I'm Famous!

There are a lot of blogs out there: personal blogs, health blogs, DIY blogs, political blogs ... Lets just say if you can think of it there is probably a blog out there about it, well at the very least

a post.

With the plethora of info / pictures / talent out there in cyber space you can imagine my surprise when I got an email from my aunt Lori telling me she was surfing the web about weddings one day when she came accross a website:

A Simple LDS Wedding

the ultimate Guide to your Temple Wedding.

Just like any good "all you need to know" blog it has all you need to know. Well she was checking out the "Uniquely You" tab and saw some pictures of someone she recognized... ME!!!!

http://asimpleldswedding.com/UniquelyYOU.html

I have no idea who's website it is, I like to think I was an uninvited guest blogger.

(we actually show up in the post TWICE, first with my "ugly cake" {slightly offended}, and then we are towards the bottom when it shows the bride and groom leaving the reception, we are the ones with the archway of flowers.)

So go check me out, just so you can say "I know that girl"

because that's what I totally did.

Let's Discuss Cravings

Since being pregnant I haven't had any off the wall cravings. Certain foods sound really good, but once I eat it I won't think about it again.

The only thing that has stuck around and I have indulged in multiple times are Milk Duds.

This morning I woke up a little late, choosing sleep over making a well put together lunch. As I was running around I just decided to put in the bag whatever looked good, here is what I pulled out of my bag at noon:


1. Jar of Mayo

2. Bag of xylotol (literally a bag of sugar)

3. Jar of dried apples

4. Bag of pickles

5. Plain Yogurt

6. can of tuna

7. Granola

8. Honey

9. 2 string cheese

10. Jar of Peanut Butter

11. whole can of sour cream and onion pringles

12. Stephen's Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa
13. Can opener (I am actually pretty impressed I remembered this)

I never knew condiments could create such a well balanced meal. Delicious, no?

Notice Anything New(ish)....?

Here is a picture of my kitchen, do you notice anything incredibly awesome, never knew it had the capacity to make my life a better more productive place?

(unfortunately no, it's not the floor lamp in the middle of the room, the light bulb in my kitchen happened to burn out the day I remembered to take these pictures and I needed light so obviously I would just moved the lamp in instead of changing the bulb.)

Yes, you are right! I have a dishwasher!!!
(Special shout-out to Tosha Seeholzer and Allison Mays because they currently live their lives without dishwashers and it's a rough one)
This is where my dishwasher is 99% of the time and then about once a week I roll it over to the sink to do my dishes!
I think Trevor likes the story of how I got the dishwasher more than the dishwasher itself. The story goes like this:


I had been looking FOREVER on KSL.com for a portable dishwasher and it seemed like the price range was from about $120 - $300, from very old and yucky to brand new. 


I decided I could spare $150 in my budget to get a dishwasher, it was something I desperately wanted after all. 


I found one for $120, looked to be in great shape and it was within my budget, I called, he answered, 
"hi, is the dishwasher you have on KSL still available, I am interested?" 
"Oh, sorry I sold it 30 min ago." 
Blast! you dirty rotten Hellion! 
"Oh, ok thanks," I hung up and heaved a great sigh, got back online and searched.




I searched for probably another week or two with some slight interests but nothing what I wanted. 
I got really busy and didn't have time to search for a dishwasher for a few days. One day I was eating lunch at my desk and I thought, oh I should check out to see if there have been any new listings. 


Logged on did my search, and there, 2nd listing down, it had been posted for 9 minutes, was an almost brand new portable dishwasher that had the butcher block counter on top!! 


This is where is gets better, I click on it to get the details praying it is in my price range, and I read these words:
"This has been in my storage for a year and I just want to get rid of it, make me an offer." 


What?? Could this really be happening??


I immediately texted the lady:
"My name is April, I am VERY interested in your portable dishwasher, would you take $50 for it? I am willing to go higher."


At this point I am holding my breath and talking to myself, oh man I should have gone higher, she is going to sell it to someone else! But I had to go low, that's the number one rule of bargaining especially when there isn't a price tag on it.


"Well I was hoping to get $65 for it."
"Great, how about I give you $70 and I come pick it up in 2 hours?"
"Deal"


HALLELUJAH!!!


My next text convo went like this to Trevor:
"I just bought a portable dishwasher."
"Oh nice babe, how much?"
"Well she wanted $65 so I told her I would give her $70. Oh and we need to drive to Spanish Fork right when you are off to go pick it up."
"Wait, you offered her more than she wanted and we have to drive to Spanish Fork? You are really good at this haggling thing, aren't you?"

Well you know what? I have never had even a second of buyers remorse. I got it for half of what I was expecting to pay. That, in my mind, is a good deal.

Let's Be Friends

It's 9:22am exactly and I have already been to the dentist and eaten a whole roll of Chips Ahoy cookies.

Overall it looks like my day is shaping out to be a pretty productive one.

A picture of the empty bag of cookies, so you know I am telling the truth of course.

An Answer to Many Prayers

For some reason I feel the need to give a lot of background info.... but that's just how I tell stories so get used to it:


When Trevor and I were dating, way back in 2008, we were both in our last semester of college. As our relationship started to get more serious so did the talks of our careers and where we wanted to be after we graduated, obviously giving more consideration to a future with each other. Trevor was studying History with a minor in Chinese.


(One thing to know about Trevor, languages make sense in his brain. He took French in high school and could hold about the same amount of conversation in French that I could after I took French in college and lived in Paris for a semester. He was drawn to and took several courses in Hebrew, he picked up some decent Spanish while living with buddies who served Spanish speaking missions. He himself served a mission in Vanuatu and speaks Bishlama, so naturally he would decided to minor in Chinese, right?)


His plan once he graduated was that he was going to get a job with the Foreign Service and work in the American Embassy in China. I actually married him thinking we would soon move to China. Once he realized how competitive the field really is, what kind of hoops you really have to jump through, and eventually that he really didn't like the work after all, he decided to pursue different paths. He has had several different jobs since we have been married but they have been just that, jobs. None of them were decent careers.


He had been searching and applying for (career) jobs for a long time now and with much praying and fasting he was recently offered a job at Progress Manufacturing.


It is a sales job, he is sincerely good at sales, I say sincerely because he is a sincere salesman not one of those weasel like guys, you know the type I'm talking about. And it has something to do with trailer hitches (if you want more details I am not the one to ask. When I was growing up people would ask me what my father did for a living and I would tell them I have no idea, and I even worked for him for a while.)


Trevor grew up a farm boy; digging in dirt, welding, tearing apart and fixing things, and he absolutely hands down LOVES CARS especially trucks! So whatever it is that he does I know this job is pretty perfect for him.

I love this picture because it looks like it's his first day of school.

I love that now he is happy to go to work, and he is happy when he gets home from work. He loves the company and the people he works with. I asked him if he could see himself working there for a long time, and he said absolutely because he has already learned so much about business and a different type of sales that he actually enjoys.


But the absolute BEST part about his new job is that he gets nights and weekends to spend with me!! He has worked Saturdays ever since we have been married! The novelty of having him home on Saturdays might ware off, but until then I am enjoying dragging him around, especially to the fabric store, he loves that.

I would really like to thank all of our friends and family who have been praying for Trevor to get a better job. Prayer is so powerful and I know we would not be where we are without all of you. So with deepest gratitude, thank you.

My Dear Precious Angel,

I have some important business to discuss with you. 
Your dad and I have talked a lot about what your name should be. 
We take it very seriously because names are important, you will always have your name. 


I am thinking you must have had some part in this naming business because it has been so easy for me and Dad to agree on what you should be called. So unless there is some divine intervention and an angel appears to me to tell me we need to change your name, you will be:

Bridget Jude Millar

We know you need a significant name, and girlfriend, this name is special! Your name is after your grandmother, your daddy's mom. 
She is an incredible lady,one of the most nurturing women I know. She is the perfect example of unconditional love, she especially loves little children and is always surrounded by them.


Seriously little Bridge, You are one lucky lady, you have the best grandparents anyone could ever ask for... just you wait!


I love you.


Love, mom

Love Letter

Dear Sweet Baby Girl,




Just between me and you, I feel a little bad for Daddy. He loves you so much but he only gets to carry your picture around... I get to actually carry you! 
I love all the time we get to spend together, we are inseperable. 
Except for sometimes when I get really busy I forget you are there, so I am always so grateful when you give me a little poke or squirm to remind me to pay attention to you. 


I hate to ask but will you promise to give me a little poke to remind me if I forget and get too busy once you are here? 


And in return I promise that when you are a teenager and forget that you love your mama I will give you a little poke too.

I love you.

Love,
Mom

Day 29: A picture that makes me chuckle

A picture that can always make me chuckle:

This picture was taken at my work Christmas party. I can't stop laughing at Trevor, he is so pretty.

Day 28: Something I am afraid of

A picture of something you are afraid of:





I never really thought I was afraid of something specific. Don't get me wrong, I don't like spiders and snakes etc. but I can kill a spider without a major melt down and I have touched snakes in my life.


It wasn't until I lived in Las Vegas that I found out what I am really afraid of....

Cockroaches!

I know it may sound weird but they just plain creep me out! I don't really mind just one, but when there are a ton of them... and come Summer time in Las Vegas they are everywhere. I remember I would get home from work at night and they would be all over the sidewalks and in the gutters, lining the outside walls. I couldn't help but squash a few as I ran to my door and their crunch is aweful! Then once inside they would be all over! I remember once I came home and there were probably 15 scattered around the floor, I screamed and jumped up on the kitchen counter and was there for like a half hour before I got enough courage to run through what I was sure was going to be an ambush of every cockroach in the entire world the second I moved.

I would barely sleep even with towels blocking all the cracks in the doors because I was sure they would attack in the night.

Other than that I am pretty much fearless!

Day 27: A picture of a family member

A picture of yourself and a family member:

We are having a.....

GIRL!!!!!

Day 26: 5 love languages

A Picture of something that means a lot to me:

Have you ever read the book the 5 Love Languages?

Or at the very least taken the test to determine which of the 5 love languages is how you express your love? Is it:

-words of affirmation?

-quality time?
-receiving gifts?

-acts of service? or
-physical touch?

I personally feel that the system is flawed because I know I am all 5.

I'll prove it:

#1 Words of Affirmation:I have a sensitive husband (don't tell him I told you) so I try to be extra careful with my words, I can't wait to tell him all the things I love about him, things that he does that makes me so proud. Although I don't leave thoughtful notes in special places around the house, I do bombard him daily with texts and emails.

Then on the flip side I am so a fisher for compliments. Pretty much every time Trevor tells me he loves me, I say "why?" and then I stare at him sweetly until he gives a substantial lists of all my exceptional qualities. (and for some reason he still tells me he loves me a lot, everyday).

#2 Quality Time: I value time in general. So to give someone my quality time or to have someone else give me their quality time is a huge deal that never goes unnoticed. Although I am a planner & a get things done-er, I make sure I stop and cuddle up on Trevor's lap and just spend time... for both him and me. The key is in the word quality, some of the most amazing memories I have were doing some of the most trivial things but the memory lasts because of the time spent was with loved ones.

#3 Receiving Gifts: I never thought I was a gift person... until I got older, and made my own money. I LOVE to plan out and really research the gifts I give. Again I would say here it's about the quality of gift, it doesn't have to cost a single cent but if it was thought out and planned, that's the part I love.

Unfortunately Trevor is not a gift person. He appreciates when he gets them, but he is more of a run-out-the-night-before-her-birthday-and-see-if-I-can-find-something-that-will-work kind of guy. And then if he does plan something he is the worst at surprises! He gives up anything even if I don't ask. It's kind of cute actually how he can't keep it in, and if that's his only failing I will take it!


#4 Acts of Service: Trevor may stink at giving gifts but he is incredible with service! I never really understood this one... until I married Trevor. He will do the regular stuff that you think of when you think of service like the dishes, or the laundry (there is nothing, and I mean nothing, like coming home to a clean kitchen that you didn't clean!) But he does so much more, he plays with my hair, massages my shoulders, tickles my arm for like a really long time, always. In fact when I get up in the night (which I do a lot of now that I'm pregnant) to go to the bathroom, when I get back into bed he rolls over and rubs my back until I fall asleep again.

#5 Physical Touch:I am a touchy person, not overwhelmingly so but I meet you, I hug you.