Secret Cheers

I've written about this before, and seeing as how we are LDS...that means weddings galore every Spring/Summer time. This summer we had the pleasure of attending Callie & Jesse's wedding in the San Diego temple and Aj & Rachel's wedding in the Los Angeles temple. I'm super happy that we just happened to be working in California this summer which meant that we were able to attend both of these weddings, score! I love visiting the temple because it brings such peace to my heart amidst the whirlwind of life and I also love being able to share in the joy that is my friends being eternally bound to their sweethearts. To be honest, I'm always a little selfish when it comes to my friend's weddings...because I secretly always cheer to myself "Hooray, for more married friends! I get to put together even MORE awesome parties and group dates! Muhahaha! {I don't know why there is an evil laugh, but there just is}."
Well, it's not much of a secret anymore...

Oh So Happy

Things that are making me happy today:

+ The feel of Fall coming in closer and closer {back-to-school shopping!}

+ The blog in the midst of getting re-done by the fabulous Kalee

+ Ryan & I working hard and enduring 'till the end of the summer

+ $12 clearance sandals from Target {like the ones I'm wearing!}

+ A post I wrote for my internship blog about how to show your spouse love & support

+ Awesome friends & family who make my life wonderful

+ The thought of planning movie nights in my Provo backyard before it starts getting too cold

+ Checking veryjane.com every night at 11pm to check out the fun deals

+ Sunny California!

Weekend Update: Six Flags + Newport Beach + Yardhouse

My weekend actually started on Thursday and it has been party central ever since! First off, I got coerced into "chaperoning" a group of my brother and his friends to Six Flags this past Thursday and had a blast. They seriously ran me ragged around the whole dang park, and we made sure to hit all the most important rides. Goliath {biggest drop ever}, the new ride, and of course X2. Then we ended our night with In-N-Out {like good California kids should} and made our way home at 10pm. 

Then on Friday it was time for our huge group of family & friends to make a trip to Newport Beach, where it was PERFECT weather. The last couple times I've been to the beach it has been overcast, so I was elated to see that the sun was out & shining! Yet again, I was coerced by the boys to get in the water and swim through some waves. I made it through the waves alive then dried out in the sun on the sand {and got a little toasted}. 

After the beach I made my way over to Fullerton to meet up with one of my bestest friends Sam. She is one of those friends that no matter if we haven't talked in a month because of busy schedules, it's like no time has passed when we finally get back together. We caught up on life and were joined by another childhood friend, Taylor, for dinner at Yardhouse. I had the most amazing BBQ bacon burger while having awesome conversation with some of my oldest friends :)

Now I'm exhausted from all the partying and need a restful weekend ASAP!

Hope you all had a good weekend!

Happy Fourth!

{blouse c/o ever+mi crush}

I love the Fourth because it's fun to outwardly show how proud I am to be an American. Decked out all in the red, white & blue! I hope everyone has a blast with friends & family this Fourth of July! 

Summer Heat + A Bee Grave

I know everyone is starting to complain about how hot it's getting but I am LOVING it. This past winter in Provo, UT was the worst one in 65 years, isn't that ridiculous? In February I was getting major cabin fever with all the snow and ordered sandals & swimsuits! {Ryan obviously thought I was crazy, but when doesn't he think that?} This week I took advantage of the pool and laid out with my new VS swimsuit, my awesome floppy Target hat, and some magazines. I also started snacking on some raspberries when I found a DEAD BEE chillin' at the bottom of the package. You know, just snuggled in between all my raspberries. SICK NASTINESS. I was absolutely disgusted and told my family all about it, they laughed saying I was being overdramatic...ERRONEOUS, ERRONEOUS ON ALL ACCOUNTS! 

Onto other news...welcome to all my new readers! Leave comments & change your email from a "no-reply" email address so I can write back to you! Glad to have you here :)

Weekend Update: BBQ+Longboards+S'mores

This past weekend was party central! Which totally explains why I've been a complete vegetable today...

 On Saturday there was a company BBQ in Orange where there was lots of amazing carne asada which made for deeeliiishhhh burritos. Still thinking about those...

My fellow sales wife Amelia works on a gourmet ice cream truck during the summer {how cool is that?!} and she convinced her boss to bring the ice cream truck to the BBQ! I got "The Big O" {don't let your dirty mind run rampant!}, it's a vanilla ice cream bar dipped in milk chocolate and topped with oreos! Follow Longboards on Twitter to find where in SoCal they will be next!

{Me & Amelia getting photo bombed by her boss!}

{Shane, Amelia's husband, was a BAMF with his double ice cream bar creation}

After scarfing carne asada burritos and ice cream, the team made their way to Corona where we all went to the movies! Amelia & I are scared-y cats and didn't want to watch World War Z, so we saw Monster's University. Soooo cute!

{And of course Ryan, trying to ruin any and all pictures of us}

Then on Sunday night we went over to my parents for dinner {pizza yummm}, and since it was such nice weather outside we fired up the fire-pit and made s'mores! It was so quiet and beautiful outside, and it was nice to sit around the fire with my favoritest people in the entire world {minus one, Evan is in Mexico!} and just talk about everything. My dad hopped up when it started getting darker and turned on the lights for ambiance. The twinkle lights are from my wedding reception 2 years ago, but my parents like them so much they were left up and get turned on from time to time :)

Cupcakes

My fellow sales wife Amelia is pretty much the best chef of all time. She whips up dinners and desserts like it's second nature! Last week we made {ok, she mostly made} these delicious vanilla cupcakes with strawberry buttercream frosting...yummmm. We brought them to the sales team and the boys narfed them right up! We decided that not only does it show our {ok, her} awesome baking skills, but that it also means we can make as many sweets as we want this summer. We will only feel obligated to eat one or two cause the guys will finish the rest of them off! Thus, we don't have to worry about stuffing our faces with sweets when we don't feel like making real food and consequently worrying about looking like a cupcake on the beach. A win win my friends.

Desperate Sales Wives of OC East

One of the others wives on the team, Amelia {my new bff}, has now dubbed us the Desperate Housewives of OC East {that's the name of the sales team our husbands are on, OC East that is, not the desperate sales wives haha}. We are not desperate by any means, except for maybe a little attention from the husbys? Right when they get home at 8:30 at night they are all ours! No more killing bugs!

Our husbands are gone from 8 in the the morning to 8 at night Monday through Friday, then on Saturdays they are gone from 8 to 4. Then when they do get home all they talk about is customers, knocking doors, and killing bugs. Which means that us wives gotta stick together. If only for our sanity!

We coupon together, grocery shop, work out, run errands, get eyebrows waxed, debate dying her hair or my eyebrows, make lunch/dinner, stuff our faces with smores bars, hit the pool/jacuzzi together, do laundry, watch Vampire Diaries on Netflix,  and more and more and more....honestly the list could go on for days. 

We stick it out for these 4 months out of the year so we can take it easy and focus on school from September to April. It works for us as long as we are in school, once we graduate who knows where the crap we'll be and what we'll be doing?? Until then, here's to the Desperate Sales Wives saga!

California Love

{Initial necklace, a gift from Ryan}

Finals are done, and it's that weekend. You know, the one where we finally move to California for the summer for Ryan's job and my internship. I'm twitterpated with such overwhelming excitement! I don't even know why I'm sitting here on the couch watching Hart of Dixie {only because I LOVE Rachel Bilson} and reading blogs because I should definitely be running around like a madwoman cleaning up the house and starting to pack. But after such a crazy long day yesterday, I almost feel justified sitting on the couch to be a potato for a little while.

We went up to Salt Lake where I got my skin checked {2 years cancer free!} and after the devastation of my iPhone breaking this past weekend I was able to get it replaced for free. Which definitely saved me a lot of stress, time, and money! Then we wrapped up the day by dropping by our friends place to say goodbye, only to be invited to stay for dinner where they totally doted on us with a delicious Spanish dinner and made-from-scratch brownies {which Ben whipped up when he heard we were coming over}. It makes me so grateful to have such awesome and caring friends!!

Well, I'm playing the procrastination game pretty well and now have to get some work done in the house. I'll see you on the other side my friends :)

a vintage carnival wedding

I'm gonna guess real quick what you are thinking right now:

"Bri. What the crap. Another wedding post?!" 

Think about it though...

I'm Mormon.

It's summer time.

And we like to get married in between school semesters.

That's whats up.

If you were also thinking just how many weddings I've been in?

 Zannie's at the end of April in Las Vegas.

Alexa's the beginning of August in Phoenix.

And just recently {as of last Saturday} Nikole's wedding in Provo :)

They got married under a gazebo, in a cute 'lil park with a wooden bridge, duck pond, and river.
Nikole's brother played the guitar as the little ring & flower boys dressed as vintage page boys walked down the aisle tossing petals, then they were followed by Nikole in her gown.
The ceremony was touching and just so tender & sweet.

I even saw Ryan tearing up...shhhh, don't tell him I posted that ;)

Their theme?

A vintage carnival wedding.

Filled with lots of purple and cream colors.

Tulle poof balls, purple roses, lace, pinwheel boutonnieres and bouquets, and suspenders.

Too cute!!!

Plus, Nikole...MY NEW SISTER, looked absolutely goooorgeous in her gown :)

The bridesmaids dresses were all from Modcloth.

We each decked them out with our own little touches!

 Mine were some lace-up espadrilles, a sparkly gold belt and a sparkly gold Francesca's necklace.

It made for the casual/vintage feel.

I totally loved the dress & can't wait to wear it more in the fall with some tights, boots, and sweaters!!!

Can you tell that I'm already excited for fall weather?!

We are soooo excited for the new Rios clan & are so happy for them!

Wahoo for more married friends!

<3 Bri

a perfect d-land day

I just realized that I haven't posted any pictures from my California trip from almost two weeks ago!

That's what happens when school is about to start, I'm cleaning the house whilst figuring out not only my school & work schedule, but Ryan's too!

My brain is frazzled & I'm losin' it. 

Time for a Diet Coke?

I was uber bummed that Ryan couldn't come with me to Cali this time around, but he promised me next time to take me on another romantic Storybook ride at night.

{It's his favorite ride, random huh??}

But my brother Evan, offered to drive and go with me to Disneyland.

Sometimes I wonder how I'm so blessed with such an awesome family.

Seriously.

Evan made sure I was fed, he drove, and we hit up practically every ride!

It was such a good day for D-land.

It wasn't too flaming hot, there was hardly anyone in the park, and we got to do all the main rides!!

Indiana Jones, Star Tours, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lightyear, the train, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mr Toads Wild Ride, Alice in Wonderland, and we got our favorite...

DISNEYLAND CHURROS.

Sooooo good 

Now that you have had a sufficient D-land picture overload, happy Friday :)

<3 Bri