Adjustments

Alright here is what's been up. I started a new job at the end of December/first part of January and it didn't work out because it wasn't my niche. Before I left, I quickly found a new job and now I am working at the Children's Museum in St. George as the Education Specialist and I absolutely love it! On the side I am working with a few different people and businesses doing custom paintings for them. I am also hoping to have a website of my own someday so people can order prints of my originals paintings as well as custom ones too! I am really excited.

There has been a lot of adjustments lately and I have missed blogging so very much. I hope to get in a routine where I can be better at blogging. I know I keep saying this, but I just gotta do it!!

On another note, if you love somebody tell them. And live every day like it's your last. Life is too short not to.

Love,

Kate

Donuts, quotes, and ideas

Life is happy and people are really beautiful. I love learning about people and their stories and discovering why they are the way they are. 

Friday night was a fun one. I went with two of my coworkers to get some donuts from a cute new food truck called "Bites Donuts" and we visited for a while. Then later that evening my friend Lindsey came over and we brainstormed about the future. We are thinking of starting some sort of blog together that includes anything and everything from our favorite treats, to DIY, to decorating, to outfits of the day. Think we could do it? I need ideas.

Also, I just discovered that some of my paintings (water color quotes to be exact) are now being sold on this website... So that's pretty cool.

Love,

Kate

I'm back!

Woops. I haven't blogged for quite some time and I sure have missed it! My lap top broke so that has been some of the reason why but now I'm back!! My sweet dad fixed it for me. He's wonderful.

Let me just review how our life has been since the end of November.

Thanksgiving was spent in Cedar with Drew's family. I made my Grandma Carol's homemade chocolate pie and it turned out perfect. Plus everyone loved it! I was so happy.

We had a delicious meal and Drew's mom was so sweet to make sure I got marshmallows on my sweet potatoes. After we ate dinner we played their new game called "Wits & Wagers." It was a pretty funny game. Before we knew it "Black Friday" at Walmart had already begun. We decided to drop by just to see if there was anything that stuck out to us. Well we ended up leaving with a 50" TV, a waffle maker, and an air mattress for future visitors all for around $250! For not planning ahead very well, we sure killed it!

December came and went super fast it seems. I opened up some extra time for painting custom orders for Christmas and I absolutely LOVED it! I had great compliments, reviews, and happiness from those who received them. It was such a joyful experience for me! I want to continue to accept custom painting orders, but I need to find the time to do so right now because my life is a little in the air a the moment. But let's get one thing straight-- it is my DREAM to be able to create art for people around me. So I'm going to keep doing that slowly until I can put more energy into it!

Drew and I got a whole week off for Christmas break so we spent the whole week up in Richfield (Christmas Eve, and Christmas day included). Then we spent the weekend in Cedar with his family and had Christmas with all of them on Sunday morning after his sister got into town. It's so fun to be able to share each other's families around Christmas time!

Unfortunately, I started feeling sick that week of Christmas and suffered from illness most of the week. It hit me hard on the day after Christmas and I had to go to the instacare. BLECK. Turns out I had a respiratory infection (my chest hurt really bad) and I thought I'd get better after I got some medicine in me, but no.... I got worse and Drew did too. The weekend with his family for Christmas was a little rough because of how sick we were. But we did bare to get family pictures out in the freezing snow! [Taken by my lovely and talented friend Lindsey] It made for some great memories though.

Now that it's January I look back and can't believe how fast the Holidays went by. It sure was fun spending time with family! We spent New Years Eve at my good friend Laura's with her cute young family playing games and eating fondue-- chocolate and cheese! It was simple and fun.

With the new year came a new job for me and a new roommate for me and Drew. My sister Kambry moved in with us! She is attending Dixie this semester and she and Drew are taking a golfing class together just for the heck of it. We love having Kam in our home! We have lots of fun together. Plus the spirit that she brings into our home is lovely and peaceful and happy. We are definitely blessed to have her with us :)

So far this month [January] we have had my family spend a weekend with us when they moved Kambry down. My mom baked me a lemon blueberry cake which was perfectly delicious. Kinsley (my other sister) spent some time with us as well as my grandparents, Micki and Doug. We went hot tubbing with them and went to the batting cages at Fiesta fun with Kinsley while she was here. Also this month Drew and Kambry spoiled me like CRAZY on my birthday and I felt loved by so many all day long. It was wonderful. We went out to dinner and got Waffleluv afterwards for a fun treat.

That about sums it up. Kambry's birthday is coming up next week and we are looking forward to going home for the Super Bowl.

I'll post some pics in the next post. Beware of picture overload.

Until next time!!

Love,
Kate

Pssst!

I am taking orders on custom paintings for Christmas for only a few more days! <<Last day December 7th>>  If you or anyone you know would like one, please contact me!

Send the picture you would like to my email.

kate_j777@hotmail.com

MUCH LOVE and THANKS to all those who have ordered already!

Love,

Kate

Surprises and weddings.

It's almost THANKSGIVING! Where is the time going?!?

My sweet dad surprised me the other night. He was in town for a few days for work and hadn't told me because he planned to surprise me and well.. it worked!

One night I got home from work and did the usual-- put on sweats, took off my jewelry, and pulled my hair up. I was about to start on some art projects when I received a picture from my sister of everyone in my family (except my dad) and the message, "a special visitor is on their way!"

Literally a second later I received a text from my dad asking if I was home. I said yes and the next thing I new he said "Look out your front door!"

I ran straight to my door and opened it and there he was running across the parking lot and up the stairs! It was the best surprise. It made me so happy to have him in town! We spent the evening on a date :) We went to the pasta factory for dinner.

The next night when I got off work he picked me up and we went shopping around to his stores--Sportsman's, Cal Ranch, and JC Penney. Then when Drew got off work we met up with him at IN & OUT for some dinner! It was so fun! 

He left for Richfield the next day, but I sure loved every minute I had with him! He is so wonderful. I love my dad so much!!

This last weekend Drew and I had a really big weekend. We left late Thursday night to travel to Richfield. We visited with my family for a bit and then we went to bed around midnight. We got up around 4 am and left around 5 am because we had to be in Ogden for my good friend Whitlee's wedding which was at 9 am! It sure was early but it was worth it. 

The Ogden temple was immaculate!! It was so gorgeous. Although it was freezing outside, the spirit there was so happy and warm. A feeling I can't really describe, ya know?!

Drew and I spent the entire day up there celebrating Whitlee and Jesse's big day. I helped take pictures all day (which was such a fun experience for me) and before we knew it the beautiful day was over. It truly was such a special, emotionally touching, and absolutely beautiful day.

We stayed the night at my aunt Katie and Bri's house and then got up early the next morning to beat any potential storms. We love staying at their home. It's so comfy and cozy! Not to mention they treated us to cinnamon rolls for breakfast-- yum!!

Sunday we visited Grandma Carol and Grandpa June for a little bit. I got her chocolate pie recipe from her (because I will be making it for Drew's family on Thanksgiving) and she also sent us with a bag of home grown apples and some winter buttercup squash! Oh! And she also sent us with a new table runner that she has been working on. One side is fall, and the other is Christmas! How thoughtful is she?! She's amazing!

She really blows my mind. She is so talented and always has some type of project going on whether it is painting or making yummy treats or sewing beautiful things.. She is so happy and beautiful. And Grandpa June is so sweet and happy too. We just love them!

My other grandparents Grandpa Doug and Grandma Micki came over to our house for Sunday dinner so we could visit with them too before we left. We sure do have the best grandparents in the world!

Kambry spent the weekend in Cedar and sent us this picture of her with Drew's dog Max :)

My mom made a delicious meal and even treated me to sweet potatoes and marshmallows! Talk about amazing people... she is bursting with amazingness. I love her so much.

Now we are back in St. George working and doing the usual. However, we will head up to Cedar for the weekend shortly! 

I can't believe the holidays are here. 

It's such a happy feeling :)

Love,

Kate

Beginning of November

The day after our Halloween party, Drew and I drove to Richfield. I went with my mom to my friend Whitlee's briday shower. We got her the game "Ticket to Ride." She and Jessie are going to love it!

It was fun to visit with Whit and to run into Hailey and Tiana too! I sure do love those girls.

Later that evening we met up with the Jensen side of the family to go bowling to celebrate Konner's birthday! I usually end up winning Drew, but unfortunately he beat me by a couple points this time.

However, I beat him by a long shot at the -shoot the basketball- arcade game! 

So proud of myself.

On Sunday Konner received the Aaronic priesthood! It was fun to be there for him. We celebrated with my Mom's side of the family + had our little family Halloween party altogether after church.

We ate home made Cafe Rio and my mom did the traditional witches brew!

Her kackle kills all of us every time. She's too good at it!

You can see my gummy worm in my witches brew punch ^

We drove back to St. George afterwards. 

I'm happy we have the privilege to drive home to either Cedar or Richfield to be with our families.

We are so blessed!

Love,

Kate

Halloween 2014

"Hi! I'm Olaf and I like warm hugs."

That was the theme of my costume for preschool. Of course the kids went crazy over it! I bought a $3 hat from Michaels, picked up some 33 cent felt, and drew the eyes and eyebrows on with a marker. The twiggy things on top are pipe cleaner and I used hot glue for the nose. It was SO EASY and so perfect! 

 There were multiple Elsas around at preschool and so I figured Olaf would be fitting. 

The next day was actual Halloween. At Dixie (my other job) we got to decorate pumpkin cookies but of course I had to be different so I turned my pumpkin cookie on its side and created a frankenstein. It was fun to create!

After work I went home to pack and finish making treats for our annual Halloween party that we have with Drew's friends up in Cedar! Our first party was last year. You can remember that here.

Anyways, this year I made some peanut butter + powder sugar creepy fingers and carmel popcorn. They were both a hit!  

The party was up at Ellen's cabin and it was a murder mystery theme. It was pretty fun! A couple of us had a part and we all had to figure out who the murderer was. Afterwards we played a new funny game called Egg Roulette, and then a few rounds of telephone gestures. We finished the night off by watching a scary movie. 

 This year Drew and I dressed up as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. Our costumes were homemade/DIY. I found my outfit at D.I. and I put Drew's together. I made his hat and shoes out of felt. I'd say we pulled our characters off pretty well!

We stayed the night at the cabin and the next morning Taylor made us all breakfast burritos. We left a little while later and headed to Richfield for the rest of the weekend to celebrate Konner's birthday and ordination. I will talk about that more in my next post.

I thought this hill was fitting for Halloween because can you see how it resembles a candy corn?!

Overall it was a great party and we love how everyone always goes all out to dress up! It's always a blast to be with everyone and we're already looking forward to next year.

I wonder what we will dress up as next time!? 

Love,

Kate