{Just read/ Currently reading}

I recently finished the Stieg Larsson trilogy:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,

The Girl who Played with Fire and

The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

*WOW*

 I can honestly say that I completely LOVED these books!

The first book was a little hard to get into it... but after I did,

I just didn't want to put it down!

I took a little break before starting the next one,

But once I started that one, I didn't want to stop!

The day I finished the second one, I had to go out and buy the third!

These are seriously such good reads!

Such an interesting storyline AND just so well written!

*BUT*

I probably wouldn't recommend them... you see, they have very disturbing content...

There is some abuse {that is very disturbing and extremely graphic}...

There is also an awful lot of usage of the F-Bomb...

However, I still loved the books,

They were definitely like nothing I've ever read before!

{I watched the first movie, and that was crazy disturbing - I don't plan to watch the other two...}

Now that I've finished that trilogy...

I've decided to re-read one of my favorite book series EVER...

Stephanie Meyer's:

Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn

I've read Twilight a few times... and now that the final movie is coming out in 6 weeks,

I've decided to re-read them again!

These books are seriously some of my fave...

I've just started Twilight, and already don't want to put it down!

And I look forward to when I get to read next!!

I absolutely LOVE these books!

{Even if they are considered Young Adult}

I would definitely recommend these books to anyone that hasn't read them yet..

AHEM...  HOLLI!!! :)

My Fall shows can wait patiently on the DVR...

 I'm a little busy with Edward & Bella! :)

Happy Reading!

{SMILING}

This week I'm SMILING because it's officially ROCKTOBER!!! YAY! October is seriously my favorite month! The weather is amazing, and the Halloween festivities are my fave, it's seriously just the best! I put up most of our Halloween decor last night - and it definitely had me SMILING!!!
Our entry way....

My very crafty Halloween letters {Thanks to my MIL, Julie!}....

 I went to World Market for the first time ever the other day, {That store is awesome! I could seriously spend hours just looking around!} but I found these absolutely adorable OWL Halloween decorations! Seriously, the owl hanging made me SMILE as soon as I saw it, and I knew I HAD to have it!

 My super-duper cute hubby bringing me home this envelope with a cute little note just before my "shopping fast" was about to end DEFINITELY makes me SMILE!! He is seriously the best, I am completely spoiled! {Don't worry, I bought him a couple of surprises with my "No strings attached" cash too :)} Seriously, my Michael makes me SMILE on a daily basis, I know that I'm a very lucky girl!

 Speaking of SHOPPING... Saturday was a COMPLETE success!! I was SMILING from ear to ear all day long!! Just a few of my FAVE purchases:

1. Wedges from Nine West {Buy one get one 40% off, so I got an adorable pair of black heels too!}
2. AE Favorite shirt from American Eagle {50% off on Clearance!} 
3. Green jeans from Urban Outfitters - I think these may be my FAVORITE purchase!
4. Blouse from...get ready... OLD NAVY! What?! I totally haven't shopped there in so long - they are usually so hit and miss for me {pretty much all miss as of lately!} but this shirt is so comfy, and so cute! Exactly what I was looking for! {On sale for $15!}
5. Black Jeggings from American Eagle
6. Another completely comfy Blouse from Old Navy - and in Leopard print! I've always thought the leopard print was just Grandma's... but it's completely in - and I'm totally loving it! {On sale for $19! So I had to get it in Black too!  I just couldn't pass it up!}

And finally... Michael's homemade pizza absolutely makes me SMILE! Homemade crust, homemade sauce and the freshest ingredients! Soooooo dang good! My personal pizza {Michael doesn't like my fave toppings, mushrooms or olives - crazy kid! So we each get our own pizza the way we like :)}

 Fresh out of the oven!

 Oh what's that, you need a close up of the ooey-gooey cheesy goodness? Well then, here you go:

YUM!

{CALIFORNIA 2011}

We just got back from an absolutely FABULOUS trip to CA with my family!

I took TONS of pictures, so I'm going to let them do most the talking...

My mom, Alan, April and their kiddos all drove on Thursday to San Diego -

Where Kathrin, Erik and Kami met them to go to Sea World on Friday!

Michael, Tracie and I couldn't get away from Work/ School,

So we flew into Anaheim Friday night!

{All we were missing this trip was our Dad, who couldn't get away from his responsibilities at home,

He was most definitely missed so much!!}

Tracie and I in the taxi - SO excited to be in CA!!

That night, Michael, Tracie and I went to dinner and did a little exploring of Anaheim!!

But mostly, we were just excited for the morning when everyone else would
get there - and we could go to DISNEYLAND!!!!

Saturday morning they all arrived and it was time to get the
princesses and pirate ready for the park!

 After they got BEAUT-I-FIED and PIRATE-y ... We headed to the park!

This picture cracks me up... our big group waiting for Kat to get the tickets!

The first ride we went on was The Haunted Mansion! 

Disneyland during Halloween time makes me SO HAPPY! 

Halloween is my fave Holiday, so this ride is definitely one of my faves! 

{Michael was already sick of all the pictures - HAHA!

Little did he know, I was just getting started!} 

As we were walking to meet the others for lunch, you'll never guess who we found...

WOODY!

My fave is Pirate Brady! LOL!

For lunch we all had to try the highly recommended:

MONTE CRISTO Sandwich!

{WOW - In short, it's a sandwich dipped in egg and batter then fried! YUM!}

Erik and Kami had to leave that night to head back to San Diego to catch their flight.

So the 4 of us headed to California Adventure to go on my FAVORITE ride:

The Tower of Terror!

We played at the park till we were all completely worn out...
went to dinner and then crashed!  

{Hey, remember that one time we almost lost Brayden? Yeah, good times!}

Sunday after playing in the hotel pool, talking around the hot tub and letting 

 the weather warm up a bit... We headed to Huntington Beach!

It was a little chilly when we first got there... but soon warmed up to the perfect temperature!

{Sorry ladies, he's all mine!}

 We spent about 3 hours just playing in the waves, laying on the beach and exploring!

{Someday can I pleeeeease live by the beach?! It's my kinda heaven!}

We then headed to a DELICIOUS diner at the end of the Pier!

The sunset was seriously so gorgeous! Oh goodness, I sooooo love the beach!

That night April, Tracie, Victoria and I went and did a little shopping in
Downtown Disney!

{You can tell we all got some good sun that day!}

Monday we went straight to California Adventure!

We went on the few rides, then headed over to Bug's Life,
and guess who was there?!

MICKEY and MINNIE!!!!
{The kiddos also got their picture taken, but it was with April's camera, so I don't have those...yet}

Then it was time for Bugs Life movie!
{Isn't she the cutest little bug/princess you've ever seen?!}

After Bugs Life, we went back to the Tower of Terror

{some of us TWICE - gotta love the Fast Pass!}

My Mom's face is my FAVE!! SO funny!

Brady and April's faces are absolutely priceless!

Then it was to the new Little Mermaid ride for the little ladies -
 the ride is totally cute BTW!!

By the time we left California Adventure,

 it was getting close to the time M and I had to head to catch our flight.

So we all had to stop and get our pictures taken!

HAHAHA! These pictures crack me up... It really is so hard getting

11 people to look at the camera and smile all at the same time!

So I decided to post them both, combined they are 1 FANTASTIC family vacation picture!

We seriously had such a wonderful trip! Michael and I loved being able to see Disneyland through the kids eyes! And I think we all agree that we need to make sure we go on family vacation more often {But next time Dad HAS TO come! It wasn't the same with out him!} It was so great to be able to spend so much time with the family! I sure lucked out in the family department! I think I'm going to keep them... for a little while longer at least :).

And just because I think he's totally HAWT...

P.s. I didn't do a very good job of letting the pictures do the talking...

But whatev, I talk a lot, it's just what I do :)

{I SMILE Wednesdays}

As always, SO much to SMILE about this week....

 I SMILE because some of our best friends came in for a visit from North Carolina! We were able to spend an evening and go to dinner with them while they were here! {We went to the Copper Onion, downtown - if you've never been, we highly recommend it! YUM!} As always, the conversation and company was fabulous!!!

 We sure do love those guys so much and we were so happy to get to spend some time with them while they were here! Want to know what makes me SMILE even bigger than spending an evening with them?! After 3 years in North Carolina... they are FINALLY moving back to UTAH as soon as they sell their house!!! YAY!!!!!
***If you know of anyone looking for an adorable home in Raleigh, NC - let me know!! :)

 Also making me SMILE?? Fall TV shows started this week!! Including my favorite guilty pleasure shows: Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives and 90210!!! BRING ON THE DRAMA!

 Our favorite Thursday night shows also started this week... including: The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Community! Oh how I LOVE Fall TV!
P.s. How funny is this poster for The Office?! Definitely makes me SMILE!

 The fact that October 1st is this SATURDAY is DEFINITELY  making me SMILE!!! I am SO happy to finally be able to shop again... It's been a loooong go since July 20th! What on earth was I thinking grounding myself for 2 months?! But guess what... I DID IT, I have not bought one item of clothing or pair of shoes for myself since July 20th!!! {I did, however, get one accessory... see below :)} And now, let the shopping begin :)! I already have a shopping date set for Saturday with one of my favorite shopping partners, Jenna! Just check out the damage we did around this time last year in Denver! We absolutely LOVE to shop!!!

 I did allow myself one souvenir from Disneyland {Hey, I'm the one that grounded myself, so I can totally allow ONE souvenir when I go on vacation! And ummmm... one item in over 2 months, not bad at all if I do say so myself!} I chose this freaking adorable Giraffe print watch! Wearing it definitely makes me SMILE!

 Speaking of Disneyland {post to come very soon!} This freaking adorable little girl absolutely loved being held by this extremely good looking fella! How dang cute is this picture! I SMILE every time I look at it! I know I've said this 100 times before - but really, Michael is going to make such a good Daddy someday! He was so cute with the kids this trip, especially little Ellie, she had him wrapped around her little finger!

 And finally, I just couldn't resist posting this picture from our Disneyland adventure.... This picture and this little princess absolutely puts a huge SMILE on my face: LOVE her!