THANKSGIVING 2013

I sure was glad to have Monica and Garrett home for a bit. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

A SPOOK-TACULAR HALLOWEEN

This year Luke and I decided to dress up as a Mariachi guy {him} and Adelita {me}. Which if you look up the definition of an "Adelita" it will say: archetype of a woman warrior in Mexico and a symbol of action and inspiration. So...there you have it! We started our Halloween festivities by going to my friend's annual Halloween couples party. We ate delicious food and made some new friends! And managed to come in dead last at the scavenger hunt...boo. On Thursday, we celebrated with family and found out that Rory and Abbie are having a BOY! We are so excited for that little one to get here. The night ended on the couch with a food coma. Thanks, Halloween. We sure love you. 

Ay ay ay!

 And just like that October came and went.

^^ Matchy matchy for church!

Tuesday thoughts...

October thoughts and happenings

As I sat in Corporate Finance today, excitement took over. I started thinking about the future. My mind wondered away from data tables and inventory. Truth is, I started thinking about my future children! I was so overcome with joy at the mere thought of holding them in my arms. I can not wait to be a mother.
The best part is that Luke will be their father. My best friend. Oh man... I love him so! 

A few happenings this month: we got to babysit his niece, Jemma. I hope she loves it as much as we do! We could snuggle her all day! We sure love our Jemma girl. It was also Gaby's daughter's baby blessing two Sundays ago. Holy cow, I love baby Z!! They did a good job, halfsie baby for the win ;) We were fortunate enough to drive down to Salt Lake to attend the Sunday morning session of General Conference. That morning our dear Prophet, Thomas S. Monson addressed us. How blessed we are to have him as our Prophet today. The church is true!!! If you didn't get a chance to watch conference, you can do so here. Conference weekend is my absolute favorite. Now more than ever because I can snuggle up to Luke...which is also my favorite. Wedding planning is coming along. One thing at a time. I think right now both Luke and I just want to get this semester of school over with {more so me because I graduate!!!} and then the real wedding planning will begin. Pray for me and my 17 credits, won't you? 

^^ At the USU vs. BYU game. Terrible loss...but we love our Aggies anyway!

^^ Reading to Jemma.

^^ I love this photo. He'll be such a good daddy one day!

^^ Baby Penelope in all her cuteness! 

^^ At General Conference with my handsome fiance.

Forever.

Well, it's official! Luke and I are going to get married! I could not feel more happy and blessed! Man alive I love that man of mine.

On Thursday night, we'd been planning on setting up Luke's cousin with one of our friends. The date was planned and ready to go, until we looked outside and saw the rain...so we improvised. And by improvised I mean we did the typical "Logan, Utah" date. Bowling and ice cream, classic! As I was getting ready for the date, Luke called and asked if I could drive over to his house. WHAT! I was getting so mad at him for wanting me to come get him! I mean, this was a date. Last time I checked, the guy picks up the girl. Anyway, after almost hanging up on him twice, he said in his sweetest voice "Mariana, I never ask you to do big favors, please do this for me..." WHAT. If you know me, you know that the guilt trip will get me EVERY. TIME. So alas, I drove over to his house.

Rewind to:

December 22, 2007
It was a peaceful, snowy night. The moon was full and the flakes were coming down slowly. Luke and I had been planning on exchanging Christmas gifts and my sixteen year-old self was so pumped to give him the blue sweater I got him. I knew he'd been wanting to kiss me but neither of us had ever kissed anyone! Part of my present consisted of a bag of Hershey's kisses...smooth. So I thought, well it's going to happen now or never.
It didn't.
Well, it was getting late and I had to get home so we walked over to my car. Longest walk of my life. Again, I thought, it's DEFINITELY going to happen now or really... never!
He hugged me and walked back to his house.
Just like that I got in my car and started to warm it up. Suddenly I see something move out of the corner of my eye and saw Luke running back towards me. I was already buckled in and thought he'd just forgotten to tell me something, so I barely opened the door when he came in and gave me my first kiss.

Fast forward to:

Thursday. After the date we went back to his house and hung out for a little while. As we were talking he got up and told me that he needed to charge his phone. It was 10:30 PM, guys. Who on Earth is going to call him this late?? If you know him, you know that he could care less about his phone running out of battery. Especially when he's with me. I thought this was odd but brushed it off. When he came back, he sat on the other side of me and told me that we better get me home, haha. As we were making that same walk we did 6 years ago, I noticed that he was breathing heavily. Finally, we got to my car and he hugged me good night. His heart was beating so fast!! I got into my car and he went inside.

You probably know what's going to happen next, right?

Two nights ago, instead of a kiss, he gave me a pretty ring and asked me to marry him! And just like that, we'll be together forever.

P.s. There were some kisses I suppose... ;)

Fall.

As we wrap up Summer here in Logan, I can't help but get excited to start feeling that fresh Autumn breeze, start smelling pumpkin everything, seeing the leaves change all sorts of pretty colors, drink hot chocolate and snuggle up under a warm blanket. This time of year is my absolute fave. As I drove the other day, I took in all of the greens and the hot Summer air and said see ya later. You must do that around here, you know. In the blink of an eye everything will turn into a cold winter wonderland. That and scary, icy roads. 

playing with photoshop

I think Photoshop is genius. Every time I use it I find new ways to edit a photo or create new effects. I also enjoy learning from tutorials online. This one taught me how to make a photo look vintage and retro. I used a photo from my previous post and took it back in time! Hello, 1936...

New York {Part Four}: See you soon.

Delicious food. Pretty art. Amazing shows. Great people. Humidity, humidity, humidity. I loved my little visit to the city. You bet I'll return. 

^^ Levain Bakery was just around the corner from sister's apt. Highly recommend it!!

^^ Central Park, you beautiful you. 

^^ Notice the squirrel on the bottom right...they were everywhere!

^^ To say it was windy is an understatement! 

^^ Lots of love in the city!

Wicked. Phantom. Mamma Mia. AMAZING.

^^ Look up "MoMA | Rain Room". By far my favorite exhibit in NYC.

^^ Excuse the naky. I studied a lot of paintings/art in school and I was in heaven when I saw them in person!

^^ She never mentioned a self portrait...

And it wouldn't be a New York post without our friends Jay Z and Alicia...

New York {Part Three}: Let's be tourists.

This is when we put on our tourists shoes and visited every major tourist spot in NYC. We had such a wonderful time, especially having Monica and Garrett as our tour guides! Those two really know their way around the city. Thanks, guys! 

^^ A view from Garrett's building at night. Breath taking!

^^ We took one of the Statue Cruises to go see Lady Liberty!

^^ I can't get over this picture. When it is windy, you need an umbrella made of steel. Or else...

 

P.S. There are more pictures coming (yikes, I know)...this is just the beginning of our adventure!

New York {Part Two}: Am I in a movie?

We had a long "to-do" list and had to fit it all in a week before our momma headed back. The first walk from the subway to my sister's apartment felt unreal. I felt like I had stepped in a movie set and kept saying things like "Whoa! Look at that building! That street! The trees!" I mean, it doesn't get any more touristy than that, folks. We walked EVERYWHERE. If we weren't on the subway or eating Shake Shack...we were on our feet. Which is a great thing because all those Shake Shack runs...yikes. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, with a few comments here and there. So, here we go.

^^ Columbus Circle. Gorg!

 ^^ Food trucks EVERYWHERE...holla! This particular one was the most colorful, fun, patriotic one I saw.

 ^^ I guess we like our polka dots. Also, the humidity is killer.

 ^^ The Temple, Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School and this pretty view are all down the street from where my sister and bro in-law lived. Awesome, right?