Anno nuovo felice

I can not believe this year has come and gone. I am so grateful for all that has happened and continues to happen to my family and I. I will definitely be blogging a bit more to come, but for now... Happy New Year. May 2010 be a year where we all stretch ourselves and see miracles.

Amiamo ridere

Tanna...seriously

Tesoro di buon Natale

Merry Christmas Tanna! Five More Days!

La signorina Cheryl di Compleanno felice

Today is Mama Cheryl's Birthday so I wanted to wish her the merriest number 50! She doesn't look a day older than Barbie! She has been such a fun lady to get to know. She is a lively little lady. She has been a great "mom" and I love her lots! Happy Birthday Miss Cheryl

Una ragazza fortunata

.I GOT THE JOB.

I am so excited and feel so blessed. I started with Hamlet Homes a month and a half ago sitting models three times a week. It wasn't much, but it was a job. I soon voiced my opinion on how to generate more traffic for these new homes and it was suggested to me that I get licensed and start the interview process to becoming a sales rep. I was reluctant "because of this market" but given the opportunity and having a company that is secure, I thought, why not? So I started the process and interviewed. I had to take character and personality tests and did fabulous on them. I was actually surprised and so was my boss. This morning I met with Dave and I was offered a sales rep trainee position! That means I get put on salary for three months until I am fully trained and licensed to sell new homes in new communities, Blake and I get benefits, and I will make a substantial amount more than we were so I can get Blake through school. I am thrilled. I feel so blessed. It was actually a really cool experience for me because it was the first time I had to go to the Lord and ask for not just myself, but "What would be best for us?" I have had intimate conversations with Him before, but I found myself really pleading for guidance. On a mission you are just so pumped full of the Spirit that no matter where you go, you learn the Lord had it planned. Well, now I still have the Spirit, but knowing what paths to take are a little harder to define. I know that wherever we go in life is part of a greater plan that Heavenly Father has already mapped out. Who we speak to and how we treat people is all part of the deal. He guides us. I felt so blessed to be able to have that kind of a connection with Him, where I felt like He was just opening up opportunities if my mouth word just open. I was asked in the interview if I will work Sundays(we aren't open now on Sundays, but they are considering a re-opening in a year) I waited for a minute and soon found myself saying, "Absolutely not." and I continued to express my beliefs and why I felt that way. I was finished and the CEO said, "Well that is a big day for real estate and we will have to discuss that when we make our decision." I felt this tug on my tongue and blurted out, "Sir, you hire me and not have me scheduled on Sundays, and I will sell more houses in a month than anyone will working Sundays." WHY DO I SAY THINGS LIKE THAT!? He smiled and took some notes and I left. I got into the car and had a long talk with Heavenly Father. First I asked why I have to be so outspoken and then I asked that if I got hired He had better send people my way so that promise would be possible. I hope He heard me;) I feel really blessed. Things aren't always GREAT, but we can be certain they will be. And things may be GREAT, but we can be certain it will get harder. Either way we have the knowledge and the assurance that Heavenly Father is in charge and that His plan is in affect. Sometimes we are just too blind to see. I am grateful for these little moments. I am grateful for a husband I can call and tell my good news to and he responds by letting me know he never doubts in my abilities. I love that. I need his strength. I am also grateful that business attire is so classy and I can get clothes tax free! I also want a briefcase bag. Maybe for Valentine's?

Un Piacere Dolce

Yesterday Tanna and I had a conversation about how I don't have a sweet personality. I am nice, and ambitious, and have lovely qualities, but my dilemma was that I would never be considered sweet. Like if Heavenly Father asked Blake, "How sweet was she?" I am positive Mr. Bishop would respond, " define Sweet?" So in lue of the distress I feel and the need to become more sweet I decided to give Tanna some sweet inspiration. You know, for the next time you need to be sweet. Love you.

Sono eccitato così per Natale

I can't even explain how excited I am for Christmas! I just wanted to put that out there. I loved this cute Christmas decor I found on etsy.com. I need to decide what style I am going to have. Ahh! So many choices! I think I am just going to vintage out my home. Just down right classic.

Per ispirare il suo lunedì

HAPPY MONDAY READERS!
Since Mondays typically seem to be quite the bummer I thought I would send some inspiration your way...Mostly because Tanna text on Mondays things that aren't as exciting as Friday. Boo!

Sparkly

This is a tiny hedgehog

What does he even yell out anyway?

There's gnome place like home for the holidays

Pretty rad pretty bookmarks

I love you but...I am going to be late(this is Blake and I ever morning.)

Sure, just get a few balloons and we'll fly up to where the smoke is all billowed and curled.

Amo un buono fan club

I love myself a good fan club. That is one thing about Miss Tanna that I have always appreciated. No matter what, she is quite possibly our families biggest fan(besides Luke who thinks we should be translated. Ahh, that sweet and simple mind) BUT, Tanna, who knows us at our best and our very worst is still the best fan club president. When I was getting ready to be married, I kept having these emotional melt downs. I was so worried that things were not going to work out. My jobs were lame, Blake was about to kill me because I was just crazy stressed:) I just over-reacted about everything and was in no condition to be normal. Tanna just could tell I was struggling and had a total doctrine wake up call session on me. She taught me about the principle of faith and an aspect of it that totally applied to my life and my relationship with the Savior. Ever since that little chat I was a much more pleasant bride-to-be, Blake actually got excited about getting married to a "normalish" me, and I felt very confident in my relationshop with the Lord. I love her for always looking out for me. I know if Tanna says she thinks I seem happy, I must be!

Piacere il suo tempo libero

Thats all for now...

Potere i suoi giorni sono Allegri e Luminosi

How exciting is this time of year? Mr. Bishop and I have decided to fill the month with as many Christmas movies as we can, you know on nights where we look at each other and think, Well...we could...Yep, those nights. We watched It's a Wonderful Life on Tuesday. Blake had never seen it before so I thought it would be perfect for bringing holiday cheer...or holiday tears. By the end of the movie we both were totally bawling, and Mr. Bishop never cries in movies! My sister Brooklyn also suggested we get our own tradition going for our family. We haven't officially decided, but I think we are both in agreement that each year we do TimTam Slams!

These seriously are the world's best cookies. This isn't your typical American chocolate either, blah. These little waffery treats can be used, once nibbled on each end, as a straw in your hot chocolate. Just simply nibble, dip, and sip and watch as your cookie turns into a chocolaty mess of melted goodness. After you sip, put the cookie in your mouth and let it sizzle and dissolve. Oh heaven. Then you stoke the fire(we stoke our pretend fire in our non-useable real fireplace) and watch Elf. How is that for family tradition!? I think it is charming really. Now to end this bloggity blog for now how is this for darling? Take a look at my tannebaum! A little Who from Whoville helped me! Hooray! I thought that I would go the magical route this year, since all is merry and bright.

Ho bisogno di...

Merry Christmas! Today has been the most perfect Christmas prep day, I think the only thing that would make this better was if Blake was home...but I am not going to lie, I have thoroughly enjoyed myself.



I have been home all day and without a car and it has been snowing(absolutely exquisite) so my little brain has been trying really hard to be creative. First project: This window has quite the history. When I worked at DownEast I was transferring clothes from this armoire and as I turned the whole armoire fell on me. I told my boss I wouldn't sue if I could keep the cabinet doors that broke off. I gave one to my sister Brynlee and then kept one for myself. I finally have figured out something functional to do with it. I hacked apart my old cork board and put a piece of cork in the middle window, one of the glass panels still remain so I will write my weekly projects in the window with a dry erase marker(I also put on the top of my list in permanent things like, Love Blake, Clean My House, Kiss Blake, Make Dinner, just funny things and then I have a framed sign of my most favorite quote. It dates back to WWII: Keep Calm and Carry On. I love it! It is now in a more visible spot so hopefully I can remember better:) It is fun to start seeing the house come together, and the great thing about it is I didn't even spend any money. That is important when I report to the hubby. I am excited for my next endeavor. Natalie and I saw in a Martha Stewart mag a mail organizer made out of shutters. So my idea and you are more than welcome to copy if you make me one too! Ha! But I want to have a little station next to our desk where we can keep bills, reminders, save the dates, but I also wanted to have a mailbox so we could share love notes. That's cute right? Blake will read this and make fun of me for sure, but if you ask him he will say he loves my notes! My last one was Ariel and Eric...hello! That is cute and I don't care who knows it.

I am so grateful for this time of year, especially with where I am at in my life. I feel so blessed. I seriously am sitting here at my desk looking out our front window at a huge tree covered in snow, the snow is all sparkly, I am listening to Andrea Bocelli White Christmas, and thinking that I couldn't be in a better spot. I think Heavenly Father lets us have these little moments alone to help us figure out where we are and if we need to step it up or pour out our hearts in thanksgiving. I guess I need to be on my knees more. I love you all. Happy Holiday Prepping!

Pensa sempre di me

Tanna is always thinking about other people. I can't explain how often I have needed someone and there she has been. There has not been one morning that I don't wake up to a text from her. Whether she is asking me how to not slid in the snow while driving or just to tell me Happy Monday, I am always looking forward to what she has to text. I love it!I posted this picture mostly because that is our personalities and the pics of text messages were dumb. Tanna is on the left saying, "Jaclyn, come try this." And then I walk over and take it to the next level.

Spuntini di Scooby

Just a few Scooby Snacks for my girl.

Lo Sguardo

OK so one day Tanna was driving me to the airport. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon and we were just chatting and she asked me if I felt like breaking the Sabbath? Uhhhhh? She puts in a burned CD and this song pops on...I freaking love my sister.



We sang this song like we were in the music video...windows down, hair blowing, and pointing to boys in their cars!

I thought I would add that we did this one next...



It was just as sultry as the first song. We were made for Hollywood!