what not to do in your wedding announcement

ok people, it's that time of year, wedding season. something that every wedding crazed girl looks forward to. and something that those of us with small pocketbooks dread. wedding invites crowd up the refrigerator and we find ourselves getting the same present for everyone on the list, because it's just easier that way. and, although i am unmarried, i believe i am a self-proclaimed wedding planner and critic. i've seen my fair share of weddings, and in particular wedding announcements.
here's what NOT to do in your wedding announcement.
*awkward poses. we've all seen the "awkward engagement photos" online, but people, these things really exist! there are certain poses that perhaps you should not be putting out there for the world to see. this includes hand placement and how your clothes look in the pose. below, is just a tame example of awkward posing. what were they thinking? "oh honey this will look so good. i mean we're gonna walk around like this all the time after we're married right? i don't want you out of my sight! and if you try to leave me, well then you will be strangled. . . "

*personality. ok ok, don't get me wrong, you should incorporate personality into your engagement photos and wedding announcements! this sets you apart from other people. however you can take this too far. don't dress up in crazy outfits- keep it simple. don't include animals, especially dogs or cats, in your photos (i think the occasional horse can be cute if you are going for the country feel)- you are not marrying your dog! location is huge. avoid posing in water- that's awkward. avoid strange locations, like porta-potties, college campuses (yes i have seen people taking engagement photos on BYU campus and i think it's weird), etc.

a good way to add personality

* keep the clothes on! i don't need to say anything else on that i hope. . .
* kissing. let me clarify, kissing is all good and fine. i mean we want to know you are in love, and not just signing a business contract. buuuuut, (and this was told to me by a good friend who is actually married),  you don't want to kiss too much. her words "just give him a peck in the photos because other wise it looks like you are just macking on each other." not classy. also keep the kisses cute- lips, cheeks and foreheads. everywhere else should be off limits! we don't want dear 80 year old auntie marge keeling over out of shock and a sweet kiddo like you would kiss like that.

this is cute

*colors. i do love me a good pop of color on the invite/save the date. but too much color, that doesn't match up, is just too much. choose a font that people can read without going cross eyed, in a color that isn't going to blind people. it's ok to do a couple different colors on the save the date, but make sure that there is an underlying theme and that it makes sense. don't do a new neon color on each line. that is just awkward to look at and hard to read. if you are going to do colored lettering, then keep the background color something neutral- creme, black, grey, or white.

well i've had my rant. i hope you laughed a little, but you also took this seriously. thank you to the people whose wedding invites inspired this post and for the friends who had beautiful and classy engagements. you have given me hope that not everyone is terribly awkward.
now go. be in love. get married. and all that jazz.

lately

you see, i had a CNA class last week. hence the odd absence. i was in class from 9-5 every day (literally in the same classroom for 8 hours) and then went straight to work until 9 pm. usually after work i have a little homework or studying to do. it's. . . great. it has been hard going from no school to full on insanity. but i have somehow survived and even enjoyed the class (a little). i will do a full report on the class when i am done with it- in one week! be excited! here is what i've been up to in the last week. sorry if it's not terribly exciting, it's not like i went out and partied every night after being in class and work for 12 hours.

i saw this beautiful sunset on wednesday (?) when i walked out of work. after a long hard day it was amazing to be reminded of the small and yet important things in life. sorry about the bad picture quality- i took it on my unsmart camera phone. no instagram for me people.

driving home from class on thursday i saw this double decker bus. i literally screamed. then i took this picture. then i said, "take me back to london!" it was quite emotional. come to find out that some guy running for state representative bought the bus to campaign! kind sir can i buy from you when you are done?? kthanksbye.

also on thursday i went to Aubrey Olsen's wedding reception. yes she got married! i was so grateful i got work off to be able to be there. i mean, she is practically like a sister to me. the reception was beautiful and it was so fun to see some Africa peeps. i got to drive up with Andy, Paul, and Sarah. Andy and Paul are starting med school in the fall! what smart guys.  and you may remember that Sarah and Paul got married on a blizzardy day in January. we counted that 7 people from our Africa group have gotten married! i am kinda starting to feel like i am slacking off. so i tried to catch the bouquet (i never ever do that). obviously i need to work on my bouquet catching skills...

have you ever heard of the Gravitron? i hadn't until saturday. i went to Orem's Summerfest with Alex and we both rode the Gravitron for the first time. basically you stand in this UFO-looking thing and it spins around really fast so you are pinned against the wall. it reaches G forces so there is no gravity (or very small amounts) and you can go upside down or anything! really cool slash weird. after riding the Gravitron we grabbed blankets for the fireworks show. if you live in utah valley you know that Saturday was like the windiest day ever, so i was freezing. but the show was so cool! we even got showered in debris from the fireworks. and we saw the double decker bus. after the fireworks we were all way cold, so we went to IHOP for their infinite hot chocolate and some late night sustenance. have you heard that chicken and waffles is amazing? apparently they eat them in the south. anyways, i got some! sadly by the time they came i wasn't hungry anymore, but i did have some delicious waffles and chicken for breakfast and dinner today. i don't think the combo is weird at all. the night was so fun! i am glad i got to go out!
so yes that is my life. tomorrow i start all over again with CNA classes and work. i have clinicals Wednedsay and Thursday and i am praying i don't die, or worse get expelled (i mean, throw up). ah! so nervous! but i'm off for now- gotta go take more vital signs! i'll try to check in before next sunday though! have a great week!

a post about love

there is this girl who i roomed with freshman year. her name is Amy Lynn Brugger. [or da Brug as we like to call her.]

this is her. she is one of my most favorite people in the entire world. we just "click." well, amy is in love. and she got engaged to this wonderful guy named Brandon Peterson just this Friday!!!!! brandon was nice enough to invite all of us freshman year roommates to celebrate with them after the proposal. we hid in his family's kitchen with family and other friends, and surprised her when they arrived. you know how they say people glow when they are in love? well, that's Amy and Brandon. I am just thrilled for Ames and so happy that she has found her "one true love." [am i sad that I will miss the wedding since it is while I'm in Africa? devastated. but my spirit will be there.] Brandon is a great guy and I know he will treat Amy right for the rest of eternity. 

the "roommates"

i'm just so grateful for Amy and her influence in my life! I am grateful that I know we will continue to be friends even after she is married! amy is just the happiest, funnest, quirkiest girl and i love her to death! 

congratulations Amy!!!

day 13. a letter to someone.

(because i'm not feeling creative enough today)

Dear You,

Whoever you are, I'm the girl of your dreams. I am real, even as you are real, and I dream about you. I look for you wherever I go...in moments of music and laughing and dancing...at school, at church, or just walking down the street, looking into faces that pass me by, wondering if you are there.

One day you will come out of the world into my sight and I shall know that you are for me, and there shall never be another. To find you will be finding eternal friendship and love...a feeling of togetherness, and we shall never be alone again. I dream of your strength, of your wisdom, of your kindness, of your courtesy, good humor, and optimism. I dream of the man you will be. You are choosing today the bread I shall eat, the walls that will shelter me, my position and place in life and in eternity. My crown will come to me only through your priesthood. What you are doing in preparation for the future, will determine my future too.

The bodies of our children, which I shall proudly bear, are part of you even as they are part of me too. We must become one, before they can be.

What you are in part you shall become. Be fine, honorable, wise, for me...for them. I will be chaste for you. You be chaste for me. I will be beautiful and clean in body and spirit and accomplishment for you. I will save all that is sacred and best for you. This same thing, I want from you.

On that holy day when we shall wed, I shall wear white, truthfully I shall kneel with you at the temple altar in the presence of God, angels and all witnesses. Honestly I shall accept the ring joyously. I shall kiss your lips purely. I shall bring you untouched, my virginity, that we may discover all the glory together as man and wife, priest and priestess.

Wait for me. it may be years before we find each other, but oh, I want you. I want no other. I believe I knew and loved you in the pre-existent life, and that you loved me too. That our lives were promised in priesthood covenant to each other. All night when I kneel to pray, I pray to find you. I pray with all my young love's beauty, hope, desire, and faith. May you be blessed, may you be guided and protected until we safely find each other.

This earth is wide. The roads wind every which way upon its surface. But God will bring us face to face sometimes, somewhere...Let us live for this blessing. Dear you. Whoever you are, wherever you are, I'm the girl...and I do love you...I am waiting patiently for you! Please wait...and prepare yourself for me too.

xo me.

{mr. and mrs. adam arnesen}

so my brother got married yesterday.

to the best girl- ever :)

wedding numero dos

my old roommate heather decided to get hitched!
here she is!also, i have decided its time i buckled down for the summer.
here are a few goals:

*go running 4x a week in order to run three races- 10 miler on June 12, Freedom Festival 10K, and the Provo Half Marathon August 12*

*use the college physics solution manual that is randomly sitting around my house to study physics so that i do GOOD in 105 this fall*

*be unselfish in my family*

*save lots and lots of $$*

ummm... more may follow, but i think this is a pretty good list so far

mawwaige. mawwaige is what bwings us togethew.

my roommate, and best friend, jessica fay white got married. now she is jessica fay white hicks! i got to go up to the temple and see her as she came out- a married woman! it was a beautiful and very happy event :)

at the temple

in the bride's room

all the girls with the bride