dream job wonderland

Here's the long story.. A few years ago I nannied for an incredible family in La Jolla who took me in, loved me, and adopted me as one of their own.  Their Mom had just made the terrifying discovery that every woman fears and they were beginning the heart breaking roller coaster that is breast cancer. They had the sweetest three kids that needed me while their mom was sick. I feel so honored to have walked through that journey with them, the many highs and lows and unknowns that come with cancer.  Praise the Lord, Celeste came about in the end healthy and cancer free!!  The year I was there was such a blessing to me then and continues to bless me now.

I lived with the Trudeau family for 6 months and was even more so apart of their everyday lives.  Their friends became my friends and I knew all the kids and families around the neighborhood.  Celeste has the greatest group of best friends that a woman could ask for.  Those women are always there for each other no matter what and I admire and love them so much.  One of Celeste's best friends is the sweetest woman named Catherine.  I got to know Catherine very well and had her kids over all the time and built an amazing relationship with her.  One day I was walking to the school with her to pick the kids up and I was talking to her about Nick and telling her how I knew I was going to marry him and I had a feeling he was going to propose soon.  What I didn't know at the time was that Catherine is a wedding coordinator.. no, not just a wedding coordinator, the most amazing and sought after coordinator in La Jolla.  She told me that as soon as I get engaged "we'll talk".  I was so excited.  That very weekend Nick proposed and then began the planning with Catherine.  She got me in touch with all the right vendors and helped me create the perfect wedding and I owe everything to her for that!  She made the process so fun and organized and exciting!


As if this story isn't long enough, here is a little more background, all leading up to what this is all about..
I have always loved the wedding industry.  A girl named Stephanie was my best friend growing up and we used to say that one day we were going to be wedding planners and name it BS Weddings, clearly for "Brittany & Stephanie Weddings" but it was a huge joke because who would really hire someone to create their perfect day with a name like BS Weddings, hahaha :)  So,  from a young age I have always wanted to work in the wedding business.  The passion has always been there.


A few weeks ago I decided to email Catherine to see if she had any room in her business to take me on and put me to work.  I loved the idea of doing something that I completely enjoy and that gave me a purpose while also giving me experience and learning from the absolute best!  She emailed me back almost instantly and said, You're Hired!  We had our first meeting and hit the ground running and I am loving every second of what I'm doing and already have many projects I'm working on.  There is a lot to do leading up to our first wedding of this upcoming busy season!!

Catherine's business  {CBS Lifestylist} has blossomed over the last few years even beyond wedding coordinating.  In addition, she is now a stylist for different photo shoots and magazines and amazing at it. She has even written a book in the last year!  She is one talented woman.  She runs the show and does it all with such grace and poise.  She has an assistant for the styling and fashion side of things and now I am her assistant for the wedding side!  I honestly couldn't be more thrilled for all that is ahead and that she has in store for me!  I am excited to learn the ins and outs of putting together beautiful weddings, from paperwork to getting in touch with vendors and everything in between, and then seeing the brides big day come together!

This new opportunity couldn't have come at a more perfect time.
2012 is full of major blessings.. I can feel it.

it's a new year

i love entering into new years and looking back and being thankful for the last.  i love reminiscing about all that has happened in 2011..all the ups and downs, the lessons learned and exciting moments.  i feel so blessed.  i love the feeling of entering into a new year.  it means new adventures.  365 days ahead of the unknown and that is exciting to me.  there are so many adventures to be had this year and memories to be made. i feel like the Lord has a lot in store for us Hitches this year and i'm really excited to see what is to come.  i'm not really big into "new years resolutions", but i have thought of a few things i would like to do better this year..
the first is very simple.  i want to drink more water.  sounds kinda lame, but it's true! i NEVER drink enough water and i always feel so dehydrated so i want to be in a habit of drinking tons of water all the time.
i also want to get better at sending thank you cards.  there were so many times last year that i meant to send one, but just meaning to doesn't get the card sent unfortunately.
i want to love my husband better.  i love that man, a whole lot, but i want to love him even better and make sure that he always feels so loved and cherished.
i want to be better at writing on my blog because the whole point was for me to be able to look back on fun things we did, things we went though, places we went, date nights, what's going on in our hearts, pictures.. and i've been terrible.
i have many hopes for 2012 and those were just a few at the top of my list.
before i fully jump into this new year i gotta catch up on christmas really quick :)
(we need to get a real camera soon that is actually good, we have like three crappy point and shoot cameras.. so these are random pictures from my phone!)

our beautiful christmas tree

presents wrapped and sitting under the tree, waiting to be shipped to our family in nebraska!

the most adorable little kitten i found at a pet store that i tried to talk nick into letting me get.. i was unsuccessful

never a dull moment face timing with this kook of a sister i have

merry christmas brookie boo!

i had so much fun wrapping presents

family christmas toast

christmas tables cape

my mom is obsessed with having me write on her chalkboard

happy new year! 

on our way back down to san diego we stopped to see chris and shannon in fresno and he made us the most beautiful drinks with his espresso machine!

we had the best christmas up in vacaville with my family.  the theme of this christmas was perfume and apple.  nick got me a macbook pro, my parents and i got him an iPad, and my mom got the iPhone 4s and everyone got at least two bottles of perfume or cologne.. let's just say we are up to date on technology and smelling good!!  these days, the greatest christmas gift is just being able to spend it with family and i'm so thankful i got to be with them for TEN whole days.. it was amazing and refreshing.  most days mom and i lounged and shopped and dad and nick pretty much remodeled the whole house!! my husband is amazing i am blown away at the things he can do.  i can't wait to have my own house someday and see the amazing things he does to it!!
anyways, now that i'm caught up and ready to fully jump into 2012 i pray that it's a great year and that we and my family and friends are immensely blessed and i'm ready to see what adventure comes next!

and then it was december

so november flew by ridiculously fast this year..
at the beginning of the month we went to the charger game vs. green bay!  one of nick's friends treated us to an amazing day at the game.  first we got picked up from our house in a limo!  he treated us to drinks, lunch, and an amazing view of the game with plaza level seats.  whether it's baseball or football or whatever, games are always fun to go to but it's usually more fun to watch it on TV because you get the best view.. that was definitely not the case this time.. it was so great!!  it was pouring rain the whole game and freezing out, but we just put plastic bags over us and cheered on!  chargers lost.. but what's new.

the weekend before thanksgiving nick went camping with some of his friends from college and i got to spend the weekend with my sister!  brooke went on a mission trip to mexico and afterwards got dropped off in san diego.  we had sister time.. something we absolutely never get and that i wish i had more of.  we got mani/pedis, eybrows done, shopped, ate sushi, and just got to be together.  

it was perfect because then brooke, nick, chloe and i drove up to my parents house in vacaville for thanksgiving.  i love thanksgiving, and not only because of the delicious food (but my grandma's gravy is the greatest thing in the world.. i can eat it like soup).  i love it because family comes together and these days getting all of us together is a special thing, whereas just a few years ago it was the normal everyday.  i think definitely took those years for granted.  not that i didn't enjoy being with my family, but now it's something that i long for and desire. all the time.  the Lord has blessed with me with such an amazing, loving, fun, encouraging, and supportive family.  He has given me so many blessings and I have much to be thankful for.  my sweet husband is more than i could have ever asked for or dreamed of.  i feel like i absolutely don't deserve him.  he is so handsome.. he has this look in his eyes that gets me every time and his smile is just so captivating. i adore him.  he is a man after the Lord's heart and treats me like a princess.  he is such a provider, leader, lover, encourager and my best friend.

i could just go on and on about him.

i am also so thankful for my sweet pup.  chloe is such a crazy little bundle of joy.. and she does just that, she brings me so much joy!! i'm kind of obsessed with her.  she is my precious baby, until i have a real one, and then maybe she'll become a dog. 
BUT more than anything else, i am thankful for a loving Savior.  i am thankful that Jesus would die on the cross for me and take all my sins, washing me clean.  i am thankful for His unconditional love and the fact that He will never give up on me and that He is constantly pursuing me.  I am so overwhelmed and humbled by the Lord!

pink champagne in the most amazing glass my mom got from greece.. i can't find them anywhere here!!

the thanksgiving table

aaaaand i think that is just about it!
now it's december 1st so it want to say..
Merry Christmas!!

it's officially the Christmas season.. bring on Amy Grant Christmas music and my noel scented candle... all we need now is weather below 80 degrees!! 

Baby Ty

how precious is he?!

I am writing you to tell you about a loving family that stepping into a new inning in life and needs our help! Rick and Michelle {Team Erickson}  have been blessed with 3 boys and are adding a very precious 4th to the team.  His name is Ty and he has special needs.  Rick and Michelle’s other boys all have medical issues of their own.  Matthew is 11 and has Diabetes.  Caleb is 9 and has Down Syndrome, Diabetes, and other multiple health issues including Celiac Disease.  Joshua is 6 and has Celiac Disease (an autoimmune disease).  They step up to the plate every single day, loving these boys with all they've got!  A new inning began when a friend of the family had a child born with special needs.  Over the past 10 months, that family felt they could not provide Ty with the love and care he needed and deserved.  They made a very difficult decision and decided that it would be in Ty's best interest to give him up for adoption.  Michelle, walking down a similar road before and being familiar with special needs children, stepped in to help her friend in need.  She tried to encourage the family to embrace Ty and love him for the special gift that he is; Ty was born with Down Syndrome.  Through this, the family chose the Erickson family to adopt Ty.  Although the Erickson family didn't think they were ready to bring in another child, their hearts told them this was the right thing to do.  All of the boys were VERY excited about this opportunity and have embraced Ty as their brother.  This is a true act of stepping out in faith.  Because this is all so sudden and unexpected, the Erickson family has not had time to prepare for what Ty needs.  He came with a crib and a few diapers and formula, as well as his infant seat.  He has grown out of his infant seat already and is in need of a full size car seat.  They also need all baby essentials, including a stroller, high chair and clothing (size 12-18 months).  If you feel led to blessing this sweet family and can assist with covering these expenses financially, please help in outfitting Ty!  They are starting from square one and need help.  This is such a cool opportunity for us to to bless this family as they are blessing sweet little Ty and taking him in as one of their very own.  If you would like to help, please email my mom, Joanne Carli, at jjcarli@aol.com.  Please feel free to pass this along to your friends and family.. let's get the word out there!
Thanks!

whatta wonderful weekend

what a weekend!!  it was a fun, crazy, busy, non-stop, celebratory, relaxing, fall weekend that i got to spend with my sweet husband.
on saturday we went to a wedding out in the sticks in Ramona and celebrated the marriage of Teale & Justin.. now known as Mr. & Mrs. Gunter!!  It was absolutely beautiful.  they spent so much time on making sure every last little detail was perfect and everything was homemade.  i was blown away.  there were paper lanterns, and lights strung in the trees, burlap everywhere, a dainty chandelier hanging over the dance floor, vintage trunks and dressers.. all outdoors in the country.  can you say ROMANTIC?!  i love going to weddings.  i love watching friends promise their lives to another and enter into the most incredible journey of marriage.  i love sitting next to nick, holding his hand, and feeling so blessed that i am married to my best friend.  i love being in love and the beauty of marriage and knowing all that the couple at the altar is about to experience.  i get so giddy and excited for them.. ahh, i just LOVE love.

I was introduced to Teale a few years ago and was just drawn to her.  she loves people so recklessly, her heart for ministry is incredible, and her love for the Lord is amazing.  she is an incredibly talented photographer and we were so honored for her to capture our wedding.  Nick and Teale have been friends for about ten years and we quickly became like sisters and people actually thought we were so we just call each other sis.  it must be the blonde hair and blue eyes or something :)  Meeting Justin was so much fun because we are from the same place and it turns out that we knew so many of the same people.  His love for God, his heart for ministry and missions couldn't align more with Teale's.  They are an incredible team for the Kingdom of God and I'm so excited to see how He is going to use them.  They are taking off to move to Tennessee to start their lives together and their ministry.
I loved celebrating the two of them because i love them both and they are beyond perfect for each other. i'm so thrilled that the Lord brought them together.. especially the way He did.  They have such a cool and unique story and if you love sweet love stories, especially the kind that give you goosebumps at the way God works, go here and read it --> Justin + Teale's Story


sunday morning was gloomy.. just the way i like it!! seeing as it's the middle of october and technically fall, it should be gloomy with crisp cool air outside.  the kind of weather you can dress cute and pull out the boots and scarves and drink pumpkin spice lattes.  so that is exactly what i did.  unfortuantely in san diego, the weather just likes to trick you and very shortly heats up to 80 degrees.  outfit fail.  anyways, we had an amazing morning at church.  we have been going to the father's house in san marcos.  it's a little bit of a drive but completely worth it.  we have felt so loved and welcome there and more importantly the spirit of God is alive and present in that church.. His presence is so evident and the people are diligently seeking the heart of God.  We love it and we're so thankful to finally be at a church like this one.
after church we decided to spend the afternoon in Julian.. because it's beautiful up there and seemed like a very "fall" thing to do.  we planned on eating apple pie and picking out pumpkins.  neither of which we did.  we shared a carmel apple, ate lunch and were way too stuffed to eat their famous apple pie.. and the line was two streets long.  and as for the pumpkins.. it was so hot up there and i decided that to pick out pumpkins it had to be colder.  so until the temperature drops below 80 degrees, the hitches aren't going to be buying pumpkins.


before heading home, i wanted to go to a japanese market to pick up a few things for dinner this week.  i have been wanting to make homemade real miso soup, because those instant packets just don't cut it.  we had to go to the actual japanese market because henrys and vons don't carry miso paste.  walking into this store was unreal and i felt like i was back in tokyo  and okinawa again!! nothing in the store is in english and the employees barely spoke any english.  we had no idea what to look for, where it was, or how to know when we found it!!  so this sweet japanese lady who didn't even work there walked up to us and said, "uhh hi, do you know what you're looking for or where to look?"  i guess it was obvious that we were totally lost, hahaha.  she took us around to get all the things we needed and explained so much to us.  she was the sweetest little thing and told us that she was from osaka, japan and married a man from wisconsin and now lives here.  Thank God for that adorable lady or we would probably still be wandering the aisles!!

i'm so thankful for such a great weekend.. time to rest up for another week!!

banana nut bread

i wish i could say that it was a gloomy fall morning with rain pouring outside so i decided to bake some banana bread.. but unfortunately that is absolutely NOT the case.  instead, it is one of the hottest days we have had all year, reaching over 100 degrees! insane.  so the real reason i baked this morning is because i had some really brown bananas.  it's terrible that i'm complaining about such beautiful weather because a lot of people would trade the cold in a second.. but i'm dying for some cool fall weather, gloomy skies, and raindrops.

my sweet mother in law gave me her recipe and since i have made it a few times.. you can try it for yourself, but i think it's bomb.  but beware!  this recipe yields two loaves- you gotta remember this lovely woman had 8 kids to make this for!! so either prepare for a lot and to have people over for coffee and a treat, or cut it in half.. or i guess you could eat all of it :)

ingredients

1/2 cup of butter

2 eggs

2 cups of sugar

3 ripe bananas

1/2 teaspoon of salt

3 cups of flour

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

2 cups of milk

walnuts

instructions

preheat oven to 325 degrees

cream together the butter, eggs & sugar

add mushy bananas

combine salt and flour and add alternately with milk

add baking soda

pour in walnuts depending on how nutty you like it

(i use about 2 cups)

coat your loaf dish with non-stick spray

and pour half of the batter in!

(or cut the recipe in half and pour it all in)

bake for an hour.. depending on how powerful for you oven is

i usually have to let it bake for an hour and a half

and after the long wait, enjoy a hot piece with butter and a cup of coffee

hume lake

this past weekend i got to smell the crisp mountain air.. there is truly nothing like being up at hume.  since brooke is in joshua and had this weekend off (and i haven't seen her since june) and my parents just got back from italy & greece, we decided that we would meet up on the mountain and spend some sweet time together.  i must really love my family to drive 14 hours round trip to be together for less than 48 hours!  being up there where i have spent so much of my life, with family, was so good for my soul and even though we left so tired, we were so refreshed.

i loved getting to spend time with my sister and seeing her life up on the hill and in the building where i spent the same nine intense months.  we got to meet her friends and i am so excited about the community of solid kids she has around her. 

when we left on sunday it was so weird to me that we were leaving and she was staying there.  something about it still doesn't seem right.. she's the baby!  i don't think it's hit me yet that she doesn't live at home anymore.  baby girl is growing up!  spending time with my family isn't what it used to be.  i have always loved being with my family but as we get older the time we have together is so much more precious.  as brooke and i have gotten older my relationship with her has changed and the same with my parents.. and i love it.  i love that my sister, who for most of my life was annoying to me, is now one of my very best friends and is actually cooler than me.  how does that happen? haha.  and my parents who used to be my authority, not my friends, are suddenly my best friends.
i have been blessed with one incredible family.  and as family is always evolving and changing, i am so thankful for the little family i have with nick.

Gods presence at hume is evident and indescribable.
He is good and you can guarantee that He will meet you there.

amen.