C. this week, and I have her for two classes, so I've only gone to two classes this whole week out of my four. I was going to do a PR internship through Valley View Hospital here in Cedar for the semester but with my new hours at the copy center, it just didn't work out. But because I'm not graduating till this December, I get to do the internship this fall! Funny how things work out. (: I also got enrolled in Math 1010 after missing the cut-off for 1010 on the Accuplacer test by 3 points because I begged, pleaded, and cried to the math department chair. He's a pompous inconsiderate pain in the ass, in case anyone wanted to know, but at least he signed me into the class. Trevie tested into 1010 with a 93. He almost got into Math 1050, for heaven's sake! Trev told me he was good at math, but I guess I didn't realize how good. So, being the smart person that I am, we signed up for the same math class so that my apparently math savvy husband can help me pass. All in all, it's been a good first week of classes. 

First day of school picture! Love this handsome husband of mine.

We're math class buddies this semester. (:

New shirt (Walking Dead tee from husband) and new nails to start off the semester. (:

Anyway, recap on last week's happenings. I came home Monday from work to a pleasant surprise that made me cry (because you know, I'm a freaking baby). I accidentally ruined one of my Christmas presents because I overheard my husband talking about getting me something "big and fluffy" to my brother. Well, I guessed that it was a teddy bear, and Trev's face gave it away. Whoops. The bear didn't come until after Christmas, so Monday I came home to a large teddy bear sitting on the couch with a note and orange roses. It served as a late Christmas-early monthiversary gift from my sweet husband. I named the bear "Trevbear" (all one word, not Trev Bear) and I've been snuggling with him ever since. The boys also made chocolate chip cookies and had my ingredients to make casserole out and ready to go. My husband is one of the most thoughtful men I've ever known, and he never ceases to go out of his way to make me smile.

New Year's Eve was pretty casual and laid back. I worked that morning at the copy center from 8 a.m. to noon, and came home to my boys already playing XBOX. We spent the rest of the day alternating between watching movies, eating pizza, playing XBOX, blogging (because I really, really hate playing XBOX), and watching Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve to watch the ball drop at midnight. Midnight seemed to take forever (maybe that means I'm getting old) and when it finally hit 12, we lit sparklers and popped those obnoxious poppers and banged pots and pans. Our poor neighbors... I of course got my midnight kiss from the handsome Mr. Green. I love having a New Year's kiss to kick off the new year.

New Year's Day we went bowling. Ever since going bowling with the family the previous Friday, Tedo's discovered how much he loves it and how much fun it is. Unfortunately, Cedar City's bowling alley isn't as up to snuff as Jack n' Jill's in Lehi is, so the boy had to bowl without bumpers for the first time. He didn't do too hot the first round, so when he bet me and Trev that if he beat us at bowling that we'd have to watch all three Jurassic Park's, we laughed and said ok. Moral of the story: betting Tedo something means that he will do extremely good, winning the bet, thus making you watch almost seven hours of Jurassic Park. Tedo got three spares, two strikes, and basically kicked our butts. Trev and I just kept looking at each other like, "What the heck just happened?" So, we spent the rest of Wednesday eating pizza from the previous night and watching Jurassic Park. It was awesome.

Tedo was pretty damn proud of himself for beating us...

Thursday night we met my mom in Fillmore and Tedo left us. "I'll be back for spring break!" he said as Mom started pulling away. I'm just grateful that my husband puts up with my kid brother and that Tedo enjoys spending time with us. But, I was kind of glad to finally just have time with my husband for the first time in two weeks. We celebrated our alone-ness by making chicken pillows for dinner on Friday. It seriously is the easiest and most delicious recipe ever. However, that was ruined when the chicken pillows came out of the oven after only TEN MINUTES looking like this. 

You see, when Tedo and Trev made cookies on Monday, when they pulled the cookie sheet out something fell onto the oven element and it started sparking. Turns out that whatever dropped onto the hot element made it burn and self destruct, so on New Year's Eve our apartment repair man came and put in a new element. Trev, Tedo, and I were excited about the oven being fixed, butttt the oven surface light never turned off and the element still seemed to be warm. I flipped off the oven's breaker, and turned it back on to make chicken pillows on Friday. I pre-heated the oven to 350 degrees, but it felt way warmer than that. I kept telling myself that I'd check the pillows and make sure that they didn't burn if it was over 350, but a girl forgets such a thing when they have to run to the bathroom. I heard Trevor yell, "Holy shit!" and ran out into the kitchen with my pants around my ankles to see him holding two pans of black chicken pillows. My first burnt dinner as a married woman. I cried like a baby, and I cried even more when my sweet husband ate one, just to prove he'd still eat them. "They're not so bad," Trev kept saying. I just cried some more.

Last Saturday, to celebrate 5 months of being married and 20 months of relationship and our last big date night before work and school started up again, we went to St. George. We stopped at Morgan Jeweler's and dropped off my ring to be fixed and cleaned. It's kind of weird not wearing a ring after having it be constantly on your finger for a year. (I've been wearing the ruby my dad gave me two years ago ever since, especially since my ring won't be fixed for THREE WHOLE WEEKS). If any of my blog readers are looking to get engaged or want to buy nice jewelry, go to Morgan Jeweler's. Their customer service and prices are phenomenal, and we are so happy we didn't go through another jewelry store. Anyway, we made pit stops at Costco to use our new membership cards and at the mall to spend Christmas money before going to Painter's Mitsubishi dealer to test drive a new 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage. It's the latest and greatest car from Mitsubishi, and I swear by my 13 year old Mirage that they're nice economy cars. We test drove both an automatic and a manual, and decided we want the Mitsubishi Mirage in celestial blue, stick shift, with the keyless start button. It's only $14,000, a nice four door car, and it gets 44 mpg. It's also pretty tech savvy and good looking on the interior. We're going to start saving up for one, and hopefully get one this summer. (: We finished off our St. George date night with a little Olive Garden. I proceeded to think I was going to hell, because I kept dumping breadsticks into my purse so that the waitress would bring us more. Whoops. 

So, there's recap on last week and a brief update on the first week of school. Trevor and I live such a blessed life, and we must never forget that. I'm looking forward to the next couple of months flying by, mainly so that summer can be here. Trev and I didn't really get a summer last year, between planning for a wedding and working. And I have a feeling that summer 2014 will be a good one.