Recap on what we've been up to...

Wow, it's been a nutty week full of a lot of adjustment. I started Aesthetics school this week at International Academy here is Arizona and I also started a new job at a little frozen yogurt shop called Ocean Blue. I go to school from 8:30 to 3:00 and then I work twenty hours a week...Whew! It's been tough adjusting to being exhausted all the time and having loads of homework and people think that going into the Aesthetics industry is an easy way out...HAH! That's a bunch of bull!

I absolutely love school, it being Saturday, I'm wishing I were there right now. It's really incredible how driven you are to excel, when you love what you are doing. Everyday we start class with theory (science) of the skin and this week we covered bacteria, viruses, and all sorts of different skin problems, as well as all the forms we have to fill out for the client, like the assessment form, which we fill out when we examine a client's skin and we list their skin type, any skin irritants, the treatment to be performed, products sold, etc... After theory and a break, our teacher does a demo of what is to be practiced for the afternoon and then we go to lunch and after lunch we get to practice on each other for the rest of the afternoon. Wednesday we learned the cleanse; manual(hands), brush, and machine brush. Thursday we learned extractions (i.e. popping zits), you can do it manually, with an extraction tool, or an lancet which is a little needle. Friday we learned the hand and foot massage and my partner just finished massage therapy school and so my hand and foot massage was AWESOME! With each step that we learn, we add it on to the previous step, it's the process of the facial. Anyway, I love school, can't wait to learn more on Monday.

My job is great, I haven't had such a laid back job in years, it's way nice because I can do my homework while I'm there and all the people are way cool and BONUS, the yogurt is FAB!

Taylor has been working on a project with his Dad and Sister for the last couple of weeks to be apart of the "Green Movement," it's under wraps right now, so I can't really go into detail, but it's gonna be great if it does well. He is really enjoying himself.

We are loving Arizona (well I am) and I totally wish we could stay. Taylor's Mom left to do back to Boston this Morning, we will sure miss her.

That's all for now! Hopefully I can get some pictures at school, so you all can see what's going on. Bye-bye!

Christmas and News Years recap!

This Christmas was spent with my family in Portland and let me tell you, it was a fabulous one!! Taylor and I, as most of you know had to come home early from Thailand, because of protests in Bangkok, so we got to spend THREE WEEKS in Portland! I soaked up every minute of it, Taylor was about done being around kids by the time we left, but he hasn't really spent a lot of time around a big family like mine, so we'll just give him time. He plays so well with my nieces and nephews, it's quite adorable to watch.

We did a bunch of really fun activities together while we were there, we went ice skating (which I dub a new family tradition), we made ginger bread houses, Lisa and I went and saw a couple movies together, which is always fun, and my favorite was going to the Temple together as a family to do baptisms for the dead. We had a few family meals together, including Joann's fabulous finger steaks, a big ham dinner (with Mom's delightful ham sauce), chimichnagas, and our traditional big breakfast on Christmas morning. Monica made some amazing tamales and peach pastries, which Taylor and I had the privilege of gorging ourselves with (I also dub a tradition, thanks Kent and Moni).

New years was another story, we spent the day before New years eve and New Years eve day sicker than dogs and driving for 24 hours to Arizona, where we will be living for the next five months while I attend school. When we got to Taylor's parent's house we crashed on the floor by the heater and then passed out just after the clock struck twelve. At least we made it right?!?! We finally recovered the day after New Years day and I have to say that it is so wonderful to be here with Taylor's family. They have been so wonderful to us by opening there houses and sharing lasagna, to treating us to a movie and an awesome turkey dinner with the works!! Natalie has introduced me to a whole new way of grocery shopping and I have gotten a lot of food for very Little money! Thanks Nat!!!

We have been spoiled rotten!!! We had so much fun crashing at your houses and watching movies (Thanks Moni and Kent) and in your beds (Thanks Mom, Dad, Lisa, and Jason), Christmas is really about all of you! Thanks to all of you family (not gonna name all of you) for everything, for sharing your food with us and making us feel so loved! We love each and every one of you to pieces!