i love you march!

So far, March has been really good to me. 

Right now I am a second semester Junior in the elementary program which means 3 weeks in an elementary classroom! 

Last semester it was 6th grade, this semester is quite the opposite: kindergarten! 

To be honest, I was a little hesitant to be in a kindergarten classroom for 3 whole weeks because just one day spent substitute teaching them would leave me exhausted. However, after spending just one week with those adorable, pinchable cheeks, I am realizing that I could see myself teaching the little tikes just as much as the older ones.  Needless to say, I am looking forward to the next 2 weeks. {It also helps that I'm best friends with my field partner, Brianna!} :)

Aside from school, March has also been good to me for a few reasons:

Reason number 1. Partying it up in Springville for St. Patrick's Day

Reason number 2. Warm enough weather to try out our new slackline! 

The newly married couple!!  Oh Mark...

Reason number three. Mark & Rachelle's wedding:

Spending all day with Allissa was the best. We were bridesmaids together. :)

I love Rachelle so much! And this picture...

It was pretty cold outside

Groomsman and bridesmaid together. :)

Reason number 4. Eating healthier and running again. 

Celery & peanut butter, salad, potatoes and chicken, chicken tacos, and a wholesome breakfast

Yay March! I love you!

Rachelle

I have been looking forward to writing this post for quite some time. It's a little last minute because this week has just been so crazy... But! The thing that I'm dying to say is: RACHELLE IS GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW! Where do I even begin with describing Rachelle? We go wayyyyy back. Back to 4th grade. Here are some pictures of us in 4th grade. 

As you can see, we don't have one of us together. That's because we weren't exactly friends... not yet anyway. We just hung out with the same people. It wasn't until Sophomore year of High School that we became best friends! And the rest is history. :)

Haha! So many of these pictures perfectly explain why we get along so well! 

Rachelle is the sweetest person you will ever meet. Sometimes she is too nice for her own good! 

Rachelle has been there for me through thick and thin!

She has amazing insight on things.

She never makes me feel insecure about myself.

I can be my 110% self with her.

She is a very talented, bright, and GORGEOUS lady!

And she is about to marry her best friend!

{who just happens to be my husband's cousin}

We already considered each other family. But tomorrow, we will officially become cousins-in-law! At least I think that's what we'll be... 

I love you Rachelle! I couldn't be more happy for the person you've chosen to spend the rest of forever with!

how to plan a bridal shower in less than 24 hours

So my very bestest friend in the whole wide world {besides Ammon} is getting married so soon!! And get this! ----> her soon-to-be-husband is cousins with my husband!! We always joked that we were family in High School, and now we really will be family. :)

Anyway, because she is marrying into my husband's family, I wanted to throw her a shower with all the lovely ladies on Ammon's side. And even though I set the time and place way in advance, I didn't actually start doing the planning until the day of!

Here's how:

Step 1. Log onto pinterest
Step 2. Type in the following phrase: "bridal shower games"
Step 3. Find a few you like (but don't pin them because then the bride-to-be might see what you're up to!) Here are a couple I decided to use

   

                     

                 

                        

                              

                                    

Instead of writing advice on paper, have the guests write advice on wooden spoons. Put them in a large jar and label it: "Recipe for a good marriage." 

Instead of having the guests just watch the bride open presents, give them bingo cards beforehand. They fill in the blanks with things they think the bride will open. Prizes are awarded to those who get bingo. 

Step 4. Buy and gather all the needed supplies. I got the wooden spoons at Wal-Mart {4 for $0.89} and then I made my own bingo cards on Word. For the decorative supplies, I found everything I needed at the dollar store. Oh how I love that store! :)                      

Step 5. Arrive early enough to set up everything.
Step 6. Greet the guests. Be flexible. Don't plan too much that you don't leave the guests any time to ask the bride-to-be questions or mingle with one another. Relax and have fun!

Now, you're probably wondering about the food. That part shouldn't be left until the day of. Don't worry, I made sure to do that part in advance. :)  For food, I made a sign-up and asked for volunteers. Luckily many of the guests were really sweet and helpful and offered to bring many delicious contributions.

I think the party went well. It helps when the bride-to-be is really easy-going and sociable with everyone. I'm lucky to have her as my best friend.

Another fun game is interviewing the groom beforehand. Ask him questions about the bride. If his answer matches her answer, then she gets a piece of candy, if they don't match, then she gets punished! (Gum, marshmallows, sprayed with silly string, etc.) I guarantee you will get a few sighs and laughs from the girls as they get to know more about the soon-to-be-married couple!

Valentine's Day

A few reasons why this year's Valentine's Day was the best ever!!

Reason #1. I'm in the elementary education program. 

Valentine's day cards-complete with Justin Bieber's beautiful smile and a tattoo!

Reason #2: Look what I got for Ammon:

hahaha!

Reason #3: Ammon sent me on the best scavenger hunt of my life! I am seriously so lucky!!

Reason #4: A candlelit dinner with Ammon while watching an episode of Lost

It doesn't get any better than that! 

Once there was a snowman

Hey there! So uh... my blogging skills have certainly been slack-a-lackin these days. Sorry about that! Here's a little bit of what I've been up to lately.

Goodbye snowman my old friend... the sun has melted you again.