Cotton Bowl 2012- review

About three weeks ago Rob and I had the opportunity to go to Dallas, Texas for the 2012 Cotton Bowl Game against Kansas State. I admit, at first I wasnt planning on going because first off, I wasn't even sure if they'd let me stay with or see Rob during the trip and second, because I just didnt have any "football friends" that I could hang with while I was there.. Lol. I know, I know.. I'm a lame-O. But after hearing about what a great experience it is from my sister-in-law I decided to just suck it up and go.. And I am SO GLAD I did :)

This trip was so insane I don't even know where to begin! Apparently before every bowl game, the football players participating in it leave a week early and have what they call a "Bowl Week" full of fun activities along with practice for the players. But the best part of the week was that everything was FREE and paid for.. I felt so relaxed and stress-free the entire trip and i looooved it. They even gave each player an iPad as the bowl gift along with pocket money for both him and I :)

[since I'm updating on the iPad, I haven't quite figured out yet how to post pictures on my blog. Lol so SORRY, but this post will be without pictures.. But I did upload lots of pics to my Facebook so you can check it out there]

Ive been to Dallas about twice before but during those times i was only there for a 3day volleyball tournament in which we would get in, play, then get out. So even though I was there I never really got to actually see Dallas. We arrived early Saturday afternoon and stayed in an amaaaaazing hotel... The Hilton Anatole. We were given bowl necklaces with our names on it that allowed us full access to the hospitality rooms that were located downstairs. Since I was a Players wife, they let me into the players lounge with Rob :) ...in these rooms they had unlimited snacks, games, computers for Internet access, flat screen tv's with couches, a basketball court and my fave... Tons and tons of ICE CREAM! Lol. I couldn't stop stuffing my face the entire trip. Rob was getting annoyed of me because I kept waking him up to walk downstairs with me and get ice cream.. Lol.

That night I went to a youth dance with some of my cousins who lived in Dallas. It was so nice getting to catch up and talk with them while I was down there.

Throughout the week, I did feel a little awkward at first because I was the only "wife" on the team, but I actually got to be with Rob a lot more than I thought I would get. He came with me to most of the activites and would even bring dinner up to our room just so we can eat together so I wouldn't feel awkward around all the guys :) I hope you all see why I love this man so much.. Lol.

I got to attend the welcome dinner at the Dallas Cowboys stadium, the autograph pizza party and the Prime Rib dinner at Lawrys which was freaking AMAZING.. Everything was just too good to be true.

I think my favorite part about the trip was just being able to kickback in our hotel room and watch tv in sweats all day.. Well not all day, but most of the time. Crazy right? I mean dont think I'm completely nuts for going on a paid vacation and only wanting to stay in my hotel room but I just loved being able to relax and do absolutely NOTHING. Lol. Rob would always come up and tell me to go somewhere like the mall or something while he was at practice but I honestly just wanted to chill and wait for him.

Later during the week my in-laws were able to make it out to Dallas the day before the bowl game so we also got to spend some time together. Well, more of just my husbands two aunties and my mother in law because us girls went shopping while the guys did their own thing. Lol.

The day of the game was absolutely crazy.. Traffic was ridiculous but luckily we had one of Robs aunts there to drop us off. When we finally got our seats all I kept thinking to myself was, "I can't believe I was gonna miss out on all of this!"- I was going crazy snapping pictures of almost anything and everything.... Especially every time I saw my Robert Aona out there! Lol. Again, I apologize for having no pictures... But you get the idea. Lol. The Dallas Cowboys stadium was so HUGE & LOUD. Lol.

Afterwards, unfortunately I had a huge headache so I went straight to our hotel room and went to bed while everyone went out to eat with Rob :( BOO for migraines! But aside from that it was so much them having them there to share the experience with me :)

On our bus drive back home, Rob and I just talked about how awesome this trip was and how excited we are for next years bowl game! It definitely was a trip to remember and another memory added into our marriage life. So far, so good! Lol.

Till next time,

Nik

Better late then never..

Reading up on some old posts about gratitude from some of my followers I decided to do a blog expressing my own gratitude :) and I know it's so november, but better late then never right?! So here are some of my mains..

The Man Upstairs: First and foremost I'm extremely grateful for my heavenly father. My relationship with him I admit hasnt really been much of a relationship.... But nonetheless he's never let me down in anything. The gospel is one thing that I know to be true- even though I don't act on it a whole lot, it's definitely undeniable. Even though Rob and I have kinda been slacking, we still try our best to pray together every night before bed :)

Just a thought...

The other day I went to the movies with a friend of mine and afterwards we decided to take a sneak peek into the movie, "The Devil Inside Me"- after watching only about ten minutes of it we walked out because it was just too freaky for us and she asked me, "Do you believe in that stuff?"... I said believed in the Devil and that he could cause bad things to happen to people here on earth, but I also told her that I believed that with enough faith there should be no reason to fear him. And that as powerful as he seems in movies, good ALWAYS prevails over evil.

I know it sounds a bit off cause we were just having a random conversation about a movie, but that's a prime example of why I feel so comforted when it comes to our Lord.

My Family: With everything going on within my family, good and bad, I still seem to wake up every morning grateful that I have each and every one of them in my life. My mom, the hardest worker woman I know. My dad, the best father anyone could ever ask for. My big sister Pumpkin, who was like a second mom to me... And her family. My sister Maile, aside from our past differences has been there for me throughout my life even when we didn't get along. My brother Aj, for being annoying.. Lol. He's definitely the smart mouth in the family but very much the most respected brother. And last but not least my adopted Korean brother Jordan, for just being Jordan. Lol. As well as my extended family. I love my family to pieces... Both near and far. Trust, Its hard living away from everyone and not being able to be apart of every family function... Thank heavens for technology! :)

My OTHER family: I know I said it before, but I honestly mean it when I say that one of the biggest reasons why I fell in love with my husband was because I fell in love with his family too. Since day 1 they've done nothing but welcome me with open arms and I can't even express how much that meant to me.... Their love and acceptance led me to my Robert Aona and for that I am forever grateful. Their definitely different from my family(in a good way, don't worry lol) but even though we aren't technically related, I love them all as if the were my own blood. When we're together we talk as if I've known them my whole life and I love that.

My perfect husband: I'm so grateful to have him in my life as my companion. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this guy.. He always puts me first in everything he does and never fails to remind every single day why I fell in love with him. With everything we've been through, i couldn't ever imagine my life without him. We will be going into our 6th month of marriage this month and i definitely feel as though with every passing day our love for each other becomes greater. I'm a HOPELESS ROMANTIC who can't get enough of her husband! Lol.

My Job: For helping me stay busy while my husbands away and giving me a paycheck. Lol

Education: This one isnt necessarily for me obviously. Lol. But for my husband who continues to work hard in his schooling. Even though I'm not in school at the moment, I do know how important education is and I'm grateful that my husband was given scholarship to further his education and his passion in football.

Aaaaand this IPad: for letting me update my blog ;p

....well, those were some of the things I just thought I had to share. Lol.

Good night!

Nik

Goodbye 2011, hello 2012 :)

2011 was definitely by far the craziest year of my life...

- I survived my second semester of college in Missouri... I met so many great people and developed close friendships with many whom have definitely changed my life. But because of other reasons, i chose not to return to school.

- worked a summer program for refugee kids for like a month and a half. That was an irritating but fun job. Lol.

- Met my long long lost half sister who resides in California :) ...for that I am truly grateful.

- My older sister Maile got married and I was her Maid of Honor :)

- 3 weeks later, I also got married to my best friend/boyfriend of 5 years and moved to Arkansas so he can play for the U of A razorbacks. [GO HOGS!]

- Landed my very first REAL job :)

- My older sister Pumpkin and her little family moved to Australia :(  sucks, but oh well...
[it definitely was a hard day for me since I was all the way in Arkansas and couldn't say bye to them]

....2011 brought me sadness as well as happiness. Going from living in Utah to Missouri and now Arkansas was something completely out of my comfort zone but I can't say that it didn't make me a better/stronger person. I definitely did things I'm not proud of but I learned from it.. and I can honestly say I don't regret any of it.  

I love my life, and everyone who I've met or gotten closer to this past year. I'm so excited to see what this new year has to offer me and my husband :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

Bad day.

So its been awhile since my last post, but as some of you may already know about a month and a half ago I had landed my first job as a hostess at a restaurant. Meaning I greet people, seat them, and take to-go orders... That's all. Doesn't sound too bad right? Well its not. Lol. Took me awhile to get the feel of things but within a week I was good to go. Now we can get more in detail about how this new job came about and catch up on other stuff but i'll save that for another post..... Lol.

So anyway, with christmas drawing near lots of my co-workers have been asking me to cover shifts for them since they'll be leaving out of town, in which of course I'm always open to getting more hours in.

More hours = More money (lol)

....and since my job doesn't pay much, I wanted to get as much in as I can.

Up until tonight I was covering shifts for people all week long.... working the days that I was supposed to have off & staying longer than when I was supposed to be done. So I pretty much went into work tonight just totally not into it, cuz I was so tired of working.. I might just be complaining for free, but I honestly jus wanted a little break.

Friday & Saturday nights are by far our busiest nights so there's ALWAYS a waiting list full of angry hungry people... and my shift tonight was the GREETER shift, meaning I'm the one upfront taking names and letting them know how long the wait may be. So who do you think gets yelled at the most? *raises hand* that would be me..

I've dealt with some angry customers who have complained here and there about waiting but tonight was seriously the most above & beyond.... Well, for me at least. Lol.

Apparently there was a misunderstanding on the list with a certain family and the mother had come up to me and basically screamed in my face in front of the rest of the people who were also awaiting a table..... mind you there were like 30-40 people standing around me -__- And it didn't get better when her husband decided to yell at me too..

I understand completely that it sucks to be waiting when you're starving messing up the call list can be highly irritating...... but in this situation, this was honestly not my fault. I'm sure those who deal with people at their jobs everyday understand what I'm goin thru but that was my first REAL face-to-face confrontation.

To be honest, I was highly embarrassed.... I jus wanted to turn around and cry but then I wanted to take my clipboard and shove it up her a**! Lol. Being yelled and humiliated I guess you could say sorta triggered all my stress buildup from the week and as much as I just wanted to breakdown, I didn't. After all it wasn't my fault.

Then there's another person who decides to yell at me because they've been waiting for a half hour when I told him the wait would be ABOUT a half hour..... Heres the thing people don't get, the time we give people is an estimation. Meaning if I say it'll be ABOUT 10 Minutes, don't come up at exactly 10 minutes and ask me why you haven't been sat yet. I don't have eyes in the back of my head to know which tables are open and I can't tell the people who are eating to hurry up, just for you. Its like people just expect me to calculate how long it takes for every single person in the flippin' restaurant to eat their meals.........  Oh, but of course there's always one guy who likes to say that he did  calculate it in his head and the wait shouldn't be long. Yea, I've definitely gotten one of those. Lol. People are insane I tell ya.....

After that I was jus completely over bein at work...... And even after the lady who had yelled at me were  done eating, as she walked passed me to leave she says, "We'd rather have great service".. What a great way to end my all-work-no-play week huh?? Lol. But anyways, with all that aside...... I came straight home and took my crappy night at work out on a movie and ben&jerrys with my husband :)

Tomorrow is a new day.

"Everything is going to be alright. Maybe not today, but eventually."

..this quote saved me.

Xoxo,
Nikki

sleepless nights.

I don't know why, but its always the times when it's super late and I'm ready to knock out from a long day that I suddenly get the urge to blog... I always, always, ALWAYS find myself not sleeping because I have so many things on my mind that I just can't let be. And I hate it because that makes me sleep in allll day the next day.... :|

Tomorrow (or today I guess?) is Friday.. another day closer to forever with my hubby :) - I'd be lying if I said everythings been perfect thus far because it most definitely had its rough patches. But then again, a strong couple is the kind that still stands when you've gone through everything that's supposed to bring you down.

He misses home. We both do.

I know I got to go home earlier this month to see my family but what I didn't mention was that the whole trip I honestly felt selfish. I can't find a better way to explain it..... but I felt that I was getting exactly what I wanted while my husband wasn't getting anything at all. I got to see my family & friends after doing nothing when I was in Arkansas. Does that make sense? Like, that I didn't deserve to see them as much as my husband did. He's the one trying to balance church, school, football while still trying to keep me happy. Yet I'm the one who got to fly home... But don't get me wrong I had an amazing time! Just kinda think he deserved that 'amazing time' more than I did.

We're both homesick, but I know that he's more homesick than I am. I'm helping him get through it though, after all I did go through homesick hell when I was in Missouri. Lol. No but really, going through those extremely hard times in Missouri made me promise myself that I don't ever wanna see Rob go through the same thing. 

I do my best to comfort him when he starts feeling uneasy.... Just wish that there was something I could do. 

*Okaaaay, re-reading what I just blogged I sound super depressed. Lol. Its really not that big of a deal guys, we're doing just fine! Haha. It was just on my mind. Notice how I totally went off track? Yea, typical me -__-

I've also found myself having the most weirdest dreams again. I don't know if its how I'm sleeping, what I eat before bed or who I'm thinking about before I sleep but they're seriously the most strangest dreams ever.

I think two nights ago, I had a dream that my right eye was glued shut..

[Like, is that a sign that I'm gonna lose my eye soon or something?!]

Then I had a dream that someone broke into our apartment while I was sleeping and it was Slaw (spell check), the deformed brother with practically no teeth from the movie, The Goonies..

[Um, yea.. Best believe I be lockin' the door everytime Rob leaves in the morning!]

...but then there would be those type of dreams where you wake up knowing that you had a dream but have no idea what it was about or anything. Lol. I would wake up Rob in the middle of the night telling him I just had a nightmare, then when he asks, "What was it about?", I would say, "I don't know I just remember feeling scared" Lol. Anyone ever had that?! ....Or am i going crazy over here?? Lol

Maybe its just me. But its definitely freaked me out to the point where I get scared easily at night. Lol. I should probably get some sleep now..... Before I start talkin more nonsense. Lol.

Night y'all :)

.xoxo.

the moustache.

Honestly, I don't like moustaches. I think they're ugly... And of course this guy ends up growing one out to irritate me.

He really thinks he's top notch with his moustache.. Lol.

Holly Molly

So starting this blog, I figured I could either write you guys a reeeaaallly long blog or cut it short into sections of whats been going on in my life since my last post- I was thinking about doing a vlog.... but then again.. that would make me nervous and when I'm nervous I become reeallly awkward. No but for real. ANYWAYS.

Holy eff! I can't even believe how long it's been since my last post! I've literally been MIA from the blogging world since my laptop broke :( Sorry guys! I know you missed me! Lol. Mind you I'm in the library computer lab.. lol. Sooooo much has happened I don't even know where to begin! First off..

Elder Atiga

About 2 weeks ago (I think?), I went home for my brother-in-laws farewell(Muka). It was such a beautiful day and such an amazing talk that he gave in sacrament that I can't even explain it on here. Lol. The whole time he was talking though I think the only person I was thinking about was my husband, because he wasn't able to make it out for his brothers farewell :( Him and his brother are really close, and talking to my husband on the phone afterwards I could tell that he was really upset that he couldn't be there. I know he might've even cried a little, but just didn't tell me. Muka is going to be an amazing missionary! And I'm SO excited for him and his girlfriend Cassidi :)

Aside from that, spending time with my family and in-laws were nothing short of amazing. The days before coming home, I found myself angry all the time... I would even look for reasons to be mad even if it was something small. I don't know what was wrong with me so don't ask. Lol. I felt horrible cause I took it out on Rob. Not meaning to, I just was so mad at EVERYTHING! Lol. Looking back on it I really think that I was just in a bad mood because I hadn't seen my family and I didn't have friends yet, so i was literally by myself everyday. Lol. Crybaby status.. I know. Lol. But coming home was really all I needed to feel better :) The trip was short, but I loved it. Especially since I got to see my little nieces who will be moving to Australia in 2 months........ I think that might've been the last time I get to see them :(

Okay, I'm gonna stop now before I start crying in the computer lab. Lol.

Just know I loved my little trip back home :)

Babies?..

I'm still not pregnant guys... so quit asking. Lol. JK- but it's not like we haven't thought about it. Rob and I would absolutely LOOOOVE to have kids, but we just know that NOW wouldn't be the right time. Even though I love kids, I know that I myself isn't ready at all. I spoke to a friend of mine from church about it and she had told me that I'll know when i'm ready, I'll just feel it is what she had said. So, sorry guys.. who knows when i'll have that "ready feeling" haha. Maybe next year? Lol

Black Beauty

Our new car! Lol. We FINALLY gotta car... thanx to my in-laws :) and we love it. It's definitely taken a load off of our shoulders.. Rob and I decided to name it Black Beauty. Lol. But who knows, it could change tomorrow. Lol. We were so excited to have a car of our own that we went on an exploration.. lol. We wasted gas and drove around what seemed like all of Arkansas. I sent a picture of the truck to my dad with a text saying, "Our new truck! You like??"- and he texted back, "Holly Molly!"..... but I think he meant 'Holey Moley'. Lol.

Jobless..

Yep, still no job :( I was just telling my sister-in-law the other day that I've filled out what seems like 3541853873541 applications! Lol. No really though, I do. And I still haven't recieved a call back from anyone. It sucks not being able to help out. I know that Robs checks cover everything, but we always talk about how great it would be to have that extra money just in case. I just hate that feeling of not being productive, that "loser" feeling, ya know? Not that I blame Rob or anyone for making me come out here knowing that I'd have trouble finding a job but that's just how I've always been. Don't get me wrong though, I absolutely love it out here and I wouldn't change coming here for the world. Just wish I had a job. Lol. Speaking of, I just had an interview before coming here to the library.. and I'm feeling pretty good about it :) lol

Friends?

I've made some more! Lol. Aren't you guys proud of me?? Haha. That's all. Lol

Husband?

Well, I'm still madly in love with this guy. Lol. He's doing good! I'm so proud of him.. and I swear he's getting bigger by the day! Not over-exaggerating I promise. Lol. I'm so excited to see how these next few years are going to turn out between us. We've only been married for a little over 2 months and I'm not tired the married life yet. Lol. Everytime we're together it's literally like two little kids. Lol. He really does bring out the little girl in me and I LOVE IT! :) And no matter how evil I am to him, cuz I can be the biggest witch you've ever known (just ask him!), he STILL is the sweetest guy to me.

This is random, but just the other night we literally stayed up till 3 in the morning laughing- I don't even know what we were laughing about............... or do I? Lol. We have so many inside-jokes that I could write a full on novel full of 'em, with small print and like 2 million chapters! (Ok i'm exaggerating but you get the picture). I literally haven't seen Rob laugh that hard in my entire life! Now for me, I laugh at almost everything. Sometimes I'll even find myself laughing out of no where over something that happend like... 2 months ago?! Lol. But Rob, he laughs, maybe even giggles a little. But that night he was literally laughing so hard his eyes got watery and he had to hold his stomach because it was hurting so bad. Lol. I just thought that was the cutest thing ever.. ;) Lol. *sigh* I just felt like if you can be with someone for almost 6 years and STILL be able to have that kinda fun with them... what else is there to look forward to? :)

Wellp, my time is running out (No really, they have a time limit on these computers.. lol)- but I just wanted to leave a small update :) Hopefully i'll be able to keep up more now that I have a library card. Lol. Just so I won't have to try and cram all of it together in one post :/

Till next time.

XOXO

-nik