Let's catch up on some waves...

Thank goodness for Sundays...day of rest. I truly need it after the past couple weeks. Let me start with the weekend before last. Actually I'll just do a post about that, then I'll do one for this last week, 'cause this might get long :)

Lecith (my cousin) came down to visit her boyfriend Blake. We had spent some time visiting with them and on Friday they asked if Ben and I would like to go down to Blake's family's condo at Rocky Point and spend a day at the beach! Well, since poor Ben wasn't going to be able to come to my work's Convention this year at Laguna Beach we thought this would be a nice substitute.

So, Friday night Lecith, Blake, Ben and I drove the 4 hours to Rocky Point and made it there by around midnight. Most of us had taken turns sleeping on the way down (I don't know why we were all sooo exhausted!), but when we got there we were pretty awake so we watched "7 Pounds." Well, we all started the movie but everyone fell asleep or went to bed before it was over...except for me. I just couldn't fall asleep without knowing what was going on!! Plus baby girl was SUPER awake all that time and was doing those crazy movements that make it look like there's something trying to escape from my big belly! Interesting movie, I must say. Not my favorite, kinda sad, but a good one to watch at least once.

Anyway, the next day we went out for some traditional Mexican breakfast. I had chorizo w/eggs, tortillas and beans. Ben and Blake had breakfast burritos, and I can't remember exactly what Lecith had, I think the same as me. All Delicious! Ohhh, how I miss great traditional Mexican food :( Oh, and on the way out of the restaurant Ben bought some sunglasses from a street vendor. He loves, loves cheap sunglasses.

Then we went back to the resort/condo place, and headed down to the beach. It was such a nice day, fairly hot, but not too bad...at least not Arizona bad ;)

Ben and Blake went to find out how much the jet skis would cost, I think $90/hr for two. So, Lecith and Blake went back up to get the money while Ben and I stayed on the beach so he could buy MORE sunglasses! He ended up with 3 pair by the end of the trip. Haha...I did get one pair of white Dior knock-offs, and I really like them. We got the 3 pairs from the beach for $15, not bad.

When Lecith and Blake got back we hopped on the jet skis (yes, even 6 months pregnant 'ol me). Don't worry I took it pretty slow. Eventually we traded partners and Lecith hopped on with me while Ben and Blake went crazy on the other one. Oh, I wish we had gotten pictures, but we don't have a waterproof camera...one day.

After that we played in the pool for a little while and then went out for some tacos and shopping downtown. We had to leave by around 5 that day to get back for a birthday party, and time was getting short so we went over to Tio Reyel and Tia Leecha's condo to see if they were home and say hello. We chatted for a good while, and Tia Leecha gave us some of the most delicious pie she got from her Young Women. I think it was Cream Cheese, Sweetened Condensed Milk, and whipped topping??? I'm not sure on the 3rd ingredient, so maybe try it and let me know ;)

We chatted a little too long, and by the time we got going and then stopped for gas (oh and we had to stop at Thrifty for a little ice cream), it was pretty late when we really got on the road. So, I think we ended getting home around 11 pm, and of course we were "beexhausted" (in the words of Ben), from swimming and riding all day, and we just passed out when we got home.

It was an awesome trip, and we had TONS of fun. Thanks Blake and Lecith!!!!

Here are the few pics we did take:

Haha, I didn't notice that Lecith and Blake have patterns and Ben and I are solids. That's cute.
View from the condo.

On the balcony.

Getting some Tacos, yumm...

Blake and Lecith...oh how cute!!!

Fast Food Tippers

Thanks to everyone who voted on my poll about tipping when ordering food to-go. The votes were 1-6. 1 Said to tip, and 6 said no.

This is something that commonly bothers me, because I'm always at a crossroads as to what to do. Usually I'm ordering to-go food from a fairly nice place, and they always add that little line on the receipt for a tip amount, but those places, I'm sure, are paying those people (not waiters and waitresses, but cashiers) on an hourly (not tip based) basis. And a lot of times they ask you to sign and add up the total before they give you your food, then I get really worried thinking "If I don't put a tip, what will they do to my food?" You know they're going to look at the receipt before they give you your food.

When I worked at a Mexican resturant as a cashier/to-go girl I never expected a tip, but when I did get one on occasion it was very nice; still I never expected it 'cause well, how hard was it to ring them up and hand over the food? Not hard at all, seriously it was hardly work. But then on the other hand, when I worked at Olive Garden there was a girl that would specifically work the to-go's, and she said she made bank in tips. That she even had repeat customers that would fork over $30 in tips each time (of course those were much larger orders). But for most places, to-go is hardly any work, so I don't really feel like it's worth tipping.

So, it always bothered me...what is the kosher thing to do? What does everyone usually do? Well, that's why I put up the poll. I decided that whatever the majority came out to be, is what I am going to do from now on. So, unless I get really good service from my next to-go person (which I always feel deserves a little something extra), I'll be doing the common thing from now on. No more tipping when I pick up my to-go food. I've joined the NTTGFF (Non-Tipping To-Go Food Force), and I'm feeling pretty good. :)

~Crystal

"You're just like a Love Story"

So, the other night Ben and I had a funny experience while we were at the pool (trying to get my feet to go down in swelling). There were a few people there that were drinking and being quite loud, so we decided to go over to the hot tub and kind of go away from them. (And no, I was not in the hot tub...I'm at least smart enough to know that you don't do that when pregnant...;) Ben got in, and I just put my feet in to keep warm.

Anyway, two of the ladies (one older and one younger), and one of their daughters (like 12 yrs old) came over to the hot tub with their drinks (and no, the 12 year old didn't have a drink). They noticed that I was pregnant and asked the usual "How much longer?", "Is it a boy or a girl?" all that good stuff. This was the following conversation that ensued:

Her (to me): "Is it your first?"

Me: "Yep :)"

Her (turning to Ben): "Is it your first?"

Ben looks at me and says: "Well, yes. We're married."

Her (Out of no where she asks): "So, do you two go to church?"

Me: "Yes, we do."

Her: "What church?"

Ben: "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints"

Her: "Oh, Mormons, right?"

Us: "Yep :)"

Her: "So, is it true that you guys don't drink or smoke, or any of that?"

Ben: "Well, yeah."

Other older lady: "Wow, that's great. I smoke and some days I wake up and wish that I could quit, but it's just too hard, 'cause it's so addicting. I know my kids won't smoke though 'cause they really hate that I smoke. I'd like to think that they won't drink either (as she takes another sip of vodka; 12 year old doesn't say anything)."

Younger lady: "So, you really don't drink coffee?"

Ben: "No, we don't."

Younger lady: "Then what do you drink??? Like tea or something?"

Ben smiles (I hold back a giggle) "Well, we don't drink green tea or black tea."

Me: "Herbal tea sometimes."

Ben: "Mainly just water and juice."

Older lady: "Wow."

Younger lady smiles and says: "I hope everything goes really well for you guys, I really do. Wow, (turning to me) you're so cute pregnant, (turning to older lady) look at her she's just glowing!" (Older lady smiles and they giggle together. Ben and I smile at each other)

Older lady: "You know you're just like a love story from a movie. My daughter (points to 12 year old, who looks down kinda embarrassed to be mentioned) loves those kinds of movies and stories. I like 'em too!"

Us (smiling): "Well, thanks. We're very happy."

Then we wished them well and went home to bed. They were nice people.

It's true what they said though. We are living a love story, the best one ever written. Ben and I are so in love, and of course every marriage has it's days, but I always feel like those days are made up for 100 times by all the great days that we have together and the intense love that we share. No matter where we go, or what we're doing, we always have fun together and really enjoy each other's company! He's just so perfect for me, and we're such a match. Ben I love you so much! I'm really looking forward to continuing our love story and happy ending...I mean happy forever!!! I love you!

~Crystal

P.S.- Thank you again Jessica May for the amazing bridals (see picture at the top), if you need pictures or an amazing custom wedding gown (like mine :) check her out here.

P.P.S- I love your latest gown (Courtney), amazing!

Kicks, punches, and shin splints

First off, I have to tell you that we decided (mostly) on a name for baby girl!

Rowan Schultz

Cute, huh? And please don't steal it if you're due before me ;)

We're still working on a middle name, but that's the name we like and we're stick'n with it...unless we change our minds later, but I don't think we will.

So, lately baby Rowan has been going CRAZY inside me! Nearly all day I feel her kicking and shoving. My belly looks like I have an alien inside trying to get out. I guess I kinda do though, jk. But it's fun to feel her moving about. I do have the shin splint thing going on now and then, which is weird 'cause I've never had them before in my life, but you know the PS (pregnancy syndrome) causes the strangest things.

So, I need some advice: my very, very good friend (who is the kindest person alive) just had a birthday. She's super sweet and is always thinking of me and getting me little things, but now I have no idea what to get her!!! The things that she likes, she usually buys herself, so I can't get her one of those things. I wanna give her something unique or special, but I'm not sure what. Any ideas??

Neat ideas for later

So, I've been completely addicted to Thrifty Decor Chick's blog lately, and I'm getting some great ideas. The only problem is that I have to wait until we move and unpack everything before I get get around to decorating. Actually, it's not just her blog I've been reading, but when she had her Goodwill Party (everyone recreating thrifty items to awesome decor stuff), she has like 100 links to others that joined in and recreated amazing stuff! Like I said, awesome ideas!!!

Anyway, that's what I've been up to lately. You should check her out, if you haven't already.

I'll be posting about our awesome trip to Denver and Utah pretty soon here, but I've gotta get some pictures first. :)

~Crystal

P.S. - I'm huge now. And baby girl loves to kick all over and make my tummy look like it's dancing by itself. :)

WANTED

MISSING:

Two adorable feet and ankles.

FOUND:

Two imposter fat feet slippers, posing as feet. 

If anyone wants them please take them away.

WANTED:

My dainty feet and ankles back.

As you wish....

Get ready for a long post -

Last Friday Ben and I decided that we were tired of just sitting in the house every evening, and to start off the holiday weekend right we were going to do something fun, a date night if you will. We decided to go to "As You Wish" it's a fun pottery painting place where you pick what you want to paint (plate, jewlry box, mug, princess statues, etc...) and you put on an undercoating with whatever design you like then they glaze it and fire it for you. It's awesome, made me feel like I was in early morning art class again from back in the elementary school days ;)

Anyway, Ben had been there before on a date several years ago and made a mug that he uses to drink from for every meal. While we were there I decided that I wanted a mug too (not the same 'cause I want it to make tea and hot cocoa in, so a little smaller than his). Anyway....while we were there learning about the process we found out that the mug that Ben has loved for so many years had a poisonous paint on it that was extremely high in lead content!!! So, sad to say his beloved mug has been trying to poison him all these years. So, it came time that Ben had to make a new mug. Here it is:




For my mug I wanted to do a Jackson Pollock tribute, so I thought of one of my favorite paintings of his and duplicated it in my own way. Here is his painting, it's called "Lavender Mist":



And here is my mug:





Of course it's not really the same, but I wanted to get the key concept in there. Oohhh, I just love my mug!!! I finished mine relatively quickly, and Ben said he still had a ways to go, so I decided to do another small item. It's a ring holder, 'cause I always take off my wedding ring when I wash my hands, so I thought this would be perfect!



This bottom part is all spedeckled with a crazy fun coat called "patriot". That made Ben like it :)




Okay.....and here's for all of you who have been asking for those belly pictures....
I know I don't look super happy in them, but that's 'cause whenever we take pictures of me I always look like I have a chubby face, or just look different from real life...yuck...I hate 'em. So, Ben tried his best, but yeah....
Here's what we got:





That's it for now. I'll update after I get to Utah! Yeah for Utah, I've been missing it a lot lately. Well, mostly just my family and friends...okay and the mountains too. Sorry but Arizona's just too flat for me. ;)

~Crystal