we are summer people.

the warm, sunny weather brings out a whole different beckie. in the summertime, i am up for anything. i have energy, i am happy, i want to be outside running around, climbing, swimming, rowing, playing, hiking- anything and everything.  but as soon as winter sets in, so do my "blah months". i get a little plushier. a little paler. a little moodier. a little blah. netflix and naps become my best friends.
but the weather has been warming up a bit and the sunshine has been peeking through, so my spirits have been a little better. i am so excited for summer. of course, come summer, we will be in LA which will be year round summer and that will just be fantastic. but for now i am in that "it's almost summer" workout, wardrobe revamp, better eating, regimen.  and i by better...i mean i might go an extra 5 minutes on the stairstepper and i will eat one less cheeseburger a week. maybe.

to really get this sunny life stuff going, i started using this. much less expensive and MUCH less harmful than real tanning. it actually works and doesn't make you stinky, sticky or streaky. or give you melanoma and wrinkles.  i really like it (i also mix mine with my everyday body lotion - that has spf and seems to help with diluting the scent and providing a flawless application). the name is pretty true, no george hamilton pumpkin skin...just a healthy bronze that is a little boost of ahhhh.

this is probably the BEST lip treatment i have ever had. it is a baby vaseline. $1.50 and for the first time in ever, i can even wear lipstick and my lips don't dry out. a little color, whether it be on my skin, nails, shoes, or lips really does make your day a little brighter. vaseline is on my list of tried and true miracles (like baking soda, water, sleep and toothpaste).

we have also been spending a little more time at the quarry.  just hanging out.  yep, i said it.

rock climbing and bouldering are great way to work out, practice communication (something about hanging by a rope 25 feet in the air with nothing but your girlfriend hanging onto you really helps build trust...) and to really challenge your mind and body. once upon a time, i went climbing quite a bit, but since living in the valley, not as much.  i have missed it and i am glad that we are making this a regular part of our week. not only is it fabulous mental and physical exercise, but it has been really fun to involve j in one of my favorite sports. it makes us all the more excited for the warmer weather so we can go tackle some real climbs outdoors.

oats are one of my all time favorite power foods. they fill me up and it is cheap! the Abundance is 5 packs of instant oatmeal with cranberries, flax seed and raw oats. it is amazing. and $1.00 (when on sale). bam. breakfast and snack of champions. 

i have been crafting too (according to mama, march is national crafting month. how appropriate.). j even helps...in a totally non homo way. it's like his manly way of building stuff but helping me. we have been making things for our new apartment and for wedding ideas. it has been more fun than i expected. i am obsessed with this trellis pattern.

we have some pretty creative plans so far. but a lot of them won't be complete until this arrives (tomorrow!)

i am getting to be so domestic and wifey it's gross. but kinda awesome. it isn't as awful, boring and stressful as i anticipated it being. it's challenging (mainly because i am retarded with these sort of things) and economical.

even more gross- we have been reading books and listening to firesides about marriage.  but the DTR by elias gourgouris is one of the best talks i have ever heard on the subject.  i actually heard it the first time way before i ever even met jared but it was so good that i went out and got it for us to listen to together. married, single, dating, whatever your companion status, i highly recommend this. (please disregard the 19 year olds on the cover). 

and so we begin another week. baby will be 4. the sewing machine will be here. it is supposed to be sunny all week. and wedding clothes are coming together, finally! and i am 1 day closer to forgiving the aholes that towed my car. which means instead of blowing up THEIR cars, i might just leave mean sticky notes and voodoo dolls.

ok that's all.

(the little girl outfits...my nieces are going to be so cute...just wait til you see the boys, suspenders, bow ties, and sperrys?! just want to eat em up).

is it only 10:30 in the morning? i am already starving.

as you know, the past couple of months, i have been trying to expand my culinary skills. true to beckiestyle, i do not like to follow recipes. i like to be guided by recipes and then add my own flair, tweaks, and love. sometimes it works out marvelously, other times...we would be better off fasting.

yesterday i tried a new crockpot soup. i rarely use my slow cooker, even though there are so many great recipes for it, i just never need to make that much food at a time. this time it was a victory. a few people wanted the recipe and stuff, so here it is:

32 oz frozen hashbrowns

42 oz chicken broth

1 can cream of chicken soup

pepper

1 package cream cheese (cannot be the low-fat kind because it will not melt correctly)

6-8 hours on high

i originally got the recipe from here. it seemed simple enough and we had red potatoes left over from earlier in the week and i had an 8lb ham to use up.  (mama always put ham or bacon in her potato soup and it made it sooooo much more yummy!!!).  

i put the hashbrowns, chicken broth, pepper, chopped red potatoes and cream of chicken soup into the crockpot. at about 3 hours in, i added the chunks of ham. and an hour before you are ready to serve, add the cream cheese. so it was pretty much the same but i did not add the onions (original recipe calls for 1/2 c), i added a little garlic, the potatoes (definitely recommend you add some...it just makes it better) and ham and it was some of the best potato soup that i have ever had. i cannot wait until it is 11:30 and i can go heat some up for lunchtime. 

i am not trying to be one of those braggy cooking people, i just was so excited about how easy, inexpensive and surprisingly delicious this was, that i had to share.

besides eating yummy soup, it was a fairly relaxing weekend. watched some friends in their intramural team games, went to dinner, made breakfast with the ward, watched some movies, snuggled and just hung out. it was really nice.

oh we also went to the matt costa concert.  now i know that i already said this to some people...but i felt bad for him. it was probably his worst audience ever. they set him up in the wilk with a $10 sound system and 300 zoobies. as jared said, it literally felt like EFY. it was like matt costa had been assigned community service and had to come to byu. it was real bad. felt awful for him. but it was still fun to go and his music is really good. but it is amazing how much the crowd affects the entire show...

ps i filed my taxes and i get.... wait for it.. $35 back! shopping spree???? :/

i have small dreams.

at first i thought that i had a rather boring weekend. but looking back, i realize that it was actually a pretty good one. friday night i had a couple social obligations... well i came home from work at 5 and fell asleep until 9. oops. but it did feel really good to catch up on sleep. i cannot remember the last time that i wasn't just a little bit tired. jared was understanding and let me have my nap and then we went to the gym. i have never been one to work out with other people.  but it was actually pretty enjoyable.  saturday morning we met up and went to yoga, then made a healthy breakfast and took care of our errands, homework, cleaning, etc. later that night, i accompanied the boys to the car show. 

i loved seeing the old cars. and they were pristine. but i have to admit, the new cars were pretty darn nice. some were pretty interesting... and some (the bottom right) cost more than the average american home. why not, right? motivation for higher education. but the truth was...out of all those cars ranging from the ford focus to the maserati, my dream car was still,

that sweedish beauty. safe and pretty. powerful and understated. i loved it.

[segue here]

once upon a time i used to work out a lot. and i mean a lot. at least 2 hours a day and sometimes twice or three times or day. or i would just wear gym clothes constantly and run or use weights around my house, pilates bands, yoga balls, you name it. i loved it. but it was a little ridiculous. i wasn't trying to attain anything. i wasn't training for anything. yet i would blow off socializing to go the gym. i would end dates early so i could get to the gym. i would show up to dinner in gym clothes (...ok i still do that) i would watch the basketball games the gym instead of on the big screen with my friends. once...i even watched general conference on a treadmill.

but then i just kinda stopped. i don't know why. but out of nowhere, i just completely dropped it. i continued to run and do yoga of  course but i became totally complacent about all of it, yet complained about my body.

sooo... i have started going back to the gym, running regularly, practicing yoga daily and eating healthier. and i have felt so much better. i sleep so hard. i wake up well rested and happier. i can feel my muscles getting stronger and my plushies less plushy.  plus it has been good bonding time for me and the guy.  

but there is one problem.

i am trying to eat healthier and he continues to eat like a 17 year old boy. and let's just say there are 2 pies there for a reason... i tend to give in.  i am all about snacks and treats. i don't believe in depriving myself of things. just moderation and balancing out calories with exercise.  vale sent this picture to me the other day

that is me in a 18 oz water bottle right there.

but anyway, jared is trying to eat healthier, i am trying to buy and cook better. in the meantime, when we aren't flirtatiously bickering over our treat binges or attempting to work those off at the gym,  lookie what came in the mail:

keeping it old school and simple.

it is just THAT amazing.

2 posts in 1 day? it must be important.

a microfiber bristle hairbrush! brush your hair when it is damp and it sucks the water out to help make it dry faster. this is amazing. i am pretty sure 90% of my electric bill comes from my hair dryer. and if i could cut down drying time, i could do my hair in 3 minutes instead of 20 (17 is spent drying). based on the added productivity and the environmental savings that this beauty offers, i MUST have one. 

they are supposedly going to be for sale this year... i am on the lookout.

tuesday tradition.

 jared and i both love movies, but movies and treats are expensive (relatively speaking). apparently when you are young, in school, dating and thinking about the future, you have to be smarter with your monies. so we usually follow provo protocol and stick to dollar movies. however, we have recently begun a new tradition.  going to new movies for stimulus tuesday. movies are half price. popcorn and soda are a dollar. plus there is hardly anyone in the theatre and the seats have the armrests that go up so you can spread out and cuddle and stuff. yeah, we're gross.

last night we went and saw "we bought a zoo". oh my goodness. it was such a great movie. animals in distress (and widows/widowers, poor matt damon) are a major soft spot for me and i almost cried at least 17 times. i highly recommend this movie.

we also attempted (many many failed attempts) to take a picture of ourselves on our little date. for whatever reason, we just don't really have any together. maybe because we are always with each other and don't really need 'em? i don't know. but it was hysterical trying to get a decent picture and i am pretty sure that 19 efforts later, we still failed.

we are going to try harder to be a photo friendly couple.

oh ps we also went to DI to get some books for crafts that i am making and look at this fantastic find:

we found one of those enormous peppercorn grinders (like the kind they use in nice restaurants when they grind the pepper on your entree for you or on cool cooking shows) for $1!!! luckily, we both love black pepper. i am excited to make something for dinner tonight so that we can use it.

oh, and i still want to go buy a zoo. but for now, i will just have to anxiously await my earth day tradition of going to see the DisneyNature movie, chimpanzee!!! every earth day i go see their new movie. i almost cried in the preview. and opening week- Disney donates money to help save the chimps. i told jared that it's for charity, we have to go.

the undiva.

once upon a time i only wore and used expensive makeup and stuff.

and now i only require what you see above. 

those have been my staples for 2 years and going strong.

i used to spend more than all of that combined for mascara... bad beckie.

i may still say "i NEED that cardigan. i NEED to try that new blah blah. i HAVE to get a new pair of jeans, shoes, earrings, and stuff". but the point is, i am learning.

and if you cannot tell, i am learning how to use picnik.com better too... :)

wait, what? christmas has already come and gone? and new year's?  somehow i missed this. ok not really. but it all happened so suddenly and so quickly that it sure feels like it.

colorado was a great visit. spent the first few days playing with my sisters, the kiddos and hanging out at the little mountain homestead. it was the first time that i had been there since the parents got back from fiji. while they were away, they had some friends living there and they did a lot of cool improvements on the house. including a better wood stove, new counter tops and my favorite:

i know- who cares. but i love the little details in hardware pieces. the bathroom sinks have these killer vintage pump style faucets and i am pretty sure that i washed my hands 37 extra times just to play with them. 

like these knobs:

they are so great. i just wish that i had more places to put them. and by more places i suppose that could mean furniture that is my own, not crappy particle board that comes with my overpriced apartment.

speaking of the little pieces, i also received this for christmas:

i had been wanting a large, goldtone, menswear watch for quite some time. but as they are far more pricey than my average time pieces (do $10 running watches count? or the watch of the person sitting next to me?) i have been hesitant/too cheap to invest.  i rarely wear anything more than a pair of pearl earrings and pinky ring for daily accessories. but this little piece adds something fashionably functional and i love her.

i also like little things like,

nasty phone pictures with baby bugaboos. we went on a few snow hikes, saw a couple movies, ate non stop, played wii until we were sore, read books, and took naps. it was fairly ideal. including having jared come spend time with us (thanks mama and daddy for flying us home). this was the first time that i have ever had a boyfriend (notice that is ONE word. meaning we like each other...not just a friend that is a boy...ok moving on) come to my house, meet my whole family and spend an entire 4 days with us. it all went smoothly and was a lot of fun seeing him interact with everyone. em and josh were especially gracious and spent a lot of time with us and catered to our boredom with a lot more food, kids, laughter and games. it was great.

oh and mama made these for part of our christmas feast:

olives, carrots and cream cheese... in penguin form. vegetable appetizer perfection. nancy is the best.

i will have to do another post about the rest of the christmas gifts that i received, because this was definitely a good year. and those gifts deserve a post for themselves. i was so happy to spend my holidays with my family. it was just what i needed. lots of love and jesus and food. what else do we really need.

you know it is going to be a good day when...

you are driving to work, showered, hair washed, matching outfit and actually not yawning.

on this drive you see that the average gas price is down to $2.95 (yes, this is a HUGE deal).

then your friend sends a text to inform you that upon your suggestion, he went and purchased one of the most bamf lamps ever.

a vigilante display at its best. who doesn't love the macmanus brothers. and what says merry christmas like a firefight.

and then upon arriving at work, your boss calls to say that he is bringing hot drinks.

and look at the spill stopper that came on my hot cocoa.

that's right. a nice holiday one...with vixen. how fitting. bawhaha, not. but still, had to giggle. and their hot cocoa is fantastic and they use all eco friendly, thermal paper cups and soy milk. thank you. 

and tonight vale and i are having a festive baking evening, probably watching elf again, and avoiding the cold.

but i would like to say, that last night i finally went for a jog and did yoga... and i am feeling like a limber champ. you have no idea how couch potatoish i have become the past couple months. well maybe you do if you have seen me...i am a fatty. ok not fat, but plushy. well maybe not even plushy...but definitely NOT still in summer body mode. i am sure that tonight's baking will really help that...but it's christmas, jared has left me to my lonesome apartment, my married friends are doing married and family stuff, and i don't get to go home for 2 more days. sometimes i eat my feelings and sleep off my guilt. don't act like you've never done that...

"my mama always said

life was like a box of chocolates. you never know what you're gonna get".

well thank you mama gump.

this is the typical demise of a box of chocolates that comes my way,

a tiny piece gets broken off each one so that i can tell which ones i want to eat or not. orange cream, coconut cream, anything cream, see ya. caramels (which i now know are the milk covered square ones and i always take those asap) are mine mine mine.

BUT this is no longer going to be the case (at least not all the time).  one of the duties of my job being an executive assistant includes opening and distributing all of the daily mail.  as of late, this has included a various array of christmas (or shall we say holiday cards for the sake of political correctness...naaa screw that. manners and politics are toast anyway) cards and gifts.  

today we received a lovely box of chocolates.

this is what they looked like,

they were even the good kind. i am not a huge chocolate lover, but i had to admit, they smelled nice and looked appealing. however, they were ALL milk chocolate squares...thus poking a black hole into my caramel distinction theory.

well low and behold, we were not only given a box of goodies, but also a gift of brilliance.  the bottom of the box showed this:

there is a tiny design on top of each truffle...it looks like someone just drizzled the last drips of chocolate. but no. there is sheer genius behind that finishing touch.  each one is actually in a distinct shape to indicate what flavor is beneath the chocolate exterior!

no more of those crappy paper thingys that never make sense anyway.  this was so much prettier, less paper waste and stuff. utah has done something right. way to go.

yeah...i was that excited about it. but in my defense, so was b. i ran into his office to show him and usually 

when i shove my discoveries in people faces i get 1 of 2 looks.

1. the "seriously? how old are you? do you have no life? this excites you? you're kinda retarded huh? guess i should smile and pretend i care" look.

or

2. the "beckieee...this came out like 4 years ago.. where have you been? why are you excited about something that is so obvious... but again, you're kinda retarded so i guess i will smile and pretend i care" look.

this time, my show and tell was received with wide eyed agreement.

thank you and goodnight.

domestic goddess.

my friend andrew refers to me (in a disturbingly mocking tone, of course) as a domestic goddess.  because it is very clear that i am anything but that.  i hate crafts. i love the idea of them and i love the idea of creating things and saving money and stuff.  but the process really blows. few things make me as agitated as crafts (those other things are the post office, bank, dmv, rubber neckers, bad drivers, toothaches, ill behaved children...). yet i find myself drawn into the evil pool of the do-it-yourself blogs, pins and braggers. and though i may be setting women's lib back a good 4 decades or so, i still feel the biological obligation to embark on this journey towards female domestication.  i generally fail miserably at this and just put it by the wayside and continue along my way in beckieland (feeling completely justified with my cooking, cleaning, nagging, babysitting, nursing, needy, ironing and poor driving skills).  but one of my best friends, valentina, said something about me the other day that rang frighteningly true.  she was explaining to jared how much i like to play games and how well i play them, but then she said 

"i have never seen a game that beckie isn't good at. but then again, if she isn't good at it, she won't do it. so i guess no one would ever see her be bad at it because if she was bad it, she just wouldn't do it". 

oh, the truth hurts. but why spend emotional exhaustion and time on something that i know i am bad at?  i guess that whole personal growth thing... ? such a waste.

well last weekend i decided that i was going to do a craft. a real craft. not the cool kind (which would include saws, wood, power tools, home depot trips, super glue and paint) but the truly frugal, pinterest worthy, DIY craft. so while jared and the guys were hard at work on their school project, i went to work on mine (they got to use marbles, k'nex and hammers...they suck).

this was an HOUR AND A HALF, 4 curse words and 3 burned fingers and absolute determination to conquer this damn foam tree, into the project.

this was THREE AND HALF hours, 27 curse words, 10 burned off finger prints, frazzled hair, 1 bead of sweat and a chest bump worthy amount of victorious pride in my heart. i was ready to set the thing on fire but i am proud to say that i did it.

yes, i am gross.

and i just might blow it up for new year's eve.

well...hello.

it's been a little minute since i have blogged (approx 648,000 minutes...). i have had every intention to post again but i was just getting so far behind and it was overwhelming trying to think of a way to write about everything that has been going on. because you know me, my life is so exciting and there is always something new and fabulous worthy of cyber report. i lieu of the sarcastic nature of that previous statement, i am going to proceed with this post as though there has been no hiatus.

this past week we had our first snowfall. i was not happy about it because i do not like being cold. however, all things considered, this has been a very mild end of autumn thus far. the night prior to the mini blizzard (like 100 snowflakes total), j and i had been outside in shorts playing tennis. such pleasant weather should have been a red flag. as soon as i felt the chill that morning, i knew that there was only one thing to do.  make grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner that night.

i never buy bread. and i definitely don't buy grandma sycamore bread. not because it is bad but because it is so ridicuously good, that i could eat a whole loaf in a sitting. however, if you don't have fresh sour dough, it is the only way to go. and i don't believe in kraft singles. cheddar is better. lots of butter, a pan and some heat and yum. pacific organic soups are my favorite. add some basil and you have a warm, yummy meal.  and of course, you may only cut your sandwich in triangles, how else can you effectively dip??

i enjoy cooking. i have a lot of fun learning new recipes, making up my own and trying new foods. it has been fun to make dinner for j and myself a few nights a week. and the best part:

i cook, he eats and then he helps clean (and always takes out the trash), it is a beautiful system we have going. 

let's see....some other things that have been going on besides school and work... ummm oh yeah, the cardinals  WON THE WORLD SERIES!!!

i hope that ya'll watched the series, especially the epic game 6. one of the most amazing displays of baseball that i have ever witnessed. i am so happy for our cardinals! although tony will be very missed. i remember dancing to this song in the fourth grade on his behalf.  aww and remember ozzie?  the good ol' days.

and for some more big news...( that is such a relative term)

i got my first pair of big girl, leather boots. they are a great winter accessory, fashionable and functional, but i could not bring myself to make the $200+ investment. well, thanks to birthday love and bargain shopping, i didn't have to. it is taking a little adjusting to wear something so trendy, but i have suffered through enough cold, wet footed winters.  the time was at hand. plus they go so well with my other accessory obsession.

this is the best bag that i have ever had. they fold up into the tiniest things but hold SO many things! sturdy, classy, leather and waterproof. god bless longchamp. 

i hate school. but i love my job.  i miss my yoga class but have decided to get back into it myself. plane tickets for the holidays are purchased. new iphone is in the mail. the general conference issue of the ensign is here. j is the best and i love him a bushel and peck and hug around the neck. life is going well.

tonight we are off to a cabin in southern utah with his family. should be a great time. more bloggy love to come.

immediate sharing.

there is a particular boy in my life who knows me far too well, without even really knowing me. we have a beautiful friendship. and this is what he just shared with me via fbook and i have already read 4-5 times.

***please note: female readers do not just read drama filled, intense, fictitious novels.  thus the melodramatic side of the reader that Urquico describes, is not always present (e.g. "weeping at 2 AM"? i don't weep. i sigh and sniffle, and only occasionally).

Date A Girl Who Reads by Rosemarie Urquico

(In Response to Charles Warnke’s You Should Date An Illiterate Girl.)

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag.She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent.  Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilightseries.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes.

so thrifty.

i drink herbal tea like it is going out of style. i  have a strong affinity for its taste and health benefits. it tastes good, is fairly inexpensive and practically no sugar. so i don't have to be constantly worried about my teeth rotting or drinking my daily calorie allowance. oh and the brand that i drink... organic, packaging made from recycled paper and wind power. and bonus- the tea bag tags all have a little bit of yogi wellness advice. excellent. i have been hunting for this:

for months. literally months. i wanted a mug, not a travel thermos (i hate stainless steel fingerprints and smudgeies) and one with a lid so that i could keep my tea bag in there (i like to let it seep forever to gain stronger flavor) and so i would not spill because i tend to walk around a lot with my mugs. there is a newer version that i just didn't like as much. but they don't make this mug anymore. i tried amazon, ebay, everything that i could think of. i guess that it is just that great because you cannot find it. JUST last night, literally, i was telling someone how frustrated i was because i just wanted this damn mug and was about to give up and just get the newer model anyway.

well what do you think that beckie found at DI today for $.75. that's right. the exact mug pictured above. i was so excited and hung onto it for dear life will i searched the books. seventy five cents! i could find that in my couch. the church is true. i am pretty sure that my tea tasted even better tonight. or my taste buds were just coated in elation. either way, i was really excited. and i am telling you, this mug is spectacular. perfect, cute, comfy (amazing handle with bumpy finger things) and mess proof.  it is going everywhere with me.

oh and i found a ton of books. including one that arthur had just finished reading. i called him while on my book hunt and said,

"i found the curious incident of the dog in the night-time. it is a dollar. should i get it?"

he replied "it is really good, you will love it. buy it. well unless you want to borrow mine...but i  know how much you love to own your own books..."

book shopping phone calls are normal for us. we aren't almost lovers for nothing, he knows me so well.

speaking of marriage...

i know...two posts in one day- annoying. apologies for clogging your reader. but, while i am feeling ridiculous enough to admit that i love looking at wedding blogs, i might as well show you this:

i found my perfect man's closet.

1. so tidy. i bet that he has shirts with french cuffs and wide collars.

2. books. good books. and if he stores them in here, there must be tons more around the house...

3. only one personal picture. probably with his mom.

4. 2 bottles of cologne. no need to overdo it.

5. boat shoes.

6. cool luggage.

7. color and material coordinated. (not that i have ocd and am drawn to it in others)

8. i am guessing that there is a vinyl record player in there somewhere. and a jar with coins.

9. wood hangers. he clearly appreciates quality in the little things.

***and because he is perfect, i am sure that he has another closet where he stores his tennis racquet, golf clubs, yoga mat and running shoes. and maybe some kites. and camping gear. and power tools.

oh and i also found our future son.

 this is what wedding blog addiction does. detrimental to my tough exterior. but that kid is so darn cute. just give me and "man with perfect closet" 5-10 years. those coats will be always be cool. and our kid will be quite the chap. trust me.

ps. both photos were borrowed from blakey blake's bloggy. the man has impeccable taste.

a bit out of character.

i am addicted to something that i have coined clothes porn.  as mark twain said, "the finest clothing made is a person's skin, but of course, society requires something more than this". too bad. who doesn't love being nakey?

luckily, i also love clothes. i forget to wear them sometimes (and i am sure that some people are convinced that i only own yoga pants and cardigans) but they can be so pretty. i rarely have the gumption to go with the trendy and my look remains pretty classic. but i do love to look and wish that i was beautiful and brazen enough for the latest styles (think east coast/gossip girl...not sex in the city, high fashion). alas, my personality and wallet do not allow for this to be a reality. though, i am ok with that. practicality is admirable. thank goodness for the internet, because it provides my shopping high but i don't really shop. i cannot actually see and feel the soft sweaters and pretty dresses...so i know that i will not buy them. but i find it quite entertaining. considering the fact that i rarely just sit around and do nothing, let alone that i would spend my time looking at shoes and skirts, is kind of a dirty little secret. but i just love to browse online at all the cute outfits.

and now for the real shocker- my latest clothes porn addiction is not to just clothes...but wedding clothes. i don't know why. but i love looking at the j crew wedding collection (and the men in those suits...not bad either)...and now anthroplogie is coming out with a wedding line too. i don't even care about my own wedding. there are a few staple things that i will matter (the temple, the guy, comfy shoes, the wedding night...), but other than that, i could just sign the paper and be good. i didn't grow up playing barbies or planning dream weddings, but there is something addictingly fun about wedding blogs, magazines and collections.

classy but modern, vintagy but clean. and they even have rehearsal dinner, engagement picture and honeymoon outfit ideas. how lovely. ang claims that once you actually plan a wedding it loses it's appeal...and she is wise and we have a lot in common as far as our inability to think and worry about silly little things like lace and centerpieces, so i will believe her. for now, i will have my fun.  

i tend to know what i don't like more than what i do like (always a critic, i know) so i guess that if i ever do get married for real, i will know exactly what i want. think of all the time and headache i will save everyone in my life (not that being a maid of honor or bridesmaid is ever a headache... i love you brides...). 

this song always makes me smile.

awesome.

has your life been blessed by the website, 1000 awesome things yet?

maybe it is because i am obsessed with lists or maybe it is because realizing that i am not the only one that appreciates the absurdingly amazingness of the platypus or seriousness of rock-paper-scissors blows my mind- either way- it is just that. friggin' awesome. i scroll through a couple on my google reader every day and it is the cause of many bursts of laughter. today's made me laugh because it was #240: being single (welcome to the comedy which is my life). the point that made me laugh in particular:

"9. Own your bed, own your life. When you’re single the entire bed is yours and you can test a variety of Starfish poses, Chun-Li leg kick positions, or even the extremely bold diagonal sleeping. (Rarely done.)"

hillary can attest to what it is like to share a bed with me at night. let's just say that you never know if i will be spooning you or accidentally breaking your face. i am a very active sleeper. so for the time being, i shall embrace having a bed to myself.

this page contains the top "awesome things" and it blows my mind how many are on there that i totally agree with. bottoms up to people that know how to love and celebrate the little things in life that go unnoticed by most .

something else that is awesome? the band explosions in the sky. they are one of those bands that is becoming more and more mainstream which is a little strange to me, but i still love em. this song is part of my nightly routine

i got punked.

once upon a time i went to the gym. when i arrived, i fell right into my routine. shot the breeze with the guys at the desk, nodded to a few of the regulars (they usually just wink back because their necks are too big for them to nod) and then straight into the cardio cinema i went. i have used the same treadmill 4-6 days a week for the past 3 years (can you tell that i am a routine person- though i am far from a talented runner).  i hopped on and went to work. i started to jog and my playlist took off. i know that when i hear coheed and cambria that it is go time or i won't make it more than a mile. i looked at the girl next to me and she was just starting to run as well.  will smith, being the total bamf that he is, once said (to be accurate i should note that i did not know this quote until i told someone else about this story),

"i am not afraid to die on a treadmill...if we get on a treadmill together, you are going to get off first or i am going to die." 

extreme? maybe a little. but he's will smith. and competition is competition. who cares if you know the person or if there is anything at stake but your pride. and who am i kidding...pride is the most valuable prize of all.

but, i digress.

so. this chick gets on the treadmill next to me. when i glanced over at her, it was clear that she was at least 3 times my size and by that, i really mean that she was biggest loser material (i know that sounds mean, i only said it for visual purposes and just you wait). stupid beckie thinks, "ha. whatever this girl can run, i can run." 

i maintained my current pace (which was faster than hers but figured it wouldn't matter) and i was absolutely determined to run as long as her. how hard could it be?

FIFTY TWO. FIVE ZERO TWO. 5x10+2 minutes later- she stopped to walk. she sipped some water, walked for 5 minutes and was glowing.

are you freaking kidding me???

i stumbled off (more like slid off with all the sweat that was raining off of my body) my treadmill, looked at her and just stared. she looked at me and i just high fived her and walked away (and by walk i mean i gumby style limped).

moral of the lesson: size doesn't matter. and the pride police are always ready to put me in my place.

the next morning i ate 4 doughnuts and i felt like a champ.
and that, my dear friends, is what we call a beckie's blunder.

the other night i counted.

dear beckie,

thank you for embracing how great we are. remember how you love us and wear one of us almost every day and in return we keep your ever frozen body a little bit warmer?

we have such a great relationship.

xoxo,

the 32 cardigans in your closet.

_________________________________________________________

dear beckie,

you wear the same thing every day and we have reached maximum capacity.

NO MORE CARDIGANS.

breeching fire codes,
your closet.

__________________________________________________________________

dear beckie,

cardigans are a key wardrobe essential; great for every season. they hide your trouble spots and maintain classy modesty. please keep buying us!

waiting to be yours,

all of the cardigans at banana republic.
__________________________________________________________________

dear beckie,

stop eating so many treats and then you won’t have “trouble spots”. who the hell has 32 cardigans anyway? mr. rogers wore the same five sweaters for a hundred years. best part about cardis is that you can pair them with everything and make a million outfits with one. be creative and leave us be.

begrudgingly yours,

your budget.

 ___________________________________________________________________

it is a constant battle.  bank account wins.  drooling over j crew catalogs will have to appease the craving. 

green week.

i can tell when it is going to rain at least 2 days in advance. i literally feel it in my bones. well...my bone (the one that has the big metal rod in it...).  but right now the rest of my bones are telling me that this is going to a good week (and the slightly aching femur is indicating that there may be some scattered showers). as per the usual, church was nice. my sunday walk was incredibly pleasant as the sun shone down on me and made me so happy. right after church i went to see some married friends. and what did these lovely people have awaiting for me?  a beckiestyle easter basket. and by beckiestyle, of course i am referring to a reusable, eco friendly shopping bag.

and not just any reusable bag, but a super cute, ever so useful, drawstring target, earth day special one! (everyone go to target...they are free this week to support earth day on friday)

and in keeping with that theme, check out its contents:

do they know me or what?!  gardening tools and flower seeds (for my earth day tradition), a green candle and baking goods?  i already planted one packet outside my front door and i am quite anxious to see what will bloom.

the weather has been so cooperative and i cannot wait for this to be a regular occurance.  yesterday joely's text said 

j "it is so beautiful here. going to go for a motorcycle ride, too bad you aren't here".

what a bittersweet thing to say. luckily my geology buddy will be doing the greater portion of his summer studies here in the beautiful land of utah. good times to be had... who wouldn't want to learn about rocks?

right now my house is clean, it smells like flowery wonderful goodness (mixture of open windows and the candle from my easter bag) and i am feeling rather relaxed about this week's upcoming exams. i have studied hard and intend to make high marks but we shall see :) on friday i was able to spend some time in the temple and perform ordinances that i had not participated in for quite some time. it was exactly what i needed to be reminded of the blessings that the Lord offers to our minds and our spirits when we live our lives according to His will. though i am a bit of a senior student now, i know that those promises still apply to even a twenty five year old in a freshman prerequisite class.

and yes, i am making my life appear rather breezy but let's be honest...my right eye will not stop twitching from fatigue, i have some really attractive stress acne going and i just want to live off of cadburry mini eggs and carrots.  the summer sales season has begun and that is just great. sales reps are awesome...like mosquito bites...

summer 2011, here i come.