Just because you're getting old...

doesn't mean you can't partaaaay!

I'll be celebrating my 25th birthday (wow, that's old) in Boston with my college girlfriends. I can't wait to have a girl's weekend AWAY from Utah!

Also, I'm a big fan of TLC's Cake Boss and love his talent. But since he's all the way in NYC and can't make me my dream New York Skyline cake, I'll settle for cannolis and a refreshing morning walk around Harvard.

PS - we leave to Hawaii and Micronesia in a month! We'll be spending Christmas here:

Halloween with the Little Couple

Hope you all had a fun (and safe) Halloween!

PS - We are working on SIMPLIFYING our lives... right now life is kind of crazy busy... but it's all goooood! Love you all!

the love of a mother...

I kept a journal of all my adventures while at school in New York. I just so happened to come across this journal while looking for a book in the office. As I sat down to reminisce of all my experiences, I found a letter from my mom that was folded in between two pages.

I should probably tell you that my freshman year was difficult, or rather, my first semester of freshman year was difficult. I did not get along with my volleyball coach, New York was somewhat overwhelming for an 18 year old, and I was also a LITTLE homesick... but just a LITTLE.

My mamma took the time to write me a kind letter to remind me of how much she loves me and helped put things into perspective. I'll just let you read some of it:

"I know this is a very challenging time in your life and that volleyball is really leaving a bad taste in your mouth, but I want you to remember how much you used to love it ... let that stay with you ... I remember how much you loved volleyball - you ate, drank, and slept the sport ... just remember the good times and let them carry you through these times. ...Okay so my point is hang in there, no matter what! We are not quitters! We are fighters!"

I love my mom. At the time I'm sure that first semester was the toughest thing I had gone through, but now looking back I realize those experiences were so insignificant. I love my mom for the wisdom she shares with me. I remember receiving many encouraging letters or cards in the mail as if I were on my mission or something - always ending with "Remember who you are" and "XOXOXOXO". Even though my mom was 3,000 miles away, I could feel her influence and love.

A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary.

Zubies?

if you heard...

the rumors are true...

the Fordham graduate and USC super fan

have become Zubies...

and here's some proof:

Isn't Spencer soooo handsome?!

we love BYU!

after all, the University is my employer and Spencer's soon to be alma mater:)

*if you didn't know, Spencer got into the Marriott School of Business... Yay for the Barlows! We're probably the coolest zubies you'll EVER know!

12 hours in New York

My mom called me about 2pm on Saturday. "Let's go to New York!" ...well I couldn't pass up the chance to go back to my stomping grounds so I grabbed my wallet and headed to the airport!

We took the red-eye into JFK and spent the day speed site-seeing and shopping. I even caught up with my old roommate of 4 years!

We enjoyed our 12 hours in the City... if you ever want to pay for my flight to be your tour guide in NYC, I can get you to all the hot tourist spots in 12 hours tops!

Staten Island Ferry... Manhattan Skyline behind

Sometimes I like to pretend I am the QUEEN OF NEW YORK

Ground Zero... This week is 9/11

My Alma Mater... Fordham University

Kalei and the Manhattan Temple

(during my freshman year I witnessed the dedication and the raising of the Angel Moroni... i love this temple)

34th Street... Shopping, shopping, shopping!

Empire State Building

My roommate of 4 years at Fordham University

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Rockefeller Center

My favorite part of the trip was seeing Krystle... We had a lot of fun in college, in NY... it was great being back in the city.

I'm glad my mom, my sister, and I made the last minute trip back to the city of no sleep... we literally didn't sleep for two days.

my oh my... how time does fly...

hellooooo blogging world!

i feel like i should write a formal introduction seeing as i haven't blogged in over a month. well instead, i'll just let you know that the barlows are doing fabulous! we've been busy this summer and i couldn't bring myself to blogging. anyway, i hope i'll be a little more consistent, but NO promises.

i've been busy at work... and finally football season is here! BYU football kicks off the season this weekend at the Cowboy Stadium against the Oklahoma Sooners! pretty exciting... go COUGARS!

spencer has also been busy at work. he has been helping manage his uncle's business.

DA VINCI DOORS

and now, it's time for him to jump into school mode... poor thing. i guess this means i have to step my game up at playing wife... make sure dinner's made, the house is clean, and kids are fed before he gets home.

also, in spencer's free time he has been modeling... you can see spencer's BLUE STEEL at the BYU Bookstore.

we took a trip to california, celebrated grandpa barlow's 70th birthday, and i managed to win another doubles tournament.

life has been grand... AND according to my husband "there is no limited amount of happiness!" ...we are trying to live by our team barlow motto:

carpe diem!

huntington beach. us surf open. parrot... life is complete.

happy birthday grandpa barlow!

three generations of studliness

(is that a word? well, it is now!)

doubles champs

this weekend my friend Kim Brown (BYU Alumni) and I entered ourselves into an outdoor women's doubles tournament. at first we were hesitant as to what division to enter ourselves, mainly because we hadn't played volleyball since we won the orem league (in april). we decided to challenge ourselves and play in the A division.

we anticipated the tournament to end about 2pm... but 9 hours later we found ourselves in the championships (6pm). despite our heat exhaustion and sunburns we WON THE WHOLE TOURNAMENT!

my good friend Jill showed up at sugar house park (where the tournament was played) and totally surprised me! she saw my facebook status which read, "women's volleyball doubles at sugar house... ready to dominate." well we dominated... and Jill was such a sweetheart, she was our photographer to capture our fun day!

hitting left

hitting right

setting

jump setting

digging

serving

i need to thank spencer for being a trooper. he stayed with me ALL DAY LONG, in the hot sun... he's such a stud!

I'm in love * I'm all shook up

yes, yes, those are the lyrics of an elvis presley song from the 50's - which is the genre of music we jived to saturday night in huntington beach. we celebrated spencer's grandparents 50th wedding anniversary with a 50's sock hop and candy shop! the best part was they had no idea... it was a surprise anniversary party for the lovely couple.

Reader's Digest version: Jono and Louise married in the New Zealand temple in 1959. They had 6 beautiful children and later brought them to America on a boat... ask Spencer for details. Grandma and Grandpa not only raised their own children, but helped MANY cousins, aunts, uncles, and even family friends. Their home and hearts were open to anyone in need. They render selfless service to anyone and always look for opportunities to show their love. We hope to be as gracious as Grandma and Grandpa Wihongi.

The Candy and Ice Cream Shop

Swingin'

Jivin'

Celebratin'

Spencer's wonderful family :)

LtoR: Sydney (sister), husband, me, Grandma, Grandpa, Taylor (sister), Dad, Mom, Beau (brother)

PS-I love you Pappa Barlow!

coming soon...

our last minute trip to huntington beach...

it's a good thing BOTH our moms now work for the airlines :)

i'll update you when it's not midnight. loves. xx.

king of pop dies... so does the quality of music

m.j.

1958-2009

You know you can't resist nodding your head to the beat of his music or looking in the mirror convincingly singing to yourself "I'm bad, I'm bad!"