A favorite quote

"Women of god can never be like women of the world.
The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender.
There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind.
There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined.
We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith.
We have enough greed; we need more of goodness.
We have enough vanity; we need more of virtue.
We have enough popularity; we need more purity."

Margaret D Naudauld, 2000
Young Women General President

I love this quote! That is all I wanted to say.

Uncertain.

For the first 18 years of your life everything is planned for you. When you are in 3rd grade, you know next year you will be in 4th grade - and so forth all the way up to 12th grade. Then you graduate from high school and everyone takes their own path. But for the most part these different paths are still composed of basically predictable parts. I went to college where I knew after freshman year came sophomore year and so forth. I even followed a planned "course map" mandated by the food science department. Now that phase of my life is over and I'm married, working, and living on a foreign coast - and everything seems a bit more uncertain. Not uncertain on a day to day basis as most of my weeks are the same, but uncertain in the long 5-10 year run. Part of me thinks this uncertainty is exciting. Nathan and I can make whatever we want out of our lives. We can go anywhere, do anything, and decided for ourselves. A lot of times I sit and think about all the possibilites and adventures we have in store. Its just a matter of realizing what goals are most important and going for them. But another part of me feels really anxious about all this uncertainty. It seems like we have a lot of big decesions to make in the next year or so in regard to careers, where to live, family, and so forth. I feel blessed that we don't have to make all these decesions on our own though. Thanks to prayer that is. It is crazy to think that unlike the last 10 years of my life, I have no idea where I'll be in the next 5 even 2 years! But how awesome is it I get to decide? Because there is no 23th grade.

I Love Weekends...

Nathan and I had a lovely weekend this past week! We have both been busy busy (nate working 70+ hours a week, my 9-5 job, nate going to a beach campout with the YM, both of us going on buisness trips, working at the temple, family get togethers, friends, me finishing an online class, YW/YM activites during the week, planning lessons, going to the gym, trying not to let our apartment become a disaster, and more!) so it was a nice break to just spend time together just the two of us. I thought I would have endless time to do whatever I wanted after I graduated from college - but boy was I wrong! I think every phase of life is busy for everyone. Because who am kidding? I'm sure life now is nothing compared to when we have 3 little kids running around. But I think having things to do, places to be, and people to love and spend time with is what makes life full and wonderful.

On Friday after work, Nate met me down at the beach in La Jolla by my work. We bought wet suits last week and Nate wants to teach me how to surf! I am excited about it but have never experienced anything like the waves on Friday. They were HUGE. I grew up going to the beach in North Carolina every summer with my cousins - and the Atlantic Ocean does NOT have waves as big as those in the Pacific Ocean. Nate thought it would be good to swim in the waves without surf boards first so I could get used it. When we got to the beach and into our wet suits Nate zen-fully sat me down on the beach and explained that I need to first "understand the ocean" and "learn to feel the rhythm of the ocean as the sets come in". I don't think he realized quite how organic he sounded - but it was a good pep talk. Then we went swimming and boggie boarding for few hours. It was great! I was still slightly terrified but that wore off the longer we swam. That night we went and got Italian food at Tommy's and there was a live jazz band! It was a surprise to us but I guess every Friday night they have the same band come. I loved it!

One Friday night/Saturday morning my sister-in law Angela had a baby girl! Her name is Alice Marie Collins and we are still waiting for pictures of the newest member of the Collins family! On Saturday night Nate and I also went to his neighbor and friend from high school's engagment party. It was fun to meet a bunch of Nate's old friends and get a glimpse into his "high school" self. Little known fact about Nate is his high school superlative was "best personality" (and he also got nominated for "biggest heart" but choose the personality one because he was embarassed) and I have to agree!

There was a party shuttle taking people up to the party!

Why didn't I think of that?


On Sunday we made dinner for Nate's Dad and Grandma. Nate's Dad is living bachelor style while Helen is visiting the Grandkids in Virginia and waiting to visit her newest granddaughter!So he was happy to have company! We made pot roast, salad, and really good brownies! Yum!

I just love weekends! I think thats all there is to it :)

Fish Taco Tuesdays

Its Tuesday. The most boring day of the week. But not when you live near Rubios! Tuesdays are $1.25 fish taco days here in San Diego - and we are avid fish-taco eaters! I don't know if its the warm corn tortilla, the crispy cabbage, that secret Chipotle sauce, or the piece of perfectly fried fish - but I love those tacos...

STELLA

Meet Stella! She is our grumpy, neighborhood watchdog.

Here are the facts about Stella:

1. We rent out apartment from an awesome family named the Richardsons.

2. We live on top of their detached garage.

3. Stella is the Richarsons chiwawa.

3. I love Stella.

4. Stella hates me.

Every time I come home and Stella is outside she growls at me and barks like crazy. She does this to everyone (or so I tell myself). As soon as you walk towards her she barks really loud, puts her ears down, and backs away. I just love her and wish she wouldn't be so scared of me. One time she let Nate hold her. I was jealous.





Also - this is our cute yard! It has been SO nice outside these past few days. 75 and sunny. To celebrate spring are going to have a barbecue and get fresh fruit from the farmer's market this weekend. Can't wait!

Birthday Fun!

Yesterday was my 22nd birthday! Nathan had planned on taking me on a picnic at the beach on Saturday to celebrate - but due to the rain (another rainy weekend!) he changed the plans took me to my favorite breakfast place, "The Original Pancake House" in Rancho Santa Fe. I ordered chocolate chip pancakes (and felt like a 5 year old) and Nathan got the famous "Flap Jacks"! Both were delicious. I think going out to breakfast is the best! I would rather go out to breakfast than lunch or dinner any day of the week.


After breakfast we drove around the fancy, Rancho Santa Fe part of San Diego. It is GORGEOUS! After the drive Nathan took me to the mall so I could pick out a new outfit!I got a few cute things and Nathan was nice enough to watch me try stuff on and dig for things to say about each item of clothing (even though I know he really doesn't care). He has certain colors that he associates with people or things I already have in my wardrobe. For example, whenever he sees anything coral pink he tells me I already have that shirt. Even though it is nothing remotely close to anything I own. Every time he sees anything the color dark purple he says "Kasee has that shirt". And anything with blue and white stripes is something Jessica owns, etc. It's very endearing. After the mall we came back and I had a surprise package from my Mom on my doorstep! She sent me a cute dress and shirt.


That night Nathan's parents took us out to my favorite Hawaiian fusion restaurant called Roy's in La Jolla. It was delicious as always! After dinner we went back to his parents house and had cake and hung out for awhile.

Nathan, me and my new dress!

Cake :)

Great in-laws!

On my REAL birthday I wasn't expecting much because we had already celebrated over the weekend. But Nathan sent gorgeous flowers to my office at work! I wish I had a picture because they are so beautiful! Last night we also went to see the movie -"The Young Victoria" which I loved and got dessert at Extraordinary Desserts in downtown San Diego.

Extraordinary? I think so..

I got delicious white chocolate mousse cake with vanilla bean soaked pound cake and raspberries.

It was a great birthday! I told Nate that I am actually excited to be 22 because it makes me just one year closer to a socially acceptable age for being married. Just kidding! Kind of...

Trendy Pineapples and Kasee Visits!

This past weekend my good friend Kasee and her husband Jason came and visited us! They are currently taking a semester off at BYU to do internships in LA. So lucky for me that means Kasee is only an hour and a half away for a few months! They got in around 8:30pm on Friday and that night Nate took us on a driving tour of the beach cities (PB, Misson Bay, etc.). We also stopped and looked at the seals sleeping on the beach in La Jolla. Most of all it was fun to talk and catch up with old friends and see how they are doing! Kasee and I could literally talk all day about life matters (and kitchen things of course), its great! Then we came back and watched a movie and ate homemade salsa and muddy buddies. She also brought me a cute housing warming gift AND birthday gift! The house warming gift included a pineapple (trendy?), warm homemade banana bread, and a special sparkling pomegranate drink. Yay! The birthday gift was also from Miss Jessica Veater and included fun kitchen tools from Williams Sonoma like spice cups, a jalapeno corer, and VANILLA BEAN PASTE! Thank you SO much Kasee and Jess!

The next morning we all slept in a little and woke up to rain. We had planned on going to the temple in the morning, but the rain foiled our plans of going sailing and to the zoo later that afternoon. Guess Kasee and Jason will just have to come visit us again now! The temple was great! It is so fun to be able to go there with friends.

Yay friends!

Us wishing we had a pineapple at the moment.

(Sorry I keep repeating the same inside joke)

He likes me.

(And also I know it doesnt look like its raining but it was really heavy on and off...)

Afterwards we got lunch, went to Coranado, and can back and hung out at our apartment. Thanks for making the trip down to see us Kasee and Jason! Can't wait to do it again soon :)