Countdown to Christmas! 11 Days!

Christmas by Blues Traveler

This is one of Andrew's favorite Christmas songs!

Countdown to Christmas! 12 Days!

Here is a little something from my own past. So, I don't know if you know, but my senior year I was in my High School show choir, Black Magic. We were awesome. This is a recording of us, 5 years ago this Christmas, singing Carol of the Bells, Permian style!

It seems so long ago now...

Countdown to Christmas! 13 Days!

What's This from The Nightmare Before Christmas

What's Christmas without a little Tim Burton?!

Countdown to Christmas! 14 Days!

Christmas Time is Here again by The Beatles

Christmas + The Beatles = LOVE!

(Yesterday's) Coutdown to Christmas - 15 Days!

O Come, O Come Emmanuel by Sufjan Stevens

I love him.

Shout for joy!

We have a new place to live!

It is a basement apartment. 

It has a washer & dryer.

It has a backyard, with a place to garden. 

And comes with a puppy! 

(okay, well really it's a dog, but we can play with her!)

 

Countdown to Christmas - Music Style! 16 DAYS!

I'm going to be posting a Christmas song each day to get everyone ready for CHRISTMAS!! I got this idea from a girl at work & I think it is fabulous! I think today's is particularly funny! Check it:



Year End Letter by Garfunkel and Oates

What?!

Opening Next week!!

 Charles Dickens'

A Christmas Carol

at Hale Center Theater in Orem

Buy your tickets online!

...word on the street is that it is pretty fabulous....

So Much Thanks!

This Thanksgiving season has been pretty awesome for me! A couple weeks ago I started to really get into the feeling of Thanksgiving when a little interesting something happened to me.

I was leaving Salt Lake a few hours before rehearsal, and had just passed Thanksgiving Point (which actually has nothing to do with the story, just a point of reference for those of you familiar with the Utah valley), when my car began to shake, and I heard this awfully loud "vrooming" sound. At first I attributed the noise to the construction crew using a jack hammer near me, but soon realize that it was, indeed, my car.

I did not freak out. Which surprised even myself! I just thought, "One of my tires is blowing out. I need to pull over." And so I gracefully changed lanes and pulled off into the shoulder, which had been widened for construction.

I called Andrew, who was in Moab for work. He said he would try to find me someone to help me. But before he did, a nice man working construction came over and asked if I needed help. He so kindly changed my tire and I was on my way in probably less than 30 minutes. As I pulled away, I noticed that I was able to pull off into the last piece of the shoulder for about a mile.

All week I kept thinking about this, and could not help feeling overwhelmed by gratitude for the man who so willingly helped me out, and for the calm composure I was able to maintain through the whole experience, and just how perfectly everything worked out.

It seemed to re-open my eyes to a small concept that we often overlook and take for granted.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." 

- James 1:17

"For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil." 

- Alma 5:40

Everything good we have is given to us by our Heavenly Father. Even when we believe we are working all on our own, He provides us opportunities and sources of relief and help. When we are willing to listen, He will give us peace to sooth, strength for the uphill climb, and comfort for our hearts. The more we listen and receive, the more we see His hand in all we do.

How grateful I am for all that He has provided me with, I cannot describe in words. So in fear of injustice I will simply say:

I am so thankful for everything I have been given. I am grateful for dear Andrew, and all my family. I am so grateful for friends,the Gospel, my home, health, education, employment, and all the little things that bring me happiness.

I just feel so outrageously thankful this year. 

It's a wonderful feeling.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I've just realized....

I think I'm a "stick a post-it on the mirror" kind of girl.

Oh, glee!

Who doesn't love these?!

Especially at Halloween time!

A Night of Witchy Fun!

Our Witchy night began with soup & tea at Carolyn's house 

 

 {what a witchin' table}

 

 {Eye Ball Cake -made by me!}                                  {Poisoned Apples - by Carolyn}

 {The Nevin witches}

Then we traveled to Gardener Village! 

 {Earl the Owl}

 {The Victorian Witches}

 

 {The Candy Witch - she gives the little children candy to 

lure them into her cottage & fatten them up 

before she eats them. [insert cackle here] }

{we are pretty cute}

 {again, very cute witches}

Welcome!

 The first snow of the season!

I love cloudy days

Tonight

I am up way too late, eating junk food & watching Grey's Anatomy. 

These signs do not bode well for me living alone. 

This is not to say that I haven't been productive, however. I have spent many hours trying to get my house into some kind of order, and have been working on projects, and the latest development: 

A Christmas Carol. 

I am very excited about this. We started rehearsals this week! I feel a little behind, but I think that is a given when I'm coming into this show that has been playing every year for the past 20 years, and most of the actors are coming back for their 4+ consecutive year! Anyway, I will just say that I will NOT object to listening to Christmas music for the next 2.5 months! (In fact I kinda melted in rehearsal when the cast started to sing "O, Come All Ye Faithful.") I am aware that it is still October. Don't judge. 

 

Also, do not judge this blog post. Please. It is  3:53AM and I'm not sure any of this will make sense in the morning. I think this is more of a relaxation therapy for me. And I think it's workinggaglksjdisdfnieallllllllll 

(lame joke...I'm so sorry. I would just delete it if I wasn't so tired.)

*And now I am singing West Side Story because my blog title*

 

To answer some questions:

Andrew is back working on a rig. 

It is a good thing for us right now. 

But temporary. 

I miss him already...

...and he's only been gone for one day.

REVISED: You're invited!

On OCT. 29TH, I'm hosting a Swiss Beauty workshop at my little apartment!

You are all invited! It will be fun & there will be treats....

If you can make it, just let me know & I'll email you my address!

Oh yeah....

On July 25th, Andrew & I celebrated our one year anniversary. 

I cannot believe how fast time is flying! It has been such a wonderful year.

I love Andrew so much & couldn't be happier!

 

{montage of eating our frozen cake & trying to get a decent picture}

Here's to many many more years of happiness together!

*I have started writing a personal essay of sorts on all the things I have learned in this first year of marriage. I'm still thinking about whether or not I will just keep it for myself or share it with others.*

Texas!

Just a few things I did while visiting Texas:

1. Ate a LOT of Mexican food! (it was much needed) 

2. Visited friends at their work places

3. Stayed up late talking with friends about not life, love, religion, and texting while driving. 

(more on that some other time.)

4. Went to the Young Women's dessert auction at church!

5. Worked out at Curves with my Mommy! 

6. Learned more about my late Granny & Papa, and more about my family's genealogy, in general, from my Daddy. 

7. Lived with Holly in her cute grown-up apartment! 

8. Went Frisbee Golfing with Holly's friend, Logan while she was at work.

9. Hot-tubbed & learned that cold hands are a result of stress, and the need for relaxation. Thank you, Holly.

10. Ate the best cupcake in the nation (according to Ellen Degeneres, whom I fully trust) at Society Bakery.

11. Went to school with my aunt. She teaches theater at an Arts Magnet High School in Dallas, Texas, so I got to sit in on her beginning playwrighting class! 

12. Visited with Randy, Elly, David & Elana. We should really see them more often...

13. Watched a sailboat race (kinda)

14. Hugged & spent not nearly enough time with most all of my best friends!

 {Andrea, Travis, and me}

{Candace!}

 {Nikki & Matt}

 

 {Holly!}

*and there were many more friends visited that are not pictured.

this trip was a lame picture-taking trip for me.*

Marcy & Derrick Bush!

I went home a couple weeks ago for my friend, Marcy's wedding! She was absolutely gorgeous and so was the wedding. I've known Marcy since high school and she is such a beautiful, talented, funny, and awesome person! I'm so glad I was able to be there for the most important day of her life.

I'm just so happy for her and wish her & Derrick lots of love!   

 

{husband & wife}

{Marcy & me}

{I got to spend the night with 7 of my most favorite girls} 

 

Visit Courtney Ryburn's photography blog to see the awesome professional shots!

Bridal Veil

On Andrew's last day of work at PMI (wahoo!) we spent time up the canyon. 

We "hiked" up to Bridal Veil Falls!

 

Go Cougars!

BYU vs. San Diego State 

24-21

Lady bug & soccer player

 seriously. 

 cute.

Utah State Fair

 {crashing the picture}

 {what a cute couple. oh, and Kathleen & Levi are pretty cute, too!}

 {the super awesome Robot}

 {cut-out apple heads....}

 {...are just asking for a picture op!}

 {tough guys}

{Spiderman was also at the Fair}

I love General Conference weekend!

 {Lincoln is Wolverine!}

 

{what a swimmer!}

Untitled from julie nevin on Vimeo.

Dinosaur Museum!

A while ago....

We checked out the Thanksgiving Point Dinosaur Museum. It was pretty cool. 

Now check out these cute kidos:

 

 {the boys playing in the wet sand}

 {trying to get a group shot}

{sweet boy}

 {Chloe had fun too}

 {korbin was obsessed!}

 {making shadows}

 {i think this is parker's dinosaur face}

{such a big shark!}