Our First Married Christmas

We had a lot of egg nog mixed with Sprite. You will be tempted to say that sounds disgusting, trust me it is awesome; it's like an Italian soda with egg nog. 

More Christmas after the jump 

Week links Christmas

We have all noticed what a lame blogger I have been lately. I apologize and will get back in the swing of things soon.

Here are some Holiday links to take you into Christmas.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen- BNL & Sarah McLachlan
Rockin Around The Christmas Tree- She & Him
Cool Yule- Louis Armstrong
Please Come Home For Christmas- The Eagles

a little trivia- this time last year he and I spent Christmas apart because it made more sense and we were only dating. Being apart from him felt strange to me. It was the first time I ever really felt the lack of someone (someone not related to me) at Christmas. It made me sad and lonesome and we had lots of drippy, lovely phone calls and that was when we both decided we should get married. that is why I added the Eagles song to the list above.

We read this talk for Family home evening to get us in the Spirit of the real Christmas

The Real Christmas by Howard Hunter

and lastly because I don't have a link to this here is an old devotional if you are looking for more Christmas related reading.

Christmas Comfort

Jeffrey R Holland

Ricks Devotional December 1, 1998

see full text after the jump

Sunday is a great day for cuddling in and watching Christmas movies

Tonight we watched on of my favorite Christmas movies. We cuddled on the couch with the laptop to watch it. It sure beats all the cheesy hallmark Christmas movies that we have watched over the last few weeks (we only have the options that Netflix streaming offers). We have watched some classics: It's A Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Miracle on 34th (the original). I won't list all the lame ones that we have watched, but like I said, The Snowman is wonderful. Cuddle up and watch, you will love it.

So This Is Christmas

This is a wonderful time of year. The air is filled with promise and anticipation. People are out cheerfully going about tasks and smiling to strangers as they pass. Everyone has an increased desire to give, to take care of those around them, to be a good person. It really is the hap, happiest season of all. However, I don't always feel completely happy about it. I love Christmas. I love spending time with family. I love giving gifts and trimming a tree. I love the increased love and charity in everyone around and I especially love all the talk of Christ and His incredible birth. But, there is so much to do, so much hustle and bustle; so little downtime. I wake up every morning totally exhausted and foggy headed with lists and tasks for the day. This very morning I stumbled into the shower, kicking myself for not waking up earlier, and proceeded to shave with the cap on the razor, it took me much longer to notice than I would like to admit.

more after the jump

Thanksgiving

Since I haven't posted this week. Here is one of my favorite wedding pictures. 

This year I am the most thankful for him.

Happy Thanksgiving

Week Links

This old talk was just what I needed.

Great list of ways to keep marriage alive

I will admit I have some favorites (if you hadn't already noticed).  This talk contained my favorite quote this week. "Nor is this primarily for those few in deliberate noncompliance, including some who cast off on intellectual and behavioral bungee cords in search of new sensations, only to be jerked about by the old heresies and the old sins" I love the way that Elder Maxwell really used words, instead of the lazy and limited vocabulary so many of us employ and then wonder why we are often misunderstood. For example, later in this same talk he says "Increased consecration is not so much a demand for more hours of Church work as it is for more awareness of Whose work this really is! For now, consecration may not require giving up worldly possessions so much as being less possessed by them." He had (still has) a reputation for using big words and sometimes being difficult to understand. This quote is proof that he doesn't always use uncommon vocabulary (sure he uses plenty of big words in his talks),  he just uses his words well. And, while I agree Elder Maxwell talks and books may require more concentration to take in, it isn't because he ideas are overly complex but instead because his talks are dense; every word carefully and purposefully placed. If you aren't already an Elder Maxwell fan I hope you will give him a shot. His books have explained truths so perfectly to me; so clearly and so simply. (sorry I am done. I just appreciate his teaching style so very much.)

The Gospel Solutions for Family was especially applicable to be this week. I have been working on more faithful scripture study.

Another talk I enjoyed this week.

At Least Once A Month

I say, "we could have cereal for dinner" and he says, "Cereal is not a dinner you silly girl."

I still think it is a valid dinner, I had it all the time when I was single. He still thinks even the thought of cereal for dinner is silly. We still discuss it at least once a month. We have never had cereal for dinner.

Almost every night, while I am getting ready for bed, he plops on the bed. He lays there, still in his clothes from the day, before his teeth are brushed or flossed, not at all ready for bed. He lets out a big sigh of relaxation. Almost every night I think this is the silliest thing. "Why not just get everything done first, so you don't have to get back up?" I ask. He tries to explain how "each plop on the bed is fantastic, both the initial plop and the ready for bed plop. Both are special in their own way." I laugh even though I am brushing my teeth.

Every morning we discuss through sleep who should get up and shower first and when that will be. Every morning I start this discussion earlier than he would like. Every morning we are up later than I would like. Every morning, regardless of who is up first, he is ready before me.

We lead a pretty dangerous life.

A Post That One of You Has Been Waiting For

Last Sunday he said "I think I will wear my wedding tie today"

I asked "what tie?"

he repeated "wedding tie"

I absently asked "who's wedding?"

He looked at me surprised and said "ours"

I looked at the tie, without recollection. 

Then he said "I think we really need to get some wedding pictures up"  

So since it has been around 6 months I have finally posted the first bunch of wedding pictures.

My sister doing my make-up before the temple. 

 We did our reception the evening before. It was small and charming and in my opinion the best thing ever, until the temple the next day. To see pictures of our reception go here:

http://theseareourweddingpictures.blogspot.com 

I will add more wedding pictures next week.

One Year Older (instead of candles for every year, we did hours of sleep)

We went shopping at City Creek. He picked out things he thought I would like. Here he is looking for my size in shoes

more after the jump

Little Known Perks to Marriage (at least previously unknown to me)

1. I have new additions to my wardrobe; his sweatpants, sweaters (like the one above), old t-shirts, etc all very cozy on me. 
2. I get driven around; I very rarely have to drive anywhere. It's like I got a chauffeur with the marriage deal.
3. I don't have to carry a purse. Everywhere we go he takes his wallet. He usually drives, so he usually needs his license, and his credit cards are the same as my credit cards (I still find that pretty novel) ergo I don't need to bring anything. I do sometimes bring my purse so I can have extra stuff just in case I want it (like a book) but, the point is, I don't have to. 
4. I always have someone to respond to my questions, concerns, or to offer opinions. Like, for example my weekly question, "is this outfit too wild for church?"
5. I am accompanied by someone that can reach all kinds of things that are up high and historically unreachable to me.

We Had a Lovely Relaxing Weekend

 We looked at some lovely old buildings. We always love a good art deco design and we really appreciate old

We did some fishing in a little creek. He has a secret love of fly fishing  (I say secret, because I had no idea that he was passionate about fly fishing before we were engaged. But, as far as secret passions go I like this one; fly fishing is so pretty and seems very calm and it means I get to eat fish).  

 


                        We were visiting these three; aren't they delightful? 

Week Links

I attempted to watch this a handful of times after it was broadcast and it kept freezing on me. But now I have seen it and I am so happy I did. Elder Holland is so powerful; he speaks with such emotion. It makes me so humbled and, well, actually pretty emotional myself to see him speak. It is amazing that we all have so many people interested in us and our well being.

i had other things that I would like to share but I cannot remember what they are. So for now, enjoy this talk.

It is November, I like November

This is me posting on my blog; can't believe I haven't in almost a week. 

This is me deciding I needed to wear bright colors instead of the muddy colors I had planned to wear. 

This is a jacket or sweater (I am not sure what to call it) that I bought in LA with one of my sisters. 

This is the sweater/sweater that another sister borrowed, after her husbands accident and wore it everyday at the hospital waiting for him to recover. He did. It isn't the most flattering thing I own but you can see why I love it. It is cozy and reminds me of my sisters

This is a chair (behind me) that he designed and we are going to finish. 

This is the necklace he got me after we were married 

This is my focused face

That is our living room in the background 

These pictures were taking using the two mirrors in our living room

This is what was hanging from the exhaust pipe on the car in front of me, while I was driving to work. 

I need to decide if I am going to eat cold leftover pizza for lunch or warmed up leftover pizza for lunch. For anyone interested, I will post some links tomorrow. 

Fortuosity: The Little Things Edition

1. My sweet guy quickly logging into to gchat to so he can say hi to me during the workday. 
2. An old friend saying just what I needed to hear, exactly when I needed to hear it.
3. A great quote that is pulled into my mind at very opportune time 
4. The antics of nieces and nephews
5. An unexpected card in the mail inviting us to go stay with a dear friend
6. A quick, rejuvenating chat with an old college roommate
7. Getting up the guts to invite a potential friend and her husband over for treats (making friends as a couple is like dating- kinda embarrassing, kinda nerve-racking, kinda easier to just avoid most of the time. But we are trying)
8. Putting some finishing touches on my killer awesome budget spreadsheet
9. Realizing little blessings that have been sneaking up on me
10. Being able to listen again and again to great talks from General Conference

Because Sometimes I Want to Eat a Cookie Instead of Photograph it

After conference I have been thinking more about how "plugged in" I am; about how much time I spend with computers and phones compared to real people, the Spirit, or just quietly by myself.

There is so much about our world that is exciting, so many things that technology brings. I love having information at my finger tips; getting answers to most questions in minutes. I love being able to share ideas online with friends; to easily see pictures of my nieces and nephews. I love being able to text my boss a question when he is in a meeting instead of walking in and interrupting everyone. I love all of the resources online, all the learning that is available. There is a lot to love about technology, the internet, and social networks. However, I have been wondering if all of this easy access information is making me lazy, making it more difficult to live in and appreciate the moment, and causing relationships to suffer.

With so much easy access to ideas and information I sometimes forget to really studying something out myself. I go online find a couple opinions, pretend they are facts, and think that is good enough. I online shop often. I email friends instead of calling or visiting them. I, and I know I am not alone, endlessly pin new recipes, organizing ideas, or outfits but then don't find the time to execute most of these ideas.

While on a walk with my husband I repeatedly tried to capture the beautiful dusk light with a camera so that I could blog it later. After several attempts, all of which left something to be desired, he suggested I just appreciate it with my eyes. I was so focused on wanting to look back and fully appreciate that I wasn't taking the time to appreciate it while it was there. I cannot tell you how often I have interrupted a wonderful moment, like this, because I wanted to snap a picture. The beauty in the moment is in that actual moment; not in replicating it.

Every little beep on my phone pulls my attention away from whatever I am doing to check who is calling, texting, or emailing. I hate to admit that sometimes I have even allowed my attention to be stolen away form someone I love, someone right there with me to see who is on the phone. Do you remember the days of when someone couldn't get a hold of you? There is something kinda magically about not always being available for every life interruption, I miss that magic.

I recently heard someone call this habit, that our modern society thrives on, continuous partial attention. Sounds pretty inefficient and useless, huh? How much time do we waste online (not everything is a waste but we can all acknowledge we do waste plenty on time online) and find ourselves feeling that we don't have the time to do things that really matter to us.

I think we are missing the point sometimes, at least I am. I will still take pictures because I like to, and I want to capture this part of my life; to preserve our records. I will still blog and check things online, read others blogs, and look at pintrest. I am not advocating that we live under a rock. But, don't you want to have more moments and fewer status updates? Don't you want to do more living less and reporting on it? Don't you want more learning, less regurgitating? Don't you want more real connections and fewer virtual ones? Don't you just want more of a life? I do. I want to focus on living the life I want. I want to spend more time refining me and less time reviewing what others are doing.

I listened to this TED talk today while I was thinking about this and felt further inspired to have technology moderation.Then, immediately after the talk was over, I called a restaurant to ask about a special then hung up right after the answer. My coworker looked at me confused and said "weren't you going to order with them" I immediately said, "what? no. I am not going to talk to her when I can order online. Online will be much easier."

Clearly I have some work to do, but I am going to start unplugging for a few hours a day no phone calls, no texts, no pintrest, no emails. I know it sounds easy to stay off line for a couple of hours. But, I am talking phone silenced, computer off, a couple hours of continuous, uninterrupted time.  For just a few hours a day I am going to just be me (and anyone that is with me) and I am not going to spend the whole time thinking of how I can blog about it later.

Don't worry the irony of blogging about this topic is not lost on me. 

Sundays are a For...

• Being practically giddy because an older man at church called me a "breath of fresh air"
• Team teaching the Marriage and Family Sunday School class with my husband 
• Getting interrupted while teaching and being asked to take ourselves and our whole class into the larger room where they didn't have a teacher
• Team Teaching a Marriage and Family Class to loads more people than we planned, most of whom have loads more marriage and family experience. 
• Holding hands with my husband while team teaching Sunday School (nerdy? Yes. Maybe a little ridiculous? Yes. Something I might have rolled my eyes at if I saw someone else do it? Yes. But it just happened- I don't know. I guess we are kinda in a hand holding habit). 
• Putting on sweatpants right after church and remembering how much I love him in sweatpants. (why is it that he can look so adorable in sweatpants while I look  frumpy chic. I once had a guy describe my style that way and I have never gotten over it, so I try to work it into as many conversations as I can. I don't even really know what frumpy chic means, but I do know it does not mean adorable. In fact, in sweatpants I look heavy on frumpy very light on the chic)
• Unpacking warm clothes and packing away summer stuff
• Scheduling the week- this is one of my favorite things to do, except when I realize the week is really very busy and then I feel a bit tired in advance
• Being cuddled and cozy while I flip through Martha Stewart Living, thinking to myself that I really should make more pies. 
• Realizing it is time to make dinner (at 6:30) and feeling like it is already so late (at 6:30) that I just don't have the energy. Time moves differently on Sunday and dinner after 5 seems downright ridiculous. I am having a realization as I type this, that a girl who says things like the above, probably isn't about to be baking more pies. 
• Deciding to make some beans, cheese, and avocado, with chips. I am trying to make it sound classier than it was, but, yeah we had nachos for dinner because apparently we are freshman in college.  
• Wondering if we should say a blessing on dinner when our dinner wasn't a dinner at all and was a snack. 
• Deciding yes we should bless the food and also pretending out loud that our dinner was kinda healthy
• Getting a look for him when I referred to nachos as "kinda healthy" 
• Watching a movie together
• Picking out clothes for the week
• Scheduling dinners for the week (when I don't have a plan I come up with things like nachos)
• Saying family prayers
• Quickly falling asleep 

Week Links: Just a couple

I couldn't stop smiling over this 

I want to make this

I saw a link to this on A Blog About Love. As a result I spent my entire lunch watching videos from the "I'm a Mormon" series and getting teary. I am sucker for people that are trying hard and being true to themselves which means I get teary often.

This is great. I am going to make a list of things that I am this Sunday.

We had this for dinner on Wednesday at it was pretty good, we added some crumbled prosciutto on top.

Last Weeks, Week Links (because I forgot to post)

I liked this list: 10 Things Every Single Needs To Know About Marriage I do feel like I was told a lot, if not all of these before I was married, at some point along the way (but maybe I was just lucky) It is still a good list and even if you know it, it's a nice reminder. 

Did I ever mention that I studied Social Sciences in college? It is true. I loved it. I love talking about why people do things and how the interact with other and why things we can do to be better people, better communicators, and better to those we love. To me it is one of the best things ever. I loved my classes, I loved studying this stuff; I love it. So I look for opportunities to still learn about and discuss that stuff. 

One way I do that is by blogging. I love explaining the different things I am doing and how I feel. I love talking about interactions with others and things that I have learned. I also write this blog to journal so that I can track progress and trends in my own life; so I can become better. And so I (and now my husband too) have records of what we are doing and how we are feeling. 

Another way that I hang recapture the social sciences is that I try to still study them. I try to watch documentaries or read articles I find and I try to occasionally watch some TED talks. Here are two I have enjoyed lately. 

Your body language shapes who you are 

The happy secret to better work (I especially love this one). One of my favorite lines from this is "the absence of disease is not health" 

Also I started to re-watch General Conference  One of the first things I do is listen to Priesthood Session and then I start to listen to those I remember but don't remember well. Or I listen to those talks that had a big impact on me so I can start to write down goals and ideas to work on. 

Is This What They Mean by Fat and Happy?

It is 9:30 AM and I can hear a soda can opening, the sound echos through the office. I work with a handful of accountants. These same accountants, all men, stare at spreadsheets and numbers all day, and they drink a lot of soda. One drinks mostly Cherry Coke, another Diet Coke, another one Dr. Pepper, and the last drinks Mnt Dew. I try to drink water. It isn't because I am the kind of girl that never drinks soda, I like soda, in fact, I even like Cherry Coke. My bosses is like a Cherry Coke pusher the first few are always free and offered before I even ask for them. How can I not drink it if it is already in my hand? That is how the desire for Cherry Coke started; that and lots of late nights at work. I used to work late a lot until one of my bosses pulled me aside and said I would never meet any boys if I was always at work and told me to leave the office and essentially get a life. I obliged.

Anyway, I get headaches and migraines often so I stopped drinking caffeine just in case. I don't know if it helped. I still can't really tell what helps with headaches and what doesn't, but not drinking caffeine can't hurt so I don't do it anymore. Then I got married and I well... started to gain weight so now I don't ever drink soda during the day. Well occasionally I do, but almost never. I know some people would say I shouldn't drink soda at all, but I am not there yet. So, I turned down soda and turned up the water, also an anti-headache measure (again I don't know if it helps but it doesn't hurt). If nothing else, less soda should equal less weight gain.  I hear that pop of a can opening, and like a recovering addict my thoughts are pulled from what I am doing and are distracted by the desire for soda. Take another swig of water and get back to work.  You see an office isn't an easy place to be healthy. Everyone eats all day partially out of boredom and to help them stay awake. People eat whatever they can get their hands on and that usually means junk. I am not a strictly healthy eater, I love sweet things, however, I actually like eating healthy. I like fresh fruit and veggies. I like homemade.

Yet, I am gaining weight like I am preparing for hibernation and since I am not hibernating it isn't ideal. I have heard a lot of "everyone gains weight when they get married" but why? Is it some kind of cosmic equalizing technique- sure you aren't as fit and hot as you'd like to be, but now you have a husband, so that's something? Is it because subconsciously I know I don't have to try so hard to attract people anymore? I have been thinking about it for a while and with the help of the husband I think I have figured it out:

First, we get out less. Since we no longer have to go anywhere to be alone or to see each other we often times don't go anywhere at all. Being a real homebody, sitting on the couch watching documentaries on Netflix with the man I love is a real dream come true for me (that sounds sarcastic, it isn't sarcastic. I do love it). But, it isn't very... what do people call that?... active. So more sitting around equals more chubby tummy.

Second, we eat more regular meals. As a single girl I can't even start to count the number of times that I ate popcorn for dinner, had a bowl of cereal for every meal, or was running around so much I forgot to eat altogether. I know that this was not a healthy way to live. I know that eating regular meals with more food groups than pasta is a better idea for any body. But, it is new to my body. It is hard to cook for one so lots of times you don't and now I am more than just the one so I do cook, kinda

Third, and the most significant one in the list, I eat more. We noticed that when I plate dinner I often split it right in half. My husband and I are no where near the same size yet, I am accidentally pacing my eating with his. Why? I don't know.It is craziness. I didn't even know I was doing it until I felt myself thicken and started to investigate. I have asked around and lots of women say they accidentally did the same thing, keeping pace with their hungry husband.

I never took people seriously when they said newlyweds gain weight, but I am here to testify that it is, in fact, the truth. So, here are some tips, from my fat face to yours: 

• drink water and not Cherry Coke, even when everyone else is doing it
• Eating as much as your loved ones isn't the only way, nor is the the most piratical way, to bond
• Going on a walk with your husband is surprisingly more romantic than trying to compete for food at dinnertime. 

Applicable songs:
Bad Body Double- Imogen Heap
Big Girl You are Beautiful- Miika

Fortuosity: Daddy's Girl Edition

When I was little I was such a daddy's girl that I would part my super short hair on the side and slick it down like my dad did. It is true. So since it was my dad's birthday a couple days ago, here are some of the reasons I am grateful for my.

1.  My dad and I were the same age when we got married. So, even though I would never admit it at the time, he understood my how I felt the last few years.

2.  He enjoys Masterpiece Theater just as much as the rest of us.

3.  He could always fix anything: cars, slivers, broken toys, and
     everything else.


 4.  He is honorable and righteous.

5.  Has has a poetry voice (a certain voice that only comes out when he is reading poetry)

6.  He actually did read poetry at the dinner table and would ask us to discuss it (he got his PhD in English, if that helps you make sense of this information).

7. He has super awesome farmer hands (which now that you have seen them should make you even more impressed that he could get out slivers for us).

8. He makes homemade pizza, pasta, french bread, jams, syrups, etc and it is all  fantastic.

9.He taught me to love words and Elder Maxwell talks

10. He taught me to appreciate culture, especially Italian culture.

As you can see he is a bit of a Renascence man.

There was a mouse at work

The mouse wasn't in my office but my bosses. Since I assist him with stuff I am apparently supposed to take care of this mouse. There are a lot of things I can do, but I don't do mice. Mice make me uneasy and I think they are gross.

I set-up traps in some offices, but I don't know who is going to check them and dispose of them when necessary. I do know it won't be me.

When I lived alone a mouse moved in with me. This particular mouse seemed to think he had been invited. After the first time we met he no longer fled I came into the room. He would look me right in the eye and then seemed to indicate we were out of chips. Soon after he moved in, I moved out.

I have a drawer full of food at work. I am tempted to throw all of it in the trash, no questions asked.

I really don't like mice.

I Don't really Like Flip Flops

When walking to the copier this morning I heard that distinct (and obnoxiousness) smacking that flip flops create. I to myself I grumbled about  how inappropriate flip flops are for any and every occasion,  except maybe the pool or the beach. Not only are they loud but they make such an unpleasant flippant (pun intended) noise, proclaiming  casualness in a loud voice. Also, to add insult to injury they are not a real shoe, they are something between a shoe and bare feet; a testament to indecision. I wished that my coworker would make better shoe choices; less offensive shoe choices. Right about that same time I realized mine were the only walking feet and the smacking was coming from me. Upon returning to my office I investigated my shoe to discover I suddenly had my very own DYI flip flops (or flick flocks as my nephew would say). I am totally baffled and a little offended (see rant above). Mere moments earlier my shoes were fine and then, without any warning, one decides to split in half and I am forced to be promoting a style and sound that I don't affiliate with.

Like I mentioned before it hasn't been my week. Nothing big or tragic has happened just a week full of those pesky little things. Isn't it interesting how humbling an off week can be? It is hard to feel real arrogant when you are constantly sniffing, when your lips are super chapped from a Saturday garage sale, and the combination of the two makes you feel, and probably look, about as together as a third grader. It is hard to feel especially proud when you can't express a single thought without at least three commas. It is hard to feel very professional when you spent part of Tuesday with your fly down and you have a roll of toilet paper on your desk because you are too cheap to go buy Kleenex. It is hard to get on your soap box about flick flocks when your shoes are falling apart and you wore a baseball tee just two days ago.

An off week sure has a way of smacking you right in the face (or foot) with the reality of things. Ok I get it, I am not that awesome and my issue with flip flops might be a little extreme. Consider me humbled.

Luckily my husband came with a dowry filled with different types of glue so that shoe will be fixed in no time.

Fortuosity: Conference Weekend Edition

General Conference weekend is one of my favorite things. We get together with family and spend the whole weekend enjoying each other, eating great food, and listening to modern day Prophets and Apostles. I really do love it more than I can say.

In honor of Conference this weekend I decided to make a quick list of some of the reasons I love this weekend.

1. Hearing from a modern day Prophet, Apostles, and other Leaders in the church (I know I kinda already mentioned that but it is so great).
2. Having another excuse to get together with family
3. Oatmeal Brulee (we have traditional food that we eat every conference weekend)
4. Being cozy with blankets and socks. I really love to be cozy
5. It is a completely relaxing and rejuvenating weekend (unless you are the one hosting and then it can be a touch stressful at points, not that I would never I never host because I don't have a house yet. There are some perks to being a bit behind everyone else). 
6. Getting to wear sweats or jeans or whatever you fancy. 
7. Discussing the things we learn and sharing our favorite parts of different talks
8. Warm drinks or fancy cold drinks and endless treats and pastries
9. Staying up late giggling and talking about things with my sisters and mom
10. Getting answers to prayers and other questions and receiving another confirmation of truth about principles that I hold very dear

Happy General Conference Weekend! 

Today...

I had to try on 6 different things before settling on a baseball tee and some cords (not my fanciest work look)

Everything I tried on ended up on the floor of my bedroom

I had my fly undone at work for an unknown amount of time.

I have fixed my hair a million times today and it still doesn't look very presentable

I didn't have anything clever or interesting to blog

and my face is still all cold-y.

some days just don't go the way you hope

Comfort Food and a Runny Nose

This summer we have been on a real Toad in the Hole kick. Have you ever had these? I have heard a few different names for them. But, what's in a name? That which we call a breakfast by any other name would taste as sweet. Yes I am a nerd. In the this context I, unlike Romeo, do not mean sweet like sweet. I mean sweet as in beyond awesome, like sweeeet!

We eat these a lot, and early in our marriage (so like a few months ago) we decided to take it to the next level and make Toad in the Hole Sandwiches. We take an extra slice of bread and toast it. Then we add cheese, avocado (if we have them, which we always do), red onion, and sometimes he adds a tomato slice to his. Then we sandwich it all together and enjoy. Yesterday I woke up with the beginning of a pretty awful new cold. I was congested and  tired and felt like a puppy with a constantly wet nose (don't pretend like you don't know what I mean). We heated up some soup when we got home from church and then relaxed a bit. Relaxing turned to napping, which usually makes me
feel guilty but, I was sick so I let it slide. When we woke up around 6:00 it was time for dinner. I was still feeling pretty draggy so he made us some Toad in the Hole Sandwiches with a special new addition, prosciutto. They were so delicious and now they are all I want to eat. He also heated up cider for me and rubbed my back. It is kinda, well almost delightful being sick when someone loves you and fusses over you.

I am not pointing any fingers but, there was one particularly runny nosed nephew when I was hugging kids on Saturday and I am pretty sure he is to blame for my current state.

(picture taken from http://leelacyd.blogspot.com/2011/03/best-breakfast-title-ever-toad-in-hole.html)    

Week Link: Loving Foxes and Trying to Stick to a Budget

I didn't really have much online time this week; just the way things happen sometimes. So, I don't have much to share. However, I do have something I am smitten with right now.

Do you have certain stores that just resonate with you more than others; a store that you more than like. I have two that store that readily come to mind. J.Crew and Anthropologie. I get emails from both and they always feel more like an email from a friend rather than advertising. I get excited when I see them in my inbox. I know that just means their advertising and branding is extra clever but I don't begrudge them that, it just makes them more likable. They just speak right to my soul (or whatever part of the body controls shopping desires). At each encounter I find myself filled with an odd mix of total calm, inspired and slightly frenzied over how much I want to buy everything.

Just a few weeks ago we were talking about how much I love foxes. I was telling him about a fox that lived behind my house one summer when I was growing up. Everyday around noon the fox would climb on "the cave" (a large rock with a hole in it, that sat on top of the foothill behind my house) and sunbathe. Couldn't you just die! Aren't foxes just so charming? I had launched into this romancing and reminiscing after we had spotted a fox running through the sage brush. He had spotted it, he is a much better wildlife spotter than I.  The conversation pretty much ended there, he didn't have much to add about the charm of foxes.

I spotted a fox printed little beauty at A soon after and total giddiness ensued. I told you, they just speak to my little style soul. I love it so much. I have had to start reciting a mantra that goes something like this: "even though foxes are inexplicably adorable, even though they have the best pointy little features, even if you would love that shirt, you have financial goals that don't include fox t-shirts right now (although I am now considering adding a line item for really great print t-shirts), you can wait for a sale, some birthday money, or a new distraction."  As if my life isn't hard enough, dealing daily with my inner fox print turmoil I get an email from them these images.  Hot air balloon print, come on! If you, like me, want any and all of these go here to drool. Or maybe, unlike me, you haven't already spent your clothing budget for this month and you will be buying. If so, know that I am kinda jealous. But I get easily smitten at Anthropologie and J. Crew so I will bounce back.

My Office is Pretty Conservative

Yet, I wanted to wear this, so I did. I asked my husband a few times if it was too much for my office. He said no, but each time he had a bit of a smirk on his face making me think that it is a bit much.Yet, here I am, at work, mixing patterns, and feeling good about it.  

Fortuosity: What We've Been Eating (and Drinking) Addition

1. Breakfast burritos (didn't use to be my thing but lately they are really hittin' the spot)
2. Sweet and Salty Mixed Nut Blend
3. Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate (with milk, never water)
4. Smoothies (not Shakes- yes Husband there really is a difference)
5. Popcorn
6. Sprite with orange juice and grenadine
7. Ground turkey because ground beef is the worst
8. Water
9. Veggie burgers with avocado
10. Toast (I could almost live off of toast. In fact, I currently am almost living off of toast). 

Man, the list certainly makes it seem like we don't eat very healthy, substantial things. This list is pretty accurate. Maybe it is time I start cooking more man food. 

When You Work From Home:

1. You wake up at 6 AM and then decide to go back to sleep. 
2. You make oatmeal for breakfast because you aren't in a hurry to get out the door
3. You get to have a blanket on your lap without feeling unprofessional
4. You get to wear plaid stretchy pants and a your husbands t-shirt. 
5. You get to work out in the middle of the day
6. You have a whole kitchen at lunch and don't have to rely on the food drawer in your office. 

The Perfect Day

Yesterday was the perfect day. We woke up early, went to a broadcast of the Brigham City Temple Dedication. Got home.Ate some left over pizza from The Pie, we got a Greek pizza and a cheese pizza, both were fantastic.

We ordered it Saturday night, had leftovers Sunday afternoon, and there was none left for Monday lunch. It really hit the spot both times and we couldn't save any. Saturday night when we were deciding what to eat and talking about how much we wanted pizza, I said "we should buy frozen pizzas so we have them on hand." He said, "I don't know, frozen pizza isn't very good." I replied "Oh it's not that bad" (read it will help us save money). He understood my real meaning and said, almost longingly, "Once you have had Settebello your pizza standard is completely changed." I knew that he meant you can no longer convince yourself that crap pizza is good; everything is held to a higher standard. I kissed him. You see, Settebello is a family favorite.They serve authentic Napoletana style pizza and we are into stuff like that in my family. We really appreciate when something is authentic but we also just love when something is really good. True Italian pizza really does change you. Once you have had it you spend the rest of your pizza eating life thinking that these two, totally different experiences, shouldn't be called the same thing. American and Italian pizza are as different as English and Italian. He didn't mean much by his comment but it meant a lot to me. It was one of those  seemingly inconsequential moments that really reaffirms what a perfect husband you have. Not every husband would agree with his wife and her entire family about a great restaurant; not every husband values Settebello.  All that being said, The Pie makes some great, albeit not at all Napoletana style, pizza. So we ordered some and enjoyed it twice.

I have gotten far off the subject of Sunday, sorry. After Pizza he dozed and I casually got stuff done. It was Sunday style getting things done; the kind that you can do still in your dress. Relaxing easy tasks. Sorting some papers that have been on the table for weeks, deciding which wedding word art to hang up, trying on all pants and deciding which to keep, which to fix, and which to toss. That type of getting things done is my favorite to get done; stuff that feels good to do, not stuff that has to be done. Then he woke up and we hung out a bit, watched some HGTV and talked about what kind of house we would buy right now, if we were buying something now. I picked out clothes for the week and did some visiting teaching. He made dinner and then we finished a little design project from the day before. We popped some popcorn, he made our favorite drink (twice) and we watched a movie in bed. It was 9:30 and we were already winding down. I thought back over the day. It had everything I could ever want in a day. I couldn't stop grinning at him and thinking how wonderful our little life was. It was such a rejuvenating, wonderful day. Sundays really are the best way to start the week.

Week Links

A friend and I were talking about this, so I re-listened to it. I remember this talk and I thought it was given just a year or so ago. Time moves way too fast. It is such a perfect talk and I have applying it to my prayers all week. We have been trying to work in more prayers of gratitude and I have been so surprised about how much of it a difference it makes. I have always worked harder this week to have my nightly prayers be a follow-up to my morning prayer; a chance to return and report.

Conference prep re-listen talks:
We Are All Enlisted
Providing in the Lords Way
Preparation in the Priesthood...
Dare to Stand Alone
A Witness
Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done
Love Her Mother
The Importance of a Name

Just for a quick plug let me say that listening to conference talks again and again is such a powerful thing. I find that I really do hear so many interesting and inspiring new insights, no matter how many times I have heard a particular talk. I imagine it can seem kinda pointless to put something like this in when you are doing other things and listen with your full attention. But, I still learn and feel impressed by so many things that I hear; things that work themselves into my mind, even when it is focused elsewhere. I find that I still get everything done, plus get a little spiritual uplift right in the middle of my day. I feel happier and am more loving and kind in the ways I interact with my coworkers. Above all, no matter what else I am doing or how many gazillion times I have heard a talk or principle, I am always filled with the peace of the Spirit; with another confirmation of the truth of what I am listening to. I feel proud to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and that, in and of itself, is a great way to spend a day.

Back to links.

I will admit that I want these. Admit it, they are kinda charming and would be so awesome in a little bowl in my apartment. Especially, if it gave me more cause to use the exclamation "Aw Nuts" 

Also I stumbled onto Matchbook Magazine this week and found it really enjoyable to flip through. I have always love magazine but it is becoming increasingly more difficult to find any with content that I find interesting. Matchbook was pretty fun it has fashion, art, and lots of real people. 

Some silly re-watches I enjoyed this week:

Bad News

First Citywide Bank Change II

Have a great weekend. 

Lessons in Lipstick and Growing up

I am trying to get in the habit of wearing something on my lips. I have spent most of my life wearing only chapstick trying desperately to not to look like one those girls. You know the girls I mean. Think back to High School, sitting in class with a girl that reapplies lips gloss every 10 seconds. Sure her lips looked better than mine and plenty of boys probably thought she appeared much more kissable than the rest of us. However, I just can't get myself to participate in that much public primping, who am I kidding I can't get myself to participate that much private primping either. Fast forward ten or so years and you have me. An adult (right?) and old enough that I should start looking more, well... put together. My erring on the side of natural beauty to the point of it not always producing any beauty is just not cutting it anymore.  Little to no make-up and just throwing on clothes is only acceptable when you are a young college coed. Actually the extent to which I took my natural (read just rolled out of bed) look in college was probably not even appropriate for college. I am not saying anyone has to start applying gobs of make-up and running to the bathroom 12 times a day to fix themselves. I will definitely not be doing either of those things, but it is time for some improvements. My last year of college I started to classy it up a bit more, and I have gradually improved over the years (really gradually). But, it has been years since college and years of living the "adult" life. I think it is time to stop straddling the line between young adult and full fledged grown-up. I was quick to get my 401K rolling but I still dragging my feet about lipstick, telling myself I am too young for lipstick (I am not). It is time to at least wear something on my lips, some of the time, and strawberry carmex doesn't count. To be completely honest, I go to the bathroom about 12 times a day anyway (Before you even think it, nope I am not pregnant, I am just hydrated. When you sit at a desk all day you can manage to down a lot of water) I might as well try to glance in the mirror at least 6 of those 12 times. So here it is, lipstick. I pursed my lips to make sure that you know my lips mean business, lipstick business. 

I am surprised to find that putting some lipstick on helps pull my look together pretty easily. A little lipstick makes me look like I got ready for the day, regardless of how ready I got. Take some lipstick add grandpa's old army belt (somethings you never grow out of) and suddenly I am totally put together. 

However, things quickly deteriorate in my ice cold office. Flats come off and are replaced by some stashed socks. I then throw on a ratty, too large, company sweatshirt that covers almost everything else I have on. Finally, I heat up some hot chocolate. By the time the dudes I work for get to work (should someone claiming to be an adult still be referring to her boss as a dude?) I look like this:

Causing both of the men I work for to separately and respectively say things like "are you alright?" and "you look really tired today." 

Some aspects of growing up are more difficult to get down than others. excuse me, I am going to run to the bathroom and reapply my lipstick. 

Fortuosity Third Addition

1. The above shoes and pants combo because they make me feel like Audrey Hepburn.
2. A library book on tape, so dumb radio isn't my only option.
3. Recycled trends & classic styles.
4. Nights that are cooling off.
5. Online shopping.
6. A new stapler at work
7. America's Test Kitchen Cookbooks 
8. Running into a dear friend at the temple and both of us wearing the exact same blue maxi skirt. 
9. Free flowers from my parent's garden that I can dry. 
10. My parents, in response to the above request, showing up with heaps and heaps of dried flowers. 

Where We Have Been Eating: Second Edition

This is a pizza bender it is like a calzone (obviously) but for some crazy reason it is extra good.  You can get these at Italian Village an ordinary little restaurant in Murray, UT. The place has the ambiance of an old Pizza Hut. You remember old Pizza Hut, the restaurant, when you used to be able to go in a sit down instead of just take out? Book It anyone? If you have the right visual in your head you can imagine this isn't a restaurant to write home about (just to write a blog post about). 

Even though this place won't knock your socks off, I will admit I think about Benders when I am not there. They are pretty good. 

Go for the lunch special and you can get a bender, "salad" (I use quotes because it is the kind of salad you get at a restaurant like this), garlic bread and a drink for like $8. Pretty sweet deal huh? I work about 20 minutes away from this place and still every now and then we all drive the 40 minutes to eat some Benders.

I like a ham and pepperoni Bender. 

Monday is a Great Day For:

Falling asleep while trying to say morning prayers.

Taking a deep breath while reviewing a long list of things to do made before leaving work Friday afternoon.

Hoping the leftovers that were left over the weekend are still a suitable lunch option. 

Quickly catching up with coworkers about the weekend .

Quickly catching up on blogs. 

Getting back into the rhythm of the work week and already the weekend would come quickly.

Reminding myself with a stern voice to live in the moment, stop wishing for more weekends, and just make the best of Monday. 

Sunday Is a Great Day For:

Going to church, of course, what did you think I was going to say?  

Wearing a maxi dress because it is oh so comfortable and still somehow you look good and put together; like classy, fancy, daytime appropriate jammies. Also, you hope being completely covered will mean spending less of the three will be freezing cold. It doesn't.

Taking a drive to gawk at beautiful mountains and dream of a day when we buy one of those unique and charming houses (or better yet build our own). 

Trying to quickly finish a melty, banana creamie while taking a picture in the reflection of a dirty mirror. 

Spending time with family eating, laughing, discussing politics, and taking turns reporting on things learned at regional conference.  

Taking a sister-in-law to my sister's house to quickly pick something up, 

remembering that I can never really quickly pick something up from my family. 

We all like each other too much, no visit is ever just business, or all that quick. 

Standing in the dark on the driveway hurriedly telling stories and catching up on anything.  

Talking to a little nephew that can now say my name. 

Having two nieces, at two different times quietly pull me aside and ask "Do you know who that girl is?" referring to the sister-in-law. They seem to be happy for me when I explain.

One of them says with a smile, "so is she your family?" I confirm. We both smile now because we think family is a pretty great thing. 

Sundays are a great way to start each week. 

Week Links

I want to do this at home foot treatment:

I wish this dress had sleeves and wasn't so ridiculously priced. It kinda reminds me of something Nancy Drew would wear (which, by the way, is who I will be for Halloween this year. At least that is the plan, but I am still not sure if we have any reason to dress up. I have wanted to be Nancy Drew for years and I think this might be my year.)

This blog has so many wonderful resources for learning or teaching the gospel. A friend of mine pointed out this post to me this week. Read it, you will love it.

General Conference is approaching so I like to re-watch what happened last time. First I re-watch a year ago and then I watch last session. I like to remember what was talked about before so I can notice trends and difference for each session. Helps me notice when something is really emphasized in particular session. It is also nice to remember what I was doing in my life last conference and re-listen to the messages that were really important to me at the time. Sometimes I find they are still just as important other times, on listening again, I will find a new favorite. So I started with October 2011 this week. Here are some of the talks I listened to:

The Power of Scripture
Counsel To Youth
You Matter To Him
The Hearts of The Children 


Some old favorites from That Mitchell and Webb look:

It Has Been a Full Week... Kinda

• Couldn't find any tape, it was super early in the morning and my only opportunity to wrap some presents... so I wrapped with a glue stick. I was desperately hoping for something to make this first birthday as a married couple kinda special. Glue stick is pretty special, no? 
• Tried to cut some streamers so that things would feel a bit festive for a birthday. Didn't have much time to do it (did what I could during lunch one day at work) and again no tape. So I tied them to a light in the kitchen. Looks like a jellyfish. Jellyfish birthday decor is also kinda special, right?
• Left my keys in the outside lock of our door, overnight. Didn't realize it until I couldn't find my keys the next morning. It occurred to me where they could be because I have done that twice before (not recently. It is like I do once every other year. Does that make it better?)
• Cutting streamers at work made my hands blue. One of my coworkers came in while I was doing it and gave me a look as if to say "marriage means not having to try so hard" I tried to defend myself with "But he knows everything he is getting" and then my coworker, who has been married twelve years, said "welcome to marriage" and gave me another look. Ha! I showed Mr. coworker with my streamer jellyfish blob. 
• We didn't work out this week or do some of the other stuff on the to do list. We did, however, watch every episode of the miniseries The Kennedy's which is now on Netflix. The whole thing got mixed reviews by historians and movie critics so I wasn't sure what to think. I am no expert on the Kennedy family so I don't really know how much accuracy there is in all little things portrayed.  I was born in the 80's and can really only be considered knowledgeable about things like Cyndi Lauper, Wilson Phillips,  and Girls Just Want to Have Fun. But, I thought it was pretty well acted (even Katie Holmes, who is never a favorite of mine) and we enjoyed it. Not saying every thing is perfectly accurate, not saying it isn't accurate. I am Just saying it was an interesting miniseries and we watched it instead of getting things done this week.  

• We are going to the Bourne Legacy tonight and even though it also got mixed review, I am feeling pretty excited. Turns out being married means you go to fewer movies, at least we do. I always saw that happening and assumed it was because my married friends had kids. We don't have kids. Yet, we seem to frequent the theaters less and less. Maybe it is because there aren't that many movies that  we want to see. Maybe it is because when you are married you have to pay for more than one movie ticket. Maybe it is because we live within walking distance of Redbox and have Netflix and Amazon Prime streaming right to our TV. I kinda think it is because we no longer have to be "going out" all the time. There is so much pressure on singles to be going, and doing, and out, and socializing. I like staying in. Marriage suits me. But I am still excited for a movie tonight. I will be packing my purse full of treats, home popped popcorn, maybe some drinks, pair of socks in case of cold feet, and of course bring a small blanket. I take movie watching very seriously.