Got a Job!

I'm officially employed! I will be working at DownEast Outfitters as an HR assistant. I started working there about 2 years ago while I was going to school. I enjoyed working there and had a great manager that took the time and effort to make working there one of the best experiences I have had. She took such an interest in me and trained me to be a temporary manager while she went on leave.  When I was done working in the Ogden store, I didn't think I would go back.

Cimaron got a job as a reporter for The Spectrum in Cedar. I knew that leaving Salt Lake meant that I wouldn't have many opportunities for a job in HR and I ended up applying for a manager position at the DownEast Outfitters in Cedar City. I managed that store for 4 months until Cimaron got a job offer at the Salt Lake Tribune and we decided to move again. Even though I didn't want to look for another job, I was excited that I would be able to apply for jobs that were related to my degree.

Finding a "related" job was more difficult than I expected. I had an opportunity to manage at the Gateway store but told them that I wanted to try to get a job more related to my degree. I felt sick turning down a job, but now that we were back in Salt Lake I felt like I owed it to myself to at least try before I took something that I wouldn't be satisfied with. Luckily, the lady who was interested in having me manage a store told me about an opportunity with DownEast in their HR department. So, I applied for the position. It took a while before I got an interview. I applied for several other positions while I waited and heard nothing back from them. Eventually, I landed an interview with DownEast, and now I've got the job. I am so glad that I didn't treat my first job with DownEast as if it didn't matter.

I'm excited to get started!

Justice.

For the last five weeks, I have watched news coverage, read news articles written by my husband, and listened to his experiences with the Brian David Mitchell trial.

After hearing so much about it, I started to get upset with the fact that anyone could possibly think that this man deserved anything but a guilty verdict. So, I stopped listening, and followed as little as I could.

I was so glad to hear that he was found guilty today. I was afraid that he would be found innocent due to being "insane" and I worried about how that verdict would benefit so many other criminals out there. I feel like anyone can do knowingly do something horrible and then act as if they are "insane." There is no doubt that he is mentally ill, but not to the point of not being able to know right from wrong. He knew what he did was wrong the whole time he did it and used religion to justify it.

As for Elizabeth Smart, she is a great example of strength, courage, and hope. It is amazing to see someone who has been through so much pain smile again. It shows that no matter how dark things may get, there is hope that we will see brighter days.

Ho Ho Ho!

I saw this cute Christmas decoration idea on a blog that I follow. Mine aren't as great as the ones that I copied... but I'm happy with how they turned out!

 3 Cones

 covered them with felt (instead of velvet)

 added pom pom to the top and fur around bottom

 vinyl for belt and some square sequins for the blingin buckle!

 Ta Da!

Ho ho Ho!

Here are some pics of the rest of the decorations...

 table deco

 close up of the balls

 my slinky santa... is my FAV

 stockings hung nowhere near a chimney...maybe he'll come through the wall?

the tree :) 

Gotta love Christmas! Having all of this stuff out makes our apartment feel more like home. I'm dreading the day I have to take them down. So maybe I won't.

Thankful.

I know I'm a little behind on the thankful trend but it's still November so I thought I'd give it a shot :)

I am thankful for my husband. I would say he is the best husband in the world, but I don't want to argue with all of you who also have good husbands. All I can say is he is the best for me. He knows me, hears me, comforts me, encourages me, makes me laugh, and loves me... he even fixes my computer.

I am thankful for my parents. My parents have always supported me and given me strength to go on. I love them so much and hope to show and receive the same love from my future children.

I am thankful for my sisters and brother. They give me motivation to be the best I can be. Every time I leave I count down the hours until I can see them again. I want to be a good example for them and someone they can talk to and know that I'll love them no matter what.

I am thankful for Jesus Christ and the Atonement. He is the ultimate example of perfection and selflessness. He gave me a gift that I can never re-pay. He is always there and ready to forgive me. He always loves. He gave his life for us, that we could be saved, and gave all the glory to his father.  I know that I am not perfect, and I make mistakes that I may not even realize, sometimes I don't live up to people's expectations for me or the ones I set for myself, but I will not stop trying. I can only my best.

I just want it.

So I have a new favorite drink.

{Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash}

I needed to go to the store for something and had to have one. When I got to the register, it wasn't ringing in. The cashier asked me if I knew how much it was.

Me: "No. I just want it." 

Cashier: "Is $1.19 ok?"

Me: "Sure"

Cashier: "You must really want it... you'd probably still buy it if it were $5!"

Me: "Yep."

I wonder if anyone else goes to the store and just has to have that one thing and doesn't care what the price is? It doesn't happen to me that often, especially since I'm kind of cheap... I guess it just wasn't my day for resisting such a refreshing beverage.

I can cook.... cereal.

Today I thought I would try to make some dinner rolls. How hard could it be?

A little too hard for me I guess. I felt a little too confident with the first batch I made and somehow skipped putting the eggs in the mixture. I didn't notice I forgot them until after I had kneaded the dough. So I piled the dough on a cookie sheet and made some gross bread.

The second batch was a little more successful. I included the eggs. Now I am just waiting for them to rise and put them in the oven. But... I just realized that I forgot the salt.

I'm trying to learn how to cook and today wasn't very encouraging. Maybe I should just stick to frozen rhodes rolls.

We're Baaaack.

 Its been a while... and really, I don't have a good excuse for the lack of posts but its not like people have been asking me to post more so I guess we're fine. A lot has happened since I last posted...

After a couple of days of arguing with one of my professors, I finally really got all of my credits approved... but I'm sick of celebrating. I'll believe it when I see my diploma in my hands gosh dang it!

Cimaron applied for a job at the Salt Lake Tribune as a crime reporter and got it. GO CIM :)

We moved. I loathe moving. Especially the cost of it all.

I'm jobless... and I'm learning to love it.

We got new callings in our new ward as the ward music directors. Both me and Cimaron are now in charge of picking hymns, leading in sacrament meetings, asking people to perform special numbers, and get this, leading the ward choir! hahaha. What does this mean? That the congregation will probably want to run out of the chapel screaming whenever the church choir sings.  I just had to laugh when I thought of me and Cimaron at choir practice... "Yeah, that sounded horrible... we don't know why... but fix it." Even though it is something new for us both, we are excited to get started.

So, its been an eventful couple of weeks for us. I have to say that I was sad to leave Cedar City. One of my sister-in-laws told me to live like each place we move to would be the last place we would ever live. I can honestly say that we did. We made friends, got involved, and explored the area. Even though it sucks to get attached only to leave, I would much rather feel sad because we loved it instead of counting the days until we could move to the next place. I am looking forward to doing the same here.

Carli

Fresh Veggies!

When we moved into our new ward, we heard about the ward garden. So we planted some seeds. I didn't think we would get much. Since we started we've visited the garden often and watched "our little babies" grow! So far, we've gotten parsley, carrots, cucumbers, watermelon, and beans!

{ehhh...what up dock?}

{our babies!!}

{baby watermelon!}

I'm done... for reals this time.

After a long summer semester, I finally finished my senior thesis and took my final test for business law. It feels like I should be going back next semester, but I'm not! It didn't seem real at first but it's starting to sink in as I think about what I need to be doing and it doesn't have to do with school!

On Friday, I remember thinking, "Wow, I can't believe that I did it... I made it through all of the papers, presentations, group projects, and exams. How did I do it?!" I really couldn't believe that I actually made it through.

So many times I forget who I am and what I am capable of. I let myself get discouraged and feel like I can't do anymore. I have a good husband who reminds me that I can do it, but its time that I realize that myself. Not only did my parents raise me to think more of myself, but I know that Heavenly Father wants me to be more confident, too.

Now I get to see my little sister start her senior year and decide where she wants to go to college. My decision to go to snow wasn't difficult. I had no other options, but she does. I know that she will make the right decision and have just as much fun as I did. One thing that I hope is that she has more confidence in herself than I did at that time. She needs to trust that she will make the right decision, make it, and then move forward.

Anyway, I didn't mean for this post to be all mushy like, but it will be a good reminder to look at this in the future and know that I am capable and that I will always have support from the people that I love.

Senior Thesis

Lately, I've posted it onbeen working on my senior thesis on workplace bullying. I've created a survey and emailed it to family and friends, facebook, and now I'm posting the link on my blog because the link I have sent in emails won't allow multiple people (my mom AND dad) to take it. So, here is the link. I hope that by posting it I will get a couple more participants! 

Thanks again to everyone who has taken it! I really appreciate it!

Workplace Bullying Survey

99 Things

To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (on the sky coaster at lagoon... prob doesn't count.)
12. Visited Paris (in Las Vegas)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning - wouldn't recommend this.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - saw it from the ferry :(
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Ran a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38.Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (or drawn?)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous- Andre Kirilinko
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee


Wow- I think going to Europe really would have helped me with this list.

Cruise 2010

Cimaron and I have had the opportunity to go on a couple of trips since we've been married.  As a graduation gift to ourselves, Cimaron and I went on a 5 day Eastern Caribbean Cruise. Looking forward to this trip gave us extra motivation to finish with school.

Sunday, June 15

Our plane left really early on Sunday, so we crashed (for three hours) at Brantt and Emily's. We woke up a little late but made it with plenty of time to the airport.

Our ship didn't set sail until Monday, so we had Sunday to hang out in our hotel in Miami Florida.

{ us at the hotel }

Monday, May 16 - Miami, Florida

Today was the day we boarded the ship! The first thing we did was ate some lunch. After we had looked around what there was to do on the ship we decided to look for our rooms. We ended up not being as close as we thought we'd be. But it all worked out ok!

{ leaving miami }

{ sailing away }

{ first night at dinner }

Tuesday, May 17 - Day at Sea

Today was our day to get a tan! It was pretty difficult to find a spot. We ended up laying on the ground for a while until some seats opened up. I don't have any pictures, but I decided to spray some sunscreen on and didn't get it all rubbed in, so I had some spots on my arm and neck. It was pretty ugly. Later, I decided to not put sunscreen on (bad idea) and ended up with a blistered burn! No fun.

{ our good spot on the ship }

{ cim looking overboard }

{ cimaron }

{ cim! }

 { formal night }

{ brantt and emily go together like ketchup and mustard }

{ our first towel animal }

Wednesday, May 18 - Grand Turk Island

 We decided to go a snorkeling excursion today. I'll be honest, I was dreading this day. It's not that I don't know how to swim, or that I was scared of the depth... I just really hate fish. They are slimy and smelly. Anyway, the day came and it was time. I jumped in the warm water and started to breath as if it was freezing... it was the closest I've ever came to a panic attack. I know it sounds silly, but I'm scared of fish like others are scared of mice or spiders.  I finally decided to look down at the fish. I realized that they were far enough away from me and they were actually pretty! I finally felt like I could relax... and I actually enjoyed myself!

{ me }

Cim had a great time too... until he decided to drink the water. Then he got sick. Whoops.

{cim}

{fish}

{cim playin with the underwater camera}

  { waiting for cim to come out of the water }

{ yep }

{ towel animal #2 }

Thursday, May 19 - Half Moon Cay

This was the prettiest beach! The water was SO clear! I actually felt comfortable swimming in it! I loved this beach. I could have spent the whole time here :)

{ welcome sign }

{ beautiful!}

{ sebastian }

{ me and emily look alike in this picture }

{ silly cim }

{ us }

{ us at karaoke! }

{ just dancin }

 { me and em at karaoke }

Friday, May 20 - Nassau, Bahamas

We didn't really have anything planned for this day and Brantt and Emily went to the Atlantis water resort so we kinda just winged it.

We ended up renting a scooter so we could see more of the Island in the limited amount of time we had.

Toward the end of our rental period, we got a flat tire! We were worried that they would charge us. When the guy came to trade us for another scooter Cim wanted to take some pictures... the guy seemed annoyed and said "Why man? Its a flat... don't worry about it." He was so chill! So were the people back at the dock. Must be something in the water there!

{ sunrise at nassau }

{ cim + bacon = one happy kid }

{ got our helmets on }

{ view from the scooter }

{ wee! }

{ the last sunset }

{ last dinner - we really enjoyed everyone at our table! }

{ last towel }

Saturday, May 21 - Miami, Florida

Time to go home. There were a couple of hold ups with the flights but everything worked out for us and we got home safely. Even though we had a great time with our friends and each other, we were ready to come home and start the next chapter of our lives in Cedar City. I would never object to going on another cruise if an opportunity came our way... but I've realized that even though the beaches are beautiful and the water is clear, we have some of the most beautiful places in Utah right in our backyard. I hope that we get an opportunity to explore those places before we do anything else!