Merry Happy

maintenance

2012-01-26T22:11:00.000-08:00

this blog needs help. redesign. redefine. hopefully soon.

lately.

2011-12-08T11:31:00.000-08:00

it is finals time here in charlottesville, meaning that my relationship with steve is a mere shadow of what it once was. totally kidding. but he does study a lot. i am proud of him. and due to his studying, i have had the time to rekindle my love of "friends". i am currently in season 5 which is one of my all-time favorites. it should be a good week.

it has also been raining a lot so naturally i am becoming more and more thrilled with my rain boot purchase. i think it can qualify as one of my top 5 purchases of the year. thanks for the find, mom.

i have become a huge fan of the mormon channel app. listening to conference talks while i get ready in the morning has been one of the highlights of my week.

last thing. it is december 8th and it feels like october 5th maybe 13th. to sum up my point: winters in VA are significantly different from the winters of the west (i.e. i haven't had to wear gloves or a down jacket once).

faves
1. my down comforter
2. vanilla mint chapstick
3. running clothes of all kinds
4. egg nog
5. bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches

happy friday!

how i feel today...

2011-12-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one

of the pleasantest sensations in the world.”

– Freya Star

2011-11-21T06:58:00.000-08:00

This photo inspired me to do my laundry today. So I am.

And it is so not the same.

(said with the intonation of Chandler Bing.)

faves.

2011-11-18T09:09:00.000-08:00

1. the Friends marathon that has been keeping me company while i work all week. season 1: finished.

2. bodo's bagels. i have literally been craving a salt bagel everyday.

3. my bed. i got a new down comforter (thank you, mama) and let me just say that sleeping is heavenly.

3. bottled water. (i am now jenny decker and i drink only bottled water. the water in VA is sub-par.)

4. nail polish. i've been really into it this week but haven't made time to paint my nails.

tragic. doing it today.

happy weekend!

Meet Virginia.

2011-11-15T11:30:00.000-08:00

I have finally arrived in Virginia! After a weekend filled with moving in (and I am still not completely done yet), I am beginning to feel settled.

Things I love about VA so far:

1. I am close to Steve (5 minutes sure beats a 5 hour plane ride).
2. Heidi only lives 2 hours away now.
3. My skin feels really soft. Thanks, humidity.
4. There are Paneras here.
5. Kroger is here, which means King Soopers is here. If you are from CO you know what this means: Joy.
6. The trees are GORGEOUS.
7. People say ma'am and sir all the time.
8. Charlottesville doesn't have much, but it does have an Anthro AND a Banana Republic less than five minutes from my house. It. Is. Destiny.
9. Bodo's bagels. I am a huge lover of bagels and this bagel shop and I have already become best friends.
10. New adventure. What's not to love.

Thanks to my Dad, Heidi, and Steve for all their help this weekend. Happy fall!

i forgot.

2011-11-06T10:41:00.000-08:00

i forgot my faves this week. oops. it has been a busy weekend filled with great things.

1. old friends being in town. so fun to catch up.
2. celebrating my nephew's birthday and watching him eat cake.
3. croup: gone. hallelujah. note to self: never get croup again.
4. pickles. i'm really into them lately. the little ones.
5. my mac blush. i fall in love with it again every time i use it.

happy november. t- 4.5 days until i permanently move to VA. these are a few words to describe it:

exciting

nerve-wracking

joyful

happiness

FINALLY

surreal

unknown

adventure

patience

important

2011-11-02T09:48:00.001-07:00

If you or anyone you know needs an apartment for winter semester, my sister is trying to sell her contract. It's $350 a month, five minute walk to campus, great ward, great roommates!

Leave a comment if you want more info. Thanks!

snow day

2011-11-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

yet another snow day in CO. and by snow day i don't mean that i get work or school off. i wish. however, in the down time today, i plan on doing the following:

1. drinking hot chocolate and finding some form of peppermint to put in it
2. probably sitting under at least for blankets snuggled up, not moving
3. reading
4. watching a semi-christmasy movie like the holiday or while you were sleeping or something like that.

it is shaping up to be a good day. happy winter, everyone.

faves.

2011-10-28T12:01:00.000-07:00

faves of the week:

1. pumpkin shaped candy corns

2. the snow

3. vanilla mint chapstick

4. buying a one way ticket to VA

5. going to bed at 9:30pm

have a happy halloween!

2011-10-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

it happened.

am i surprised? not really.

in colorado it is only appropriate for snow to happen directly before and always on halloween. this resulted in many childhood halloween costumes being covered up with a heavy coat when venturing out to go trick-or-treating, thus hiding the creative masterpieces that were my halloween costumes from the world. (i'm not bitter.)

stay warm!

afterthought

2011-10-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

...but not really an afterthought because its been on my mind like forever.

Mylo Xyloto release: 10.5 days (oct 24)

until then:

2011-10-14T11:03:00.000-07:00

happy friday! boy comes out to visit for his fall break today so that is exciting. since i am recovering from surgery, it will be a low-key weekend, filled with very leisurely hikes, walks around the lake, and introducing him to the wonder that is Beau Jeau's pizza.

little sister is also in town so we get to share a bed for the weekend. party rock is in the house ALL NIGHT.

its gonna be a good weekend.

5 faves.

2011-10-10T15:53:00.000-07:00

I saw this idea that I thought was really cute: list your 5 faves of the week. So I am stealing it and making it my own. So here is week one of my faves...because let's be honest my faves definitely change weekly.

1. Bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches.

2. Incredibly by Victoria Secret

3. Tomatoes

4. Instagram photos

5. Homemade French Onion Soup

Happy Monday!

special find.

2011-10-03T16:11:00.001-07:00

so this morning, i was trying to type wsj.com into my browser and made a typo. let's just say i was grateful and felt the need to share. enjoy. and make sure your sound is ON.

hwsj.com

A few things...

1. yes, i most definitely listened to the entire song. maybe twice. new guilty pleasure?

2. i want to know who felt that THAT was the song to complement their website.

3. thank you, asia.

you know it is fall when...

2011-10-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

your new boots come in the mail.
you get to watch General Conference all weekend
the leaves are changing colors
it has finally become socially acceptable for you to wear jackets everyday (even though you needed them all summer, too)
every time of day is the perfect time of day to go for a run

I love fall. It is hands down my favorite time of year. It means that holidays and family events and everything warm and cozy and good in the world is coming. White hot chocolate with raspberry, anyone?

I am excited to be able to spend my first of probably many falls out east this year! Bring on the east coast foliage!

3 days...

2011-09-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

...'til him. yay :)

Favorite songs today: Paradise by Coldplay, We Don't Eat by James Vincent McMorrow

nostalgia.

2011-09-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

today is one of those bask-in-your-memories kind of days. the kind where its rainy cloudy outside and you lay in bed and look at old pictures and talk to old friends. i have been doing that all morning and i have to say, i am loving every second of it. so refreshing. here are some of the old pictures i came across today. some days i wish i could be a professional traveler.

CinqueTerre, Italy 2008

The Alps near Interlaken, Switzerland 2008

More Switzerland 2008. One of my favorite places I have visited so far.

Venice, Italy 2008 (sorry the pic is stuck sideways)

Granada, Spain 2008

La Mancha, Spain 2008

Marseilles, France 2008 (Jill, this one goes out to you. Best. Treat. Ever.)

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page." -St. Augustine

utah.

2011-09-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

headed back to utah this weekend for a little trip.

things that make me happy about this upcoming occurrence:

- i will get to see my dear friends who i have missed.
- i will most definitely be eating magelby's chocolate cake. mmmmm.
- i will get to have a final goodbye to utah.
- i get to fly out of the provo airport. i have been wanting to do this since the day it was announced.
- i get to see my little sister.

happy day.

home again, home again

2011-08-31T10:22:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am home in colorado, once again. Here are a few immediate favorites about being back:

1. Colorado smells so good.
2. People are out running, walking, talking, etc. all the time in our neighborhood and surrounding parks.
3. My nephews were at my house to greet me. Doesn't get any better than them.
4. I went to bed at 9:30 and didn't feel bad about it.
5. I get to see Sarah, Mary, and Colin on a regular basis.
6. I get to hang with my parents. They are the best kind of people.
7. The water.

It is good to be back.

if i had a million dollars...

2011-08-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

...i would seriously invest in some (or all) of the following boots.

also, here is a video clip of my friend elissa on studio five introducing boots for the season! Yay Elissa!

i can't wait for fall!!

just a few little treats.

2011-08-24T21:08:00.000-07:00

my thoughts as of late...

Engaged!

2011-08-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is true...I'm engaged!

Background:

Steve and I met for the first time last December at our Christmas party. My roommate Jenny had met Steve last September and came home one night and said, "Jenni, I have a boy you should date." So I said okay, and that was that, meaning that we never spoke of it again. Until December.

My roommates and I got really into party-throwing last fall and had a party a month at our house. It was a great excuse to meet people and was fun to make use of our house. So, par normal, we held a Thanksgiving party, which I missed. Apparently Steve showed up at that party ready to meet me, only to find that I had already left for Thanksgiving. Bummer. I only tell you this because come December, he was less than thrilled to come to our Christmas party to meet "the girl who wasn't even at the last party" (as he says it). But with some much appreciated coaxing from his roommate and my hero Cory, he arrived. Let's just say we both lingered in the kitchen for a good half hour before we even spoke. And our speaking only happened because Cory, who was standing right next to him, started talking to me, pulled Steve into the conversation, and then bailed gracefully. We talked for the next 30 minutes or so about random everything. It was a great conversation and we both left the evening not at all interested in each other. Successful, I know.

But Jenny and Cory weren't giving up. After a few orchestrated hangouts, we left for Christmas Break. I figured that was that. But lo and behold, I get a text from Steve as I was traveling home for the break. So he sends me a few texts over the break and we decide to actually do something when we get back. So the week we got back, we went out for the first time and that was that. We never looked back.

The Story

And then July 28 came around. Steve left for law school on the following Saturday so we had already planned a nice date up to Sundance as kind of a last hoorah (and because we are obsessed with their Bruchetta).

We ate and then headed up to Parkcity as planned to hang out with his family before they left to head home to Connecticut. Everything was normal. He seemed completely calm and collected (though apparently he was a complete mess on the inside haha).

So as you head to his house, there is a turn off where you can take the road down in a clearing of trees. We were passing it and suddenly he slammed on the breaks and goes, "Oh I have something I wanted to show you." I laughed because he stopped so abruptly, which later I learned was because he had seen everything down to his right and got so nervous that he just kept driving. Adorable. So we turned down this road and after two seconds, I could see a table in the distance.

Then it clicked.

I started audibly repeating the phrase, "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!". I got out of the car and walked over to the table. It was perfect. And then my man got down on his knee asked if I would marry him. I didn't even say yes right away I was so excited. We kissed and hugged and laughed and then his amazing family came down to take pictures of us. Perfect boy. Perfect night.

jetsetter.

2011-07-17T16:59:00.000-07:00

july has been a month filled with nothing but traveling and i have loved every bit of it. i started my travels by visiting connecticut to see steve and his family. i already love the east coast and this trip only added to that love. steve's town is as charming as ever and we had such a great time.

we were there over the 4th of july and let me tell you, new caanan does it right. first, we treated ourselves to some boating in the morning. i was lame and got a little motion sick, but it faded by late morning and i was ready to tube my heart out. (i love tubing more than most things.) in the evening, we went to Waveny Park for a picnic with basically the entire town. it was a sight to behold. i love events like this--ones where kids are running rampant and everyone is just eating, socializing, and thoroughly enjoying life. the night ended with a great fireworks display, which i loved. i LOVE fireworks so it was quite the treat.

steve and i at Waveny Park.

Fireworks.

later in our trip, we had the chance to head down to rye, ny and visit my grandpa bob. this man is a classic and i am convinced that anyone who meets him leaves thinking their life is significantly better. we ate lunch at one of grandpa's favorite restaurants in town (driving in i bet steve we would eat there and sure enough... :)) though it was a short lunch, it was a great lunch.

afterwards, we continued into the city to meet his sister, brother, and sister-in-law to see Wicked! it was FABULOUS! i loved it. it was a lot funnier than i expected and we had fantastic seats (thank you, gyunns!). here is the one picture i have and they shut off the set lights on us right as we were taking it (and sorry that it is blurry). better luck next time!

after a wonderful time in connecticut, steve and i headed down to florida to stay with my family for a week. after a 4 hour delay, we were more than ready to be there. we had such a wonderful time adventuring around florida and hanging out with my family. i wasn't ready to leave! sorry about the photo dump, but it is the easiest way to go about all the pictures. enjoy!

we rented bikes and went crusin' on the beach outside our condo.

hannah and steve.

we made it to the end of the beach and as you can see, steve felt like a real man.

sister love.

handsome boy.

the admired sand castle.

the beach. take me back.

naturally, we took an entire day and explored the wizarding world of harry potter! i felt like i was 10 and it was perfect and i want to live there. we got there right when the park opened and i have never walked faster to beat the rush. it is MAGICAL. i loved every second of my time there. we wandered through hogsmeade, drank a lot of delicious butterbeer, bought a bunch of candy, rode the rides, and explored every bit of it.

the hogwarts express!

house robes. they are $100 each so we just took advantage of trying them on :)

sisters.

accio butterbeer!

i honestly want to make butterbeer. it is so good!

we passed the weasley's car on our way to ride the dueling dragons roller coaster.

hogwarts! i want to live there.

(not sure why, but every time i looked at it i wanted to say "hogwarts: a history" in a british accent.)

to sum it all up, i wish i was a witch. i loved it!

one evening we went and canoed with the manatees and dolphins! despite the fact that i came home with literally over 50 mosquito bites from when we got out on this island, it was such a fun evening! at one point it started pouring, pouring rain and it was honestly one of the coolest things i have ever seen!

steve and i in our canoe

steve was really proud of this picture :) me doing all the work!

here is a picture of a manatee right by our canoe! it turns out they love fresh water so we took one of the bags that my phone was in and used it to lure them to the top. it worked! they are so slimy and smooth and HUGE. we also got to see two dolphins and a bunch of jumping fish. it was such a fun night!

one of the most memorable things we did in florida (for me, at least) was to see the last shuttle launch. maybe its because my dad works in space exploration that i have come to love all things space so much, but regardless, i think seeing the last shuttle launch would be neat for anyone. we opted to watch it from the beach outside out condo and it was perfect! we weren't sure if it was going to launch because of the weather, but everything worked out! it was amazing because we saw it and then about 3, maybe 5 minutes later we heard it. it literally looked like a giant ball of fire. the pictures below don't really do it justice, but you get the idea!

random picture, i know. on our first night there, steve and i opted to take a walk on the beach. as we were headed towards the pier, we came across this fiddler crab. so naturally, like the 10 year old that we are, we started chasing it. crabs can only run sideways so it was quite hilarious (and probably really mean in hindsight) to watch the crab. well, a few minutes in, this crab had enough and literally stopped, stuck out his claws and stood there and stared at steve. we laughed and had to take a picture of the ferocious little guy. he was one tough cookie. so the rest of the trip we hunted/chased for fiddler crabs. it was a good time had by all.

captain steve. we bought this hat for my nephew quentin. i can't wait to see him in it!

overall it was a perfect trip. i am ready to head out on my next adventure.

2011-06-17T17:59:00.000-07:00

i take that back. my favorite line so far as been "I love him so much", said by bawling fan after she was picked as the "one less lonely girl". too good. thank you, america's youth.

weekend.

2011-06-17T17:37:00.000-07:00

just watching the Justin Bieber movie (no shame) and eating oreos while perusing the internet. favorite line of the movie so far: "i think about justin 99% of my life." heroic. (thank you small 6 year old girl.)

today i got to work at 10:15. what a perfect friday. the boy is off running ragnar with his sister, cousins, uncles, and aunts this weekend so i am riding solo. i considered joining the team for about 30 minutes and then quickly realized that i would actually die, so i decided against it. instead i will go to the gym and run/walk for as long as i feel like it and then come home and relax.

i somehow managed to leave my debit card in the atm last week. still not sure how it happened, but it did. it was quite the moment when i realized what i had done.

happy birthay to aubri tomorrow!

(sorry this is such a random post. clearly i had nothing better to do :))

life-long

2011-06-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

i have had a life long obsession with the colors grey and variations of turquoise, and i am just so pleased that they are coming into the fashion. it makes shopping/designing/life so much easier. about 3/4 (debatably more) of my closet is filled with these colors and i couldn't be happier that now everything in this color scheme is more accessible.

so thank you world, for 24 years later, discovering the beauty of these colors.

i turn my music up, i got my records on.

2011-06-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

coldplay did it again, people. if you haven't heard their new single "every tear drop is a waterfall", i highly recommend it.

i associate coldplay songs with most great/sad/horrible/wonderful/amazing/perfect moments in my life. they have a song for everything. "viva la vida" came out while i was in spain in 2008 and let's just say i listened to it nonstop from the second i had it. best ever. every time i hear anything from that album it places me right back in the middle of all my european adventures. and for that reason i love their music even more.

favorite coldplay over the years:

fix you
warning sign
the message
strawberry swing
viva la vida
the hardest part
in my place
swallowed by the sea
lovers in japan/reign of love
Life in Technicolor I & II
scientist (which i now love more after watching wicker park)
sleeping sun
clocks
a rush of blood to the head
have yourself a merry little christmas
talk
rainy day
cemeteries of london
what if
lost

i love pretty much anything chris martin touches, but you get the picture with this short list. happy listening :)

pants.

2011-06-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

our trip to cali was fabulous. we saw beautiful alex get married, ate way to much, ate at really great places, ate at really gross places, saw really great people, saw really great places, and got a tan/burn. twas flawless.

here are some pics. it could have been a bit warmer (high was like 69), but let me just say that it rained here in utah that week so anything was better than being there.

Mexican for lunch. Little did we know we would be having Mexican for dinner as well. :)

This is why she is one of my favorite people on earth.

Newport Beach Temple (where Al and Nate were married).

More pics to come. Probably a photo dump. I just don't have them all right now.

mish mash.

2011-06-03T10:40:00.000-07:00

so bad at updating.

I'm just chilling at work, not wanting to be here. Fridays have a tendency to cause that emotion.

J and I had a random intense conversation at 3a.m. Exhausted, but so worth it.

Things I am looking forward to this summer:

Trip home to Colorado with boy to see S, C, Q, E, Ma, and Pa.
Trip to Connecticut over the 4th of July to hang out with the boy and his wonderful family.
Trip to Florida with boy for a week to hang out with my family. Wizarding World of Harry Potter here I come!
Trip to Chicago for work. (Yes, it's for work but I have never been Chicago before and we only work from like 10-5, hence the slight excitement. Baseball game, anyone?)
Seven Peaks. Heaven bless the Pass of All Passes. It has changed my life already.

It is going to be a great summer. And tomorrow it is supposed to be 80 degrees and you better believe I will be at Seven Peaks getting my tan on for the better part of the day.

In other news, I am entirely obsessed with pinterest.com. If you aren't addicted yet, I suggest you get addicted. I am. Join in the fun. A huge thank you to Ashley Tucker who made this possible.

I also bought these shoes and I am obsessed with them. Happy summer!

adorable

2011-05-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

hello summer. and hello adorable child that I wish was my own.

Source: None via Alex on Pinterest

sunshine

2011-05-17T16:11:00.001-07:00

headed to cali in less than 24 hours. i can hardly wait to greet the sunshine (even though the current forecast is only 67 degrees blah). regardless, its the perfect road trip, not to mention i get to see beautiful alex get married.

so here's to cali. hopefully lots of pictures to come!

planning.

2011-05-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

this morning ash introduced me to a new website. its called pinterest.com and i was immediately obsessed. i found every place i want to vacation in the future, not to mention the color scheme for my life summed up in a single photo (which can be seen here). i also found what i am having for dinner tonight and maybe every night for the rest of the summer. what a blessing.

so happy summer, where the travel bug runs deep and my desire for being out in the sun shamelessly squashes any chance of productivity i had left.

ha!

2011-05-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

this made me so happy i had to share with everyone:

http://www.didthelakersgetswept.com/

Have a great day!

after hours.

2011-05-02T16:51:00.000-07:00

there is something i love about working late. there is something satisfying and peaceful about being the only one in the office and just soaking up the silence after a long, busy day.

(a special thanks to alexi murdoch, coldplay, sara bareilles, john mayer, jonsi, and the cinematic orchestra who provide me with the perfect amount of company.)

love.

2011-04-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

and iiiiiii eee iiiiiii will always love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.

Truly. Madly. Deeply.

Great season, boys.

Congrats.

2011-04-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

Congrats to the boy who graduated this past weekend. It made me realize that I graduated two years ago (for whatever reason in my mind I have always graduated "last year") and also made me realize that I should start feeling like I am older than 17. Dang it.

Congrats!

(Steve's fam minus his dad who is taking the picture.)

Summer Reading List

2011-04-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

All I want to do these days is read. I want to wake up in the morning, grab my book, and read while falling in and out of sleep. So here is my current summer reading list. Please add any suggestions. I know you all read.

The Brothers Karamazov (currently reading)
The Help
Harry Potter 1-7 (ambitious, I know. but let's get real here and realize that this is a complete possibility and necessity)
Jesus the Christ
East of Eden

Happy Summer!

Dear Summer, Let's rendezvous.

2011-04-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

I am ready for it. I am ready for summer. Enough with the snow and the 30 degree mornings. I am ready for hot car and spending my lunch break getting a tan.

With that said, here are just a few of the things I am looking forward to this summer:

1. Baseball. I mean let's face it, people. It is not summer without baseball.
2. My Seven Peaks all access pass of amazingness that gives me as much Seven Peaks, Mini Golf, Laser tag, and other goods as I want. So long provo pools, hello Seven Peaks.
3. My sister and her family (meaning my two unbelievably adorable nephews) are moving back to CO in June! 7 hour drive paying only for gas > $400 plane flight to Philly.
4. Tan. And really blonde hair. Thank you, sun.
5. The sun. The sun. The sun.
6. Florida in July with the family. I long for you, beach house.
7. Weddings.
8. Roadtrips.
9. Running outside.
10. Popsicles and Dairy Queen everyday (Aubri, I will miss geting DQ with you daily).

So basically as soon as the temperature stays above 68 for 5+ days in a row, I will be happy. I also wouldn't mind running through a field of these.

God Bless...

2011-03-31T10:29:00.000-07:00

baseball.

welcome back.

i missed you so much.

go rockies!

mmmm.

2011-03-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

these look absolutely divine to me right now. so divine that i think i might make them soon.

or maybe just make chocolate chip cookies with mint chocolate chips.

recipe here.

jimmazing.

2011-03-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

some things in life you just can't pass up. this was definitely one of them.

this past weekend i ventured to denver to watch my Cougs play in the NCAA tourney against gonzaga. (and to hang out with my oh-so-wonderful father)

gosh, it was amazing.

worth every penny.

i felt (and still feel) similar to how dave rose feels in this picture: pure elation.

just so many happy people in one place.

i think we witnessed history.

in other news, i am transitioning back to blonde. it is time.

ode to adele.

2011-03-07T15:57:00.000-08:00

i am pretty sure i'm not the only one, but i would like to add my voice to the masses who

are currently listening to adele's new cd and loving every bit of it.

especially track 5.

check it out. she is the perfect bit of soulful.

3.

2011-02-28T15:06:00.000-08:00

It is a great day. I'll let the numbers speak for themselves:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings

I feel like a proud parent.

R.I.P.

2011-02-23T09:52:00.000-08:00

What is happening to the NBA people? The Clippers are doing alright (in that people somewhat like watching them now), the Lakers lost to the Cavs (a joyful occasion), the Nuggets lost Melo AND Chauncey (this was emotional), the Jazz lost D-Will, Jerry Sloan retired, and Justin Bieber won the MVP at the All-Star Celebrity game.

Sigh.

At least we have Jimmer.

under construction

2011-02-21T15:31:00.000-08:00

my blog is dead. it needs new life. like a new name. and more interesting things to post about. so for now it is under construction.

lvoe.

2011-01-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

Yet another exceptional exchange with my sister Heidi today.

me: heidi does your computer have a webcam?

Heids: jenni i am temping right now

me: haha i don't mean RIGHT NOW

i mean your computer at home

Heids: i am not about to webcam with you at the nuclear technical waste review board office.

oh, right.

me: i lvoe her

*love

she is seriously so incredible.

Heids: lvoe

i imagine you saying that with velvety red lipstick on

in a husky voice

"lvoe"

"la-voe"

(phonetic)

I guarantee this is probably just funny to me, but what a blessing, people. What a blessing.

(And ATuck, just so you know, the lower was in reference to you.)

congratulations

2010-12-27T13:42:00.000-08:00

you conquered 2010.

what will you do in 2011?

(i still have to decide. i'll get back to you.)

i love surprises.

2010-12-27T13:21:00.000-08:00

dear secret giver of gifts,

thank you very, very much for the flowers, the ice cream, and the note. i still haven't figured out how you know where i work. not even all my roommates know where i work. chalk one up to good detective work, i guess.

thank you for the christmas card and for the gift card. you are honestly much too kind. it was (and is) all much appreciated.

i still don't know how you know that i like baseball, or daises, or ice cream, but even if it was a total shot in the dark on all three accounts, here's to great (flawless) guessing.

thanks for making my day on december 1 and again on december 16 and all the days in between and thereafter.

i love surprises. and i love guessing games. so thank you for providing me with everything i love.

yours truly,
jenni

You are so cool.

2010-10-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

My sister is in Bangladesh right now working for an organization called Sheva (which I learned today is also an incredibly creepy, all too bulky character from Resident Evil [thank you, google]). This morning we were gchatting and this was part of our conversation:

me: yay!and sheva?

what are you doing with them?

11:04 AM Heids: sheva is awesome

i am going on some visits to their microcredit branches

for my personal research purposes

What you should take away from this: My sister has personal research purposes.
If someone were ever wondering what it feels like to be fulfilled, I think this might be an answer.

So here's to you and your research, Heids. Like I said one too many times in our conversation, you are so cool.

New Goal.

2010-10-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

Today at work I had to speak Spanish on the phone to a frustrated (albeit patient) customer. No one in our entire office speaks (i use this term VERY lightly) Spanish except me (how that is even possible, I still don't know).

Last time I spoke Spanish: may or may have been the summer of 2008.

Okay probably not that long. But speaking it regularly: definitely the summer of 2008.

(oh how i miss thee, spain)

As I started speaking and words started (slowly) coming back, I though to myself,

WOW, Jen. You have really let yourself go.

As such, I now have a new goal for the rest of the year: relearn Spanish.

Vale.

I have reached the zenith of productivity.

2010-10-19T14:47:00.000-07:00

Today was probably most productive work day I have ever had.

One of the owners was out of town, so naturally we took the liberty

of enhancing his half of the office.

Who knew tin foil could be so aesthetically pleasing.

And if you are wondering if I got paid to do this, the answer is yes.

2010-10-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

Today is a good day. It's one of those days when you just smile constantly and have a laugh sitting in the back of your throat for no reason at all. But its there. And it feels so good.

Thinking about going to San Fran with my friend M next weekend. I think it might just be the perfect way to spend four days.

Things I am grateful for today:

- J came home after a weekend away.

- M and I rediscovered the wonder that is the Oneders this past weekend.

(M, when you hold my hand, you hold my heart.)

- Baseball playoffs. (Though I wish so much that the Rockies were apart of it,

I will cheer for the Giants almost as much.)

- Family. And that I get to see them in 1 month. Its been waaaayyyyy too long.

- The fall weather. I am cold, but I am happy.

The more (blankets) the merrier.

fall.

2010-10-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

i love the new weather. it means fall is HERE.

fall is a personal favorite because

1. i can drink white hot chocolate with raspberry without getting hot.

2. i can wear jackets and sweaters everyday.

3. boots.

4. the beginning of having a freezing cold house + a million blankets = bliss.

5. i get to see what elissa is going to be for halloween. it is seriously always a treat, people.

welcome, fall.

also, i now have brown hair.

(bad picture but i haven't really taken many yet. sorry.)

(and I am on the right if you don't recognize me. don't worry, you wouldn't be the first.)

Excited, simply stated.

2010-09-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

in a few words, i can't wait.

please watch.

(are you covered in goosebumps yet?)

i've almost eaten an entire pack of gum this morning.

2010-09-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

i found this video on my friend maddi's blog and i had to share.

and here are is a list of my favorite moments/things from the video:

1. The Rockets jerseys. It just fits so well.

2. The facials in general. So great about moving their mouths in SO many ways.

3. The guy closer to the camera does a fantastic echo.

4. The random guy in the back who is seemingly unaware that the Backstreet Boys are in session behind him. How, I might ask?

5. Oh, he has a broken arm. For some reason the appearance of the cast flashing in the camera made it all so much better.

6. The subtle choreography.

7. Just stand in awe at the neck movements. There are many.

8. The face of the guy further from the camera at 2:15.

9. All post 2:30 head banging.

thanks, maddi.

food for thought.

2010-09-20T13:29:00.001-07:00

my friend paul sent this to me. i thought it was interesting so i thought i would share.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html?_r=1

enjoy. i'd be curious to know what you think.

How Great Thou Art.

2010-09-20T12:34:00.000-07:00

yesterday, i flew back from a "business trip" to seattle.

i stared out the window at this until the sun went down and felt so blessed..

2010-09-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

this summer i was supposed to learn how to sail.

but then it was too expensive and we couldn't find enough people to reduce the cost.

so sad.

but i still want to learn how to sail.

a lot.

one day.

mmmmk.

2010-09-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

new goal:

work for this company.

"i want names."

2010-09-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday was the long-awaited John Mayer concert. No joke, people. We have been waiting since April. March even. It was everything I expected it to be and more.

I had one simple request of John going into the night:
please play "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room".

And he did. He did. And I loved (understatement) every second of it.

(shout out to the iPhone for having the most incredible video abilities EVER. Muchas gracias.)

The girls.

(sorry so blurry)

J.M.

in your atmosphere. please.

2010-08-30T13:26:00.000-07:00

tomorrow i will see him live!

yay!

throwing around the idea of being entirely irresponsible and going to italy with my sister for 3 weeks. in about 3 weeks. decisions, decisions, decisions.

august.

2010-08-13T14:12:00.000-07:00

my august 2010 will include/has already included the following:

surprises.

goodbyes.

seattle.

iPhone.

new home.

chels's wedding.

john mayer.

a lot of avocadoes.

water parks.

it's been a good one.

2010-08-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

i got a 143-point word in scrabble the other day.

it really was one of the finer moments of my life.

too bad i was in my apartment.

alone.

playing against a computer.

still.

Neat.

2010-08-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

this is neat.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38553499/ns/today-entertainment/

2010-07-27T09:04:00.001-07:00

i was rereading this article by bill simmons this morning, and i can't help but laugh

every time i get to this paragraph:

Question No. 13: If you could change anything about soccer, what would it be?

I hate how teams milk leads in the last 15-20 minutes by faking injuries and taking forever to sub players. When that Ghana player had to be carried off on a stretcher at the tail end of the America game, then hopped off like nothing ever happened as soon as the stretcher was out of bounds, I thought that was appalling. Actually, it made me want to go to war with Ghana. I wanted to invade them. I'm not even kidding. That's another great thing about the World Cup: Name another sport in which you genuinely want to invade other countries when you lose.

so true.

What a Day to Visit Seattle...

2010-07-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

in 3.5 weeks i will be headed here.

to visit them.

(ash i stole this pic off your blog. hope that's okay...love you guys.)

i can hardly wait. i've missed them way too much.

reese's minis

2010-07-20T14:25:00.000-07:00

i am actually addicted to them i think.

i can eat (and do eat) bags of this size within a matter of minutes.

whoever you are, reese, i thank you.

watching the world cup final made me miss...

2010-07-13T17:40:00.000-07:00

celebrating spain's euro cup win with them

(sorry it wouldn't rotate...)
(Champs Elysees- Paris, France)

adventures with her

(Cuena, Spain)

eating a ton of this

(gelatto at FreddFredd in Madrid. best mango gelatto ever.)

seeing gorgeous things like this during the day

(Florence, Italy)

and then loving it even more at night.

(Florence, Italy)

running into a lot of these.

(Florence, Italy)

seeing this for four days straight

(wengen, switzerland)

and doing it all in these.

(r.i.p. red mocs in nice, france)

i miss traveling.

yes. yes. yes.

2010-07-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

i think i might just have to attend.

you should too.

http://www.deervalley.com/events-calendar/2010/july/deer-valley-music-festival--ben-folds-with-the-utah-symphony.html

2010-07-09T14:08:00.000-07:00

has your body ever felt so tired that all of your muscles just want to drop in place and stop working, and you feel like you may or may be able to sleep for days?

that is how i feel right now.

and to be honest, it might be one of the best feelings ever.

hap heber thud hey!

2010-07-01T12:53:00.000-07:00

happy birthday to this girl.

who always knows how to keep life simple.

who is the best story-teller i know.

who makes me laugh harder than most.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALLIE!

love.

food for thought.

2010-06-29T14:34:00.000-07:00

you know its time to get a new job when you start job searching while at work.

witness history.

2010-06-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

this was amazing. i watched from 30-30 on and it was so worth it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/wimbledon10/news/story?id=5322284

i love tennis.

additions.

2010-06-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

my life is pretty consistent as of late. meaning not much has changed.

there have been, however, a few great additions.

1. a scooter. (thank you a million times over to Ash and Allen. although the scooter is amazing, having you here would be even better.)
2. a new phone. (and by new i mean thank you a million times of to eric cottrell who provided me with an exact replica of the phone a broke last night. i have the worst luck with technology people. i don't deserve nice things.)
3. summer. (full blown, hotter than life utah summers have arrived. i now get to enjoy getting into a hot car everyday.)
4. air conditioning at work. (this makes getting into a hot car after work seem like the greatest natural occurence known to man.)
5. a new computer (and by new i mean thank you a million times over to my dad who is letting me borrow his computer until i purchase one of my own. r.i.p. jenni's computer. you fought the good fight.)

life is beautiful.

To play a little catch up...

2010-06-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

...Aubs, Chels, Jenny, Elissa, and I drove to Colorado two weeks ago for Allie's wedding.

It was perfect.

Perfect wedding.

Perfect visit home.

Perfect seeing my parents.

Perfect seeing old friends.

Perfect drive.

Here are some pictures from the adventure:

Welcome to Colorado!

Right after dinner at the Cheesecake Factory during the bachelorette party.

The girls at Allie's house in CO.

Allie = absolutely gorgeous bride.

The girls at the reception.

Leslie, Elissa, Jenny, Chels, Aubs and Me at Allie's wedding reception.

Me and my parents at the reception. Love them, love them, love them.

Larry and I at the wedding reception.

(Larry- Move to Utah already, please. Thanks.)

Hiking in Deer Creek Canyon.

The girls at the Denver Chalk Art Festival.

Sidenote: We made the drive back in 6.75 hours. This includes 2 stops.

(The trip usually takes between 7 and 8 hours.)

Record.

Thank you, America.

at the moment.

2010-05-30T23:38:00.000-07:00

things on my mind at the moment:

really happy i don't have to work tomorrow.
really happy i get to go to colorado in three days.
really happy i get to see mar, mom, and dad.
really happy i only have to work one day this week.
(i know it sounds like i hate work, but i actually love my job. fact.)
really happy allie gets married on FRIDAY! :)
really can't wait to go running with boogs tomorrow. mainly for reasons other than running. :)
kind of wish i was still in brian head at dane's cabin. weekend vacations are just the very best.
kind of wish i was in philly visiting some people (sar, heids, colin, and sugs).
kind of wish ash, allen, and ty weren't leaving utah forever in a week and a half.
kind of wish i could travel the world.

2010-05-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

Can someone please tell me

why it is snowing

on MAY 24th?

2010-05-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

i know that everyone in provo is ready for the summer heat,

but can i just say that i absolutely love all the rain.

there was lightning and thunder last night for maybe ten minutes.

such a good ten minutes.

I'm on a boat.

2010-05-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

First vacation of the summer: Lake Havasu

Who: 14 people that bring joy to my soul.

What: Boating, boating, injuries, boating, sunshine, eating, tennis,

boating, soccer, injuries, boating, boating, sunshine, boating, eating, boating, boating, bliss.
When: April 27- May 2

Injuries: 2 ripped labial frenulums (we still don't know how TWO people suffered from this random injury), one broken hand, 2 chipped teeth, 1 concussion.

Here is a picture of my and John's ripped frenulums. John ripped his about an hour before I did the exact same. After I resurfaced (I ate it hard on the wakeboard, to say the least haha) and everyone saw that I was bleeding (sorry--graphic), I felt my nose first thinking of course that it had to be my nose--I have broken it twice already so it would only be natural. But no. So then I stuck my tongue up by my gums, felt a nice little hole, and kind of laughed. Ripped Frenulum #2: Check. I could barely talk because I had the wind knocked out of me so bad, so I just pointed to John and nodded my head and smiled a gross, bloody smile. Nobody could believe it haha.

I'll be honest...when I saw John had ripped it I thought to myself, "Was his mouth WIDE OPEN when he fell?" In answer to that question: no it wasn't, and it doesn't even matter.
The water will get you anyways. Exhibit A.

Here are some pictures of the rest of the trip. The best people. The best place. The overall best. It was the perfect way to start off the summer. Now if Utah could stay about 75 degrees for more than 2 days, we would be in business :)

Some of the girls at dinner in Havasu.

Whit and I on the way down. This hurt haha.

The Crew at dinner. (Such an awkward picture.)

My seat was permanently on the floor everywhere we went. So worth it. :)

Greatest people ever.

Whit and I post first day of boating.

Basically it was an awesome 5 days. My friends are the absolute greatest.
Long live Lake Havasu.
I already miss it.

This is funny.

2010-05-06T15:56:00.000-07:00

I find

this video

hilarious.

kapeesh? kapeesh.

(I need to learn how to embed videos.)

Mrs. Gulbranson

2010-05-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Jill Bill

who is getting married today!

I love Jill because

we got lost in Europe together

her eyes look like sunflowers

she is incredibly giving

she gives great back massages

she has a heart of gold

she always looks adorable

she is Jill Bill.

At Wimbledon.

In Venice.

In Paris.

How can you resist this? I know. You can't.

Congratulations Jill and Garyn!

my life is ideal because...

2010-04-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

I just bought tickets to this:

I leave for this tomorrow morning:

And I get to see my mom this weekend.

ideal? indeed.

i may or may.

2010-04-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

thoughts of the day:

i may or may be obsessed with john mayer's music. best music to edit and design to.

i may or may aspire to write just like bill simmons.

i may or may be missing spain and a little chalet on the calle violeta.

i may or may love my job. both of them. a lot.

i may or may be completely in love with the sunshine.

i may or may want to volunteer at the olympics in london.

i may or may want to buy a mac. next week.

i may or may completely love elissa urban. soulmate.

i may or may be slightly in love with SLAB pizza. (if you are in provo it is a must have.)

2010-04-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

my day went something like this.

woke up.

went to work.

met Bono's wife at Victoria Secret while buying a bridal shower gift.

(don't worry--she had already purchased $3,000 [yes $3,000] worth of merchandise.)

drove back to work.

met travis pastrana. (nicest guy ever.)

and yes, this all happened in provo, utah.

2010-04-07T08:57:00.001-07:00

i am in vegas.

it is 80 degrees.

that is all.

happiness.

because my dad is the coolest dad...

2010-04-06T09:40:00.000-07:00

happy birthday, dad!!!

i do love you oh so much.

love blog.

2010-04-02T12:16:00.001-07:00

in lieu of my hate-filled outburst yesterday, i feel the need to balance things out a little.

so here are a few things i love in no particular order, for no particular reason.

sleeping with the window open, even in the dead of winter.

driving at night.

rice pudding.

editing.

writing.

baseball games.

football games.

ketchup.

daisies.

sweet potato fries.

robert downey jr.

general conference.

sweats.

moccasins.

toast and butter.

frantic phone calls from heidi when she is lost.

cardigans.

harry potter.

and i'm gonna go ahead and say that if you are reading this, i love you too.

hate blog.

2010-04-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

dear vail pass,

why are you the way that you are?

every time i try to go home to colorado you provide some form hinderance,

i.e. the SEVERE SNOWSTORM that you conjured up for today.

and now you are closed and icy and i can't get through.

i just wanted to see my mom and dad.

i just wanted to spend saturday afternoon catching up with my mom.

i just wanted to spend saturday night watching a movie and eating a pint of ben and jerry's with my dad.

i just wanted to sleep in my bed.

i just wanted to eat food that only the gods are subject to.

i just wanted to go home for a little bit.

love,

jenni

Of Note.

2010-03-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

Things I am looking forward to in the next month or so...

1. Heidi is now an official employee of Anthropologie. Congratulations to Heidi and a warm welcome to you, discount.
2. Roadtrip to Vegas for 4 days with Aubs and Whit. Three cheers for hotel pools and avoiding any unnecessary contact with the strip.
3. General Conference!
4. HOME for Easter weekend. There's nothing better than a weekend with Ma and Pa Gasparrini.
5. Easter. Meaning Starburst Jelly beans and dyeing eggs.
6. Baseball. Bless this sport. I am still upset that I didn't get to go to Spring Training this year. My excitement for the regular season to begin is paramount.
7. LAKE HAVASU. One week. 14 people. Boating. Beach house. Complete bliss.
8.Weddings, weddings, and more weddings. Meaning absolutely beautiful brides, stunning grooms, and oh-so-delicious food.
9. Tax returns. Thank you, Sir Government.
10. SPRING. Meaning warm weather, FLOWERS, chirping birds, dew, and enjoyable running.

Thank you March, April, and May. You are too good to me. :)

The King.

2010-03-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

This little man turned one yesterday.

Does it get any cuter?

Didn't think so.

Love you, Q.

Because You're the Best.

2010-03-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to my darling little sister, Hannah.

You are

beautiful, fun, charitable, hilarious,
amazing, intelligent, and stunning.

Not to mention you have the

best laugh and butt

this world has ever seen.

I LOVE YOU, BOOGS!

If you didn't know already...

2010-03-18T15:31:00.000-07:00

...I love lists.

So here is yet another. These are reasons why I love this day.

1. The NCAA Tournament started today. Bring on March Madness.
2. The first phone call I received from by boss this morning was a panicked call about his bracket and the pool he was in, not about work-related things.
3. By noon, everyone was crowded around my computer watching/anticipating a BYU WIN BABY! :)
4. In the midst of all this, my boss reminded me that he didn't make me clock out, followed by an explanation of how there are few things that matter more then March Madness.
5. During the games this morning, my boss walked around with large stick pretzels in his mouth pretending they were celebration cigars.
6. I ate breakfast AT HOME this morning. That never happens.
7. My broken knee/broken foot didn't ache with pain when I woke up this morning. Healing? I think so.
8. Events/conversations like this happened:
Elissa: lavell Edwards just called

me: excuse me?

Elissa: you read me

9. I haven't been outside since 9 a.m. (ew), but I am pretty sure the temp is between fifty and sixty degrees.

10. My little sister's birthday is TOMORROW!!

Bless this day.

I missed you.

2010-03-05T08:59:00.000-08:00

Welcome back, Baseball.

You have been sorely missed.

On another note, this was actual NEWS today. I find it rather hilarious and quite honestly, a little bit of genius.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35662350/ns/health-pet_health/

2010-03-01T12:05:00.000-08:00

dear sun,

thank you for making my car hot today at lunch. you know how much i adore hot car. and thank you for allowing me to roll down my window while driving. i am patiently (barely)anticipating your CONTINUED stay.

i love you.

love,

jenni

Brother, Bring On the Sun

2010-02-26T11:42:00.001-08:00

Work is a little slow today (understatement), so I am taking advantage of the lull to bring to the world the latest and greatest of my life. Be grateful.

So here again, in no particular order, are the things I am loving about life right now....

1. Goldfish (the cracker, not the animal). I literally eat 1-2 bags a day. I am healthy.
2. My job.
3. This video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFcIH2tK2iM
4. The woman who just came into my work selling the softest most delicious cookies ever. Yes, I purchased 3 and told her I loved her. (For the record, she said she loved me, too)
5. The Olympics: All day, every day, no days off. I love you, Apolo Ohno…even if you do have the nastiest soul patch ever.
6. I am now allowed to start anticipating summer without feeling like it will never come.
7. My new, wonderful roomie, Hannah.
8. My future roommate, Kelsey, who I must say has some of the greatest dance moves I have personally ever seen.
9. The Bachelor…even though Jake is seriously awkward and Ali is gone.
10. All the time I have to write.
11. Its finally warming up so maybe, just maybe, I won’t have to wear a beanie/gloves/seven layers when I go running.
12. Hearing about the many men in an amazingly large age range that hit on my little sister on a daily basis.
13. The phrase “Mazel Tov”. I will listen to that Black-eyed Peas song “I’ve Got a Feeling” just so I can hear it.
14. Sharing clothes with my roommate Maggie. It is ACTUALLY like having access to Anthropologie every morning. I love her.
15. The screen on my computer, which only stays up when propped up by two orange candles stacked on a book.
16. All the random dancing. So much dancing.
17. My long, blue down coat from Gap that was on sale for $30 (down from $130. I KNOW.)
18. My ward. They are the coolest ward.
19. G-chatting in ALL CAPS with Al because we get so excited about things.
20. CHIZZLE. Oh and Byron.
21. February is my birthday month which has meant a month of FREE things (i.e. Coldstone, Red Robin, and Tucanos). Thank you, America.
22. The phrase “Oh my gosh”, but only when said like the lady on SNL who loves surprises. (I tried to find a video, but sadly, I couldn’t.)
23. Life.

2010-02-24T11:57:00.000-08:00

dear summer,

let's rendezvous.

love, jenni

2010-02-17T17:37:00.000-08:00

I really like this quote, so I thought I'd share...

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity… It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” -Melody Beattie

Well said.

2010-02-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

My efforts to clean the kitchen went awry the other day. Very awry.

Yes, this actually happened.

I was standing in my kitchen only to find bubbles rapidly surrounding my feet.

(I pictures on my phone which won't download.)

First reaction: Uncontrollable laughter.

First thought: How many times in your life have you loaded a dishwasher? How did this happen?

It was a good day. :)

2010-02-01T19:02:00.000-08:00

When I was little, I always had this idea that if I were to ever get electrocuted, I would immediately become smarter. I have absolutely no idea when or where this idea was first formulated, but regardless, it was. I was convinced that although I knew/know absolutely nothing of math and its concepts that upon my electrocution, I would be able to rattle off even the most rare and difficult of math problems and theories with ease. I figured I would become some kind of childhood Einstein, impressing the world with my sudden incomparable intellect and genius. (Yes, these were my actual childhood thoughts.)

Well. I was electrocuted this weekend.

I am not any smarter. Instead, I have a continuous shake in two fingers of my left hand.

Such a let down.

Childhood fantasy #1 down, millions more to go.