Home:

Welcome to our humble abode. :D It still has some things we need to do before we can move in, but it's still home.
I'm so grateful for the economy right now! I know it's horrible, but it helped me get into such a wonderful property with a great price. :) I should call my blog "I'm grateful for" because all I ever say is what I'm thankful for! Anyway... Here are some pictures before everything gets fixed up and our stuff is inside.

Front yard


First sight of the front room


Entry way


Kitchen

Family room


And a random picture of John's beard. :D He's in love with his facial hair, so I thought I'd share it with you all...

SickNESS

Ok... So being sick is definitely not a fun thing. The cold or whatever I have is so persistent. It won't go away no matter what I do...



Sleep all day?? nope. Take so many drugs that you think you could ruin your liver?? nope. Ignore it?? nope. Blow your nose til it's raw?? nope.


But it's ok, because I have a wonderful husband who cares and understands, no matter how whiny I am. I swear I'm sick more often lately, and he still loves me. :)


Anyway.. I just feel so inspired when I get on here. I look at people's blogs and try to be poetic like them, but I never feel poetic. I just feel like I ramble. But saying what's on my mind is a good way to let everyone know how life is going... I think... :D


Speaking of life.. John and I got to go see a movie yesterday for the first time in a long while. Money is being saved for our house, so we're not wasting money on things like entertainment... Who needs the theaters when you have so many movies on your shelf that you haven't watched in years?? Well, the movie was Dear John. It was a good story, but I think the ending could've been better. I'm not trying to discourage you from seeing it! It was good. :) There was a preview for a movie called The Last Song. I thought it looked pretty good, and when I came home from work late last night, I had the book sitting on my pillow from John.

I loved the couple... They look super cute together!

This definitely isn't Miley Cirus, but I don't want to imagine her everytime I read, so I picked this cover. :)
I'm so grateful for John, I know I say it all the time, but when he's thoughtful, it almost makes me cry! I've already read a couple chapters in this book, and I love it. Everytime I pick it up, I think of John. LOVE HIM!

Well, I think that's it for now folks. I need a nap. Thanks for your love and support!


Love,


Allison

Week 1 of the Culinary Arts experience

So, as you, my followers know, I started Culinary school last week. I was so scared for it to start! The week before and even a couple days before I was worried I wouldn't like it, or that I wouldn't be good at what I was doing... But I'm doing great! I just wanted to update you with some of the yummy treats I got to make and experience for the first time.

This was my first dish I made. A brie flan with caramelized blueberries, bananas, and raspberries. It was a yummy treat!

Here's a closer shot of the flan.

On Friday, we had the day off for making things for customers, so we had more time to learn about new things. This is the start of a Danish pastry that was simply amazing! Sorry I don't have a finished product of this one. :(

Here's another Danish pastry... Just shaped differently. The filling was a Danish filling consisting of cream cheese vanilla and sugar. (wayyy easy!) The other two fillings were fruit fillings from a can. (that was even easier!)

Here's a shot of our professor/ chef teaching us how to frost a product... Baker's style!

Friday was an awesome day for learning... But I also got to eat and take home some AMAZING goodies. Not all of them were sweet either. We had one with mushrooms and bacon and cheese on it... another one was cheese and herbs. Baking and pastries isn't just all sweet stuff, I learned. I'm so excited to keep you guys updated on what's new in my Culinary world!

Love,

Allison

Grateful and in love

This month is a busy one! My big brother gets home this week from his mission and I just can't wait! John FINALLY gets to meet him. They don't have to be best friends, but liking each other would be a good place to start. :D Here's his picture--- In honor of him :)

The next day I start school! I'm starting culinary school at Scottsdale Community College. Go Artichokes! (who would ever want to be known as the artichokes?? beats me...) I bought all my clothes and knives, now all I need is my books. Just two cost an arm and a leg! Jeez!! Anyway... I'm going to start a career making wedding cakes and catering for any event... Mostly weddings and birthdays I think. I can't wait to see where my creativity will take me!

John's staying out of school this semester to explore his options and find what he'd like to major in. That way we won't be wasting money on school he may not need, and instead, we'll be saving up for a downpayment on a house!
Yes.. A house! We're finally looking around for houses and I'm hoping to be in our own home in the next 3 or 4 months. If it's 6 months I'll still be happy. :D

I love my husband very much and I'm so glad the love we share grows everyday He is the light in my life and always makes me smile. For our one year anniversary (yes it's passed... Dec 19 was the day...) he got me a heart necklace. I've been wanting one for ages and now I have the most beautiful one.. More than I could ask for. :)

I can't complain about my life right now because I am so blessed. I have two amazing and loving families that are always willing to help- with words, money, or just love. Thanks families! My jobs may not be what I want to keep forever, but they're fun and I love the people I work with. I'm so glad to have the life I have and I would never trade it for anything.

Grateful and in love,

Allison

Old Photos found!

So these photos are from a very long time ago.. Like... January.

But I wanted to post some newer pictures of John and I.

Here's the story behind the pictures:

We went to Utah for John's best friend's wedding. John was the best man... We HAD to go! :D The weather was amazing! Why can't it be like that in AZ more often??? :) Anyway, the sealing was at the Bountiful Temple. It's a gorgeous temple! It's on the top of a hill, so you can see the whole city below. We loved it. :)

While we were waiting for the bride and groom to exit the temple, a bunch of kids kept staring at me! I couldn't figure it out... So finally, a kid comes up to me and says "Ashley Tisdale... Can I get your autograph??" I was so confused! So the rest the day they were video taping me and doing weird things around me. Awkward! Ever since then, a lot of people have been mentioning how much I look like her. Crazy!!

Thanks for visiting today!

Allison

P.S. Thanks to Autumn for the SEXY bexy outfit! :)

Work!

Well, ok... the new business idea went nowhere... haha. But, John got a new job! He works for Brookstone. He likes it so far. He gets to sell really cool things; remote controlled airplanes, tempurpedic beds, speakers, etc... Cool huh? Nothing new with me, just workin' and earning an extra buck. Just lettin' everyone know how proud I am of my amazing husband! I'll work on gettin back to you at least once a month- if not more.