Living like Kings (for a week)

(First I just wanted to share a genius idea I had today. You know all those ANNOYING giveaways on Instagram that you really want to do but you don't want to crowd people's feed with? Well I started a second IG account today and just followed all the normal giveaway accounts, etc. So I will never crowd your feed with giveaways now and will just use my giveaway account for giveaways. So Smart)

Anywho- we were lucky enough in August to get spoiled for an entire week when my in-laws came out. Sadly, I am really horrible at taking pictures, so we have a few of some different activities, but you will mainly have to use your imagination.

We got to do lots of fun things and eat at lots of expensive restaurants that we don't normally get to eat at. Plus my in-laws make for a great time, so it was awesome. Really, I lucked out with my in-laws. I mean, sure, people like their in-laws, but I am as comfortable with my in-laws as my own family. They are super funny and so easy to be around, and I think they like me to so it all works out.

We went down to the Keys for a few days, which was so fun!! My in-laws bought us snorkeling gear so we could explore the waters that weekend, but it turns out the beaches in the keys are just kind of so-so, and the only good snorkeling you have to pay for. But, since we are spoiled, we got to go to this way cool reef and go snorkeling. It was kind of choppy that day, but it was still BEAUTIFUL. Since it was choppy though, you couldn't really see way far in front of you, and I got stung by a jelly fish. Don't worry, I didn't have to pee on myself. They had vinegar on the boat for these kinds of incidents. And it didn't even hurt that bad, really.

We walked on this cool bridge that was the old road to the Keys (there is just a loooong road over the water to get down there... it's pretty cool), and watched the sunset one night.






It was my birthday the week they were here too, so I got extra spoiled. They took us to Cheesecake Factory (who doesn't love that), bought me lots of fun things at the mall, and we went for a night on the town to this play called Slava's Snow Show (think blue man group meets The Artist). It was so awesome. And we ate at this way fancy restaurant at the Opera House that was WAY WAY more than Dylan and I could afford so it was a really fancy night out. I would've taken pictures, but it's not the kind of place you get your iPhone out and start snapping pictures of your food, you know?

Other than that, our A/C was out for a whole week while they were here, and it was Hell.

And then a picture of Barkley because she really knows how to kick back and relax.

We're (Dol)Phin-Atics!

Get it? Fin-atics? It was all over shirts and paraphernalia in the gift shop, and I thought it was pretty clever. So, one of the bonuses in living in a big city is we get to do lots of fun things, like go to NFL (pre-season) games for cheap. Like $7 cheap. The only thing that sucked was the $25 parking, but we drove with 2 other couples so we split it 3 ways. We are so thrifty.

Long story, but Dylan was really mad at me when I didn't buy Dolphins tickets last year during pre-season since that is the only time we can afford them, and then I dropped the ball again and didn't buy pre-season tickets for the Heat either. Whoops. So, this was my attempt to make up for it. We went with like 10 or so friends (really popular), and had a blast. The only thing I bought at the game was an $11 soda and a bag of popcorn. The soda didn't have to be that expensive, but it was a refillable souvenir cup, and I knew I was going to want to keep the cool cup and drink at least 3 diet cokes. It paid itself off.

And, now for what we read blogs for, the pictures:
(Please note I am the only one wearing a shirt that supports the team)

Callings and other sappy Church Stuff

So, I know I have a lot of catching up to do on this blog, and since I don’t want the era of blogs to die, I’ll do it. But it’ll be slow, and I’m going to do it backwards because it’s way easier to remember what happened yesterday. I’ll continue to go through my photos and then either make up cool stories about it or tell you what actually happened.

So, first thing is first. Dylan and I just moved (again) to a different place in Florida. We just moved to this little beach town called Sunny Isles. It’s heaven. It’s closer to Dylan’s school, literally 5 minutes from the beach walking, and we live near all our friends. It’s so fun, and we love it. I’ll write more on that later. But, with a move came a new ward. I was just recently the Young Women’s President in our last ward, and let’s face it, “high profile” callings are a lot of work. So, I was kind of hoping to lay low and maybe not even get a calling in the new ward for a little bit, or at least get something awesome like ward greeter. Dylan and I were in our new ward for a total of 3 days, and then I got called to be in Young Womens and Dylan in Young Mens. So, here we are again. It’s actually been awesome with Dylan working with the youth too because now we do all the activities and stuff together. It makes it so much more fun.

Yesterday we were lucky enough to go to the temple with the cutest kids ever. I really cannot say enough about the kids in this ward. A lot of them are converts or don’t have active parents, and they are solid. They come to church on their own, ask amazing questions about the church, and are just awesome. I sometimes wonder why I’m the leader because they are way better examples to me than I am to them. Heavenly Father is funny sometimes.

Though it’s challenging and time consuming and crazy at times, I’m so so so grateful to be working with the girls right now (and Dylan the boys). It has been one of the sweetest blessings and I am constantly reminded of how exciting the gospel is and how much happiness it can bring us.

Ok, enough churchy testimony stuff, here’s some pictures. 

It's been a while

Where to even begin??

I am horrible at blogging, but with Instagram making its entrance in a BIG way, I have a fear that people are going to stop blogging. And being someone who LOOOOVES to blog stalk, I need to put some blog posts out into the universe so that it will return some to my Google reader (don’t even get me started on what to do when reader is retired).

So, let’s see here. Oh yes, I work now, as in a real job. Gone are the days of me lounging around watching Pretty Little Liars and feeling sad for myself because I had to move to the sunny and warm state of Florida. I work for a Healthcare Marketing Firm as a Project Manager. It’s kind of hard to explain, but I do work from my house (cheaper for the company to pay for my internet/phone bill than to pay for real estate to have a real office), and I love my life. The job is different week to week, but I love my boss so much and the job is even better. She is super flexible, and a lot of weeks I only work 30 hours so that I can go to the beach and be lazy. It’s fab. Dylan is an all-star at school, getting almost a 4.0 this semester (he was soooo close). He has really amazed me how dedicated he has been this semester. Sure it stinks sometimes being home alone until 11pm at night (which is also not good for baby-making since I love me some sleep), but it has really paid off with his grades. He is in the top of his class, and just makes me proud in the cheesiest way possible. Florida living has really taken a liking to us, and we have loved getting tan (and sometimes burned), playing outside all the time, taking up tennis again, and swimming until our hands are raisins.

We all know people don’t read blogs for the words, so I’ll put some pictures too, don’t worry. In March one of my cutest/best friends ever Rachel and her hubby went to Orlando for a little baby moon. Dylan and I went up to Orlando for a few days with the Barkley in tow, and left her at the Disney World Pet Resort. She hated it, but we felt good knowing she was only a few miles away and getting the best treatment ever, because let’s face it, Disney is amazing. Since this trip was sans kids, we just did whatever the hell we wanted to, and we didn’t even have to go back to the hotel room for an afternoon nap (usually I need one). We closed Epcot the first night, and then started the next day with Rachel and the group at Magic Kingdom. Rachel and Aaron treated us to the BEST meal ever at “Be Our Guest”. Think Beauty and the Beast Castle, AKA every little girl’s dream. It really was magical.

Then we rode some rides, went to Animal Kingdom (the new Kilimanjaro ride is AMAZING!!), and then ended the night again at Magic Kingdom. Dylan and I were on the Big Thunder Mountain Coaster while the fireworks show was going on, and I think I said at least 15 times “This is so Magical”. And, it really was. I freaking love Disney, even without kids. I know it will be a different experience one day when we get to go back with our littles, but even with just boring old adults, it’s pretty great. Enjoy some pictures, some stolen from others below:

Be Our Guest

This may be my fave picture ever of Dylan. I don't get it.

That Toy Story Ride is amazing. I always lose, and don't even worry I got mad at Dylan after I lost (like no talking to him for atleast 15 minutes mad).

I didn't even know they had an aquarium. Duh, of course they do, it's Disney.

Typical.

Sure do love her.

Some Important Issues

Well, as most of you are thinking I am referring to this :

(yes, that is a 3.5 hour line to vote my friends. You are welcome America for sticking it out. Secret is I did it for the free "Guac the Vote" at our fave restaurant. And Florida is STILL undecided a day after the election has already been called, WTF Florida? Get with it).

Politics are on everyone's' minds, but I want to get down to some real issues here with Florida life. And some real crazy ones I might add. There are some obvi majorly differences here in Florida as compared to living in New Mexico. We have all kinds of crazy wildlife and super lazy/crazy people. See evidence below:

Two twin snails on our nightly walk with Barkley. If it's dark in our neighborhood, all I hear is crunch, crunch, crunch when we are walking. I don't want the lights on, I know I'd be disgusted with the amount of snails I murder nightly.

Bad picture, but the largest snake I have ever seen in the wild. This is on our porch. I was on a friendly little job with Barkley, and this just came slither creeping along. Eww is all I have to say. I didn't even know what to do, so Barkley and I just stood there for a good 5 minutes before it slithered away.

Oh, that's Dylan in the attic because we have a possum that lives up there. I know what you are thinking; just call a professional. But our HOA is stupid and they assured us the possum is not in the attic but on the roof. They were wrong. Idiots.

Oh, and my favorite of all. There is a major cart return situation here in Florida. It is my number one pet peeve ever. These pictures have been mostly taken at various Targets across the area, but that is not the only guilty retail chain. People here are ridiculous. If a cart return is 3 feet away, they will still just leave there cart right next to where they are. It's like a foreign concept to them to return a cart to its home. Please see below (Note: these are all taken on different dates and locations)

Let's go catch a wave

While all my friends are bragging about how wonderful fall is, the crisp air, and getting to bring out the fall boots, I am here in 90 degree Florida weather. I'm indifferent about it. While I do get a little jealous when I see my friends getting to put on their Uggs and skinny jeans, I forget these thoughts as soon as I drive 10 minutes from my house and get to have a view of the ocean. Don't get me wrong, I love fall, like really love it, but when else am I going to be able to brag about living in a place that is year round pool weather. The locals tell me it's going to start getting cold in January, like maybe 68 degrees. Don't worry, I packed all my winter jackets for the event of "Winter" in South Florida. It is rumored to last a whole 1 1/2 months.

While we are here though, Dylan and I are trying to go to the beach as much as possible. It's not that often considering Dylan is a study machine, but yesterday he came home from school early, and we decided to try one of the beaches we haven't visited yet. We went to this great little beach called Hallouver Beach. It was pretty amazing, and no one was there, well at least where we were at. Funny thing, there are 2 Hallouver Beaches, one is normal, the other is a nudist beach, no joke. Well Dylan and I pulled into the wrong parking lot at first, only to be directed to the normal beach parking lot since I was not getting nude with a bunch of strangers (I contemplated it, but decided against it). Don't worry though, our beach was RIGHT next to the nudey beach, I tried not to look and no I did not take any pictures (Dylan took my phone away).

Check one

Remember that one time we got caught in the ghetto? Yeah me too... It was awesome. So, on Friday night, Dylan and I had the most brilliant idea to take the Metrorail (think subway above ground) in Miami from the suburbs where we live to downtown Miami. Seems like fun, right? I mean commuters do it everyday, so it must be cool. Well the trick with these commuters is they do it during the day, in daylight, when it's really crowded. So our brilliant idea of riding this metro-ghettoness-rail at night time was, well, to say the least, uncomfortable. We boarded the train at 8pm, because everyone in Miami goes out late and we wanted to fit in (don't even worry I basically had to eat a snack that equalled the size of a dinner before we left because I am like a grandma and eat the early bird specials). We were basically the only ones on the train besides a bunch of African American men wearing shirts that said "SECURITY". My guess is they were bouncers at some super ritzy club. The train broke down not once, but twice while we were on the metrorail, so instead of waiting for the next train when we had to exit the broken down one, Dylan decided we'd just walk to the stop for the metro-movers (these little trains in between metrorail stops that take you to places inside of downtown, not on the main path, but just like clubs and restaurants and stuff). I did not like this idea. Walking to the metro mover included walking for 1 1/2 blocks of the most ghetto-ness, non lighted streets with 8 (did you read that 8!!!!) sleeping homeless people. The whole time Dylan is speed walking, leaving me behind, and I'm shouting at his that this is suuuuuch a bad idea. I was so mad. Luckily we made it to the metro-mover in one piece, only to ride it with even more ghetto-ness (think like crack-whores, no joke). We finally made it to our destination, this way cute little outdoor mall called Bayside Mall where it is poppin on a Friday night with a bunch of honeys trying to get it on. We ate at the food court, and then just headed back to the station since we had to be back by midnight because that is when the parking lot closed.

In short, we rode the metrorail, we can check it off our Miami To-Do list, and we're done with it. I'll take my air-conditioned car, thank you very much

Bienvenidos A Miami

We're HERE!! I kind of forgot about blogging in the midst of all this moving madness. I can't even explain how crazy moving across the country was/is, but we are loving life here in Sunny Florida. The weather is awesome, the beach is amazing, and the people are one-of-a-kind, literally. We started our little trek on July 28 for a 3 1/2 day trip filled with fun and lots of fast food. Barkley was the #1 trooper riding with Dylan, and I, of course, got to ride with my mom. Gina is the best... seriously she spoiled us so bad paying for gas, food, buying us groceries, etc. I don't know when this kind of treatment stops from your parents, but I hope it's not anytime soon.

Our little while in Florida was crazy to say the least. We didn't have electricity for 24 hours which equalled sleeping or not sleeping in a house that was 88 degrees, Dylan dropped/threw his iphone on the ground, we were pregnant when we got here and then not anymore, being without our furniture and all our stuff for 3 WHOLE WEEKS, being jobless (which is actually pure awesomeness), and having to take Barkley into the vet for an eye infection. It was craziness, horrible, bad, but we are all good not and we are working through stuff.

Life in Miami is different. Dylan has been studying like a mad man, I've been looking for jobs/taking it easy, and Barkley has been loving all the time I have at home with her. I knew Dylan would be studying a lot being in Med School and all, but I had no idea it'd be this much. It's Bo-RING when he's not here, but I know it will be worth it. I'm picking up some hobbies, learning Spanish, and just enjoying some time off after a kind of hectic little bit. I'm kind of in retirement right now, but I'll be back in the workforce eventually.

Overall, things are good. Here's some pics of our life, which are really just lots of pictures of Barkley.

Moving Truck!! This is after it FINALLY arrived after we'd been waiting for our stuff for 3 weeks.

Dylan didn't let me drive with him that often, and Barkley didn't like it either. She likes being co-captain and didn't want me in her seat.

Remember that one time when we had a hurricane and tornado warning in one night. Yeah that was fun hanging out in the bathroom all night.

Pbest wedding reception ever. My new BFF at church had the most bomb wedding ever with pass-around liters of diet Pepsi. Best idea ever.

Gertrudes... Mejor Amigas.

BORED!! Dylan is always studying. Luckily I have lots of Netflix to catch up on. Hello Pretty Little Liars and Mad Men.