something random

Things I don't like:

guacamole

I just have to be honest with myself, even though it seems like everyone goes ga-ga for guacamole. It has such an . . . empty taste to me, and I hate how it feels in my mouth.

Tim Burton movies

His style really turns me off. Even the previews for this movie make me flinch.

trips

1. Denver, Colorado

When: October 2011

Why: to visit Seth's stepdad, Mike

What: free place to stay, awesome meals prepared by Mike, stroll around downtown, shopping spree at the outlet mall (for Seth), trip to the movie theater, lots of sleeping in

2. St. George, Utah

When: February 2012

Why: Parade of Homes

What: two full days of visiting homes, game night with friends who were there for the parade too, dinner with my dad and Janice who drove up from Vegas to see us

 3. Driggs, Idaho

When: April 2012

Why: just for fun

What: a night's stay at Seth's cousin's house, tour around Rexburg and BYU-Idaho where Seth went to school, meeting up with his friends still at school, discounted stay at Seth's friend's condo, 18 holes of golf for Seth (reading my book in the golf cart for me), lots of movies from Redbox

4. San Jose, California

When: July 2012

Why: Seth's friend's wedding

What: double date with one of Seth's college roommates, dinner with Seth's former boss and his family, a trip to Santa Cruz to go to the beach, dinner with the wedding party, a sealing with the best sealer I've seen, super fun reception with lots of dancing

Don't worry; the photographer was taking their picture from a different angle ;)

Things I've realized from our trips:

1. I LOVE meeting Seth's friends. Seth is such a cool guy that of course he'd be friends with cool people.

2. I NEED to have 2 pillows to get a good night's sleep.

3. I spend a lot of time compiling road trip entertainment. Music, books and magazines to read aloud, DVDs and our laptop to connect to the auxiliary plug, games that don't require boards, a notebook for us to write lists in, etc. I also wanted to bring my old Spanish textbook so we could quiz each other, but Seth didn't think that sounded like entertainment :)

 

memory

Bomb (v):

To clean up a messy room at a rapid pace, usually with members of one's family, usually during a commercial.

Remember how Seth makes up words when he can't think of the one he means quickly enough? Blast is his go-to word for bomb. But that is probably only funny to my family, who "bombs" on a regular occasion.

something I love about Seth

He not only sets goals,
but gives them names, too.

i.e. "Sixty Days to Sexy" wherein he stops drinking soda and works out daily

or "Thirty Days of Doing What I Should" wherein he prays, studies scriptures, does his hometeaching, etc.

more sweet deals

deal:

$5 cash at Bed, Bath, and Beyond

how:

This store has one of the best coupon and return policies I know of! I had spent $15 on a set of mixing bowls and kept the receipt because I knew that a catalog would be coming in the mail with a coupon worth $5 off a purchase of $15 or more. When it finally came, I took both the receipt and the coupon back to the store and walked out with a $5 bill.

deal:

1 pair of dressy flip flops and 3 pairs of workout shorts for free at Kohl's

 

how:

Another awesome coupon that periodically comes in the mail: $10 off a purchase of $10 or more. (Thanks for the inspiration, Tausha!)

deal:

2 skirts and 2 pairs of jeans for $4 at Plato's Closet

how:

On Saturday night during the priesthood session of General Conference (the official "girl's night out" in Utah :) ) Plato's Closet (a second-hand clothing store) had all of their clearance items on sale for $1. I went to the one in the city where I live and found two super cute skirts! They extended the sale this week, so I went to the one in the city where I work and found 2 pairs of jeans! Now I feel like I just have to find an excuse to go to the one in the city in between...

sequins

Seth and I used to spend hours on the phone when we were living in different states before we started dating. Once, while on the phone, I told him about a new skirt I got that had sequins all over. Trying to picture my skirt, he asked what sequins were, and I explained that they were pieces of shiny plastic.

 A while later, though, whenever I mentioned something about sequins (which wasn't a daily occurrence, of course, but was enough to merit a blog post), Seth inevitably brought up the Chinese. When I finally asked him why he kept talking about China, we realized that when I had told him over the phone that sequins were shiny plastic, he had heard Chinese plastic. I'm so glad that our relationship progressed past the phone!

volleyball

My mom got us a volleyball set for Christmas, but the volleyball that came with it wasn't very great, so I kept my eye out at garage sales this summer to find a different one. I was so excited when I finally found one, but when I brought it home to show Seth, he informed me,

"That's a soccer ball, dear."

(I'm definitely known to be absent-minded, but in my defense, the ball was all white; if it had been black and white like a regular soccer ball, I'm pretty confident I would have recognized it :) )

Seth, the songwriter

It's really cute when Seth doesn't realize that he doesn't know the words to a song he's singing.


Song: Love You Like a Love Song, by Selena Gomez
Correct lyrics: "I love you like a love song, baby."
Seth's lyrics: "I love you like a lovesick puppy."

Song: If I Die Young, by The Band Perry
Correct lyrics: "If I die young, bury me in satin . . . "
Seth's lyrics: "If I die young, bury me alive . . . "
(No, that doesn't make any sense at all.)

sweet deals

deal:

certificate for a free meal and everything we could fit into to-go boxes from the buffet for free at Pizza Pie Cafe

We had gotten a text from the restaurant that the buffets were $3 off that night, so we told our friends to meet us there when we got home from work at 9 p.m. since the website said they were open until 10 p.m. But when we got to the restaurant at 8:55, the sign on the door said they closed at 9! We were really disappointed about the mistake on the website, so I asked the manager for a raincheck for the discount. Instead of a simple coupon, though, he offered us this awesome deal! 

deal:

3 swimsuit tops, 1 swimskirt, 2 tank tops, 2 undershirts, and 2 long-sleeved shirts for $20 at ModBod

 

My mom heard about a ModBod parking lot sale where you could get as miny items as you could fit into a small bag for $20, so we went to it together. I shopped while she stuffed the bag. Best mom, friend, and shopping pal!

deal:

2 pairs of True Religion jeans and 1 pair of Big Star jeans (more than $100 each new) for $6 at a garage sale

I usually don't pay any more than $1 for a piece of clothing at a garage sale as a personal rule, but these were unquestioningly worth it. And she agreed to throw some other items into the deal :)

 

our wedding day

July 5, 2011

8:30 a.m. I go to Seth's house for breakfast.
8:45 We have yet another discussion about eloping, taking into account the uncertainty of when my sealing cancellation would be finalized and our bishop's counsel, "the sooner the better."
8:50 We start liking the idea more and more.
9:00 Seth leaves for work and we continue our conversation on the phone.
9:30 We decide we're getting married in 12 hours.
9:45 I call my mom and Chelsea and tell them to meet me at the mall because I need a wedding dress right away (my original wedding dress hadn't been altered yet).
9:46 They freak out.
10:00 The mall opens and we start our search. Seth and I keep texting each other asking if we're really doing this.
10:45 We find a perfect white cocktail dress at White House Black Market. On clearance.
11:00 Seth calls me to tell me my car, which he had taken to work, had overheated and he was stuck on the side of the road. More than an hour away.
11:10 I leave the mall (thank goodness I found a dress quickly!) to pick him up.
11:30 I text my friend to ask her if we can get married in her backyard that night (we were there over the weekend to watch fireworks because they have an amazing view of the city).
11:33 She texts back "sure haha." She thinks I'm kidding.
11:36 I assure her I'm not.
12:30 I pick Seth up and we decide to worry about the broken car tomorrow since today is our wedding day.
1:00 I call my dad to tell him the news. He is very supportive.
1:15 Seth calls his dad who responds, "It's about time."
1:30 Seth calls his bishop to ask if he will perform the ceremony. The bishop says he's not sure if he'll be available and that he'll let us know.
1:45 We go shopping for some honeymoon items.
3:00 We eat lunch at our favorite sandwich place.
3:45 We realize we need a marriage license. Luckily we're right across the street from the county office.
4:30 We leave with our license 10 minutes before the office stops issuing licenses for the day.
4:45 We realize we need a wedding ring for Seth. I hadn't gotten one yet because I thought we had at least another couple months before our wedding.
4:46 I explain to him that I need a lot of time to get ready and ask if he wouldn't mind going to get his own ring.
4:47 I get in trouble for making such a suggestion.
5:00 We go ring shopping at the mall and realize that we're limited to whatever selection they have in his size in the store right then.
5:40 We leave with a ring that's not his first choice, but one that he'll wear so that we can get married in a few hours.
6:00 Seth drops me off at my apartment and I begin the undertaking of becoming a bride.
6:15 Seth finally hears from his bishop that he can't be there that night.
6:18 He starts calling non-denominational ministers in the area.
6:25 He remembers that his suit is still at Men's Wearhouse waiting to be taken in.
6:26 He calls to let them know that he needs his suit done. Right now. Please. And could they also please have a white shirt pressed and ready at the same time.
6:30 My mom comes over to my apartment after my shower.
6:45 We discuss what I'm going to do with my hair while I start my makeup.
6:50 Seth works out a deal with Reverend Christopher from SLC who can be in Provo at 9 p.m.
7:00 I start getting really nervous. I ask my mom if this is a good idea.
7:02 My mom responds, "Nikki, stop it. This is going to be great!"
7:05 I text Seth and tell him I'm how nervous I am.
7:30 He shows up at my apartment with flowers.
7:40 My mom and I head over to Carrabba's (where Seth and I went the night we got engaged) to have dinner with our families. Seth goes to pick up his suit on the way.
7:55 We meet Seth's parents, his sister Rachel and her family, and my sister Chelsea and her family there. We eat.
8:45 We all leave for the wedding.
8:47 It starts to rain. Clouds gather over the mountain where our friend's with the backyard with the great view live. So much for the view.
8:55 By the time we get there, two rainbows have appeared against the mountains. Almost makes up for the rain.
9:10 We get married under the cover of a tree. We exchange vows and rings. We kiss.

what I think about

When Elder Holland originally admonished us to "exercise more control over even the marginal moments that confront you" (April 2010 General Conference), it was in reference to safeguarding ourselves against pornography. Little did he know the various instances in which his admonition has inspired me:

1. When there is a package of cookies in the pantry and I have the urge to finish it off.
2. When someone is rude to me and my first reaction is to return the treatment.
3. When I break a nail and I'm just dying to pick at it.

What are your marginal moments?

more things that don't matter

that Seth sleeps with his mouth open

when he squishes his pillow together and lays back against it, leaving it a little lumpy

Love him!

something random

I have this weird thing about closing the doors in our room.

Like if we're watching TV or going to sleep or even...you know...I just have to close the bathroom and the closet doors. (I used to try to close the bedroom door too, but Seth thought that was taking it too far, because who do we really need privacy from?)

I think it's just aesthetics, really. It simply looks nicer and cleaner to me to have the doors closed, making it easier for me to relax.

Please, anyone, validate me!

primary survival skills

Something I'm learning how to do in primary:

relating the children's often obscure comments to the subject any way I can

Example:

I held up a picture of the prophet and told the children that the prophet wants us to prepare to go to the temple.

Me: "How can we prepare to go to the temple?"

6-year-old boy: "We have that picture of the prophet at our house!"

Me: "Great, and if you talk about the temple at home with your family, you can learn more about it and prepare to go there someday."

Ta-dah.

insanity

We're doing this:



It's freaking hard,

but not impossible.

It helps for me to watch the timer and tell myself,

"I know I can do this for just 10 more seconds."

(That works on so many levels, right?)

something random

I looove Taco Bell mild sauce!

Mostly for the flavor, but the clever blurbs don't hurt.

I use half a packet on each bite. No joke.

habits

Four habits I want to break:

1. Twirling my hair

2. Picking at my cuticles

3. Cracking my knuckles.

4. Biting the inside of my lip.

Ew, right?

what I've learned from knocking doors

(After this one, I promise I'm done reflecting on my job!)

1) Charity is not easily provoked (1 Corinthians 13:5). I can't let myself get bugged by people who are mean or ignorant. That's not being charitable.

2) Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matthew 25:40). I've experienced several people answering literally the question, "When saw we thee . . . thirsty, and gave thee drink?" (Matthew 25:37) by offering me a drink of water on especially hot days last summer. It shouldn't have been so eye-opening to me, but it was significant to me to see how someone can live the gospel so simply and naturally.

movie treats

Let's be real.

We sneak food into the movie theater.

Our favorite movie treats?

Complete meals from Taco Bell.
Including large fountain drinks that I've learned to balance in my purse.

Bringing in outside food is shocking to some people, though.
We often bring cans of pop, and once after popping the top,
we heard someone whisper distressedly a few rows behind us,
"Did you hear that? Someone just opened a can. They don't sell cans here!"
Give me a break.

conditioning

When I come across a fenced front yard as I'm knocking door to door, I whistle to see if there's a dog inside before I open the gate. Because that has been a habit for so long, I've caught myself licking my lips (which I do every time before I whistle) when see a fence at the next house before I even think about it.

This is even worse, though: I went into a gas station during a break at work one time, and I wasn't sure if someone was in the one-person restroom or not. My first instinct was to pucker my lips to whistle...just like I would if I wasn't sure if there was a dog inside a fence or not. I'm glad I caught myself before I let a whistle out and just knocked on the door instead!

think about:

"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; 

ye also ought to wash one another’s feet."

John 13:14

advice

Steel yourself against the temptation to suck the last bit of fudgesicle off the wooden stick. It's not worth it; it will only taste like wood. And that's not how you want to end a delightful encounter with a fudgesicle, is it?

what we do

Seth and I both work for his dad's remodeling company.

Seth sells all sorts of home improvement projects (bathrooms, kitchens, windows, roofs, fences, etc.).  He has been the #1 sales rep for 4 of the 6 months he has been selling :)

I go door to door and set up some of the appointments that he goes to. That's right; I'm a knocker! (I know people have all sorts of opinions about what I do, but just know that I'm super nice and not pushy and that I leave someone's doorstep quickly if I can tell they're annoyed.) I basically "sell" the idea of getting a free estimate on whatever project homeowners want to do for their house.

I've been knocking for just over year. That's when Seth's dad originally hired him to set up a knocking team to generate leads, since Seth was a team leader for a pest control company for a few years. At the time, Seth and I were just dating. He told me about the job, and I told him I wanted to try. That's how we ended up spending practically every day together in the first 6 months of our relationship, allowing it to progress pretty quickly.

Since my job is so flexible (I can work whatever hours I want as long as I meet a quota), Seth and I often meet up in the middle of the day if he has an hour or two in between appointments. We usually get to go out for lunch or go to an afternoon movie (or even just sit in the car and talk--that's good enough for us!) a couple times a week. We love our jobs!

Just for fun, these are some of the most expressive "no soliciting" signs I've come across:

This one is just a little bit hypocritical:

primary

What it's like so far being in the primary presidency:

-On my first day, a little girl introduced herself to me and said, "I'm in first grade. What grade are you in?"

-Last week, a five-year-old was assigned to share a scripture for opening exercises. He wanted to do it by himself. This is what he came up with: "Jesus and Heavenly Father were going to the boat. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

-When I meet new kids in primary, I often forget to tell them my name is Sister Devey. Some of them know me as Nikki. Oops.

sweets

Let's be real.

Sometimes I keep eating sweets even after

I've decided I don't like that particular variety.

For example,

These have an extremely cheap flavor. I realized that after the few few juniors. But I kept eating them. I thought that maybe the next bite would be better than the last. I mean, it's candy! How could I go wrong? But I was wrong over and over and over again.

I was two-thirds of the way through the box when I realized something drastic needed to happen; before I could change my mind, I marched that disgusting box of sweets into the kitchen and threw it decidedly into the garbage!

Seth was a little disappointed later that he never got to try one, but I reassured him that it had to be done. If I hadn't thrown it away, there wouldn't have been any left for him anyway.

seth

Oh, yeah. You probably don't actually know Seth, do you?

This is my husband:



He is from Oregon (we grew up in the same stake).
He played football and wrestled during high school.

He served a spanish-speaking mission in San Diego, California.

He went to BYU-Idaho and studied business.

He sold pest control for 4 summers.
He loves Mt. Dew (but he hasn't had any for over a month now!).
He is the secretary of the young men's presidency in our ward.

He often carries a calculator in his pocket.
He gets a little bit depressed around his birthday.
He read (and enjoyed) the Twilight series.
He cleans the toilet without any prompting.
He likes going shopping with me.
He is allergic to cats.

He is really romantic.

He loves golf.

He loves movies.

He is hilarious.

I love him!

things that don't matter

when Seth has to answer a work call right when I'm about to put dinner on the table

when he leaves unoccupied hangers among his shirts in the closet instead of putting them together in a separate section so they're easier to find