Moving on moving on from town to town...

Not really town to town, just 1.91 miles away (according to mapquest).

So you may have heard that Brandon and I have moved! It's kind of a funny story and we're both a little shocked that it happened but it happened!

So here's the story....

We had been talking about moving for the last few months but we never really

acted on it. Friday morning as we were driving to work we thought we might call our landlord and see if we could look at some apartments. He told us that he had two places just like ours and one that was newly renovated. We asked if we could look at the newly renovated one after work around 7:00p. Our landlord said "Sure! But I'm showing the apartment to another couple at 3:30p." Brandon jumped right in and said he'd meet at 12:30p. Brandon walked in the apartment and told him we wanted it so we signed the contract, got the keys, rented a Uhal, and started moving right after work! Our old apartment was emptied by 2:00p on Saturday and our new apartment was completely set up by 5:00p on Sunday. We even watched both sessions of conference! It all happened so fast but we absolutely love our new place!

Here are some pictures...they don't really do our home justice but it will have to do. All we have left to do is hang the mirror in our bedroom and the pictures in the living room and kitchen.

the living room

brandon's favorite spot in the house

our living room (with a box of pictures waiting to be hung)

the bedroom (with our huge mirror waiting to be hung)

renee's favorite spot in the house

the potty

the kitchen

Home sweet home! What do you think?

Now that you've seen our new place you'll have to go back and compare what our old place was like =/

September Updates!

So it has been over a month since I've posted...sad!

A lot has happened in the month of September so I'll just touch on the highlights.

I started my new job at Career Step toward the end of August. It is such a great job and I work with some really great people. I've been there for just over a month now and I am loving it!

Brandon's birthday was on the 16th of September. He turned 25! I threw him a surprise party with the help of one of his best friends, Brian Lunt...I couldn't have done it without him!

The day was kind of stressful, trying to sneak around and buy stuff for the party and make cupcakes without him knowing! After work, I blindfolded him and took him to Shoga Sushi, our favorite sushi bars in Utah. We walked in and Brandon started heading for the bar when he noticed that I was trailing off to the side, when he turned around there was a table full of his closest friends! He was so surprised :) After dinner everyone came to our place for cake and ice cream. It was a success!

Toward the end of September I threw a baby shower for one of my best friends, Rachel and her little spud Emmit. It was SO much fun planning, organizing and throwing the shower. I wish I could be a professional party planner! Here are some pictures from their day...

some of the girls that came to the shower

Making babies out of play-doh

the diaper cake I made

pin the baby on the mommy

And last but not least.....WE'VE MOVED! Kind of a crazy story....look for a post to come :)

Graduation and Anniversary celebrations!

This past weekend was my BYU graduation and our one year anniversary!

For graduation my family, grandparents, and Brandon's parents came up for the weekend. We had such a blast!

Our families got in late Thursday night and my brother and sisters slept over at our place so the fun lasted all through the night!

On Friday we all went to my graduation, which only lasted about an hour thank goodness!

Waiting for my name to be called...Almost there!

This is right after I gave one of my leis to the Dean of FHSS

The Class of 2009!!! WAHOOO!!

The coolest kids on earth!

My amazing parents!

My loving & supportive husband!

The graduate

So long BYU...it's been fun!

A personal congratulations from Cosmo the Cougar

After the ceremony & pictures, we visited my old office and only TWO people were in! So we said a quick hello and it was off to Salt Lake for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory!

Diane & Melba of the MSS office :)

Mmmm we LOVE Cheesecake

Brandon trying to get out of another picture

Group shot at Cheesecake

...My graduation gifts...

Tanzanite & Diamond necklace from Gma & Gpa. Gold "Lehuanani" Necklace from Mom & Dad. Orchid lei from Auntie Nani & Ginger Lei from Mom & Dad!

Diamond bracelet from Steve & Shelly

After lunch, Grandma & Grandpa headed back to the airport and the rest of us went to Cabela's, the mall, Red Box, and then home to relaaaax!

On Saturday we did a little shopping in Provo and then headed out to Gardner Village for...more shopping!After Gardener Village, we went to Mo Bettah Steak for lunch with Mom's cousin and family. After lunch we drove back to Provo and I went swimming with my sibs at the hotel and then we had dinner at Sizzler for the first time, according to my parents it is much different than it was when they were teenagers.

On our way to the Sizzler!

Watching Amber do...something?

After dinner we went back to the apartment and fell asleep to a movie...

Sunday came way too soon and it was back to CA for the family :( I miss them already!!!

Mid August has been a busy time for us this year!!

Just two days after graduation was Brandon and my one year anniversary! Since we had family in town, we wanted to take advantage of the time we could spend with them so we haven't officially celebrated our anniversary yet.

We cannot believe how fast this year has gone by. It feels like just last month we were married and rushed off to our honeymoon. So much has happened in the past year, we have grown in ways we couldn't have imagined and we cannot wait for the many many more anniversaries to come!

This is the amazing gift Brandon got me for my anniversary/graduation :) Isn't it awesome!?

I love you sweetheart! Thank you so much for all you do and your constant hard work and patience. You are the most wonderful and perfect husband a girl could ask for. I love you more than life itself. Happy anniversary!

Eternally yours, Renee <3

A modern day miracle...

So I never thought Utah would have any redeeming value until we came upon this wondrous miracle...

COMING SOON!!

And literally down the street from our house!

Ground breaking and construction has already begun.

Can you believe it?! I guess Utah isn't so lame after all :)

My weakness...

So anyone that knows me knows that I used to be a little shopaholic.

Well I'm proud to say that ever since Brandon and I got married I have been SO good at budgeting and not blowing my entire paycheck on clothes.

Well...out of no where I was hit with an intense urge to shop! So I logged into my Victoria's Secret account...NEVER a good idea. It proved to be worse than grocery shopping on an empty stomach.

Here are some of my purchases for your viewing pleasure :)

Bow Pencil Skirt in Black

Fleece Hooded Jacket in Winter White

NEW! High-waist Skirt in Grey-Black Plaid

And of course, Beauty Rush Mascara in Blacktastic

Just to be fair, I let Brandon do a little shopping too. This was his pick...

Corset Blouse in Black

What do you think?

I think I got my shopping fix...at least until the next swimsuit season ;)