Fall Ride

McKay and I took a fall ride up Provo Canyon and Squaw Peak on Sunday.

Mt. Timpanogos

View of Rock Canyon in Provo

On top of Squaw Peak

Where has summer gone?

I haven't posted for so long. I'm so lame and boring! I need to rekindle my relationship with my blog. Well, we've been back for 2 1/2 weeks from Costa Rica and it feels like it was a dream. I think about our trip and it seems like I wasn't there for 8 wonderful days. Coming back was kind of an adjustment. Life down there is so chill and I had a hard time being efficient at home and at work. "Pura Vida," means pure life, and the Costa Ricans always say this and means the same thing as "hakuna matata" from the Lion King. I've been in this Pura Vida mode where things that seem really important to me before the trip don't anymore. These are the kind of things I would beat myself up about not doing everyday of my life, such as: exercising everyday for a hour, cleaning the house, and doing the dishes. I'm slowly getting back into the groove and grind of things, but I think Costa Rica gave me a perspective of what really matters in life. The people down there have a lot less then we do but seem more happy. Less is more. Costa Rica has made me feel blessed to grow up in the gospel with a loving family. Here are some of my favorite pictures from our trip.

Update

This is what I've been up too:

Every morning I get up early and I take a nice brisk walk in the park nearby our apartment. I see some odd and cool things. I saw a air balloon in the sky, and a homeless man sleeping on a bench. What a delight!

I've been doing a lot of mountain biking. I do it without the heels and high thighs.

Planning our trip to Costa Rica

I'm officially a coupon freak. I'm not very good, but I've been hooked on all of the couponing websites:

pinchingyourpennies.com

grocerysmarts.com

fabulouslyfrugal.com

couponingforautism.com

I went to Smith's last week. The total for my groceries came to $92.34. With the coupons and buying everything on sale it came to $53.17. I saved almost $40! This nothing compared to the savings I see the couponing freaks get. Some save more then they spend. I'm looking in having a couponing class and inviting a bunch of friends. If anyone is interested in coming, comment on this blog and we'll get one scheduled!

I started this slave workout. It's taken me two weeks to do one week of workouts. I've been doing the classic option and it's been kicking my butt. I've taken a short break from racquetball but will return in the late summer.

Here we come Costa Rica

McKay and I have been married for 3 1/2 years. McKay went to Costa Rica on his mission and I've been begging him for these 3 1/1 years to take me to Costa Rica. I've heard so many wonderful things about this place and have told him that we wouldn't be even thinking of starting a family until we go because I know we would never be able to go. So after these 3 1/2 years we've been saving a little here and there and finally last night we bought our plan tickets to go. I feel so lucky and blessed to be able to have the opportunity to go on this trip. We leave the end of August and we'll be gone for 9 days. We're going on a budget and plan on having an adventure by staying in some hostiles and sometimes roughing it. But I'm still excited and look forward to see where McKay spent two years of his life serving the Lord and teaching the people of Costa Rica.

Happy 100th Birthday Bra

Dear Bra,

I would like to give a shout out to you and let you know that you're one of my most important thing I put on each morning. Thank you for making me look fuller then what I'm actually. Because of you, I wouldn't have had a job for 2 1/2 years and I wouldn't be so passionate about making sure women wear you correctly.

Sincerely,

Your biggest fan

A Most Random Message

A few weeks ago I got this message sent to me through my blog.

Hi, my name is Julie. We don't know each other, but I heard from a friend that you are the bra expert and I have a question for you. I married my dear husband 7 months ago in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple, and as such, I have been wearing garments since that time. So my question is this: What is your "expert" opinion about wearing the bra under or over the garment top? I don't know if I should feel bad about this, but I think it the bra serves its purpose much better under the garment. I get rashes and feel uncomfortable with the bra over the garment top, but once a sister told me that my bra should never go under. This probably all sounds silly to you, but I'm too embarassed to talk to my friends about the subject. I would appreciate any help you could give me with this dilemma. If you could e-mail me, that would be great. Thank you so much for any help you can give me!!!

When I got this it was so random I couldn't believe it. I think it's so funny I'm considered the "Bra Expert" to the public. I was so excited to answer her question because I got this asked a lot when I worked at Nordstrom. Here is my opinion to her question.

Julie,

I have to be honest I was so suprised and excited to get your e-mail. I no longer work as a "bra expert", but when I read your e-mail it got me so giddy and it reminded me how much I enjoyed being a "bra expert." I'm so curious, if you don't mind, who is this friend of yours that knows me? This is a great question, you shouldn't feel embarrassed at all about it. Talking about breasts and bras is so natural to me because I would do it all day for my job. I would get asked the same question a lot too because I helped women who were 95% LDS. Here is my "expert" opinion on this topic.

When I got married in 2006, my grandfather who sealed us in the temple and who use to be a temple president, stake president, and bishop told me that there's no doctrine in the church saying there's one right way to wear your garments. Meaning wearing your bra over or under your garments. He told me this decision on how to wear your garments should be between you and the Lord. Some women who are physically handicapped and have to wear their garments one way. You should wear your garments in a way that will help you to carry out the covenants you've made.

Here is an exmaple, the Lord said to multiply and replenish the earth. This doesn't mean you need to have a baby as soon as you get married. I've heard many church leaders say that no one outside your marriage and the Lord should influence you on when it's the right time to start a family. That this decision to start a family will be revealed to the people who will be doing the procreating and the Lord. To be honest, I don't think Heavenly Father is going to care how you wear your bra, I think he's more concerned about other things. No one should judge you or tell you you're a bad person if you wear your bra a certain way. I think the reason why some LDS women are so opinionated about this is because they've seen their mothers, grandmothers, and friends wear their garments and bra one way; so they think that's the only way they can wear them.

I hope I answered your questions. If you have anymore please feel free to e-mail me again. Thanks for the inspiration you gave me! Look forward to hearing back from you.

This is her response:

Hi Courtney

I just wanted to tell you that I went to the distribution center on Saturday and have been wearing the tops you've recommended for the last couple days. So far, so good! I also had a nice little chat with my dear husband and he agreed that if I am wearing certain tops, it is ok to wear my bra against my skin!!! That's like a double breakthrough. Thanks for responding to me. I hope to hear back from you again some time.

Julie

My response to her

Hey Julie, sorry it's taken me a long time to get back with you. This is the first time in a few weeks I've been able to sit down and go through my e-mail. I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying those tops I've recommended, are they still working out? I'm glad I could help you. I have a question for you actually.... Why is your husband so concerned about your garments? I would think husbands wouldn't really how you wear your bra with your garments, as long as you wear them and are committed to your covenants. I know it took a lot of courage for you to ask me your question. Maybe you have friends or girls in the ward who have that same question as you did. So I challenge you to be more open about this topic. You never know when a friend or family member is someone is struggling spiritually or having a hard time adjusting to their garments. Anyway, stay in touch and if you have more questions please don't hesitate! Are you on facebook? If you are, I'm going to add you.

If any of you have different opinions or questions regarding this same topic, let's start a conversation about this!

Sincerely, the Bra Expert

Spring Break

McKay, myself, my cousin Erin, and her husband Tanner took some time off and went on a little vaca, we stayed in Vegas, LA, and San Diego. This is what we did:

Went to beautiful Balboa Park in San Diego

Visited Cabrillo National Monument

Overlooked San Diego Bay

Cruised Mission Beach

Played some frisbee on Coronado Island

Went to the Jay Leno Show

Janet Jackson was the guest on the show. Sorry Janet you were kind of boring

Spent a day in Vegas

Saw this