Camping and a SURPRISE!!!

We went camping on Thursday night and got back this morning (Saturday). It was SO much fun! We went to Maplegrove Campground which is just outside of Scipio, UT. We went with Jason and Patti (Bro and Sis in law + their 3 kids), Brady and Melissa (Bro and sis in law) and Wes (Bro in law that just got home from mish). Melissa and Brady planned the whole thing down to an art. We had AMAZING food (dutch oven...yum!!!), and we also got the chance to go "Geo-Caching".
It was SO gorgeous! Seriously, it was impossible to ignore all of the BEAUTIFUL creations all around us. The leaves were perfectly red, orange, yellow and green. The whether was cold but during the day it was just right. Plus, we saw about 8 deer in different areas. Very cool. Here are some Pics:
After we got home I made my famous chocolate chip cookies. YUM! I went downstairs to bring Donna (our renter-she's been living with us for a month and a half) some cookies and to invite her to church tomorrow. She was GONE! She was there Thursday and then gone by Saturday and we got home at 11:30! She didn't call. Didn't text. Nothing. She just upped and left. I'm still in shock.
So, our apartment is up for rent again. If anyone knows of anyone please please please let me know :). Thank you. We'll also definitely need all the prayers we can get for a lot of reasons. Thanks everyone!

The Love of my Life Turns 25!

Monday was Darrin's 25th Birthday. He's now a QUARTER of a CENTURY!!! Wow. Anyways, we had a great day together. We started out our day with breakfast in bed. Then Darrin set off on a voyage - a scavenger hunt to find his gifts. Then for his next gift I told him he could choose any video game and I would play it with him for an hour (you'd really have to know me to know that that's a BIG deal! haha). Then we went to lunch and Bruges Waffles and Frites (Marta took me here for my Bday. DELICIOUS! I had to have Darrin try it. It's at about 300 South and 300 West across from Pioneer Park. MMMMMMM MMMMMMMM good!!!) After that we went to the churches art contest that they hold every three years (Marta also took me to this for my bday. I had to show Darrin. It's amazing. Art work from members all over the world! Very cool.). Then we came home and I made fish for dinner (again you'd really have to know that I HATE fish with all of my heart :) so, I figure I can sacrifice one night a year for my love that loves fish, right?) and then we saw "Up" in the dollar theatres and went bowling. We had a lot of fun! Here are a few pics:







Darrin is such an amazing person. I love him so much! He is such a strength to me. He is thoughtful, he is caring, he is complimentary, he is so talented, he is good at anything and everything, he is smart, he is funny, he is fun, he is Darrin. My husband. My everything. I love you Darrin! Happy Birthday!

My 21st Birthday!!!!

So, Labor Day was my birthday and I had so much fun! First off, the Saturday before my Birthday we hung out with Brady and Melissa, my Bro and Sis in laws. We always have so much fun with them! Anyways, there was the cutest sign ever all made up for our birthdays on their door (Darrin's is on September 21st). And then we BBQd shish-ca-bobs, watched a movie and they even had a cheesecake with candles AND presents for us!!!! How lucky are we?! Here are pictures



And then, on Sunday the primary sang "Happy Happy Birthday children dear..." to me. haha. So sweet. I even got a pencil from the birthday box! On Monday, my actual birthday, my parents had me over for a magnificent breakfast! They even had a Martinelli for me for my first drink at 21. haha. Darrin then had the rest of the day planned out for us. All surprises of course! He first took me on a hike to doughnut falls. I had never been before-SO beautiful and fun! After that we went and saw 500 days of summer and then we hung out with his family. We played frisbee, "scum", and had ice cream. yuuumm. Darrin said he didn't have enough time to do everything he wanted to surprise me with so he scheduled a date with me for Friday! PLUS, yesterday he took me to go get a new phone for the main part of my gift! And tomorrow my BFF Marta is taking me out. And on Sunday we're having a big birthday dinner for those that have September birthdays. It's birthday WEEK for me!!!! Party!
Pictures:





I love my husband so much! He made my Birthday so special and I can't wait for our hot date on Friday! Thanks to all those who wished me a happy birthday!!!! It means a lot to me! Birthdays are a big deal in my fam :). And to those who didn't wish me a happy birthday-it's ok! You have the PERFECT excuse cause it was Labor Day :)

Due to Complains and More!

A little bit ago my family came to visit our Ogden Salon to see it finished. They all said that "Our Bathroom needed help!" They said it looked too "clean" like a hospital bathroom or something. haha. So, since they think it's important we decided to do something about that this week and now were finally finished with it! Here are some pics which don't even do it justice. We LOVE it! I just wish I could take a 360 degree picture of it or something. Anyways:




Next item of business is that my brother in law is now home from his mission! He returned from the Orlando, FL mission on August 20, 2009. The funny thing is that I'd never met him before. haha. Darrin and I were the only ones who were able to make it to the airport since their flight came in really late. My in-laws were already in FL with him to pick him up-so don't worry-they didn't miss out on picking him up. Anyways, he's a super cool guy and here are some of the pictures at the airport:




Another thing is that my sister Cindy and her daughter, Tiarra decided to donate to Locks of Love together. So, here are some pictures of the old and new them:






Last of all, last night I had the opportunity to go out with some friends from my growing up years. It's been 10 years since I've seen some of them! It was so great to catch up!

Update about Life

Honesty: Well, this week is crucial. We need to find renters for our basement apartment by the end of this week. We cannot afford to go a month without renters. When I say "we cannot afford" I mean it. We need more hair stylists in the salon in Ogden. Last month we paid for a ton of advertising for the month of September. If we don't have enough stylists in there our money will be wasted. It's a long story actually. We're trying to work something out so we're not completely out all of our money. We have had to lower our rent for our apartment by $125/month to get people to show interest. The renting market is SO hard right now. Since we've lowered the price, we've had plenty of calls. Plenty of people who schedule appointments to come look at it. Do they show up for their appointments? No. Only ONE couple has actually showed up. Do I understand all of these no shows at for our apartment AND the salon? No. We've posted fliers at the institute building at the U. Craigslist. KSL. Facebook. Blog. Texting everyone to ask if anyone knows of anyone. Very little response. Yesterday we held a family fast. Prayed and fasted that things will turn around by the end of the week. Going to the temple tonight. Things will work out. Please?

Help Please!

Well, there is new news with the salon. This week we had both of our full time stylists quit on us. No warning. No indication. No two weeks notice. How awesome is that?! We really should have known cause they quit the last salon they were working at together and now they quit our salon together. We're still not quite sure why they quit. We've been getting them a lot of clients. More than we promised in the first place.

So, now we are left with one part time stylist (whom we love!) at nights. So for half of this week we've just had to have all of the salon's phone calls forwarded to Paige's phone (our part timer) and we've just been open at nights and closed during the day. Which is NOT a good thing! But it's kinda out of our hands. I would go up there and work but I already have my clients here that I'm taking care of.

We posted an ad on KSL and Craigslist saying we're hiring and we got a booth renter in as an Esthetician so that's good. So now we're a salon and spa. We also have an interview with a part time morning stylist on Monday. But we really need more and don't know if it'll work out with her. If you know of anyone who is a stylist that lives in the area, please let them know about us. That'd really mean a lot.

Another thing is that our renters are moving out at the end of this month. Our basement appartment is 1100 square feet, 1-2 bedrooms (technically one bedroom but the HUGE living room has a HUGE walk in closet that has also been used as a bedroom) and obviously a fully equiped kitched and bathroom. Plus, you'd have a hair stylist right in your own home :). Haha- I know Melanie enjoyed that. If you or anyone you know is looking let us know or pass on Darrin's number if you would (801)232-2305. It's very centrally located and it's great if your going to school at the U or SLCC.

Thank you for helping us out! It's greatly appreciated! Here are some pics of our appartment: