It's beginning to look a lot like.... April Fools.

Valentines Day has never been my favorite holiday but I'm warming up to it because thanks to Justin, I have reason to celebrate now.  However, I've already started planning for another holiday. One that is far more exciting and fantastic in every way. April Fools Day.


While Valentines Day may be the celebration of our love, April Fools day might be more of a test of our love. Thank heavens Justin and I are getting married only days before April Fools day so he'll be stuck with me... before I show my love for April Fools Day.

I LOVE APRIL FOOLS DAY.

Growing up in the Chandler household was the kind of heart warming, loving childhood experience that everyone hopes for. I am very blessed. But on April Fools day, it's a free for all that would make luchadors tremble in fear.

Patches. He's one of the best dogs in the world

 I recall one year my dad strategically molded a sliver of brownie to resemble the droppings of our dachshund who had yet to learn the difference between bedroom and outside. He put the poo-shaped brownie on my brothers pillow who discovered it because my little brother (who was not in on the joke) came to tell him that Patches had "left him a present on his pillow." Poor Patches. Christopher ran to his room and freaked out at the little guy who was completely innocent. My dad came down to help clean up the mess. To the horrified and exasperated face of my brother, my dad grabbed the poo-shaped brownie and popped it into his mouth.  That was an April Fools trick for the books. It was fantastic.

We've done so many more dramatic pranks, but I'm afraid you would get tired of reading all of them. So instead, I give you a link to a blog that lists some April Fools tricks... we've done all but a few of these in my family.

So Justin, you should consider yourself one lucky duck that we will be on our honeymoon on April Fools. It will be much harder to play a prank when I'm in unknown territory. Beware, fresh meat, April Fools Day is one of my favorite holidays...

Welcome to the Chandlers, Justin!

Once upon a time...

Welp people of the world, I am happily off the market! That's right, Justin proposed to me over the Christmas holiday. He's the best and I'm thrilled to have a real, actual, honest-to-goodness BFF. Justin is my best friend forever. I can't wait to marry him.

  Want to know the story? Of course you do. It's a good story. Here it is:

Justin and I had been planning on going to Cedar City for a few days during our Christmas break. I love Cedar City and SUU and Justin shares that infatuation. On our way, Justin told me that he wanted to stop by SUU to visit an old friend. I'll admit, I was annoyed. The purpose of our trip was to be with family, and though I love old friends, this was Christmas and Christmas is synonymous with family.

We arrived in Cedar and after about an hour and a half, Justin wanted to go to SUU. Once again, I was annoyed and even tried to talk my way out of going with him.

• First, we went into the bookstore to "make sure it was open."  That was my mom's excuse to get me to go with him. Sneaky mom. 
•  Then we talked to some old friends which was very nice but not the one the Justin was expecting.
• Then Justin got a text from the friend saying he was on upper campus and to meet him there.

Once again, annoyed.  I thought he should come to us.

When we got to the Hunter Conference Center, Justin decided to take a detour to see the Great Hall. Now I was perplexed. I figured Justin must be feeling sentimental.

The first door to the Great Hall was locked. I thought, "yeah, it's about a half hour before they close for Christmas." (Thanks for loving me Justin, sometimes I can be a grump) Then to my utmost surprise, Justin opened the second door revealing a dozen of the most luscious red roses I've ever seen.

Welcoming me into the room was the best "proposal playlist" I could have ever dreamed of. Next to the roses was a beautiful digital picture frame displaying some of my favorite pictures of us. All of this was surrounded by Christmas lights and poinsettias in the most beautiful room on campus.

That was when I figured out what was happening.

Justin told me about how this place was special to him. We went to a dance there and we both realized how wonderful the other one was.

Then he knelt down, presented a stunning ring and asked me to marry him. I said "yes I will!"

To top it off, when we walked out of the Great Hall, my family was there waiting for us. I couldn't have been happier. Justin really knows how to make me feel like a million bucks.

Justin had called my brother earlier that day and orchestrated this amazing day. Thanks to the best brother and fiance I could ask for.

And thus begins the most exciting adventure of my life.

Home for the Holidays

I had a GREAT opportunity over the Thanksgiving holiday. Not only did I get to stuff myself silly, I got to take care of two little doggies without homes.

I volunteer at the Humane Society of Utah and for the holidays they ask the volunteers to take a doggy home because they don't get as much TLC over the breaks. I took home Sammy the 1 year old Chihuahua/Yorkshire Terrier mix and Gretchen the 6 year old Dachshund.

They were the most exciting guests I could ask for over the holiday. They followed me around like I was their mother duck. So cute.

Gretchen is a bundle of energy that everyone can love. She's adorable. She loves all the attention you can give her. She only held still for about a second while I took this photo of her sleeping

Sammy is a timid little guy but once he warms up to you, he'll be the best companion you've ever had. Sammy loves to have his belly rubbed and to cuddle up on your lap. He is a sweetheart!

If you are interested in one of these little guys contact the Humane Society of Utah!

Dumb Facebook Posts

I feel like Facebook makes most people look really dumb even though they try really hard to look cool on it.

First:

Albums of only you

I'm sorry but your album of 100 webcam pictures of yourself is not flattering... and it never will be. It just proves that you are slightly vain and like to take too many pictures of yourself. Get a significant other or a pet, then people can at least comment on how adorable you two are together.

To the girl on TRAX who takes pictures of herself on her phone for a solid hour every day: You pull the same "blue steal" face for every picture. Are you expecting one of those pictures to look better than the other?

Second:
Politics

Everyone seems to have an opinion on politics which rocks my socks off. I love politics and enjoy reading your opinions. It just really bothers me when someone says something "related" to politics, when really they just want people to comment on their post. Forgive me for not taking you seriously when you say, "Occupy Wall Street is dumber."

Third:
Vague emotional posts. 

I feel like Facebook is kind of like asking "how are you?" to random people. If someone were to respond with awful, I wouldn't know how to respond.  Similarly, I don't know what to say when you post "Life is so hard" on your Facebook. I'd like to read about your big events, humorous thoughts, insights and such. A vague post that says "so exhausted" is just another way of getting people to post on your wall. Please, elaborate people. You can't give me a sneak peak and then not explain it!

World, keep posting! I love to read about it! Just, you know, be wise in your posting. Moderation in all things.

I just think this is funny.

Downward Facing Dog

I'm a lucky duck. I've got an amazing boyfriend who is willing to go along with my whimsical cravings and sometimes even more whimsical behavior. While riding the train home, I told the amazing Justin Nelson that I was excited because my long awaited yoga DVD was supposed to arrive that day.  I then told him how much I was craving pizza.  What did Justin do? He bought a pizza, changed into some over-sized gym shorts and did 40 minutes of yoga with me. Best boyfriend ever.

I wish I had documented the experience as it was quite hilarious. Alas, I didn't take any pictures so this will have to suffice.

First of all, if you haven't tried out Rodney Yee's yoga DVDs, you're missing out. I'm new to yoga and this tough but manageable.  Plus, I can't afford to spend $125 a month for in person yoga lessons so paying $10 for a DVD is awesome.

This is the DVD I got. It's great.

Yoga quite literally knocked Justin's socks off. He was so impressed with it that while in the downward facing dog pose, I heard "Oh no! My sock!" Thud. Sock, off.  Any yoga-like meditation that was happening ended in that moment with riotous laughter.

The downward facing dog: Justin's favorite pose.

We thought we looked like hot stuff. But I'm sure we really just looked like a tangle of spaghetti noodles.

This is what we thought we looked like 

This is what we actually looked like

Needless to say, I will strongly encourage Justin to be my yoga partner... forever.  Never fear Justin, with me and Rodney, you too can do this:

And just because I'm a little vain, I just want the world to know that I did yoga with my brother in front of Stonehenge.

My Warrior One pose could use a little work but still, this is cool.

I still play dress up

I love Halloween.  Sadly, I have the misfortune of being in class this Halloween. That is an outright crime against partying! How am I supposed to dress up and have fun if I'm stuck in class? OUTRAGE!

Because I am pouting right now, I am also reminiscing on all the fantastic Halloweens that I've had over the years. Admittedly, I haven't always been such an awesome costume designer. I went through a "too cool for school phase" that resulted in a tragic loss of awesomeness. Cowboys, who needs them? Vampires, cliche. Such lame costumes have no place on a blog like this. Now it's all about channeling the awesomeness. That's right, awesomeness.

The following is just a sampling of my Halloweens over the past few years.

80's night. Though not for Halloween, it was during that time of the year. 2008

Cleopatra. Yep. That's my mom's prom dress.  2009

Poison Ivy.  Again, not on Halloween, but like I said, I still play dress up. 2010

Oompa Loompas. To date, this is still the best costume I've ever done. 2010

Smurfs. We made those hats. Hand stitched them in fact. 2011

Zombie run. Coolest running experience ever. 2011

People step it up. No more lame costumes! Channel your inner awesomeness. The impossible can become possible if you are AWESOME!

Reasons to love and hate the changing temperatures

Temperature is dropping here in Utah. This both excites me, causing fits of giggles to erupt inside me, and ushers dysphoria that is utterly unimaginable. Now the only question is, should I focus on the excitement or the dysphoria? First I'll settle for dysphoria.

What could bring such dismay to a typically adventurous and life-loving soul?  Well to begin...

The inevitable winter weight gain. Every year I say it won't happen and guess what happens? Weight is, in fact, gained. This happens to the best of us and there is only one person I know who can escape it, and I happen to be dating him. Never have I been more jealous of a man.  I have an action plan this year though - don't gain weight.

I wish this wasn't the story of my life.

Trying to look cool after falling on ice.  As you scrape the dirt, snow and salt off your backside and look around as if nothing happened, all you can think inside is "Did anyone see that?"

How cute!

Taking an hour to get ready to go outside... for five minutes. Don't get me wrong, I love coats and jackets. They are quite possibly my favorite piece of clothing. However, it's annoying that you have to put on half your wardrobe to stay warm when you go outside to get the mail. Lame.

"I can't put my arm's down!"

Getting sick. What's worse than being cooped up all day in a house and not even being able to eat your favorite foods. That is unless you'd like to see it again. Runny noses, coughing, cough syrups that taste like a well used car tire, vomiting, who needs that?

Saving the best for last, I give you the reasons that the dropping temperatures makes me so excited:

Fabulous food weather.  Pumpkin is in season and that means fabulous food. Pumpkin bread, pie, cookies, shakes, soup, and every other delectable treat that comes from this amazing gourd. Aside from pumpkin, it's soup, homemade bread, gravy, pie, hot cocoa, apple cider, cinnamon, and turkey season. Ooh it makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

OOOHH PUMPKIN!

Warms the heart and soul.

Holiday season! Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Can life get any better than dressing up in wild costumes, feasting on homemade meals that are so big you can't move afterward because you've eaten so much, getting presents from a mysterious man wearing a lot of red and most importantly realizing and giving thanks for the wonderful things in life. Holiday season also means family time, and that is the best part.

That is my hair. No wigs for this girl

I love Christmas time!

Fall and winter clothing. Let's be frank. People dress better in the winter. Styles are classier and better kept and not to mention more modest. It's easier to be a slob during the warmer months. Turtlenecks, tights, jackets/coats, scarves, boots are so sleek and attractive if worn correctly.

Fun season based activities. Carving pumpkins, going on a hayride, weaving through a corn maze, making gingerbread houses, sledding, ice skating. Oh the list could go on forever of fun things that are available only during this time of the year. You only have a limited time to experience these things each year, so get to it!

I carved this. OK not really, but I want to.

This just goes to show that you should come sledding with me.