Monday, December 26, 2011

Happy Everything

What a great couple of months! Man they flew out the window. Well November was my birthday trip to Jerome/Prescott. My parents surprised me with my brother for the weekend. He moved to LA this summer for school. Their amazing surprise was the cherry on top of birthday weekend trip. Here are a few moments from the weekend:
Back together and it feels so good!!
All Bundled Up
This year we hosted Thanksgiving. This meant that I would be in charge of the bird! I was up for the challenge. I received some great instruction from my boss, a self proclaimed foodie. Not to toot my own horn but TOOT TOOT. It turned out fan-freaking-tastic!
Looked & tasted out of this world.
Proudly we have come close to finishing our backyard. Brad shoveled 10 tons of rock with the help of our helpful neighbor. He planted winter seed, which has been coming in beautifully. To top it all off we found some great patio furniture to enjoy in the finished yard. I was thankful to be so blessed.
Missy claimed her spot
Now that December had rolled around it was time for Christmas!! Santa!!! I know him!!! I love getting a real tree so it was off to the tree lot for me. I usually do not bring Brad. I can see him now telling me, "It is too big." Too big and Christmas tree should never be in the same sentence, hence why I leave him at home. So it turns out my eyes were bigger than the room that the tree actually goes in. I will swear until the day I die, it did NOT look that big a the tree lot. It turns out that it is more along the lines of a Christmas Bush. Eh some say tomato, some say tomato. Needless to say I need  A LOT more ornaments as well as bigger tree skirt. This one is more along the lines of a tree thong. I still loved it!!
Fat trees need love too!!

This brings us to the 2nd Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. It is always a great time getting everyone together to see the creative ways to make an already ugly sweater even more ugly. It was a laid back night that turned out pretty great. My camera died so I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked to.
Mike brought Jake to the party so he wouldn't miss it.


Jamie, Miss, and I in an awkward family photo


Not sure which is better, the pants or the teddy bear on the sweater?!

Is that Mr. Magoo??

I would probably have to say the best part of this Christmas season was planning a secret trip to visit Jake and Jena in Winnemucca, Nevada. Our arrival would be a surprise to Jake. Jena and I have been planning these shenanigans since October. There were times we thought we wouldn't be able to pull it off. We did though and I think it will go down in history as the Best Christmas Present Ever. It was an adventure just getting there. Brad and I flew to Reno, NV Thursday morning. We were still about 3 hours away from Winnemucca. So after a few hours of exploring Reno we hopped on the Amtrak. What a great way to travel. There was so much room. Our seats even had recliners!! The best part is that you can move around the train as you please. Brad had never been on a train before so this was really neat to experience with him. Jake and Jena were at the local pizzeria in town. The train station was about a block from their house. We hoofed it, luggage and all to the house. We dropped off our stuff and hopped in Jena's car to the Pizzeria. I am pretty sure Jake could have used an adult diaper when we walked in the door. It took a couple seconds for him to realize it was us---there. It was great to see them. It was 4 days filled with baking, boy truck stuff, twilight marathon, apples-to-apples, bowling, drinking, and eating. We could not have asked for more.

Reno Train Station
Lots of room on the train!!
Jake & Jena
Goofy


Christmas was wonderful. I was truly blessed to have my family at such a special time of year. My brother is moved back to Arizona, which makes me happy. The best part of the holidays is spending time with the ones that you love. With all the busy hustle and bustle of life it is great to just relax and catch up with everyone. As 2011 comes to a close I am so grateful for all that I have. Health and Happiness.

xoxo Stefanie





Friday, November 4, 2011

It Came & Went

Wow! October has sure flew right out the window. We celebrated our 3 year anniversary and Brad's 27th birthday. It has not really felt like Fall or even Halloween for that matter. Probably since it has been in the nineties all month. Although the crisp fall nights have not arrived quite yet, we did have a fun filled October. We went to the fair for my good friend Jamie's birthday. It as such a great time! We spent way too much money on fair food, games, and photo booth pictures, as you should at the fair!
Mound-O-Chili Cheese Fries
Goofballs!


 
How many people can fit in a PhotoBooth?           



I think they should make Halloween on the last Saturday of October. Although it being on a Monday this year didn't seem to slow the kids down at all! We have been spending Halloween night at our friends, Lester & Sami's house for the past 4 years. It is about 10 households all sitting on the driveway with a bucket o candy from each household. A one stop shop for all the trick or treaters. There is always a Pot Luck so this year I made...

Spook-a-Mole
To top a great month off, to my surprise I received an unexpected package on Halloween. I was hoping it wasn't a trick. Indeed it was a TREAT of epic proportions. I am going to be pretty busy reading!! Thanks Jena!!

I can't believe I have not read these yet!!!



Monday, October 10, 2011

Everything Happens For A Reason

To think.  Two people are born.  Born on different days, in different years, in different towns.  Born to different parents, different families.  Two separate personalities.  Two separate experiences.   While the shy, quiet boy played soccer and skateboarded with his neighborhood pals. The outgoing and rambunctious girl loved doing good for everyone. They met in the beginning of their high school years. Went on a few dates, not knowing what they had, dated other people.  She dreamed of him her whole life.  He dreamed of her.  A faceless ideal, to an age old desire.  Is it fate to believe, when their lives would collide once again? After high school their worlds met once again. Coincidence, I think not. Like two atoms who have spent year after year circling the atmosphere, searching for their complete likeness.  Is it fate to believe that these two strangers happen to be at the exact same place, at the exact same time?  The once shy boy built up confidence to make her his. Destiny or not, these two people met. Their two hearts and their two souls spontaneously collided, completely unaware that their dreams just caught up to them.  And somewhere along their separate journeys, these two people became exactly who they needed to be for that one moment in time.  That one moment that fated the rest of their lives, to become one heart and one soul.  It's an interesting thing.  To think.   

3 years ago I married my best friend. The first year of marriage we decided we wanted to buy our first house. We had to move in with our great friend Jake. Not usually in the plans for the first year of marriage. It took the ENTIRE year to both agree on something we both loved. The second year we started to make that dream house a home.  The third year involved losing some of our closest family and friends. It was great to have him by my side. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Monday, September 12, 2011

What A Process

I know I have been on hiatus. Now more than ever it is important to update our friends and family that are not close to home about Life with the Willeseseses. Brad is my little busy bee. He can never just sit and BE. Me on the other hand... he would probably tell you that I just BE a little too much. This is one of the MANY reasons I believe we are made for each other. We balance one another in that sense. Even though I poke fun at Brad's ongoing "projects", I love that he takes so much pride in finishing everything he starts. The other night he asked if he could have a guest post updating the blog with the progress of the backyard. Since we all know Brad is a man of few, very few, words I put this together to share his hard work thus far. So I shared him starting the shed in my first post, here is the finished product. Take that Home Depot prefabricated sheds!!

Other things that were checked off the list for the backyard include:

Pavers under the Pergola, plants along the poles that will eventually grow up and around the pergola, and a BBQ. The BBQ was built over a weekend of bonding between Father and Son-In-Law. It was really great to watch!




We still have the landscaping to get done. Some tree planting is currently in the works. When they all get planted I will be sure to update! My apologies again for taking such a long break!! Hope you enjoy all of Brad's hard work as much as we do.


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Where Does Time Go... Tick Tock

Tonight we attended Kindergarten Promotion for the graduating class of 2023! Wow does that make me feel old. I can't believe Paige is already graduating from Kindergarten. I feel like I was just in the hospital room meeting her yesterday! I am so proud to be able to watch her grow and become her own person. Let me tell you, her parents have another thing coming with her in a few years! Here is a couple pics with us and the beaming graduate!

I also wanted to show you my new wedges I was talking about in action. Of course I had to wear them to work on Monday! IN LOVE!!


Sunday, May 22, 2011

Anticipation Almost Killed Me

For those of you who know me, you know I LOVE the summertime. Here are the things that make me fall in love with summer all over again every year:

1. Swimsuits!! I am going to confess that I own way too many swimsuits to disclose. 98% of them are from Victoria's Secret. I know I will never look like the Angels in the catalogue, but I think it is the allure of feeling like one of them. My hair tousled by the water, wind , and sand just right. My skin being kissed by the sun. Every swimsuit season they totally get me hook, line, and sinker. My 2011 batch of suits arrived yesterday. Here is a little preview:

2. The River with great family and friends. I would like to clear up when I talk about the "river" I am always referring to the Colorado River/ Lake Havasu. Please do not think I am talking about the Salt River. Just the thought of going in that river gives me the heebee jeebees. The whole weekend is about making great memories with the people most important to me in the summer sand and water. The first trip of the summer is next weekend, Memorial Day! I am so excited, I have been doing this weird excited hand thing that I have been doing since I was a kid. :)

3. Fridays Off. Since January through April is so busy at work, we get a chance to breathe May through December with every other Friday off. I feel so lucky to be able to have this. It makes keeping up on the housework so much easier.

4. Wedges, Wedges, Wedges!! I could run a marathon in wedges! Look at these fun wedges that just arrived in the mail. Here is a stock photo, I will post a pic with my outfit tomorrow. 

So as you can see the anticipation of summer coming has almost killed me. Now that it has arrived I will be more than fine, I will be FABULOUS!! 

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Thanks A lot


 I was going through my camera and found these a-dor-able pictures of Thanks. Yes her name is Thanks. Her and Missy are a match made in heaven. She has the best personality and always and I mean ALWAYS is upbeat. She was helping me blog, I told her she could be a guest blogger. :) Don't tell her dad that I let her up there. But come on who could really say no to that face. I wish I could have not a care in the world like this girl.



Friday, May 6, 2011

The Times When You Still Need Your Mother

A mother and daughter's bond is like no other. Though times she felt like my worst enemy, I know now that she is my greatest ally in life. I know all she ever did was to shape me into the person that I am today. I will always strive to make her proud. Mom I love you!!

I found this awesome article in my Glamour magazine and wanted to share it in honor of my Mother for Mother's Day.

The Times When You Still Need Your Mother

When...
...the love of your life gives you a diamond ring... or meets someone else.
...the moment you pee in a stick and it's (OMG!) positive.--- I can't wait for this one!
...on the morning of your birthday, when no one else is going to call till noon.
...someone gives you a compliment so lavish you'd be embarrassed to repeat it to anyone else.
...you find a lump. Or she does. (My heart goes out to anyone who has experienced this.)
...the kids you're babysitting won't stop crying.
...you get your first pink-eye or food processor... or mother-in-law.
...you need someone to assure you that yes, 30 (or 40!) is still really, really young.
...you need to know the exact shade to fix your under eye circles.
...the recipe calls for evaporated milk and you're standing in the grocery aisle wondering, Is that a powder? A liquid? A gas?
...you have swung up to the sky, and it doesn't seem real until she applauds.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Drumroll Please

This past weekend I had my Warrior Dash! I know I have been quite the slacker on getting the pics up here. It is finals week, nuff said right. :)

So the race was all we expected and more. It was a lot tougher than I thought. The costumes we went with were... Gnomes!! We were such a hit. I swear we were like Santa or Kim Kardashian... everyone wanted a picture with us. I mean who wouldn't though! So here are the few pics that I have so far. There will be more to come!!


I want to thank all the amazing people that came out to watch. It really did mean alot to me!
XOXO

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Birds of A Feather


  I saw a picture of Hilary Duff with feather hair extensions. I fell in love. Myself being a hair chameleon I had to have these. In salons they charge anywhere from $25-40 to get these done. Of course I turned to the internet for a DIY project. I like to consider myself a fashion frugalista, I live for finding the best sale possible. So I found a bundle of 4 feathers and the beads that hold them in for $15 total with shipping. If you didn't know I am also a sucker for free shipping. I have the blonde grizzly right now. I think I want either purple or aqua grizzly next. 

What do you think of Hilary & I?















Happy Hump Day!!
XOXO

Monday, April 25, 2011

Weekend Wrap Up

I "hop" everyone had a great Easter! Our weekend was relaxing for the most part. Brad has been a busy busy bee building the shed that dreams are made of. His dreams of course. I do not understand the fascination with having a shed but I'm sure he doesn't see the fascination in me having 100 different nail polishes. So I just stand back and watch and if I am lucky I may get a few laughs. Here he is in deep thought, as you can see he has a helper:






The Easter bunny came to our house leaving a toy for Miss, doesn't she look ecstatic?


Missy never seems to be able to keep friends around for very long though. Usually we catch her red-pawed in the middle of the murder scene as shown here:

Look at that guilty face!! Poor stuffie never stood a chance. So now she has another limp and lifeless friend to add to her collection.

XOXO


Friday, April 22, 2011

"Friendship Isn't A Big Thing, It's A Million Little Things" ~Unknown

It's crazy how the day-to-day doesn't leave as much time as we would like. Everyone has friends that even though they do not get to see as much as they would like, can pick up right where they left off, as if no time has passed at all. I have a friendship like that with my dear dear friend Emilie. For the past eight years there has been a baby, a wedding, good times and bad, and all the in between.

Emilie has been doing a beautiful job raising Paige Iona Jean Pardue. I absolutly adore being a part of her life! I have not missed a birthday party yet. 6 down, many more to go. I personally can't wait for her 21st, but don't tell Emilie that. Acutally maybe I can since that would make me a few years older as well. I love sending Paige a card for every holiday. Sending a card is the least I can do hoping she feels special at that moment. No matter how old she gets there will be a card in the mail from Steffie if a holiday is nearing! Heck I will even send them to her dorm room if I have to.

So even though we might not be able to get together as much as we would like we are still always there for eachother. Neither of us has antyhing the prove to one another. We do not need lunch together every weekend to know that the friednship exsists. The little things ALWAYS matter the most.
                                                      We are simply just FRIENDS.



Em & Me

Paige & Steffie







Wednesday, April 13, 2011

I Am A Warrior

I will be the first one to admit I watch an unhealthy amount of TV. One of the "shows" that I will not miss and takes up space on our DVR que is The Biggest Loser. It is so inspiring to watch these people who have been so overweight for so long make the changes necessary for a healthy life. I got home from class earlier than usual since we had an exam, so I had time to watch. In last night's episode they went to New Zealand. Wow, what a beautiful place! The challenge was a 5K race on one of the beautiful beaches. Like the contestants, I have never really been a "runner". Seeing everyone finish the race no matter what, was awesome! This brings me to the title of my post today.

I have been getting ready for my first ever 5K. I know to most a 5K doesn't sound hard. For someone who could hardly run a mile, to who now is running 3-3.25 miles daily, completing a 5k is kind of a big deal. A few months ago Rebecca, a wonderful co-worker of mine mentioned The Warrior Dash. I decided that this race would be the best for my first. Check it out http://www.warriordash.com/! They describe it as a hellish 3.40 miles of crazy obstacles. The best part is when the race is finished there is music, beer, and turkey legs. If anything can make me cross the finish line it is some beer and turkey legs! Finishers also get a medal and a sweet warrior helmet!




My partner in crime at work, Jamie and I are in the 2pm wave together. We make each other laugh whenever we are together, so it will be great to do with her. We have a costume idea of course. Although at this time I am not at liberty to disclose the specifics. HA! Here we are:
The race is a little over 2 weeks away. We are so stoked! I know it is not a serious race, but it has made me realize I really can do whatever I put my mind to. Yes I Am A Warrior!

Happy Hump Day!!