Girl's Weekend

Last weekend was the estrogen-filled weekend I have been needing! All the girls in my family headed down to St. George to do some craftin' at my aunt Leslie's (Darin's wife). As much as I hate to admit, I'm pretty sure the crafty gene skipped me. Thank goodness for crafty aunts and cousins who help me when I attempt to craft, though! And by help, I  mean basically do everything for me (bless you, JJ & Jen!). 

However, I would just like to point out that I am capable of spray painting canvases! Which happened a lot last weekend--I loved how everything turned out! I'm kicking myself for not taking more pictures of the all the crafts done by everyone else, though. There were ladders, vintage suitcases, and whole pieces of furniture painted and distressed, growth charts, picture frames, and so many cute holiday canvases made! It's crazy to think all of that was done in two days in a garage... my family doesn't mess around when it comes to craftin'!

Because, SWIG! Would you really expect me to be in St. George and not stop?!

^^ One of my favorite crafts. My cousin, Jenica, is a pro when it comes to the vinyl machine!

As you can see, it was a pretty successful weekend. Well, besides the fact that Shelbs got pulled over on the way down (sorry Shelbs-documenting purposes!), but the rest was the perfect swirl of laughing and food and Dr. Pepper and glitter and no sleep. I can't wait for the next girl's weekend where I can harass my family members to supervise me as I craft! 

Tidbit

I just realized that I'm 100 posts into my blog and I've never even explained why it's called A Tidbit of Love. Um, hi! Blog fail. Has anyone ever wondered why it's called that? *crickets chirping* Just indulge me as I attempt to put off some homework, okay?

* * * * * * * * * * *

First of all, Tidbit is a place. The first time I had ever been to this place was when me and Chris were "dating" (we wouldn't admit we were dating because I was still writing my missionary at the time) and we had just finished eating at California Pizza Kitchen, which shows you right there that Chris must have really liked me, because that shiz is expensive! Well, according to the Gourley $5 hot-n-ready date night budget it is. Anyway, after California pizza kitchen, we decided to go on a drive. We started heading towards Squaw Peak (judge us!) and we ended up parking next to this hill that's a couple miles down from Squaw Peak. Chris had planned for us to eat some treats up there and do water color pictures (I love my zoobie Chris!) and watch the sun set. It was one of my favorite dates we've ever had. Naturally, that became our makeout spot ;)

In all seriousness though, it actually became more than just our makeout spot. It became our spot where we'd go and talk about really deep, personal things, and where I ugly cried in front of Chris when we would try to talk about my missionary situation and where things were going for us. Yes, a lot of wet kisses were shared on that mountain thanks to all those conversations. I think one of my favorite memories up there was being cuddled up to Chris underneath a sky full of stars, and he said, "I think we should call this spot Tidbit. Because it's a tidbit of mine, and a tidbit of yours, since we both found it." Which somehow led to the discussion of "if things were to work out between us, it would be cool to have a cabin someday and have a sign in front of it that says, "It all started with a tidbit of love." I laugh just thinking about that. Like, how did I think I could have that kind of conversation with Chris and still think I'd wait for my missionary?! Thank goodness Chris is a patient person!

Anyway, after a few more visits/tears/kisses up on Tidbit, the idea of me and Chris having a cabin together someday didn't seem so crazy anymore, so Chris asked me to marry him, and what better place to ask at than our spot?! 

We still go up there from time to time, and every time we do, I can't help but get the butterflies I felt when we were dating and reminisce on all the memories we have there. I never thought I'd hear myself say that one of my favorite places in the world is right here in Orem, Utah...

Even though we don't have a cabin yet, I'm definitely okay having  this be the place where we can say that it all started with "A Tidbit of Love."

xx

11 Things You Should Probably Know About Zumba

1. If you think you look weird doing Zumba, it's only because you look weird doing Zumba. It's okay though, because everyone else looks weird too.

2. It takes 3 classes to learn Zumba. And by learn, I mean that you learn to tell your egocentric self that nobody is looking at you, because they're all trying to keep up with the instructor anyway.

3. Zumba is actually a really fashionable fitness class--the more neon, beaded sarongs, and bum tassels, the better! Add some glittery cheetah high-tops and you're good to go.

4. While we're on the subject of fashion, consider this a public service announcement to NOT wear cotton, light colored, or see-through bottoms to class. Swass is an unfortunate common occurrence, and so is swajayjay. Trust me, ladies. Just don't.

5. Pitbull is to Zumba what Lil' Jon is to clubs--people just change when a Pitbull song comes on. For better or for worse. You might think you know that sweet, innocent, stay-at-home-mom down the street, but I can assure you that you don't. At least not until you've seen her booty-clappin' to Pitbull as he yells out random countries around the world.

6. Just know that when a Merengue song comes on, some serious sh*z is about to go down.

7. Zumba not only teaches you dance steps, but also teaches you how to chant to the universe. Don't be surprised if some woo-woo's, rrrrraha's, and ay ay ay's escape from your mouth--it's a completely natural reaction.

8. Don't be the person who deliberately does a different dance move than the instructor. Nobody likes that person. Promise.

9. In a Zumba class, you can burn anywhere from 300-1100 calories. Um, hi! That's like almost half of a Cafe Rio Salad! Or all of that freakin' Halloween candy you eat every single time you pass the treat bowl. Justified!

10. You might cry while you're dancing--Zumba is an endorphin overload! Your body won't even know what to do with all of them! It also doesn't help if your instructor is your little sister and you just get a gust of those "proud big sis" moments...

11. When in doubt, just shake your booty.

fed

^^Um, what more do I need in my life?!

Our weekend in one word: FOOD. 

It all started on Friday before the BYU game. Chris suggested that I go pick up Chick-fil-A (my thighs are clapping as I type that!) for us while he sat in traffic that made him swear. Fun fact: Chick-fil-A is literally across the street from our house, yet that was my first time going there (to that location I mean. Because what crazy has never eaten Chick-fil-A before?!). Virtual high-five for the Gourley self-control! 

Then we went to the BYU vs. USU game, which we're not even going to talk about because, *Jimmy Fallon voice* EW. But we can talk about the Costa Vida salad I pounded there! And maybe a handful or two of the Cougar Crunch? Keep in mind this is only hours after eating Chick-fil-A.... what was I saying about Gourley self-control?? 

At least on Saturday I managed to squeeze in a little run before Conference. Oh, and a double Champ sandwich from Ernie's. Last Conference session we decided to stop and get a breakfast sandwich for no real reason, it just sounded good at the time, and from there it's become a new Gourley tradition. Definitely more than okay with traditions involving food. Also, to top it all off, Chris brought me home a huge Dirty Diet DP from Swig, just because! Okay, okay, I may have guilted him into it. I'd just really appreciate it if you stopped by Swig on your way home from school, babe... no pressure, though! .

Then the rest of the weekend just turned into a huge blur of delicious food with chips and salsa and sour patch watermelon's and Chili's with the girls during priesthood session followed by crafting and Cravings Cupcakes! Which I think it's safe to say that I'm willing to put in more time into unwrapping a cupcake than crafting. 

Then when I thought my food-filled weekend couldn't get any better, we celebrated Mama Gourley turning 60 (sexy sixty!) with huge steaks and potatoes and everything else that usually accompanies manly man diets. Ah, pure bliss. Annnnnd now I'm realizing that it's taken me 4 paragraphs to tell you everything I ate this weekend... what posessed you to keep scrolling?! Is blogging about everything you ate the equivalent of instagramming everything you eat? If so, I'm sorry. 

Anyway, besides being so very, very physically fed this weekend, I was also spiritually fed. I seriously LOVE conference weekend. I think I enjoy it even more now that I don't have to watch it for a grade in seminary or any religion classes at BYU (what a blessed day it was when I completed all religion requirements!), and I can just watch it to reflect on my own life and find things I need to work on for myself. Also, can we just talk about how Elder Holland just nails it every.single.time?! I loved his talk so much, and basically every other talk given during the second session on Saturday. I'm kind of bummed I have to wait another six months for Conference, but I guess I'll have to keep my physical and spiritual appetite satisfied until then... wish me luck?

New Jobs

I don't know if any of you guys have heard, but me and Chris got new jobs a couple months ago!

.... in our home, that is.

Chris has bumped me up to what I can only assume is a management position. My job title: Kitchen Coordinator. Here's a little job listing for those of you who may be interested in the same type of position in your own home.

Kitchen Coordinator
Monday-Saturday
Full-time and part-time opportunities available

Key Job Duties:

• Service customer (Christomer) seeking assistance with finding the tupperware lids, because holy sh*z there's way more containers than lids in this drawer!
• Project a homeless/gender-confused image at all times. Cleaning braless encouraged.
• Recognize, document, and alert Christomer when they haven't soaked their cheese crusted plate in the sink!!!
• Uphold impossibly high standards for a clean kitchen (and expect Christomer to know what those standards are without telling him).
• Prepare meals and tell Christomer to just get out of the kitchen because he's in your way.
• Assign Christomer job-related duties, and then just do them yourself, because he's not doing them the "right way." 

Requirements:

• Excellent lip syncing and dancing around the kitchen skills.
• Passion for finishing tasks early and watching Netflix.
• Desire to make kitchen coordinating a career.
• A successful track record working with Christomers.
• Able to solve problems by calling mom and asking her what she would do, because she knows everything.  

Essential Job Functions:

• Ability to sweep nasty floor content onto carpet and vacuum it, because sweeping it into a dustpan is just way too hard.
• Ability to avoid mopping at all costs.
• Ability to alternate sitting in the living room and cleaning in the kitchen throughout an episode of Grey's Anatomy, and sometimes longer if there's something good on E! News. 
• Ability to handle and solve all types of Christomer service issues via eye rolling and nagging.

If this doesn't sound like the best fit for you, you might want to consider looking into a job like Chris'. He just recently got promoted to Alarm Clock Coordinator. This position doesn't require as much as Kitchen Coordinator, but it does require you work nights. Behold:

Alarm Clock Coordinator

Monday-Friday

Part-time

Must be willing to be compensated in back scratches/or morning cuddles

Key Job Duties:

• Assist customer seeking to wake up early in the morning, by reminding them that they never wake up on time, and to stop setting their alarm so early.
• Setting alarm clock at a more realistic time for customer on your own phone.
• Demand customer to remove all ridiculous alarms from their phone, and remind them to silence it before sleeping. 
• Document and alert customer when they have over-slept. 

Requirements:

• Desire to get no less than 8 hours of sleep every single night.
• Passion for cuddling with customer.

Essential Job Functions:

• Ability to press the snooze button.
• Ability to convince customer to stay in bed for "just five more minutes."
• Ability to laugh at customer every single day for being late.

What do you guys think about our jobs!? Pretty awesome, huh? 

Speaking of awesome.... I convinced my Alarm Clock Coordinator to join me for dinner at Red Robin tonight because I had a free birthday burger coupon that was going to expire today. But wait! That's not even the awesome part.... We got our meal for FREE. Apparently there was some miscommunication in the back, so we had to wait forever to get our burgers--totally worth it to get a free meal + dessert + $14 in coupons, though!

If this is what the rest of October is going to be like, I'm more than okay with it (even if my leggings aren't). 

Happy October 1st!