100% Satisfaction (not) Guaranteed

So today I had a super irritating experience at my local Staples Copy Center. I had submitted a print job yesterday and someone even called me from the store to make sure they had the order straight. So when I picked up my order and looked through my print job, I found that they had printed the job incorrectly. I mentioned it to the technician who then called her manager.

When the manager showed up, I noticed the huge glaring sign behind him that said, "We do your job right the first time" alongside their 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed sign stating that if I'm not satisfied, that my print job would be free. I pointed the sign out to the manager and asked if I would be getting my print job for free since it had not been done right "the first time". He then looked at me and said, "Well, don't you think you'd be taking advantage of the system?" To which I responded, "No, isn't it Staples' policy that if it isn't done right the first time, the job is free?" He responded that it was but that since he could fix the error, he shouldn't have to give me my job for free. I didn't suggest the policy, I didn't set up the system, I merely pointed out their huge sign that claims that my print job would be free if it wasn't done correctly the first time. Any print job can be corrected, if the sign said, "We do your job right the second time", then we wouldn't have any problem... however, that isn't what it said.

The manager ended up giving me a 20% discount on my print job, which although was better than nothing still left me quite disenchanted with Staples. I think what irritated me the most was how the manager insulted my integrity for trying to take "advantage of the system" when I was merely pointing out their so-called promise to their customers. Anyways, it was super irritating and when I had to get a few more copies made later today, I went to OfficeMax instead.

I want...

...this adorable Japanese-inspired outfit by Lucky Wang. Too bad the website is totally sold out of all their Kawaii Kimonos. Sad for me.

I'm a Winner!!!!!

I can't believe I won!!!!! I never win anything and yet I am always entering these little giveaways online! In fact, the only other contest I recall winning was in high school when I won a $50 gift certificate to a jewelry store. To this day, I remember that I got a silver dolphin ring with matching earrings. I was so excited!

Well, today I totally won something even better from Give Away Today and it is SO AWESOME!!!!! It is a newborn photo session, plus ALL the images on CD with printing rights for FREE with Gina Maxine Photography!!!!

A $600 package, all for free! I'm so excited I could scream! The only complication is she is in Central California, but I'm sure we can work something out since we fly for free.

Anyways, I'm so happy and excited to get pictures taken of our little boy! Also, for anyone interested in winning really cool stuff, check out Give Away Today! They have a give away every single day. There's a lot of stuff for people who live in Utah as they are based in Utah but there's also a ton of stuff that people who live elsewhere can win too!

Bill's Night With The Boys

In response to the raging margarita party (well, as raging as a party of mormon married women can get) that my friend Abby threw last week while her husband was out of town... her husband Todd called my husband up Thursday to join the party that he was going to throw while Abby was at Girls Camp. It was pretty hilarious. So Todd invited all the husbands with wives at camp and had a yummy BBQ with the boys.

Here's the racks of ribs that Bill said were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I wouldn't really know for sure since I didn't get any.

Bill was asked to bring fruit salad and we made this yummy fruit dip for him to take. It was funny cuz Bill thought it was "too pretty" to take to a "guys party".

Then in all-boy fashion, the boys played cards, in which evidently, Todd won the loot!

Margarita Night with the Girls!

I forgot to blog about the awesome margarita party my friend Abby threw about a week ago. Abby threw the party in honor of her sister Margie (whom she lovingly refers to as Margarita) who just moved into Sacramento. It had been a super super super long day with work for 9 1/2 hours, then immediately heading into my stake meetings for another 3 hours, and then straight to Abby's house. I hadn't been home in 14+ hours so once I got to Abby's, I downed one of these beauties (non-alcoholic of course) and partied it up with the girls! It was seriously so much fun... and a much needed break from the everyday stuff. Thanks Abby!

(My beautiful margarita!)

(Jessica & I)

(Jessica, Shauna, Me, and Heather)

(The party gang: Abby, Jessica, Me, Shauna, Margie, and Heather)

Girls Camp Visit

Last year, I loved my experience as the Girls Camp Director for our ward. So quickly after camp, I committed to return the following year as the YCL Assistant Director. However, things didn't go quite as planned because I got pregnant and I decided that I would not go this year so that I could save my vacation time for when the baby came. Although I'm totally happy about being pregnant and having our son soon, I was really disappointed that I wouldn't be able to go to camp this year with our 45 YCL's. (By the way, you read that right, we had 45 YCL's this year!)

Anyways, fortunately I was still able to help out with preparing for camp and on Friday, the last night of camp, Jenn (our ward's YW's president) and I drove up to camp for Bishop's night. We had so much fun seeing our the girls and really enjoyed ourselves! I am so glad I got to go up there! Thanks Jenn for driving! Here's a few pictures that I took. :)

(Me & Jenn @ Campfire)

(Some of the YCL's leading the group in camp songs)

(The YCL Leaders: Abby, Abby, Me, and Shauna)

An update

So, it's been two weeks since I last posted and although I really have nothing exciting to share, felt the need to update our blog. As the days in the month has passed by, I am constantly amazed at how fast this pregnancy seems to have gone. I feel like I just found out I was pregnant, to I can't believe this baby is due in 11 weeks! To top it off, I keep thinking of all my friends who delivered their babies like a month early, and that makes me feel even more nervous about how unprepared I am!

One thing I've been really enjoying as of late is how close I have felt to Bill lately. Obviously, I love him and obviously, I feel close to him on a regular basis, but the past couple weeks, that feeling has intensified. It's been so wonderful talking together about the near future... about our little bubba that's going to be joining us... it's like we can't ever stop talking about all the little things we might do or see once we finally get to meet this little poker inside of me. It's like our own little secret, a little part of our lives that only the two of us will ever really share and know. It's been a really wonderful feeling and I know that feeling will only increase once we have our son with us. I've also got to say that I've been really enjoying how Bill is so much more worried about me lately. He calls me much more frequently, just to make sure things are ok. It's so cute and I love that he's worried about me and our son's well being. :)

On another note, here's some things that I want to get done - or more appropriately, what I want Bill to get done (ha ha) - before this baby comes:

• Figure out our route to the hospital. (It seems tremendously far from home!)
  
• Get my hospital bag ready.
• Stock up on diapers and wipes. (I've bought two packages of diapers that I got on sale, but I'm certain that will only last me like one week!)
• Figure out if we're moving or staying where we are. (we really need a second bedroom)
• If staying, find some room for our crib.
• Buy a baby mattress.
• Buy a glider/rocking chair.
• Buy a car seat! I'm sure they won't let me leave the hospital without one!
  
• Go to Monterey for a little overnight trip with Bill.
• Go to lamaze classes.
• Survive youth conference. (I'll be 36 weeks and we're having an overnighter up where Girls Camp is held)
• Clean the house meticulously.

I think that's the most pressing for now. :) However, I'm sure there'll be many, many, many, more things to do that I haven't thought of yet!

True Love

Today I was able to come home from Ontario (for work) earlier than expected and Bill and I decided to have an impromptu date night. We grabbed ice cream at Dairy Queen and then went to see UP in 3-D. I'd never seen a 3-D movie before which was really great, but even without the 3-D, this was easily one of the best movies I've seen.

The story is so endearing and does such a wonderful job showing what true love is supposed to be like. It was so beautifully thought out and so realistic. Both Bill and I were really moved. I totally cried, and even Bill got teary-eyed. It was just so beautifully touching while at the same time hilariously fun. After the movie, Bill and I went to Bella Bru Cafe for dinner and as we sat there laughing, talking, and asking each other questions, I couldn't help but feel so grateful for having a little bit of the magic that Ellie and Carl had in this movie. So many times in the hustle and bustle of life, we forget how good we really do have it sometimes. I'm so glad that Bill is really truly my best friend in the whole world and I can not wait to see what our lives and our own adventures have in hold for us.

99 Days to Go!

So my nifty little countdown widget has officially announced that there's only 99 days until my due date. I hardly can't believe how fast it's going by. It's even weirder that in another week, I'll be in my 3rd and final trimester. I really can't complain too much about this pregnancy... other than the backaches and the all-too-frequent bathroom breaks, this pregnancy has been really quite pleasant. I hope it'll continue as I'm hoping to work all the way up to my due date. :)

Anyways, tomorrow I take off for another week traveling for work. Hopefully, my husband doesn't starve to death without me around. :) Just kidding, he's pretty good about fending for himself. Well, I can't think of anything else to say, so that's it. Next time hopefully I'll be a little more interesting.

Our Trip to Utah

For Memorial Day weekend, we had a chance to quickly dart over to Utah to visit with our family and a few friends.

On Saturday, my mom threw a surprise party for her husband 80th birthday. Although tiring, I really think that Hank really enjoyed seeing all of his friends and family.

The Birthday Boy

My mom, grandma and Isis

After the birthday party, Bill and I rushed down to Orem to see his family. But before hitting Orem, we stopped by Marion and Koki's house for a BBQ they just happened to be having. It was so great to see everyone especially since it's been a really long time since we've seen some of our friends.

The boys jammin out in the back yard.... Don't ask me why Bill and Marcus are posing like that. [Top Row: Koki, Dan, George Bottom Row: Sam, Marcus, Bill and Jarom]

Me and Bill listening to the boys singing.

Bill and Jarom [Koki and Marion's youngest]

On Monday morning Bill and I took his mom out to breakfast at one of our favorite breakfast joints: Kneaders! We absolutely adore their all-you-can-eat French Toast Breakfast. It is to. die. for. and it only costs $4.99!

Bill about to dive into his scrumptious french toast. Just looking at this picture makes me hungry!

Bill and his mom Kathy after eating our fill.

All in all, it was a wonderful trip. Our family saw me pregnant for the first time, I brought home 100 pounds (I'm being completely literal here) of childrens books from my house (from when I was a kid), and we scored some great baby clothes, booties, and blankets for our son to be from our families! Of course, our trips are never long enough to see all our friends so we're sorry to those we weren't able to see. Hopefully we'll get to see all of you on our next visit home.