February Challenge

I need something positive to focus on and think this just might be it!

Who else is in?

2012 Theme

again, nothing to do with the post. i just really love it here

Two years ago I decided to have a theme for the year, rather than resolutions. For some reason I think a theme will be easier to follow through on......don't question my logic, it works for me. Last year's theme was to take more risks. I feel satisfied with my effort and I am happily back in my comfort zone but grateful for the experiences and what I learned.

2012 is all about MONEY. I am a fritterer extraordinaire and it is bad. Bad, bad, bad. I never think twice about getting something from Starbucks, a $13 shirt from Target, or eating out once or twice a day. Yeah, gross. Casually throwing away $5-$20 several times a day is just juvenile and I'm over it. And I am morbidly curious about how much money I can save this year.

The crazy, scary, unimaginable plan I have come up with is to primarily live using a cash budget. I have a specific amount set aside for necessities every month. If it's not a necessity, it's not in the budget. SCARY! I started after the first full week of the month and it has been startling to see how much I used to give in to every urge. 

My dad says that a budget may seem restrictive but what it really does is ends up freeing you. 

2012 - year of freedom

Do you ever feel like you can't say or do anything right? That your feelings are real and valid to you but seem ridiculous or exaggerated to others? What do you do when you just want to run away and start over, rewind the clock and set up a life of totally different experiences?

I want my mom.

Who's Happy It's Friday?

I only hope that someday I can be as happy as that dog. Heck, I'd even accept half as happy! 

Have a great weekend!

Can I Get an Amen!

This is short and sweet - click this link for more amazingness from a writer of yesteryear. Who is going to be the first to make some amazing multimedia about his things to worry about? Whoever it is, hurry up and do it so I can pin it and mount it on my wall!

Aquari-fun

Last Saturday we went to the National Aquarium to celebrate Nate's belated birthday. He would marry his own aquarium so Megan had the brilliant idea of going to our nation's....

He was especially interested in the albino alligators (a bit underwhelming, if you ask me). I don't like zoos or any sort of animals on display. Animals want to roam! Nate hates that about me

We like each other. 

And then we pigged out at Shake Shack.

Nom.

“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.”

- Alan Cohen

(I added the underlines because they are my favorite)

Steinbeck Love Advice

My friend emailed my roommates and me this link today. I sat reading it at the kitchen table and I wept. It was not an ugly cry, it was what one does when the beauty of the written word becomes too much for your body to contain. My favorite lines:

First -- if you are in love -- that's a good thing -- that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone -- there is no possible harm in saying so

And don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens -- The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

nothing good gets away

HELLO

Hello from ant1mat3rie on Vimeo.

As a huge Lionel Richie fan this just tickles me to no end!

"Common" Sense

(photo is not at all related to the topic, I just like him)

Recently I have had two situations completely boggle my mind at the sheer level of absurdity they have presented. It has brought another issue to my attention -

I am uncomfortable with those who have different common sense than me.

Odd statement, no? You're probably thinking that I'm confused about that actual definition of common sense, but because of these recent experiences, I assure you, I have a firm grasp on the phrase. That last sentence had too many commas and was poorly constructed. Deal. Anyway, I have recently butted heads with another person's perception of reality and have even done the painful thing of trying to understand their reasoning. I have even accepted that maybe I'm the one who's common sense ain't so common. (luckily I have Devon and Megan to assure me that I am very much (mostly) normal). In each situation I have walked away flabbergasted as to what I could possibly do to mitigate any further annoyances without compromising my intellect.

How do you tell someone that they are SO wrong?

I get along with people I disagree with all the time. I don't need to share a religion, political party, or taste in music. I even get along with people who like peanut butter! Granted, that's almost everyone and I recognize I'm definitely the minority here but *yuck*. The people I am most uncomfortable around are those who I feel lack common sense, yet feel as though they have it and can tell you why.

Ugh. I wish I could tell you both stories in entirety so you could really understand what I mean but that's not what I do on this ole' blog. Nope, I take the more passive aggressive route. Classy, and don't I know it. Sorry for the rant, your regularly scheduled program will be back shortly.

.yum.

I am devouring this dish lately! It's super healthy, easy, and most important - it's delicious!

-half a medium sized tomato

-one third or half of a cucumber

-half cup(ish) of sweet corn

-half an avocado

-one third(ish) cup black beans

-dash of salt

mash it all together, yo!

Seriously, I eat this everyday! I have a hard time getting enough protein in my diet so this helps quite a bit and lessens how much fish I have to eat. I feel so vegetarian when I eat it, which practically means that I'm on par with Natalie Portman or Carrie Underwood since they're both vegetarians. Yep, I'm famous.

Try it, if you like those ingredients, you'll love this dish!

*star*

oh, this just gives me such a happy heart today

............

it's probably how moms feel for their babies all the time

Wicked

When Becca was here we made the crazy awesome crazyawesome decision to drive to NYC and see Wicked onstage and then turn around and head home. We drove a total of 9 hours and were in NYC for about 4 and a half. WORTH IT!!! We got home at 4am fueled by 5 Hour Energy drinks and Diet Mt Dew. Delicious.

away we go! yes, modeling with a tuna wrap in your hand is the only way to successfully start a trip

rest stop love. we drove through 5 states that day

bright lights, big city

MECCA

megan's fifth time, my second, becca's first!

even the "cheap" seats are pretty great

elphaba and glinda were amazing! especially my girl, elphaba

i just really like both of them

CONFESSION: every time I go to NYC I desperately hope that I will finally get a ride in the Cash Cab. planning another trip soon, I will make this happen

Rube Goldberg

This man is not Rube Goldberg, he is just a specialist in the method. The idea is to take everyday objects and have them accomplish some mundane task - but it has to be in indirect, creative way. It's kind of like domino's but with a simple goal at completion.

The band Ok Go did a music video featuring this method a couple of years ago. Think about how long it must have taken to set this up! The engineering! More exclamation points! This really does it for the nerd in me.

I hope they got it right the first time......

Happy Friday, Y'all

Charlie the Genius

not the best advice but is seriously tempting sometimes

Georgetown Love

I will always take visitors to Georgetown. Period. It's pretty much my favorite place in DC and they have the best treats there. Quite an easy decision if you ask me!

We started in Paper Source. Yep. Started the tour in a paper store.....where we managed to stay for over 40 minutes and had to talk each other down from spending WAY too much money. We could have spent that time on just the card section alone, however we had to hustle over to Baked and Wired to meet Devon.

Oh hello, Peppermint Patty cupcake. This is the best cupcake place in DC, hands down. Everyone got the perfect cupcake for them and while we all offered to share, I think the mutual feeling was "keep your dirty hands off my treat!"

We finished the tour at Dean and Deluca. Always so much to look at! 

This was one of my favorite nights of Becca's visit. Lots of favorites all in one spot - what's better than that?!?

2012

This was an especially phenomenal New Years Eve. We dined, danced, and did a whole lot 'o lovin. I honestly have the funniest/best/coolest/tallest friends on Earth and there was no one else I would have rather started the year with. Behold, the only photo we took in all our dressed up glory -

I have a gigantic crush on everyone in this picture. Myself included.

I would get into details, but those are for our memories and they just wouldn't be as funny to retell. And let's face it, I don't want to make anyone jealous. You're welcome.

One last photo to sum up the evening.........

Becca, Nate - this pretty much sums it up, no?

Happy New Year! May this one be better than the last!

01/12/12

One of my favorite TV shows is back on Thursday. 

I'm pretty sure only Danica and Madi care. 

But seriously girls, AREN'T YOU SO EXCITED?!?!?!

(D and M, you totally read those in their voices, didn't you?)

Founding Farmers

The amazing Becca came back to DC with me after Christmas. It was quite possibly the greatest week of my life! She came here for professional reasons but we spent all of our time outside of work eating, playing, laughing, and speaking in British accents. Twice we went to our favorite restaurant, Founding Farmers, check it out here. This restaurant just makes me do happy sighs all over the place.

mid chicken and waffles bite

fried green tomatoes! my first!

more happy sighs....

oh heyyyy

Come visit me and I will be sure to take you there!

Catching Up

This is quite possibly the longest blogging break I have had in years! Glad to be back! You ready for a crazy onslaught of holiday pictures? Good. Here goes -

I got to spend some amazing quality time with Ashley and Owen (Becca too but no picture, boo). They picked me up from the airport and we promptly went and ate too much.

We met up with my family at the Children's Museum in Salt Lake for a bit. Look at my beautiful Haven-girl. Nothing beats being an aunt!

We walked around Temple Square and took in the lights. I'll be honest, I love the Square but I could do without the lights and the freezing.

Aunt Rachel brought rock candy, show me your tongue!

Naomi was SO cute! Everything she pulled out of her stocking she had to show everyone

Skyping with Aunt Maria who is on a mission in Italy

I heart technology - family pictures from across the world!

Naomi and Grant - I'm obsessed

Skyping with Taylor in Chile. What a cool kid. 

Such a fun age! Grant at 5 months

Elisabeth won the sentimental gift this year. They made my parents a sign with the location of each of us kids and how many miles we are from my parents.

What's up, DC!!!

This is how Porter smiles

The neighbors brought over farm fresh eggs for a Christmas treat. Gorgeous!

Naomi modeling the beanie I got her

We like each other

My nieces and nephews are my happiness.

Being home with family and friends was amazing. I'm grateful for every moment with them, I just wish they weren't so few and far between! I hope yours was equally lovely!