♥ New Life.

Finally another blog post! 

Sorry it's taken forever, there's been a ton going on and I haven't had wifi lately.

So, to catch up on recent events, I had my birthday!

It was super fun to have my family to share it with, but lame because I was very sick with the flu the entire weekend.  Luckily, my wonderful husband let me wake up to some beautiful flowers and gifts.

Last year while we were apart for my birthday, I woke up to flowers being delivered to my door, so it has become a sort of tradition for my birthday =]

 We had a lunch for two together, and then met up with my family for dinner, a movie, and lots of fun!

Other exciting news, we FINALLY got to move into our apartment!  It took us two whole days to get it all set up, but it was very worth it.

Here's a few pics of our new place!

(Sorry they aren't great quality, I couldn't find my camera).

  

 

   

  

  

 

(The pictures are dark, but the color scheme is basically cream and a chocolate brown.)

We love it and are thrilled to finally have our own place!  

School is starting soon, and life is going absolutely perfect.  Love and miss you all!!

♥ My Best Friend.

First of all, I got bored and changed up my blog... again.  I think I'm satisfied now.

Now to important things.

My amazing mother has decided to take a spontaneous trip to AZ tomorrow to visit us!!

I. am. so. excited.

I can't wait to show her around and spend a few days with her before we head for Utah!

It's been far too long.

For those of you who don't know my mom, here are a few facts about her:

• She is the sweetest person in the world.
• She makes the most amazing cookies. Ever.
• She makes friends with everyone no matter where we go. (Walmart, Restaurants, etc.)
• She loves to clean.
• She can talk on the phone for hours.
• She knows exactly how to cheer me up. (Retail Therapy)
• Andddd she is my best friend.

Love her!!

♥ Happiest Place on Earth, and the Hottest Place on Earth.

As some of you know, my amazing mom is a director of a high school aged performing group called Upstage that sings, dances, and travels around to perform.

I was in Upstage all throughout high school, and made such good friends and had the time of my life.

This is the first year that I was not a part of it, and I was kinda sad that I had to miss the annual tour they go on. (This year it was Disneyland.)

So, a few days before Upstage left, my mom was talking to me on the phone, and I was complaining about how I was going to miss it and miss seeing my family and friends, when she suggested we should drive down and join them!

I thought it was a GREAT idea and begged Brooks to take a couple days off work so we could go.  He agreed, and instead of telling my friends we were coming we decided to surprise them!

So, the day came to leave, and we drove through the desert (hottest drive of my life) to Huntington Beach, the first stop of their tour.  As we pulled into the parking lot we saw my friend/cousin Carli walking on the beach, and I tried to duck and not make eye contact with her as we parked.  I saw her stare a little bit, and go over to my mom.  Apparently, she was telling my mom that she must be crazy because she thought she saw Brooks driving his car!  She looked over at us again, and by this time we were getting out of the car, and when it hit her that it was really us, she screamed and ran all the way till she tackled us.

Needless to say, our surprise worked.

It was great to be reunited with these two!  (And the others that aren't in this pic, sorry girls)

Disneyland was SO much fun!  The last time we went was when Brooks proposed, so it felt so much more special and magical than ever.  (If that's even possible)

I had been feeling a little bit homesick without my family, so it was really great to be with them again.

We stayed for a few days and were able to hit every ride (including the new star tours and little mermaid that weren't there in December) and even watched another couple get engaged! 

It's no wonder Disneyland is the happiest place on earth.

We are now back in AZ, which has gotten hotter, if that is believable.  It was 115 degrees yesterday, the hottest I've ever personally experienced. 

Despite the heat however, Brooks and I are still are having SO much fun and are loving being married!

We recently went to a Giants/Dbacks game and rooted for our home teams and against each other.



The Giants won, so Brooks wasn't too happy, but it was still really fun, and Chase Field is definitely amazing.

Besides that, we have been exploring Mesa, developing an obsession for cake shows, (i.e. cake boss, fabulous cakes, ultimate cake off, cake wars, etc.), hunting for scorpions, reading the Harry Potter books before the final movie, going to Nordstrom's Last Chance (which is basically the Nordstrom rack TO Nordstrom rack, and has the most amazing deals ever, and is the only location in the country) and sadly, giving up our iPhones for some Evos.  

It's so great to finally be able to live with Brooks, and be so close to his family.  We love and miss all of you so much!!

♥ Arizona Lovin.

I know, I know, I have been slacking on the blogging.

To be fair, I haven't been able to use my laptop for a month due to lack of wifi.

So, really quickly, I'll catch up on my life, starting with my amazing reception that Kate Hargadon photographed for us!

We held it at the Whitney Ranch House in Rocklin, which was so beautiful!  It had big iron gates, candles, thousands of cupcakes, wedding pictures, a dance floor, and of course, all the people I love.

My beautiful cake.

 About 1/1000th of how many were actually made.

 Daddy daughter dance = tears.

 Couple dance = more tears.

Throwing the bouqet.

 All the single ladies catching the bouqet.

 Brooks about to biting the garter off.

And of course, a huge dance party, including me & Brooks.

Needless to say, the reception was perfect.  We were graciously provided with lots of gifts, and inappropriate writing on our car.  (Thanks carli)



From Disneyland to San Diego, San Diego to Mexico, Mexico to Arizona, and Arizona to Sacramento, this wedding process has been a dream come true.

Alright, now to current things.

We are currently back in Mesa, Arizona, happily living together as Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds!

Although I miss my family and friends like crazy, I am slowly getting used to this place.

Here's a few things I've learned.

1. It is hot.
2. There are scorpions. 
3. People are obsessed with a gas station called QT.
4. The buildings all seem flatter, as well as the landscape.
5. It's very hot.
6. Everyone drives the speed limit on the freeway.
7. People like to use rocks instead of grass for their yards.
8. It's really hot.
9. The wards are huge.
10. Every road is exactly the same and is 45 mph.
11. People like to park on the wrong side of the street. (weird.)
12. Have I mentioned it's hot?

Haha okay, so I might exaggerate a bit, the heat hasn't killed me.... yet.

But seirously, I actually do really like it here!  I have just learned to appreciate air conditioning, swimming pools, and constantly having a drink in my hand more than I ever have.

It will definitely be a nasty shock going back to Utah for the fall after getting so used to the heat, but I guess just one more year with snow won't kill me. I hope.

The Reynolds family has been taking great care of us, and I am so lucky to have them as my new family!

Anyways, sorry it's taken so long.  Thanks so much for your sweet comments and messages!  We miss you all!

♥ "His & Her" Towels.

It's official!  I will now be known as Mrs. Christina Marie Reynolds, and I have never been happier.

SO much has happened in the last couple of weeks, so forgive me if this is a long post as I try and catch up.

On May 10th, our dear friend Kristin Lambourne threw me a bridal shower at her amazing house!  Everything was amazing (including the desserts) and it was so fun to be around all the women who are important to me! 

(Red velvet cake with REAL rose petals....amazing)

Loved the little brides and grooms on each of the cupcakes!

 

Almost too pretty to eat.

A few of my friends who tagged along with their mothers. 

  

Needless to say, it was awesome.  Everyone went around the room and told either a memory they had of me, how they knew/met me, or a piece of advice for future married life.  It was so special to hear all the positive advice and compliments they had for me and Brooks.

Also, my friends Ellee and Emily Hull sang a song for me that Kristin wrote (so cute) which was all about me and Brooks. 

Next came the reunion with Brooks in San Diego!  I was SO happy to see him after an extremely long three weeks apart. On Friday the 13th we were able to get our marriage license, decide on the beach we wanted to take pictures at, and, my favorite, go through the temple for my first time.  The San Diego temple literally looks like a castle, and I've always dreamt about getting married there.  It was such a special experience for me to be able to be with my family and Brooks' family, and I know I will never forget it. 

After tossing and turning out of excitement all night (I might have scraped a good two hours of sleep) I finally was able to start getting ready for my wedding!  I could hardly stand still, and was very anxious to get going.  It was a perfect day for pictures (overcast) and although it was very windy, the weather was perfect.  Kneeling across the alter with Brooks was magical, and neither of us could stop smiling for a second.  I'm sure I didn't hear a word that was said, (oops) but I just couldn't believe that the day was finally here!  Our photographer from Utah flew out for our wedding, and took fantastic pictures in front of the temple and on the beach.  Even though the wind completely killed my hair, I am in love with the pictures and am still getting calls from people complimenting them. 

Here's just a taste of the best day of my life  =]

Like I've said before, Alix is an amazing photographer, and so fun to work with! 

After taking pictures at the temple and on the beach, we headed over to the Lawrence Welk resort for our dinner the Reynolds set up for us.  It was so nice to be around my new family as a married couple!  Our families sang funny songs, gave sweet toasts, and tapped their glasses constantly.  (The couple is supposed to kiss whenever that is done).

After that, it was straight off to our honeymoon!  We stayed in Carlsbad, CA for the first two nights, and were off on our cruise to Mexico on Monday-Friday! 

It was such a fun and relaxing trip, and it just further reminded me how lucky I am to be married to my best friend.  Reception pictures are on their way, so I'll do another post soon! 

 P.S.
So stoked the bachelorette started up again.

♥ California Love.

During this marvelous return to my hometown I have realized one thing:  California is amazing.

It is true.

I almost forgot how green the plants and trees are, how there is always a breeze during the summer, and how everyone drives at least fifteen miles over the speed limit.

After living in Utah for 8 months, it is SO refreshing to be back home!

My amazing friends threw what might possibly have been the most hilarious/fun/inappropriate/crazy bachelorette party ever.  

(Sorry we didn't get the whole group)

Gotta love my friend's choreographed "dances."

Needless to say, I received PLENTY of inappropriate gifts for my honeymoon.

 And although I don't feel comfortable mentioning most of the gifts, I will award the "most creative" prize to Kate Hargadon who gave me a pink baby blanket, baby picture frame, and baby hair clips for my "honeymoon baby."

Gotta love it.

If my fiance' wasn't such a stud, and if I didn't miss him so badly, I am sure I would never leave.

I love being home.  I love my family.  I love my friends.

Only 11 more days!!

P.S. 

Due to the upcoming Harry Potter movie, (the last of the series for those of you unfortunate enough to not have read them), I will be starting "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" today to once again embark on a fantastic journey through the written word.  The movie comes out in July, so I should have plenty of time to finish them all by then!

♥ Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everybody!!

We are all so blessed on this precious holiday as we celebrate Jesus Christ's amazing sacrifice for us all.

I love my friends and family, and although I miss Brooks like CRAZY, it is good to be home! 

I love how "The Easter Bunny" still gives us Easter baskets with chocolate and little presents, even when we don't live at home anymore!  

Church was amazing, and my dad's homemade waffles were fantastic.

Here are some Easter pics =]

Love you all!

Our little Easter Bunny =]

Loving life!  Only 20 more days!

♥ Spring Cleaning.

Because I had to make a new blog, I decided to do some spring cleaning and "redecorate" it too.

I think I'll stick with this one for a while. =]

 

 Besides the blog, I feel like I've been spring cleaning every aspect of my life in preparation for marriage.

This week, for example, has been one of the most hectic, stressful, and crazy weeks of my life.

I've had finals, wedding plans, cleaning inspections, registrations, meetings, appointments, phone calls, photo shoots, and much, much more.

Lucky for me, there are a number of things that have kept me going!

• Getting to see my bridals sometime between today and Friday.
• School being FINISHED!
• Getting to go home and live in my precious California with wonderful people once more. 
• My crazy bachelorette party my friends are throwing for me.
• Eating Chipotle, BJ's & Granite Bay Chinese once again.
• Bridal shower with some amazing women.
• Having only 24 days until I get married.
• And my family getting in town TODAY!!

I am SO excited to see them!  

With all the craziness that has been going on in my life and the reality of being married and never living at home again really starting to hit me, it has made me quite homesick.

I can't wait to see my mom, dad, and my little buttmunch Stephen and live with them one last time for a few weeks!  

They are here for Brad's graduation 

(He's graduating at 24 with a masters in accounting! Congrats Brad!)

and I am in very much need of a family fix.

(Minus Jeff, Emily, & Eva who we get to see in a few weeks!)

Although it'll be SO hard to be apart from Brooks for a few weeks, I know it'll be good for me to spend this precious time with my family and friends, so I will try to make the best of it!

I'll miss you babes!

Only 24 more days!

♥ Engaged in Fun Activities.

Okay okay, so I know I have basically been rewriting posts from my last blog but this is my LAST one.

The main purpose of this blog was to be an online journal for me (so that I would actually do it) so I could go back to it in the future and to share with loved ones! 

So, just to catch up on the engagement process...

So far, being engaged has been SO fun!

I truly feel bad for all those girls out there who hated planning their weddings and let the stress take over!

(Those girls didn't have Brooks to calm them down however)

There's just something magical about dress shopping, picking out flowers, and buying a wedding band for the man you love, and I will always look back and reminisce about this special time we were engaged.

We have been SO lucky finding such great deals, including the suits, reception venue, shoes, etc.

If I had to pick my favorite "find" during this process I would say it would be our photographer.

If you haven't already, check out Alixann Loosle at her blog
http://alixannlooslephotography.blogspot.com/.

She really is SO talented, fun, and easygoing.  I'm normally kinda camera shy, but never once have I felt uncomfortable posing for her and I love that she knows my taste exactly.

My mom is STILL getting calls from friends saying how much they love our engagement pictures/announcements! 

Alix will also be flying down to San Diego to photograph our wedding!  

(I seriously can't wait to have pictures on the beach in my wedding dress)

She is also doing a sign in book for us that includes our engagement & bridal pictures!

We took our bridals just last Thursday and I am DYING to see how they turned out!! 

I probably won't put them all up on facebook for a while, but I might put a few on here =]

The wedding is so close now, and I know it should be weird for me to have a husband at such a young age, but I just know it's right and can hardly wait to spend eternity with him.

Can't wait for the day when I dance with him to this song =]