Summer Time Adventures

I know, I know. I haven't blogged in almost 2 months but I'm here to make it up to you.

Forgive me?

To be fair we have had tons going on. Funny how life gets quiet and then picks up suddenly for awhile.

I would say things are quiet now but they're still busy, just in different ways. 

Without further ado I will catch you up on life. 

I'll keep dialogue to a minimum until then end of the post, sound fair enough?

To start I found Cheerwine in Rexburg at this cute vintage candy store!

For those that don't know it is a North Carolina original soda. 

I believe it is a cherry, almond flavored cola. (No alcohol I promise)

Garett graduated with his Bachelors in Microbiology! 

I'm so proud of him, if y'all only knew how hard he worked!

(P.S. Yes in case you missed it I am pregnant with our first baby which is due in January, gender VERY SOON to come)

After the semester ended we headed down to Utah to spend time with my family, some old friends, see Grandma and Grandpa Bonds and attend my dear friend Haley's wedding.

I also satisfied my deepest pregnancy craving with doughnuts!

Munchkin is growing big and is constantly kicking and wiggling.

It makes me so very happy. 

(Baby can't reach my ribs yet)

This was me at about 17 weeks.

My dear friend Haley and her very lucky man.

What a beautiful bride! So glad I got to be there!

My very handsome little brother

(Sorry Aaron, I know you don't like this picture but you look good anyway)

After that we headed down to the fabulous Southern California.

Not before we saw rain in Las Vegas though.....weird...

Once we got down there we went camping at the beach.

Falling asleep to the sound of actual waves at night is probably on my list of all time favorite things now.

Plus no bugs!

Me, before I took a nap in the sun and burned my left shoulder pretty badly.

It was worth it though because I got to see Garett surf for the first time since he has been home from his mission (roughly 5 years).

He's mine! Isn't that wonderful?

I finally had California Pizza Kitchen!

My cup left a Red John smiley face though. O.o 

(Google The Mentalist for more info)

Of course I got my Panera Bread!

(I have a deep love of food, don't judge me.)

Tay's cat, Buddy loves me. 

He thinks my lap is a great napping place.

After almost 2 weeks away from home we are back in Rexburg. 

We loved getting to see so many people that we love dearly and it was by far one of the best trips we've ever had. We feel blessed to be able to be close enough (relatively) to see so much of our family all in one trip. 

Now we're home and working on packing up and moving to a new apartment to make room for our sweet little munchkin. I start my last semester of school in a little under a month which I am excited for but in no rush to start. It'll be fun, exciting and a little sad to be done with BYU-I. I've had a wonderful 4 years here and I have fallen in love with this little town.

As I said before we are very close to finding out the gender of our munchkin so make your bets now. 

So far it's pretty much split down the middle.

We've been enjoying quite a bit of rain this last week which I love not only because I love rain but because we live on the 3rd floor which gets  hot in the summer.

Things are great and busy as we are starting to prepare little by little for baby to come.

We now have some of the basic things like crib, changing table, etc and it's exciting to start preparing for munchkin.

More than anything I'm falling in love with my baby every day. Baby is very vivacious and wiggly and it fills me with joy to know my baby is working hard on building those strong muscles. I'm looking forward to meeting baby in roughly 20ish weeks and being a mom.

Don't get me wrong I'm certain it's probably going to be the hardest thing I've ever done, but also the most wonderful. We couldn't be happier to be on our way to becoming parents.

It's a crazy but exciting time in our lives. We're grateful to all the support we've had thus far and thank you for all the well wishes and positive energy.

I hope all is well with y'all.

I'm hoping my next post will be for the gender of our baby so stay tuned!

Megan

Happy New Year!

A week late!

I'll keep this quick.

Sorry I haven't been blogging much lately. 

Life has been crazy/lazy these last 4 months.

Now Garett and I are settled into our new apartment, with only a few minor things to put away..........somewhere.......

Pictures will be up soon.

Now that we have out own apartment, I just want to invite EVERYONE over.

Not sure why, but it is a craving I have so we have already invited several people over in the 3 days we have been here.

Basically I LOVE being married.

Growing up is scary and fun though.

I can't remember anything before August except freaking out a lot because I didn't have time to breathe. 

I HATE unpacking 23,094,283,747 boxes!

But love seeing the results.

I am nervous/excited for our new ward.

I feel like there is singles land and married land and they are SO far apart.

I'm in love with our egg chair (pictures soon).

What to do you when you wake up at 9 and church is at 1:30?

Blog.

Anyway I will update more when I have fun pictures to go along with them.

Congrats to Albert and Wendy and best of luck to you!

Have fun unpacking....xP

And everyone come stay with Garett and I please???

 P.S. Lizzy, you got me the best wedding/Christmas present ever! 

I am going to bake cookies ALLLLL the time now!

N64 with Garett

is my favorite <3 p="p">

Meg B.

Moods and Music

Ever notice how your mood affects what you listen to, and what you listen to affects your mood?

Well I do. My music is pretty consistent based on my moods.

When I am really happy I want something bouncy and fun that I can dance like a fool to the beat of. This often comes from very cheesy soundtracks and those really fun songs that you only listen to for the beat.

If I am walking to class, I want something empowering that I can walk to the beat of, like Marchin On by OneRepublic. They really know how to get you moving and though the version I linked is not the original, you get the idea.(That whole CD is GREAT, I recommend you look it up, the album is called Waking Up)

When I am in a springy happy mood, getting ready for the beautiful day outside, but not dancing I want something fun like Regina Spektor and Ingrid Michaelson. You know, those people who have voices that others would kill for, that have talents that the rest of us dream of? Yeah them.

But when I am in a bad mood, it is easy to tell. I pull out things like Linkin Park and some of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus's harder stuff. I put headphones in and blare it allowing my frustration to come out with every strum of the electric guitar, drumming and singing that is on the verge of yelling. I find it allows me to get my aggression out without actually having to do anything except listen. And slowly over time, my music will progress towards happier things, and by the end of it all, I am back to my regular self.

Given sometimes those harder songs are fun to listen to in the car, mostly because surround sound is justice to the bass in those songs.

In the car, like I have said before, I want something fun and with BASS. In posts previous I have mentioned my love of subwoofers and surround sound (I am PRETTY sure I get that from my dad. PS. Dad PLEASE never throw away those 3ft tall speakers!!!) Maybe this is why I like watching movies at guys apartments....surround sound. Apparently the appreciation of good quality sound is left mostly to men. What a shame. Either way music is meant to be appreciated, and if it has a great bass, then one must be able to enjoy that bass. (See Marchin On above)

And of course when I am sad, I listen to slow, sad, mournful music. My favorite, though it is more for when I am feeling methodical, but can also be sad is Half Life by Duncan Sheik. Somehow whenever I am having a hard time, this song speaks to me. Maybe it is just me, but I can apply this song to many of the hardest times in my life.

All in all, music plays a huge roll in my life. Different artists and genres are all mixed in to create me, my feelings, my thoughts, and my emotions. I have a hard time sticking to one general style, because that isn't me. I am not one style, I am 50. So whether is be hardcore rock, indie, pop, rock, classical, alternative, metal or whatever else, it defines me; it defines parts of my life.

I hope you don't stick to one general style of music, because then you are missing out on a world of songs that might speak to you in a way you never knew was even possible.So enjoy, explore and see what defines you through music.

On a side note, 53 days until I marry THIS guy!

 The thought of marrying him makes me want to jump for joy!

Abstract

Mixed Lighting without a tripod,  I am proud. 

Just some work I've been doing for my class. =]

 

Also thanks to my family for letting Garett, Haley and I get out of Rexburg for our sanity's sake. Also thanks to the Bonds for letting me spend time with them on Saturday. Y'all are wonderful almost-in-laws. I am blessed to be joining such a great family. 

And with that, I bid you farewell.

I'll try to write more, but my life is pretty boring.

It consists of school, work, possibly TOO much art, not enough sleep, and plenty of wedding planning.

Hope you all are having a great summer/semester!

-Meg

A Letter, A Letter

Dear family, friends, future family, and whomever else may run across this,

       If you could not tell, I am trying something new today in writing my blog like a letter. Maybe it is because I have been bored during work and write letters to Garett and friends during work, or maybe it is because I get the weekly emails from Michael G and Tristan T (guys in my ward back in NC) now and I love hearing about their missions. Regardless, this is my letter on nothing particularly important, but just life right now.
     
         With only 2 1/2 weeks left in the semester things are starting to wrap up. It doesn't really feel like it is ending. I am happy to say I will miss my roommates next semester (as I am moving 2 doors over for my last semester as a "single" lady). But luckily most of them will be staying in the ward. I am also THRILLED that the gorgeous Haley Nicholas will be my roommate next semester. It will be a miracle if we get any sleep next semester. But at least I know my Temple buddy will be back. =] Maybe our favorite dunker/baptizer will be back too (he hasn't been there when I went this semester =[) Yes we had a favorite dunker, and he recognized us and would say "See ya next week!". It was awesome.

         In other news I cannot wait to go home and see my family this weekend. Though I miss NC, I cannot deny LOVING having them so close by for my convenience. Playing with Nikolai (hopefully) and wedding dress shopping! Eeeek! I wonder if it will feel real or like a strange dream. Guess we'll find out. Hope I can find a dress small enough for my tiny self.

       More than anything I ready for spring break. Garett and I are going to California to see his family and meet the 2938742 people that I still need to meet......ok maybe it's like 11+ but still, I am not even half way.....but I am looking forward to the sunshine and warm weather (for which I own NO shorts.....that is what happens when you live in Idaho for 2 years) and having fun, also Garett not having ANY homework!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Needless to say I dislike his time consuming classes....I know they are important and good and all that, but I don't have to like them).

       The more I look at life though, the more I have a feeling next semester is going to fly by and next thing I know I will be married (YAY!). Not going to lie, the idea of only having ONE roommate as opposed to 5 is exciting! Not to mention that roommate is my best friend and no more worrying about people eating/stealing my food and stuff. Though I am thinking Garett and I are going to have to still label our milk (his milk addiction is worse than mine.....he can down 3 gallons in a week EASY)

      Other than wedding plans, schoolwork and just day to day stuff, not much else crosses my mind. I cannot wait to marry Garett (I'll spare you the mushy details of him being my best friend and the greatest man I have ever met) but all the same, life with him will never be boring (except when he has 289374 assignments all due the same day), but that is what online tv and craft projects are for right?

     Thanks for listening. Hope your day is going well and that it is NOT snowing where you are. Good luck in your endeavors, whatever they may be. Send me a letter, I would love it! I promise to write back! I am getting back into my letter writing moods, so close friends watch your mailboxes. You might see some chicken scratch writing from me.

Catch ya later,
love y'all
Megan

P.S. If you read this all, hats off to you.

P.P.S You rock!

P.P.P.S I hope you have an AMAZING day!!!