First Apartment

Moving went a million times smoother than I thought it would. After adjusting dates and looking at multiple moving trucks, we went with Budget because it was the cheapest, and they gave us the option of a 10' and 16' truck for the exact same price. So a 16' it was and we completely filled it! Haha.

When we went to return the truck we found out that most Governors kick in at 65mph and Jake's was kicking in at 75mph! I'm sure it wasn't the safest thing in the world, but we were able to get to our apartment at a decent time where friends could help us unload. Major blessing.
Can I just say right now how expensive moving is? Golly gee! But hey, we're here, it's over with, and we shouldn't have to do it for another 2 years. :)
Our apartment is literally the cutest thing ever! The kitchen is older looking. But the carpet and paint are less than a year old. I was super nervous being the clean freak that I am, but I actually love the place so much.
(Sorry for the horrible quality of photos. I am terrible with indoor lighting and majority of our curtains are broken.)

The front door opens to our huge living room. We have one couch that sits two people. Jake and I can't really cuddle on it because there's cup holders in the center. Haha. But it fits perfectly into the room.

The kitchen is attached to the living room. Our table takes up quite a bit of room, but we make it work.

I absolutely LOVE all our photos and cute quotes throughout the apartment. I got all mine from my wedding besides the canvas. They have been waiting over 8 months to be hung! They seriously make our apartment a home.

Our laundry room is darling! I love having a washer and dryer. (Did I mention we only paid $150 for both of them???!!) The cabinets right above make life so much easier. Definitely having those in our future home.

The office is probably my favorite room. Maybe the fact that I have my own space, or the fact that Jake put photos of us all over his desk. I'm not sure. I just know that I love it. :)

The bedroom is spacious. I'm trying to figure out what to do with the negative space, but I'm not quite sure.

Our bedding was $40 at Ross! We bought it literally a year ago, but the colors go wonderfully for the rest of the house.

Here's a few miscellaneous details throughout the house that I love.

 And here goes honesty hour.

Since the move I have missed Taz like crazy! Jake has been busy with friends and school things the past week, and I always think of Taz when I'm alone. I'll hear noises in the house and tell myself it's just the cat, and then I realize we don't have a cat. Haha. But I sure do miss him..

So obviously one day I will need a cat, but for now I with stick it out with just me and my wonderful husband. Life is good!!!

Here We Come

Packing is finally coming along! But you probably wouldn't think it if you saw our room right now. We have the majority of stuff packed, while miscellaneous items remain on our bedroom floor. We officially have a moving truck reserved and an apartment ready for us. It's a super cute two bedroom apartment with freshly painted walls and new carpet. (Happy wife!) We also have a two car garage! Jacob is pretty stoked about that one. Best of all, the apartment manager is also LDS! The price was one that couldn't be beat so we are completely blessed to have gotten this steal! 

We pick up the moving truck on Tuesday (that's in 4 days!!!) at 8:00am and we'll be leaving promptly after it's packed. As much as this move was a little spontaneous, I think it'll all work out. Just hoping and praying that my photography business can pay the bills. :)

Idaho... We'll see you soon.

22 Before 23

With the change of plans of us heading to Idaho, I decided it was a great time to update some goals! I have so much I want to accomplish within the next couple years before we have kids. So here's my 22 before 23 and I'm stoked to check these things off! :)

1. Get my work published 5 different times

2.  Learn to enjoy the small things

3. Follow a budget to a T for at least 1 month

4. Take care of myself and my husband

5. Only own things I love

6. Write 50 pages of my book

7. Try 12 new recipes

8. Get offered a job on the spot

9. Master Crock Pot meals

10. Go another year debt free

11. Shoot a wedding out of state (i.e. Not Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, or Utah.)

12. Stress less

13. Print 2 albums for my family

14. Take a vacation with just Jacob and I

15. Go to two photography conferences or workshops

16. Reach 100 followers on my blog

17. Have 52 sessions within 2015

18. Spend more time in the here and now

19. Do a DIY for our apartment

20. Practice gratitude on a daily basis

21. Have a saving account that will last 6 months if needed

22. Earn over $2,000 in one month (My income only)

Comfort Zones May Be Beautiful...

I sat in my Grandparents' massage chair enjoying my day off when I got a call from Jacob. Eastern Idaho Technical College had an opening he could fill, but he needed to give them an answer within almost 24 hours. I didn't really stress at that moment because I thought we were both set on going to Torrington. But then he said, "I think this is something we should really pray about."
Of course I didn't want to pray about it. Jake was registered at Torrington, had his schedule set, FASFA was done, and we were beginning to look for apartments. I didn't feel like it was even something to think about! We needed a NEW place. Somewhere we could become independent and stand alone.
I won't lie. I came upstairs bawling to my dad asking him what in the world to do. Now, my dad is extremely wise. He doesn't always say things in the nicest and sweetest way possible, but, he is wise.
As I talked to him he reminded me that I don't always have to go to the Lord because sometimes it doesn't matter. Such as your cereal in the morning. But, he did say that both places will have learning experiences. Which I agreed with. But I already knew Jacob was set on Idaho. And as I talked to Jacob, I made an effort to explain if he were to decide Idaho, it should be for the school and nothing else. The gospel, our marriage, and his education would need to be the top priorities.
So, we are moving to Idaho. I'll full heartedly say not by choice, because I am ready for us to be away from everyone, including my family. I believe it's extremely important for newlyweds to get away from comfort zones. It's a struggle, I know it is, but it helps you rely on one another. And truth be told, comfort zones get you no where. And Idaho happens to be a comfort zone for both of us.

I might as well give a little lecture now. Please, please, please get out of your comfort zone. I'm an extreme introvert and I started my own Photography business! I have to talk to clients daily and interact with them, which is honestly something I still struggle with today. But after all my hard work and busting my butt I can honestly say I am so glad I got out of my comfort zone! Let's be honest though. Comfort zones are beautiful. But there isn't any growth. You stand still.

We will be moving to Idaho Falls August 13th and be leaving in two years when he gets his Welding license. Hopefully this time everything will go according to plan. :)

In other news, Jacob and I got back from New Mexico last week and it was a blast! I loved seeing my sister and brother-in-law. We were even able to work at their firework stand and in White City! After working Construction, almost anything else is pretty easy. So that was nice. :) We are Sunday School teachers for the 5 and 6 year olds. They are hilarious and I actually really enjoy it. And they do too, as long as I bring snacks. :)

MEET TAZ AND STRUMMER

The cutest, sweetest, and most insane cat you'll ever meet. Sadly, I can't say he's mine. My mom had been wanting a mouser for awhile, and since Jacob Ross had a friend who was giving away free kittens, we got this hot shot. My parents had a crazy and playful cat when they were first married named Taz. And since the kitten reminded them so much of him, they decided Taz would fit him well.

Now let me tell you something. My dad has been spoiling this cat to no end. Neither of my parents are huge indoor animal lovers, but Taz has slept in their bed every night since we got him. But hey, I'm not complaining. I enjoy getting some animal time since I know Jake and I won't be able to get a dog or cat anytime soon.

And then there's Strummer! While we were in Idaho, Jake spotted a good deal on Craigslist. It's a 1999 Saturn SL. It's got less than 93,000 miles on it and gets 35mpg on the highway! Did I mention we only paid $1,340? It's not a looker, but I have loved having a great gas milage car again. But now we have two cars which mean two insurances. (Bleh.) Depending on what job I get in Torrington, we may be selling the Durango, but for now,

we'll keep it.

In other news, I had to say goodbye to two good friends. Laura and Jarrett came into Cheyenne for two weeks to work for Ross Construction. I was gone at a family reunion part of the time, but it was such a blast going on some double dates with them. Plus work wasn't so bad when you have good company.

We've still been pretty busy with work. We're both exhausted, but looking forward to our next Vacation to New Mexico which is in 2 weeks! And we cannot wait! :)

Advice | Peterson Update

It is amazing how the Lord puts people in your life at the right time, at the right place, and they say the right thing.
Last week I called my cousin Laura and we chit chatted about our lives. She was telling me about all the great things going on and then she said something that really caught me off guard. She said, "Jay, life really isn't that hard."
I busted up laughing. I really did. I couldn't believe she was saying that. But she went on.
"No, really. All you have to do is decide what you want, and go after it."
Laura was pretty much preaching the power of goal setting and visualization, which is something I tell everyone to do, and I was laughing at it…
This was kind of huge to me because of what had happened previously that week.

Jacob and I had just found out that there was a waiting list for the Welding Program at IT. Which meant he would have to do three years of school instead of two. Which meant an extra year of tuition, rent, and another year before being in a career.

So Jacob started to apply for Eastern Wyoming College, which was originally my first pick. I'll be honest, I wanted to be close to my family. I knew that the older we'd get, the busier we'd get. So I wanted to be close to them while I could. Especially since I'm gone 7 months out of year for College. But then I started researching.
Torrington's population is 6,800.
There is one skate park. (Thank goodness, because Jake would go insane if there wasn't)
One Elementary, Middle, and High School.
One Movie theater that shows one movie a night.
And if you do want to do anything, or want reasonably priced groceries, you have to drive to Scottsbluff, which is 45 minutes away, or Cheyenne, which is an hour and a half away.

I started stressing a bit. I was planning on running my photography business full time in the Fall, but how in the world would I do that with a population under 7,000? Many of those being college kids?
But Laura said exactly what I needed at that time. I had already decided I wanted to do my business full time. All I need to is make it happen. Obviously easier said than done, but I was thankful that Laura was there saying the words I needed to hear even if she didn't know it.

I still plan to do my photography business but I will most likely get a part time job so I don't go insane being home alone all day. Jacob is finishing up his application for Wyoming Eastern College where they currently have opening for their Welding Program. I am excited (and extremely nervous) for this adventure and to be close to my family for a couple years. Cheers to the next couple years!

What You Need To Do Right Now

Yesterday I attended a Photography Networking Event. It was wonderful to connect with such kind and talented people in my industry. I was so glad hearing that I'm not the only one who gets lonely in this business.

A very knowledgable photographer brought up such a great point that has completely opened my mind. He mentioned that if we were ever to have a Dark Age, if all technology crashed, we would have nothing documented of this time. Absolutely nothing.

Our generation is the most photographed generation, yet no one would ever know because we don't print.

We are guilty of not printing our photos. I'm guilty of it! I have over 5,000 personal photos on my laptop and I haven't printed them. But I need to. I NEED to sit down for just an hour and pick out photos for an album. Honestly, I know it wouldn't even be an hour because I would get so into it and I'd want to just go through photos all day.

So, why don't you?

One of my all time favorite things is going through my parents old albums and seeing their awkward dating years, my mom's "I-like-your-sleeves" wedding dress, and even pictures of me as a baby! I swear I went through those albums any chance I got.

For FHE this upcoming week, I am going to go through Jacob and I's laptops and get photos into folders for different time periods. I have challenged myself to print all those iPhone photos I never got to, and make albums for them. I want to show my kids our dates, our first car, the camper, the funny faces we made. I want my kids to see that.

I challenge you to do the same.

If you have time to be on Facebook, I promise you have time to pick out some photos to print.

Go through your phone, your laptop, your digital camera, and start printing your photos! I'm not telling you to go spend a fortune, or to get them in the highest quality there is, but I am telling you to print them. You do not know how much your kids, your grad kids, and your great-great grad kids will appreciate it.