Our Christmas Letter

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Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

Tonight we headed over to our neighbors the Willeys to have a little FHE fun. We made chocolate dipped pretzels that tasted DIVINE. They are so easy to make too:

-Buy a package of milk and white chocolate chips, a bag of long pretzel rods, some sprinkles, and wax paper.

-Melt the chips in their own liquid measuring cup on high for 1 minute, take out and stir, then zap it in the microwave again for 15 seconds.

-Dip the pretzels, lay them on the wax paper, and then put some sprinkles on them.

-Let them lay on the paper for 12-24 hours and then eat! YUM!

Christmas Party

Last night Clark and I headed to the Ritz Carlton in Sarasota for his work Christmas Party. We had so much fun eating, dancing, and partying the night away with his friends. Each year they pay for your room to allow you to stay the night. It is a good idea because people get a little too tipsy...

I had a blue candy cane taped under my chair so I got to take home the flower center piece (not the vase).

The waiter wanted to take my picture...

Some of Clark's work buddies.

Before we headed to the dance floor! Thanks RMS for the wonderful evening!

YW Progressive Dinner

Last night for our Young Women's activity we traveled around to each leaders home and had some sort of food course. We started with the appetizers at the Bartlett's and then made our way to the Rodriguez home for the main course (tacos-YUM) and then last we ventured to the Robert's home to have some desert! Once we arrived at the Roberts we watched a slide show of all the pictures taken throughout the year in conjunction with YWs. I love these girls so much and I really think they enjoyed themselves! Can you see me in the middle back? Yeah, I don't really fit in with the leaders huh. :)

Heidi came to Tampa!

So Heidi, my very first college roommate at BYU Idaho, was in Tampa for the week visiting her old missionary companion who lives in Orlando. We were able to catch her before she left to go back home to Idaho! I haven't seen her in 3 years! She is such a sweet heart and I hope that its not another 3 years until I see her again!

Merry Christmas to Me

On Friday Clark decided he wanted to give me my Christmas gift early. He pulled out these! They are gorgeous and I LOVE them! He knew I had wanted these since we have been married and now he made my wish come true. Thank you Clark! I love you!

Ward Christmas Party

This weekend we had our Ward Christmas Party. There is no Santa which was a bummer for the kiddos but there was great food and lovely music from the primary, young women, and elders quorum.

Crabtree Purse and Downeast Basics Giveaway

I follow Lolidots and they always have great giveaways! This time they hooked up with Crabtree to give away a purse! The sizes range from small to large and the colors are great! You can enter to win one too! Go here and enter!

Also Lolidots is doing a giveaway for Downeast Basics! I love this store! The winner gets one free item of there choice! Hurry and enter cause this is a goood one! Go here to enter!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Isn't it pretty! I'm a little disappointed that Clark didn't help fluff the branches or decorate it at ALL but he did get it down from the attic and set it up for me! Hope he got me some presents to put under it! ;)

Thanksgiving Holiday

This year for Thanksgiving Clark and I headed to Douglas, Ga. We had a lot of fun hanging with my relatives and chilling for the weekend. We enjoyed a few activities during our stay:

Clark's new toy.

Shooting our guns.

The beautiful GA sunsets.

Lydia, Mya, and Me in front of my grandma's old house.

Mya is adorable!

Clark riding my cousin's horse.

Sorry there was no pictures of the food but who wants to see us gorging ourselves! Maybe next time...

Christmas Card

Clark and I are going to be doing our Christmas card electronically again this year. If you would like one please email me or leave a comment with your email address!

Layla Mille Gray

This morning my sister in law Melanie gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! Her name is Layla Millie Gray and she weighed 8lbs 10 oz and was 21 inches! Clark and I are excited to be Uncles and Aunts!

Yay or Nay

So I jetted to Target because they have some GOOD sales until Wednesday. I bought some dark skinny jeans for $12 (yes, I have become a fan), a black turtle neck $5, gray vest $16, and some fake Ugg boots $17. The problem came when I decided to model for Clark. He REALLY disliked my gray vest and said it was ugly (okay he didn't say ugly but he realllllly wanted to). I told him I would get some other opinions and if everyone hated it too I would return it.

So what do you think?

Skinny Little Princess

So I caved in and bought some skinny jeans and leggings...I'll let you know if I get any weird looks. Tryin to follow a trend here.

CROCS deal!

So I found out that the Crocs is having a sale on Primas which are really cute flats. They are on sale for $9.99!!!! I've always wanted these but they were too expensive for my taste ($25-$30), but now I don't feel so guilty getting them! Go to there twitter page and get the code (TWEETPRIMA) and use it at checkout! Hurry because the only colors really available are brown (which I love and got) and like purple, black, blue, and red unless you wear a size 9 then you'll be okay. Shipping is $2.99 and there are no taxes! They also have some football team Crocs for $9.99 as well so I went ahead and got the Dallas Cowboys ones for Clark! He is super excited! ENJOY!

Great Dress Deal

Just bought this dress online at Kohls! It was originally $60 but now on sale for $28! I used my Kohl's Charge Card and the discount code I received in the mail and ended up getting it for $24! I had to order two sizes because I wasn't sure which one would fit better but I'll just return one later at the store. I called the closest store but they had none left. I think it was more of a summer item. They are still available online though in all sizes. Maybe I can wear this to Clark's work Christmas Party...? Cute clothing ideas can be found on this blog that I enjoy reading!

New Orleans Week

Last week Clark and I headed to New Orleans for the day before we had to be in Biloxi for Clark's work conference. I thought it was great that I got to travel with him this time! Our first stop was the famous Cafe de Mode where we sipped some hot chocolate and ate french doughnuts called beignets.

Yeah this was before I got powdered sugar all over myself!

There were MANY artists and musicians that kept us thoroughly entertained.

The famous Bourbon Street.

We visited the most haunted cemetery in the US (supposedly) called Cemetery One. The grave that Clark is standing by is Ms. Marie L. who practiced Voodoo. You are supposed to leave a small gift by her grave so she will leave you alone.

Maybe I can go on work trips with Clark more often?

Happy 28th Birthday Clark!

Today is Clark's 28th Birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARKIE! I hope that you have the best day ever! Also, I'm so happy to be your wifey and I can't wait to spend many more bdays with you :) muah!

Beau Rivage Week

Clark has been so busy traveling these past few weeks. He was always gone from Sunday- Wednesday just about every week! This time Clark decided to bring me with him to Biloxi, MS. We planned ahead and decided to fly into New Orleans to visit the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, and such the day before, since neither of us have been before. We then drove an hour to Biloxi to stay at our hotel- Beau Rivage. Its a really nice hotel and there are tons of stores and slot machines to keep anyone occupied. I'm doing work while he is at his convention meetings downstairs. I know Biloxi isn't like Florida (its been 90's all month) but I thought I might be able to swim a bit or something but no...Hurricane Ida had to make her appearance and ruin my chances of getting any sun.

Its overcast and rainy and right now the wind is blowing so hard its rattling the windows and making them bow inwards...great. Also it doesn't help when they charge you $15 to use their workout facilites and $70 for a pedi.

At least I get to spend the week with the hubby! :) More pics of our week when we return home!

And the winnner is...

ME! Thank you so much to those who voted for my outfit on SensiblyStyled.com. I won a pair of Downeast Jeans and I am way excited because they are cute and I don't have to spend money to get them!

Let me know if you are ever in any contests and you will get my vote!

VOTE FOR ME!!!

So there is a contest going on at Sensibly Styled right now. Anyone who wanted to was allowed to send in an outfit to be voted on. You could use any clothing sites you wanted to make a whole ensemble! We were supposed to include a pair of Down East Jeans as well as other modest clothing that was simple, elegant and affordable. I must say all the outfits that people created are really good! The winning outfit chosen will receive a free pair of Down East Jeans. My outfit is posted and its #11. VOTE FOR ME :) Go Here to vote! Voting ends Monday Nov. 9th at 7am! THANKS!

Early Christmas Presents!

So there are some reallllly cute giveaways this year on the Cinnamonsticks Blog! She is doing a 13 day give away and the prizes are adorable. Check it out HERE so you can enter too!