Monday, March 30, 2009

"Don't You Smile at Me!"

The weirdest thing happened to me at Walmart. I was getting groceries and minding my own business. I'm a pretty friendly person, and when I make eye contact with people I just naturally smile at them. Nothing freaky and huge, just a polite smile. As I was bagging apples I looked up and saw a couple walking by. I made eye contact with the woman and smiled. But instead of a normal smile back (or sometimes even a "hi" from some people) she said, "Don't you smile at me!" and kept on walking. Her husband just looked at me and continued on with his wife. I was kind of thrown off for a second, and it momentarily made me feel bad. But then I just laughed to myself and brushed it off.

Kind of a random story, but I thought it was pretty funny. Some people just don't want to be smiled at, I guess! I'll be sure to watch out for her next time.
Image via flikr.com

Saturday, March 28, 2009

A Visit from the Gift Card Fairy

On Friday morning I was on my way out the door for work when I noticed something on the front of my car. When I got closer to my car I noticed it was a Texas Roadhouse gift card, and it was wedged down between the bra and the hood. At first I thought somehow it had gotten lost. But when I noticed how wedged down there it was I realized someone had placed it there. I left it in my car until after work when I got home. Tyson was home as well and I told him about the card. There wasn't a sleeve on it so I didn't know how much it was for. It was then that I decided to call and see what the balance was. It was a $25 card, and I was completely shocked that someone was nice enough to leave it for me on my car. And I don't even know how long it had been there! I noticed it when I was leaving the house for work.
______________________
We decided last night to go to Roadhouse for dinner and use the card. It was the first time Tyson and I had gone to dinner by ourselves in who knows how long. And it was so much fun! We have no idea who placed the card on my car. But at any rate, we just want to thank the person who was generous enough to give us the gift card and allow us to have a date night together. That was so thoughtful, and Tyson and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

So Blessed

The last couple of months have not been the easiest for us. With my surgery in January we have had more bills than we would prefer. With medical, housing, cars...they just don't seem to end! For a little while it seemed like we were getting a different medical bill every day and for a different amount. We paid off the small ones in full and paid a small portion for the bigger ones. The statements showed what our insurance was covering, which just wasn't very much. It was frustrating to see the numbers.

Pretty soon we received a couple more bills that were a lot bigger than what we had anticipated. So we made a payment on the smallest one but decided to make a phone call before making any kind of payment on the bigger one. We just weren't sure what we were being billed for, and we wanted to make sure we weren't being double charged for any of the labs we had already paid for. The larger of the two bills was a little over $4,500.

I called the patient account services to ask them for specifics on our bills. After being connected with an operator he pulled up our account and told me what our total balance was. It was $1,550. I was really confused and thought at first that he had the wrong account open because of the bill we had just received. Not to mention the one right before that for $1,000. He told me that a few days after the larger bill was sent out our insurance covered another $900, but it didn't show on the statement. And the hospital also discounted another $2,000, bringing our new balance to $1,550. When I asked him what this amount was for he told me it was for the surgery and everything included that day. I couldn't believe what I was hearing - I was in total shock! After I got off the phone I called Tyson and let him know the news. We were both really excited to be saving more money.

What started off as an $8,000 day in the hospital ended up being less than $2,000. This is such an amazing blessing for us. We know that the Lord is watching over us during these trying times and wants us to succeed. We feel so blessed to know that with our faith we have been able to receive wonderful blessings. We are so blessed!
Image via Google Image Search

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Happy Birthday, Angie!

Yesterday, Tyson's sister Angie celebrated her 30th birthday. We celebrated a couple times in the last few days. On Saturday, her husband and his sister planned a surprise party for her and it was a lot of fun. She had no idea! We had to do a lot of lying over the last week or so. Dustin and Erika came up from Magna, UT, for the party. I was so excited to see them! I love those guys. They invited her friends and family, and we all brought finger foods to munch on. We had birthday cake and played games - it was a classic birthday party. So fun!

Surprise!


"Happy birthday to you..."


Last night we went to Tyson's parents' house to celebrate Angie's birthday and have a family home evening. It was fun having almost the entire family together, minus Tacie and Ryan. They live in Washington. We missed having them there. But we were able to have everyone else there, and it felt great to be there with everyone. Angie and Steve had all their kids there, Dustin and Erika with Lillie, Clark and Kristi, Tyson's parents...I love Tyson's family! They are all wonderful. It was fun celebrating Angie's birthday a couple times this weekend.

We hope you had a great birthday, Ang! Love ya! :)

Monday, March 23, 2009

We Caved

Mom rented "Twilight" this weekend so Tyson and I decided to give it a try. Neither of us have read the books and we hadn't seen the movie, so this was going to be interesting. We had no idea what to expect! By the end of it I decided that the story was pretty cool. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I was actually a little scared! It made me want to borrow "New Moon" from somebody and get reading. Or better yet, start from the beginning and read the series! (Never thought I'd say that.) Tyson thought it was ok, but he's not in to these types of fantasy stories. All in all I'm really glad I decided to watch "Twilight". I thought it was a good movie and I really enjoyed it!

Image via Google Image Search

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Our New Toys

I received the last of my tax returns a week or so ago, so Tyson and I thought it would be a good idea to get me a new computer. So on Friday night Tyson and I went to Best Buy and bought me this new toy! I'm starting school again in April and I really needed a new computer and this one will be perfect. I'm excited to start listening to my music and using pictures again! And I'm sure Tyson will be happy to have his computer back to himself again. :)

On Saturday morning, Tyson and I went with Tyson's dad to pick up another toy. A friend of mine and her mom wanted to get rid of their treadmill, so they offered it to us for $100. We couldn't resist that price! We went over to their house, hauled it out to Tyson's truck, and took it home. We're so excited to have a treadmill! And it's in great shape. I can't wait to get going on that thing. I guess you could say we had a pretty successful weekend!

Photos via Google Image

Friday, March 20, 2009

Must-Have #3: O.P.I Start to Finish

I was looking through old blog posts when I realized it has been quite some time since I posted about a product that I absolutely love. So this brings me to #3: O.P.I Start to Finish. This little bottle is wonderful! Have you ever given yourself a manicure and just been frustrated with all the little bottles you're using? Base coat, polish, top coat...Why so many? And then after all the work the polish just chips off faster than you want. I have a solution for you in this one little bottle. It is a base coat and top coat all in one. So not only do you get to use one bottle for two of the steps, that's one less bottle you have to buy. O.P.I. sells their top coats and base coats separately for around $8-$10 a piece. This single bottle with both the base and top coat is $12, so you're saving some money. And the polish doesn't chip! It's wonderful. Nails stay shiny and sleek. I love this stuff.

I can tell you right now that it has super strength after it's put on the nail after my experience last week. The last time I had painted my nails the Start to Finish ran down the side a little. Instead of wiping it off I just let it dry. Unlike polish, that stuff hardened right up, and when I went to paint my nails again I couldn't even get the lid off. It was crazy! Tyson couldn't even get it off. It was stuck. I ended up having to go buy a new bottle, but it proved to me how great it is for strengthening nails and keeping them from breaking. I love it! You can buy it anywhere O.P.I is sold. I buy mine at Trade Secret. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a better solution for sleeker, shinier, and stronger nails.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Our Weekend in Utah

On Saturday, Tyson and I joined Amber, Che', and Aaron on a mini vaca down to Utah to visit Aaron's wife, Britney. She has been training for a new job for the last couple of weeks and we all decided to go down and hang out with her. We had so much fun!

When we arrived in the Salt Lake area we decided to spend some time looking around at Ikea. And was that just a wonderful experience for the eyes. We had a lot of fun just walking through all the displays and picturing what our houses would look like with all the fun and mod decor. After walking around Ikea for a while we met up with Britney in Draper for some Cafe Rio. Whenever we're in Utah we have to hit up the local Cafe Rio or Costa Vida. I think my last post made it clear why! Does the picture look familiar? Amber and I shared one of these delicious pork salads and it was superb! If we had things our way, we would have a Cafe Rio salad without the rice, but with the sweet rice from Bajio. One day we'll make it happen!
After Ikea we stopped over to 90th South for a little Tai Pan action. Tyson and I have been trying to find lamps for our room. Although we weren't successful in this area, we were able to find a new lamp for our living room. And it looks really good!
After Tai Pan the four of us went our separate ways from Aaron and Britney so they could spend the rest of the weekend together. So we went to the South Towne Mall and did some browsing. For some reason the styles of clothing just weren't agreeing with me. Everything seems so plain right now. So none of us ended up buying any clothes. After shopping we went to Mimi's Cafe for dinner. It was a first-time experience for all of us, so we weren't expecting such huge portions of food! It was really good, we enjoyed it.

After dinner we needed dessert. Of course. So we decided to locate the nearest Dairy Queen and go for a cherry-dipped cone. Delicious! I recall mentioning these yummy treats in a past post. We just love them! They're so good! And we all love them so it works out great.

On Sunday morning we had breakfast at the hotel and went to do a little shopping while we waited for Aaron. And it turned out to be yet another great shopping experience! We went to Burlington Coat Factory and found pillows for our couch and clock and fake tree for our living room. We were so excited to find those! We've been looking for something for the blank wall we've had, and when we saw the clock we knew it was perfect. And the tree was a steal at only $25. Woo hoo!


And to top things off, Tyson bought me a new Kathy Van Zeeland purse! I was so excited! Amber got one from Che' for Valentine's Day and I loved hers. And while at Burlington we saw this one for $50, originally $100. So Tyson said he'd buy it for me for an early something. I just couldn't let such a good deal pass me by! I love my new purse!

Even though we were only there for two days, we still had a great time in Utah. On the way home we were able to stop in at Uncle Bob and Aunt Penney's for a visit. It was nice to see them.

I love my family, and I'm so glad we're able to spend time together like we do!

Restaurant and store photos via Google Image

Friday, March 13, 2009

Baji-licious!

We all have foods that we crave and restaurants we just can't live without. For me, I satisfy my hunger by enjoying a pork salad from Bajio. So good! I can't get over all the flavors in this salad, my tastebuds just go crazy! Tyson makes fun of me because whenever we go out somewhere to eat I mention Bajio as an option. I can't get over that salad! Tyson and I have always ordered one salad and shared it. But now we have an option: With the new menu at Bajio we can either share the regular-size salad, or we can each get our own half portions. And they're still so filling! I love them. And along with that new menu, Bajio also has different specials each day. And the pork salad is the Friday special with a price of only $4.99 for the half size. It is wonderful! In fact, my mom and I ran a bunch of errands today and enjoyed one of these babies for lunch today. It was great! Bajio is definitely one of the best places to eat. Similar restaurants to Bajio are Costa Vida and Cafe Rio (both of which I visited on a regular basis while I lived in Utah), and we're getting a Cafe Rio in Idaho Falls in the near future. They both have a salad like this, and I just love it no matter who makes it! If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Two Months and Going Strong

Tyson and I are celebrating our two-month wedding anniversary today. It's hard to believe we are already celebrating two months of marriage! Time flies when you're happy and in love, I guess. :) These last two months have been some of the craziest, yet the happiest days of my life. We've been through a lot together, especially through my gallbladder surgery. And it's moments like those that make you realize how important you are to one another. I can't imagine my life without Tyson. I love him more than anything, and I'm looking forward to many more anniversaries.

As far as celebrating, we'll be spending our evening with a workout at the Apple, then watching one of our favorite shows, "The Biggest Loser." Perfect! As long as I get to spend this day with him I don't care what we do. :)


I love you so much, Tyson! Happy anniversary!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Quite Possibly...

I saw this on Abby and Ryann's blog and I thought it was so cute! It made me think of those awkward moments when you're first trying to tell someone you love them, but you're not quite sure how to say it. With Tyson, it was just flat out. No "might" involved! I'm so grateful for my husband. He is wonderful, and I love him more than anything else. I can't remember much of what life was like before we met. And I just don't know how I got by without him. He's the best, and I'm so grateful that he is in my life.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

We Have a Problem

We want this dog!

Monday, March 2, 2009

"Mawiage."


The Marriage Questionnaire

Come on, play along - inquiring minds want to know!


♥ What are your middle names? Kaye & John

♥ How long have you been together? We've been married for almost 2 months.

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? We actually met for the first time the night of our first date! We were set up by his aunt, making our first date the first moment we met.

♥ Who asked who out? He asked me out. And I totally almost called it off ha ha. I was freaking out! I didn't think he would even be interested and didn't want to find out!

♥ How old are each of of you? 24 & 28

♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most? We've seen mine the most, just because they all live around here. He has some around here, but the others live in Utah and Washington.

♥ Do you have any children together? Not yet, but we will one day!

♥ What about pets? We have one fish named Milton. Our other fish, Tom, died this weekend. :(

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Bills! Now that we're getting all my medical bills from my surgery it's making us crazy!

♥ Did you go to the same school? We both went to Bonneville High School but at different times. We were at BYU-Idaho together for a little bit but never might while there.

♥ Are you from the same home town? Yep

♥ Who is the smartest? Depends on the topic ha ha. He's definitely got the book smarts though!

♥ Who is the most sensitive? Definitely me! I'm a baby, I tell you.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? Bajio for sure. We haven't eaten out in a while, but that was our place when we went out for a quick bite.

♥ Who has the worst temper? Probably me, sad to say! He's very calm and patient.

♥ Who does the cooking? Me. Tyson didn't cook before he got married and that hasn't changed. :) But I love to cook and bake so that works for me!

♥ Who is more social? Me for sure. Tyson is a little more on the shy side.

♥ Who is the neat-freak? We both like things clean, woo hoo!

♥ Who is the more stubborn? He would say me but I think it's him!

♥ Who hogs the bed? Neither of us, but I steal the covers. Totally on accident!

♥ Who wakes up earlier? We both wake up at the same time when he has to go to work.

♥ Where was your first date? He came up to Rexburg to pick me up for the date. We went to Applebee's up there then went bowling.

♥ Who has the bigger family? We both have the same amount of siblings. But counting the neices, nephews, and in-laws, he has the bigger family.

♥ Do you get flowers often? Yes! Not as much now as before, but he has gotten me a lot of flowers. I love that!

♥ How do you spend the holidays? Luckily our families are close so we can just switch off throughout the days. For example, on Thanksgiving we ate dinner with his family and had dessert with mine. It will probably be the opposite next year.

♥ Who is more jealous? I think I am, but he might be too. Not sure!

♥ How long did it take to get serious? It took most of the summer! It wasn't till his birthday at the end of August till we even made it official on Facebook!

♥ Who eats more? Tyson for sure. He LOVES food!

♥ Who does/did the laundry? I do the laundry, but if we're watching a show he helps me fold. Thanks, Tys!

♥ Who’s better with the computer? That one is a toss up. I set up our wireless router so that should give me some points!

♥ Who drives when you are together? Tyson. I think it makes him feel like a man ha ha.