Orlando Vacation, Part 3

On our last full day in Orlando, we went to Universal Studios. There wasn't much of a crowd that day, so we went on all the rides we wanted to go on and still had time to spare before our shuttle arrived. Like Islands of Adventure, we went around the park in a circle.

The first ride we went on was Despicable Me, a 3-D simulation ride. Since it was the newest ride, the wait time was the longest we had in that park, but it was so worth it! I loved the movie and I loved this ride. We then went to the Twister and Disaster attractions. Phil really wanted to go on the Mummy ride, but (thankfully) his legs were too long to fit in it. I didn't mind because it looked scary.

We then headed over the Men in Black shooter ride. This was my favorite ride of the day because it actually kept track of your individual scores. Phil beat me by 103,000 points though, it was ridiculous. I got my revenge though when we had a rematch and I beat him the next time around. :) We also went on The Simpsons ride, which was cute, but we weren't overly thrilled with it since we went on it at Universal Studios Hollywood.

After that, we decided to take a break and have lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe right next door. This place is amazing!!! We love the food and we love looking at the merchandise around the building. This is the fourth Hard Rock we have been to together (we've been to the New York, Las Vegas and San Diego ones together, as well). It's apparently the largest Hard Rock Cafe in the world, too. It was way nice because we tried to make reservations to eat there, not wanting to risk a long wait time, and while we were informed they didn't do that, we got a $5 certificate to take off our check to make up for it. So worth it!

After lunch, we went back in to the park. We went on the E.T. Adventure ride, which turned out to be for kids, but it was interesting, nonetheless. We also went to the Terminator 3-D show, which was really cool, though I've never seen any of the movies. 

We were a little disappointed in our visit because: 1. They closed the Jaws ride, which was so awesome when I went 9 years ago, and 2. The new Transformers ride wasn't going to open for another week. We were so close to the opening date!!! Overall, though, we had a lot of fun. We already miss Orlando because the weather was so nice there. It's been cloudy and rainy in Idaho ever since we got back.

Now that we got our vacation out of the way, we are just going to focus on working this summer. Phil didn't end up getting an internship, which was frustrating because we applied for like 90 internships and only a third were courteous to get back to us. I know that some places get thousands of applications, but come on, a quick email wouldn't take that long to send. But, Phil did pass all of his classes with flying colors, even though for some reason he stressed about failing a few. So he officially has one more semester to go!!! We could not be more excited!

Orlando Vacation, Part 2.5

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was so awesome, it earned its own post, so this one will be about the rest of the day we had at Islands of Adventure. Now that we had finished the main attraction, we decided to take our time and just circle the park (literally) to enjoy the other rides and shows.

The next place we went to was The Lost Continent to go to the Poseidon's Fury walk-through show. I remember this being one of my favorites when I went to Islands of Adventure 9 years ago for a school trip, and I was hoping Phil would love it as well. It was the longest line we had to wait in during our stay in Orlando, but it was worth it! (And, Phil seemed to enjoy it too!)

We then cut through Seuss Landing (a kiddie portion of the park, though it looks so awesome) and went to Marvel Super Hero Island which, after Harry Potter World, we were looking forward to the most. We went on the 3-D Spiderman ride (which is another one of my faves) and Storm Force Acceleration (as in Storm from X-Men. It was a very cheesy version of Disney's teacup ride). We ate at the Cafe 4 (as in the Fantastic 4) diner there (we were not impressed) and did a lot of shopping. Phil got a Deadpool hat, I bought a Captain America shirt and we bought a really cool super hero keychain.

After that, we hit up Toon Lagoon and we got soaked on the Popeye raft ride. We walked back over to The Lost Continent to watch the Eighth Voyage of Sinbad stunt show while we were drying off. I thought it was really cheesy, but some of the stunts were cool (such as the bad guy being set on fire and then fell off a cliff into a pool of water). There was still so much to do and re-do, but we didn't have the time, unfortunately. We had an amazing time, though!!!

Orlando Vacation, Part 2

On our second day in Orlando we went to Islands of Adventure. We were the most excited about going here because of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Thanks to Orlando Informer, we were advised to go there first thing when we got into the park since it is in the back and we would beat the crowd who stopped at other attractions along the way. The website also showed us the quickest way to get there and we were surprised how few people actually went this route.

I must say that with all the hype about Harry Potter World, Phil and I went there with very high expectations - and our minds were blown! As you enter the section, you walk right into Hogsmeade. On the right is the train that picks up the students and on the left are the popular shops found in the books and movies, such as the Three Broomsticks, Honeydukes, and Zonko's Joke Shop. There were also stands found throughout which sold butterbeer and pumpkin juice. We, of course, had to try the butterbeer and it was awesome! Basically, it is cream soda with whipped cream on top. But, it is so much more than that. You will have to go and try it yourself. :)

Further in is Ollivander's (the wand shop), which actually has a little show inside where a child from the audience is chosen to come up and tries out a couple wands (with disastrous results) until they find "the one." It was super cute to watch (though Phil was disappointed that he couldn't participate, haha). And, they sell all of the characters' wands you see in the movies, which were really cool to see.

At the very back of Harry Potter World is the Hogwarts castle that has a ride inside. You could tell we went during an off-peak time because the line was only 40 minutes long when it is typically a two-hour wait (and of all the rides we went on, 40 minutes was the longest we had to wait on some of them). We loved this part so much because as you're waiting in line, you actually pass by some of iconic items found in the books and movies, which you can get a sneak peek from our pictures. The ride itself is indescribable - you have to go yourself to really experience the magic. Let's just say IT IS A MUST! There are also two other rides in the Harry Potter section: a mini roller coaster more for kids where you ride hippogriffs and an intense roller coaster where you ride dragons. We didn't take the time to go on either, though we wish we did have more time to spend in the area because it was awesome!!!

Orlando Vacation, Part 1

For our annual vacation, Phil and I went to Orlando May 11 through the 15. I have wanted to go here with my husband pretty much since we got married, but it is a pretty pricey trip. Thanks to an awesome tax return check and an amazing deal on Priceline (seriously, try to book your vacations during spring break, prices are always slashed), this year was the year! I'm proud to say that the price we got for two roundtrip tickets, a hotel room for 4 nights (that included continental breakfast and shuttle rides to the parks), a day pass to SeaWorld Orlando and a 3-day base pass to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure came to $950. Do your research and you will find this was an amazing price.

We were kind of nervous about the hotel (EconoLodge Inn and Suites Maingate Central) because half of the reviews said that there either was an infestation of cockroaches in the rooms or the rooms were trashed and dirty. Thankfully, we didn't have either of these issues. Our room was nice and, other than a couple of the lights not working, we didn't run into any problems.

Our first day (May 12, Mothers Day) we went to SeaWorld. The weather forecast said it was going to rain all day, but the weather was perfect (every day was perfect): sunny with a light breeze and fluffy white clouds in the sky).

Along with looking at all of the exhibits available, we went to 2 shows (one with dolphins and parrots and the other with killer whales) and went on 2 rides (Atlantis, which is like a log chute water ride, and Wild Arctic, a helicopter simulation ride where you travel the Arctic). We also went to this 3D turtle trek show, where you live the life of a sea turtle (it was actually really cute). Here are some pictures from our day there. I will post more on Facebook at a later time! Enjoy!

How 2013 has treated us...

Wow, I can't believe how quickly 2013 is going by. So far, it's been a pretty good year. A lot has happened, but I will try to summarize the last few months the best I can (and with a few pictures!):

Phil started another semester. This week is finals and then only one more semester to go! (Hopefully. He had some really tough classes this semester, so he is nervous about passing them all.)

I attempted to make conversation heart cheesecakes for Phil and our parents for Valentine's Day (with the huge help from my MIL) with a recipe I found on Pinterest. They didn't turn out too bad, but of course not as nice as the ones in the recipe pictures.
 

 

We celebrated our four-year anniversary in April! I can't believe it's been that long already! We celebrated early by going down to Utah in March and visiting our friends, Chanae and David, in Lehi. We got to see the house they recently purchased (it's so nice, I'm so jealous!) and hang out with little Leah (she's such a cutie).

We then went up to Anniversary Inn in Logan and stayed in the Oriental Gardens room. We LOVED the tub. It was huge and I love that it's red. We also got to hang out with Phil's sister, Stephanie, and her husband, Bryson. That's always fun! 

Phil also recently turned 26. Let's just say he got super spoiled with lots of presents in April.

Other than that, nothing new or exciting has been going on. I was offered a full-time position at Best Buy and am loving the hours. And, of course, I still write for Best Buy Mobile Magazine, which I still love!!!

Baby news:

We have now been off of birth control for 13 months and still haven't gotten any results. It's a bit disheartening, as you can imagine, but I think it's been for the best. For one, I haven't had health insurance, but now that I'm full-time, I actually have that option now, which will help so much when I finally do get pregnant. Also, Phil should graduate school in December, so having a baby will be a lot less stressful for the both of us financially since he should secure a full-time job by the time we do have one. The Lord works on His own timeline, but I hope now that we're a little more prepared that this year will be the year for us!

Plans for the summer:

To kick off our summer, we are going to Orlando!!! I have been wanting to go with Phil ever since we go married, but we never had the money for it. We got a pretty nice tax return check this year, plus I scored an awesome package deal on Priceline, so he finally agreed to it! I am so excited and will report back with lots of pictures in the next couple of weeks.

Other than that, we're just going to be working. Phil applied to 90 internships and has only heard back from 31 of them, so we're not holding our breath. That's okay, everything happens for a reason. We're just going to focus on decluttering our apartment, making our lives as baby ready as possible, and preparing for Phil's last semester. After he graduates, who knows what's going to happen!

Here's to 2013

The rest of 2012 turned out pretty well, I think. Phil finished another semester, I scored an internship with Bleacher Report (a sports website) as an editor and we also got another raise at each of our jobs. I’m also still writing for Best Buy Mobile Magazine, which I can’t get enough of. Seriously, ever since I changed my attitude on life (see previous post), everything seems to have fallen into place, and I’m very content with where we are at right now.  

That being said, when Dec. 21 was approaching and everyone was talking about the end of the world, I was filled with dread. Not because I actually thought the world was going to end, but because the thought of IF it was going to happen, I’m not ready to meet my Maker. There is a LOT of things I would like to improve before that happens.

The biggest would probably be my spirituality. I’ve always struggled with being active in church (which includes attending all three meetings, paying tithing, going to the temple, visiting teaching, having daily prayer and scripture reading, holding FHE), not because I have doubts, but because I’ve always made work a bigger priority- and I’m ALWAYS working. I’m looking forward to the new year because that means a fresh start. Church will start earlier this year, so I will actually be able to attend it more frequently. I’ve already talked to my bishop about setting up an appointment with him to see what all Phil and I will need to do to renew our temple recommends. The rest just comes down to organization. I just need to set aside some extra time to do everything else on the above list, honestly. 

Another thing I would like to work on is our future family. Still no baby for us, but I blame that on myself. As some of you know, I’ve always been on the fence about having kids. It terrifies me. But, I can’t imagine going through life without having them. This next year, Phil and I will celebrate our fourth anniversary and turn 26 and 25, respectively. And, that just makes me feel OLD. Everyone else our age has two kids already and most have been married for a shorter period of time. This year, I’ve let my fears of children and of being a terrible mother hold me back. I’m tired of that. I’m still unsure of how to overcome it, but I’m determined to get pregnant, anyhow. I’m not sure that’s the wisest move, forcing that on myself, but a few weeks ago when I declared I just didn’t want to try anymore, I just got the worst feeling in the world. I woke Phil up in the middle of the night saying that it was godly sorrow plaguing me (when I’m extremely tired, I do say some crazy things), but the feeling I received was pretty terrible and it made me rethink my statement. Any suggestions to help me get past this?

And, I guess, the last of my “New Year resolutions” is to be a better wife. I want to help my husband succeed. He only has TWO semesters left, and will hopefully graduate December 2013. Right now, we’re applying to a bunch of internships for him for the upcoming summer (he already has an interview with Amazon!), and I hope it works out. I’ve also neglected housework and cooking since I’ve been so focused on working at Best Buy, writing for Best Buy Mobile Magazine and editing for my internship (which is roughly 55 hours per week overall), so I want to definitely work on that. A clean home is a happy home! Phil and I’s big project is to declutter our apartment this next year, so we won’t have to take as much time to clean up. I pinned a plan that should make that easier on the both of us.

Overall, I’m excited to see what 2013 brings. I see nothing but progress in our future!

Enjoying each day to the fullest

Nothing much has changed since my last post entry. Except my attitude, I think. For the whole month of September I experienced so many negative emotions, ranging from anxiousness to anger to depression, about my life and my future. If you had asked my 19-year-old self where I saw myself in five years, I probably would have never foresaw being where I currently am. I bet I would have expected to be a lot more successful at a job I loved by the time I turned 24, with Phil out of school and a baby on the way, if not already here.

And, you know what? Dealing with those emotions seriously suck! They don't get you anywhere. In fact, they set you back even more. General Conference couldn't have come at a better time for me. I really needed a spiritual boost. While all of the talks were wonderful, one that I really felt spoke to me was Elder Uchtdorf's talk during the Saturday morning session. Now, the following is not verbatim, but I wanted to share what points I got out of his talk the most:

• External circumstances don't affect our circumstances - or even matter.
• Life isn't a race, it's a journey. Don't solely focus on the finish line.
• Look less with our eyes and more with our hearts.
• Spend more time with loved ones, stride to become the person God wants me to be, and find happiness regardless of my circumstances.

During September I was acting so impatient of things to come that I didn't take the time to appreciate my surroundings and those around me. Because it seemed that everyone else has progressed a lot further in life than I have, I guess I assumed that when I hit those stages, I would automatically be 10x happier. But as Uchtdorf was talking about - and from past experiences - I know that won't be necessarily true. So, I am trying to make the most of life the way it is now. Because I know that when we finally do have a baby, Phil and I won't have as much of the freedom and quality time that we get to enjoy now. I know that when Phil finally does graduate, we won't get to spend as much time with our families because we will probably move out of town, if not out of state. And, even if Best Buy isn't my ideal job, I still get to write and I love the people I work with. Life is definitely not as bad as I was making it out to be, and I am going to focus on the blessings I do have and be happy! :)