Three girls, a weekend, & one Bieber.

I will admit at the beginning I came down with a bad case of "Bieber Fever" he was just thing adorable little ball of talent & why I still enjoy dancing to his music he is turning into such a little thug that it makes me sad. I just hope he doesn't end up like Lindsay Lohan. Standing next to my friends Maddi, & Paige I probably had the least fever. I was dancing the entire time, Paige was absolutely love struck. Just kept going on about how hot he was. While Maddi & I compared him to my 11 year old brother. It's so true though I'm sorry he has a little boy body. Pretty ripped arms for his body but he will get there soon. But I do love the Biebs. If I didn't I doubt I wouldn't have planned a Vegas trip to go see him. I am getting ahead of myself let's go back.

I got a text from my friend Maddi literally a week after we saw him in Salt Lake in January, about going to see him again in California or Vegas. I was just sitting there looking at the text thinking "dude, we JUST saw him." Pretty sure I may have actually said that to her. She was not happy. I was already planning a trip to Colorado for Country Jam with some other friends & didn't think I could pull off two trips in two weeks right in a row. Maddi being Maddi offered to pay for my entire trip just so she wouldn't have to go alone. I just couldn't do that so I just agreed to go & figured it wasn't until June so I would have plenty of time to save for both trips although I was sure my husband would kill me. After the line up was announced for Country Jam I decided not to go since it wasn't going to be that great. I was relieved because that meant more money for Vegas. Which turned out to not be very much so there is no way I could have swung two trips in two weeks time! 

We had two other friends who were planning on going but when the trip got close they ended up not being able to go. This posed a problem because only Maddi & I were going to the concert which left Paige who would be all alone in the hotel while we were at the concert. We literally invited everyone we could have but it just didn't work out for anyone even after they said they were in the next day it changed. We came to the conclusion that Paige would just get a ticket & come with us. The day we left we ended up finding a single ticket by the section next to us so we bought it & went on our way. We stayed in Mesquite one night, hung out at the pool for the day, then headed to Vegas. Wow it was so freaking hot. We actually had an extreme heat warning while we were there. I don't know how people live there. I don't think I could be a Mormon & live there. I literally melted like a popsicle in my G' but I did prove yet again you can wear garments & vacation in Vegas. You can even be modest & go dancing. Who would have known?? It is possible people!!

I will tell you that I have been to a ton of concerts but I don't think anything will top the ear shattering screams of all the girls in his concerts. I am sure any dogs in the vicinity were dying from the sound!! Surprisingly our seats turned out to be way better than we expected which is always awesome!!! Paige was pretty close to us not enough to talk over all the noise so we motioned that when JB comes out she was to come up & stand with us. It worked like a charm. She stood by us the entire time! We just staggered our standing & stayed within our two chair area. We stood up sang,  & danced the entire concert. Didn't sit down once, which was defiantly worth the sore feet after. When I went to the concert in Utah I left happy I went but it was nothing compared to Vegas! The sounds, the lights, everything was so much better. He puts on a very great show. Whether you like him or not you have to give it up to him that he is such a talented person. He is quite the musically inclined individual with awesome dancing skills! (& a hot bod if you ask Paige)

I am so glad I went because it was such a great concert & the entire weekend was fabulous. I don't think we ever went to bed before 2:00 am. Such a great vacation with two quite amazing friends who I love!! I was happy to get back home to my husband though. :] I missed him a lot.

Summer Lovin'

Who doesn't love Summer?? There is something about seeing little kids out riding their bikes, or selling lemonade that just brings a smile to my face. The feeling of complete freedom comes to mind when I think back to my summers when I was in school. There was nothing better than the last week of school where we did absolutely nothing then suddenly we are set free for three months. Summer isn't as freeing as I remember it being since I still work but it is still just as fun. This is my first married summer & as annoying as us newly weds are saying that....it defiantly changes things but in the best way possible. We have done more things together than any summer before & I love it. I love experiencing new things with my husband. I honestly don't know how long it will take me to get used to having our own room on family trips. Eventually it will become normal I suppose.

I'm playing catch up from a few weeks ago because I have been so incredibly busy with work & with fun. I have had a great summer so far!! We took the boat out for a day on the lake & it was perfect. Averie was an absolute doll. She loved the boat except when we stopped moving, she wasn't too fond of that but really who is? I have to breathe deeply every time we stop & are being smashed with waves so I don't get sick. She even fell asleep in my arms for a good forty five minutes. I tried so hard to keep her from rocking with the motions of the boat but she slept soundly until it got a little chilly so I decided to put a light jacket on her. Yeah THAT was what woke her up. Figures haha.

 Josh Turner Concert

 I also had the honor of attending a Josh Turner concert in Orem with Mckell, her mom, & her moms friends. I seriously look at how those ladies are & can't wait to be a fun mom. Mckell & I go to so many concerts with them!! They are our concert crew & it defiantly isn't the same without them. They are the funniest, sometimes crude, young women calling themselves GILFS, dancing with 22 year old guys. I mean they are a freaking RIOT!! You haven't really experienced a concert if you havne't gone with them. We stalk to tour bus after with them, who does that?? Oh we do!! haha 

When we went to meet him we were super rushed which was sad. What the hell do you say to a celebrity that you have five seconds with to take a picture with? Especially when the workers helping where so beyond rude. When it was our turn he says to us "how are you doing?" Could have died with how beautifully deep his voice was. Phew. We didn't really answer, we were a little star struck. We politely said hi, smiled for a picture & in his deep sexy voice he said, "thanks for coming". Nothing stellar....he didn't propose marriage to me but it was still awesome. I still completely regret not sneaking a butt grab in though. If you don't know what I am referring too click here to read another butt grabbing celebrity moment Mckell & I shared. 

Anyways Josh Turner is a great entertainer, he put on a fantastic show!! I feel that I have been to so many concerts that I am spoiled & so picky about them. If they aren't dancing around or engaging the crowd I don't enjoy it as much. But Josh Turner did that the whole time. Damn his voice goes low. He sounds just like he does recorded, if not better. Just beautiful. I wanted to just die when he sang a cover of Billy Deans (touched his butt too) "I Wouldn't Be a Man". & how cute is this, his wife is the keyboardist & back up singer. So adorable you could just tell he was a good man. Family orientated & a christian man. It's safe to say I fell in love!! I would pay big bucks to see him again.

California Dreamin'

I am writing this post from somewhere deep down, a sad, tired, Monday morning after an entire week off on a beach. I can't even begin to tell you how hard it was for me to get out of bed & get myself to work this morning.. I just spent the last week in California in a beach house at Capistrano Beach. Chances entire family goes on this trip every year. They stay at the same beach house every time mostly because they buried all of their ocean toys in the sand when we leave. Then the next year when we get there they dig up the boogie boards & all the toys. There were twenty one of us there & we had so much fun. Here is a run down of what happened down in Cali!!!

All 21 of us flew from Salt Lake City to Long Beach. I am so happy we don't drive. I honestly love to fly. It's such a cool feeling & it gives me butterflies. My adorable cousin Brooks had a Jet Blue mustache the whole flight!! 

We made it to the beach house & the water was as beautiful as I remembered it. Capistrano is a private beach for residents & guests of the beach houses. It makes it so nice to not be at an over populated beach fighting for a spot to lay. We just walk out of the house & this is our backyard. How lucky are we??

Sunday we attended a California ward that met at 9:00 a.m. Little early for vacation right?? We were planning on going to the 11:00 a.m. sacrament meeting but found out it was a Spanish speaking ward. So with a 45 minute warning to get ready we amazingly made it on time!! I wish I had a that beautiful view of the ocean when I walked out church every Sunday!!!

  Laying out & playing on the beach was so relaxing. The weather was perfect. It was hot but laying next to the beach you get that coastal breeze....oh it was heaven. These to little fishes lived in the water!! You seriously rarely saw them out of it. The day we arrived they jumped in the water in their normal clothes because they were too excited!! Brooks, Maisy & I had fun jumping over the waves, boogie boarding, building sandcastles & having my bury them in the sand. There is never a dull moment with these two.

Tuesday morning we went & spent the morning doing baptisms at the New Port Temple. It was such a great experience. Chance had the opportunity of confirming & doing twenty baptisms with me.

We went to dinner at this adorable Italian restaurant in San Clemente with Chance's parents & brother. Then we walked down to the pier to look over the water. It was so beautiful, we watched the surfers on the water. It really is chilling sometimes to just look out at the water & see it just continue on forever.

Bird Sanctuary get it?? haha

Wednesday was spent at none other than the always fun DISNEYLAND. Sadly it was so freaking busy. It was graduates night so the park was packed! But we still had so much fun! Cars Land was the most adorable thing ever!!  The day after I woke up my feet were still sore, my throat was still sore from screaming, but I still had a smile on my face from how fun it was!!!

Thursday night all the boys (minus Chance's Dad & Cody) plus me (the only girl) went to the Angels vs. Dodgers game at angels Stadium. It was so much fun. This was my third MLB game I have ever been to & I loved every minute of it. While all of our family was cheering for the Dodgers Chance & I were voting for the Angels. The Angels ended up winning 3-2. The crowd we were sitting with man they were entertaining. I would say the stadium was close to 50% Angel fans & 50% Dodgers fans. There was a lot of chanting & yelling which only got louder the more beer everyone had!!

We brought Taylor to the game:]

 Sadly our trip had come to an end & we were packing up before we knew it. I had so much fun on our trip! I can tell you I'm still not back in the work groove & it's Thursday haha but I know that California will be waiting for us next year & only one more Cali trip without Taylor!!!! I am so excited for the next trip that beach is calling my name!!

In Memory.

As memorial day approaches my mind can only grasp two things. One that on Saturday I am leaving to California with Chance & his entire family!! I am so excited!! Two I just think about my grandpa. It's a special day where we spend some time as a family decorating his grave with flowers, flags, & pin wheels of course, after taking a weed whacker to the edge of the grass since we all know he liked a nice looking lawn. There are flags placed in a row with the name of every person in the cemetery who have passed who served in the military along with a permanent list of the names of those who served. Such a honor to the sacrifice he made to serve long ago. This day usually makes you feel pride. Pride for who you lost being honored & remember, followed by tears, then the sharing of memories that brings more tears mixed with laughter & smiles. 

Yesterday I spent a few hours looking through old pictures & realizing how lucky I am. I have caught myself feeling jealous of my old cousins who had my grandpa at their graduations & weddings. Seeing him hold his great grand kids. I know I will never have pictures like that. But the sweet thought that enters my mind when I think about this is my children are up in heaven with him right now. He watches over me & when they are bought upon this earth he will be here to watch over them as well. He is watching over his entire family & he is with us constantly. Even though we may not know it I can tell you it's true because I felt it in the temple when I got married. Even though we can't see him he is there & he loves us. Russel M. Nelson once stated in a talk that: "Loving relationships continue beyond the doors of death and judgment. Family ties endure because of sealings in the temple. Their importance cannot be overstated."

It may feel weird to visit his grave & have a one sided conversation with a head stone. But the promise of knowing that loved ones that have passed see who visits their grave. You leave with that happy thought knowing he was watching, he saw you, & he was there. I will admit I had a hard time at first going to his grave. It finalizes it that physically he is gone. Death is a hard thing to grasp even though everyone deals with it numerous times in their life time. I haven't even brought myself to visit my best friend Sean's grave because it's still too hard. Death will always be sad but somehow eventually, despite your best efforts not too, you still keep on living. Our loved ones would be furious at us if the loss of them is effecting us living our lives especially when they know, & we know that we will see each other again. Knowing that we have an eternity of happiness waiting for us after we pass on from here. In reality they probably feel bad for us having to still live down here since i am quite positive heaven is awesome:] That is the only thing that makes life worth living when someone dies. I don't know what my life would be like if i didn't believe in such a thing. 

All I want to do is make my grandpa proud & I hope I am doing an okay job at that. I want my kids & my grand-kids to remember me when I am gone. To remember all the memories we share & the love that I had for them. I want them to be proud of their family & remember loved ones who have passed. If I am half of who my grandpa is, then I will have done my job. Anyways I could go on & on about this amazing man with a million pictures so I thought for the sake of time I could do something better. At work I made a short slide show of some of these photos just to express the point of living for your lost loved ones. Living on in their memory. Taking time to enjoy the little things & remember the memories made that will never be forgotten. 

I love you grandpa Shepherd & I will always remember you. With a kiss & an eye roll:]
(I'm not sure why the slide show uploaded so little. I picked the biggest option for the video. Oh well.)

Mornings with Austin

I have the privileged of always watching my little brother when my parents are out of town. This month I have had him two weekends in a row. He generally stays over at my house when my parents are gone because I have to open up our printing shop at nine & get him to school so it's just easier for me. Sometimes he is really good at getting himself up & getting ready when I ask him. But every once in a while I have to fight him. Let me mention that this is THE LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL before summer. As he woke up this morning he came to lay in my bed for a few minutes & told me, "I think I have a kinked neck". I had promised my mom he wouldn't talk me into letting him stay home. About fifteen minutes later he walked into my bathroom as I was getting ready & said, "I think I have a pus pocket in the back of my throat do you have a flashlight?" So I looked & couldn't see anything. I just kept telling myself to stay strong. I even had to text Chance for some moral support. I am a sucker for Austin. I will literally do anything he ask me to do. He is just so dang cute I can't resist!! As he was coughing & clearing his throat to prove his point I made us some waffles. Little did he know it was all a test. I completely studied him as he swallowed his food. He never winced, made a noise, or struggled to swallow his food. Then I offered him some medicine to help but he refused to take some so I decided then that he was faking. After breakfast he tried to get ready as slowly as humanly possible to insure that he was late. So as we pulled up to the school I tried as fast as I could to write a note for him to excuse him for being a few minutes late. I tried to get away it done without him seeing it. He read it & gave me the look. He said, "I don't like what you wrote. I'm not going to give it to her." So I said, "fine then you'll have detention (he knows there is no detention is elementary school right??)..have a good day loooove you!!" He didn't think it was as funny as I did. I sure love that boy. He is so funny. I am telling you he is a clone of his older brothers. Never wants to go to school!But that was a little insight into what getting Austin ready for school usually takes. Can't wait till my own kids act like this!! 

These are a few of my {New} favorite things!!

So I know I have been not so very good my blogging duties. I am sorry. Life is busy. I wanted to tell everyone about some amazing finds I have fell absolutely in LOVE with. All of these things I have had my eye on but just wasn't ready to loosen the purse strings just yet but I finally just went for it when I had a little extra money & it was so worth it.

Have any of you ever heard of Jaclyn Hill?? Well if you haven't let me tell you she is amazing. She is a total youtube makeup artist guru. She teaches you all these tips that she learned form going to MAC Makeup School & working for MAC for years. If your like me, I am not brave with my make up. I try new things & I end up hating it so I wipe it off then put my make up on like usual. When I do others make up for dances & weddings it turns out looking so great, then i try it on myself same situation I hate it on myself. I have rather large eyes accompanied by large eye lids. it creates problems believe it or not. Anyways I have always wanted some nice make up brushes. I had watched one of her youtube tutorials on brushes. She compared these Sigma Brushes with her Mac Brushes & said they are the same if not better for half of the price. I believe her. So i bought some & I LOVE THEM. Best thing I have ever bought myself. 

Sigma Beauty Make-up Brushes: They seriously are so amazing. The price can't be beaten. You can buy the brushes individually or in a kit. Like I said I absolutely love them. Best purchase ever. They apply the make up to my face to evenly & I have noticed I don't use as much make up as I was using before due to the quality of these brushes!

Urban Decay Naked 2: I love every single color in this palette. I am a very neutral toned lover when it comes to my make up. Shimmer & browns are always my go to so this palette was perfect for me. I have yet to try a silver & black smokey eye with it but that's my next brave moment to try. If you buy this I promise you won't regret it!!!

Maybeline Gel Eye Liner: This accompanied by my small angled Sigma brush makes for the most perfect lined eyes. This stays on all day, it's water proof & I never have to reapply!! I personally am not drawn to pencil eye liners, if I have a day where I just want to wear base, eye liner, & mascara the pencil eye liners get all over your eyelid by the end of the day. Not cute. So I started using liquid mascara & really liked them. But I am a perfectionist & you can get crazy if you accidentally bump yourself while applying it or put it on too fat when your in a hurry. This is the perfect happy medium between the pencil liners & liquid. I love it!!!

They're Real Mascara by Benefit: I bought this on a complete whim. I wasn't planning on having it but while I was in Sephora it was like it was calling my name. "Brittney you need to buy me. Your eyelashes need me." I talked myself out of it & walked around the store for a few more minutes then before I knew it i bought it. I seriously just had to have it. It''s the most expensive mascara I have ever bought but let me tell you it is absolutely amazing. I know a really big trend right now is eye lash extensions & I have thought about getting them but I am so afraid of them ruining my real lashes. I know a few people where the extensions totally thrashed their natural eye lashes & took so long for them to grow back in. In addition they are expensive & to keep them looking their best you usually have to get them filled every two weeks. So i took this approach. I do naturally have pretty long lashes but nothing is ever enough right?? My lashes are so much longer when I wear this, lasts all day, & doesn't flake. I have really loved what my lashes look like since I bought this. The brush is unlike any other mascara brush I have ever used.

Sigma Brushes can be found at www.sigmabeauty.com

The Naked 2 Palette & They're Real Mascaracan be found at Sephora

Maybeline eyeliner can be found at Walmart/Shopko etc. 

My wish list for my next paycheck :]

Nars Orgasm Blush

Nars Albatross Highlighter