Reasons Why I Don't Quit My Job and Become a World Traveler

I often get carried away in thoughts about how simple life would be if I packed up, quit my job, and became a world traveler. I could be a scuba instructor off the shores of mexico or explore the amazon in Brazil. I wouldn't have to worry about being social or stressing about being on time to anything. Life would be simple.

It's at times like these, that I need to remind myself why becoming a world traveler is not in my best interest. 

1. I want a family. There is one vision better then me sitting on the beach every day. It includes four kids who call me mom and gather around the table for a warm home cooked meal. The comfort and unity that comes from home are irreplaceable. 

2. I need to build my future. I, like many of you, have read quote after quote about how we should use our money to experience life. I agree to a certain extent. If I want to live in a comfortable house, I have to save a portion of my income. On the other hand, if I were to become a world traveler, it would take me twice as long to save that money. 

3. I want to stay close to my relatives. I'm a homebody. After six months in Mexico, I would want to come back to Grantsville. I would want to snuggle my cute nephew and wrap my arms around my Dad. In the end, life wouldn't be worth it without having people around me that I love. 

That's it. I only have THREE reasons why I don't become a world traveler. Not very many. Maybe this means I will do it...some day.

Love,
The Littlefields

It's the Little Things

There are times, in almost every marriage, when you feel tired. Tired of trying. Tired of the same routine. Tired of being tired. It's not that you're unhappy. You're just tired. And these times often end in a teary, un-comprehensible discussions that seems to have no point. Luckily, my sweet husband took my "tired talk" and turned it into one of the sweetest moments in our marriage.

 After a long, teary conversation we went to bed. The next morning I went to work. As with every other day my "tired" routine continued. Now, I understand that as a couple without children, it may seem that we have plenty of time on our hands. How could I be tired when other women are taking care of 10 children, a dog, a house, and paying the bills on time? I can see how my day compared to that incredible woman would pale in comparison, but here me out. Even when you do have time, doing the same routine week in and week can wear on you. Whether you're doing two loads of laundry or five, at some point you get tired of doing laundry.

 At the moment that you want to lie down and never get back up again, you thank heaven when someone comes and puts out their hand to help.

On my way home from work, I was thinking about what I would make for dinner, what part of the apartment I would need to clean, and what I needed to do to prepare for the next day. Dallin seemed indifferent to my usual business conversation. I just need to get home and start to work then I can forget all my problems. It's the times when I'm sitting with nothing to do that cause me to stress. We pull up to the house, and I get out and go downstairs.

Then, I see this...

Dallin had made a HUGE fort throughout our entire apartment and streamed Christmas lights through the tunnels. He had made a trail of pink hand-cut hearts along the path. He had flowers and at the end of the tunnel was a new chick flick and a TV all set up to watch. We ate dinner and I felt completely at ease. I felt dumb for crying, but I was overwhelmed and relieved. This little gesture, seemed to take away all of my worries. It's the little things that make a huge difference in marriage.

Love,
The Littlefields

The BEST recipe's I've found so far

So, it's no secret that I hate cooking. It takes too long and the list of ingredients I know could be compared to a kindergartner; however, I know a good recipe when I see one. I've found two so far. Don't laugh. I'm only 3 months into this cooking thing. These are the perfect amount for two (and left-overs) and SUPER cheap! Here are my two favorites.

Aunt Haley's Recipe

1 c. Chili
1 c. Tomato soup
1 pkg. Noodles (any kind but I like the twisty ones)
1 c. Cheese

Mix everything together and sprinkle with cheese. Cook in oven at 375 for 20 minutes. DONE!

Tater-tot Casserole 

2 c. Cream of chicken soup
12 oz. Sour cream
1 pkg. Tater-tots
1/2 lb Ground beef

Mix cream of chicken soup and sour cream. Lay tater-tots on the bottom of the pan, then sprinkle the meat over that. Then add the soup. Cook at 350 for 45 minutes.

Enjoy! These seriously are the best :)

Love,
The Littlefields

Moving On to More

Well first of all I have to give a big thank you to BYU Radio for the last 3 years. It's been so much fun and I've learned more there than school it feels like. Here is my amazing team! We got along like siblings :)

Now, moving on to my new job....well I have nothing to say about it yet besides that I am excited and anxious. I'll be a college admissions representative and talk to high school students about enrolling. It's Broadview University in West Jordan. It sounds great! And the best part is the pay! Speaking of.... Dallin and I can upgrade our phones....and change carriers and plans. Ugh, what a hassle. If YOU have any suggestions they are more than welcome because there are so many options I don't know what to do.

Here is what we have found out so far.

My favorite is Net10. We can get the both of us on unlimited data, talk and text for $85/month. The only catch is we have to buy iPhones...but that could be as low as $450 (if I get a used iPhone 4 and he gets a iPhone 5s) .

If we go with Verizon and attach to my parents plan then we could get iPhones for $100 and pay $90 a month, but I don't know if that will fly.

Or At&t and just have Dallin get an iPhone for $60 a month, and I get a dumb phone still...which I'll be working so hard I think I need a pay off too. :)

SO that leaves us...deciding...

Love,
The Littlefields

Learning for Later

My lovely parents gave us two bikes to use while we're at college. The only catch was we had to fix them. Dallin wasn't worried, of course, he has fixed lots of bikes in his time. Whoo! That means I'm off the hook, right? Wrong....he made me do it because I have never changed a bike tire before. He also said I should learn in case he dies....what the heck!? I'm not going to be riding a bike if he dies. I'll buy a nice car with all the money he is going to leave me! It is actually pretty easy and now I know how to do it! And I couldn't help but notice the similarities of Dallin and my Dad. They never let me just be the little girl who doesn't know anything. I always have to "learn for later". So I did, and now if "Dallin dies" I can change the bike tire all by myself.

Love,
The Littlefields

Gratitude and Graduation

It's been an amazing last few years. So many friendships and knowledge has come out of BYU and this wonderful institution will forever have a close place to my heart. I will never forget the people that have blessed my life during the last four years. College wasn't easy, but the people that were around me during this time made it feel a lot more like home. 

Change is the worst, but I've got great things to look forward to. I am going to be an College Admissions Representative for Broadview University in West Jordan, and I'll start on my Master's there soon as well. Who knows when kids will come, or when we'll be completely out of debt, or when I'll have a six pack, but I'm confident one of those three will actually happen. :) 

Here are some picks of the milestone marker.

Love,
The Littlefields

Finding My One

Not very many people are lucky enough to find the love of their life, let alone when they are 12 years old. I don’t know if it was his baby face or my incredibly awkward reaction to boys, but either way we were slow in the making. We were just your average 7^thgraders who couldn't help, but be drawn to each other. He would do silly impressions and I would refuse to hug boys, we didn't know anything, but somewhere in between the acne and the late nights staying up to text each other we fell in love.

            I remember it like it was yesterday, I knew I wanted to go with him to prom, and I would use every resource I had to let him know that. My friends left subtle hints that I wanted to go with him, but these “subtle hints” turned out to about as subtle as a gun. He knew I wanted to go with him, but did he want to go with me? There were other boys wanting to go, but they weren't him. I got a letter asking me to prom, and the same day a text from Dallin saying he wanted to go and heard someone else was going to ask me. Naturally I wanted to throw in the towel and say “I’m all yours!” but who was this mystery man? I would take a guess and leave hints to other boys that I was taken, but I would keep getting these secret letters with no name. I felt so guilty for spending some boy’s money that I wasn't going to go with. Then came the huge bouquet of roses. Seriously though, I may have been slightly shorter then, but it seems like they were at least the size of a small chair. This was too much! They must’ve cost someone a fortune. The letter read “I know I’m not your first choice, but please give me a chance. You can open the letter hidden in the flowers to find out who wants to take you to the dance.” Buried deep in the flowers was a note I failed to notice before. I opened it and it was from my future husband asking me to prom, that snake in the grass! I was so mad! I was stressing out this whole time and it was him all along!
            I have never been one to let things go so this meant war. He played me like a fiddle and I planned to get him right back. I plotted and planned and the big day came.

           He stormed into class and said “you!” I may or may not have planted some spices that looked similar to drugs and bottles that looked like beer bottles in his car. Then I may have had the local policeman pull him over in front of the school right when everyone was going to class. He still has anxiety about police cars, but what can I say? It was the beginning of our happily ever after.

Love,
The Littlefield's