Nobody likes you when you're 23.

The month of 

AUGUST

was an exhausting blast!

Since it was my last month of vacation before

(dun dun dun!)

dreaded school began...

I wanted to go out with a BANG!

We held a game night with Brian's parents and played Apples to Apples until late in the night.

Just look at those party animals!

"I never lose a game."

- Brian 

 I voluntarily hosted a girl's night with all of my cousins.

We had the sleepover of the century!

I know. I'm insane. Lock me up and throw away the key.

But it was so much fun!

My parents came into town for my birthday.

They are such party animals. They always want to be doing something and they always want to stay up late. I am grateful I was able to take some time away from work or else their life style would have killed me.

I now know that if my parents lived nearby or if Brian and I ever move to Syracuse I will be:

1. Majorly sleep deprived

2. Fat

and last but not least

3. Broke-da-broke!

We went out to eat a whole bunch!

Not the best quality photo.. but we don't get many pictures taken of us that aren't out of focus pathetic selfies.

So we'll take what we can get.

 We took my little cousins on a date to the Nickelcade and out for ice cream.

 "Is my tongue blue?"

We went on a drive along the Alpine Loop.

Luckily the squatches were not out that day, so we were not attacked.

We went to Park City and SLC with them.

We conned my mother into buying tickets for the Alpine Coaster.

She almost killed us when she found out heights were involved.

Too bad she was already in the line!

Ha ha! Sucka!

We found this amazing gem at a travel agency office in Park City. 

I was so terrified taking this picture that someone was hiding in it, ready to scare us.

One of the most tender moments in August was when Brian finally held Frances.

She fell right to sleep.

Brian even mentioned later that night,

"You know... Frances is really pretty cute."

Uh oh! I think I'm in trouble!

My mom is also slowly turning me into a Relief Society Crafty Weirdo Machine.

As she converted me into

-dare I even speak it?-

decorating for the season!!

What the?!?

It is cute though...

I am always sad to see them go. We had a lot of fun and I can't wait to have the opportunity to see them again which will most likely be next May when I finally graduate!

*sigh*

If only I could get time to move just a little faster!!!!

It was also my 23rd birthday

I am happy to say that Blink 182 doesn't know what the heck they are talking about.

People

still

like 

me 

even 

though 

I 

am 

23!

In fact I'd even go so far, if I may be so bold, to say that people

LOVE

me and I'm 23!

Take that Tom Delonge!!!!

You are a musical genius but you are an idiot.

I kid. I kid. 

I love me some Tom Delonge.

My in-laws were able to come over and witness the birthday party of the decade at my abuela's house. 

Hopefully it wasn't too overwhelming for them!

My parents got me beautiful jewelry and a gorgeous vacuum cleaner.

The things you love when you are married...

It's the little things.

Brian took me to the Black Sheep Cafe for dinner and got me some awesome gifts.

"Why yes, I will be going to see Macklemore in concert. Jealous much?!?" 

Thanks sweetie. You da best!

I am thrilled thrilled thrilled.

Some Yummy Pear Cactus Lemonade.

On our way to the car we found these lovely gems we just had to attempt to recreate. 

If only we carried miniature teacups on us at all times...

My dearest cousin Nicole, just started school at BYU. 

So now she is within 15 minutes of me at all possible times.

I could not be more excited.

We are taken P-town and the 4 letter word (Orem)

by storm.

These noobs don't even know what's a'comin!

Watch out!

I was able to go to a friend's bridal shower and meet up with some people I hadn't seen in a very long time! I love catching up with old friends.

It's seriously the best.

Oh yeah! The Bruun's offered us some tickets to see a play the other night because they couldn't make it and we totally jumped on that.

We are so spontaneous.

well... as spontaneous as married couples get I suppose. 

LOL!

Now it's time to go to bed. I have to keep to my school sleeping schedule or else I will surely die.

Hope you all have a great month. 

Catch ya on the flip side.

Rara out!

The 24th is grander than the 4th in Oo-Tah

Before I sat down to write this blog, I wasn't looking forward to it. I felt like we really didn't do anything at all exciting in the month of July. I was even a little envious looking at other people's photos and posts. Everyone seems to be going on vacations and I am just here like oh yeah.. still in Utah.

 

However, when I started looking through my phone I realized that we had done more

 this month than I had originally noticed!

It's funny how quickly I forget life is more exciting than I give it credit for.

Yeah, I'm not going on a lavish vacation this month.

But I did just go to New York for two weeks

and my birthday is coming up.

 

Hello?

Exciting, right?!?

 

Therefore, my goal this month is to appreciate the little things in life.

They're exciting too!

 

 

Brian and I made fruit pies for people on the 4th of July.

 

Watching the fireworks at my aunt's house.

This is a good picture... however it would be better without those dreadful Chaco's.

 

'Murica!

 

It's so fun to have nieces and nephews at family functions again.

While they were in Paris, the holidays were so boring!

 

I got a haircut this month. I am kind of having regrets about it.

I think the bangs were kind of an impulsive decision.

Now I have to wait for them to grow out.

I'm not saying I don't like them because they look terrible or anything..

it's just harder to do your hair quickly when you have to make sure your bangs don't look funny.

 

 

Brian's parents were able to go to California so they were gone for the biggest holiday to hit Utah..

Pioneer Day!

 

If Mormons drank, this would be the day they would get crap-faced.

We just love celebrating the pioneers.

Seriously.

There were more fireworks than the 4th of July

and

people EVERYWHERE!

 

I am usually gone in July so I don't think I realized how insane it is.

 

Kicking it on the 24th, Brigham's Brew style.

 

Was able to take a photo with this gem of a car that my brother-in- law got a year or so ago.

It's like a life-sized Lego car.

 

BE JEALOUS!

 

 

I don't work weekends anymore.

I am so grateful that Brian and I have more time to spend with one another.

It has been so much fun to finally hang out again!

 

We were able to celebrate a few birthdays this month with Brian's family.

It was his little brother's birthday on the 22nd. My mother-in-law made bomb Indian food and cake.

 

Jeffrey requested better than.. you know.. cake.

I made the name less awkward by deciding that we would call it

Better than sex with Willie Nelson Cake.

 

Way less awkward.

 

:)

 

It was also Brian's little sister's birthday on the 24th.

We celebrated by eating Café Rio salad and drinking mock-tails

as it was her 21st birthday.

 

Some very very very exciting things will be happening this upcoming month!

I cannot wait to share them with you come September.

 

Much love,

Rachelle & Brian

 

(but mostly Rachelle. Let's not kid ourselves here.)

 

haha!

 

:D

 

"Well... this is weird." - Dad

I hate surprises.

Brian knows this.

Whenever he tries to surprise me, I dry heave.

I'm a weirdo..

or more likely, a control freak.

Yeah, that's it exactly.

However, I sure love to surprise others.

That's how our last trip to New York for the week of Father's Day came about.

We bought our tickets two and half weeks before we left.

We told no one that we were coming. Not even the people here.

Because if you start talking about it in casual conversations, it makes it easier for a slip up.

We went to the airport and had high hopes of running into no issues this time...

than life threw us an anticipated curve ball.

Stupid tornadoes

Our flight was cancelled.

We booked another flight for the next day.

We made it to DC, but by that time the storm had moved over to the East Coast.

Delayed in DC for 5 hours...

Then, we finally made it to Syracuse.

We took a taxi to my parent's house and surprised the heck out of them.

(You can see the video of our surprise on my FB page if you so desire. Mind you, swearing is involved if you're morally opposed to hearing such things.. oh mom.)

Well, just my mom. My mom started yelling, smothering us and crying.

My dad said (mid chew of a sandwich)

"Well... this is weird."

I'm glad I got a reaction from my mother or else I would have flipped out.

"You mean to tell me I traveled through storms and delays for 48 hours to hear you say, 'this is weird'?"

Maybe it was shock.

Maybe his sandwich was just super tasty.

Yeah, that's exactly it.

We had a lot of fun on our trip. It was very relaxing. We traveled to a few places on some little day trips. We hiked and went on some long walks. We had A TON of food! I was able to visit with my friends. It was just what I needed.

Now for the (not so) funny story..

When we arrived to the Syracuse Airport I realized I had to use the restroom..

routine, right?

I went to the bathroom and walked back to our gate.

I took out my purse to get my phone to text my mother..

Oh wait!

Ran back to the bathroom.

 I was gone from that bathroom like a minute at most.

A cleaning lady had my phone in her hand,

"Sweetheart, did you leave this here?"

Yes. Thank you so much!

I'm about to leave the bathroom when I faintly hear her say, "I tried to turn it on, but it wouldn't start."

Come again?

I look down at my phone.

The screen has cracks and scratches and obvious water damage in the screen.

"I don't know what happened to it some lady gave it to me."

Woman. I will slap you.

Galaxy

June 4, 2013- June 22, 2013.

My sweet sweet phone

I cherished you.

You lived a beautiful life.

You didn't deserve your life to be cut so short.

May your beautiful soul rest in peace.

Needless to say, this means I don't have many photos of our trip.

Just the ones I uploaded to FB and Insta while on my trip.

Here they are for your enjoyment and in memory of my precious Galaxy... bless her heart.

Our first night in Syracuse. We went to the Turning Stone Casino.

We have wanted to do this every trip with my brother.

He always bails out on us, so we decided to go with my parents instead.

They are way cooler anyways.

;)

Brian absolutely loves the Farmer's Market.

We always make a trip there when we go visit my mom.

Brian takes pictures of Amish people.

We get a Hoffman Hotdog and an apple cider donut.

It's a good time.

I know that Brian likes the "great" outdoors so we went on a few long walks and a hike this trip.

Brian, Rachel, Joey and I went up to Chittenango falls and did the hike that starts at the bottom of the waterfall and goes to the top of it.

It was a lot of fun.

Joey was so precious.

When he first saw the falls he turned to his mom and said,

"Mom. I've never seen such a thing as this."

It was so cute.

View from the bottom (above)

View from the top (below)

 I was also able to surprise my dear friend Kaitlyn at her baby shower.

The shower was as beautiful, radiant and sweet as Kait.

We visited my grandparents at their farm house.

My grandpa has taken up the hobby of making guitars.

Brian wanted to see how it was done, so my grandpa took him and my dad to his shop.

The guitars are delicately crafted and beautiful.

It truly is an art form.

My grandpa waving us good-bye.

I loved being able to go on this trip.

I have missed my family so much.

I'm so lucky to have a husband who is okay dropping money on a trip to grand old

Syracuse, NY.

I know there are many more exciting places he would rather travel to, but

he wants me to be happy.

I love him for that.

Try to sleep tonight after seeing this frightening image!

Albuquerque



Chiquita Banana: Mom

So many blog posts this weekend.

Just one more short & sweet one because I don't want her to think I forgot.

Happy Mother's Day to an amazing mom.

When I think about my mother, I think of two distinct memories.

One.

I was probably like 7 or 8 years old.

I went to one of my friend's houses for a sleep over and felt sick.

I went home.

My mom put blankets on the floor in the living room.

She played with my hair and she gave me hugs while we watched

I Love Lucy

until I fell asleep.

I remember feeling very safe.

Two.

I was in the bridal room of the reception center we held my wedding.

I was changing into my other outfit so I could run through the sparklers to my car.

I could tell my mom was sad because this was the last time she was going to see me for a while.

I held her very tight and she started to cry.

Then I started to cry.

I couldn't think of anything to say so I just said,

"Don't be sad. Isn't this what you wanted to happen?"

She sniffled, "What?"

I said,

"Didn't you dream about me growing up and getting married and being happy?"

"Yes."

"So don't be sad, be happy that your dream is coming true."

My mom is the best.

I love how I know she will never let me go and that I will always be her little girl. Even when I'm 60 years old!

Happy Mothers day to my favorite mom in the whole world.

(Thanks for giving me all those rocking genes like perfect skin, teeth and killer feist!)

Dear Brian, Love Me

Dear Brian,

Thank you for making my world beautiful.

You always make sure there are fresh cut flowers in our room.

You keep our home clean and smelling fresh when I get home.

Thank you for making my life humorous.

You are such a goofball and you get me to laugh at myself.

(also, even when I roll my eyes at you when you are playing down a situation.. I still think it is funny although you will never hear me admit that. You can just read it!)

Thank you for making my days spontaneous.

I am a person of routine.

You help me to get out of my comfort zone.

You really have made some accomplishments that no other man before you could.

You have gotten me to go out into nature for one.. and dare I say it

you have even gotten me to enjoy it!

You will still never get me to go camping.

But getting me to actually enjoy being outdoors with all those bugs- huge accomplishment!

Thank you for making me feel important.

Thank you for your notes.

Thank you for the compliments.

(Sorry I don't always accept them.)

You have celebrated with me at my highest points and comforted me at my lowest.

You have always encouraged me and you have taught me to believe and have faith in myself.

I am a

New Yorker &  Red Headed & Puerto Rican 

I am a fighter.

I have been taught that in order to survive in this world and to be respected you have to be on the defense of what's yours at all times.

Being a Fighter oftentimes hurts those closest to me because  I can't turn it off.

I anger easily.

I am short of temper.

I am merciless in arguments.

I get defensive.

Thank you for being forgiving.

Thank you for staying when I push you away.

Thank you for being my constant.

Thank you for always trying.

You do everything you can to make our lives happy.

Thank you for always holding my hand.

Thank you for opening doors for me.

Thank you for waiting for me to eat dinner, even when I get off work at 9:30 PM.

Thank you for hugging me for two minutes everyday.

Thank you for never going to sleep without me.

I am so lucky to have found the love of my life.

I'm even luckier that the love of my life loves me back.

I loved our first year and I can't wait to spend many more years with you.

There is nowhere I would rather be than by your side.

I love you so much.

Love,

Me

Brian, the Graduate!

I am absolutely so proud of Brian.

He graduated from the Woodbury School of Business at Utah Valley University!

CLASS OF 2013!

 

He wasn't sure if he wanted to walk, he thought it was going to be lame.

But when he picked up his cap and gown and we went to the rehearsal together, he became very excited that he had decided to walk.

 

It was amazing to get the families together and be able to watch Brian get his diploma from the dean.

Brian got his diploma towards the end, which I thought was good because I was excited the whole way through the graduation.

 

Sadly, both of our phones died during the ceremony so I had to rely on the pictures of family members, but here are my favorites taken that day:

 

 Brian right after getting his diploma from the dean!

 



 Just a few of my favorites of us together after the ceremony.

Thanks to those that sent these to me!

 

At Brian's graduation party, we set up a little table with some of the pictures of the graduation.

I also was sure to include Hooters, the owl, as he is very wise and all knowing...

I also made flower arrangements even though Brian thought they were lame because,

 

"I'm just a guy graduating. I don't need flower arrangements."

 

WRONG!

 

Trust me, you do :)

 

They played Frisbee and Volleyball

Brian and his Grandfather, Harold Southwick

We were so very happy that he could join us for the party!

 

Brian and his delicious and festive cake!!

 

*as a side note: aren't his eyes flipping striking in this picture?!?

 

The next day Brian and I went over to his sister's home early so we could take family portraits in seriously the most beautiful spot in Orem.

I didn't even know the place existed.

 

We went to Kneaders for all you can eat french toast.

It was seriously an absolute treat because we are NEVER up that early!

 

Afterwards we went to our car and it wouldn't work!

 

Poor Ursylla was finally on her last breath.

We decided that it was time to put her to rest and get a newer car.

Even though I was excited to get a new car and we really needed it, it was still emotional.

I cried. Ursylla held special memories for me as my dad had given her to me as a graduation present.

That car had taken me a lot of places and was part of my budding independence.

 

Ok, don't judge me. I know I'm being lame.

But there's some raw honesty for you and I'm not ashamed!

 

We went and saw my brother-in-law Chase who works at Volkswagen in Orem.

He is great! If you need a car, go see him!

 

We decided to leased a new car to give it a try and see if we like it.

We have heard opposite thoughts and opinions on leasing, but we wanted to give it a try.

 

We now have a VW Jetta, Marcell.

 

Me saying goodbye to the old girl.

Sorry mommy couldn't save you!

 

As a final note. Brian and I celebrated Cinco De Mayo by eating taco salads and for dessert a deep- fried churro cupcake!

 

Delicioso!

 

Viva Mexico!!

 

Oh yeah also, Happy 24th Anniversary to my Mom and Dad! I'm so glad you guys are still weirdos!