We're ENGAGED!

WOOHOO! as of 12/12/09, Danielle and I are engaged! You can find out the details of the engagement by visiting Danielle's blog! www.adoseofdani.blogspot.com. I'm not as good as she is at the list thing, but I CAN tell you that she is everything good in life all compacted into a beautiful person! I am so thankful to know her. I cannot wait to experience everything that life has to offer with her. Love you Danielle! You're all I ever wanted!

Ultimate experience at the Christmas Devotional

Last night Dani and I had one of the best experiences of our lives! We had the opportunity to obtain some tickets for the Christmas Devotional from a coworker. It was 6 of us total. We decided to meet up at door #5 about 30 minutes before the devotional was to start. One couple was bringing the tickets for all of us. Well they were late in arriving because of the traffic and lack of parking, so we waited until 5:57, just about a minute before they were to close the doors! We were kind of down because we knew we wouldn’t get good seats. So we go through the metal detectors, and soon after a brother comes up to us and asks if we wanted some really good seats, OF COURSE! He said it would be in the floor area So we’re thinking ‘oh well we lucked out at least we’ll be closer than we thought’ well it turns out they put us all on the 7^TH ROW! It was amazing!! Here we are walking in on the hour and sitting on the 7^th row right in front of the presidency. We were just so amazed that it happened the way it did. We enjoyed every bit of the devotional, the choir and orchestra was just so powerful, I had never experienced that from so close. After the Devotional ended we get up and realize that we were SURROUNDED by all of the apostles! Our faces must have looked pretty funny, we couldn’t believe it. We were ushered through the front of the Conference center, along with the rest of the general authorities. I thought the experience was priceless, especially since the crowd was slow moving, which gave me the chance to chat with Elder Cook (which happens to be my mission president’s brother) Sis. Dew, and greet just about every other apostle. They took us through the long tunnel underneath the conference center and the temple, that was a neat experience in and of itself. The whole night was just was just priceless. Especially since I got to experience that with Danielle :)

Eat to live UPDATE

So, First weigh in: 10/19/2009 at 239 lbs

Last weigh in: 11/23/09 at 226lbs

13 lbs Woohoo!!!

The "lifestyle change" is going great so far. I can't believe how easy it's been. I actually feel like I could step it up. Throughout the week I'm careful to eat healthy foods, but on weekends I have eaten a lot, and still have lost weigh, I'm loving it. I'm going to the gym about 2-3 times a week, so I could definitely improve there. but woohoo it feels great!

I overheard some co-workers talking about a health book they started reading a while back, called 'Eat to Live.' Among other things, this individual shared her experience on how much weight she lost and what she did in order to achieve her weight loss goals. I was interested enough to order the book and look into it. 5 bucks plus tax. Three weeks ago Danielle and I started reading the book and both were surprised at the well-researched information which the Author shared from his years of research and expertise. The author, Joel Fuhrman, M.D., focuses on making a lifestyle change from the typical American diet to a more natural diet focused mostly on raw fruits and vegetables. I think the book is amazing! I've actually been following his advice for the last 3 weeks and have already lost 8 lbs! I'm not starving at all, I'm just eating a lot more veggies and got off the fast food train (I still visit the train every now and then, but definitely not like I used to). Anyway the book is great because he's not selling anything; he's just educating you on the important nutrients in food, what foods carry what benefits. He lays it all out, lets you know what is most healthy. I highly suggest you give it a try!

The Subway Lady is weird...

Yesterday I went to get lunch at a nearby Subway and the conversation went something like this:

Me: walk into Subway

Manager lady: NO, WE DON'T HAVE IT. NOPE. WE'RE ALL OUT.

Me: [blank stare] uhhh....ha ha....yeah...

Manager lady: HAHAHAHA, WHAT CAN WE GET YA.

Me: yeah do you have the veggie max sub here?

Manager lady: SURE DO. PUT THE GREEN PEPPERS AND OLIVES ON IT THOUGH, IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO EAT THAT SUB.

Me: Um, I'm ok thanks...

Manager lady: YOU WANT TO TOAST THIS ONE TOO, PERSONAL SUGGESTION, IT MAKES IT TASTE BETTER.

Me: ok....I'll have it toasted...

Then the poor 16 year-old in between the big manager lady and the sandwich counter started making my sandwich. She had a look in her eyes that screamed "help me she's going to put me back in the closet after I'm done making your sandwich." so my sandwich is done, I go to the register:

16 year-old to Manager lady: ummmm...the credit card machine is still down.

Manager lady to 16 year-old: [in an attempted whisper tone that I can clearly hear] WATCH THIS....

Manager lady to 16 year-old: GIVE HIM THE SANDWICH. JUST GIVE IT TO HIM!

[16 year-old hesitates as her mind subconsciously shuffles through her ethical values and tries to makes sense of why she is giving away free food from a restaurant that clearly charges people for food, and which could have made arrangements to only take cash instead of just giving away food. But she slowly slides the sandwich my way anyway.]

Manager lady to me: LUNCH IS ON ME TODAY, NO CHARGE.

Me: ....boy that's great, thanks so much.

Manager lady: YOU ARE WELCOME. [looks at me with a creepy stare because she knows that she just pulled off the coolest manager move she could ever make, and is waiting for my mind to explode because of the slyness and craftiness of her moves.]

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs!

We had a blast this weekend when we met up with my closest of friends Stace and Naomi and watched 'Cloudy with a chance of meatballs' in 3-D (hence the glasses)! We really enjoyed it! Afterward, we hit up Coldstone for some dessert and spent the evening reminiscing about mission memories (Stace and I served in Philly PA together). Good times!

pa-pa,pa-pa-razzi

Soooo....Dani and I decided to go to this one really nice place and get some pictures taken just because it's been so long since the last picture update. We initially took it seriously and had some great ideas, BUT if you know Dani and I, you won't be surprised to know that most of the picture session consisted of pictures like this:

Another Project, DONE!!

Here is my latest project, a 7 X 8 ATV/Utility trailer! It used to be a 7 X 9, built very poorly, yellow, nasty. I had a new railing built and pretty much new everything and now tada! I have to say this was a lot of work and it took much longer than I thought it would, but I'm happy with the turnout. It was a good learning experience and something to add to my stress-relieving hobby. It's for sale, as are all my projects.

1970's Vintage Peugeot

This is my latest project and it's done! (almost). Within the last few months I have gotten an urge to restore things, and vintage road bikes have been the first of various projects. Here are some pics of this 10 speed beauty!

Mate y un Asadito

Last weekend was probably one of the funnest I've had in a long time. My roommates and I along with Dani and her roommates all got together for a nice parrillada in Provo Canyon! We stocked up on meat and...meat...and everything else, and of course brought some mate with us:

First time heating up the water over a wood fire, perfect temp...

Highlight of the evening was being able to do a lot of this to this person...:)

This was the NEXT best thing!

Innocent? Ignorant? I don't know, but don't do it :)

This story is unbelievable. It seems like such a basic scam that we usually brush away, but look at this entire video and see how complex these thieves can get.

Thanks for the Surprise Dani!

Dani gave me the best surprise last night. So on top of me trying to figure out how I’m going to deal with the $2,500 of repairs on my car, I found out even more tragic news: Dani is going to a work retreat up in the mountains and will be gone Friday-Saturday. I was distraught at the idea that I would be spending this cold, wet weekend, alone. BUT, all worries disappeared when she surprised me with the BOURNE DVD TRILOGY!! She knew I would be devastated, so she gave me the next best thing, Jason Bourne. Needless to say this weekend will be a Bourne marathon weekend. Anyone is welcome to come over and join me. THANK YOU DANIELLE!!

Thank you Enterprise Rent-A-Car!

Last night I had a Christmas miracle happen in my life.  So Dani and I were driving back home from a ridiculously fun day with the entire family, both in St. George and West Jordan.  We couldn't wait to get home and go to bed.  Welllllll......we were 2 blocks away from home when I noticed there was a car trailing close behind us.  By the time I realized that the shape of the headlights belonged to a crown victoria and before I could react, the police lights went on.  I thought "oh infierno, another ticket."  I hadn't gotten a ticket in a million years, and was all I needed to ruin the night.  The officer came up to us and took my license.  I also mentioned to him that our car was a rental from ENTERPRISE.  He glanced over our rental contract and took my license back to his pig mobile.  He came back a few minutes later and just said “ok you’re clear, you can go.” YES. I DIDN’T GET A TICKET.  I guess he was just driving around checking license plates, and when he checked mine it came up on his computer weird because it was a rental.  Needless to say it was quite the experience.  Thank you Enterprise, for letting me have a real life experience that scared me enough to not speed for another 5-7 years. 

 

Spring Adventures

Dani and I have been on some awesome adventures, and rather than me posting them on my blog I want you to check out the stories/pictures she has been posting on her blog of all the cool experiences we've been having! here is the link : http://adoseofdani.blogspot.com/ enjoy!

festival of Colors and more

Danielle and I had the chance to go see the festival of colors! We made sure to make it there a little late, hence our cleanliness :). Actually, we underestimated the number in attendance and got stuck in traffic for hours!

haha I like this

via videosift.com

Trip to Utah Part Dos

We drove up to Salt Lake to visit David and Kristin and Co. and had a lot of fun times. Too many funny moments to mention, but some of the highlights are shown in these pictures. We were able to see the lights at temple square, have some snowfall fights, and of course, do a little sledding.

My sis Huenú and her kids, Mercedes and Michael

Little Jade

My princess Brinley

beautiful Taylor, aka Tay Tay

Jaders and I

Michael, Me, and Jade