I'm here, I'm alive and doing better than ever! Life is wonderful. We have been so busy its crazy. Seriously crazy…but I love it. My workouts have been incredible, capital I  N C  R E D  I B  L  E….and I am continuing on my journey of health each and everyday! I don't hate you, nor hate blogging….I have just been slammed. My work schedule changed allowing ZERO time for blogging and the thought of trying to catch up on blogging at night or on the weekends makes me want to freak…Since I don't want to freak, I haven't been blogging, plain and simple. My cute friend emailed me the other day to ask if I was ok and make sure everything was good. I haven't blogged on either blog for so long that she was worried.  How cute is that. That gave me the desire to muster up this post! Thanks Kenz! For now however all i have time for is posting a few pics and saying hello!!  Hope you're all doing well and are living life to the fullest!

love ya

 Here is some stuff we have been up to lately…or at least the stuff captured on camera..

Dave's been doing a lot of this lately

At the bowling alley with the fam

He's good..

My first Mary Kay Party…very fun!

Ski Resort

Randomly running into my sister while she was snowboarding!

The View

Inside the Gondola

Lunch at the top of the mountain…
 Groceries

Yummy Yummy Food

The yummiest food EVER

What the FREAKING FREAK? You both are freaks and I hate you.

The end

If you watch the bachelor, you know that this picture sums up Jake and his big heart nerdiness.

I physically covered my eyes last night during several different parts..OMGOSH. I love it. I really like all the girls he narrowed it down to, minus Vienna. Not because the other girls don't like her, but because I think she is annoying, kinda fake, and not so cute..for some reason she kinda bugs me.

I'm glad Ali stepped it up this week and realized that she was being a completely BLEEP-ITY-BLEEP and causing way to much drama. 

How awkward was it when Corrie and Jake were on the boat just staring at each other neither one making the move. I could barley watch, yet rewound it a few times just to torcher myself. I really liked corrie, but it seemed like she only came out of her shell around the girls and with Jake she was drab and boring. Too bad so sad.

Did anyone else throw up in their mouth when Giaasked Jake if "she could fall" and he answered back in a gay cheese ball whisper "yes you can fall".  Did you hear him say something about love having wings?? He said it..I heard it! I nearly died at that moment, but instead of dying I threw my hands up in the air asking Jake how he became such a goon. I apologized after and thanked him for making my Monday nights so very, very special.

AH Bachelor, I really love you. I look forward to Monday nights almost as much as I look forward to Friday nights. Thank you for making me love Mondays. Thank you for making me feel like less of a loser. Thank you for making my husband look so manly… And Chris (the host), thank you for reminding us at each and every rose ceremony that when there is only one rose left, "this means it is the final rose".

My money is on Tenly. YOU??

Have you seen this?  This is us last night watching it.

I'm still here. I've just been out of town for a while.  Dave's grandfather passed away, so we hoped on a plane and headed back to be with the family and attend the funeral.  It was a busy weekend and we are still pooped.  Last nights bachelor was great.  I wish I had energy to write more about it. Maybe when I get back to work on Thursday. Until then…

I've watched dozens of scary movies without having to cover my face with my hands, yet thanks to Jake and his incredible charm, I find myself covering my face with my hands time and time again. I feel so embarrassed I can't help but burry  my face in my hands.  SPOILER ALERT

Yesterdays episode was great. I loved every second of it.  Jake is the biggest dork. Seriously this guy is the type my mom used to set me up on, only they were not cute and dorky. BUT THEY WERE NICE. REALLY REALLY NICE.  Being nice is important, but there is more to it than that. Just sayin.

Did you not laugh your butt off when Jake told Michelle he wanted her to leave? It was my favorite part thus far.  She is so crazy. She really does need a therapist. Even though she didn't find love, I'm sure we will see her real soon in a life time movie or on the news having killed for love.  Either way, it will not be the last time we see her crazy face.

I'm not sure what's up with Vienna besides the fact that something about the way she looks is odd. She doesn't seem so awful like all the girls are eluding, but time will tell.

Elisabeth, you think you are hot, but really you are a little too full of yourself.  Jake didn't think it was attractive, and neither do I. I'm happy Jake kicked her off. She is not the type of girl a handsome, nerdy incredibly awkward guy can hang with.

Ali…stop causing so much drama and be the cute little innocent girl I thought you were. I still like you, just don't blow it.

Cory, I think you're my favorite. Although I don't know you yet….I think I will like you.

I wish the bachelor was on every night.

I got a wonderful email this morning from Melinda.  Check it out:

Hi Natalie!

I thought I would send you a quick email to let you know what an impact your idea for Project Feed Me has had. As I had said in an email before Christmas….we are going to continue the project all year here….and our local paper heard about what we are doing and they did an article which is in today's paper….Thanks again for the great idea!

Melinda

http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=319441&sc=25 

This is so awesome. I love that Melinda and others around her are continuing the project all year round. 
Thank you for your example! You guys are awesome!!

 I knew my camera was at my parents house! We went there last night for my nieces b-day party and I found it! Here are a few Christmas Break pictures:

Project Feed Me + other donations for the family whose house burnt down

Dave's SUV was so full we had to load stuff onto the trailer!

I was overwhelmed by the donations from others given for this family.  We actually had to turn a few things away because we could not fit them in the SUV or trailer!  It was an hour and 1/2 trip to deliver the items, so we had to pack it all into one trip. There was also a lot of money donated in addition to all of these items!  We ended up having TONS of food thanks to my sisters and parents donation of their PFM stash. I also donated my PFM collection to this family, it was perfect!  It was very humbling to visit this family in their temporary residence and see how much the didn't have.  They seriously had nothing. I thought we might be overwhelming them with things they didn't need or things they already had, but I was so wrong. They had nothing.  They had a sofa, a tiny Christmas tree, and a few clothes. Every time we would bring in a new item they would get so excited and express how badly they needed that specific item.  With the help of others, we unloaded almost 4 times the amount of items they already had into their home that night.  The items filled their entire living room area. They were so thankful and grateful.  It was a wonderful night. This family was in need and they needed our help. I am so thankful for all of you who helped and made it possible. I really only asked for items, and delivered, all of your donations are what made this possible!! Thank you so much!

Making Spiced Pecans….yummy!
(he didn't want to be in the picture so he ducked his head…what a dork)

We burnt the first batch..but the second batch was perfect!

Christmas Day

is he not the cutest?

Our Christmas Lights

I FINALLY took down our Christmas Tree on Saturday.  The house looks empty without it. Turtle is trying to find a new home, since she had taken up residence under the tree for a few months. We still have our Christmas lights up, Dave thinks we should leave them up all year round. I think he just doesn't want to help take them down…

Do you watch the bachelor? I sure do. And I love it. I think I've watched all but a few seasons since it first started.  What can I say. I'm a hopeless romantic.  The idea of meeting someone falling in love and getting married has always been something I thought totally possible.  Plus this show seriously cracks me up.  I wish it was on every single night.  Well, maybe that's not true. It wouldn't be as fun to watch if it was on all the time, but that's not the point. The point is that I love it.  Last night my sister came over to watch it with me. Her husband is in school right now and is working at the same time.  He is super busy and gone all night long (sorry sissy) so she came over to watch the bachelor with Dave and I. Yes Dave watches the bachelor.  It wasn't always this way.  The first time he saw me turn on the show he was disgusted. He called it filth and scum and couldn't believe I wanted to watch it.  After a few episodes he would peak his head around the corner to see who was talking or what was going on.  Pretty soon he was sitting right next to me loving every second.  This is the 3rd year Dave has religiously watched the Bachelor and I'm happy to share it with him. 

Jac came over and we cuddled on the couch and enjoyed the show.  Here are some of my thoughts…

Jake, although you are handsome, and have a great body…I would not date you in a million years. You are a cheese ball and a dofus a dork. Don't worry..I'm sure you'll find the right gal.  PS. Was it your idea for the producers to play Chicago's "On the Wings of Love" song every 5 seconds throughout each episode? I know it was you Jake, you little cheese ball.

 He is sweet and nice but makes me want to gag at the same time…are you feeling me?  Dave always sticks up for Jake but trust me…if Dave was a girl, he would feel the same way. He's just way too OVER the top…making the show that much better!!

gossipy gossip

Michelle (AKA crazy girl) go home already. I'm worried you might flip a switch and turn into a psycho killer from a disturbing life time original movie. Stop crying, stop being so dramatic. Go home.

Ashley (the one who got kicked off) you're so happy and bubbly and made me laugh every time you talked but maybe you got kicked off because when you talk you forget to blink and you end up making really funny faces. Ps.. I didn't like your flight attendent dress either (sorry).

Rozlyn…you're lame. 

Ok that is enough for bashing for now. I don't want to spoil it for those of you who didn't watch it last night.  I do have a few favorites though…. Here they are

Both these girls seem really nice and genuine.  They aren't cocky or over confident and seem to really want to be there to "find love". And also…Tenley, your arms rock can you say definition?

Speaking of finding love. Want to hear a love story? Once a upon a time back in 2006 my friend called me and told me she was going to audition for the Bachelor Rome. They were doing auditions right close to where we lived and I thought…ROME, my favorite show, what the heck!  We got ready and headed over to the auditions.  There were hundreds of girls there. It was really funny.  We filled out the paper work and waited for our name to get called. An hour passed and then close to two. I had had enough. I told my friends I was out and was headed out the door.  On the way out one of the staff members stopped me and asked me where I was going. I told her I had to go and couldn't wait for my name to be called. She gave me her email and asked me to send her a picture and tell her a little about myself.  The next day I sent her a picture and told her who I was and why I wanted to be on the show. 

I kind of forgot about the whole thing when the next day I got a call from the show. They asked me to come back to SLC and do an on camera interview.  WHAT?! I was super excited and laughing my head off at the same time.  I found something cute to wear and headed down town.  They had me meet at a nice hotel and had me fill out paper work in the lobby.  After 30 or 40 minutes they escorted me up to a hotel suite.  I waited in the suite and was then ushered into another room with a camera.  I sat in the corner with the camera facing me and was asked to tell a little about myself.  The interview was funny and kinda fun and went as good as it could have gone.  They told me if they were interested in me they'd call me in a few days and bring me in for the next round of interviews in LA.  I went home knowing that I would not get a call back, but super excited that I had even been a part of the show up until that point. 

The next day I got a call from the same girl and she wanted me to fly to LA to do another on camera interview. This was the last step. They had narrowed it down to 50 girls from dozens of states, and at the end of the LA interviews, they would narrow it down to the 25 girls to be on the show. I had made it that far??? I was floored! They told me I had to keep it secret. I could not discuss this with family or friends and I would be leaving that evening to LA.  The whole process was super secretive. I was told that when I got off the plane in LA I would have a voicemail directing me where to go.  Outside the airport there was a young man waiting to pick me up.  We drove and talked but not much about anything.  He was just the hired help and was not able to discuss any details.  We pulled up to a fancy hotel in Hollywood where someone was waiting for me at the front door.  I got checked in and was escorted to my room and told that I was under NO circumstances to leave my room without a staff member by my side.  It was made clear that if I left, used the phone, or had any interaction with the outside world, I would be sent home.

They gave me money for food and in room movies and I layed around all night doing nothing.  The next morning I was contacted via phone and told to be ready in a few hours.  I obviously had met with friends and family before hand and had picked out several cute items.  As if I wouldn't tell anyone where I was going…IM SO SURE!!

My last interview was a real life filming.  There were huge lights, cameras, umbrella looking things and it was intimidating.  They quizzed me on everything from A to Z.  A major issue that came up was my religion.  The man asking the question used to go to church when he was younger but was now an inactive member of the LDS church so he knew what he was talking about when he asked me questions drilled me. He wanted to know why I'd want to be on the bachelor to find love if as an active member of the LDS church I should only be dating those who are the same religion.  He went on interagting me in regards to my religion. I wasn't going to lie or act like religion wasn't the most important, so I did the best I could with the questions he asked.  They proceeded to take a bunch of pictures of me and then after a two hour ordeal, they took me back to my room.  The next day I packed up and left.  They let me know that if they were interested they would call me in the next two weeks. I honestly didn't know what would happen.

Lets get one thing straight. I was not looking for love on the TV show the bachelor. I was merely looking to be on the show and spend an entire summer in Rome. When I never got the call I was a bit bummed, but in all seriousness, I was not going for the so called ""right" reasons, plus a few months later I was introduced (via email) to my future husband.  I like to think that fate told the produces not to pick me for the show that summer. If I would have been in Rome, I never would have met Dave.  Instead of going to Rome that summer to be on a TV show where I'd have to pretend to look for love, I ended up finding the real thing.  Although I didn't fall in love with a complete stranger over national television having my entire relationship and courtship available for the world to see, I did find true love that summer. The first time I ever talked to Dave I knew he was the one.  He was indeed a complete stranger and I fell in love with him before we had even met.  It was like a fairy tale romance.  We immediately fell in love and we were married 8 months later.  3 years and and 5 months after the fact we couldn't be happier or more in love. Take that Bachelor.

So, there you have it. Something about me you didn't know. I auditioned to be on the Bachelor. Most of the time I forget about this story, but when each new season of the Bachelor comes on I'm reminded a bit of my experience and how different things could have been.

And they lived happily ever after.

The End.

 QA: What was your favorite season of the Bachelor/bachelorette? 
Mine was Trista and Jillian (I guess I like the bachelorette more?)

 side note/I am updating my fitness page regularly even if I don't post.

I'm being such a bad blogger latley.  I just haven't been feeling it. I just haven't been in the mood to blog. PLUS I still can't find my camera with all of my PFM, Christmas, New Years and everything else on it. I'm pretty upset. Not so much about the camera, but the pictures. It has to be at my parents…but where at is the question!

I had the day off on Friday and was able to go to the gym in the morning. It was great. I wish I could go to the gym at 9am every morning.  It is much more fun than 5am or 4pm…its perfect timing.  I cleaned the house when I got back and did a little relaxing.

I've decided that I'm interested in loosing a few lbs and am currently working slowly to make it happen.  I don't want to revert back to my "OLD" habits or over doing my exercise or restricting my food intake, instead i'm shooting for moderation and consistency.  For the past six or seven months I have not focused much on weight loss. My main focus has been figuring myself out. Learning how to eat when I'm hungry and work on becoming stronger physically through exercise.  All I have ever done for what seems like my entire life is "try and loose weight" so when I started making healthy changes, I decided I'd put the goal of "losing weight" on hold until I learned more about my body, understood how it worked and was confident in my choices.  I feel I have reached that spot. I am in a really good place, and am ready towork towards loosing a few lbs.  I'm not in a hurry, I have no time constraint or ridiculous goals…Loosing a few lbs is just something I'd like to achieve and have set out to do. 

OK back to our weekend….

Dave and I went to eat at our favorite restaurant "Tonys". It was AMAZING…no..it was better than amazing. After we ate, we ran some errands and went shopping and then headed home to watch a movie and snuggle on the couch.

Saturday morning we headed to the gym again and got in a great workout.  Did I tell you we joined a new gym. I think I did. Although I don't LOVE the gym…I do love this new elliptical machine. I'm not sure what it's called but its great. I get a great workout and am able to really work my legs and arms at the same time…I really like it.

We went shopping the rest of the day and I got to exchange some of the scents of the lotions I got for Christmas. I now have enough lotion to last me a few years. I got a ton of different scents and am having SO MUCH FUN smelling really good everyday. Later that night we walked across the street (literally) and hung out with our new neighbors. I love them. They are so much fun!  We get along so great, it feels like we've been friends forever.  On Sunday we were asked to speak in Church, it was good to get that out of the way.  I introduced us since we are new and told a little about the two of us and how we met la dee da… Dave talked about his conversion story to the LDS church. I'll have to post it on here one time. Its such a powerful story and he always does such an amazing job sharing it.  I've heard it a million times but never get sick of it. He is so awesome…..i'm feel so lucky to have him. I'm having another one of those times….where I am really really in love with my husband… like a lot. Do you ever have those times? Not like you don't always love them…but sometimes its just different.

This week is looking pretty gloomy.  Dave's grandpa is in the hospital and his mom told us she doesn't know if he will make it through the week. He is 84 years old (although he seems so so young, mentally he is 100% WITH it which makes this so much harder) he has been fighting colon cancer for quite some time now and is not doing well. These types of things are so hard. Dave is heart broken which in turn breaks my heart.  Please keep Dave and his family in your prayers.

I don't have much to blog about…which is why i've been so horrible about posting.  Don't hate. I guess i'm a little burnt out.  But I still love you.

QA: Do you ever get burnt out on blogging?

I must have confused you yesterday with my big long bucket list. That was NOT my list of goals for 2010, it was just a fun little thing I found on my personal blog from a few years ago. I'm not crazy enough to set that many outrageous goals in one year, that's more like a life time of random goals in one list.  Just wanted to clear that up! 

GOOD NEWS
I just found out I don't have to work on Friday. YAY!!!!

BAD NEWS
Dave and I had family home evening last night, but we did not end up writing out our goals. I don't know how I forgot but I guess Dave doesn't like to set goals. At least not on paper.  After we got to talking last night, he reminded me that last year I "forced" him to write out goals with me, and this year he didn't really want to. He told me he'd be happy to hear about my goals and help me set them, but he doesn't like to put goals in writing. He just doesn't like it.  To each their own I guess. If he was not clearly able to achieve any goals, I might be a little bugged or concerned, but he always achieves the things he sets out for, whether they are in writing or not, so I didn't do any forcing this year.

GOOD NEWS
We didn't set any goals together last night…at least not on paper but we did verbally talk about some goals together, which really was better than nothing.

GOOD NEWS
We joined a new gym yesterday. I'm not in love with it, but it will due.  It is really close, only 4 minutes away, the price is good $20 a month and it has a basketball area that Dave is thrilled about.  I think it is going to end up working out pretty nice for both of us and here's why: Dave usually only likes to work out for 30 minutes or so and most days I want to go longer.  Yesterday we stayed at the gym for about 50 minutes.  He did 30 minutes of weights and then played basketball for the next 20 minutes while I finished up what I was doing.  It was perfect! This way I don't feel rushed and he doesn't get bored waiting around.  It's a perfect solution for both of us.

BAD NEWS
 On a not so happy note…ERRRRRRRRRRRRR. That is me being upset.   The workout as a whole was great. It was my back…that was not great.  It started bothering me a few hours after we got home from the gym. I don't get it.  Is it me? Is it the treadmill?  The past month I have ran quite a few times outside and have been just fine, no back pain at all.  Although my back pain today and last night is not super bad, the fact that it's there really bugs me.  I'm not sure if my form lags when I'm on a treadmill as apposed to outside or what the heck the problem is…all I know is I'm frustrated.  I don't even dare to run for the rest of the week because once it starts hurting it takes a while for it to go away and I don't want to make it worse than it already is.  I'm not really sure what I am going to do or how to figure it out.  Any ideas?

GOOD NEWS
 Last night we ate at our very own dinner table for the first time in our entire 2 1/2 year marriage! No joke! We have never owned a dinner table before and did not get chairs until just recently, so last night we ate together at the dinner table for the first time! It was really fun.  Check it out…

The table with the chairs

BAD NEWS
My mom called and told me my camera is not at their house. What!? Where is it then? I'm in trouble.

GOOD NEWS
I made a new dish which was awesome. We had almond chicken (SO GOOD), brown lemon rice and green beans.  MMMM MMMM GOOD. I'm such a nerd but I'm get so proud of myself when I cook something really yummy. I guess its because not everything I cook is really yummy.  I'm working on it though!! (Yes we both had a soda with our meal.  Dave was in charge of getting us drinks, and that is what he picked)
I ended up drinking water and saving my soda for afterwards.

 BAD NEWS
Although I love repeat LOVE watching the Bachelor….this season is the most awkward season I've ever seen so far.  The girls, Jake, everything about it makes me squirm in my seat.  And what's up with the freaky weird dramatic cry baby girl? Do you think she is crazy???? I do. I'm still super excited to keep watching though.

GOOD NEWS
Did you see Love On A Conveyor Belt last night.  Dave and I laughed our bums off!  Too Funny! I will be watching it again next week. Also, we are super excited for all our favorite TV shows to come back on.  We really truly heart our TV shows.

DOUBLE GOOD NEWS
Although we didn't put it in writing, we made a goal to eat at the dinner table every night and I love the idea!

QA:  Do you eat at the dinner table every night?
Do you physically write down your goals?