Valentines Day <3

This was Brandon and my first Valentines together as Mr. & Mrs. Williams.

It was by far the most delicious valentines I've ever had!

The day started off with breakfast in bed for Brandon. I made him heart shaped macadamia nut pancakes, homemade caramel syrup, and fresh berries! After breakfast we got ready for the day and headed out to campus, I had a test to take :( After my test Brandon and I drove out to Salt Lake for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory :D We got there at about 3:30 and luckily got away with only a 2 hour wait! While we were waiting we shopped around at the Fashion Plaza. A couple hours later we went back to the restaurant to be seated and the wait had doubled to over 4 hours! Right before dinner Brandon gave me my valentine gift...Handpicked Godiva chocolates MmMmm!

Then we settled down for a delicious meal followed by delicious cheesecake! I got the usual (lemon raspberry) and B got the Godiva one. After dinner we headed home and I gave Brandon his gift...a wedding album (FINALLY!)

After dinner and gifts we snuggled up to season 3 of House! Hahaha yea we're romantic.

Tag, Tag, another Tag

Fill out these 45 random questions and tag 10 people.

If I tagged YOU, it's because I want to know more about YOU!

(p.s. Mine is the modified version...I deleted the questions that I thought were dumb)

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

I don't think so...But I do know that Dad named me!

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Embarrassing but like two nights ago because I miss my fam so much.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

Probably the biggest waste of time in 6th grade...I have not used it once since!

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

Ham!

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

no sir...even though all my friends and family wish I did ;)

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

I hope so...

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?

Oh no...never :)

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

I would love to!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?

Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Just Bunches, Lucky Charms

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

Definitely

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?

Haagen Dazs Sticky Toffee Pudding

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

if they're happy, eyes, smile

15. RED OR PINK?

red is my favorite color but I love to wear pink things...you would think that it was my favorite...maybe it is?

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?

My hair...legs...skin...and that weird bump in my nose

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?

Dad, Mom, Bro Bro, Dani, & Am...I'm even starting to miss Mus :/

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?

Sure...it gives me something to do when I'm working.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

Black pants with my black & white herringbone flats

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

Davin Archuleta...Utah radio station

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?

the big red, sparkly, kindergarten crayon

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?

Aqua Di Gio, Diesel for Men or Women, coconut lime verbena, Japanese cherry blossom, pink grapefruit

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?

Amber

25. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?

Football, synchronized swimming, gymnastics

26. HAIR COLOR?

Brownish black?

27. EYE COLOR?

poop brown

28. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?

no thank goodness!

29. FAVORITE FOOD?

dessert, Don Cuco

30. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

I love scary movies but love is better

31. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

I think Equilibrium...but maybe What happens in Vegas

33. SUMMER OR WINTER?

SuMmEr! I'm a true California girl...this frigid Utah weather is killing me

34. HUGS OR KISSES?

Kisses from Brandon hugs from my family and friends

35. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?

Tera & Mom

36. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?

Brandon

37. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?

Sex & Gender 4th ed., Wing to Wing, Infant Development 6th ed., Turning Freud Upside-down

39. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?

House!

40. FAVORITE SOUND(S)?

the sound of the baby downstairs not crying

41. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?

Stones of course!

42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?

Japanty

43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?

Does eating count? How bout spending money?

44. WHERE WERE U BORN?

West Hills Hospital in CA...I don't think it's there anymore though :(

45. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?

Whoever...it's just fun.

I TAG Brandon, Mom, Tera, Chelsea, Hilary, Aly, Carson, Annette, Stacy, & Auntie Ri!

Can You Say Awkward?

Story Time!

So today I was in the bathroom on campus changing into my work pants. For some reason the stall door didn't lock all the way but it stayed closed so I figured eh whatever I'm just changing really quick.

So when I was taking my jeans off they got stuck on my sock so I balanced on one foot and pulled them off.

(you can probably see where this is going)

Needless to say...I lost my balance and as I reached my hand out to catch myself on the stall door, it swung open and I fell out of the stall, flat on the ground, pants down!

SOOOO embarrassing!

Feel free to share your most embarrassing story here so I don't feel like such an idiot!

My Chair

I WANT THIS CHAIR!!!

It is the cutest, most comfy chair EVER!

And I love LOVE LoVe it.

We found it the other day at Pier One...unfortunately it's like $565 or something lame...but isn't it the cutest chair you have ever seen...BRANDON...isn't it?!

They Got Me!

Mom and Dad tagged me!

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged.

About me:

1. I married the most amazingly wonderful man ever created!

2. I shared my first kiss with my best friend and love of my life, Brandon

3. I think it's cute when my mom and dad are lovie dovie...even though I tell them it's gross

4. I've had a gym membership since August and I haven't gone once!

5. Don Cuco's is my all time FAVORITE restaurant

6. I could live off of Haagen-Dazs Sticky Toffee Pudding ice cream

7. I secretly want to give mom and dad grand babies ;D

8. I think the LDS temples are some of the most beautiful buildings ever created and I want to visit them all before I die

9. Brandon and I are addicted to Red Box

10. I get REALLY grumpy when I'm hungry

11. I miss my family and California...bro bro

12. I don't like strawberries

13. I can cuddle with Brandon for hours and hours and never get sick of it

14. I miss moms cooking...I can never get it to turn out just right

15. I think Brandon is so talented...he can bring any idea to life

16. I graduate in August! WOOOOO!!!!!!!

17. I used to laugh at my mom because she spent so much time on her blog...now I'm hooked

18. I love taking surveys

19. I picked this habit up from my parents...I always want to run errands with Brandon to the store, the gas station, or work...I don't care what it is, I just love to spend the extra time!

20. We love the beach and definitely want to end up back in California...it will always be home to us

21. Brandon and I can stay up for hours playing cards, Word Warp, Battleship, or Checkers together

22. I love seeing Brandon smile and will do anything for it...specially when I make peanut butter blossoms

23. I love Auntie Cyndi's fruit pizza...and it has been far too long since I've had it

24. I don't like ice in my drink...unless I have a straw

25. I've never been so in love

And I copy Tera and I tag anyone who wants to do this...because it's a long one!

What a Sweetheart!

Yesterday Brandon had to fly to California to take care of some business and I was left home all alone...I hate being home alone...especially at night.

So I got out of class at 5:30 and when I got home...I found this cute little thing...

Brandon was such a cutie and left a picture of himself on his pillow before he left so I wouldn't have to sleep by myself haha. I thought it was so sweet of him to think of me!

All There Is To Do In Ephraim...

This weekend Brandon and I took a little trip to Ephraim with our friends Eric and Kendra. On Friday night we went to a little Mexican Restaurant and had the greasiest enchiladas ever made. Then we headed out to the movies and saw Paul Blart Mall Cop...anyone seen it? It's pretty funny. On Saturday we were able to go to the Manti Temple and do a session. It was beautiful!

Brandon and I want to try to go to as many different temples as we possibly can...especially while we're still living in Utah because there is like thirteen! So far I've been to Los Angeles, Newport, Provo, Manti, and Tokyo and Brandon has been to Los Angeles, San Diego, Oakland, Preston, Timpanogas, Provo, and Manti!

...only 135 to go!

After the temple we went shooting...it was my first time in about seven years!

Load 'em up boys!

Mr. Sharp Shooter...

I didn't do too bad myself...Dad would be proud!

I hit 2 outa 3!

When we were shooting skeet we found out that I suck at throwing so Brandon had to throw for himself and shoot!

Eric got it down.

I thought Eric and Kendra were joking when they said Ephraim was a small town but we really were able to do all there was to do in Ephraim in the two short days we visited!

I <3 Japan

So I was looking at my parents facebook and my mom had just posted a picture of me in Japan. I decided to look through all my pictures and I really started missing it. So here are some of the highlights from my trip two summers ago.

p.s. If I look nasty and sweaty in all my pictures...that's because I am.

This is the street we lived on in Funabashi City.

This was our stop at the train station, Shimosa-Nakayama.

This was a neat little idea. On the train there are certain cars that are designated for women during certain times of the night and early morning to help reduce harassment.

This is the English Learning class that we helped out with. The class was put on by the missionaries in the Koiwa Ward.

This is me...doin some shopping in Harajuka. It was amazing, there were great deals everywhere! They had a seven story dollar store...That's where I bought C.j.'s fireworks :)

This is at Shibuya Square, one of the busiest places in Japan.

Yes, I read Kanji.

This is on our dinner cruise to Odiva Island.

This picture is from our iPOD dance party.

This picture was taken part way up Mt. Fuji, only 526 meters to go! Probably the worst experience of my life.

We were able to visit the Atomic Bomb Museums in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This is a picture of the hypo center in Nagasaki.

This is the entrance of the Peace Park in Nagasaki.

This is a pagoda in Nara.

There are deer EVERYWHERE in Nara.

This is a temple in Nara that houses the largest Buddha in Japan.

To put it in perspective, I was about the same height as the table in the middle of the picture.

These are some fun friends that we met at a river party...for some reason they LOVE Americans and all wanted their picture taken with us.

I saw this gazebo when I was in Kyoto and it reminded me of Brandon :D

This is a prayer tree at the Kyoto-Jo (Temple).

This is on top of Monkey Mountain in Kyoto. There were hundreds of monkeys EVERYWHERE! It was cool but a little creepy. Before we started the hike up the mountain we were told not to look the monkeys in the eye or they will attack you...well I accidentally caught the gaze of one of the monkeys and it nearly clawed my face off! Note to self: Follow directions!!

China Town...in Japan!

We were lucky enough to take a little trip to Costo and have real American food! It was WoNdErFuL. Japanese pizza is...well...NASTY! The sauce and toppings usually consisted of mayonnaise, corn, squid, tuna, and mushrooms. So Costco pizza was quite a treat.

This is Kinkaku-ji, "The Golden Pavilion Temple", in Kyoto.

This is the LDS temple we visited in Tokyo.

This is Osaka-jo. We were able to attend a festival held for King of Osaka-jo.

This is us dressed in our cute Yukatas at the Onsen Park in Odiva. This was basically a huge public bath amusement park.

These were my best girls on the trip. Lissa and Liz...we did everything together! This is us in our lodge during our spa weekend retreat.

And last but not least...my absolute favorite part of the trip was our excursion to Aomori. Aomori is on the Northern tip of Japan. It is a little rural and famous for their delicious apples! The people of Aomori were so amazing. They were extremely hospitable, they took care of our food, housing (we actually stayed in a geisha house!), travel, and entertainment. They threw many parties for us, welcomed us in their newspaper and on T.V., and also let us be in the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (Nebuta Festival).

The man that I am sitting next to in the middle of the picture is the reason we were able to come to Aomori. He organized and funded our entire trip to Aomori. His name is Kojuro Wada, President of the Aomori International Exchange Association.

This is a picture of our group with the family that took such amazing care of us.



This is the cute woman that owned the school that we stayed in.



We also were given a tour of the Sake factory in Aomori. It was one of the largest factories and the one that exports the most sake internationally. Our professor let the President know ahead of time that we didn't drink so they had crates of Aomori apple juice ready for us.



This is the President of the sake factory.

This group of lovely ladies taught us some traditional Japanese dances, including the one we danced for the Nebuta Festival. Since they took the time to teach us some of their traditional dances...we taught them one of ours...the Macarena!

This is the Toshiba float we danced for in the festival.

Getting dressed for the festival.

This is the full traditional Nebuta costume.

Going to Japan was such an amazing experience. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity and I hope to someday be able to go back and visit with my family.