Friday, December 28, 2012

{ Merry.Belated.Christmas }





Needless to say I've been so busy this December that i've barely had time for myself!! 
With my brother and his wife, flying over to surprising us for Christmas, 
Nannying my two darling kiddies,
And enjoying Christmas traditions,
My first Christmas as Mrs Skanchy has been the Best Christmas EVER!!!
{I highly recommend getting married --- you get 2 Christmas's}


To sum up my December in 
Pictures...


My Cute little Snowman 

Because Penguins are Sam's Favourite --- and my DIY pinecones decorations  


The Pinecones before I spray
painted them!!

 --- Our Christmas Tree ---


Christmas day Sledging 

Christmas Crackers --- totally English!!

Hes so excited !!!

Wearing our christmas hats!!

Santa Dog --- Roly Ellis

Deer at the kitchen Window!!

White Christmas day!!


Temple Square lights --- Salt Lake City 

Deer Valley Skiing































I hope you had a lovely Christmas And a happy NEW YEAR!! 

P.S happy engagement anniversary to us on new years eve ... one year has gone by so fast!!!

Friday, November 30, 2012

{ Oh.Christmas.Tree }




 I hope your Thanksgiving was as wonderful as ours!!
{Over eating and over shopping in my case}
On Black Friday we went with my In-Laws to cut down our Christmas Tree ---    
a Skanchy tradition that I inherited when I inherited the name.
Its a tradition I absolutely LOVE 
{and we will continue to do it when we have children --- a long way in the future!!}
 Saying I was unprepared for the outing, is definitely an understatement
--- Seen as it was 55 degrees and the sun was shining, you wouldn't expect to need snow gear... but I was extremely wrong!! --- leggings and waterproof UGGs and we were ready to hike!! 
The snow was up to my knees --- and of course the higher you hike the better the trees are going to be!! 
As much as I hate hiking .. I was so excited for our first christmas tree I actually enjoyed myself.
{Sam gave me a 30 mins to find a tree or he's picking the closest one to us} 

My muscle man dragging it down the mountain!!
Proud of our tree!!
After a tiring day of tree cutting --- We had to hit the sales and luckily by the time we got there the rush had calmed down and actually bearable!

Hope your enjoying decorating your homes for the Christmas Season, leave me a link to your blogs so I can see all your darling decorations!!

Olivia 
xxx  


P.S... I haven't forgotten about posting a picture of our tree fully decorated, I need to purchase a star for the top of the tree!!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

{ A.Month.Of.Thanks }


As we get closer to Christmas... 
{Its only 6 whole weeks away!!!}
Are you getting as excited as I am??
Unlucky for me I have to wait an extra week before I {supposedly} can even think about Christmas!! 
Due to a holiday called "Thanksgiving" --- Which us Brits don't celebrate.
As much as I am extremely Thankful that my husband will get a couple extra days off school, family time and of course delicious food... I will be truly Thankful when I can decorate my home all Christmasy! 
{My favourite Holiday is Christmas --- FOR SURE!!}

But... while I have another week of waiting here is a few things i'm truly Thankful for this year!!

  1. My Parents --- for everything they have done and do for me!! Especially the most amazing wedding day I could have ever wished for!!
  2. My Brothers --- for being the subjects of Mum's and mine lunch dates... theres always something new!!
  3. My In-Laws --- for raising {and kicking into shape} the most kind hearted, intelligent, funny, good looking man i've ever met!! --- and the comfiest bed you would ever sleep in!!
  4.  And of course my Husband --- for repeatably putting a smile on my face!! 
When I count my blessings I do count them all twice!!

Happy Holidays everyone!!

Olivia 



Sunday, November 11, 2012

{ Elma.Skanchy }




Alma 11:41 …Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death….
            It is days like today that I am thankful I know this profound truth. 
Just this week my husbands beautiful, loving grandma left this earth to a more wonderful and happier place. 
Although to the people she leaves here on earth this as sad occasion,
 we must always remember that there is eternal life. 
Growing up in the LDS, or (Mormon) church I have been taught this all my life.
I am so thankful to know and understand this truly fabulous doctrine. 
I didn’t know Elma Skanchy very long but what I did know about her was she had a kind heart. 
She truly cared about each one of her children and grandchildren, and they loved her too. 
She would spend time each family get together and talk to each grandchild one by one asking about their life and their accomplishments. 
She even did this with me, a new member to the family!
She would remember what we had talked about last time and pick up from there. 
She was an athletic woman in her youth and seemed to enjoy any type of sport. 
She loved to come watch Sam play Football/Soccer. 
 Although I had only known her a few months I felt her love.
She will be missed but we all know she will be in a better place. 
Today I am thankful for the LDS church and its doctrine about life. 

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you who have had a close friend or family member who have passed away. 

Just remember they are always looking down at us helping us through our struggles! 

Olivia 
xx

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

{ A.Little.Bit.Of.Love}


Tonight I came home to an empty home ---
As Sam is visiting his Grandma, up in Ogden
It really is crazy how much I miss him when he's not around!!

... SOOOO I thought i would share my top ten LOVES right now!! { Other than an amazing Husband like mine ;) }

  1. Spending a lot of time with family --- we were lucky to spend last night at the theatre watching Oliver Twist --- seriously one of my favourite plays!!
  2. A fresh Hair cut--- I've been in desperate need to have my hair done {since my hair grows like crazy these days --- its all this Utah sun!!}
  3. Simply Lemonade --- Raspberry flavour of course ... i'm seriously addicted!!
  4. Anything Christmasy --- I get far to excited thinking about christmas ... so i've already started my christmas crafts ready for December!! 
  5. William-Sonoma pumpkin-peacan bread --- I crave this every day its THAT delicious!!
  6. My new cute pants from Anthropologie --- In fact any piece of clothing in the colour plum!!
  7. These Chicken Tacos --- the easiest and most delicious chicken meal to make!!!
  8. My Prada Boots --- I've finally got them fixed ... woooh!!
  9. A clean home --- there is no greater feeling than a clean home... and defiantly no better smell then those cleaning products ;)
  10. and Finally there is nothing better or anything I LOVE more than cuddles with Samuel!! 
I would love to read some of your blogs--- leave me your links below :)

Olivia
xx

 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

{ Remember.Remember }

If there is one thing I miss about England 
{other than my family, friends and of course our delicious food --- apparently Americans think its disgusting ... they clearly haven't tried Nando's!!}
... its Bonfire Night... 


{I know i'm a day late --- but I was so busy yesterday and everyones pictures on instagram were making me incredibly jealous!! }

As a child I would always be more excited for Bonfire night, than I would for Halloween!! 
How could you not?? 
{When you can make a live sized person to burn on a fire!!}
In my Childhood, we would always spend the weekend before making our 
Guy Fawkes to burn!! 
{If you don't know what bonfire night is about, a man name Guy Fawkes and some Catholics planned to blow up Parliament with the King, so they hung, drawn and quarted the men, and burned them!!}
Here is why I love Bonfire night...
unlimited Bonfires,
Fireworks,
Sparklers,
Bonfire Toffee,
Banoffee Pie,
Toffee Apples {or caramel apples for you yanks},
Jacket Potatoes with homemade Chilli,
Friends and Family,
Hand Warmers,
Freezing cold nights,
and the chance to wear your wellies!!

Next year we are planning to have a bonfire over here... and I can't wait!!!

Olivia
xx

P.S --- Tonight--- much to Sam's dismay we will be at the theatre watching Oliver twist, while the elections are going... who wants to send us updates?? 




Saturday, November 3, 2012

{ Bonjour.November }

October has come and gone SOOO fast...
{Which I'm completely fine with --- because that means Christmas is so much closer!!}
...and i've hardly had anytime to blog!! 

So this is our October in a Nutshell!!

  





From Top Left:
1. Smiling before we entered the Haunted Corn maze
2. One of the Scarers --- he followed us for about 10 minutes !!
3. Finally making it out --- ALIVE!! 
4. Our Halloween outfits --- The Penguin and the Penguin Trainer!! 
5. He loved his outfit!!
6. Our Halloween Presents from the best mum in the world!! --- which included a cook book, holiday scented candles, lots of sweeties, movies, etc!! 
7. Full shot of my husband in Tights haha!!
8. Worlds greatest hair product!! --- seriously a life saver..
9. Williams-Sonoma pumpkin pecan bread --- most amazing thing you will ever taste!!
10. FINALLY --- Christmas decorations are out at HomeGoods!! --- I was a sucker and bought a little too many things yesterday!! 

I hope your October was as fun as ours!! 
and of course...
...BONJOUR NOVEMBER!!

Olivia
xx

Friday, October 26, 2012

{ Our Wedding }



Finally I figured out how upload our wedding videos!!!
{It took a LOT of googling --- and many youtube videos I tell you} 




Our Reception




{Big thank-you to our amazing videographer's at Haugen Creative

We absolutely LOVE them and hope you do too!! 
 xxx

Sunday, October 14, 2012

{ Fall Break }

Last week was FINALLY fall break!! 
Which brought along with it;

Date Night 
Not long ago Sam and I set our friends up on a "blind date" and promised we would double --- So we went to a { Corn Maze } --- I was extremely excited ... since I've never been to one before!!! 



Finally finding our way out
the Corn Maze

Ready to slide!!

Cute Husband!!
We went to Cornbellys at Thanksgiving Point in Utah --- where they had so many activities to do... from making smores to Pig races!!  
and lucky for Sam the Corn Maze wasn't filled with creatures waiting to petrify us!!--- {Yes I wear the trousers in our relationship}  


2 Months of Married Life
Today marks 2months of married life!!! I really can't believe its come by so fast and honestly it feels like years rather than months --- I don't know if thats a good thing!! --- 

{ I just want to wear my dress again and again!! }
 I'm so glad I don't have to stress over planning, worry over what could go wrong!! --- So for our 2 months Sam planned a long weekend getaway {Bless him}
to his families cabin up in Bear Lake!! {As much as i kick myself for not taking our huge camera --- I still snapped some shots on my phone}


Samuel looking over the lake
from outside the Cabin!!
We were the only ones their on
the street!!
Fall leaves --- cold weather!!
Too lazy to make a fire outside
---DIY smores!!
My husband is the best smore
maker!! --- No chocolate---
he knows how i like it!!
Bye Bye Bear lake
--- on the drive home!!
We were so lazy  --- we even managed to watch the same movie 3 times {What to expect when your expecting} --- because it is just that funny!! 
As well as watching many more!! 
We went on drives up scenic canyons, ate delicious food and cuddled up in front of a cozy fire!! 
It really was a weekend where we laughed and made memories together --- and I seriously can't wait till we get to go on more weekend getaways together!! 

I hope your weekend was as amazing as ours!! 
Olivia
xx

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

{ My HUGE Penguin }

This summer before Sam left for China, I took him to the Penguin Encounter - at the Living Planet Aquarium --- where they took us into a room and we got to  play with the Penguins!!


 { She forgot to inform us before we entered that penguins are attracted to blue --- whoops }



So for Halloween i've decided to get creative ... Since I have WAY too much time on my hands --- I can finally make Sam's dreams come true and make him a Penguin costume!! 
{If you know Sam --- you know how much he's OBSESSED with Penguins} 



{ Don't get the wrong idea --- i'm not pregnant } 

I found this cute blog {on Pinterest of course} On which she shows how she makes a penguin costume for her little baby --- he looks so adorable! 

... So I thought ...
--- WHY NOT TRY IT?? ---

Wish me luck --- I definitely need it!! 

Olivia 
{ You'll have to wait for pictures }