For a girl who loves this blogging thing as much as I do.. I'm sure not any good at staying on top of it.. 

Let's see.. since the last post i've come back to Willey Honda (now working in their internet sales department), bought a new car, oh.. and decided to get ENGAGED!

Trevor and I decided to go on a cruise in March to celebrate Valentines Day, my birthday, and his birthday, which was an absolute BLAST!  We flew into Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and sailed to Belize where we went on a cave tubing tour (not as cool as it sounds..) and went zip-lining.  The second stop was in Cozumel, Mexico where we went scuba diving for our first time (SO much fun!) and rented a scooter to drive around town.  Days at sea were very laid back, and I got LOTS of selfish and uninterrupted fiance' time :)

Oh, that's right.. he finally popped the question!  I've only been pestering him about it for the last year and a half.  Poor guy puts up with me REEALLY well ;) 

The night of our formal dinner we got all dolled up and headed downstairs to get in line for the "cheesy backdrop pictures".  We took a couple, when a group of college boys came and asked to take pictures with the happy couple, I laughed and invited them in.. Trevor didn't think it was quite as funny as I did (as I found out later, he had his hand in his pocket about to pull that pretty diamond ring of mine out).  After we managed to get rid of them, Trevor asked the photographer for one more picture.. as I turned to pose again, he got down on one knee.. :)  Let me just tell you how happy I am I have pictures to document the WHOLE experience.  I am sort of head over heels in love with this boy.

Since coming back to reality, wedding planning has begun and things are finally starting to fall into place!  We have the venue reserved, flower girl attire and cake ordered, photographer and florist booked, invitations in the making, photo booth and DJ checked off, and I said yes to the dress.. now on to the countdown.. exactly 99 days until I marry my best friend. :)

My mom, grandma, Willow, Cresta, and I took a weekend trip to New York last week to visit the illustrious Kleinfelds, and I picked out the dress of my dreams.  I am absolutely obsessed with it.  I may or may not have had a dream last night that I bought a different dress and woke up this morning in a panic, I had to look at the pictures to reassure myself it was all real. :)  Aside from dress shopping, we spent a lot of time being tourists.  We visited the 9/11 memorial, saw the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, ate Waffles and Dinges (planning on visiting New York?  These waffle carts are a MUST, seriously the best waffles i've had in my life), and saw Wicked on Broadway!  I've seen it in Salt Lake before, but it didn't even compare.. it was INCREDIBLE! Aside from that, I got a lot of walking, a lot of pictures, and a lot of needed mama time (not only do I have the best mom in the world, I was blessed with three other "mommies" that I don't know what I would do without).  I had SO much fun, but was SO happy to get home to the soon to be hubby. :)

Lots more to do in the next three months, but i'm starting to realize it's all going to come together and be the perfect day and I couldn't be more excited!

Until next time.. xoxo

I knew it wouldn't take me long to fall behind on this blogging thing, but only two months in?
Well.. seven months later, lots has happened!

Me and Trevor are happy as ever.

Being the rebel children we are, and living in sin.. ;)

We moved into our first apartment on August 1st and I absolutely LOVE our new home.
I've got this new found crafty side 

(with a whole lot of help from Pinterest) 

Between painting our coffee table bright yellow, making my own picture frames, and canvas art it finally is starting to feel like somebody actually lives here.

You could say Trevor is a good sport.. :)

Skyy is loving her new home.

And we are loving her, as usual.

I'm still deciding "what I want to do when I grow up"

But give me some time, i'm sure i'll get it figured out.

If anyone has any tips or pointers, please feel free to throw them my way :)

Well, until next time :)

xoxo, Laken Jade.

February.

What. A. Month.

That is all I can even say...

Definitely didn't begin the way I expected it to, and that is an understatement.
Isn't it crazy how one second you are living in a bliss, and the next you feel your ENTIRE world has been yanked out from under your feet?
That is the only way I can think to describe my feelings for the beginning of the month. Not pleasant. But perhaps necessary? 

Maybe it is the hardships, and the struggle that make things worth while? 

Every truly great thing in life has its problems, but what makes those things perfect? When you still want to stick around for the ride even when everything sucks.
And life goes on. Things always work out the way they are supposed to in the end :)

This last month was an absolute whirlwind.
Me and Trevor started the month out on a weekend getaway in Jackson Hole to celebrate Valentines day.

{Do I smell a much needed new yearly tradition?}
Perfect doesn't even begin to cut it.
Let me just begin by bragging, my boy sure knows how to spoil a girl...

My great big surprise?

 Oh, you know... 

Just our very own little cabin for the weekend.
Uhm.. amazing? Yeah. I thought so too :)

Not to be conceded or anything, but we have got to be the best looking couple ever.

 I caved. Finally learned to ski.
Spent a lot of the day on my butt.. but I had a pretty dang cute ski instructor, and I had a blast :)

 And a road-trip just isn't complete without at least one speeding ticket.. right?

After we made our way home from that adventure, I had about 5 days to rest before..

PARIS :)

Yes, I am spoiled.

My birthday was on the 21st, so me and my mom took a little (okay, maybe not so little) girls trip to France :)

Our hotel was only about a block away from the Eiffel Tower, so we got a lot of time in there.

Pretty gorgeous :)
The very top was closed, but we climbed the stairs up to the second floor, and it got me realizing just how out of shape I really am.
{gotta miss the cheer days}

But once we got there, the view was SO worth the climb.

What a beautiful, beautiful city :)

 {And don't worry.. any calories I may have managed to work off on the climb up to the top,  I ate right back in the daily croissants and crepes.}

I recognized Notre Dame from way down the street.. not because I know anything about the cathedral itself.. but I sure have seen The Hunchback of Notre Dame more times than I can count.

Child at heart, and proud of it :)

It was pretty unreal to get the chance to see this all up close and personal.

That evening we went on a dinner cruise which took us along the Seine River and past some gorgeous sights.

I forgot to charge my camera that night, so I don't have many pictures of the evening.
But we had a great time :)
Some great sights, food, and heart to hearts with my mama.

One picture I snapped with my phone of the picture that we bought on the cruise ship.. and then left on the cruise ship.. :(

I have a hot mama :)

Our last full day we visited The Louvre.

What an incredible museum.
{I'll admit, I am no art history major, but i'm not sure I understand the rave behind the Mona Lisa? Of all the immaculate paintings, and sculptures, and even buildings surrounding her, that little painting is one of the most famous in the world? Yep, your guess is as good as mine.}
 

And eventually, of course.. we had to come home :(

But once we got home, I had A LOT to get done in a little amount of time.
For those of you who don't know, Trevs birthday is on February 29th (leap year)

 Meaning he turned 5 this year!

And oh boy does this girl know how to throw a party :)
A cars themed, 5 year olds birthday party.
Complete with goodie bags, balloons, cupcakes, party hats, a lightning mcqueen cardboard movie cutout..

And did I mention the bounce house in my living room?
Yes. A full sized, monster truck bounce house. :)

This month was a bit hectic.

"But I love this crazy, tragic, sometimes almost magic, awful, beautiful life"

XO- Laken Jade :)

January

JANUARY IS OFFICIALLY OVER!
And it sure seemed to drag on after 2011 flew by the way it did.

I had a few of my closest friends over to celebrate the new year.
We did a lot of catching up, dancing and singing to old school tunes, fireworks, and everything.
{and i'll bet my new years kiss was better than yours}
I sure wish I had been better about taking pictures that night, because now I don't have a single one to post here :(

Aside from NYE, my month has consisted of:

Starting a new semester.
Up until now I haven't seen any reason to rush with school. I know better than to take a break

(I know myself, and trying to get back into school after taking a break would be like pulling teeth) 

but, I have slowly been working my way towards my general associates.
This semester has been a little stressful.
I have officially hit the hump. 

I am sick of school, and ready to jump into a career and big kid life.
I know everyone has this, and I know it is something I have to, and I will get through..
Its just frustrating while it lasts.

My second frustration with school is figuring out what I want to go into.
For years and years I have been certain I wanted to go into nursing.
And now that I have changed my mind, I have literally NO idea.
They say if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.
That is what I want. I want to truly love what I do.
But finding a path that is going to take me there is scary.
Once again, I have been warned and I know that EVERYONE goes through this.
Everyone changes their major about a million times. I know. Its normal.
I just never saw myself here, questioning things as big as what I want to do every day for the rest of my life.
The rest of my life is a LONG time..

Work.
Nothing too different and exciting here.
I am still working at Willey Honda.
I work as a receptionist and cashier.
And I now also do all of the licensing and title work for our Ford and Honda dealerships.
I've been working here for about two and a half years now.
I have about the best possible job for a student there is.
I get to make my own schedule, and I pretty much do ALL of my homework while i'm at work.
Which works out great!

But sometimes it is hard to watch what seems like everyone moving on with their lives while I feel like I am stuck in a rut.
I feel like my life really hasn't changed much since graduation.
Still in the same job, making the same money.
Still taking classes that aren't really getting me anywhere.
Still living at home, and driving a car that isn't mine.

While I watch friends move out, move into careers, getting married, having kids, and starting their very own lives.

**which by the way mom, I am in no rush to do any of the above, don't get your panties in a bunch ;)

And I know I promised not to use this as a way to whine about my honestly VERY easy life.
So i'm done with that :)
On a lighter note, I remember now why I NEVER go snowboarding anymore.
Me, Trevor, Hunter, Bridger, and Ryker went on Sunday.
And my entire body hurt for a good three days after.
Other than that, it was SO much fun :)
Really good to get on a mountain for the first time in three years.
And it was really nice to finally see in action what that boy of mine is SO passionate about.

 
{does anyone else think its SUPER weird that after two years, that was the first time we have ever been snowboarding together?}
We are going again over Valentines weekend.
And i'm super excited :)
I'll save that for next months post though.

February should be a MUCH more exciting month than January was.
Valentines day, My Birthday, Trevors Birthday (his first REAL birthday in 4 years)
But i'll save that for next time..
:)

How lame does it make me if i post twice in the same day?

Before you all begin assuming i'm a bigger loser than i actually am

<which is a pretty big one>

Please try to keep in mind that my job consists of sitting, in what i like to call my hole  

(a small, not very homey, and lonely cubicle) for what begins to seem like DAYS on end.
Don't get me wrong.. I actually LOVEmy job.
I make my own schedule. I work with some of the BEST people I know. I get paid to do homework, sit on facebook, twitter, and now to blog! 

(which I am slowly, but surely becoming quite fond of)

Lets just go ahead and count my first post as more of an introduction, and this can be the real thing :)

 Honestly, I wanted to take my first REAL post and send out a big thank you to everyone who is, has been, or ever will be in my life.

You all are {or will be} who made me who I am today.
I have been feeling like a really lucky girl lately.
No particular reason :)
Just taking a step back and seeing how good I really have it.
I have the best parents on the face of the planet.
MY MOM is my best friend. {and not even in that dorky sort of way either}
She is the epitome of selfless and the STRONGEST woman i've ever known.
Her world revolves around me and my brothers.
She is my role-model and my hero.
And I wouldn't be anywhere today without the person she taught me to strive to be.

MY DAD. I LOVE MY DAD.

Some days I don't think he knows that.
But I do.
Daddys little girl forever :)
"the best thing a father can do for his daughter is love her mother" -Elaine S. Dalton

And he has. Through thick and thin. 

23 years strong.
He taught me what to look for in a guy.
Someone who will love me through it.

And here comes the cheesy part.
Bear with me here.
THE BOY

What can I even say about this boy?
There is not a person out there who knows me the way this guy does.
And through all the quirks and bad days.. he loves me anyways.
It sure feels nice to be in love with my best friend :)

{I know you can't really tell here.. but he really does like me. promise.}

 And we all know life just wouldn't be the same without

  THE BROTHERS

Hunter, Bridger, and Ryker.
I spend a whole lot of time getting picked on, and teased, and telling my mother she "should have stopped after me"
but lets be honest, I love those boys more than life itself.

They keep my life interesting, and that's for sure.
But i've been spoiled.
 Not many big sisters can say their brothers open doors for them, or brush the snow off their cars in the morning so they don't ruin their hair.
I have taught these little boys well.
& sorry girls, none of you will EVER be good enough for them. :)

Blogs, blogs, and more blogs.

Lately I have found myself OBSESSED with blogs. 

Reading blogs, the people who write the blogs, and the idea of possibly blogging myself.   

I have this strange admiration for those who take the time to write down the madness going on inside of their heads, open and available for anyone to come along and judge. I have always been more of the suffer in silence type, not to worry I promise not to use this as a way to constantly whine because that has been my biggest pet peeve among the countless blogs I have found myself getting lost in lately.

  But I think sometimes the best way to understand ourselves is to take the time to put our thoughts and feelings into words. 
I was never one to keep a journal or diary.  Not for a lack of trying, because trust me, I have probably started next to a hundred in my day. It always seemed like my life was too boring, and too ordinary to keep a record of my day to day "I had a club sandwich for lunch" and "the crush finally noticed my existence" and all that other fun, teenage girl stuff. 

I don't know what makes me think my life is any more worthy of being blogged, or exciting now than it was then.  Because trust me, it isn't.
My main idea behind this is 20 years from now to look back and remember what I was thinking, feeling, and doing with my life at 20 years old.  

Ready to make fun?

Looking back on the old myspace and early facebook days was really the inspiration here.  I made the mistake of deleting my myspace account all together when that was no longer the cool thing to do, and i've found myself regretting that.  Looking back even just a year ago on my sweet little facebook wall I am reminded of 

How much things have changed.. 

How much I have changed.  

It became my very own version of a diary. 
That is where I am hoping to head with this, my very own form of diary, minus the fact that this is about to be posted up online and everyone and their dog can read it.  Worst private diary ever.

But that works for me because I am about the least private person EVER.  

And ya know what?  I think I am okay with that. 

Because maybe if everyone took the time to share their thoughts and feelings, relating to everyone else would be just that much easier?