wedding bells

My sister-in-law Caitie got married a couple of weeks ago.
She was the last of the O'Gwins to tie the knot. She dated, and dated, and dated and we all wondered if she would find someone who fits in the O'Gwin family puzzle perfectly. It's a hard puzzle to solve with brothers as close knit as the O'Gwin boys, and a mother-daughter bond as tight as Missy and Caities. Not to mention the perfection that is Sean and Missy's marriage as an example, talk about shoes to fill.
But, of course, things have a way of falling into place, and they did with Derek.

The wedding day was beautiful. Perfect weather, lots of great company, and even greater food. (waffle's can be found below)

Caitie always eventually welcomed me into the family with open arms, and we have been close ever since. I am so happy for her, and Derek. Three cheers for marriage! hip-hip

But really, this was probably my favorite part. 

Morbid and tender thoughts on a dog. You've been warned.

Today Dallas the dog died.
I remember going to the pound to look at dogs as a kid. That is where we found dallas. In a room full of barking, jumping, out of control dogs, Dallas was calm and sweet. We loved her right then.
Dallas came from an abusive home, so adopting her into our family didn't exactly go off without a hitch. She was scared of everything, and everyone. But it made it that much more special to watch her ease into the safety of being a part of our family. And she really did become a member of our family, even to our mom who I still don't think knows for certain what gender our dog of 14 years was.

Dallas was a good dog. She was tender, obedient, and smarter than anything we could've expected. Even if she never could figure out how to play fetch...

She woke up every morning excited to greet me and Bri. She'd hop up on our beds and lay her head on our heads. She protected us form the imaginary ghosts in the basement. She was our hiking companion. She was our date for many a dateless Friday night.

But the day came when she couldn't hike anymore, she couldn't come down the stairs to the basement, and she couldn't hop up on any beds.
This morning she could barely even walk.

Growing old is slow. So slow you hardly notice it happening right before your eyes.
Having a puppy in the house made it impossible to ignore how every move Dallas made was a struggle, how every breath was labored.
14 years is a long life for a dog. It was time to let her go.

Now we hope she is happy, eating canine manna to her hearts content. We hope she is still protecting us from all the dark, scary basements. Mostly, we hope she is free. Free from the emotional and physical pains that she experienced in this life, and all the limitations of mortality.

Goodbye Dallas. We loved you as much as anyone could.

sometimes puppies strengthen friendships

Once upon a time there were two best friends, who just so happened to adopt two cute puppies at the same time. And they all lived happily ever after with their constant puppy play dates. 

That fairytale is actually the story of my life. Surprise! 

Hillary and I have always been great friends, best friends since Freshman year at Utah State, but after I got married, and she got married, we just weren't spending as much time together anymore. It happens. 

But then we got these puppies, and it gave us a reason to get together. ALL THE TIME. And our dog's thank us, because now they are BFF's and it's almost too much happiness to handle. 

 8 weeks old 

 6 months old. 

We had a little date at the park last Saturday. Lindsey was in town so she brought her mom's little dog Rex to tag along. 

He was maybe half the size of Red, and one fourth of the size of Winnie, we thought they might smash him. 

He ended up surviving. 

I feel blessed to still have these high school friends of mine.
They make me happy, and fulfill my life in ways a husband just can't.
Who else would be willing to play hours of Karaoke with me? or put up with my cursing while I lose miserably at cards? or eat an entire bag of captain crunch with me at midnight?
or love that scary make-up-less face you see above?

Okay, maybe Zane would do all of those things. But having four people that love me that much?
nothing short of a miracle.

friends in California

About a month ago, my friend Hillary and I hatched a plan to go to California to celebrate her cute husband Michael's birthday.

My sister is currently working in Disneyland, and our good friend Jo Metcalf  is working at Conan. So basically everyone in my life is doing super cool things, and I felt the need to take advantage of that and live vicariously through them.  So we spent one day at Warner Brothers, and two days in Disneyland.
A million thank you's to both of them for making it all possible!

This was my first grown-up-friends-only vacation, and it was just super great. 

It's similar to a family vacation, but no one cries, and everyone gets along the WHOLE TIME. 

I love Michael and Hillary. I have been friends with them both since I was little, and feel so lucky that those friendships have lasted, and transferred into our marriages. We really had a blast. We got to do a lot of fun things, and take a break from everyday life. 

Fresh out of our 10 hour car ride, we went to Disneyland to participate in a little scavenger hunt my sister was working on. The park was closed down for the night, it was so cool to see Disneyland empty! Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. So fun, so magical. 

Friday we visited Jo at Warner Brothers. I had already done this with Bri last year, but Zane, Hill, and Michael had not, so we couldn't pass up the opportunity. Pluuus we got to see so many cool things I didn't get to see at my last visit.  

This house used to be the Gilmore Girl home in the glory days. Possibly my favorite show of all time, so this alone was a dream come true. 

It is used now as the back of Spencer's house in Pretty Little Liars. 

Hannah's house on Pretty Little Liars 

Just a set used for shows/movies set in New York City

Remember the one where Pheobe and Rachel go running?

The highlight of our trip to Warner Brothers was easily the Central Perk set from Friends. 

Every prop in there is straight from the Friends.

The famous couch.

Even the writing on the chalk board was left exactly how it was when the show ended, has not been touched in 10 years. Needless to say, we loved it. 

The rest of the trip was spent at the happiest place on earth.

Chip & Dale 

we're romantic 

Aren't Michael and Zane such good sports?

cutest couple

BFFIES

Sometimes life is so good. 

Commitment Ceremony

I have decided I am officially re-committed to blogging again.
In order for me to start fresh, let me sum up everything you've missed in the year I left you abandoned.

Nothing.

Okay, just kidding. Here's a quick list.

1. We are still in my parents basement, and lovin it.
2. Zane is still in school at UVU, but there IS an end in sight.
3. I went to dental assisting school, finished dental assisting school, and got a dental assisting job. I think...
4. Dallas is still alive
5. A plethora of different hair styles and colors

Which brings us to 6, the final and most important update, we got a DOG!

How many blog entries did I mention my puppy hunger? too many for you to find it interesting I am sure.
My parents made my dream come true in November by buying a perfect Australian Shepherd puppy for me and Zane. Zane named her Red. She is about 5 months old now, and we are truly obsessed with her. Which anyone following me on Instagram, or Facebook, has been painfully made aware of.

Let me promise you right now, I refuse to let this blog be taken over by my dog. But she will me mentioned, and photographed, occasionally, so bare with me.

It's not my fault my dog is as photogenic as Kate Upton, and smizes like a canine Tyra Banks.

Okay, now that you have been introduced to my dog child, we can move on.

See you on the blogosphere peeps!

02.03.2014

I was looking through old pictures, papers, and other saved documents on this laptop of mine.
It has begun to run so slow because the memory is so chock full. Thus, I have promised Zane I will work on clearing up some space. While scrolling through some old papers from college, and old church talks, I stumbled upon a document titled "Zane's Ring".

Some of you who know me may know that occasionally I'll write little silly poems to go with gifts that I feel like need an extra somethin'. It can take a gift from simple, and unsurprising, to a cute little memorable package.

The Christmas before Zane and I got married, as one of his Christmas gifts I gave him his wedding ring. He obviously knew it was coming, but it's a pricey little sucker, and a symbol of something very sacred. I didn't want it to go over looked I suppose, so I wrote a little poem.

This morning I stumbled upon that poem, and value it more now than 2011 Brooke realized I would.

It goes as follows...

Poems are cheesy, I know. 

But it’s supposed to be cute, not a talent show. 

You already knew I would get you this ring.

But I want you to remember it’s a special thing.

It means that I’ll love you for better or worse,

it means that I’ll never make you hold my purse.

It means that I’ll kiss you good morning and night,

it means I’ll still love you after a fight.

It means that you’ll have to kill all the bugs,

but I will reward you with kisses and hugs.

It means you’ll have to check under the bed, and in the closet,

it means that you will have to fix every leaky faucet.

It means I’ll tickle your arms and play with your hair,

it means “I promise to always play fair.”

It means that you never have to be alone anymore,

It means that we’re blessed, no matter how poor. 

This ring means that I’m yours forever,

and honestly my love, what could be better?

Looking back on these words, I realize now, I basically wrote Zane vows. 

Although I may not have kept my word when it comes to holding my purse, everything else rings truer today than ever before. 

I am no Keats, but this long lost document just became a very special keepsake, and I think I shall keep it.

Who knew I was such a romantic?

Viva Las Vegas, kind of

Wednesday night, or at least I am going to claim it was Wednesday night because I don't remember, and it doesn't particularly matter, Nate and Sagan called to ask if Zane and I would be interested in spending a couple of days in Vegas. 

The hotel room, for two nights, was only going to be about $45 total. And though the idea of a $45 hotel room makes me want to take a shower, we just couldn't say no to that deal. 

It was 70 degrees and sunny the entire time, so basically it was amazing. 

If I was to complain about anything (which I would never do because I am incredibly positive and  always see the best of every situation) I would complain about the fact that there was too much damn walking. So much walking that I think the d word was completely necessary, and in no way an exaggeration.

Some might say that if I had chosen more practical shoes, I might not have ended up with 5 blisters.

But those people would be wrong, it was an unavoidable consequence of all the damn walking. 

But since I never complain, we won't talk about it.

Okay, okay, curse words aside, it really was a much needed break from the doom and gloom that is life in a cubicle. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I'm so grateful that sometimes your family can be your best friends too. 

I'm also grateful that I married into such an easy going family, because there is only room for so much high maintenance in a family, and I'm enough work for the whole lot of us. 

Seriously, if we were pioneers, I'd be eaten before the family cow, because after 3 days of walking on the strip, I can promise you no one wants to trek it with this lady. 

p.s. just looked up the definition of high maintenance, "a system which requires a high degree of maintenance to ensure proper functioning and without which it is likely to break..."

I think I just found my new Instagram bio.

hero

I never blog, it's fine.

but my sister did, and I just think she is the coolest thing.
She is my hero in so many ways.

READ HERE FOR A GOOD TIME

a long weekend

This past weekend was a weekend of firsts for me.
My first night away from Zane, and my first time flying by myself.
I was pretty nervous about both, but having a sister weekend out in Burbank out weighed the cons.  Thus, I left Zane to sleep alone, and braved the airport all by my lonesome to visit Bri in California.

Unfortunately, in addition to being a terrible blogger, I am a terrible photographer. I took hardly any pictures, and even less worth sharing. (two new resolutions right there, add'em to the list)

My favorite part of the weekend, other than seeing my sister's pretty face, had to be touring the Warner Brothers lot where Bri works. Between being able to set foot on the set of one of my all time favorite shows, Gilmore Girls, and pretending I was a celebrity, it was basically a dream come true.

Hello Stars Hallow.

Other highlights include hot-tubing, giant pancakes, a comedy show, shopping, multimillion dollar house stalking in Beverly Hills, and last, but not least, the grilled cheese and pickle found below. 

It was a very laid back weekend of exploring Burbank, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and sisterly bonding.

Though I was very sad to leave a sister behind, I am very happy to be home with Zane, 

who buys me pretty flowers to show he missed me.

I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday weekend!

 

anniversary

Zane and I have officially been married for 1 year. I can hardly believe it. 

I' can't remember the moment where I said to myself, okay, this is forever, what's it gonna be?

Being with Zane has always just been second nature. And here we are, 365 days of marriage later. 

He makes it easy, that Zane of mine. 

So happy anniversary to me. 

We celebrated with a weekend in Salt Lake City, and some very old wedding cake. 

happy holidays

We have been thoroughly enjoying the holiday this past week.
It basically felt like a little piece heaven to take off a couple days of work to sleep in, and spend time with family. Plus the non-stop snow is just the icing on top of my winter cake.

Lately I have been kind of terrible at taking pictures. Please forgive me and enjoy my favorite 2 pictures of the few I did take this Christmas.

 

  

I hope everyone had a happy holiday!

ps. I instagram more often than I blog, so if you're missing me something terrible, you can find me at @brookeogwin

I'm still here

just neglecting the blog. 

Do you ever read other people's blogs? Their fabulous, witty, adorable, original blogs, and think... 

"I'm totally out of my league over here on the blogosphere."

I do. 

It's in these moments, like every time I face decisions and chores in life, where I choose to ignore the problem completely, and hope when I hope my eyes the problem somehow solved itself. (rare.)

Well I opened my eyes today, and this old blog is as plain Jane as it was when I left it.

Would you let it go for awhile if I told you I'm still figuring out my blog identity? 

Thanks.

In the meantime, the real life identity just got herself some bangs.

That literally is the most exciting thing that has happened around here in weeks.

And that's fine by me.

that one time I went to Disneyland, again

And it was filled with pure Disney joy..

I was team Donald,

I saw this pretty sister of mine, 

we had tender marriage moments,

We ate churros, and wrapped sweatshirts around our waists,

We went to cars land,

I got pretty excited about it,

I ate this tiny tiny, delicious, taco, 

I got sick of looking chubby and greasy, so this became the go-to pose,

we tried to look cute, 

we hid from the rain,

Zane rode Splash Mountain by himself, ruining some poor families photo,

And this guy, looked this handsome, the whole time. 

What've you been up to?