How To Find The "Right" One (In My Opinion ;) )

Hello everyone!!! Yes… it has been a gazillion years since I’ve written a darn thing on this blog, but here I am!

It’s amazing to think that Chris & I have been married for almost 4 months now - time has FLOWN!!! I can tell you one thing though – I love him more today than I did on our wedding day. It’s one of those things that you hear about in all those sappy love songs, but it’s true – your love for your spouse will just grow and grow by day. I’ve got lots of years ahead to go, but I’ll repeat the words of Brad Paisley –  “I Thought I Loved You Then!”

One thing that I’ve really been thinking about lately is where I came from. What a rocky road! I was nearly engaged twice before I met Chris, and both of those guys were obviously not right for me. I called it off on the first time around, but I was on the receiving side of the break-up in the second scenario. Both times I needed time to recover, but after I rose from the ashes, I remember the sense of hope I still had. In my heart, I knew that those relationships ultimately lacked some vital components, and because of that, I would never had been truly happy with either one of them. After months of soul searching, I was actually grateful for the heartbreak and the bumps in the road – they taught me a lot!

Meeting Chris was such a blessing, and I knew almost instantly (after 2-3 dates) that he was the one. I can’t explain it to this day, but everything just fit with him from the very start. It actually freaked me out, because it was a feeling that was SO different from any other feeling I’d ever had regarding a relationship. As we dated, it became more and more apparent to me why those other relationships had felt a little off – the Lord was trying to direct me to the man of my dreams!

The moral of my story is this – don’t you DARE settle for anything less than 100% love in your life! Pretty much every person I dated along the way had some good qualities, but there was always one or two major things missing that would have turned into MASSIVE compromises. Some were as big as a lack of attraction.  Some were as small as an annoying or gross habit they had. Giving up a standard or ideal in the dating stage, even a small one, is absolutely unnecessary. Sure, marriage is about compromise, but dating is about selfishly finding what YOU need in your life – it’s the same way with your significant other! Get used to the idea – it’s the truth and you know it deep down!

 The key is this: does this person ALWAYS make YOU happy & content (even when you’re not with them)? If the answer is “most of the time” or “no,” then it’s not right. Period. So make the hard choices. End the relationships you know aren’t right. Take a leap of faith and jump into the unknown. Faithfully put your heart out there, ask for guidance from our Father in heaven, then have the courage to wait for the right person to be directed back to you.

No matter how long it takes, nothing is worth more than knowing that you married the right person!!! Lots of blessings come from that patience, I promise. J

Vote with the BIG PICTURE in mind tomorrow!

OK, so I couldn't help but notice that a few people are talking about the votes they recently cast for the President of the U.S of A recently. First of all, let me congratulate all of those who took that initiative!!! What an honor and a priveledge we have as citizens of the US to vote!!!!

However, I must also speak my mind on the issues some people are voting on. I have seen Gay rights and Birth Control in some people's remarks relating to why they voted for a candidate, and I am SHOCKED that such a vote was cast in regards to those issues. In fact, I am DISGUSTED that this was the issue on the forefront of some people's minds as they sent their vote off to be counted!!!!

Let me expound a bit on this- I'm not here to say that Gay rights or birth control regulations are ridiculous issues. In fact, it's really hard to draw a line on both issues, even for me (one who is strongly against both for personal reasons). I know that there are many out there that feel very strongly about these issues, and I mean no disrespect. However, what makes me ill about voting for a candidate concerning those issues is this- it's simply not what's at stake in this election.

Let me repeat that again: Gay rights and Birth Control are NOT major issues in this election!!!!!

For you personally, you may feel that these are important issues, but please understand that although you may feel this way, it's not a make-or-break for the country. I would love more religious tolerance and rights put through myself, but I understand that this is an issue that doesn't really apply enough to the difference in the candidates this round. Those issues are figured when the two candidates running are equally qualified for the BIG things, but the smaller things distinguish one from the other.

So what IS this election about? The mainstream media has done an excellent job on masking and blurring the answer to that question, so I can understand why so many are being deterred from the truth here. The truth is this: this election is about THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY. I'm not saying that based on a bias or a focus of a particular party- it's just plain fact. Let's put it this way... Are you wondering when more money or SOME money ( in a lot of cases) is going to come your way to fund all those expenses? To pay off those student loans? To pay for groceries (higher prices now, by the way)? To pay for GAS? Well friends, you're not going to improve your chances of higher income and lower prices by changing the definition of marriage. Sorry... it's just not going to happen.

One thing I would encourage every person to look at before voting tomorrow is a basic economics book. Look up supply and demand and pricing strategies. When you do, you will find that when core expenses (beginning at the government level) rise, so do the most basic prices of  consumer goods. So for example: when gas prices go up, so does the price of corn in a grocery store. It costs more money to drive the tractor that plants and waters and harvests it, right? To cover the extra expense, the farmer has to charge the buyer more. That comes straight to you everyone- all the extra expenses come straight to you. The government doesn't cover the extra costs of that corn. YOU DO.

That's just one example- I can think of THOUSANDS more. However, I just want to drive home one point to everyone as voting day approaches: Think of the economy when you vote, not the smaller issues that could be discussed and resolved later. Obama would like to continue to raise gas prices (he's said that outright. Fact check me. I dare you), deduct spending from MAJORLY important sectors of the United States's budget, and continue to fund programs that are unneccessary and financially crippling. He doesn't treat the country as a business (which... sorry ya'll.. that's actually what any country is. Those countries that balance their budgets and create a "profit" or sorts through their internal processes and external activities are the ones that experience growth and prosperity. Again, not opinion. That's fact. Ask ANY economist- Republican, Democrat, or in-betweener), he treats it like a celebrity photoshoot every day of the week.

Choose a president who loves this country for what it is and what it always has been! Choose a president that doesn't seek "change," but rather constant IMPROVEMENT- there IS a difference. This country was founded upon basic values and principles, and we have to stick to those principles, especially considering the reasons for voting for someone. No more celebrity appeal! That's not what the man's for! He works for US. Would you HIRE someone like Barack Obama to run your company? Someone who has ZERO experience handling money well or even keeping promises well? Think about it long and hard. Trust me- you'll get more than you bargained for if you vote for the wrong reasons tomorrow... 

VOTE WISELY AMERICA!!! GOD BLESS US ALL!!!!

I AM ENGAGED!!!!

Hello everyone!!!! YES!!!! I AM ENGAGED!!!!!!

I know that so many people are going to be clambering for details on this exciting event, so in order to be able to tell you all with as much detail as possible, I decided that a blog post would be the best way to tell our story. :)  For those of you who kind of already know our beginnings, you can skip to the end haha.

THE BEGINNINGS: HOW WE MET AND HOW WE STARTED

Last September my BEST friend, Jessica Frazier, came running up to me after I got home from work one night and excitedly told me that she had met a very good lookin’ Southern guy at an outdoor movie, and above all, he had the most UNBELIEVABLE accent. Jessica wanted me to meet him, because she knew that my soul was from the South, and Southern men made me weak at the knees. Of course, I accepted that tantalizing invitation to meet this mystery man.

The following Sunday (September 25^th), the opportunity presented itself, and Jessica lead me over to Christopher’s apartment. When we arrived,  we were informed that Christopher wasn’t there- wah wah… However, when his roommate heard that we were looking for Christopher, he quickly called him and told him to run over and meet a bunch of girls that were waiting for him in the living room. Christopher soon came through the door, and my jaw dropped (in my mind at least). At that point, Christopher and I immediately began talking about anything and everything, and we continued to do so for the next 3 hours. Chris got my number and told me that he would call me sometime.

We saw each other the following Tuesday at Institute, and that’s when Christopher officially asked me out. On Friday night, September 30, 2011, we went on our very first date- YAY!  We headed up the canyon to make some tinfoil dinners and roast some mallows over a fire- SO FUN! After having a night full of talking and chasing raccoons around the park, we headed home, and I was SUPER excited about this guy (I already really liked him at this point).




Me and Chris at Jason Aldean!!

After that, the weirdest thing happened- Chris started ignoring me! I was so baffled that after we had spent an amazing evening on the most brilliant date I had ever been on, he wouldn’t text me or call me. Rude! I was convinced that he was playing me at that point (after all, he would text me one day, I would answer him, and then he wouldn’t text me back for TWO DAYS!!!!! And HE started the conversations! AH! Enough to drive a girl CRA-CRA!!!!). This went on for several weeks, and it was so frustrating.

The turning point came when I miraculously won tickets from 101.5 for the Jason Aldean tickets on October 22^nd. I told myself that I was going to ask Chris to go, and if something didn’t happen that night, I was not going to deal with the craziness anymore.

Luckily, Chris and I kind of hit it off that night and had our first kiss that night after the concert (YAY!) On the night of October 30, 2011, Christopher Chase Owens asked me to be his girlfriend.

Since then, it’s been incredible!! Here we are 11 months later and SO in love!!!!

THE ENGAGEMENT:

So today is our 11 month dating anniversary, but our year anniversary of our first date. So yesterday, Christopher wanted to take me up to Sundance to celebrate our amazing year together. Of course, I bought into the fact that we were just celebrating another monthly anniversary (although substantially more important even then), but something inside of me kept thinking “man, this would be a great day for him to propose…”  I shooed the idea because 1. I felt like there was no way he had talked to my dad yet, and 2. There was NO WAY he could have the ring with him.

So we went out to dinner at the Foundry Grill (delicious by the way- I highly recommend it), and I just couldn’t stop asking him why he hadn’t proposed yet. He downplayed it and told me that he PROMISED me it would be before December, but that I needed to be patient so that he could find the exact right time to do it. By the end of the dinner, I was convinced he was DEFINITELY not going to propose for a while. We then decided to take a 3 mile hike to Stewart Falls. It was a gorgeous hike, and Christopher kept noting at how amazing it was that we had been together for an entire year.

We finally got to the top and saw the most amazing view of the canyon, waterfall, and the sunset with the full moon rising at the same height as the sun. It was seriously something from a movie. Christopher turned to me and asked me if I wanted to dance (well… duh I did), so we turned on some Brad Paisley and slow danced as the sun sank behind the mountains.




Jessics in her brilliant disguise!
What a little con artist... haha

All the while, I notice this really strange couple across the river. I was actually pretty grossed out, because every time I looked at them, they started to make out (or so I thought). Little did I know that it was Jessica and a friend of hers sitting there taking pictures of us (she had a seriously MAGNIFICENT disguise)!!! Before I knew it, Christopher had grabbed his jacket, pulled something out, turned me around, got down on one knee, and asked me to be his wife with the most GORGEOUS ring I have EVER seen in my ENTIRE life displayed in his hands.

THE PROPOSAL!!!!!! I love him :)



I…WAS…. STUNNED!!!!! I couldn’t even say anything for like 30 seconds, but through tears of joy, I finally said the magic word (“yes” if you were wondering). Jessica and her buddy finally emerged from the trees, which resulted in me crying and laughing even more. It was literally the most wonderful moment of my entire life!



This is not a great pic of the ring... but it is STUNNING!!!

I woke up this morning and just couldn’t stop thinking about how excited I am for the next phase of my life with Christopher. I love him so much, and the thought of being his wife for all eternity is still making me tear up as I write this. I am so excited to share my life with him as we enter the temple together this April!!!

Mark your calendars for April 27^th!!!!!! Woohoooooooo!!!!!!!!

 

 

If you want to make $100,000 a year, I've got you covered. Let's do it this year.

Stop EVERYTHING and GO TO THIS EVENT in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA! The speakers here are teaching people how to take their own business and turn it into an endless flow of money. You will see money coming in than you paid for your whole trip BEFORE YOU EVEN LEAVE THE EVENT! WHAT????? Just don't forget your laptop!!!!

I'm totally signed up and ready to go. I can't wait to see you there! You may or may not be seeing some celebrity faces there too... :) People Magazine could be talking about this one for a while- Let's put it that way.

SEE YOU THERE! Click this link to sign up (there is also more information on this page so you can see what's going on during the 3-day-event). 
https://thewin.infusionsoft.com/app/hostedEmail/3054000/d6a72fc6c8e9313c

Give me a jingle if you are wondering about it. The email is Krissy@TheWinOnline.com.

An inspiration note- Don't Let it Go!

So I'm now to my final weeks in Georgia. Sorry I have been so bad at keeping up with the updates! I've really been way too busy to even mess with the blog, so I apologize.
As I have spent time in Georgia, I have begun to realize several things...

#1- I love Georgia. Can't wait to move back!
#2- The only opinion I care about is Chris's. I love him so much!
#3- Not using your AC to save money is probably the stupidest thing you can do on a Southern afternoon...
#4- If you get stopped by a train here, don't expect to move for at least 30 minutes. Just shut off your car and do a little reading to pass the time.
#5- When you are discouraged, the best thing to do is work your butt off to show everyone up.

Refering back to #5, I LOVE this tactic. I will forever be the queen of critical inspiration (which is my own little term for "people think I can't do anything and that I'm still 5, so I'm going to show you that not only am I not 5, but I am 100% capable of supassing even your greatest expectations (thank you very much)."

If people are really so narrow-minded to think that you are incapable of becoming something, I challenge you NOT to throw their opinion out the window. Funny as it may sound (and I might have stolen this one from my favorite Disney movie...), "Let it fuel your actions! Heed my words Goob. DON'T let it go." Perhaps that is taken a bit out of context, but nonetheless, I have now employed it. You never want to let it poison you (like it did to my friend Mike Wagoobian) or to put others down, but if you use someone's unnecessary jab as a positive challenge, then suddenly your whole life becomes this Olympic sprint that never ceases to entertain you and those who are watching. It's cool! If you are anything like me, there is nothing like somebody telling you that you're never going to amount to anything. Pshaw... yah... watch me. :)

Weddings, The WIN, and Date Night!

Howdy ya'll!

Just thought I would do a little blogging today. I needed to catch up.

First: Lindsey is MARRIED!!!!! I am so happy for her and Dane. They are literally perfect together :) Here are a few pictures from their wedding (for some reason they are all showing up blurry in the picture... They aren't actually blurry in real life just to let you know).

Awww- Chris and Allie! Such buddies.

The sissies

Can't help but love Dane's "Thumbs up"
here haha.

Next: Working like mad! I am no longer heading to Vegas for various reasons, but that's alright because I am working on the NEXT convention which I will 100% be going to in September. Sure to be an amazing couple of days. I can't wait it! I love my job!!

For those of you that don't know, I work at The WIN (Women's Information Network). The coolest part of my job is that I seriously am assisting in changing the WORLD. I'm not kidding- being a part of this organization means meeting people in all different countries and teaching them how to live better lives and improve their businesses. It's been such a fulfilling experience, and I've only just started! It's something all the speakers in the WORLD should check out- we'll take you to a GLOBAL level with your messages- we've already executed the largest gathering of women in the history of the planet. That was last year. We'll break our own record this year!!!!

Check us out: www.TheWinOnline.com and www.GlobalWomensSummits.com

Also: I love Georgia! I am going to have culture and landscape shock when I go back to Utah for the Fall. It is so utterly beautiful here, and I feel like I am home in this place. We had two days of pure rain the other day, and I seriously LOVED it. It smells like Hawaii after rain- so lush and damp. I love the heat too. I fixed my AC, so now I can enjoy the indoors AND the outdoors. So happy!

Finally: I had a date night with Chris last night! Love Chattanooga (Riverbend is still going on up there! We missed most of it unfortunately). Afterwards, we went and picked WILD blackberries- SO good. We got some delish Steak 'N Shake and then watched "The Vow." Haters can hate about that movie, but I loved that it didn't have the expected outcome that everyone was waiting for. It was way heartrenching!!! We enjoyed it.

Missing all my Utah peeps though, especially Jessica!!! Love you love you love you!!!! However, I really do love it here. This is seriously where I was meant to be.

One month in GA and going strong!!

It is currently 5:15 PM, and I am BOILING UP in my little townhouse. Yikes! At least it's beautiful here. Hey- someday I might even have AC!!! It will be a great day when I don't smell smoke throughout my house when I turn it out...

Here's the update though! I am LOVING Georgia. It's been such a great experience. I am learning so much by being here, and although there have been some days of struggle admittedly, I do not regret having to experience them. It's so exciting!!! I'm living proof that life happens and we survive! :)

Yesterday we had a HUGE lightning storm, and it was quite the light show!!! For brief moments at a time, the sky was as bright as noon day. CRAZY!! I enjoyed watching it, but I won't lie... I had this fear that it would turn into a tornado... It was unfounded because there was no wind, but the rain was heavy and the thunder was cracking and the lightning was bizarre in color, intensity, and frequency. Lucky for me, Christopher was on the phone and told me not to worry about it. 

Other than that, I've just been working my tail off over here. My boss is sending me to Vegas for our convention in a few weeks, and after that I can relax a little bit. There is just so much to do between now and then, so I've been working like crazy to try and accomplish everything every day. Cross your fingers for me! 

Last but certainly not least, my house has been overrun with fruit flies. I HATE fruit flies! Found one in my bag of bread today. Sick. Me and muh roomie are going to destroy them- they'll wish they'd never been hatched!!!!

Overall, things are going so good though! I am looking forward to the next couple of days. Work that I love, then Weddings, friends, and Christopher of course. You can't get much better than that!!! Things are taking off. :)

Now to be bombarded with pictures!

Kinsley at her graduation!! So cute :)

Um... Do you see why I love this man?

The old plantation by the river. Original from the Civil War!

Another Beautiful Summer night in GA!

My new favorite pastime is picking wildflowers.
There are a million here.

I don't think you can see them, but there are a TON of
lightning bugs in this picture. I have never seen one
before!!!

THIS is a lightning bug. Freak of nature right??? Love em.

I thought this would turn out better than it did...
It's a balloon if you were wondering.

Travis's Graduation

Aw poor baby! Ali was SO overheated at the outdoor
graduation!

Eli stirring up mischief as usual. SO FUNNY!!! 

Check out that blood-red sun! I've never seen anything like it!