Happy Earth Day!

In honor of Earth Day today I decided to post a little something on how we can all be a little "Greener" in our everyday life.  The following list is a great way to becoming Earth friendly without changing your lifestyle too much.  And if we all just implement one of these things it can be a huge step in the direction of fighting global warming.

1.  The Three R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)!!!  I think I learned about this simple saying in kindergarten, but I didn't start applying it to my lifestyle until I was in my 20's.  You can take the simplest steps and make the biggest differences.  Examples:  Reduce- Turn off water while you brush your teeth, Reuse-  Instead of using plastic bags at grocery stores spend the extra dollar and buy reusable cloth bags, and Recycle-  This is my favorite.  Many of the things we use everyday is recyclable material (ex. pop cans, milk cartons, water bottles), so pay attention to where you throw things away and if you happen to be by a recycling bin, make the effort to throw things there.

2.  Skip on the bottled water.  Here is a fact for ya.  Each year Americans throw away 25 billion individual bottled waters.  This is stuff that just ends up in landfills producing large amounts of container waste.  So the solution, buy a water filter and a reusable water bottle.

3.  Eliminate "Phantom Power".  Basically, if any sort of appliance or charger is left in an outlet (even if it is turned off) it will continue to use power.  So to help stop this, simply unplug your devices or invest in a power strip.  It will even help cut back on your power bill.  Saving money is always a plus.

4.  Stop junk mail!   By subscribing to the following two websites you can eliminate up to 70 to 90% of your junk mail.  That in return is not only nice for you but it will help cut back on the over 100 million trees that are destroyed each year and saves the 20 billion gallons of water that is used.  So visit www.41pounds.org or www.greendimes.com and for a small price you can be pretty close to junk mail free.

5.  Use reusable dishes instead of plastic or styrofoam.  A great example I found was when you go out for ice cream, get the cone instead of the cup.  You are basically eating your silverware instead of using and then just throwing away plastic.

6.  Use natural chemicals to clean your home.  Check out the Green Works Natural Cleaners by Clorox.  I love this stuff.  Not only does it make my house super clean and sparkly, but I am not putting any harsh chemicals into the environment.  Double Plus!!!!

7.  Change your bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs.  They may cost a little more, but they last up to 15 times longer.

8.  Buy organic produce.  Honestly I didn't understand the big hype over organic foods, but after I researched it a little more I can see why it is such a good thing.  Since organic food doesn't use pesticides, it uses less energy.  So not only is it healthier for you, but it is healthier for the planet.

9.  Take advantage of your local farmer's markets.  This is one that I totally want to get into.  It may cost a little more, but the quality is likely to be better.  And it helps save energy by reducing the fossil fuels needed to transport foods and other items all over the world.

10.  Save water to save money.  This is the one that will be the hardest for me, but I am willing to try.  Take shorter showers to reduce water use.  This will help cut back on water and heating bills.  For every two minutes that you take off your shower, you save 10 gallons of water.  That can add up to so much.

And here are some facts on how long it takes to biodegrade:

Brown paper bag

1 to 5 months

Cigarette butts and filters

12 years

Plastic bags, caps, and lids

Decades

Aluminum cans

2 to 5 centuries

Styrofoam cups and clam shells

Virtually forever

Now lets be honest.  Do I do all of these?  No.  But I do what I can to be aware of my surroundings and what I can fit into my everyday lifestyle to do my part in being eco- friendly.  So with that said, I hope that everybody had a fantastic Earth Day, and I hope that we can all strive to be a little "Greener".

California Here We Come

Well, it's official!  In about a week and a half I will be a "California Girl"... again.  Our new home is in Citrus Heights, CA (it is right outside of Sacramento).

This is the place we get to call home for the next 4 months.  We lived in these same apartments 3 summers ago and loved them!  They have their own washer and dryer in the apartments and that is absolutely priceless.  No scary basements for this girl to do laundry in.  YAY!!!
Where we are going to be living is so close to so much stuff.

We are about 2 hours from San Francisco.  You gotta love those fish and chips.  YUMMY!

And then we are about 3 hours from my favorite Northern Cali beach town, Santa Cruz.  Chris and I love this place.  It has so much charm.

My sight seeing goal for the summer is to make it to this place.  Yosemite National Park.  It looks stunning and is only about 3 1/2 hours away.  Not too bad.

This summer is going to be pretty hectic and crazy for both Chris and I, but I know that a few fun adventures are just around the corner for us.  It wouldn't be a summer without them.  I am so excited to get this summer started.  I have extremely high hopes and goals for AXIS Protection's first summer, and I know that the summer will not disappoint.  So wish us luck on our next adventure.  And watch out Cali...  the Burrup's are back!

Our Mini Vacation To Vegas

Chris' job presented him with a 3 day getaway to Las Vegas this weekend, and of course I had to tag along.  Although it was short and mostly job related, we still had a spectacular time.  We got to Vegas early Thursday afternoon and after we checked into our hotel room we headed straight to the "2009 International Security Conference & Exposition".  Chris and I walked into this thing thinking that it was mostly going to deal with his line of work, home monitoring.  We were so naive.  Basically, this gigantic building was filled with the newest technologies for all of your security needs.  Hundreds of companies were there displaying and demonstrating all sorts of equipment ranging from surveillance cameras, to metal detectors, to doors that only allowed access after if scanned your finger or eye, all the way to your everyday taser and rotating doors.  It was all very interesting.  There was so much to see that we spent Thursday and some of Friday there.  After we left I couldn't help but feel a little sad that such extreme security is needed.  But it was also a relief to see the amazing efforts that these people put into their work to help protect the safety and well being of everyone.  Technology is an amazing thing.  

Friday was an unbelievably cold day in Vegas.  So after we left the Expo we went to the Strip and shopped around a little.  We decided to call that an early day and besides just going to dinner we didn't do too much.

This was a one of my favorite displays in a hotel.  What you can't tell from the picture is that it looks like it is raining from the ceiling.  It was beautiful.  

Saturday on the other hand,  we crammed with as much as we could since we were leaving early the next morning.  First stop, the Stratosphere so that I could ride the rides (something that I have never done before).  Now first off I have to tell you that I am not easily scared, I mean I went sky diving without so much as a hesitation or butterfly in my stomach.  So you would think that I would be able to handle the ride called Big Shot, yeah, no problem... right?  That was so not the case.  I was not only scared I was FREAKED!  I kept telling Chris on the way up "Honey, I'm scared".  And he would look at me with confusion written all over his face and all he would say is "Really?"  So I didn't find much comfort there obviously.  So with sweaty hands and a stomach filled with butterflies I climbed into the seat to face my fears.  In the end I realized that I had nothing to fear.  The ride was absolutely amazing and completely exhilarating.  I would totally do it again.  We also went on the other two rides and they were awesome also, but neither gave you the rush like Big Shot.  

Chris and I at the top of the Stratosphere before the "RIDE".  I hide fear well if I do say so myself.

Big Shot.  The ride I conquered.

The rides Insanity

and X-Scream.

Chris and I went to Vegas under the impression that we were not going to spend much money.  Well, he remembered that I have been talking about this certain show that I wanted to see for so long and he talked me into splurging and buying tickets for us to go later that evening. Well, I was naturally elated, because I finally got to see "The Beatles LOVE Cirque Du Soleil" show.

It was by far my most favorite part of the trip.  The entire show was so visually overwhelming and artsy that it took my breathe away countless times and the fact that it was filled with some of my favorite Beatles songs only made it that much better.  It was an absolutely incredible show that swept you up into a world of fantasy and imagination and it never disappointed as it went from song to song.  Chris even enjoyed it and that is saying a lot because this usually isn't his sort of thing.  

When you first walked into the theatre this is what you walked into.  It honestly felt like you were walking through clouds.  I loved it.

So needless to say we had a great time and it was nice just getting away. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

My favorite day of the year is my birthday.  I love that there is a day specifically set aside to celebrate me.  I owe the majority of feeling this way to my Mom.  Growing up she always made each us aware that this was our day.  A day to set everything else aside and to focus on that one person.  We never had extravagant parties or huge presents but we were always surrounded by family. And as the years go by she has never wavered in making our birthdays "Our Day".  And I still get the cards with her thanking me for being her daughter (or in the case of this year a text message and a card).  Thank you Mom for making me not only feel special on my birthday but everyday.  

So I officially turned 24 on Friday (I'm getting so BIG!).  I strongly believe that everybody should have a "Birthday Week" but Chris still hasn't exactly caught on to this idea, but he did give me an amazing "Birthday Weekend".  My birthday started out with the first birthday text message coming through at about 7:45 am (thanks Ashley!) and they continued all throughout the day.  Chris surprised me with one of my favorite breakfast pastries to start off my big day.  Donuts!  My Hubby totally knows that the fastest way to put a smile on my face is by showing me food, and he hit it right on with my birthday donuts.  Yummy!  

Breakfast of Champions

Mmmmm, Delicious!

That evening we celebrated my B-day with my families birthday tradition of having the birthday person picking where they would like to go and eat and everybody going there.  My choice... Texas Roadhouse.  Loved it!  

Amanda, Vincent, Ashley, and Mya at dinner.

So anybody that knows my brother knows that he is incapable of taking a decent picture.  Every picture I have ever tried to take of him, he is always making a funny face (on purpose).  So after about 25 times of taking the exact same picture and him constantly being yelled at to "smile normal" (poor guy) I finally got this one.  Is it the best?  No.  But I'll take it.  Thanks Vince, for giving me one to work with.

Chris, me, and my Mom at dinner.

So after we stuffed our tummies we headed back to my house to have a little cake and open gifts. 

I always get bashful at the singing part.

Present time!  That's my sisters graduation picture.  She looks beautiful.  She just wrapped it so I would have something extra to open.

Photo Shoot!

My little sis, me, and my little bro.  Believe it or not this is a great picture of him :).

The love of my life and me.

And just like Chris' B-day we all gathered around to watch America's Funniest Home Videos (practically my families favorite show).  We ate good food, were in excellent company, and laughed hard.  It was a GREAT day!  

On Saturday Chris pretty much devoted the entire day to me.  We didn't do too much out of our normal Saturday routine but it was great just being together.  And a couple times he did say that we could do whatever I wanted because it was my "Birthday Weekend".  That put an instant smile on my face.  I did take him up on that offer and he took me to a scary movie.  Something that I love and he doesn't.  Thanks for the sacrifice Babe.   

Well, I had a fantastic birthday.  Thanks everybody for the amazing gifts and all the Birthday Wishes.  It was all more than I ever expected.  You sure do know how to make a girl feel loved.  I am so excited to be 24 and to see what kind of perks comes with being this great number.  Oh, the joys of growing up!

Bowling Night

Anybody that knows me knows that I am so not a sports person.  I never have been.  I am incredibly uncoordinated so I bring nothing to a team and I simply just don't have patience for it.  But just like most people I enjoy some healthy competition every once in a while.  And my sport of choice (and yes in my eyes it is totally a sport) is BOWLING!  I absolutely love bowling!  I love the loud music, looking around at everybody and seeing nothing but smiles and hearing laughter, and I love the noise the ball and pins make when they are colliding into each other.  But, just like any other sport, I am absolutely horrible at bowling.  I have no idea what the right technique is or how to get the ball to roll where I want it.  I don't even think that I have ever scored over a 90.  So most of the time I end up embarrassing myself and coming in dead last, but it is so worth it.  

Naturally then, I was so excited when a group of us got together to go bowling this past weekend.  It was a complete blast.  We split up into teams of boys vs. girls and for some reason I totally thought I had developed skills over night and that we had a chance.  So not the case.  Luckily I had the best teammates in the world and they cheered me on every time.  Even when the ball went straight to the gutter.  Sorry girls.  Poor Brittany could have taken the guys all by herself, she was so good.  And Vanessa, well, her and I were pretty much on the same page :). And the guys... is there anything they're not good at?  So as you probably guessed, the girls lost.  But, we made them sweat... a little. 

Everybody showing off their bowling stances.  Vanessa is demonstrating my favorite technique.  The "Squat and Roll".  This move is incredibly simple but highly effective.  Her and I knocked down many pins using this classic stance.

As you can see, I love bowling.

The "Famous Footwear".

 The girls.  Vanessa loves the camera :).

The winners.

My Husband... The Wedding Singer?

On Friday, Chris' friend, Phil, got married, and one of the groom's wedding wishes was for his friends to reunite their old garage band and serenade him and his wife with a couple songs.  

Now let me tell you, these guys are no amateurs.  When Chris and I were first dating we were unable to hang out on certain days because the band was getting together to "jam out" at Chris' old car lot.  And then shortly after that the guys landed their first gig...  A high school reunion!  Now I was lucky enough to be able to attend this and let me tell you, they were AWESOME!   Following that they were even invited to play at an event in front of a huge crowd in Blackfoot.  From what I hear the crowd loved them.  Well things did settle down for this group and besides a few jam sessions through the years, things got a little quiet.  
Which brings us to Phil's wedding.  With a total of about 6 hours of practice the guys got up in frontof the reception and performed "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Just Like Heaven".  I was so proud.

Jared and Taylor were on guitar and Chris was on vocals.

Chris singing "Total Eclipse of the Heart".

Taylor singing "Just Like Heaven".

They did such an amazing job.  The crowd loved them, and telling from this picture I would have to say the bride and groom did too.

Old Friends and New Friends

When I first met Chris one of the first things that I noticed was the extensive circle of friends he had gathered around him at all times. They were such a tight group of friends and you could instantly tell that they would always look out for each other. Well, as years went by and each friend slowly got married and then some even ventured so far as to have kids, I can honestly say that their friendships never faltered, if anything, they only got stronger. They are all amazing guys and I would even go so far as to call them family. Well, with this group of amazing guys comes their other halves... their amazing wives. I am so excited and anxious to get to know these amazing women. It feels like I have known some of them for years (and in some cases I have). Unfortunately, we don't get to see them as much as we would like. But, fortunately this weekend was an exception.

On Friday Chris' friend Phil invited some couples over for a caramel apple and ice cream sundae get together. It was so great being gathered in a kitchen and catching up on what each one of us has been up to. I have not laughed so hard in such a long time. But luckily the party didn't stop there. The following day Chris and his friends were getting together for a bachelor party for Phil. So their day started out with some paint balling, where each guy returned home with some major war wounds, and then they followed that up with a barbecue and a bonfire up at Scout Mountain. Well, while the guys were out having their fun, a few of the wives and I decided to have some of our own fun. So we went to dinner and carried out some great conversation and then went to see a movie after that.

The girls and I at dinner.

(Sadly, this is the only picture I got of the entire weekend.)

It was a great bonding experience for us and I can't wait to do it again. This was a great weekend filled with reliving old memories and making new ones. Chris and I are so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people.