Pantene Beautiful Lengths Hair Donation

"So I'm thinking about cutting my hair..." I say to another employee Hannah as we were folding yet another pair of denim jeans to look nice and neat on the wall. "You should donate to Locks of Love or another charity." This hadn't crossed my mind. I had been working on my hair so long to get it long but I had almost put in TOO much effort that I was sick of it! That day I researched tons of hair donation companies and came upon Beautiful Lengths by Pantene. You need at least 8-10 inches of hair and you can donate to the company where they use 8 pony tails to make a wig. They dye the hair in a color and style it, there is no way to track your pony tail unfortunately just to know it is in good hands. You receive a letter of gratitude in the mail and that is enough for me. I guess I can now say I have donated my hair! It honestly feels so good and there is a huge weight off my shoulders (literally). Whoever has the ability to grow their hair out should try this once in their life- it is weird how emotionally connected you get with your hair- you really do spend a lot of time on it. The fact that I was able to help someone feels so good. I cut it on the whim, telling Chris don't tell my Mom! When she called during the appointment, I let it ring....Then told her I cut off 9 inches of my hair!

I am now a personal trainer. That is right people, the free time I have had in Texas (waiting until we move to St. Louis) I have completed this course online through AFPA. I had to read a couple of books on personal training, take a final, quizzes, do a simulation type thing where you plan their specific training regimens for different types of people, watch videos, and write essays. I love learning about fitness so this was all fun to me. I am also taking a nutrition course right now so they can go hand in hand. I already look up new fitness and nutrition ideas online, I thought hey why not? 

If you are interested in a Personal Training Certification click here!

Unfortunately work hasn't given me a whole lot of hours this week. I guess February is a slow month for sales associates. I have had a lot of free time, so I cleaned the apartment, practiced piano, studied personal training. I have had a lot of things to do but also nothing to do. I have to remember this is not permanent! I don't like waiting around and not doing a whole lot but it really does teach me to be patient. Only a couple more  months...

We took one of the days to go to the temple this week. It was Chris's day off and I thought we should go. He wanted to sleep in--that poor boy has been working 6 days a week all day- but I thought I would get him up at 6am because there were only early sessions. I am very happy we did this, it's not easy to make the trek to San Antonio every month. Later that day, we went to Barnes and Noble to do some research on our Europe trip! It gets me so excited every time I read or learn something new. If anyone has any good book recommendations- I would love to know!

On the flip side Chris and I played soccer this weekend for the first time in 5 months. It's been much too long. I scored but to only find out I was off sides :( My knee has been feeling a lot better! I am doing my own physical therapy for it and icing it everyday. You can't defer out of Boston and there is no wait list because it is so competitive to get into. So I won't be able to do it next year. I hope I will be able to still do it in April. That's coming up fast! Things are looking brighter, and I am going to ease my way into it. 

Well stay tuned for next week! End of February is coming up!

Cameryn

Valentine's Day 2013

2 years ago I was engaged never thought that I would have been engaged on Valentines Day, cliche? Maybe, but Chris completely surprised me when he flew in to Utah from Texas. I honestly did not recognize him.."How can you be here, you're supposed to be there?" Then it all came together. It is a hard Valentines to beat but every valentines will remind me of that special day where I got dozens and dozens of roses...and an ENGAGEMENT RING! 

This Valentines we woke up and went on a nice hike up in the hills of Austin. Yes, there are hills here! We looked at all the gorgeous 5 mill homes and day dreamed. I made Chris a sign that incorporated candy into the valentines message. He must have been thinking the same thing because he made me one too. Instead he substituted the candy for fruit and made me a healthy Valentine's poster. He knows me all to well...

                                                                            Mine to Him

                                                                      His to Me

I had to leave for work but he once again surprised me when I got back. He got all dressed up and made appetizers from Martha Stewart- bread and spinach dip (he likes to add that). Then made our favorite meal Cornucopia Salad followed by pina colada drinks. I felt very much loved:)

He even took the time to cut out hearts:)

Mr. Waiter? 

                                                   
                                                                     Yes I had to get a kissing photo

I have such a cute husband :)

We made easy chocolate strawberries during the week. Probably about 100 since strawberries were buy 4 containers for five dollars. Only in Texas I tell you. 

                       These strawberries were seriously to die for, way better than spending $10 on one strawberry.

Chris doesn't think he is very good at basketball but he is. His team struggles because they can't expect the expected. The ball is passed and oh what do you know they are running down the court to do a lay up? It's fun to watch but not always fun to lose. I was their cheer section the only of the wives to show up and support her man. Just gotta include that. 

 Going all the way

I started a book club since I have been back in Austin. We read The Guernsey and Potato Peel Pie Society. It was a fast read and a cute charmer. If you want a feel good book read this one. We had brunch and got to catch up with everyone. Gotta say, I do like throwing parties-- I got it from my Mom. 

Me, Cara, Keeley, Alyssa, Brooke, Mary, Elin, Emily, and Leilani. 

All in all it is a good week. Not much luck with the knee injury unfortunately. I'm going to try and stay off it for a whole week. Ah, it's killing me!

Cameryn

Fat Tuesday

So as Chris and I were sitting in bed deciding what we want to give up for Lent we both agreed Netflix/TV, then he said that means you have to give up the Bachelor...Not the Bachelor! But I convinced myself, that it is a social event and you can't ask me not to be social. So giving up TV but not giving up the Bachelor :). Also Media has got to go. Now since I am here in Texas and many of my family and friends are in different places I am not giving up Facebook (think social again), but I am going to give up Pinterest for a month :(

So Bachelor this week just gotta say it. I feel like there is something missing, I have a scratch that I can't itch, I'm just stumped! I just can't put my finger on it, oh poor Sarah from the Bachelor was dumped this week. That didn't stop Chris and I from laughing to tears about all the jokes that you could make. But really she is too self conscious of her arm, if she joked around a bit about it she would have been married by now.

This week went by pretty fast, I worked almost every day at the Gap. I really do love my job it is truly a women's paradise. I call Gap the "Mother's Extreme Couponing for Clothes" or aka MECC. Seriously you should see some of the people come in with their Gap Cards, and Rewards Cash, and Direct Mail Coupons...it almost reminds me of Walmart couponing where you stand in line for an hour. Chris and I both worked a night shift! I worked until 8-12:30 doing inventory, basically counting and ticketing. Chris came home with some fun stories from the ER having to sew up lips and treat a huge hernia on a women's stomach. He took a picture of her rotten leg too, probably the grossest thing I have ever seen in my life, I was surprised her leg was still attached.

I went with my friend Lelani this week to Half Price Books and got some great books for $1! Seriously, best store there is. I came home with 6 books in my arms (2 of which Lelani let me borrow). I think I was a little over zealous. 

Nothing better than a super bowl party and a big bowl of salsa. I made my neighbor from back home's home made salsa. It is seriously to die for. Chris and I okay fine-- mostly me, ate the whole thing while sharing it with some other couples. We invited Kate and Nate Kartchner and their cute dog. Seriously one of the best dog's I have ever seen, so well trained, fun, and a good size. It was Chris's idea for them to bring the dog! HA! Sorry Smith's I think I am converting him to love dogs...I think.

This next week is Valentines Day! It will be two years from which Chris proposed to me and our Happily Ever After became real :) Love the occasion

Cameryn Smith

Fried Alligator Tails!

Here we are ZION! Chris and I went to Missouri this last week to scope out our new home! I can't believe that we are moving, we will miss Austin very much. I have never lived in a city like St. Louis. Growing up in the Bay, Portland, Utah Valley, and Austin there is not much diversity. St. Louis on the other hand is like a big melting pot. I have never lived close to the city either, and where Chris will be working is close to the city. We absolutely love it, the midwest is so friendly, and I thought the west was friendly. 

Day 1 in St. Louis we rented a car and got lost...I had been in contact with a couple of people from the ward so we went to see their apartment complex. We met a lot of people from the ward. Especially Park Forest 12 families live there from the ward! It's like a little Liberty Sq.! Oh good times...we were also in the midst of a tornado watch so there was not much going outside. We went to three or four apartments before heading back to Kathryn and David Dodds house. He is a resident in Ophthalmology Chris will be working with in a couple of years. They were incredibly nice enough to let us stay with them and their four adorable kids. 

Day 2 I slept in, which I was very happy about and Chris went to his interview. Poor guy, he was up at the crack of dawn and hasn't gotten a ton of sleep. He looked sharper than ever though. The people interviewing him from St. Luke's said in his interview, "Oh you're so blessed!" "Look you play the piano, Oh you're so blessed" "Oh look you have a wife! Oh you're so blessed!" "Oh I loved your personal statement, you are such a good writer, Oh you are so blessed!" I think that is a good thing to happen in an interview? So we made fun of this a little but really want to end up in St. Louis for four years so we will see what will happen. That morning I hung with Kathryn and two of her kids at hope looking at apartments on craigslist. Later that day, Chris got home and we went apartment hunting once again. This time we had a better knowledge of the areas.

Day 3 Chris surprised me with a hotel in downtown St. Louis! So we went to the Hyatt and then out to eat to get some Cajun food. Yes, this is what St. Louis is known for their Cajun food! Chris had some type of special Jambalaya and shrimp and sausage contraption. I had something "similar to mahi mahi" as what the waitress said. When my dinner came out to me there was a big shrimp on top of the fish head and all. You should have seen my face, I was like, that's not mine...I couldn't look at it, so I made Chris take the shrimp off. He then said Cameryn look, and he was playing with the shrimps antennae things. GROSS! We also ordered FRIED ALLIGATOR TAILS! Chris loved them! For me I couldn't get over the chewiness rolling around in my mouth.. They were spicy and then you dipped them in tartar sauce. I'm sure I will be experiencing food like this in St. Louis for a looong time. Chris went to his interview the next day and then once again we went apartment hunting. If you don't know where you are and are trying to look for apartments it can be exhausting. When we moved to Austin we had a locator show us around in one day and we found an apartment that day. Now it's day 3 and still no luck... Chris met a different resident in his interview at St. Mary's and he said to live in Lafayette. So we looked over in this area and loved it! They have this huge park where a lot of people walk there dogs and run. It's close to SLU and there are a lot of students in this ward which is what I wanted! They have these old historic houses that you can rent we were looking at, but in the end we saw the LOFT! This place was amazing, safe, pet friendly (wink), and close to SLU, they have gated parking and 24 hr surveillance camera, newer apartment, gym, there is a farmers market around the corner every saturday, the park is a block from it. The only downside is, not a ton of storage room. SO this is where my creativity comes in I tell Chris :) 

All in all, we loved St. Louis, I can't wait to call it my home. I did bring a camera, but didn't get any pictures, you wouldn't want to see them anyways it was pouring the whole time. 

Have a great week!

Cameryn