ma & pa in town for easter weekend.

I am so thankful my parents were able to fly into Los Angeles for the long Easter weekend. They were with us for a good five days and it was absolutely perfect. The last time both of them were out here together was last February and Zeke and I had only been living here for about two months, so we didn't really know our way around, nor did we have our favorite restaurants and must see places to go see and do.

This time was a little more different filled with so many places to explore and things to eat and I was so excited to show my parents around Los Angeles. There are two things I love to be in life. 1.) A tourist 2.) A tour guide.

My dad had some business to take care of while out here which is nice that he's got to do that because it brings him across the US more often than not and its such a blessing to even be able to randomly grab supper with him one night out of the week he is here. I feel so blessed to be able to see my parents as much as I do since moving out here. That was one of my greatest concerns with the move to Los Angeles. I mean, it's not a cakewalk flying from coast to coast!

They do love it out here though, and luckily for them, a visit out here can somewhat count as a vacation due to the warm weather and sunshine year round in Los Angeles. And we've got some perks living on the bluffs of Santa Monica that overlook the Pacific so they LOVE coming this way.

We kept busy all week and weekend, eating our way through each meal, treating ourselves to Sweet Rose Creamery just about every night, shopping, going to the Getty Villa in Malibu, taking late afternoon drives through the neighborhoods of Brentwood, Pacific Palisades and Beverly Hills picking out our favorite homes, spying on the celebrities and getting lost off Sunset Boulevard. We spent a day riding beach cruisers down the boardwalk towards Venice, parked and grabbed some sandwiches and coca-colas, and the weekends were spent basking in the sun & watching March Madness. It was an all around party. I love that Zeke loves spending time with my parents too. We all just had so much fun enjoying each others company and I feel complete when my parents are with me.

The weather was perfect & I couldn't have asked for a better Easter weekend. I am so grateful to my Savior & Heavenly Father for blessing me with the most outstanding parents I could have ever been given. They are truly incredible human beings who I strive to be like each and every day. I don't know what I have done to have been giving such amazing blessings. I am a lucky one and I can't wait to see them at home in June.

a hoppy hoppy easter!

Easter came quick this year, but boy was it sure good to us. The weather was beautiful and it was evident that spring was quickly blooming. It was a beautiful reminder of rebirth and the resurrection of our Savior, and that He has risen, and that He lives. Through him, we are able to live again, after this life with our families and having this knowledge brings such peace and joy. Easter is a special time of year, it's the celebration of life, birth, death and sacrifice. I am so grateful for the blessings I have been given, for the health and strength I have to carry own through my days, for the family I have been blessed with and for the family I have gained within the past year. I am grateful for my education and for my talents that fill my soul with happiness. I am thankful for the Gospel that enriches my life.

Maybe it's because I am getting older and becoming more aware of life and what we have to live for, but I want to purge away the distractions that take away moments in life that we can never get back. I am trying real hard to simplify my life and break away from my phone especially. When the Zoo is home, I want to put my phone away and give all of my attention to him and have great conversations, good senseless fun and laughter and take in those moments. I want to keep that dang phone in my purse when I am out to lunch or dinner with family and friends. And when I have free time and need a break from painting, I want to get outside and bask in the beautiful weather and read a good book, educate myself. I just don't want to waste anymore time. I want to slow time down and really bask in the company of my family and friends because each and every one of them are blessings to me.

I've just been filled with such happiness this time of year and I feel so blessed. This Easter has been good to me and I hope yours was just as nice! Hoppy Easter to you all and I hope April Fool's day wasn't to harsh on you! Yikes!

adding a little spring into my hop.

Utah randomly just purged out a few snow storms over the weekend. I do believe I jinxed myself running my mouth. The good news is, as it was snowing it was continually melting due to the fact it was still too warm out, so I ain't threatened. This week my chin is up as the weather will warm up again and the sun in shining through the clouds today.

When the sun is bright out, and the foliage outside begins to show it's green side, it gives me a little spring in my step and I can't help but get washed up into the whole hoolahhh of spring cleaning. My house is a mess. For being so small, it's a wrap when I clean it but it can get trashed within seconds. Not proud of admitting it, but I am in the mood to pull out the duster, some trash bags and bleach and go at it. The Glitter Guide is sharing their "Glitter Guide Spring Cleaning Checklist" and it's the go-to list if you're looking for one. Never have I ever been this excited to get down and dirty. It's free if you want it! All you got to do is print it off!

In other news, Easter Sunday is so close and I am realizing, I have done nothing to make it feel like the holiday. It's hard not having kids. Do the Zoo and I really want to put on an Easter Egg hunt for the two of us? I mean, I'd be down, but realistically, it's just not gonna happen. I would like to at least color some eggs, but we'll see what we are up for when the weekend rolls around. Luckily, I found this amazing tutorial from my friend Alison over at The Alison Show who is constantly blowing Martha Stewart otta the water. This was the cheapest holiday decor I have ever done with the help of paint chips! Holy moly, me oh my, how adorable is this "Carrot Chip Garland?" All it takes is a glue gun to get the job done. So I went to it and made my own garland for my brick white fireplace and spring has sprung just a hare in mine and the Zoo's home. It feels good to bring some light and color into our home when the seasons are blooming. So I sure hope you get your fill for the Spring Cleaning Check-list and your Carrot Chip Garland! Have a blast if you do choose to do so!

Happy Monday to you all!

happy easter my bunnies.

this years easter turned into quite the adventure. i was on the go-go, go-go GO. i had to make an afternoon pit stop to the airport in salt lake to pick up my little niki girl so me, becca & chad decided to make a trip of it. we were blessed to see the mormon tabernacle choir give an easter concert in the old tabernacle for "music & the spoken word." sure do love that motab and the spirit they bring.

following the program we decided to explore temple square, visit some sister missionaries whom i'd hang with back in the day in provo, walk the ground of the conference centers roof, take a sunday drive to spot our favorite salt lake houses and explore the amazing architecture of the salt lake city capital building. i do say, they had their very own rendition of the grand staircase from the titanic. i do believe i played a little make-believe and saw mr. jack dawson wait for his lady by the clock. bah... how pathetic am i? really though, those were my thoughts exactly. teeny-bopper am i.

once nikki jetted back to the great salt lake we headed south to chads moms house where she fed us a delicious easter meal. we caught up on some zzzz's and went down memory lane with "you've got mail" flick and called it a wrap. i have always loved easter. i will say though, i sure did miss being at my home in georgia with the warm weather & humidity. i miss my moms lush backyard and her homemade lemonade, strawberry spinach salad and her key lime pies just to see my dad's face light up. it's okay though... i'll be heading on that midnight train to georgia come june. the countdown started 6 months ago. hope you all had a happy easter my little bunnies. may you remember the true meaning of this day. hope monday treats you well!

goodnight.