...a chair for our desk...

We have slowed down quite a bit on home improvements and big projects around the Olsen residence.  Part of the reason is that it's winter and hard to be motivated during the long/cold winter months.  Part of it is that is costs so much money/time/energy and we question how much money/time/energy we should dump into a house that we know we won't be living in for much longer.  Part of it is that Matt has been busy working on his CFP.  And because of this last part is the reason we made a small home improvement and finally bought a chair for our desk (that Matt built, mind you) so Matt can study for his classes.  

We found this chair at Pottery Barn and have had our eye on it for a while before we finally decided to pull the plug and buy it.  The best part about home improvements like this is that we can take it with us wherever we go.  We are very happy with it.

Matt is enrolled through Kaplan to complete his CFP.  He is in the accelerated program and will finish by the end of this year.  It is very intense and time consuming for him.  Every week he has 3 classes that are 3 hours each.  On top of the class he gets a thick study textbook to read each month as well as online quizzes and modules to complete.  He spends about 20 hours a week studying on top of his 40-50 hour work week so I don't see too much of him.  

I am so proud of him for how hard he works to be better and better his career.  In the short 3 years he has worked with his company he has transferred up the ladder about 8 times which means he hasn't stayed in the same role for more than a few months.  He is currently working on the bond desk and for only having 3 years of experience with the company, this is quite the accomplishment.  Most of his co-workers in the same role have worked with the company for 15+ years.  I always knew Matt would succeed at whatever he set out to do in life and he is doing just that.  I love you so much honey!

This is Matt jokingly modeling for me and my iPhone camera after we attended his cousins wedding (hence the suit).  Isn't he "so fierce?!"

My birthday

THIS IS NOT LIKE ME...

Normally, I would NEVER post about my own birthday...In fact, ever since I can remember I've always hated my birthday!!
Seriously...I think I only ever had 1 friend party as a kid and it had to be a surprise party so I couldn't veto it. I think I ended up crying out of embarrassment at that party. Every other childhood birthday was pretty low key...the same every year: one friend, a sleep over and a lagoon or boating trip.

That was just my style.
Lindsey can attest to that...she was always the 1 friend who I invited! I'm not sure what it is about birthdays that I hate...probably all the attention.

Anyway, here I am posting about my birthday. I turned 24 on Tuesday and I actually enjoyed my birthday this year thanks to my sweet hubby.
He made it so special to me that it must be documented!
I woke up to Matt saying sing-songishly, "Happy Birthday" and getting an extra long hug and kiss goodbye as he left for work.
true love = extra long sleepy hugs and morning breath kisses on your special day!
As he was leaving I think he said, "Bye, I love you babe!" about 15 times as he kept coming back forgetting little thing after little thing....I didn't mind hearing it at all though. Plus, I love the smell of his Abercrombie Fierce cologne and everytime he came back I got another yummy whiff of it. As he finally said the real, "Bye, I love you babe!" my phone started ringing with the first of many homage payers to call throughout the day and I made a request for him to silence my phone on his way out the door--And he did it cause it was my day. (Sorry Jeslie)
Then I layed back down and cuddled with Drama and slept in for an extra hour for no good reason. When I finally got up I started to clean the house and do laundry. Doing everything I could to make the day seem normal...nothing above average...phone still on silent (I have issues, I know). I got Drama bathed, all the laundry done, the kitchen clean, the bathrooms wiped down, the bed made with fresh sheets and the tv room straightened. Then I got a text from Matt. It said: "My lunch is at noon today so be showered and ready to go. Love ya babe!" I hopped in the shower and took an extra long shower making sure my legs were shaved absolutely silky smooth for my hot lunch date. Matt came home with a beautiful bouqet of bright yellow flowers

I love them!!
Then we got in the Touareg and talked about where we should go to eat on our almost 3 hour lunch date together that Matt had swindled his manager into letting him take. On a normal day at lunch I would have no problem making suggestions of where to eat. On my birthday, different story all together. I finally decided to go to Pizza Factory just up the road from our house cause we were hungry and their Coke with crushed ice and soft bread twists with a Vegetarian Pizza sounded divine!!
After lunch we drove to Four Chairs Furniture where he ordered us some super chunky/awesome vintage frames for our 8x10 pics that we have needed for months. I will post pics of their awesomeness once they are made.
You might get jealous!
Then we made our way back home where we had a lovely time messing up our freshly made bed. Then it was time for work. Lunch break was over for Matt and I had to leave for the aiport to fly to St. Louis. Yes, I chose to work on my birthday, even though my 3 hour lunch date with my hubby was hard to end, making my day as average as possible was still my goal. Plus I got to turn my phone off again...FAA said so.
The day before my birthday Matt took me shopping. I got some BR dressy black shorts, a couple of JCREW Summer T's like this one as well as this purse.

I got home from my flights today and Matt gave me the rest of my birthday present which is this little number and my whole inspiration behind this post.
I have never received a better gift
Don't you just love his crayon art work? I do.
My Fave!
I love how he specified "medium." Apparently a "large" isn't 24th birthday worthy...

I've wanted one for a while now...
A clean car is always nice!
Yes Sir!
Even Better!
Trust me, they got better than this but Matt would probably kill me if I posted all of them ;)
I'd love to!!

Yup...We made an offer on a house in Sugarhouse...
We're hoping we get this house!!
It is a darling little bungalow with so much charm. I'd love for it to be our first home.
Mowing the lawn is going to be my job cause I love to do it, but this one will be nice to use some day if I break my leg or something. Maybe I can get him to do it with his shirt off!

Thanks Babe for a great 24th birthday. You made it so special. I love you!

Thank You:

Steve and Joyce for the salad spinner and anthropologie gift card
Dad for the $$.

 Mom for the jewelry and jewelry hanger.
Grandparents for the $$.
Jeslie for the workout clothes--I love them!
Colton for the plethora of bath and body supplies.
And thanks to all of you for your texts, fb comments and who's calls I ignored-no offense!!
You all made my day too!

Best Friends Forever

When I was in highschool and at Snow I kept a journal. I found it tonight as I was looking for my address book so I could send out our Christmas Cards. I stopped thinking about what I was doing and I sat down and read ALL of my old journal entries. I was laughing so hard at some of my entries...not realizing that I used to sound like the author to Seriously, So Blessed! My mind flooded with old memories. Most of my entries were about boys of course, what else are journals for? There was story of the highschool boyfriend, the break-up, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd rebound and then a few college love interests, some short-lived relationships, a few crushes and then there was MATT ... the Love of my Life.
As I was sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by a pile of envelopes and Christmas cards and he was sitting on the living room couch watching TV and snuggling with Drama, I began reading about the beginning stages of our relationship, remembering them like they were yesterday, and I couldn't help but feeling so lucky that he chose me!!! I came across one special entry that I have to share. We had been dating for about 5 months and we went for a drive (one of our favorite things to do late at night). We were talking and I pulled out my journal and showed him an entry that I had written down all the reasons I love him (It was only a week after we had said the LOVE word for the very 1st time...). After he read what I wrote, I had him write in my journal and this is what he wrote:

January 16, 2005

DEAR TATUM'S JOURNAL:
I think that your owner is the coolest girl the whole world! I get to spend a lot of time with her and I grow to love her more every time I see her. She is the prettiest girl ever with those big blue eyes and inviting smile. I've loved her for this whole year (not just 2005). I have never felt so comfortable and felt so much for a single person before. My absolute most favorite thing in the world is to hold her in my arms for hours and just be there and talk. Our bodies seem to fit like they were custom built to fit so good. I love to hold her hand with our "patented hand hold" wherever we go. I love to be known as Matt and Tatum. It feels better than I ever imagined. She has more of an impact on me than she will ever know.
She is my best friend.

YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND TOO, BABE!



We are coming up on our 2nd anniversary in a couple of weeks and life with Matt gets better and better everyday! I am so happy that we are together hand in hand (with the patented hand hold, of course!) in all that we do.
MATT, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

LOVE

I love my hubby! So I have been gone on a 3 day trip for the first part of this week and it seemed like forever to me. I normally only fly 2 day trips or locals these days and they are so much easier for me cause I only have to spend one night in a hotel rather than two or three or even four. It kinda sucks crawling into a cold hotel bed with nobody to snuggle with before you fall asleep!
I guess it is good to mix my trips up once in a while though cause it seemed like I had been gone forever to Matt too and it turned out to be a good thing! Absence really does make the heart grow fonder and makes us appreciate each other a little more. When I came home, I found and a sexy man waiting outside for me to wrap me up in his arms as soon as I stepped out of my car. After our embrace he walked me up to the condo so I could get changed and I opened the door to find a SPOTLESS (we're talking dishes dones, dusted, vacuumed, beds made and even toilets scrubbed) house, diapered dog (yes, she's in heat), pretty fall rust-orange daisy flowers along with 2 ghiradeli chocolate bars on the counter...I was seriously tearing up! How sweet is that! Then he took me on a shopping spree to Nordstroms where I got new shoes, pea coat and scarf! Maybe 3 day trips aren't so bad after all!
Hmmm....Wonder what would happen if I went on a 4 or 5 day trip! jk. It's not even worth it.
I normally try not to get too mushy on the blog but I had to cause if you know Matt, you know that this is nothing like him since this only like the 3rd time I've gotten flowers in the past 5 years so it pretty much made my day!

I love you Matt! Thanks for making home so sweet to come home to! I missed you and Drama tons while I was gone and I'm so happy to be home with you again!

News...

Matt has accepted a job position!!
He will start there on March 24th. For the first few months he will be working in Salt Lake. After he has finished training there, he will be transferred to the American Fork office.
Our lives are about to change so much! No more carefree living and traveling wherever and whenever we want. That makes me sad, but hopefully life will still be fun! We will keep you updated on how it goes for him.

My sweet husband....

I was running late for work so Matt willingly offered his help and ironed my uniform pieces for me! How cute! Thanks Honey, I love you!