Mrs. Cox.

Since this blog of mine is fairly new I decided I would give a little introduction of myself with a few random facts.  Here it goes:

1.  I have 4 sisters and I care about each of them more then I think anyone could fathom... They are my best friends, and my best support group.

2. Speaking of support group.... My parents are out of this world when it comes to my fan club.  Without out a doubt they would be there for each and everyone one of my school performances, dance recitals, tumbling events, plays.. you name it.  I think my dad should get a trophy for sitting through 10 hour long dance competitions on a regular basis.  And if my mom caught wind of me being interested in something.. she didn't question it, she encouraged me to reach for the stars and do what my heart felt right.  I have her to thank for all the tumbling classes, Piano lessons (that I sadly wanted to quit after 5 months), dance classes, extracurricular activities.. the whole shebang. I'm pretty blessed when it comes to the parent category ;)

3.  I have known Derick Kenneth Cox since the 6th grade... but I haven't exactly always been fond of him.  In fact, 9th grade called for some hard feelings towards him.  He's cute, but much too full of himself.  Is it necessary to be that flirty with every girl??  Does he really think he is that cool? Stop talking, the teacher is trying to teach the class. He thinks he is soooo funny. Ok, Ok.. I was one of those people.  Embarrassing.  Who knew that a year later he would win my heart over.  I actually fought it for a few months before I could openly admit to myself that I liked him. Turns out he is that cool, and he is that funny.  Derick always says that maybe I was just jealous that I wasn't his friend in 9th grade.  Secretly, I think he might be right.  Shhh ;)

4.  My supposed doppelgänger is Scarlett Johansson.  Believe me, I have googled image after image of her and I don't see it in the slightest, but after being approached by more strangers I can count on both of my hands who have said something to the extent of "Me and my friends have been discussing for the past 10 minutes about how you look exactly like Scarlett Johansson. Has anyone told you this before?" I can't exactly ignore it.

5. I am a very very strong believer that everything happens for a reason.

6.  I have no self control when it comes to sweets. It's a miracle I have still yet to get a cavity.

7.  I am obsessed with the color turquoise.  Going to the store is pretty typical. "Derick!! I need this!"  "... You only want that because it is turquoise. Do you even know what it is?" "...no."  Ya, welcome to my life.

8. I am obsessed with love.  I'm one of those creeps who cries my eyes out over a stranger's love story that I read online, or watched on T.V..

9. 2 words: Baby Hungry.  I have been since I was old enough to hold a baby doll and pretend it was real.  Now that I am married and the realization that starting a family is very near in my future (as in 2-5 years), it is has been magnified by 100%.  If Derick loses me in a store chances are he can find me in the baby clothes section picking out the outfits I would, or wouldn't buy for our imaginary child.

10. Growing up It was probably very common for my parents and sisters to think, God bless the soul who someday marries Caitlin. I have a temper, I'm a spaz, I like things to be done my way, I am way too irritable, I'm a clean freak (unless it is my own mess, then it doesn't phase me) -- The first step to fixing a problem is recognizing it's there, right? And now it is my turn to think God bless Derick for marrying me. He is so good to me, and every day I realize that I love him more than I ever thought possible.

11.  I'm a country girl.  Growing up you would probably find me running through fields, playing in cow corals, floating in the irrigation ditch (this thought now makes my skin crawl. Gross!), or running around on top of haystacks.  Growing up in the middle of nowhere surrounded by acres and acres of never ending land was good for me.  I look back on my childhood and I can't help but think it was the best. ;)

T.G.I.F.

Do I Really have to go to work?? I'd rather lay in my warm bed all day.  Thank goodness it is the weekend.  I don't know if it is the weather or what, but this week has felt extra long.  Did you know that Cache Valley was ranked #1 worst air in the Nation the other day? I live in Cache Valley! Growing up I would always get really defensive if someone tried to dis this place... I've always loved it. I'm telling you though, only being able to see ten feet in front of you while driving due to the smog, isn't exactly the happiest thing on earth.  I love this place.. but I think I need to get a away for a day or two.  It's bad for my health.  Physically and emotionally.

Derick and I both have tonight off so we are going to have a date night! We haven't decided what we are going to do yet, though.  Any suggestions?

Ok, I'm going to get ready for work now. In

3....2....1

Fresh Outta The Oven:

BlueBerry Snickerdoodle Cookies

I found this recipe on Pinterest and it was exactly what I needed to brighten my life on this gloomy day.  I had some left over blueberries from a recipe I used the other day and I wanted to use them before they went bad.  I considered putting them on oatmeal and using them up real quick, but I decided that wasn't exciting, or yummy enough, so I looked at my recent pins on Pinterest and I found this baby.

The recipe goes as follows:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 large egg
2 heaping cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt
*1 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 cup granulated sugar & 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon for rolling cookies in

Preheat oven to 375°F.Beat together butter, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, and egg. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Slowly beat flour mixture into the butter mixture. Gently fold in the blueberries, being careful not to crush them. Otherwise you'll end up with purpleish-blue cookies, but if that's your thing, then go for it!

In a small bowl, combine the 1/4 cup granulated sugar and cinnamon. Shape dough into 1-inch balls, then roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Place balls 3 to 4 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. With a flat-bottomed glass dipped in cinnamon-sugar, slightly flatten cookies. Be careful not to totally crush the berries though. Again... blue cookies.

Bake for 11-13 minutes, or until edges being to slightly brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cookie comes out clean. Allow to cool.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

The blueberries are so gooey and warm.  I promise, you won't regret making this.

Thank you Bake Girl for this yummy recipe!

Without You Things Go Hazy...

You know how you can go years without hearing a song, and then when you hear it again emotions and memories associated with that song hit you like a brick wall? This happened to me yesterday, except I had never actually heard the song before.  I was studying in the library, minding my own business, listening to pandora, and all of a sudden I got the feeling like I had just run into that brick wall.  I was overwhelmed with emotions.  I knew I hadn't ever heard the song before so I was wondering what could possibly be wrong with me.  The lyrics were oddly familiar... and then it hit me.  Derick had been gone serving his LDS mission for 2 whole months when he had sent me the lyrics to this song.  When I received the letter the thought to actually look up the song never occurred to me, but I did read the letter over, and over, and over again.  It was crazy how this song brought back all the heart ache I had while he was gone.  Looking back on it now those 2 years feel like nothing but a very, very vague dream.  But that song brought back those emotions for a few minutes.  When I got home I went straight upstairs and pulled out our letters, knowing exactly what I was searching for.  I quickly found the letter and just stared at it.  This was the letter that brought back all those emotions while I was sitting in the library trying to mind my own business....

"Caitlin,

This is so hard to explain, and don't think i'm weird, but on thursday & Friday I felt like you were with me.  It was the best feeling ever! from the moment I woke up I felt like I woke up next to you, and then that feeling stuck with me the entire day.. I just felt like I was with you on Thursday and on Friday. I loved it. But then of course reality hit me & I realize that we are so far away from each other for so long... I don't know how I'm surviving without you.  We were attached to the hip before I left.  For a year and a half.  Crazy.  Well anyway here are some lyrics that remind me of you:

Caitlin these lyrics remind me of you, well of us I guess you could say.  We are always there for each other and we have each others backs. And when we aren't there for each other... well then things go hazy."

We tried to refrain from sending each other mushy gushy letters as much as we could help it.  But when I did get a letter from him that described exactly how he felt about me it was the best.  Especially when I was feeling a little "Derick Sick"   And now this song is currently my favorite and I am a little upset at myself for not listening to it sooner.

 [youtube=http://youtu.be/t-IabfCL_T8]

Without you things go....

Christmas!

Well, my first Christmas as a married lady was a definite success!  I think my favorite part would have to be the fact that I was able to celebrate 3 times in one day.  Derick and I decided to have our own little Christmas where we snuck downstairs to see what santa brought us. I loved sitting next to our little 6 ft. Christmas tree, listening to Christmas music, and unwrapping all of our gifts in our Christmas PJs. It was a blast.  Afterwards we drove out to my parents to celebrate with my family and have a big lunch.  After we celebrated with my family we went sledding with some of his family, and then went back to his parent's house to celebrate with the rest of his family.  I am truly blessed, and I realized that fact even more over the Christmas season.  I am very happy I was able to celebrate my favorite holiday with all of my loved ones.  I am also very happy that, after 3 whole years, Derick and I were together on Christmas day.  I wouldn't trade my life for anyone else's :)

Winter Wonderland.

I will admit, I am not a very huge fan of snow.  Yes, I get super excited and giddy when the first snow fall of the year happens, but come January I am ready for flip flops, green grass, and sun.  Growing up in a place that has about six months of snow a year I would think i'd be used to it by now, but I think every year just makes me more and more anxious to live in a place that has summer year round.  I can always come visit family during Christmas to enjoy the first snow fall. ;) I am glad, however, that I married someone who finds the good in pretty much everything. He happens to be an avid skier and gets extremely excited every time it snows.  This has helped me because I try to look at it from his perspective and because I secretly hope someday I can be as good at skiing as he is, and be super thrilled to see the snow just so I can enjoy my winter hobbies.  As for right now, my winter hobbies consist of snuggling up in a blanket with some hot coco, reading a book.  This year I promised myself I would not let the winter get me down, and to try to look at the good in what the winter brings

Ode to 2012

Where, oh where, did 2012 go?? I can't believe it has already come and gone.  It definitely was a good year.

• It was the first full year Derick and I spent together since he has been home from his mission.


• I got engaged.


• I got married.


• I declared my major.


• I turned 21.


• I spent lots and lots of time with all of my loved ones.


• I finally figured out where I think life is taking me.


• I had many, many adventures.

Cheers to 2012.  I have a feeling 2013 is going to be even better.

01.04.13

Last weekend one of my best friends got married.  I am so unbelievably happy and excited for her!  I’ve envisioned this day in my head since the 6th grade and it was even more beautiful than I thought it would be.  Congrats Meghan and James!

All photos were taken by D Bar D Photography.  She did such a great job!