Job Search and Furniture

You know, I have had a rocky employment history during my short legal career. First, I got a job with a good sized, stable law firm with infinite growth opportunity and without a compensation ceiling. All of my law school friends envied me...that is until this great firm spontaneously combusted, leaving me without two months pay or a law firm to work at. No worries...brush myself off and venture into starting up a law firm. So exciting...be my own boss, get lots of court experience and build a firm from the ground up! Yeah, that sounds cool until your boss (because even though my name's on the shingle, I didn't contribute any cash to the operation so I'm not actually a partner) tells you that after months of working for a pittance, trying to make this thing work, that you should probably look for another job since he's not going to afford to pay you for much longer. So here I am, only employed for another 13 days, looking for a job. But hey, how can I look for a job effectively when I'm still supposed to come to work and bill a full day's work in order to collect my last paycheck? The other problem is that I don't know exactly what I want to do! I hate knowing that I'll probably just settle for whatever job I can get because I need the paycheck, and also knowing that I'll have to stay there at least for a couple of years because the stability of the work history on my resume is less than stellar. If anyone hears of anything wonderful for me to do for a living, go ahead and send the info my way. Thanks!

On a more exciting note- I have taken on the huge project of refinishing all of the wood furniture in my house. It's a lot of work, but husband is excited about it too, so it's tons of fun to work together on it. The first phase includes taking all living room tables (coffee, end, and sofa) and stripping them down, replacing engraved panels of wood with straight pieces, sanding the heck out of them and re-staining them a beautiful shade of chocolate brown that I concocted by mixing stains because all of the stains at Home Depot are ugly. So far we have stripped all of the tables and replaced the busy, engraved panels. We are in the sanding process and so close to done with that. I'm so excited for the staining part! They are going to look so much better! After these are done, we start on the bedroom set. That's going to be an even bigger job! I'm hoping I don't get burned out, because I'd love to do the kitchen cabinets too. My goal is to have it all done by Christmas. What do you think? Will I make it through all of my projects or will I end up poking myself in the eye with a screwdriver because that actually sounds more pleasant than stripping or sanding one more thing? I don't know...I'll let you know! :)

Teen Elect

I'm the Beehive Advisor in my ward, which means I work with the 12 and 13 year old girls. Once a year, they have a stake (10 wards) activity called teen elect where they teach 12 and 13 year old girls and boys manners and have a big dinner to practice. That was last night and one of the most humorous things I've experienced, only partially because that's the age where girls are so much taller and more developed than boys that age. When they all went into the room to eat, they told the girls not to sit down until a boy had pulled her chair out for her. It was hilarious because there were a bunch of girls standing next to chairs waiting for a boy to come and at the next table there were a bunch of boys standing by chairs waiting for a girl to come. Well eventually they all got through dinner relatively unscathed, even though some of my girls were sure they were going to die before the evening was over.

Next came the dancing!!! It was awesome. They lined up the kids, giving no thought to matching heights, and paired them up. They then attempted to teach them such complicated dances as waltz and swing. Eventually they gave up and stuck to line dances. I even joined in on the line dances and actually had a really good time. I'm so glad I never have to be 12 again! I took a few of the girls home afterward and the following is a conversation that they had that I wished I could tape and let them listen to in 10 years.

Katelynn: Hey, you guys know how I was dancing with Chase, right?
Girls: Yeah
Katelynn: Well when we were dancing, he had a bugar hanging out of his nose.
Girls: (Hysterical laughter)
Katelynn: And I didn't want him to be embarrassed, so I told him about it.
Girls: (Hysterical laughter)
Katelynn: And he said he didn't know what to do about it so I told him that no one was watching, so he should just pick it.
Girls: Ew! Gross! (Laughing even harder)
Katelynn: He said he couldn't pick his nose in public and I was like "But you can let a bugar hang out of your nose in public?"
Girls: That's disgusting! You know that if he picked it, it would be on his hand and he was holding your hand to dance.
Katelynn: I don't care, I'd rather touch it than look at it!
Girls: SICK!!! (More hysterical laughter)

29!!!!!!

I can't believe I'm 29! I still feel 19 sometimes. There is no way I'm knocking on 30's door! Well, anyway, it was a good birthday week. My birthday was on Wednesday, but I had mutual, so Brandon took me out on Tara's Eve. In the morning, I got in my car and he had written sweet notes on my windows and left a Tara's Eve card in my car. So sweet! After work, he took me to a really good, nice steakhouse called The Keg. It was so yummy! Then we went and saw the Bourne Ultimatum. I really liked the movie, but the camera was shaking the whole time so it made me kind of sea sick. It was a wonderful night spent with my husband. Couldn't have been better.

On my actual birthday, I went to work all day, but let's be honest...how much work did I really get done with so many wonderful people calling to wish me a happy birthday all day? I'm so happy that so many people love me! I even received another birthday card in the mail from my sweet husband. My wonderful friend Lynda (aka Hollywood) took me out to lunch. It was so fun to hang out with her. I also got flowers delivered at work from my dear friend Stacy. I'm so spoiled. After work, I went home and got ready for mutual. Normally I probably would have skipped it, but the youth I'm in charge of were in charge of the whole activity that included all the youth (boys and girls) and not just the 12 and 13 year old girls like usual. So I felt like I needed to be there. All of my girls wrote cards for me and tied them together to make a book of birthday cards. It was so sweet. For the activity we did "Where's Waldo" at the mall. We split the kids up into groups and went on the search through the mall looking for other people in the ward that were "disguised." For instance, one lady dressed up like an old woman who was reading outside a coffee shop. My sweet husband wore an eye patch and a doo rag. He looked so funny. It actually was a lot of fun. I was a group leader and my group came in third. Brandon said he even had fun.

After that we went back to our house and Owens and Jill came over. I opened presents from Jill and Brandon and we all ate leftover cake. Jill gave me a book and some nail polish. Last night she took me to dinner too. She's such a good friend. I can't imagine my life without her. Brandon thought he was so funny because he gave me a bag that was full of smaller wrapped presents that included: a yo-yo, a glow in the dark plastic ring, an informational pamphlet on Cialis (drug for erectile dysfunction), and a wooden bracelet with pictures of the virgin Mary on it. I pretended to be mad and told him I wanted my real present NOW. He thought he was so funny. It was worth the wait!!! He got me a half-day spa package with a pedicure, facial, and massage (and another birthday card). Thank you love of my life! Tara's Eve and my birthday were perfect!

Wedding Report

So I do have a reason I haven't written about my wedding day. I wanted to put up pictures, but I didn't have any yet, so I've been procrastinating. I found some wedding pictures on my photographer's blog so here you go. It was the most perfect day of my life.

We decorated for the reception the night before the wedding. I didn't want the reception to look like it was on a basketball court, even though it was so I had to do some improvising. The reception was held at the oldest LDS church in Mesa. It's an old Spanish-style church with an entrance into an open air courtyard before you get to the doors to the gym. It is so cute. In order to make the gym look like more like a ballroom than a basketball court, I (along with the help of some great friends) strung up white Christmas lights all over the ceiling and then draped a thin cream colored fabric across the whole ceiling to give the illusion of a tent. It turned out so good. My colors were Cranberry Red and Cream. The tables were draped in crushed velvet red tablecloths with mammoth white calla lily centerpieces. It was simple, but classic looking. I loved it. The tables also had candles, a small cream fabric center and red rose petals. There was a dance floor on one side of the room with the tables on the other. The refreshment tables were in the center of the room. I hung clusters of lighted white paper lanterns on each side of the room. Okay, I'm realizing that I'm not describing this very well, but I thought it was perfect and beautiful.

The day was PERFECT! I slept in a little, then got up and Brandon and I went over to my mom's house for a late breakfast. Most of the family from out of town was there so it was good to hang out with everyone. About noon, I went home and took a long bubble bath. At two, my beauty team (THANK YOU ANNELL AND SARA!!!) came over to get me ready. It was so much fun. By the way, Brandon had been staying at my house and I had been staying at Jill's or my parent's house, so Brandon was getting ready in the room down the hall. Then my mom came over and we all left for the temple.

The ceremony was perfect as well. I can't believe they fit so many people in the sealing room. I think there were over 70. In fact, Brandon and I were waiting a floor above the sealing room and could see as everyone was filing into the room. I never thought it would end. The sealer was so sweet and sat and talked to us right before the sealing. I was so overcome with emotion. I had never been happier in my whole life. During the sealing, I couldn't even say "Yes" when I was supposed to because I was crying. I think Brandon thought I was having second thoughts! :) Not really, but I knew with my whole heart that I was marrying the right person in the right place at the right time and that I was the luckiest woman in the universe.

The reception was so much fun! We started with a family and close friends dinner with the most delicious food - chicken cordon bleu, green beans wrapped in bacon, garlic mashed red potatoes and salad and rolls. Yummy! My mom made all the food and it was much better than any caterer. After dinner, the reception started. We decided not to have a line and that was the best decision! We just walked around and talked to people and danced when we wanted to. Because we started everything so late in the day, I wasn't tired and could just enjoy myself. It really couldn't have been more perfect.

After the reception, Brandon's aunt chauffeured us to the hotel in a very expensive Mercedes. All of my siblings and cousins had chipped in to get a room at a nice hotel that they had scattered rose petals and kisses throughout. It was the PERFECT DAY!!!

Funny news

BIKER FAILS TO NOTICE MISSING LEG

TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese biker failed to notice his leg had been severed below the knee when he hit a safety barrier, and rode on for more than a mile, leaving a friend to pick up the missing limb.
The 54-year-old office worker was out on his motorcycle with a group of friends in the city of Hamamatsu, west of Tokyo, on Monday, when he was unable to negotiate a curve in the road and bumped into the central barrier, the Mainichi Shimbun said.
He felt excruciating pain, but did not notice that his right leg was missing until he stopped at the next junction, the paper quoted local police as saying.
The man and his leg were taken to a hospital, but the limb had been crushed in the collision, the paper said.

*Commentary - WHAT???!!!??? I don't even know where to start with this one. How do you not notice if your leg is missing???

BLIND DRIVER CAUGHT AGAIN

TALLINN (Reuters) - An Estonian man who was caught driving a car even though he is blind has been at it again, police said on Monday, and this time he faces jail.
Police first arrested the man, 20, a week ago.
"We arrested the same blind man driving his car again on Saturday in the town of Torvandi, near Tartu (in southern Estonia)," said Marge Kohtla, a spokeswoman for Tartu police district.
"He was drunk. There were three people in the car with him giving him instructions."
She said police wanted the court to jail the man for 30 days and confiscate his car.

*Commentary - I don't know why, but I find this hilarious. What blind man would even want to drive a car and who are these people that get in a car with a drunk, blind man???

MEME

(Tagged by Jackie) I usually don't do these, but I just feel like it right now, so here goes:

Jobs I've Held:
1. Waitress
2. Stock broker
3. ESL Teacher (English as a Second Language)
4. Lawyer

Places to go for a Weekend Getaway:
1. San Diego
2. Cabin in the mountains
3. Mexico
4. Laying in my bed with my husband and a good book!

Movies I can watch over and Over:
1. Save the Last Dance
2. Sweet Home Alabama
3. How to Lose a Guy in 10 days
4. Return to Me

My Guilty Pleasures:
1. McDonalds Double Cheeseburger (don't laugh)
2. Kick Butt Garlic Bread with Cheese (Oregano's)
3. Carmel Cone Haagen Daaz
4. Pizza Cookie (White Chocolate Macadamia Nut at Oreganos or Peanut Butter at BJ's)

Places I have lived:
1. Mesa, AZ
2. Flagstaff, AZ
3. Beijing, China
4. Atlanta, GA (just for one summer)

T.V. Shows:
1. Gilmore Girls
2. One Tree Hill
3. Anything on HGTV (Home and Garden)
4. Law and Order

Favorite Foods:
1. Anything Italian
2. Anything Mexican
3. Navajo Tacos
4. Dessert

Places I'd Rather Be Right Now:
1. The Beach
2. At Home
3. At a cabin in the woods
4. Wherever my husband is.

People I'm Tagging: ALL OF YOU WHO READ THIS! :)

Favorite website of the week

I decided a couple weeks ago to begin a more healthy lifestyle starting today. I had a big bowl of gelato last night to prepare! :) Anyway, a friend of mine introduced me to a website over a year ago, but I have only recently fell in love with it. It's Spark People and it's my tool to becoming a better me (and a hot body). For a great new clip about Spark People, click here. This website was created by a really rich guy who made a bunch of money by selling his online auction site to e-bay. He recoups some money from advertisers, but has spent over 5 million dollars of his own money just because he wants to help people! It has everything you could want in the way of nutrition. It helps you count your calorie/fat/protein/carb intake by entering what you eat. It automatically calculates everything for you. You can also enter in recipes and it will figure the nutrition value for you. It helps you figure out how to reach goals with both diet and exersise, even creating a fitness schedule for you with recommended exercises. It will put together meal plans everyday if you want. It tracks your weight and measurements. It makes getting into shape so much fun. Plus it gives you points for doing good things. The points don't really mean anything, but who doesn't like getting points? It's strangely motivating. The best part is that it's all free! Okay, I sound like an infomercial, but I'm so excited about my new goals. I will probably be more successful if I make my goals public, so here it goes. I want to reach my target weight by February 1 (I'm not telling you what that is). I am going to try to work out at least 3 times a week, more if I can. I just want to start being nicer to my body. I'm starting off slow tonight by going to Water Aerobics, but I'll ramp up. Wish me luck!!!

Calendar and Fishy

I know, I know. I haven't updated forever. It's just that there's a few big things to blog about and I feel like I can't blog about insignificant things until I catch up. Oh well, I'm giving up. I'll eventually get around to blogging about the wedding, the honeymoon, life as a newlywed, etc. But for now, I can't help but report on some very blog worthy events that happened last night.

The first isn't an event as much as a funny story. Some dear friends of mine are moving to Georgia on Sunday. Thus, I hosted a small gathering with a few friends last night to say goodbye. Holli, one of the friends that's moving away told me that she had a Christmas present for me back in December. It just always seemed that she forgot to bring it every time I saw her over the past few months. She would give me hints though as to what it was and I eventually guessed that it was a desk calendar. So last night, I asked her about the calendar. She looked at me sheepishly while her husband, John, snickered. I guess they had a garage sale in preparation for the move. The calendar was wrapped in Christmas paper and Holli put it out to sell. John told her that no one was going to buy a "mystery" item. Holli won out and the wrapped calendar was purchased. So not only does my friend purchase a gift for me, tell me that she has a gift for me, leaves me in anticipation for months about actually receiving the gift, but then sells it at a garage sale for a quarter. That was the worst Christmas present ever. At least I never even purchased a Christmas gift for her.

There was a random assortment of people at the little dinner party, including one of my most unique friends. Let's call her Hollywood. She's great and a lot of fun, but sometimes quite spastic. Anyway, she saw my beta fish in a bowl of cloudy, low water and promptly chastised me for abusing my fish. I told her if she was so offended by the state of my fish bowl, she could clean it out. She went straight to the kitchen to do so. A brief moment later, I saw my husband go running into the kitchen. Apparently Hollywood had dumped poor fishy down the disposal. Fishy couldn't be reached by the human hand, so sweet husband thought that the only way to get to poor fishy out of the sink would be to shop vac him out. Luckily, Holli lobbied for poor fishy's safety and convinced sweet husband to forgo the shop vac and explore other options. I know you're all on the edge of your seat in anticipation of the ending to this tragic story. Well, poor fishy did, in fact, survive. Apparently, some salad tongs and a flashlight make for a safe, albeit, slightly mangled fishy. He's now still alive after 24 hours, so we're fairly sure he'll make it. I'm pretty sure he laid in the drain for about 20 minutes. Luckily, Hollywood had the foresight to continuously pour water down the drain to keep him alive. Thank you sweet husband for saving my fishy with my salad tongs. It looks like I need a new set of salad tongs now. I know I should have been so scared to loose poor fishy, who's been with me for quite some time, but I was laughing so hard. It was like a Friends episode. Well, we wanted Holli and John to have one last memory of us all before they left.

And some final Arizona words to the Ronquillos. Congratulations John on this new, exciting chapter of your life. You've already accomplished so much in your short life and I know you'll continue to be amazing. Holli, we have so many memories. Thanks for bringing the pictures to remember some of them. Long life rock painitng. I love you both and will miss you, but am very happy for you. Plus, I know you'll come visit me and our friendship is nowhere near the end. Take care of each other! BFF!

I said yes!

Brandon finally asked me to marry him last night and guess what? I SAID YES! This may be confusing to most since we've been engaged for three months and our wedding is in 9 DAYS!, but here's the thing... Because of a whole bunch of timing issues and circumstances with the ring, he's never really had the chance to propose. We just kind of decided to get married and then started planning the wedding. So here's how it went...

I came home from work and he greeted me at the door and invited me in. The house smelled wonderful and there was classical music playing. He led me into the living room where the table is. There was a bouquet of roses on the table along with a candle and dinner. Dinner was ribs and mashed potatoes and wow, was it good. After dinner, he served key lime pie. During dessert he got down on one knee and asked me what I had planned for the rest of my life. I told him that I was planning to spend it with him. It was very sweet and very cute. I'm so excited to get married to him.

Spa Day

I have this fabulous friend named Stacy. She is absolutely wonderful. We met in college, both finance majors. I don't think either one of us could have graduated without the other. In honor of my upcoming wedding, Stacy treated me to a spa day. It was amazing. I'll walk you through from the beginning. We walked in the front door and were immediately treated like royalty. We checked in and were then given a brief tour of the facility. We were then led to the women's area where we were presented with keys to our lockers and comfy slippers. We found a comfy robe in our lockers. Before changing though, we headed to the restaurant for lunch. We split a very yummy chicken basil sandwich and a pesto chicken pizza. It was all delicious. After lunch, we changed into our swimsuits, covered up with our robes and headed first to the jacuzzi. After a brief sit in the jacuzzi, we got out to get ready for our massages. We then headed into the women's lounge to wait for our massages. The women's lounge was a very quiet, peaceful room with super comfy chairs, frosty beverages and soothing music, and a bunch of women laying around in bath robes. Stacy had a maternity massage, while I was treated to a Camelback Signature massage which consisted of aromatherapy, reflexology and hot rock massage...heavenly. After an hour of pure bliss, my massage was over. Sad. We then changed back into our swim suits and headed back out to the pool. The water was the perfect temperature. The weather was great. We ordered fruit smoothies and layed by the pool for a good two hours. The best part about the whole day was spending such great time with Stacy. We just talked and talked and had the best day ever. Thank you Stacy! It was just what I needed in the middle of this chaos called wedding planning.

11 More Days!