my parents are cute.

To those who don't believe in high school sweethearts--meet my parents (actually, if we're being honest, they were junior high sweethearts). The 31st of January this year marks 31 years of marriage for these two! Which means it's their golden anniversary, even though my dad so kindly pointed out to me that a golden anniversary means 50th anniversary, but I'm stickin' to my guns and saying it's their golden anniversary (my dad is also kind enough to point out other things to me... like that I have a potty mouth and that I'm never on time, but that's besides the point). 

And if you're wondering why they don't look old enough to have been married for 31 years, have 5 kids, AND 5 grandkids, it's because they aren't. They married young, but their love was way beyond their years, and still is today! I know that these two were meant to be together, and I'm so grateful they are! They've set the standard so high (like almost annoyingly high) for what a happy marriage is supposed to be like, and I'm so grateful for that, because it makes it that much easier to point out to Chris what he's doing wrong (just kidding! just kidding! I love my Chris). But seriously, my parents have a love like no one I've ever seen and it just keeps getting better with time. 

Mom and dad, I hope that me and Chris are even half as happy as you are in 30 years. You've shown me what true love looks like--despite my many, many protests against your PDA--and even what true love sounds like with your weird made up language that only you guys seem to know how to speak, the sound of hot chocolate being made every morning, your hysterical laughter at night while you're watching a show together, and most of all, the fact that you've never missed a day saying "I love you" to each other. You guys will always be my greatest example of true love.

Happy GOLDEN Anniversary!  

7 things! 7 things! 7 things!

#1 Vampire Diaries.

I know, I know... so five years ago. Whatevs. 

I.am.obsessed.

All week I've found myself thinking about vampires and witches!

... and how the CW manages to find such beautiful people (seriously Ian Somerhalder, where did you come from?!). 

#2 Eating "healthier."

Which has consisted of a lot of mandarin oranges and string cheese + binge eating at Mi Ranchitos and Chubby's over the weekend and undoing any of our "healthy eating."

(Our New Year's resolutions love us)

#3 Waxing.

In case you were wondering, waxing doesn't get rid of your blackheads... just ask Chris.

Also, thanks to my sister-in-law Haley for making my face smooth as a baby's bottom! Even if it did mean I had to see just how much hair is actually on my face. You would have thought she waxed a werewolf (Vampire Diaries!) looking at my waxing strips.  

#4 Hair
I've been lusting after this hair color.
We'll see if I have the...ahem...lady balls to actually do it, though.

#5 Chris
Chris got a raise at work a couple weeks ago.
He doesn't like to tell people, but I do! I'm so proud of him.

#6 Marathon
Obviously New Year's resolutions haven't quite faded away... but my Dr. Pepper beer belly hasn't either, so here's to 26.2 miles in June! Feel free to join me and my brother, Dugan!
This is what happens when you're bored at work...

#7 Cruisin'

Last but not least... we're going on a cruise in March!! Papa and Mama Gourley are taking us on a Caribbean cruise, so I'll get another experience traveling with Tom G! Who by the way, has already taken the initiative to print out all the different excursions we can choose from and read them to us himself ;) I can't wait! Seriously, though... is it March yet?

Happy New Year!

Here's to another year of trying to become better and thinner people! 

We started the New Year by waking up at 11am, and have no intentions of putting real pants on... 

so I guess you could say we are off to a pretty good start.

 Bring it on 2014!

Hope the rest of you have a fabulous New Year!

I'll meet you at the gym ;)

Better late than never...

Sorry Kat, this picture was too good NOT to post.

Not pictured: Christmas eve/Christmas day.

 As you can tell, this year has been an epic fail at documenting holidays (that last word was unnecessary), so I guess that's another thing to add to the resolutions list for 2014! If it goes anything like my past resolutions have, you can expect a buttload of pictures for the first week of January. And by week, I mean the first three days... if we're lucky. But guys, I really am going to start working out more this year..... 

This holiday season was a success for us! We got to go to River Woods, Thanksgiving Point, and Temple Square to see the lights (that's all I wanted to do last year). And since we weren't brand spankin' new newlyweds this year, it just felt more like Christmas (and looked more like Christmas since we were able to put a few more presents under the tree this year). We also got to enjoy juggling two families. It felt like we had one party after the next, but we ain't complainin'! Especially after winning $9 in quarters at the Gourley game night, almost all of which have been spent at Swig. 

I think the highlight of my Christmas this year was going to visit my grandma and grandpa Sanderson. Seeing their faces light up when we walked into their house just really made me remember what Christmas is all about. If there is one resolution I want to keep for 2014, it's going to visit them regularly. There is definitely a special feeling in their home. They are some of the most amazing people I've ever met.

Anyway, before I get too sentimental here, I'll just end with saying how blessed we are to have such amazing family and friends that make this time of year the best! Here's to many more Christmas seasons!

PS! Let it be known: I have remembered to wear a bra every day since December 20, 2013! Glad I could get that off my chest... (see what I did there?!) 

That awkward moment...

...when you've been sitting at work for an hour before you realize you're not wearing a bra.

Yep. That happened today.

SO EMBARRASSING.

Now, I know what you're thinking: HOW? How could you not remember to put a bra on?! Trust me, I'm asking myself the same question. I do have some theories though... Maybe I'm still suffering from finals week brain? Or maybe I was just so focused on actually doing my hair today (sorry, topknot... I'm sure you'll make an appearance tomorrow...and the next day...and the day after that). Or maybe, just maybe, it's because I was more worried about shoving candy cane kisses in my pockets for breakfast? I don't know.

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that today also happened to be the day I decided to wear a white shirt? Or that today was the first day in weeks that I was assigned to be up at reception at work? Which meant no hiding behind a desk for this braless girl. Nope. Just constant walking students to the testing room. I'm sure they thought covering my chesticles with their test was normal, right? And I'm sure my coworkers thought I was just trying to be really reverent walking down the halls with my arms folded like the little sunbeams* I teach.

Thankfully, I had a lunch break to go home and cover the ladies up! Man, I never thought I'd see the day where I'd actually be excited to put a bra on. I came back from lunch a whole new (more shapely) woman!

Needless to say, bras are going in the gratitude journal tonight.



*That was a lie. My sunbeams are little crazy humans. But I love them. Most of the time.

I'm educated....feel bad for me!

Guys, I'm happy to report that I made it through finals week. 

...barely.

This week got ugly. 

Like, haven't-showered-or-slept-and-I've-already-consumed-180 oz-of Dr. Pepper-and-holy-crap-it's-only-Tuesday! type of ugly.

There's also a permanent indent of my bum on the kitchen chair currently surrounded by an embarrassing amount of wrappers from the candy cane kisses consumed during my seven hour retreat there yesterday.

But I guess I can't complain too much... after all, it was my fault for procrastinating. Chris was even nice enough to say, "We have such different studying styles, babe. I would have studied the week before finals" instead of just calling me out for waiting until the last minute. (But guess what, babe? You're not human!)

But hey, at least now I can finally say that I'm done! And I can do the important things I've been meaning to get around to all semester... like starting Vampire Diaries and working out  painting my toenails.

Happy finals week to the rest of you who put the "pro" in procrastination out there! 

Oh, hey aunt Flo!

....all men stop reading NOW. Or don't unless you like hearing about lady parts? Actually, just keep reading. I don't mention any lady part words that make you cringe.

I should have known a storm was a'brewin' down in my lady parts...

This week has consisted of me pounding down food. Seriously, pounding. And then asking Chris every night "Umm.. can we go get food??" And holy #*%# I need some chocolate!

Poor Chris...

Who also had to deal with two huge vent sessions from me today: 

"I don't care if breastfeeding is "natural!" It makes everyone uncomfortable when you whip out your boob in public! I don't mind if you cover up and feed in public, but oh my gosh, no one needs to see your breasts in public! I fee like those women are just trying to make a point! Don't you agree with me, babe? Don't you?!!" (this may seem like a random topic, but we talked about breastfeeding in my women's health issues class--I promise I don't just randomly start debates about boobs...most of the time) 

"Ugh, I am so sick of everyone on Facebook complaining about Elf-on-the-Shelf! If you don't like it, just don't do it! Don't make other people feel bad for doing it!!  -By the way, I don't even have an Elf-on-the-Shelf. 

And then I finally went to the bathroom and  all of my days of starving, crying, and wanting to just punch people in the face this past week made more sense... Um, hi aunt Flo! How nice to see you!...NOT. 

I guess having ovaries isn't completely bad... Now I can justify sobbing at this video my friend, Kara, posted while simultaneously shoving two handfuls of candy cane kisses in my mouth.

...the point of this all is that there really is no point. I have a 10 page paper due tomorrow and Chris is gone playing basketball while I sit here and watch the Kardashians. Braless.