Girlfriends

{Heidi, Calene, Keisha, Noelle, Kat, Jenna, Me, & Krista}

I have been so lucky this summer to have a great group of girlfriends. We have had so much fun doing things with the kids during the day and relaxing by watching shows together every night. I haven't had an office with lots of wives in a few summers so it has defiantly made a difference to have people to hang out with. The guys are going to sell in Louisiana so the girls are going their own ways in the coming week. I am going to miss these girls, but hopefully we can all reunite for the SYTYCD tour in November!

Eclipse Premier

I got talked into going to see Eclipse at midnight at the last minuet and was so glad the girls got me to go! It was actually pretty good, and I stayed awake the WHOLE time! If you know me and movies that is huge! It was fun to go out with the wives and share in some good fun.

Good Friends

I was able to spend a couple days with two of my bestest friends here in Austin last week. Brittany was in town for her boyfriend's business trip and Melissa, who happens to be Brittany's cousin, lives in Dallas and decided to drive down for the day to hang out. It was so good to see both of them! We had so much fun eating, shopping, and catching up.

Britt, Melissa, Me

Brittany and Dustin

A little side note- I don't know how I got so lucky to have such a good baby! Avalynn was seriously an angel the whole day and didn't make a peep. We left the house about noon and didn't get back until 11:00pm and she was totally content the whole day just hanging out in her stroller, chillin with the girls!

Girl's Weekend

Every year since we have graduated from high school, a couple girfriends and I have met up for a girl's weekend. This year we decided that since I would be in St. George they would fly into Vegas and we would go to St. George. It was such a fun and relaxing weekend, it is always so good to spend time together and catch up. Brittney brought her daughter, Mackenzie, so Avalynn got to meet a new friend. Thanks Britt, Mack, and Nicky for coming to visit us!

We drove through Snow Canyon

Ate at 25 Main downtown

Went bowling (my brother and cousin joined us!)

Went to Vegas for the day

It takes 2 people to get a baby in the carrier!

Connor's Journey

My good friend, Tiffany, has a 12 year old son with a liver disease called Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis. I got an e-mail from Tiffany yesterday and I just wanted to share it with you.

"This past year has been a particularly difficult one with more trips than I can count to the hospital. Through all of this Connor found something that keeps him motivated and inspired, bike riding. He has made the decision to compete in Race Across America this June. It is dubbed the hardest bike race in the world. He had to get special permission to compete as he is the youngest person to ever attempt it. Connor has a team called “Connors Hope” and I am honored to be on it with him as well as Jared and Jared’s brother Ryan. Connor set a goal of raising $100,000 to go towards research, the registry, and a benevolence fund for those in need during transplantation. Last year Jared competed in this race and he personally had a goal of $10,000. So you can see the stretch here. Connor recently was told that he would be needing a major surgery that would take him off his bike for 9 weeks. Connor was very concerned that doing so would halt his progress in bike training as well as raising money for the race. Through many tears I shared with him that I will be doing everything in my power to continue to help him raise money during this time of recovery.

I am not writing to you asking for money or a donation towards the team, however we always appreciate it if you choose to. I am writing to you asking that you please start reading daily Connors blog and that you forward his blog address to all of your friends and so on. If Connor gets enough readers on his blog finding corporate sponsors will be much easier. As well as he will be able to sell space on it that can go towards his overall goal. I can tell you reading his blog will most likely put a smile on your face he always has clever ways of seeing the world and all of its challenges.

I continue to learn so much from Connors example and both Jared and I try to make sure that he is learning to take his personal trials and turn them into something good. Two days ago on our way to another doctor appointment Jared and I asked Connor his feelings about his Liver Disease and his exact words were “well I know I wouldn’t be the same person I am if I didn’t go through this and I know I wouldn’t even attempt the things I do if it wasn’t for this challenge”. I thought that pretty much summed him up always looking for the blessings."

You can visit Connor's Blog by clicking HERE

Pumpkin Carving

Every year we go to our family friends, the Hahn's, for a yummy fall dinner and pumpkin carving. Brennen is quite the pumpkin carver so it is always fun to see what he comes up with. His pumpkin this year is a pretty low key, but he designed both out pumpkin carvings. I told him I was just going to get one pumpkin for him to do but then decided that the baby needed one too, and how I wanted it to be a princess crown/tiara. But secretly I wanted the crown pumpkin for myself, I can just use the baby as an excuse now!!

eMPERFECT

My darling friend Amanda just launched a new jewelry line she created. I am loving the simplicity and versatility of the bracelets! She has a website and also an etsy site, so be sure to check them out!

Some Girl Time

When Shantay and I saw this sale, we knew for sure we had to take advantage of it! So naturally we booked Shantay a ticket out here for some much needed girl time!

Here were our adventures

Cupcakes in Downtown Franklin

Gender experiments!

Ate lots of good food compliments of Logan's, Hard Rock, and Qdoba

Went to Opryland

Broadway Street Downtown

Pedicures

{Image from here}

And of course got some good "Retail Therapy" in!

Home Sweet Home

Folsom will always be "home" to me, so any chance I get to go back I take it! Last year my old pageant directors, Tiffany and Sheryl, asked me to come and judge their Folsom Pageant. I had such a great time and it was so fun to see great friends. I didn't take many pictures, but here is what I got!

Winners, Judges, and Directors. 

On Thursday after judging interviews I went to dinner at Fats with Greg & Sarah, Matt & Rachel, and Brittany. 

Me and Sarah

Rachel, Matt, Britt, and Me

Saturday afternoon we went to La Bou for lunch and just enjoyed the great weather on the patio talking and catching up. Nicky is going to hate this picture!

Brittney and her mom were so great to take me to the airport! I just love this girl!

A Woman's Influence

I consider myself very blessed to have numerous women in my life that I look to as examples of beauty, wonderful mothers, leaders, and spiritual giants. I thought it only appropriate that on Mother's Day to reflect on these women and the influence they have made in my life. 

There really aren't words to describe how much my mom means to me. I am fortunate to not only have her as a mother but as a friend. I enjoy the time we spend together and am so proud of her for all her hard work and dedication to her business. I could go on a on about her but just a few qualities she as that I hope to take from her are, compassion, hard work, dedication, friend to everyone, spiritual, and fun!

My dear friend, Melissa, is such an amazing example to me in so many ways. This woman has defiantly had her share of trials and she never ceases to amaze me in her unwavering testimony of the gospel.  In my Dating and Adult Roles class I did a presentation for the students on leaders and used Melissa as my role model!

On my trip to Folsom I had the chance to judge the Folsom Pageant. The two women who run the pageant have always been ones I look up to. I have always had so much respect and admiration for Tiffany. She is a wonderful mother, mentor, and friend. Tiffany is one of the most beautiful women I know, not only on the outside but in. She is always doing things for others and has pretty much dedicated her life to "Donate Life" in honor of her son Connor.  She has taught me so much about myself through pageants and for that I am forever grateful. Ok, and look at that rockin bod at 37! 

There are so many other women and mothers I admire as well- Jenna Haynie, Shantay Ames, Jamie Hilton, Leslie Astle, Aunt Jody, and the list could go on and on. Thank you all for your lasting influence of a wonderful woman!

Forever Friends

One of my best friends' fiance lives in Clarksville which is about 45 min north of Nashville. She was out here visiting him when we first got to Nashville and we had the opportunity to go to dinner with them. Darin has met an awesome guy, Russell, and I am so excited for her to get married in June! We went to a restaurant called Jackson's near Vanderbilt, it was really tasty. Russell was the best and got us Cookie Dough Egg Rolls which were amazing! I am glad Darin will be moving out here in June after the wedding... I see some shopping trips in the future!

Baby Gone Wild

My darling friend Carly (sorry her blog is private), is pregnant with her first baby. Baby boy will make his debut in early June while all our APX friends are gone for the summer, so I threw her a shower on Saturday before everyone starts taking off. It turned out really cute and lots of people showed up to help us celebrate.

Be sure to check out my new party design blog Fancy Frills Style Studio

Jenna made the amazing cake!

I got the idea for the theme on this wonderful blog, Stem*Fabulous Parties Start Here