New Hobby/New Job

Just when I thought all of the fish in Utah were gay (because they wouldn't take my bait after 6 seperate fishing trips and not even a bite), they totally go and redeem themselves! Okay, maybe the word "redemption" is a little generous, I'm still a little skeptical. But hey catching a fish is catching a fish, no matter the size right? Brad and I have re-discovered our liking to fishing. During the winter my dad was kind enough to take us ice fishing a few times, and now that the weather is nice we love to go out shore fishing. It's nice to get away from everyday life and hit up the banks of the lakes. So far this year we have been to Deer Creek a few times, Otter Creek, Strawberry, and Tibble Fork. The fishing so far this year, at least for us, has been kind of slow. Brad caught a couple fish at Otter Creek, and one at both Deer Creek and Tibble Fork. I didn't catch any until our most recent trip last night, which was to Tibble Fork. I was just beginning to loose all interest in fishing, and then...as if it were a sign, my first fish of the season finally sucked it up and took my bait. Thank you, Mr. Fish! I was becoming frustrated because I don't even want to eat them...I'll let them go after a quick snap shot with the camera....infact, I'd be willing to give them all of the Power Bait they want while on shore, straight from the bottle--no hook, before releasing them back to their home! That's how generous I am to these fish...appparently they don't trust me a whole lot. Anyways, pictures can be found below of our trips.

In other news, I finally have a new job lined up to start on May 20th, and I am incredibly excited! I have been at my current job with Work Care for 3.5 years, and am starting to really burn out. I fear I don't have too many "do you have picture ID's?" left in me after this long, and it's time to move on. I will be working with IHC doing Insurance Verification at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo. I'm really excited for this new experience, and they will provide me with tuition assistance for my graphic design program which is always a bonus!

Couldn't resist taking a picture of the pretty mountains and Tibble Fork:























These next two are my fish I caught at Tibble Fork. I told you they were HUGE :p They probably totaled 10 inches put together. I felt like a kid at a fish farm....but hey, whatever it takes to keep my faith in fishing, right?

























These are a couple of Brad's fish he caught this year. The top fish currently resides at Deer Creek while the one you need a microscope to see in the bottom picture is from Tibble Fork....it's a Brook Trout.

Jessi

I got the go-ahead from my aunt to post these announcements I created for my cousin. I won't tell you which one she chose to print and mail out, for those of you are lucky enough to know the Palmers (or be related to them like I am :D) so that there is some element of surprise when you get them in the mail.

I was eager to post them because I've had a few people who have seemed interested in offering me some design opportunities and thought I'd share a little bit more of my work...which before now only consisted of our wedding announcement and mock magazine on our blog. Jessi wanted her announcement in green, purple and brown and not "too girly". The "not too girly" part was interesting for me to deal with because, for those who know me, I'm about as girly as they come and love anything in pink, and adorned in sparkles and curly-cues. :D It was a good experience for me though, and allowed me to focus on the person I was creating the announcement for and their interests and preferences. Overall, I think they turned out pretty good. I'd like to give a shout-out to Jessi and a congrats on graduating from highschool! Way to go, and thanks for letting me be a part of it!

P.S. Some of you may be wondering if Brad is okay...or even alive. The last two posts have been, perhaps selfishly, about me. In response to your concern, I'm pleased to announce that he is alive and well. (Amazing seeing how he has to live with me, right?) He just finished up the semester at UVU and is planning on taking some classes this summer. He's been working hard at work in preparation for Alpine School District's end of year online testing, so that's been keeping him pretty busy...but hasn't cut in to his fishing time to much. We've been on multiple fishing trips over the past couple of months, and he's been enjoying that as a nice break. So far out of the two of us, he's had 2 fish plus a couple of bites to my 0 zero fish and 0 bites. I'll post some pics soon....

Final Project

For my final project in my graphic design application class we were required to make a "mock" magazine, with a cover page, a table of contents and a two page article spread. I decided to do mine on canyoneering. I had a lot of fun creating this, and I am really looking forward to taking more classes in the upcoming semesters. It's awesome to be excited about school again! I have also been working on a graduation announcement for my cousin, and will post some of the designs when I get the "okay" from her and my aunt...I'm not sure if they want it advertised before people get it in the mail :D If anyone is needing an announcement of some sort, or has any other "design needs" and is brave enough to let me give it a shot, please let me know! I'm not looking for money, just trying to gain some experience in order to build a portfolio, and any opportunities would be awesome!

Almost There!

Do you see that!? Oh, I can feel it! It's the light at the end of the tunnel! And I'm walking towards it! (Don't worry...this is not an out-of-body experience). There is something at the end of that tunnel though that I can't wait to finally get my little hands on....my associates degree!

I went in and met with my academic advisor at UVU today to change my degree, and get some direction as to what classes I need to be taking and how long it's going to take me to earn the degree. As many of you know, I gave up on the Nursing thing a while ago....after working as a receptionist for a medical clinic for 3.5 years I've found that I don't really like people all that well...with the exception of my family and friends of course. :D While searching for a degree, I found that I really enjoy working on photoshop and creating cute note cards, invitations, etc on the computer and it just kinda clicked with me. The sound of a degree in graphic design seemed to jive really well with my interests. So, as of today I am officially going to pursue a degree in it, my records at UVU even say so. Technically the degree is Art Communications, for now. The term "graphic design" is not offered as an associates degree, only a Bachelors. So for now, Art Communications it is. I was a little overwhelmed to look at Bachelor Degree requirements at this time, because 19 credits worth of classes I've taken over the past 4 years in attempt to meet the nursing program requirements do not count towards my Art Communication degree....and I didn't want to have to see that all on paper. :D I chose to look at it one bite at a time, and perhaps after I get my associates I will pursue my bachelors degree. I'll have my associates degree after only 2 more full-time semesters, and I am incredibly excited. (It might actually turn out to be more like 3 semesters of attending 3/4 time because my work schedule doesn't always jive with UVU's class schedules). I feel like I've spent a lifetime in college going nowhere with nothing to show for it but student loans piling up. So it's really nice to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Most places, from what I've heard, will hire people for graphic design after an associates degree in such areas as Art Communication...I'm hoping that is right. I'm in dire need for a change in "profession" and am hoping I am creative enough to make it in the Art Communications world....cross your fingers for me!

The "Other" Man In Our Lives

It's true. I've finally given into the tempation and heckling of my husband to watch the TV show 24. The current season playing now is the 7th, and luckily (or unfortuantely for the sake of time and other things I should be doing) Brad has season 1-6, so I've been playing catch up on the seasons during the week while watching the current season on Monday nights. I'm officially obsessed now. Seriously, it's a little concerning. I've always thought people who were "addicted" to shows were crazy and had nothing better to do with their time. And here I am....addicted to watching this man run around with guns, tracking down terrorists, and using scare/torture tactics to retrieve information from them regarding terrorist threats. It's insane.

Now, not that I don't have anything better to do with my time....I could be studying, cleaning, cooking...you name it. But all of those take a seat behind Jack Bauer right now....at least to some extent. And if any of you have seen the show, I'm sure/hoping you can relate. (Luckily for me, Brad doesn't mind and joins me in watching the episodes...which he's seen 3 times each already. Yeah, I know. And you thought I was obsessed.). Is it so wrong of me to be so enthralled by this show? Does anyone else have this unwaivering addiction to 24, or any other show for that matter? *Sigh* I guess I have to have some small pleasures in life, right? Even if it is allowing a fictional character to take over whatever spare time I might have...and some of the time that isn't so "spare". Oh, but that time is incredibly sweet.

And, just an FYI: Brad and I have agreed that if either of us were to ever be approached with the opportunity to marry Jack Bauer (who yes, is fictional), that person who is offered is going to take it...whether that person happens to be me or even Brad. And we've agreed that the other will harbor no hard feelings, hurt, or judgement towards the other. We just ask that you all can do the same for whomever of us is chosen...if that day were ever to come.... :D

Incredibly Adorable Cupcakes!

I was browsing Martha Stewart's website the other day and ran across these adorable "chick" cupcakes. I immediately smiled and chuckled when I saw them, and when you check out these pics I'm hoping you can see why. At that exact moment, I vowed to myself that I was going to make this cupcakes....try and stop me. Brad's brother and his wife just found out that they are having a baby boy, and I thought that occasion would be as good as any to make and deliver these adorable little things to someone. Of course, they're not nearly as perfect as Martha's (she's a master, of course) but I was quite impressed with myself and the way they turned out. I sat them in a blue detailed "wood" easter basket, filled with green easter grass and a note that says "We are "chirping" with excitement for you and your baby boy!" Yeah...perhaps a little cheesy, but it's true and fitting for the cupcake theme.

Alright, without further adoo (not sure how to spell that, or if thats even the right word...but you know what I mean)....here are the cupcakes that will melt your heart.....

Helloooo Keith!

Okay, I'm gonna start this post by first of all saying, "Sorry Brad". He will not be ammused and will probably demand that I delete this post off of "our" blog. But the day that he starts creating posts on here will be the day I remove this one. So, I'm expecting this post to stay. :D Anyways, the rumors are true. It is time, yet again, for this wonderful man to come in concert again to Salt Lake City: Heck yes, it's Keith Urban! In faithful tradition, I purchased tickets for myself, my mom, and my best friend Angie on Saturday for his September 9th concert at Energy Solutions. Angie and I have never missed even one Keith Urban concert in all of his trips to Utah. In fact, we saw him before he was a big country star at the Tooele County Fair Grounds back many years ago. Best concert ever! It was a small concert set-up, and it was upclose and personal. Ah...I'll never forget. Infact...my mom may have been there too. (sorry mom, can't remember for sure). But since then we have made it a tradition to attend every concert held here in Utah, and we've faithfully done so. He puts on such a great show...and the fact that he's not half bad to look at makes it pretty easy to watch. (sorry again Brad. Still love ya though!). Last year at his concert my mom won backstage passes from a radiostation outside of the Energy Solution Arena before the concert started. Unfortunately it wasn't to meet Keith Urban backstage, it was for his opening act, The Wreckers. Who I was a fan of anyways. We're hoping this year my mom can muster up some more luck for us and get us backstage to see Keith! (Don't fail us, mom!) Anyways, just thought I'd share a piece of the excitement I have. Too bad it's a 6 month wait for the concert....oh, but its worth the wait. Like I said, Brad will be less than amussed with this post, he doesn't understand my overwhelming need to see Keith everytime he comes to Salt Lake City, but nevertheless I wanna thank him for letting me go anyways!