Spark Date

When one of your best friends is in town, you have to take them to do all your favorite things. If you've read this blog long enough you know that Spark, a non alcoholic bar here in Provo is just that, my favorite.

Our Love Story

Ben walked into church that first Sunday in our new student congregation Fall of 2010. He had a girlfriend, and he didn't date girls he went to church with every Sunday. There was too much potential for awkwardness if they broke up. So he wasn't really looking, but he surveyed the crowd: "I don't date girls in my ward, but if I were going to date someone, it would be her." I was wearing a pink sweater and a white skirt.

Two months later he complimented my earrings. I said thanks. I still had no idea who he was.

We're headed to California...

Have I mentioned that we're headed to California in two weeks? No? Well, we are. It is oh so convenient to have inlaws in such a beautiful place. Yeah, that picture is from when we were there in April. So gorgeous. Give me Ben and sand and ocean and I'm happy as a clam. 

Its also our 1 year anniversary next Monday!

The Hardest Thing About Being Married

Sometimes I get frustrated. Often I'm not the person I expect myself to be. Occasionally I'm just not very nice. More frequently than I would like, I'm selfish.

But no matter how the day goes, or any struggle we have at night, I wake up to hugs and kisses, in the arms of a loving husband who is trying his best. He tells me he loves me and then he gets up and makes me french toast with boysenberry syrup and whipped cream because I didn't want cereal (or maybe thats just this morning).

The hardest thing about being married is you aren't living for yourself. When I'm grumpy I can't just choose to let myself be grumpy and think I'm only hurting myself. I can't mope about a bad test or a long day without effecting someone I love. Sometimes I really don't like that. I want to be tired or sad or frustrated until I'm not anymore. But it isn't about me - its about him, and Him, and us. And when its about me, its about being a better me, a me that doesn't need to wallow in self pity and who is much happier when he's happy. Its about a me who is excited to be changing and growing and progressing.  Its about a me who is happier than I ever imagined.

So the hardest thing about being married is that you aren't living for yourself, but its the best thing about being married too.

P.S. Just a 3 ad spaces left for August. And prices are going up in September (you can lock in low rates now buy purchasing multiple months). Lets be friends :) 

I'm Happiest When...

 This week has been fantastic! Last week I told you that I am the happiest when I am productive; well, this week I wrote and turned in a 20 page term paper on Cybersecurity, making it my most productive week this semester. But, the thing that made me happiest? Having my little sister here. So I stand corrected, I am happiest when I am surrounded by family. 

I can't wait to share some of the fun things Maddie and I did while she was here, but I have lots of catching up to do. And so, I want to hear what makes you the happiest? These cute girls willingly shared when they're loving life the most: 

Jayda is a sweet wife, furmama, and inspired young lady. I love reading about all the fun things her and her husband do together - they got married just a year before Ben and I did. Jayda said 

 "I'm happiest when I'm with my husband, especially if we're spending time together outside on a sunny day!"

---

Brooke is seriously one of my favorite people. I can always count on her to be bubbly and positive which makes her awesome to be around. Besides being besties in real life, I love the way she strings beautiful words together on her adorable blog. She said: 

"Happiness? Easy. In the winter, snuggle me up with my husband, a good book, and something chocolate. In the summer, throw me in the pool and give me a snowcone after. A clean kitchen doesn't hurt either :)"

---

Sarah is the cute girl behind City Thoughts. I love reading about her life in the city and what she does on warm summer evenings. Sarah told me: 

"I am happiest when... I am cuddling on the couch with my boyfriend watching a movie, when I'm traveling, and so many times in between!"

When are you the happiest?

Who can you relate to the most? 

Meet & Tweet [Twitter Hop]

Today I am so excited to be cohosting this weeks MEET n TWEET! Recently I have to admit that I've become a little addicted to twitter. Its so fun to be able to interact with readers and bloggers I love and its also a great way to grow your blog. If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon - get on that :) And them come link up! 

Now let's get this PARTY started! 

Ready to make new Twitter friends?
Fabulous, just follow the rules.


RULES:
Link up your Twitter account, not your blog.
Follow your host and co-hosts. {The first 8 in the linky.}

The awesome host: Laura from Our Reflection

The fantastic co-hosts: 


Maria from Agape Love Designs
Erin from Pretty, Polished, Perfect.
Mar from Raising Bean
Jamie from Moms Test Kitchen
Amanda from Tales from a Far
Brittany from Bee Little Queen
Elisabeth (ME) from La Vita e Bella

Loving this hop? Shout it out to all your friends!

The more the merrier.

Tweet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Co-Host spots for August are now available. Interested?

Email me for details at momsgonnasnap@gmail.com.

Thanks so much for linking up today!

Hope you've had fun and made some amazing new friends.

Save the Date! Next Hop: 8/2

Grab a button and add it to your blog!

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SPONSOR In August

Are you looking to grow your blog, shop, or business next month? 

Or maybe you're just looking to meet some of the hundreds of awesome girls that hang around here?

Either way, I'd love to help.

Bella has been growing rapidly for the past two months and I'd love to share some of that growth with you! If you're interested, check out the sponsorship page for rates - and then shoot me an email [emearnshaw@gmail.com]. 

Examples of how you'll be promoted:

group intro (for all large sponsors)

link love (at least one for all sponsors)

feature post/guest post (for all feature sponsors)

lots of social media love (retweets, features, shout-outs) 

speaking of social media - tomorrow I'm cohosting the "Meet and Tweet" today..and if you haven't linked up yet already you need to!

Polka Dots on Pioneer Day

No words today. 

Except that I'm loving this new top from Oasap. 

And having my sister here. 

Today's Itinerary: Shopping, climbing, sunning, fireworks, fried scones. Jealous? I would be :) 

Shirt: OASAP// Belt: Gap// Skinnies: Gap// Heels: Macys

Are you doing anything for Pioneer Day?

Its Gonna Be a Good Week :)

 This little girl is in town this week. So between that and a 20 page term paper due on Wednesday, I have lots to do. Good thing in Utah the 24th is a holiday :) For all of you Provoites, anything I just have to take her to do/see/eat?

You can get more updates on our sister week via twitter and instagram.

And in the meantime you can check out some of these favorites:

This cute new haircut and this gorgeous new color.

This worthy cause.  

This guide to beating the summer heat. 

This stress relief. 

This photoshoot that makes me want to have babies. 

This fun shoe company. 

Oh and go wish this girl a happy birthday for me!

Love,

Elisabeth and Maddie

p.s. Coly, we wish you were here. LOVE YOU!

For you other bloggers, if you're looking to grow your blog in August, check out sponsorship here. 

My Favorite Missionaries

My little brother has been gone for the past year serving a mission for the Lord. We can email and write letters, and talk on the phone at Christmas. 

My best friend from high school gets back from his mission in two weeks. Its been emails for the past two years, and lots of unsent cards (I'm terrible at mailing things). 

My two favorite roommates just got mission calls. 

It'll be snail mail for the next year and a half. 

I am so proud of them,

in a humble -  you're incredible - I love you kind of way. 

Brooke has been called to serve the people of Montevideo, Uraguay by spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. She leaves in November. 

Courtney has been called to serve the freezing people of Russia for the next year and half. She left on Wednesday. 

These two girls have been such a huge part of my daily life for the past three years. Sometimes I really wonder what I am going to do without them. They waited up for me to get home from my first dates with Ben. They ate cookies every time I made them. They listened when I needed to vent and they loved me even when I didn't think I needed it. We laughed and cried and became family in that apartment. But even when I was married, I still hashed out life on their couch, made them cookies, and overanalyzed their dates. 

Now it'll be letters, and testimony sharing, and missionary work. 

I couldn't be more excited for them. 

They are going to be awesome, awesome missionaries. 

Brooke, Andie, me, and Court - Freshman Year 

At least when I lose them I get Caleb and Tyler back, almost.  

Here's to all the amazing missionaries serving in the world right now. God bless. 

p.s. photo credit to my other roommate Andie who

 is awesome and thankfully not leaving too. 

Instagram Hop!

Hi guys! 

It's our FIRST-EVER Instagram Follow Along. I have been using the application on my phone for a few months now and love how easy it is to share photos of my life, my interests, the things that make me happy... all while seeing what others enjoy sharing!

you can download the Instagram app on your smart phone!

First things first, to link up you'll need a web-based website address and you can do that by signing up at any of these locations: (I use followgram)

Followgram // Ink361 // Webstagram // Gramfeed // Extragram

 

// OUR HOSTS \\

Aimee from By Aimee, Kimberly from A Night Owl Helena from Bye Bye Bitters Sunday from A Sunday Afternoon and me, Elisabeth from La Vita e Bella  

// HOW TO CONNECT \\

1: “follow” MY Instagram account AND THE FOUR lovely hosts by clicking on the first 5 linked buttons below! 2: Add your Instagram link down below using one of these methods: Followgram, Ink361, Webstagram, Gramfeed or Extragram 3: follow along with others that you find interesting 4. Please share our little get together, please tweet: “follow along on @Instagram with @byAimeeSki today at http://wp.me/p1yWH4-hM” or you can always tell your lovely Facebook followers too! You can also Pin our post on Pinterest!! we'll be featuring some of our favorite Instagram accounts & images next Wednesday!! feel free to comment below with your favorites!
 
 This week Aimee has been hosting a Series by Sweeter CPA about the tax implications of hosting or winning a giveaway on your blog. You can read her articles by going here & entering a giveaway to win a FREE TAX ADVICE phone call!

And if you missed todays post on happiness on my blog, check that out too :)

please note, by linking up your email will be added to future link parties here at Aimee & Co. using the MailChimp application. you can unsubscribe at anytime, although we hope you don’t.

I'm Happiest When...

Happy Friday!

When are you happiest?

Recently, I am happiest when I feel productive. Which I don't right now - So I'm going to go work on my essay outline and then come back and write this post without feeling like a hypocrite.

3 hours later...

While growing up, my mom taught me that happiness is a choice. You might not be able to choose what happens to you, but you can choose how to react. SO true. I've learned you can also choose what you surround yourself with, and use your choices to choose things that make you happiest. I know that I'm happiest when I'm productive, my house is clean, and I"m a little bit organized. I'm also happiest when I'm with Ben, I've already spent some time in His word, and I've exercised. 

Not all of you are me, so I've asked some cute girls to share what makes them happy, in hopes to help you find what makes you the happiest, and then choose it.

Sierra is a cute girl and witty writer  I from work and is spending her summer in Chicago! She told me: 

I really love the feeling of accomplishment. I'm kind of a "words of affirmation" girl, so if I've done something new or challenging or hard, or if I've checked a goal off my list, I am really happy when I get to share these moments with the people I love the most. Also, a good folk rock song will make me happier than it probably should. 

***

Maria is an adorable blogger with the best study habits and comfy take on fashion :P She said: 

Quite honestly, I'm the happiest when I'm in a t-shirt and sweatpants, snuggled on the couch (preferably with my boyfriend) reading a book with a big cup of coffee. Or when I'm surrounded by my closest friends, sitting in a circle laughing with candles because the power is out

***

Amy is a young mom to the cutest little boy and is terrified of becoming a nun :) She told me: 

I'm happiest when I'm joking around with my two best boys, on a makeup shopping spree and eating mint oreo ice cream. If I could do all three simultaneously it would be prime. 

***

What do you think?
When are you the happiest? 

Provo Bloggers Lunch & A Lovely Visitor

London // Deidre // Jessica // Kirsten // Me // Corina // Brooke

Saturday was a day of eating out and awesome people. 

It started with a little blogging lunch at Olive Garden. Is anyone else obsessed with unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks? But anyway, Provo has some awesome bloggers and its fun to actually sit and chat with some of them. It was exciting to hear all about Deidre's wedding plans and figure out Corina and I have lots of mutual east coast friends. Oh, and Jessica and I lived in the same dorm freshman year, and we were in a ballet class together last year! Needless to say, it was a great time - and the plan is to do it again soon :) 

After Olive Garden Ben and I just hung out, got some studying done, and then headed to SLC to PICK UP MADISON! I've officially been away from home longer than I ever have since flying back to Utah after Christmas and so I was just a little excited :) We only had a few hours before I dropped her off with the cousins for a week of EFY, but I'll get her back on Saturday for another week of fun. We hit up my personal casual dining favorite, Noodles and Company and all split the family sized Penne Rosa. Gosh, I have the greatest family ever. Its so fun to see my little sisters grow up and become my best friends instead of just little girls who I love despite the fact that they steal my clothes (that shirt I actually let her have, she didn't have to steal). 

Do you get to see your family a lot? 

Have you become great friends with your siblings?
Do you love meeting bloggers in person?

Summer Skin MUSTS

This summer I have a goal of having clear and healthy skin. So, I asked Jenny from SkinLa-La what the "must-haves" are for summer skin: 

1. SUNSCREEN – absolutely vital. You MUST wear sunscreen to protect your skin. But, there’s no need to go higher than an SPF30.  Higher concentrations do not really absorb into the skin. 

2. Anti-inflammatory serums – high in anti-oxidants. One of the contributing factors to aging is inflammation in the skin.  That inflammation is often caused in our teen years and early 20’s, but the damage to the collagen and elastin matrix doesn’t really show until later. 

3. Non-Oily moisturizing.  Everyone wants to slather on some thick refreshing moisturizer after being in the sun, but often these concentrated moisturizers are too much for the skin and cause the skin to become clogged and then produce excessive oil.  Use a light moisturizer, but maybe a bit more frequently.  Sometimes pure essential oils like Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E can be the best moisture even for young skin.  Use only a drop or two and you’ve got a great non-comedogenic moisturizing treatment that can be used on almost all skin types – even oily skin types.  These oils do not clog the pores.

4. Toning is also a great thing to keep the skins’ pH balanced in the summer.  This is also true for winter, but the summer when your pH is out of wack you tend to get oily and shiny.  In the winter it can cause dry skin that looks chapped and irritated.

GREAT AT HOME SUN BURN TREATMENT FOR THE SKIN. 1. 1 cup organic plain yogurt.

2. ½ peeled cucumber

3. Fresh mint or basil 

4. Tablespoons aloe vera gel.  You can use this from filleting an actual aloe vera plant.  Cut off the tip and remove the gel from the inside  OR just use some aloe vera sun burn gel (much easier).

Mix in a blender.  Make sure it is smooth.  Apply with a soft applicator brush.  Leave on for 15 minutes then rinse off with tepid (not too hot and not too cold) water.

Keep a few cooled  / cut cucumber’s and apply on top of the eyes while your moisturizing mask is setting.  It really is amazingly soothing, not just something silly shown in the movies! 

Thanks Jenny for the tips! Have you heard of Skin La-La before? My whole family back home uses these products and I can't wait to tell you about my experience with them once they get here in the mail! 

Fun fact: I used them for all my bridesmaid gifts last summer!

Bolts of Thunder Video Premier

So if you saw last Friday's post, you know I had a slight dilemma choosing an outfit for Thursday night. Why? Because Ben's skate video was premiering here in Provo. Ben met these guys in our old ward (congregation) and has been skating with them for a few months. They've been filming recently meaning Ben came home daily with a new scrape, cut, or bruise. Not a fan. 

But, its great that he gets to work on something he used to love so much and had been on hold for a long time. Its also funny when he gets home and attempts to explain the new trick he got that day. I think I understand more when he speaks spanish. 

As promised, here's the video - Ben's clip is the very first one.

And a shout out to Jon for all the editing! (Yes, he also has a blog:)

Pretty cool huh? I married one talented boy (who apparently has talents I never really knew about). 

Thanks to all of our friends that come! You guys are awesome.

In an attempt to be a supportive wife I made german chocolate cupcakes. Usually the frosting I make is delicious but way to heavy. If I want to pipe it like this, there's wayyy too much on each cupcake. So, domestic me decided to try a new whipped frosting recipe 45 minutes before we left. It was a disaster. It didn't set, or stay whipped, and makes the purple food coloring look like tie-dye. 

First of all, loved her outfit. Second, I was rather nervous to have people try these. 

Brooke and I concluded this girl probably blogs, if she doesn't, she'd do killer outfit posts :P 

I need to clean these shoes. And yes, I'm bringing anklets back :) 

Ben, I love you (and your skater self)!

5 Random Facts

Thank you guys so much for the support yesterday! The test was a little surprising but nowhere near as bad as it could have been :) Anyways - here's 5 random facts and I know, I know - I have a blogging lunch, a sister in town, and a skate video to blog about - but that would require me to plug in my camera....and I just like my wedding pictures too much :)

---

1. I always had two fears in life: Marrying someone stupid, and crows. Now that I'm married to a brilliant boy, my new fear is pregnancy. I'm not terrified of having a child, or being a mom, or getting pregnant, but BEING pregnant, nine months of nausea and exhaustion and misery, that's terrifying. 

2. Right now, if I could relive any day of my life, it would be my wedding day. Not just because I get to put on a beautiful dress and be blissfully happy, but I get to be on the east coast, surrounded by people I love, and have the party of a lifetime after a ceremony of eternity. 

3. My favorite part of my life is right now, although I have a feeling its only getting better. If I could only be one age for the rest of my life, I'd pick 45. By then my kids will little adults, but we'll still be young and fun. We'll go on awesome family vacations (with money we don't have in our early twenties), and maybe my oldest will be married. That would all be perfect. So perfect :) 

4. Sometimes I get mistaken for my little sister, and I think she's a celebrity :) 

5. If there were a soundtrack to my life, and it could play three songs (and I had to pick those three in two minutes while sitting at my computer) They'd be

Dancing Through Life: Wicked - especially when I'm dancing, skipping, or just happy :) 

I Thought I Loved You Then: Brad Paisley - whenever I'm with Ben :) 

Unwritten: Natasha Beddingfield - when I feel like I don't want to have to make decisions :) 

What are you terrified of? Favorite Day?
linking up here