her: christmas links i love

Below are some LINKS I LOVE:

him & her XXXVI: i smell snow

him & her XXXV: 5 topics to avoid at thanksgiving dinner

H I M  &  H E R :

Whenever Curtis and I talk about Thanksgiving dinner we always reference back to this SNL skit from last year.

We have all had awkward situations with family members that have different views on politics, religion or other happenings going on in the world. There is something to be said for healthy dialogue, but we all know that when it comes to crazy Uncle Glenn, matters can quickly devolve. 

Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but there are some topics you might want to avoid...

1. Politics
You are allowed to make a couple "You're fired" or "It's gonna be uge" jokes, but that's it. Talking politics with your own family NEVER results in really productive and informative discussions. Even if you're all in the same party or whatever, it won't matter. It's like metaphorically burning the Thanksgiving turkey. 

2. Religion
Everyone believes something different from one another. Even if the family you are sharing Thanksgiving with is all the same religion, there is still no room for judgement or questioning. Religion is such a touchy subject and you just don't want to over step your bounds at the dinner table. 

3. Sickness
There is a difference between telling us about you falling and hurting your knee than telling us about the nasty side effects your pain medication is giving you. No, I don't want to hear how you got that mole off your back or how you have been so constipated the last few weeks. We love you, but we don't need to hear your medical history while we are eating, so please leave that for your doctors to look at later.

4. Money
Beware of money talk! The kind that happens when people begin to tell other people what they should be doing with their money, or even worse, what they shouldn't be doing. Talking cash is a slippery slope, especially at a family gathering. Say thank you to your great aunt that slips you a $20 for gas and leave it at that.

5. Vegetarian/Gluten Free
If you are a vegetarian, that's great. If you are gluten free, even better. But remember it's probably best to keep your ethical or nutritional values to yourself as much as possible at Thanksgiving even though it may be a little weird for you, sitting inches away from a turkey carcass.

travel II: jackson

H E R : 

I don't care how many times we've been to Jackson it never gets old. I feel so lucky that we live close to one of the coolest National Parks in America. Jackson was so nice at this time I year with all the leaves changing and the crisp weather.

him & her XXXIV: fall style

YES we are a couple months into fall and there have been so many new trends this year.

Curtis & I have differing opinions when it comes to clothes and style in general. Sometimes I wear something out of the norm and it throws him off. He still calls me sir and salutes me when I wear army print....

So here are some of our opinions on today's fall trends:

him & her XXXIII: happy halloween

H E R:

Everyone observes Halloween a little differently. If you're a parent, you roamed your neighborhood with kids in tow, knocked on doors and racked up a ton of tootsie rolls.

travel I: indy

Last week I got the amazing opportunity to go to Indianapolis for a five day Public Relations Conference.

At BYUI we have a PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) chapter where we meet once a week to learn more about PR from professionals, have the opportunity to volunteer, and network.

Every year there is a huge National Conference somewhere in the US and this year it was in Indianapolis. There were thousands of students there from tons of different universities.

I'm not gonna lie when I first heard that we were going to Indiana for the conference I was unsure. Honestly the only thing I knew about Indiana was stuff about Pawnee and that's not even a real place. But Indiana exceeded all my expectations even though Ron Swanson wasn't there.

So we flew in to Indiana from Idaho (6 am flight--not a fan) and got there around 2 pm. I loved the city from the moment we got there! Downtown was awesome and the whole city was so clean. I felt like it was a mini New York without all the garbage and sketchy people.

We spent the next three days going to seminars, dinners, and workshops. I felt like I learned so much! We were given a lot of chances to network as well as opportunities to get our resumes reviewed and meet with well known agencies. Some of the professionals tore our resumes apart, haha. But all in all it was an amazing experience and I would go back in a heart beat.

One of the professionals who I spoke to suggested that I take this personality test and put it on my resume. I was fascinated with how accurate the results were. So I would definitely recommend taking it if you want to know what kind of person you are and what job would be the most suitable for you.

On our last day we had the opportunity to tour the city a little more. We went to the Central Canal, War Memorial Plaza, and hung out at the capital. We also ate at some great places: First Watch, Giordano's, and Jack's Donuts. We also got everyone who came together on the last night to rent bikes and ride around the city. 

It was the coolest experience ever.

 

him & her XXXII: pumpkin patch

H E R:

The Halloween season is finally here and I am so ready for it! Like every other girl, Fall is my favorite season and I am excited to celebrate it. The changing leaves, sweaters, and candy corn. It's my fav. 


So a couple weekends ago a bunch of us went to the U Pick Barn in Idaho Falls. They have pumpkins, kittens, and chickens. It's the perfect place to hang out and take pictures. We were so eager to go that we got there before most of the pumpkins...but still fun.




H I M :

The annual trip to get pumpkins just happened. Every year, like most people in this area, we head down to the U Pick Barn to pick out some pumpkins, take some pictures and ring in the Fall Season.

Along with the changing colors that fall offers, finding the perfect pumpkin is also one of my favorite things to do. We always go with our friends and it's a fun tradition. This year we stopped by Shari’s Café afterwards for some breakfast for dinner. 

The best part of the night? The free slice of pie for downloading their app. And it was pretty amazing pie too, so I am not complaining.

Fall seems to always be our busiest time of year. Trying to cram in a lot of fun activities before the weather gets too bad makes for some jammed packed weekends, but it is always a good time.

her I: freshman year vs. senior year

H E R :


As I have watched the new freshmen of 2016 walk around campus I think to myself, how has it already been 4 years since I first started college? Where did the time go? It feels like just yesterday I was living in the dorms and using a map to get to class.

That being said, so many things have changed since first started school. Here is my comparison of myself from Freshman year to Senior year.

Freshman Year: The first day of school is your biggest photo opp of the year.

Senior Year: You're already so stressed out by the first day of school that you're late for your first class and have to do your makeup in the bathroom.

Freshman Year: You always get ready before you go to the gym, because you would not dare go on campus without wearing makeup. 

Senior Year: Going to the gym itself is a victory and you could care less about how you look. You have no one to impress.

Freshman Year: You can't leave after church until you have a picture with your roommate.

Senior Year: You're so hungry after church gets out that you practically run to the car. Any picture you take is a disaster.

Freshman Year: Going to the library makes you feel like you're on an episode of Gilmore Girls even though you don't open your laptop the whole time you're there.

Senior Year: The librarian knows you by name and you have a designated table with a dent in the desk where you bang your head.

Freshman Year: Staying up all night to hang out with your friends is a regular occurrence, and by extension so is missing class.

Senior Year: The only all nighter that you experience is during finals week and you're alone, in your room, close to tears the whole time.

Freshman Year: Thinking about marriage makes you break out in hives, because you can't imagine living without your roommates.

Senior Year: If you're not dating someone or married, then you're freaking out about not dating someone or getting married.

Freshman Year: Fast food is your only option, because you're broke, tired, and busy.

Senior Year: Wait, that hasn't changed.

him & her XXXI: summer recap

H E R :


It doesn't matter how much you try to pack into the break, summer always goes by way too fast, and before you know it, it's already time to go back to school again.

I'm in total denial. I love Fall as much as the next girl, but there's something special about summer.

And this summer was one for the books! Endless camping, Spikeball, and freezing lakes! We got almost every thing checked off our summer bucket list! 


Idaho Summer Bucket List:

• Goldbug Hotsprings (in Salmon)
• Teton Vu Drive IN
• Darby Wind Caves
• Heise Camp out
• Float the river (twice)
• Picnic at the park
• Yellowstone
• Upper Palisades Camp out 
• Skinny Dipping
• Teton Thai
• Driggs Hike
• Blackfoot Fair
• Phelps Lake (in Jackson)

I am not ready to give these things up. But with a new season comes pumpkin patches, haunted houses, and new clothes. So everyone enjoy your last couple weeks of summer before we all start listening to Christmas music.

H I M :

The summer is coming to an end. Well actually it is pretty much over. School started back for everyone and we have even had a few hints of colder weather. 

Summer is probably my favorite time of year, especially since living in Idaho. It is filled with so many outdoor activities. We are pretty lucky that we live so close to so much fun stuff. This was probably one of our most adventurous summers yet and the memories we made were worth it. 

Hannah has actually got mad at me a couple times this summer, because I would say how I missed the cold. I hate being hot and sweaty with a passion. I'm not a fan of the snow don't get me wrong, but I love cold weather.

Like most white girls I am anxiously awaiting the fall season and everything that comes with it. Fall is Life.

him & her XXX: camping tips

H E R :


Before Curtis & I got married we registered for a ton of camping supplies. After we were married and had all of this stuff I was worried that we actually wouldn't use any of it. Growing up I think I only went camping once or twice. But since we've been married to have definitely become a camping couple.

Here are a few tips to think about before your next camping trip:


1. Get organized

When you plan your camping trip make sure that you are prepared for every situation. I can't even tell you how many times I have forgotten something important like paper plates or bug spray.

It may seem like a lot of work to make sure you pack everything, but it gets easier to more you go camping.

I would recommend purchasing a rubbermaid or some kind of storage container to keep all your odds & ends so that you'll always remember everything you need.

2. Be prepared

Plan out your meals, sleeping arrangements, hikes, and travel before hand. There is nothing worse than getting to your hike site and realizing that it's completely full, because you didn't reserve a spot.

Expect there to be things that don't go according to plan, but make sure you are prepared for most things.

3. Food

There are a lot of different options for the kind of food you can bring/make while camping. Everyone is different on their preferences.

You have the people that only bring clif bars and poptarts to eat and then you have the people that pack a cooler full of raw meat and fresh vegetables to make a gourmet meal.

It all depends on how much time you want to spend cooking. Curtis & I are tin foil dinner people all the way. We find it is the easiest way to cook a really good dinner.

H I M :


Things you should never forget:

Paper plates
Utensils
Paper towels
Trash bags
Tongs
Extra water bottles
Hand sanitizer
Propane

Baby wipes
Toilet Paper
Pillow
First Aid Kit
Bug Spray
Sunscreen
Extra blankets
Hoodie

Headlamp
Liter
Lighter Fluid


Here is a great recipe for a delicious tin foil dinner.