{Bella Bird}

So yesterday I was at Wal-Mart (getting some cheap hair products ok!?- I'm poor) and I walked across Wal Mart's new line, it's only in Utah and Idaho right now but they have some great stuff! It's called Bella Bird and it's owned by DownEast but everything is under $22! LOVE that.

I got a great skirt for $19.00 but sadly it's not on the website but check them out at http://www.bellabird.com/ or head into Wal Mart! If buying their stuff means I am now white trash- so be it!!

{goodbye Elder Walker}

So a couple weeks ago, Pierce's cousin Corbin went off to his mission! He was called to the Maputo Mozambique mission and we know he will do an awesome job!

(Us with Corbin after his farewell)

(After Corbin's setting apart)

We love you Elder Walker! See ya in 2 years!

{blog design}

So I've been really into creating blog headers lately! I just wanted to share a few with you guys and if anyone is interested in one for your blog- let me know and I would be happy to do that!

{UP}

So I LOVE the Disney Movie 'UP' and even convinced my husband to attempt the up house for the Walker Gingerbread Contest- which we sadly took LAST (I will have revenge this year mwah ha ha)!! However, when I heard the Parade of Homes re-created the UP house and even got permission from Disney to make it, I knew we HAD to go see it! I knew their's would be A LOT better than ours... So we went a few Saturdays ago before Chase and Helen moved. We couldn't go inside but I think it might be worth the $8.00 to see the house inside!

{living like kings}

So we recently upgraded our Queen bed for a King!

Here are a few pictures of the bed made the first couple of days while we were waiting for our headboard.

Also, when we first got married, we used all of Pierce's old bedroom things. We had these great nightstands but I personally wasn't crazy about the color. Here is a picture of our old bed and the nightstands....Pierce sanded & painted them antique white! They look awesome!

Next we got this little treat in the mail!

And here is our bed with the headboard! As you can see in the close up picture- it has awesome brads!

We love our new bed and these little guys aren't complaining either!!

{venting session}

Ok so in order to not have people misunderstand a Facebook status, I am using my blog to vent about rudeness.

Dear Rude People,
Let's be honest: There are a TON of other people who have it WAY worse than you. Choices we make in our lives should NOT affect HOW you treat others.

Like this: source

Maybe this can help put things in perspective. Life is great and we all have things we can be thankful for. I don't mean to be blunt but it's exhausting trying to keep up with all the negativity and rudeness. Everyone is going through tough stuff, we all need to help each other along this journey called life. People respond so much better when you are nice and respectful. Stress, sickness, emotions all get the best of us- I know but it's better to remember Life is 10% what happens and 90% how you react.

Your wannabe-so-badly friend, Me

Some quotes that also back up what I am trying to point out here:

"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength”
Eric Hoffer

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
~ Melody Beattie

"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks."
~ Unknown

“Men are respectable only as they respect”
Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes

“Just because an animal is large, it doesn't mean he doesn't want kindness; however big Tigger seems to be, remember that he wants as much kindness as Roo.”
-Winnie the Pooh

We all need to be a little bit nicer, respect a little bit more and say sorry more often.

{choose who you love, love who you choose}

So when my Brother and Sister-in-law had their 1st anniversary she made a great post celebrating and said that they had made it further than about 60% of people who get married young. At first I thought "well, not in Utah" but I am sad to say that I am actually wrong.

Lately, I've been noticing some of my Facebook friends’ names have started changing- back to their maiden names. It's shocked and saddened me that so many girls my age are getting married and then suddenly within the first 2 years of marriage, suddenly get divorced. Getting married in the temple doesn't guarantee the marriage will work out but I think being LDS we have more understanding and are told by our church leaders that you are in it for the long haul. It makes me sad that people are wanting to get married but then forget the love they had, make mistakes and aren't willing to take the steps of repentance and “have different views”. I don't want to offend anyone with this post but just reinforce that marriage is often not taken seriously. I understand that in some cases, people are better not together but it doesn't mean you should take the easy way out the first time around.

It reminded me of a talk that Pres. Monson gave this last conference in the priesthood session, I am just going to share a couple quotes from it but you can read the whole thing here.

“If you are concerned about providing financially for a wife and family, may I assure you that there is no shame in a couple having to scrimp and save. It is generally during these challenging times that you will grow closer together as you learn to sacrifice and to make difficult decisions. Perhaps you are afraid of making the wrong choice. To this I say that you need to exercise faith. Find someone with whom you can be compatible. Realize that you will not be able to anticipate every challenge which may arise, but be assured that almost anything can be worked out if you are resourceful and if you are committed to making your marriage work.”

“Brethren, there is a point at which it’s time to think seriously about marriage and to seek a companion with whom you want to spend eternity. If you choose wisely and if you are committed to the success of your marriage, there is nothing in this life which will bring you greater happiness.”

“Choose a companion carefully and prayerfully; and when you are married, be fiercely loyal one to another….“Choose your love; love your choice.” There is great wisdom in those few words. Commitment in marriage is absolutely essential.”

I love that we have leaders to turn to that understand us and understand what Heavenly Father wants for us. They know probably better than anyone that marriage is not the easiest thing but that it is so worth it.

All of these thoughts lead me to one of my favorite songs, Marry Me by Train. The most powerful words are seen right here on my blog “Marry Me, Today and Everyday” to me, that means that each day you have to re-commit yourself to your spouse and in a sense marry them every day. Pierce and I will be the first people to admit that marriage is not perfect, but it’s great. That we don’t always see eye to eye, but that we love each other more than anything. And that we want this in our lives and we want it together and with each other. I truly have a testimony of marriage and the quality of life it brings to my own life. I have a testimony that we are not supposed to end up in this world alone. We have countless examples of good marriages and I want to be the little old couple that has been married for 50+ years. Marriage isn’t always easy, so you need to “choose your love” so that you remember that you love this other person when it does get hard and then “love your choice”- work on loving that choice every day.

{my loves}

I just have to post about the loves of my life,

first off- Pierce

He is such a hardworking and responsible person but also the most easy-going and fun person to be around. Here are some pictures that I took of one day us just playing in bed with our little ones...

my other 2 loves of my life, Jack Jack and Miss Izzy

I never knew that dogs could make me learn what unconditional love is.... they love me and always want to snuggle even if I just got mad at them 2 seconds earlier. They get so happy to see me and Pierce and love every person we meet on their walks. Dogs makes the best humans and I really lucked out on them.

(What you can't see is Pierce underneath our comforter and the dogs going crazy trying to "dig" him out).

This little girl loves her dad and LOVES licking people!

Here are just some bragging rights on how awesome my family is and how much I love them and am grateful for them!

{inspired}

So I've been thinking a lot about my major and what I want to do with my life since I decided I didn't want to do education. I think I've decided to choose to transfer and pursue interior design. I've been working a lot on my inspiration board that I have to submit to be admitted into the program. I have a picture of what I am thinking furniture and decor wise, please let me know what you guys think!!

4th of July

So as everyone knows, the 4th of July was a few weeks ago! We had an awesome weekend with friends and family!

We started off our Saturday with none other than sleeping in! We loved it! Then Pierce wanted to divulge in a new hobby: gardening! His dad is way big into and has a beautiful yard and he wanted to bring some fun summer flowers into our apartment! He got some pots and picked out some flowers and went to work! I think it turned it out great!

Sunday night, we went up to Park City and spent the night with my dad just playing some games and watching a movie. Monday morning, we woke up and my dad made us some breakfast! It was delish!

Monday, we went to the Real Salt Lake game, we have season tickets with my family- but we wanted to be able to celebrate with both families so we got to invite them!! We first had a BBQ at Jeff and Liz's house which was awesome but I didn't take pictures! Here are some pictures from the game!

{privacy please!}

So, I thought that we would be keeping our blog open until we had kids because what we were sharing wasn't too much material for a creeper! However, as a good neighbor pointed out to me a few days ago, identity theft is becoming huge in the cyber world and Pierce and I need to protect ourselves! So we are going Private!!! Please let me know through facebook, email or comment if you would like an invite and I hope that all of you will, except you scary stalkers!

Thanks, oh and because it's Friday and this picture makes me happy- ENJOY!

{1 year and counting}

It’s so crazy to think that we have come upon and passed our 1^st anniversary! It is a weird thing to describe because I remember the day like it was yesterday but I forget what it’s like to sleep by myself or not have Pierce be my husband! We feel so blessed with this past year and everything we’ve accomplished and been through. They say the first year of marriage is tough- I would agree with that. But it’s so worth every fight, I mean, discussion ;) We’ve really come into our own groove of life now and are even closer as friends and spouses.

This year was kind of crazy and we ended up having to celebrate our special day a few days before on Friday. We went to Christopher’s Steak House in Draper. Really good food but really pricy! Luckily, we had a Groupon from Pierce’s Mama Liz. (Thanks!) We went all out to celebrate and got appetizers, drinks and dessert along with our yummy yummy steaks! Then we shuffled on over the Jordan Commons and saw the new X-men movie! It was really great and I would recommend it to anyone! We were stuffed to our britches so we didn’t need any treats for the movie! Friday my back started hurting and I was really uncomfortable during the movie, so Pierce rubbed my back as well when we got home (more on that a little bit later).

Saturday- we slept in and didn’t do a whole lot, something we really enjoy doing! My cousin Melissa got married later in the afternoon and it was really such a blessing to be able to see 2 people be sealed in the same room we were almost 1 year ago! When you get married, you don’t really remember a whole lot of what your sealer is saying but you remember the feeling- so I LOVED that we could listen to the sealer’s words (& remember them) and reminisce on our special day. They later had a reception that night down at Thanksgiving Point, which was beautiful and had such perfect weather! Here are a couple pictures from the day!

Sunday we got up and took Pierce’s parents to the airport! They were off to London for a Church History tour/celebration of the King James’ Bible. We then were getting ready for church but I wasn’t feeling super great and my back was KILLING so I ended up in bed trying to get some sleep. Pierce was so great taking care of me and it really made me grateful that I had him! We then went to my mom’s for dinner and hung out a bit there. It was really great food as always!

About my back hurting- I ended up going to the Dr’s Monday because I couldn’t stand the pain any longer. I had a Kidney Infection and was grateful that this whole past week I’ve had a caring loving Husband who takes care of me “even in sickness”.

So here we go... June 5th 2010:

December-ish 2010 (6 Months):


And then June 4th 2011:



Pierce-

You are my best friend. You are my companion and love. You are my everything. Without you, life wouldn’t be as meaningful or exciting. You balance me in life and remind me that life is meant to be enjoyed and not just endured! You are my rock and I look up to you and am glad to be beside you in this life and the next. Eternity couldn’t be long enough and I am thankful you’ve chosen me as your wife! I am so excited and grateful for the future that you work hard to have along side me! I love you so much!

Love,

Your wife, best friend and lover!

Karissa