movin' on

i created a married blog.

i'm aware i'm not married yet, but i wanted to write down our story while i can still remember all the little details. so the first few posts will be all about us, from the very beginning. and that means this little blog of mine is finished after today.

check it out: www.cassieplusjeremy.blogspot.com

see you on the other side, folks!

i'm spoiled.

let's recap the past few months, shall we?

in april, i went here [huntington beach, CA].
in may, i went here [valencia, CA].
in june, i went here [carlsbad, CA].
anybody noticing the pattern here??
it's july 12th. and i have no plans to go back to california (or anywhere, for that matter) any time soon.

i guess that's what happens when you're young and poor and trying to plan a wedding and saving all your pennies because you're soon going to have rent to pay on top of all your other bills.

really, though. i wouldn't have it any other way.

i didn't forget father's day.

i'd been trying to think of what i could post about my dad for a while. it's not that i couldn't come up with anything, i just didn't know how to sum up my dad in a blog post.

my dad and i have always had a good relationship. i'm the baby girl, what do you expect? ha, just kidding. but really, we have. of course we have our differences and growing up i sometimes thought he was mean for making me wake up at 5am to lay grass in the backyard. but i understand that now. if you know anything about him, you know that he is one of the hardest working people ever. and i'm really not exaggerating when i say that. he is one of those people that doesn't use his sick days at work, even when he is sick. (one of our differences ;)) over the past month and a half he has practically LIVED at southwest airlines to pay for my wedding.

one thing i think most people know about him (and if they don't, they can figure it out pretty quickly) is that he loves his family and he loves the gospel. he has been the best example to me on how to teach and how to live. i'm so thankful and blessed to have him as a father.

i love you, dad. i know it's weird for you that your youngest daughter is your first one getting married, and i know that if you had your way you would always be the only priesthood holder in my life. i'll miss all the times you and i were the only ones home and we'd talk about anything and everything. just remember the one thing that will never change: i'll always be your little cackie lebi.

going to the temple

and i'm gonna get MARRIED!

WHAT??!

just kidding. i know no one was really surprised.

september 24th is the big day.

i couldn't be happier :)

just in case anyone forgot, i'm marrying this guy.

everything will be alright

dear mom,

remember the time we went to the mall and when we were leaving we walked out the wrong door and thought the truck was stolen? and dad drove out to pick us up and didn't say anything as he drove us straight to the truck because he saw it on the way in. and we tried to justify it with the oil spots...

remember when we went to california with lindsay and we sang our hearts out to "give me one reason" because we were stuck in traffic? and lins and i were terrified because you would speed up when other people would brake. and then we saw that man who was at least 30 pick his nose and eat his boogers (disgusting).

remember after dad was in his accident you had to give him shots but we didn't know it was a retracting needle and after you did the first one you asked where the needle went? the look on dad's face was priceless.

i know things are really crazy right now and you feel like the world is on your shoulders. i don't blame you, i just don't want you to forget the good stuff. remember D&C 121:7-10, "my son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment. and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands." i love you mom. keep on keeping on ;)

love always,
cass

catsup

this is a little late, but just over 2 weeks ago i made another cali trip. jeremy and i went with his aunt and uncle (nate and tashina- who are only a few years older than us) to six flags!

sorry, it's kind of dark. none of us had cameras so all our pictures are on cell phones. and since i'm the only lame one without an iPhone or droid.. i'm stealing pictures from facebook.

it was SO packed and i'm pretty sure there were at least 30 school buses in the parking lot. we rode 3 rides all day. never going on a saturday again. it was still a fun trip though! and everyone knows how much i love my california so just being there was good enough for me.

the only real reason i bring that up is because i'm going to california again this weekend (!!!!!!) and i figured i better blog about this before i go. yes, this will be my 3rd cali trip in 3 months. yes, i think i should just move there too.

in other news, j & i started watching this:

yes, i'm aware i'm a little late considering the series just ended. we're almost done with season one. i have a love/hate relationship with this show. here are some things that often come out of my mouth while watching:

"WHAT?!"

"are you kidding me?"

"ew"

"what does that mean?"

"she speaks english!"

"i'm so confused"

"ewww"

etc., etc.

it's really perfect timing considering all my tv shows ended a couple weeks ago and glee ended tonight. p.s. could not have been happier with the glee finale. except the whole thing with a certain someone's mom and a different certain someone's baby (don't want to give anything away in case people haven't seen it yet). CREEPY. if you've never seen it, they're replaying all the episodes this summer. WATCH IT. it will change your life.

also, i got accepted to ASU for the fall. two more years and i will be DONE. (i swear if one more person asks me what i'm going to do with an english degree i'm going to punch them.) i feel like it's really not that big of a deal since i've been going to community college but i'm still happy about it. my parents are huge sun devil fans and there is a good chance i will be their only child to graduate as one. when i texted my dad to ask if that won me brownie points, he responded "YES IT DOES!!"

score.

that's all for now.

xoxo

staple it together

last week i turned the big two-oh and to celebrate i went to the d-backs game with my family, jessica, jeremy and cameron. i'm also lame and took no pictures (except of conor jackson, but those are really just for me).

ikea finally came out with a good nightstand to go with the rest of my bedroom furniture. i'd been itching to get it so i finally did as my birthday present to myself. i've never actually done that before (the present to yourself thing) but it made me happy and i have every intention of doing that every year. and no one can say anything to you because it's your birthday and who would be rude enough to tell you you can't buy yourself a gift on your birthday? idiots, but they don't count for anything.

it doesn't look that brown in real life. i promise i didn't buy a brown nightstand to go with all my black furniture. i also bought the lamp and clock for a total of $22. who can beat that?? that is why i love ikea.

since i got the nightstand and there wasn't exactly a place to put it, i got to rearrange my furniture!! this is one of my favorite things to do. don't ask why. kelly says my husband is going to get sick of me wanting to always change things around. oh well, he can deal.

anyway, here is the new set up. i love it so much more than the old set up.

there is more i want to do but i'm out of money at the moment (i know, story of my life) so anything else will have to come later. for now i'm happy for the change.

"all that i am, i owe to my mother"

my mom has this thing about her that i've tried so hard to emulate. she has the ability to accept people for who they are, no questions asked. and i mean really accept them- no judgements, no gossiping about them later, nothing. i think a lot of that is because she is a tell-it/see-it-like-it-is person. and because of that, people tend to turn to her for advice and such. right now she is having to deal with her mother who has alzheimer's, her dad who is trying to cope with his wife having alzheimer's, taking in a foster child and a few other things that i probably shouldn't mention on here, all while working full time and taking care of kids and a husband (but don't worry, she still finds time to go cool places like canada and puerto rico).

"there is no one perfect way to be a good mother. each situation is unique. each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. ... what matters most is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else." -m. russell ballard

happy mother's day, mama! i love you and i'm glad i did whatever it was i did to deserve you as my mom.

what if

guess who's back?

for full story click here.

time bomb

dear sunburn,

really? don't you think it's kind of ridiculous that it's been a week and i'm still red?

dear tax season 2009,

ooooh the stories! i guess the thing i will always be thankful for is the stupidity/paranoia that without a doubt comes out in people when tax time rolls around. like the man who left a message and actually used the phrase "cease and desist." that will never stop being funny.

dear cold sores,

why must you show up around the time of EVERY vacation i go on? what is that about?

dear oregano's,

heaven in my mouth. that's what you are.

dear macbook pro,

welcome to my life.

dear savings account,

i agree, it probably was a total joke to even set you up. i'm sorry i never let you keep a decent amount of money. i have good intentions but i think we both know those don't always mean anything. i'll try harder.

dear eagles,

thanks for not dying before i got to see you. it really was the best show i've ever been to. also, i think joe walsh is a little crazy. just sayin'

dear arizona,

my thoughts on summer: the hotter the better. please and thank you.

dear american idol,

how do i say this? this season sucks. i can only imagine how next year will be without simon when it's already this bad. maybe let's consider calling it quits..

dear future,

i don't know what you hold but i've decided to stop worrying. come what may and love it. i'm working on it.

dear 20th birthday next month,

i have one word for you: ew.

xoxo,

me

hotel california

remember how tax season ended on april 15th? it did. and on april 16th i got the heck out of arizona and had a lovely weekend in huntington beach.

i went with friends hillary, brendy and morgin. we had SO MUCH FUN. nothing cures me like a road trip to california, and the girl time wasn't so bad either.

saturday we spent a huge chunk of the day at the beach. and i got REALLY sunburned. it's 5 days later and i'm still red. and before you be like my dad and say "you're dumb!" i have to defend myself. the only sunblock we had was spf 70 and i knew if i put that on i was going to get NO color and that would have totally defeated the purpose of going to the beach. so i put some on my face and was going to put more on the rest of my body after a couple hours.
well.
i fell alseep.
and it was overcast.
and you know the rest of the story.

sunday we went to the newport temple and even found a singles ward to go to! we maybe only did that in hopes of finding cute boys (there weren't any) but the point is that we got to take the sacrament, right? (right.)

funny stories:
1. we were sitting on this wall watching people play volleyball and a big group of guys walked by. they made it almost all the way to the water when one of them turns around, walks back to us and says, "um... you forgot to ask me for my number when i walked by earlier" HAHAHAHA! if you're wondering, yes we got the number and we applauded him having the guts to do that.

2. hillary had on a bright neon yellow bathing suit (that was super cute) and she had a victoria secret tote that said "love pink" on it and the straps on that were also yellow. there was a different group of guys that walked by and one of them said "she loves pink but she's wearing yellow..." hahaha, it was great.


things i learned:
1. driving in california makes me speed like no other.
2. when they put the north and south entrances to the freeway on the same side of the road i get REALLY confused.
3. i need to live closer to the ocean.
4. when the back of your knees turn purple from the sun, moving becomes extremely difficult.
5. i can be easily persuaded to agree to run a half marathon.
6. i am going to become one of those people who flakes out on things they never really meant to agree to.

no worries, i'm already trying to figure out when i can go back.

ob-la-di, ob-la-da

my friend megan and i email back and forth during work a lot. and sometimes, we say funny things.

i've provided examples:

m: i wish i worked for an airline so i could get free flights.
c: i think i want to marry a pilot.

-------------------------------

m: it is my favorite coworker’s birthday today, and i got her a zebra print snuggie. it’s a HUGE hit!!!!! HAHAHAHAHHAHA
c: there was a snuggie at the gift exchange my parents do with my dad's side of the family and my dad got it and then it was stolen :( i was sad. weezer made a snuggie and i think i need it.

-------------------------------

m: i want in n out burger sooooooooooo bad
c: good thing they have one up there now! that actually sounds so good right now. i think i just decided where i'm going for lunch
m: we are so cool! lets exchange pictures while we're eating haha

-------------------------------

m: and i want you to know that i am so bored that i just dissected my wrist pad. well, it used to be my wrist pad, now it’s just a huge pile of plastic all cut up. i regret this decision………

-------------------------------

m: so just now, my phone was in my purse and it went off and i realized i never turned it down this morning. so it was on FULL blast, while someone was calling, and my ring tone is…………… the Sesame Street theme.

-------------------------------

m: WORK IS BOOOOOOOORING
c: I JUST SPENT THE LAST 3 HOURS PUTTING TOGETHER A TOY ROCKING TYPE HORSE. yes, it really took me that long. and i broke the noise maker and it took forever to fix because those screws were RIDICULOUSLY tiny. ah. and my back kills like a friggin mother. i don't want children.

-------------------------------

m: i am so annoyed with 97% of my coworkers.
c: so far, i'm only annoyed with 20% of mine.


and now she is moving to egypt for the summer. who is going to provide my entertainment at work??

still fighting it

the other day my mom picked up my grammy and met lindsay and i for lunch. it's hard to do things like that because she no longer understands anything. when she talks, she rambles about nothing and what she says doesn't make sense. we have to laugh because if we don't, we'll cry. we were trying to get her to make a funny face but couldn't get her to hold it long enough for the camera to capture it. while we were laughing about it, grammy said, "this is the most fun i've had in a long time." and for those few seconds she didn't have alzheimer's anymore and we were laughing like we always do.

it's those moments of lucidity that make the rest of the time easier. because we're reminded that even though the disease has taken over, she's still in there somewhere.

i'm not buying it either, but i'll try selling it anyway.

i decided that since i made my "i want to work out" plea three weeks ago, it was about time i actually did something. so i went pretend running.

how does one go pretend running, you ask?
you walk.

and before the comments come, i didn't walk the whole time. i did actually run. i just walked [a lot] more than i ran. and let me just say there's nothing like smelling manure for a solid half hour.

but the point is that i did something, because i could have sat my little behind on the couch and happily ate my fatty dinner whilst watching the biggest loser. (don't worry, i did that after the pretend run. BUT, i drank water instead of soda! go me!!!)

and for your viewing pleasure, a horrible quality picture from my cell phone of me during my pretend run.
p.s. have i ever told you how impatient i am? where are my results??

i'm actual

this week i was feeling down. so i decided to list the things i am good at. then i decided to share- with you readers. all five of you. because we are supposed to share our talents.

things i'm good at
-talking. fast and with unnecessary details.
-spending money i don't have.
-memorizing people's birthdays. you only wish you had this talent.
-watching more tv shows than a person should.
-driving and not getting tickets.
-sneezing.
-playing crash bandicoot on the playstation. any CB game on any from of a playstation. i'm that versatile.
-making sand octopuses.
-facebook/blog stalking.

and before you think i'm letting all of this get to my head, here is a list of my non-talents.

things i'm not good at
-anything athletic.
-eating healthy.
-cleaning and/or keeping anything clean.
-being on time.
-paying attention in geology.
-drawing. i made it to the art show in 2nd grade but it's been downhill since then.
-keeping in touch with people.
-being patient.
-losing.

oh look, here is a picture of me pretending to be athletic.

















don't be fooled. i promise i didn't even hit the ball.

and just so you don't think i'm lying, here is a picture of said octopus.

make it work!

let me tell you why i love thursdays.

reason #1i agree, this is the most awkward photo ever taken.

but seriously, look at this face and try to tell me it's not reason enough to watch.just sayin'

moving on.

reason #2
reason #2.5
michael scott: if there is one thing i hate more than the mafia is a liar. i wish the mafia would go out and kill all the liars. and bury them in my yard. and i wouldn't tell the cops a thing. not that i would be lying per se, but i would just get really quiet all of a sudden.

reason #3
i think that's all the explanation needed.

wouldn't you agree? running always slows you down

i've been working out.

hahaha. no, that's not entirely (or even a little) true. can't even say it seriously.
what i should say is that i want to work out.
at least 4 times a week, i go to bed with intentions of getting up early to run the next morning. i set my alarm and everything. half of the time, i don't even hear it. the other half, i hit snooze for an hour. then once i'm up, i swear off soda and all things sugar.
and then i get to work. and i stare at this ALL DAYand really, how can i not grab 2 or 10?

plus, this is right down the hall(*please note the soda to water ratio)
and my boss asks me almost every time i go in there if i want one.

is it sad that i'm going to become obese and no one is even going to think twice about it?


but really, it's not even really all about weight. i'm ridiculously out of shape. i probably haven't run a mile since my freshman year of high school.

so, here are my new goals:
-run a mile without wanting to chop my legs off afterward
-actually run the whole mile
-do a pull-up without pushing off the ground (yes i'm aware that would mean i'm not even really doing a pull-up).
-be able to run to my car when i forget my wallet without having to take a breather
-stop telling people i have asthma, because i don't (but i am supposed to use an inhaler before any physical activity).
-stop using my back issues as an excuse.
-do sit-ups or push-ups during all commercial breaks (you won't even believe how many shows i watch).

i'll keep you posted.

life in the fast lane

yesterday we threw a surprise birthday party for my papa's 80th birthday. his actual birthday was january 11th. nothing says surprise like a party 7 weeks late!

i love my papa and g'ma :)we ate, we talked, we laughed and we took some MUCH needed family pictures (not like the one above, by a professional). we also played a little game to see who knew the most about him. there was a lot i didn't know, so it was nice to learn more about his life. my papa is probably the hardest working person i know. he is still working! (he delivers bread with my uncle.) you definitely can't tell when you're around him that he is 80! i'm glad i have him as a grandpa :)

snails see the benefits, the beauty in every inch.

i'm trying something new.

optimistic [op-tuh-mis-tik]
-adjective
1. disposed to take a favorable view of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome.

"it isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. it all works out. don't worry- i say that to myself every morning. it will all work out. if you do your best, it will all work out. put your trust in God and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. the Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. if we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers." -president gordon b. hinkley

maybe. (probably) (but really)

maybe i have a really strong urge to get out of arizona and i get a little depressed when i realize i can't.

maybe it's still my lifelong dream to meet jc chasez.

maybe i wish jim halpert was a real person so i could marry him.

maybe i'm addicted to ruffles baked cheddar and sour cream chips and dr. pepper. and maybe that's how i make it through the tax season days sometimes.

maybe i wish i wore glasses.

maybe one of the things i'm worried about with tax season + full time school is that i won't have time to watch all of my tv shows. and maybe that makes me shallow and maybe i don't care.

maybe my room is a wreck and since i don't know where to start i just don't clean it.

maybe i want to start documenting my life with lots and lots of pictures.

maybe i think the reason my spanish teacher is awful at explaining things is because said teacher is a man.

maybe a hole ripped in the crotch of my favorite jeans and maybe i'm going to wear them anyway.

even as the world outside is spinning.

my grammy suffers from alzheimer's disease. she's only 73. she wasn't officially diagnosed until 2007, but i believe it started long before that. between october of 2000 and april of 2002, her son and both of her parents passed away. i think that's when it really started.

every day it gets worse. first she didn't know any of her grandchildren. then she didn't recognize any of her own children. now she sometimes doesn't remember who my granddad is.

some days are better than others. one day she was cold and when we gave her a blanket, she knew that her mom had made it. then another time she walked into a room, looked straight at my granddad and said, "where's frank?"

if you had asked her the day before he died, i don't think she could have told you who the prophet was. but when President Hinckley passed away and she was told about it, her humble response was "oh no" because she understood what that meant.

in december, my grandparents went to the christmas concert my stake puts on every year. for the song "I Believe in Christ" the congregation and choir sang the first verse, and then only the choir continued on. after the congregation stopped singing and it was just the choir, i leaned over to look at my grammy. she was singing with the choir. my grammy, who doesn't know who i am, remembered and sang the words to "I Believe in Christ."

in Doctrine & Covenants 1:39 it says "For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth abideth forever and ever."

i guess my point in all this is there are things that matter, things that matter less, and things that really don't matter at all. she may not always remember it, but my sweet grandmother believes in Christ- because the the truth abides forever. she has no idea what it meant to me to watch her sing that song, but i'm thankful i was there to see it. and i'm thankful that even though she doesn't know she's doing it, she is still teaching by example.

the fam at their 50th wedding anniversary party, Nov 2008.
(missing Elliott, Lindsay, Lena & Jayden)

you remember me forever!

dear 2009,
cardinals playoff game + pinedale weekend + snowboarding for the first time + meeting the phoenix suns + disneyland/hollywood/six flags + golden birthday (19 on the 19th) + the vegas + AAR show + san diego + americon idol concert + changing major + buying my own car + provo + buying my own bedroom furniture + emily's wedding + provo again + emily's baby + shannon's wedding + boston + dane cook + countless girls nights = a successful (and expensive!) year.

dear tax season + full time school,
bring it. (and then watch me eat those words)

dear boston,
i miss you. but i'll be back to continue our love affair (just not in the winter).

dear every day between now and april 29th,
hurry, hurry, hurry. the faster you go by, the faster i get my boyfriend back.

dear drivers on lindsay road,
the speed limit is 45, not 35. thanks.

dear new years resolutions i've already broken,
sorry, but waking up the first time my alarm goes off and eating healthy just doesn't work for me. i pretty much gave up all hope when i was late to work because i woke up 20 minutes before i had to leave and then decided to stop at walgreens for snacks. we'll try again next year.

dear mom and dad,
remember how we haven't taken a vacation with the whole family since washington d.c. in 2005? i'm thinking san francisco. ready, set, go!

dear answering machines,
i think the explanations on how to leave a message are unnecessary. it's 2010. we know how it works.

dear self,
exercise, exercise, exercise, exercise. seriously. do it.

dear 2010,
i'm ready for all you've got in store. i think.

have you ever played halo? have you ever taken the boston trolley tour?

i said goodbye to 2009 and hello to 2010 in none other than boston (aka bahstun), MA. kelly called me monday afternoon and asked how i felt about going and i couldn't say yes fast enough. so she, cameron (her boyfriend), lindsay and i left early wednesday morning to begin our fabulous trip.

wednesday night we decided to go to the original cheers! (where everybody knows your name :)) the food was pretty good and it was just kind of a cool atmosphere. it was funny though because when we walked in to get a table, they asked how many and whatnot and then asked if we would be drinking. when we said no, they sent us to the back room (which still had a bar in it so i didn't really understand the point in that).

on new years eve we went to see dane cook!! kelly and cameron had 2nd row but lins and i were up a little bit. it was SO good and he was, of course, hilarious! boston is his home town so that kind of made it more fun. (and p.s. the post title is a line from one of his jokes, and then our own little spin on it).

mr. cook himself.
lindsay, me, kelly, cameron after the show. (that whole arena was completely filled, by the way. pretty impressive for a comedian. and it's like that wherever he goes.)

the days were spent doing random things around the city. i LOVED every second, even the snow (and for anyone that knows me well enough knows how much i absolutely despise snow and being cold). the buildings were so cute. even the subway was a fun little adventure.i'm officially in love with the east coast. and now, i want to go back.