Well...HELLO

Alright everyone! I know it has been AGES since I last posted and I know I promised pictures of my new place BUT that hasn't happened. For this I do apoligize! Pictures will come...at some point...maybe...but until then I will let you just be curious.
Its an adorable 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom home. I have the basement to myself with my own room and bathroom. The laundry is downstairs also along with a HUGE living room. Its so great! I have 3 roommates (Tiffany, Julianna, and Amy) and they are just three of the sweetest girls you would ever meet! So we get along great because I mean I am so great and so are they so it just works out perfectly!

Work has been busy! I still love my job and the people I work with! I am grateful every day for the job I have been blessed with and the people I come in contact with. I have truly made some great friends working with Bell.

As for my dating life...well...lets put it this way...its quiet. The end. There is so much joy in being a 25 year old single mormon girl (that is totally me being sarcastic!) But what can you do! Anyways....I just thought I would post a quick update---I know it wasn't super exciting but at least you all know (whoever reads this nonsense) that I am still alive! I am sending happy energy your way!! Until next time!!! :)

BIG NEWS

Well I can finally post a blog with some exciting news! I AM MOVING OUT!!! Actually I am moving out on Saturday! So its coming right up! I'm very very very excited about it and extremely ready!!! I will post pictures as soon as I have them but it probably won't be for a while. I probably won't take any pictures until things are put away and decorated. But I just thought I would share the big news!!! Love you all!!!

I belong to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

So I know I just posted but I just wanted to share that I am extremely grateful that I am a member of this church! It is so great that we are able to listen to a living prophet on the earth today. We are truly blessed to have their guidance. During conference I was reminded of a quote by Elder Haight. He said "It’s so easy in life for us to receive blessings, many of them almost uncounted, and have things happen in our lives that can help change our lives, improve our lives, and bring the Spirit into our lives. But we sometimes take them for granted. How grateful we should be for the blessings that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings into our hearts and souls. I would remind all of you that if we’re ever going to show gratitude properly to our Heavenly Father, we should do it with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength because it was He who gave us life and breath" I just hope that I can be worthy of His blessings in my life. I am eternally grateful that I have this gospel in my life and that I know what path I need to be on. I wish we could have conference every week so that we can feel of their sweet spirit. I love President Monson! What a wonderful man! Anyways...DOESN'T THIS GOSPEL JUST MAKE YOU HAPPY!!! LOVE IT!!! 

Oh Amanda....

So a funny thing happened to me during my day at work today. I just had a good chuckle about it and thought I would share. So I will admit that I sing in the car. Now when I sing I mean I really belt it. Yes I am one of those people you drive up on and wonder "Wow." Well I was driving down the road at lunch and one of my favorite Whitney Houston songs came one so of course I was singing my little heart away! Well I pulled up to the light and I was so into the song I didn't realize the extremely attractive man that pulled up next to me. After awhile I had that feeling where someone is looking at me so I glanced over. Well this guy was looking at me and he just gave me a thumbs up and then started dancing. I thought it was funny! I learned a lesson though...maybe I should tone down my singing  because you never know who might be watching. But I think I enjoy it to much that I don't think I will be able to stop. Anyways...I just thought it was funny! I do enjoy a good laugh after a long day at work!! So great! :)

For those of you who are curious....

Post 11 random things about you, along with a picture.
Answer the 11 random questions you've been tagged to do.
Make up your own 11 random questions and tag others.
(I probably won't tag any one but you are welcome to do this!)


Alright...here we go with the randomness!


1. I go through phases of my favorite TV show but there are some that will just always be my favorite. Such as: Psych, Friends, Biggest Loser, Gilmore Girls, and Modern Family. 
2. I don't know how to swim and my desire to learn is pretty little. Maybe one day but that day is not today. 
3. I am OCD about a lot of things but some in particular are: my fingernail polish has to be PERFECT (new found love is shellac fingernail polish) and closet doors HAVE to be closed before I go to sleep. Those are just a couple...I don't want to freak you out completely.
4. I am terrified of something under my bed (aka a monster) still to this day. You will never find me with my hand or leg hanging over the bed. The monster might get it! 
5. I do not like animals whatsoever. I think its great that some people love them but I however am happy when they aren't around. You never know what they are going to do, cats in particular.
6. So this is probably nothing new to anyone but I work constantly. I am not married and I have no children so why not make some money for shoes. :)
7. My co-workers think its fun to tease me about being single. They like to come up with excuses as to why I am single and every day it varies. But they freak out when I tell them I have a date because they don't want me to get married. I really don't get it.
8. I am an addicted online shopper. I may not buy things but I love to look. I am also addicted to pinterest. Whoever invented that website is a genus. 
9. I am determined to be the favorite Aunt. Thanks to Aunt Nancy programming that into our brains I now have to win! And if that means buying love siblings then that is just what I will have to do. Sorry you are poor and I am rich. (jk...I am not rich.)
10. When I watch a scary show on TV (the River) or a scary movie and I get scared I laugh. Not because I think its funny as to how fake it is but I laugh because I am trying to hide my fear with laughter. Its weird.
11. I use a heating blanket on my bed pretty much year round. I am always cold at night but don't worry I don't leave it on all night in the summer. I just get my bed warm and then I turn it off. Now in the winter time thats another story. 


Okay...here come the questions....


1. If a movie was made about your life, who would you pick to play you and why?
Probably Kristen Bell. She is just so darn cute and bubbly plus I think it is HILARIOUS her strange love for sloths. 2. Your least favorite household chore is?
Cleaning the toilet...I like cleaning the bathroom just not the toilet.3. What would you love to be an expert on? 
Probably my job or love. Okay I probably should say love because then I wouldn't be single anymore...maybe. 4. If funding was unlimited, where/what would you do to better the world?
Stop Kony! Then I think I would help kids that were hungry in third world countries and while I was there help their education system. 5. How many pairs of shoes do you own? What is the most dominant style of shoe in your closet?
Way too many to count and I would have to say either boots or sandles. 6. If you could live anywhere in the world (outside the U.S.) where would it be?
Italy or Victoria BC (so pretty!)7. Name something on your bucket list?
Skydiving 8. How long did you believe in Santa? When/how did that change?
I will always believe in Santa Claus. 9. Is there anything you are really paranoid/anal/OCD about?
See above...I won't name anymore. I don't want to freak anyone out.10. Name something that would be in your dream house.
A husband....ha ha ha! 11. What would be your idea of a perfect day?Snuggling inside while its raining outside. Watching movies and just laughing so hard (ha ha...I wish you could hear my voice as I am typing this). 


Alright well...I will stop there. I don't want to bore you all. I just figure since I don't update much because well there isn't much to update on. Life is just grand and pretty hectic but I love it! I love being busy and happy I am where I am! So much to be grateful for! Love you all! 

Happy Holidays!!!

Aren't the holidays FANTASTIC!!!?? Nothing is better than being around family and friends!! We had such a great time having Zac, Chelsea, and Gavin here from Denver and Tiffany and Kellan came from Rexburg for a while. So the whole family was finally together!! Its so exciting to see Gavin and how big he is getting! He sure is a crack up!! There was always something funny he was doing. The day after Christmas we went into my studio and took his two year old pictures along with new family photos (it will be nice to have Kellan in the family photo) Here is a glimpse at some of the photos that were taken!! It totally helps that I have the cutest family in the world to photograph!!

This definitely shows Gavin's excited personality! SURE DO LOVE HIM!! 

Zac might not have loved this picture but I sure do!! So great! Can't wait for the new baby in April! 

:)

Here are a few of the highlights from Christmas at the Barrus'
1- Gavin making as many people as could fit in either the pantry or my closet and then closing the door. I think we spent half of the vacation in those closets. Although after a bit it got rather quiet and boring but I sure do wish I was in the closet with him right now!
2- Watching everyone dance on the Kinect or the Wii. We are quite the smooth dancing family!
3- Michael and Chelsea's sealing in Utah. It was so great to see family members we don't get to see very often! We are definitely blessed with a fantastic family both the Warner and the Barrus'.
4- All the food! Oh boy was there so much food! I don't think I should eat for a while to hopefully even things out. So I don't know if that should be a highlight or not. I'm thinking a highlight because it was all so good!
5- Gavin singing Party Rockers! His favorite song to sing and dance to! (I will try and post a video soon!)
6-Having Grandma and Grandpa Barrus here for Christmas Eve and day! Its always great to have them around!
7- Finishing the hardest puzzle known to man in two days! You know its hard when you have to try every piece in every place. I think Chelsea was the only one that worked on it from start to finish. We all got so frustrated with it! Amazing talent Chels!
8- Finishing the theater room! Our family loves movies so this is a huge investment! I think dad is the most excited!
9- Catching up on sleep!
10- Spending time with family and sharing this special holiday with them! So much laughing involved!

This is just a few of the great times but there are so many more! I hope everyone a great holiday just like I did! Its so great that we can remember the birth of Christ at this time and hope we can try to have this feeling all year long!! Its so great to see how happy those around us are!! There truly is a different spirit around these holidays! We are so blessed to have the gospel in our lives so that we can feel that same spirit daily. I am always so amazed at how GREAT this gospel is! Nothing can compare to the happiness it brings! Love you all!!!

Thankful

Don't you just LOVE this time of year!!?? I mean what is so wrong with Christmas music, lights, trees, shopping, movies (yes Hallmark and Lifetime movies are a must!) and spending time with family!! I am always so excited to put up the Christmas tree and start making all the Christmas goodies! But don't you love how Thanksgiving is just before the Christmas holiday which helps me, at least, take a step back and really recognize how blessed I am. For Thanksgiving the family (well most of us- sorry Tiff and Kellan! We still love you!) traveled to Denver to visit Zac, Chelsea, and Gavin. It is always so great to see them and is always so hard to leave! I'm sure a couple of tears were shed as we left this morning. Gavin is such a hoot as are Zac and Chels! It just cracks me up to see Gavin running at me yelling "Ada, Ada, Ada!" The first night we got there it was a very calm night. Which was great seeing as how we woke up at 4 that morning to leave. Dad wanted to leave the night before and drive through the night but I vetoed that rather quickly! On Thanksgiving day we went to the park with Gavin seeing as how it was so warm (in the 70s! I seriously was not ready to come back to the cold!). After the park we had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner/lunch! We were all stuffed!!! That night Chelsea and I went shopping!!! Yes...there were TONS of people but we got some amazing deals and I LOVE Denver shopping! It was so great! The next day we convinced the boys to go do a little shopping with us which didn't take much convincing seeing as how Zac and Chels were looking at getting Gavin a "big boy bed". And for the men they knew what that ment- some assembly required. Its a guy thing I guess. The events in the days following included: a tour of a candy factory, food, and more shopping! We went to the BEST mall in downtown Denver while the men went to a hockey game. It was kind of like Gateway in Salt Lake but bigger and reminded me of New York (Not that I have been there but in my dreams that is what is looks like...one day I will go!!)

Anyways...I just LOVE that I am blessed with such a wonderful, crazy family! It's always an adventure! We do have so much to be thankful for! I am grateful for Dad's willingness to make pit stops along the way, for Gavin's excitement for Woody and Buzz (sidenote- Shouldn't we all be more like little kids! How great are they!?! So excited about everything...Gavin would run from one side of the balcony to the other and would yell "I win!" Or he would lose a game and all he would say was "Oh no!" but that didn't stop him from playing again so he could win.) I'm grateful for the gospel and the opportunity I have to be with my family forever! For the testimony I have been so blessed with! It's just so great!

But I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well! I love you all!

Oh and I tried to post pictures but seeing as how it takes forever for them to download I gave up after a day and a half waiting (no joke...they still weren't done when I got home from work today!)