We're Getting Married!

Life as of lately has been chaos. Wedding planning always seems so easy from an outside view, but it's extremely stressful... And I happen to love planning events so you'd think it would be right up my alley. Don't let me get you confused though, I've loved every minute of it (and I can definitely add wedding planner to my resume after this), but it's a lot more work than I thought! So here's a quick catch up of the last few months since I suck at blogging. 

We started dating again in June. We've been inseparable since then, to say the least.

Spencer moved back to Arizona in August, leaving me in Provo with these beautiful knives. And I cried. About the knives (they're beautiful) and of course over him. I knew that things just wouldn't be the same without him.

After 18 (far too long) days, I flew to Arizona to visit for 5 days. I guess you can say that he won me over, because...

He flew to Utah 18 days later after I had returned to move me back home.

Bliss is the only way to describe our time together. He's perfect.

On November 15th, he proposed. I now get to call this handsome boy my fiancé. 

Wedding planning has officially taken over our lives, but I'm happy to say that we are down to a mere 31 days. February 21st can't come soon enough. I can't wait for you to become my husband, Spencer Jones.

Where Have You Been All My Life?

I'm a firm believer that the things we go through in life, shape us for the better. We can always learn lessons that will help us grow in every way possible. Whether it's an obstacle that we are going through or someone new comes into our life, we are constantly learning for the situations that we are put in. In some ways I feel that's exactly what happened when I met Spencer. We met last year, September 8th (a day after his birthday). We have this ongoing joke that our relationship has quite a few funny stories that somehow brought us together closer and I guess that this is one of them! Brittney and I had been on a ward-hopping spree and lets just say that we took it to an extreme. We spent a good three or four weeks going to 2 or three sacrament services at different wards on Sundays... what were we thinking? So on this particular Sunday, we texted her cousin Paige asking which Mesa ward we should attend and she told us to go to Spencer Jone's ward, because his had hot boys... so onto the ward we went. I had no idea who this Spencer Jones was, but lets just say that the rest is history. We decided to hangout with him and his friend later in the week and from then on Spencer and I started talking. Over the next few months (about 4) we dated and things were good. But that was the thing... Spencer had planned to go to BYU in January and Brittney and I were on the works for our Utah change as well, but nothing was planned or set and stone. Long story short, Spencer decided that we should try to meet other people in Utah since that was both of our original plans before meeting. (I still tease him to this day saying how he didn't want to date me, but look where we are now) 5 months later, we found each other again thanks to Spencer making the move since I was extra stubborn (that's another story that will have to be discussed later). Over the past few months I have become the best of friends with Spencer and I don't know what I would do without him. He is the sweetest, most motivated, hard-working, goofy, FUN person that I've ever met. He makes me a better person on a daily basis and he treats me better than I could ever imagine. We have spent the last month doing long distance, but it has only brought us closer. It is definitely something that is very hard and I have to admit we were both very skeptical when we decided to go for it, but I don't think either of us would change the way our relationship has grown. I look forward to see what's to come, especially since... SURPRISE-- I'll be moving back in three days! So Utah, it's been real, but it's time to go back home.

Well, now that a year has come and gone...

I feel like I always start every blog post with "I haven't blogged in a while", but this time... it's true! It has been OVER a year and so much has changed. I am currently living in Utah (say what?), I have finished school including specializing, I just received my first job offer as an Ultrasound tech and I'm so incredibly head-over-heals crazy for my best friend. So where to begin? A year's worth of no blogging would probably cause for quite a few blog updates so for right now, we'll start with some pictures and update in the next few days. So here we go!

I always dreamed of getting a fancy globe...

Unfortunately, I still haven't gotten one, but I have gotten the lovely clinical site of globe, Arizona, which will be my half home for the next 7 months. I absolutely love the hospital there. Everyone is so nice and friendly and there is a lot to learn. They do a variety of different procedures so I get to see a lot and gains lot of knowledge as well. I'm excited to see what's to come in the next few months. 

On a side note, I have to say that globe has officially given me the experience of being a superb mountain driver now. To be completely honest, I have a lot of random and weird fears (like peanut butter, driving in the mountains, sharks in lakes...) but driving to globe has always sort of been my job in the past when driving up to alpine to visit the cabin or to go snowboarding at sunrise. I always drive until globe, then someone else takes over once the real mountains rather than the canyon takes over. But... Even though its a canyon I still have always been scared. I drove exactly the speed limit (or maybe a little less), constantly hit the breaks, gripped the steering wheel way too hard and basically in a nutshell I was just "one of those drivers". I think it's safe to say that I've gotten over it. I now drive with the flow of traffic (usually going about 10 over maximum because I hear the cops there take things pretty seriously) and just try to enjoy the drive. I've been able to do a lot of thinking over the drive so I think it's been pretty helpful.  

So back on the topic of me wanting a globe. So completely random, but I have to say I have always had my eyes on certain things that I'd love to have in my house one say when I'm married. Whenever I see them I am just in awe. When I went to temecula a few months ago, I went to a few antique stores and couldn't get over how much I loved seeing these things:

 1- a classic marble or fancy looking world globe (they're just beautiful)

 2- a full set of encyclopedias (I guess this is where the nerd sight of me comes out. Honestly, what is more classic than that?!)

 3- an antique tea pot (I don't drink tea, but hey they sure are cute)

 4- a pretty chess set (again with the marble. I have not the slightest idea how to play chess, but they are so darn authentic looking and give off such a sophisticated vibe)

  5- the full harry potter set of books hardback (of course harry potter had to be thrown in there somewhere. I mean, come on he's a legend. Plus... I think I only have half the set in hardback and paperback just look so messy after the years go by)

A girl can dream right?

Remember that one time I passed out...

So the last month or so has been pretty uneventful. It's literally consisted of me being at clinicals Monday through Friday from 8-5, Saturdays spent being well bored and Sundays at church... Then the cycle repeats itself. But, a month ago the craziest thing ever happened. So I was at clinicals feeling normal and fine when I decided to go and get a drink of water. I literally remember walking into the hallway and turning the corner and then BAM. Next thing you know, I wake up seeing blood, being shaken and yelled at asking what happened and to wake up! What in the world right? So I had a freak accident and passed out. Adding my luck to things, my face decided to hit the metal door frame, which left a scratch on one cheek, my nose a little bruised and my lip perfectly split open. Just fabulous. As if I needed a hot scar and stitches to add to my newly single status. But like I said before, when it rains, it pours. I just haven't been that lucky I guess. So the paramedics came and ran tests then suggested I go to the hospital to get stitches (mind you I've never had stitches before so this freaked me out a bit). Within thirty minutes, my mother, brother (Nikolas) and I were on our way to the hospital, which luckily was right next to my clinical site. It was foreshadowed that I'd have a black eye since my nose was hit pretty hard and was bruising but thank goodness I got lucky. At the end of the day after blood tests, urine tests and x rays they found absolutely nothing wrong. Freak accident? Who knows. I'm just so thankful that I wasn't driving when this happened because things could've been a lot worse. Also, I thankfully only was left with stitches on my left (performed without anesthesia since I of course have a fast metabolism and burned it off in two seconds), bruised in random places on my body from falling without control and pretty stiff and sore. But since then I've been getting random attacks of anxiety  and now I'm completely freaked out because I worry that ill pass out randomly somewhere again. (Help me!) I had a follow up with a doctor and I'm off to the cardiologist next week... Because I really need more to worry and stress about. Hopefully this pouring of rain will pass, because I could really use a break right about now!

Oh and yes my lip was huge for about two weeks... Happy happy happy (hahah I just got done watching duck dynasty)

My brothers are studs.

My brothers are basically amazing. Let me tell you... They're always there for me regardless of the situation and I could not be a more proud big sister. In May, Junior graduated from the University of Arizona with his bachelors degree in MIS. (At a ripe young age of 21) I'm quite the sob at their graduations. I honestly always shed a few tears at their graduations, regardless of what grade it's from. Happy tears, of course, they just make me so happy. In June, Nikolas then graduated from Hamilton High School (go huskies!) and he is only 17. Making his sister proud, yet again. Nik even got the presidential scholarship for chandler-gilbert community college and will have his next two years completely paid for. They both are honestly great and I can't wait to see what is to come in their lives. I love them. 

I think I have 1 million different stress habits

But who needs just one, right?! Stress seems to be the basic constant matter in life right now. So what better way to deal with it than to bake? Because, let's be honest... Who doesn't like to calm their anxieties with food. Basically the cooking/baking has commenced in my house. I have a list, and actually ended up making a folder on my phone's safari titled "recipes", so that I know exactly which ones ill be making next. This week I thought I'd go for a breakfast and dinner in one day. For dinner I went with fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Simple and delicious. For breakfast, however, I ended up with a process longer than I intended. I decided to make bagels and had no idea that it was a 4 hour process one day (minus two hours for the whole yeast-rise effect to occur, but it still counts in my book, along with overnight flavor enhancement) plus the hour that I had to do the next day. Even though it was a long process, I still enjoyed it and they turned out great! I ended up with 16 bagels in four different flavors (a mixed which contained onion, garlic, poppy seed and sesame seed, cinnamon-sugar, plain and my absolute favorite out of the four--Italian cheese). The Italian cheese was absolutely amazing and I think it was the hit in my house so I definitely plan to make a ton of that kind next time! I started off the morning with 16 and by the next morning there were only 3 left! (Ok ok, 3 I gave to my mom, but still!) they were a success and I even got a cute kitchen scale out of it (Im absolutely obsessed with kitchen appliances so it was a win/win sort of trade off).

Tonight I made dinner....

And it was a success. I honestly love making dinners and it is a bummer that I don't do it more often. I try to either make dinner or take the family out to dinner (yes, that's right I take them out) at least once a week. I know it is something that I obviously don't have to do by any means, but the fact that I have a job and can totally just pay for them or cook and show them how much I care leaves me feeling so much better. If I don't have time to make dinner I will usually just make dessert, which is completely obvious since that's all I post pictures of.... I'm a little obsessed, ok?! so... For dinner I went with making chicken tenders and loaded potato crisps.... Of course they needed a mutual dip so I made spicy ranch. It was pretty good if I say so myself (big shout out to pinterest.... Honestly it not only makes work days go ten times faster, but also gives me something to do on my days off... HOLLA!!!) Nik helped me with making the ultimate brownies, which consist of two pounds of cookie dough, 24 Oreos and a family size box of fudge brownies. Of course, being the dessert-loving family that we are, we topped them with vanilla ice cream.... Just couldn't resist! While we were also making brownies, Nik was just " so hungry" and I kept catching him stealing my potatoes... But dinner turned out great, I love my family :) 

Surprise!...

So... To some of you that are reading this, this blog post may be a shocker,  Most of you already know, and the rest of you won't be surprised. 6 months ago, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life. I was baptized. I'm going to do this like the commercials (because I'm a goof hahah) so here we go.... 

My name is Shaenyce Dallas. I'm 21 years old. I love my friends and family more than anything. And... I'm a Mormon. :) pretty legit commercial if you ask me!

When I first made this decision I got a lot of mixed reviews, but honestly it has been one of the best decisions that I have ever made. Some of you I didn't even tell, but I hope that you get one thing from this. I have not changed in a bad way at all and I hope that you can look back on the past 7.5 months and can see how much I've grown as a person and what a better person I've become. I seriously feel so incredibly blessed for all of the new friends that I've made, old relationships that have been rekindled and all of the new experiences that I have gained. I also would like to thank every person that has played a role in my life for the past 7.5 months and for all of the support that I've gotten from everyone :) I love you all, you know who you are ;)

So here's my whole story... After graduation I felt like I was honestly really lost. I was at a point in my life where I just didn't know exactly what I wanted to do or how I wanted to do it. Well... Over the summer I was reunited (I guess you could say?) with one of my really good friends Weston and started hanging out with all of his friends.... Aka the group known as "the boys". Yes, I was the only girl hanging out with all guys for months but seriously I love them to death and would do anything for any of them. They seriously mean the world to me, I don't think they have any idea how much I care for them. So anyways, one saturday summer night in June when we were all saying bye to each other, Ben walked over and was like "so I'll see you at church tomorrow Shae?" so of course I said sure and went. The only way that I can explain how I felt that day was that "it felt so right". Simple as that. There are three other times that I've felt this way also that I've just been so overwhelmed with the Spirit and the feeling has been so strong... When I got baptized, when I was reading from a church book before I got baptized and.... One other time, but we will save that story for another day. Plus I've never told anyone before. :) ha.... So I've been going to church every weekend since then (except for when I work). I was baptized on August 6, 2011, which means two things based off of today's current date (February 6, 2012). Today is my 6 month Anniversary haha and... Only 6 months until I can get married in the Temple officially. Oh shoot... I. Can. Not. Wait. :) here are some pictures from my baptism!

These are the amazing Sister Missionaries that taught me my lessons. Sister Orton, Sister Johanson and Sister Martin.

My Best Friend Kelsey and her husband Kyle. They helped me with anything I needed and I love them so incredibly much. They both gave talks at my baptism and Kelsey's made me cry, of course! But I still love her :)

My two best friends, Jenna and Nichole. These are my two friends that have had my back more than anyone else. I love them both so much, even with their sleeved dresses ;)

My brother, Junior, came. I love him!

The girls :) seriously, what would I do without them.

And of course, a necessary glamour!

My second family. Seriously I don't know what I would do without the Smith Family. They have been so incredibly supportive and even threw me a little party afterwards. I will forever be thankful for them. 

Well this was the longest post ever. Hope you all enjoyed it. Love you! :)