Monday, July 30, 2007

Kevin & Rachel's Wedding

Here's a little preview for those of you wondering about Steve's brother's wedding. I took quite a few pictures, but I have to go pick up Steve from school so we can go enjoy eating Chinese food at the beach for FHE.

Anyway, here's the newest set of Waltons, right after they came through the temple doors. Cute huh?

Look at those smiles. These two are radiant.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

C'est Amusant...

Two things:

1. I finished Harry Potter 7 last night. I am surprisingly sad that the series is over, but I did think the book was really well done. I feel like part of my childhood is over, though, or teenagehood, which is a weird feeling. I won't say any more than that because a lot of people are still reading it (and I LOVE seeing people all over carrying it around! I feel SUCH a sense of comradery... I want to ask people, "So, what page are you on?")

2. I found this during a short break at work, and it amused me:
How To Make Homer Simpson's Donut Trophy

Monday, July 23, 2007

Reading Harry Potter

Well I'm on page 565, so I guess I won't be writing until I've finished. :-)

Saturday, July 21, 2007

DOORBUSTERS!

Steve and I were "DOORBUSTERS" this morning. Meaning we got up to go to the 8am-1pm sale at Penney's, because Steve needed a new suit, and Jenna's Steve had gotten a fantastic one from there. I was a little skeptical about Penneys, having had a less than fantastic experience with it as a child/young teen, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Steve of course, found a fantastic suit (which looks very nice on him). It is a tan wool/cashmere blend, retailed at over $400, he got it for $198 because of the sale. Sweet!

I got not one, but TWO dresses (both at 50% off--woo!), both of which I really like. Now I will only have trouble deciding which one to wear to Kevin & Rachel's wedding on Friday.

We also went to the fabric store, to stock up on stuff for my new (new-to-me) sewing machine. I bought thread it different colors (including hot pink and aqua!), a seam ripper, and a measuring tape.


I made this little guy (below) as a warm up. It's been a long time since I've used a machine, so he was fun. He appears to be a seal, though he was originally intended to be a porcupine. Obviously he had other plans. Even though he isn't the best looking thing, I love him, and I'm proud because he's the first thing I made myself on the machine. Steve named him Frederick.


This is my "sewing area" a.k.a. our kitchen table:



AND... to top off an already fantastic (I've used that word like 3 times, sorry) day, my copy of HARRY POTTER came in the mail today!


I am such a geek that I sat right down and immediately started reading it. Steve was very nice about it. Though as I sat down to post, he started in on it as well...


We might have to battle it out...

Friday, July 20, 2007

Simple Things

Things about today that I enjoyed:

  1. Reading a magazine in the courtyard on my lunch break
  2. Egg sandwich for lunch (that probably sounds gross... but its a childhood favorite)
  3. A big hug from Steve after work
  4. My co-worker, Jennifer, had saved me a bunch of boxes to pack up (we're moving soon)
  5. Apple Cinnamon Cheerios for breakfast
  6. Thinking about getting my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows tomorrow
  7. My bosses dog taking a nap under my desk while I worked. (Hard to tell, but that is his tail-end up against my computer tower as he snoozes).

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Wedding Dresses

So, reading my post below makes me realize, I totally want to wear my wedding dress again. I mean, come on, its gorgeous. It fits perfectly. You accessorize it with a tiara.

I'm trying to come up with a reason that would warrant wearing a wedding dress (besides a wedding).

Monday, July 16, 2007

Miracles

Kevin (Steve's brother) and Rachel's wedding is coming up in less than two weeks now, and it is pretty easy to fall under the spell of it all. I've been thinking, isn't it a miracle that two people can find each other, and fall in love, and be perfect for each other? I'm not saying that it's easy, or that marriage is simple, but isn't it just a miracle that you can love someone so much, and then they love you back, so much, and you work together towards this new life that belongs to both of you?

I think that is just one of the most incredible miracles of all.

I love weddings. I'm beginning to see why other people love them so much, too, even after they are married. It makes you reevaluate; it makes you remember.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Weekend

It's been a nice, busy weekend. James went to the temple for the first time yesterday, so Allana and Jenna drove down from UCLA and Davis respectively. It was beautiful to see so many friends all in such a gorgeous place. We went to Islands for lunch afterwards, and everyone talked a mile a minute.

Steve kind of gave notice at The Melting Pot, too, and that feels good for both of us. He has been so unhappy working there, that I don't mind having a little extra income for a bit while he finds something he actually likes. We're of the mind that you should like what you do, or don't do it. Anyway, with MCATs coming up, he has enough on his plate. Just a month left and he will be done with them!

We' re up visiting my family right now. We went to a movie & dinner last night to celebrate my mom's and my birthdays, and today my parents gave me my birthday gift--a sewing machine. I am bubbling over with enthusiasm. I want to sew everything in the world. :-)

Dad and Steve are in the other room watching a movie. Cute to see them getting comfortable with each other. I think Steve and I are really beginning to feel a part of one another's families, and that is wonderful. I love having a bigger family!

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix

Rating: * * * * (4/5 stars)

So... We saw Harry Potter 5 last night. My rating might be unfair, because I love Harry Potter. Yes, it's true. I am eagerly awaiting next Saturday, when book 7 will arrive on my doorstep. But anyways, I may have liked this movie best of the Potter films thus far. The new director was very creative. There is a lot of plot to tackle from the book in not a lot of time, but I felt (finally) that enough of the important parts were left in (the others cut out a LOT of good information). He also used newspaper clippings to tell a lot of story in a very little time, and I thought that was clever. The cast (except for Harry, who--lets face it--is just not a good actor) was even better this year. They are all shaping up to be pretty good little actors. And Alan Rickman was awesome as Snape--as usual. Also really liked Imelda Stanton as Professor Umbridge. She is the most evil woman, but hides it so well (sometimes). Perfect.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Goal #6

So much for posting 7 times yesterday. But I did go to the gym!!! YES!!! That's a pretty big deal for me. I think my goal is going to be 3 times a week, plus really good stretching every day. I am like the least limber person ever, for the following reasons:

  • I do not like to work out, and that is pretty much hand in hand with stretching
  • Stretching hurts (duh because I'm not limber)
  • I am short, so my feet don't touch the ground, so I sit cross-legged all the time, which means no stretching happens all day
Yep. So stretching, too.

New goal (#6): Blog 5 times a week!

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

We Can Work It Out

Goal #5: Go to the gym. No, really.

Is there any such thing as good looking gym clothes, I wonder? At least what I have on now is better than what we wore for PE in middle school (small consolation). But yeah, there is no giant cartoon Viking on my shirt right now. So I guess I will be grateful for the small things.

I might post like 7 times today. I'm in a blogging mood.

OFF TO THE GYM!!! NOW!!!

Thursday, July 05, 2007

I'm Just a Little Black Raincloud

Today my computer at work was grumpy. I tried to reason with it. I restarted, waited for it's hourglass, ctrl+alt+delete-ed, and nothing would satisfy it. Nothing! My supervisor likes to stand behind me whenever I do anything significant to my computer. Like uninstall. Or reinstall. Anything. He wasn't there today, so instead he sat on the phone with me for 1/2 hour while I uninstalled and reinstalled a program. Yep.

A bird almost flew in my car window at lunch and it scared me to death. I screamed. For real.

Grumpy grumpy grumpy. But at least I'm home now. Reading craft blogs and dreaming about what I will scrapbook or sew... when I learn how to do one of those things... :-)

Is it rain cloud one word or two? Raincloud? Rain cloud? I like one better, so I guess I'll stick with that.

Monday, July 02, 2007

Twenty-Two Goals: Photolog

I am making a list of goals in my head (and on the sidebar of this blog) for year twenty-two. It seems like a big deal to be twenty -two... Somehow 21 sounds still safely closer to childhood than adulthood. But 22 sounds closer to adulthood.

I've decided now that I'm done with school, I should finally start doing all those things I "want to do with my life." Steve is so fun because he's always supportive and excited when I come up with a new project, and sometimes he'll even want to do it with me.

He is a very gifted photographer. Really. His photos are beautiful. I aspire to be like him in so many ways, and I really admire his "eye" for composition. Anyway, here is the first goal I am going to share with you: I want to be able to take beautiful photos. Should be easy, right? Haha.

Here are some I took this weekend, that I think came out well.








Twenty-Two

I had a great 22nd birthday. Here is how it went....



12:02 AM
Steve presented me with a beautiful birthday cake at 12:02am, the exact minute I was born.

Happy Birthday Cake
He had made it entirely by himself, and it was beautiful. Two layers of fluffy vanilla cake with chocolate frosting. It tasted just as good as it looked. And he did all that detail using just a ziploc bag with a little hole cut in the tip!!!
Yummmm
We wanted to take a lot of photos of it before we ate it, because of its prettiness. YAY CAKE!

We got up early (for us) on Saturday morning and went over to the movie theater to watch Ratatouille! It was so cute! And as always with Pixar, brilliant and beautiful. We got lunch at Jack in the Box (that's what I wanted) and then headed over to the mall for some shopping. That wore us out, so we came home and watched a couple of episodes of "Planet Earth" (so neat!) before heading out again for another adventure...


Driving up the 101
We drove up the 101 in search of fun & food.


Del Mar Fairgrounds
We passed the Del Mar Fairgrounds...

Birthday Toes
...and ended up at Grandview Beach, the beach we went to for our wedding photos. Those are my birthday-toes in the water. The tide was so high that the water was almost touching the cliffs behind us.

Splish Splash
Steve started frolicking in the water.

Under the Lifeguard Tower
It was so warm that he decided to go for a spontaneous swim.

Drip Drip Drop
Only problem with that was that he ended up soaking wet, and with no change of clothes.

Ringing Out
He tried to wring out his pantlegs, but that wasn't too successful.

Kiss Kiss
I gave him a kiss, even though it was MY birthday. (So he should have given me one, right?)

We had dinner at this delicious bakery on the 101 called St. Tropez Bakery. We sat outside and munched on sandwiches. There was a lot of good people watching there, and also a live jazz band out in the plaza, so we had a really nice time. We were going to head down to ColdStone, but got sidetracked by how dirty the car was and headed to...

THE CAR WASH
The CAR WASH!!! (We're in it. See the windows?)

Steve <3's the Car Wash
It terrified Steve.

After the car wash we did make it over to ColdStone, where I cashed in my coupon for a free "Love It" size (medium) chocolate icecream with gummy bears & brownies mixed in. We shared it. Speaking of, you can sign up for a FREE COLDSTONE BIRTHDAY ICE CREAM at their website!!! YAY!

Also, enjoy this video of us in the car wash: