snippets of our life

This weekend we

• went to Steph's last volleyball game of the season
• ate some yummy things
• explored the bookstore of my dreams
• cleaned hardcore
• enjoyed daylight savings time in the morning, but not so much at night
• and (Nick) studied 

sneak a peak

You know life is good when . . .

you have new makeup that your boy-toy bought for you as part of your date night (there was a nice mall and much window shopping involved in this trip as well)
you're eating sorbet on the couch, editing pictures of a sweet couple you got to photograph
you're snuggled deep in a down comforter on a Sunday afternoon for too many hours to call it a 'nap'

That was my weekend in a nutshell. Hope yours was great too and that Monday treated you right and you started your week off on the right foot.

project mode

I wanted to end this week with something tranquil. But I haven't been feeling particular tranquil these days. I have a midterm to take later today, a messy house to clean (SO MANY DISHES!), homework and work-work, pictures that I want to take, errands I have to run and lists of my to-do lists. I'm not very stressed about any one item but I am feeling more focused--in project mode. So, I hope that you have a productive weekend. Or not, depending on your mood. 

This is one of my to do list items for our home. Find an awesome rug or kilim. Does anyone know what the difference is between a rug and a kilim?

1, 2, 3, 4

hello friend

Sweater: Ebay (Banana Republic), Blouse: ASOS, Skirt: Etsy, Shoes/Bag: Thrifted

Dear Friend,

It's Thursday. My minds churns, cranks and whirls around inside my head. I almost always have something to say. Today I don't. But, here are some pictures of some stuff I wear sometimes. And, I would like to tell you how happy I am that the weekend is almost here again. I've had an up and down sort of week. The kind where you shower some days and don't on others. Where you paint on some nights and don't care to on others. The sort of week that makes it OK to eat out on a weeknight. But, guess what. Tomorrow is Friday. And that's nice to look forward to. I have one professor who at the start of each week he asks the class what new thing we did over the weekend and then at the end of our last class of the week he reminds us to do something we've never done before. I'm glad for the reminder and glad that I try to live my life this way. You can only share what you know or have experienced, and since I love to write and paint and create, I am constantly looking for new experiences. So, to you who are reading this right now, my friend, go and experience something you never have before. And then, tell me about it.

Hey, look at that. I said something.

how I slow down my life and find peace

This past weekend I jumped off the hamster wheel. 

Usually Saturday is packed with everything that I want to do during the week or need to prepare for the next week and then after a very full day we try to end it all with a fun date. (Not always easy after so many errands.) Sundays are for recovery but then Monday kicks me in the face with it’s bright sunny face long before expected.

This time though I got sick on Friday and slept (actually tried to sleep because the people above us either have very small feet or children who patter in the room above our bedroom) until I had a mission reunion; where I got to see some of my favorite people in the world, who I worked with for a year and a half volunteering as a representative for my church. It was a weekend of friendship and reconnecting. On top of that I didn't worry about work, homework, or home, which was a big change and very relaxing. (I did do a little photo shoot for my photography class, but that was just plain fun!)

The reason this weekend was so different for me was that little tab on my navigation bar that says "Beliefs". I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Or a Mormon, since that's usually easier for people to say ten times fast.. Twice a year we get to hear inspiring and revelatory talks and this past weekend was one of those times. This was one of my favorite talks.

adventure is right where you are

The weekend is here and none too soon.
Tonight I'm going to my first football game ever.
Earlier today I was told that I was good in not so many words. It really made an impact on me and I felt deeply that i would rather be thought good by a few people than great by any number.
I saw this post and was so excited. I'll explain more in detail, but now it's time to pay it forward. The first three people (I'm saying people to be politically correct, but I'd bet my left pinkie that it's all ladies who will "win" ) who comment below and specifically ask to receive something from me and pledge to "pay it forward" and make the announcement within 72 hours on their own blog will receive a unique, personal and probably handmade gift from me.
Hope you have an adventure this weekend.

via Annette Pehrsson

conference weekend (picture me with the "date face" on*)

This weekend went by too fast. (Maybe because it was spent sleeping in, eating, and watching general conference.) It was a no more homework, no more books extravaganza; and not just for me, per usual, Nick was in on it too. I had a couple of "favorites" but this one really caught my attention on Saturday afternoon. I missed some of the morning session, so I will get to go back and read those or listen to them soon. (Tummy aches + soothing voices = nap time) All around, this was one of the best weekends in a while. Besides conference and mission reunions, Nick took me out on Saturday night. (Pictured above.) We listened to karaoke and ate curry. Nick sang me a song which was so fun and funny. He's a really good singer and not too shy to shake it while he sings in front of me and a crowd of strangers.

What about you? What did you do over the weekend? Favorite talk?

Cardigan: Ralph Lauren, Skirt: Chicago Boutique, Shoes: Thrifted, Top: Target, Belt: Nordstrom Rack

 I warn you that if I see that anyone has viewed this post and not answered my question I may cry.  Although if I see that no one has viewed this I may cry as well. So please, just answer my question.

*To learn what the "date face" is please click here. This is seriously worth the four minutes and ten seconds it takes to watch it. (Or even twelve minutes and thirty seconds to watch it three times in a row.)

I have a lot of addenda today.

Addenda is the plural of the word addendum. Can you tell that I like merriam-webster.com and that I am taking an editing class?