You Love Our Lives

Dear My Guardian Angels

2012-02-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

Dear My Guardian Angels,

Thank you. I come from complete gratitude for the life Ihave been given. The world that has been given to me is beautiful, myrelationships are alive and fulfilling, and my body is healthy and active.Thank you for the awareness to release things that no longer serve me withgrace and for the openness to welcome new adventures and relationships into mylife.

Thank you for the knowledge I have of health; healthyrelationships, healthy body and healthy mind. Balance of health in all areas is veryimportant to me and I’m grateful for this awareness and the opportunity toshare it with others. Thank you for my desire to cook healthy foods and learn new ways of nutrition.

Thank you for my talents and aspirations to create beauty all around me. Thank you for friends who guide me to more knowledge and understanding. Friends who teach me about nutrition, art, painting, sewing, cooking, love, girl time, giggling and so much more!

Thank you for my wonderful husband who is my best friend. A man who is smart, follows his dreams and his heart, is incredibly handsome and always knows how to have fun and be silly. He is a man of gentleness and wisdom. A man who is moldable and teachable, and always open minded.

Please remind me to always see the good in others and all situations, Please remind me that when things get tough, it's all part of the journey of life, and there is a higher purpose in all. Remind me that I always get to choose how I perceive things, and I'm the creator of all in my life. Please help me to remember to smile and carry the light of joy with me. Help me to remember to forgive, share what I have, and be open to receiving.

Thank you for always being near me and protecting me. Thank you for guiding me in all that I do.
Thank you for all that I have.

Much love,
me

Friday of L.O.V.E.

2012-02-03T21:40:00.000-08:00

I married the best man.

I'll just let the pictures explain...
(and for some reason the pictures are creating their own design. I'm just going with it)

1. date attire
2. our view on the water
3. B checking times
4. sipping my beverage
5. surprise restaurant
6. in love with my tights
7. B's valentine give to me
that I absolutely love
8. my valentine give to B
9. delicious meal
10. love birds
11. ruffle
12. hand holding at the table

Together 4.5 years. Married 1.5 years.

I couldn't have asked for a better man.

I have the heart of the most gentle, kind, smart and funny man.

I feel blessed that he chose me and we get to spend our lives together.

I fall asleep every night to him scratching my back.

I wake up every morning to his classic phrase "Good morning, beautiful"

(or "Good morning, sweetie" it switches off)

He allows me to travel wherever I want.
And he loves to travel so we get to go to exotic places together.

He appreciates all of my cooking, and will eat anything I try.

He helps with the laundry, and does it 'my nerotic way'.

He never questions or criticizes my ideas, and goes along with every crazy one I have.

(I've dragged him into pretty crazy stuff and he just laughs at me)

He is a male feminist.

He has an amazing head of hair, deep voice, super tall and the funniest man I know.

And he always reminds me how long my hair is getting...

Geez, I picked the right guy!

And he picked the right girl!

Well let's see....

2012-02-01T19:38:00.000-08:00

So I've actually received a request to update my blog. I know right? People actually like to hear about my life...I mean I know I have an interesting and fascinating life, but other people think so too? So my dream of becoming a well known blogger could actually become a reality?

Well my life right now. Let's see... My regular life of having wayyy to much on my plate is still the same. In fact, I think I'm addicted to it. When one thing ends, It's like I have to go looking for something else to fill that void. I can't just allow myself to, you know, relax.

I took up an internship at a local clinic because I was considering get a double masters in Public Health and Social Work. Well the internship isn't everything I had hoped and dreamed it would be and I no longer want to go into public health. The social work is still heavily on my mind though.
I had all these hopes and dreams while at the clinic of being able to see people's lives change but the coping, cutting and stapling of papers seems to be getting in the way of that. I'm really trying to make my skills and talents obvious and ripe for the picking without going as far as screaming "FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. I CAN DO MORE THAN CUT AND COPY!" But...well that wouldn't be very professional of an intern who is the same age as her supervisor, now would it? Last week my supervisor had me call some patients to remind them of their appointment the next day and after I finish in about 1/4 of the time anyone else did, my superviser casually mentioned "wow you're really good on the phone" I smiled sweetly as the thought ran through my head "Yeah, I know. I actually do this for a living, have ran my own office and am a very personable and social person" But I sweetly said "Thank you. Is there anyone else you want me to call" with a smile...

So to fill the void that the internship isn't fulfilling, I also took up being a mentor for under privileged high school students. Now this, this is my calling for this semester. I'm so excited I could jump for joy. Oh wait, I did do that this morning during my work out. My jumping jacks had so much more meaning! We go to the high school once a week during their lunch break and there is a presentation and then we break into our small groups and discuss what they thought or felt. My favorite part is that the topics are feminist related. Helping these girls gain more self esteem and knowledge to go onto high school and have a voice. How amazing is that?

And of course, ~~because I like to make things complicated,~~ never mind, it will work out. The mentorship buts up right against my first class at 12:30. So I will be leaving the students early (which I'm really bummed about) to dash over to the school, to try and find parking and run up the 50 flights of stairs to make it to my first class. And to top it all off, the first time we go to the high school, I have my first test seconds later. Love it. But, I can do it. It just adds a nice little dimension.

In other news...Ben is doing great. He's working at the school clinic helping small businesses and nonprofit groups with legal stuff. It's slow moving but he's enjoying it and it will turn into something great. He's graduating in December, which seems like we will wake up tomorrow and it will be here. It's crazy how fast this law school experience has gone. And yet, the sweet boy is so ready to be done.

That boy sure is amazing and the sweetest man I know. I've been really thinking a lot lately how I truly am with the best man. Geez, that's sappy, but it's my blog, and I get to write what I want. And he's amazing. I feel grateful for our relationship and how we both are able to live our independent lives and come together and we pretty much rock.

And on top of all our craziness combined, I'm going to Portland to see the girls and boys the same week Ben is going to UCLA for a law interview thingy, the next week we are going to Long Beach for a combined birthday massage party with my mom (our birthday's are 2 days apart), and I'm having a separate birthday party in SD with some friends the following week. Life is crazy, and yet we're addicted to it. Maybe I shouldn't say we...Ben likes it slow and steady, where I thrive on the busy.
Just the the other day, I knew we had to leave the house in 10 minutes, and I really wanted to hang my new pot/pan holder. So I got out the drill, and hung that bad boy in less than 10 minutes, just to see if I could. Of course I could and it looks amazing and makes it so much easier to find our pots and pans. I cook dinner now just because I get to pull something off the rack.

In other news, my hair is long enough to curl, Ben started working out with a friend once a week and he can't move the rest of the week, I got a stationary bike that I love, he still doesn't come home until 9/10pm at night, I'm addicted to making my own house hold cleaning supplies, and we are BOTH going to Guatemala over Spring Break!

Loves to everyone!

eating right.

2011-12-12T22:07:00.000-08:00

So I've had several friends ask for some healthy eating tips. So I've decided to make a post about it. Here is a long overview of me jotting down some thoughts. I'm going to attempt to make a blog post about each point, and all the little ones in-between.

Some tips that I have found that work are: Don’t let this overwhelm you.

#1 eat every 3 hours. I normally eat within a half hour of waking up and start my 3 hour clock right then. This helps me from not get very hungry and it helps me not over eat.

#2 Eat as clean as possible. Eat as many veggies as you can, and only clean meats. http://www.cleaneatingmag.com/

#3 Prepare! I have my routine when I go to the grocery store(s). I have my regular food that I buy and then stuff I buy for meals. I’ve gotten it down to where I just know what to buy. In the beginning I would take a serious shopping list.

Also, find like 2 new meals a week to make. I subscribed to vegetarian times magazine (I’m a vegetarian, so you don’t have to subscribe to this mag, but a healthy mag) and I’d find some meals that look tasty and I’d go shopping for them. Then I have the ingredients to make it and I don’t have to worry about what I’m going to make, and resulting to something unhealthy.

#4 Green smoothies! Oh, green smoothies! The best! There have been studies shown where if you blend up your greens, you get more nutrients from them. I put a basic recipe up on my blog you can read here.

Don't get overwhelmed with the ingredients. You can put in there whatever you want, but it will take some practice to get the ratios right. The key is to put as much spinach and kale as you can handle. (I always do 2 handfuls of spinach and 2 stalks of kale for 2 people) And then depending on what fruit is in season, that's what I do. but I try to not put too much fruit because of the sugars. So right now I'll do a banana and a nectarine and then my frozen berries.

I normally make a full blender for my husband and me in the morning. I also like to make a full blender and have half in the morning and bring the other half in a insolated cup for lunch or something.

#5 Protein. I sometimes struggle with not getting enough protein so I have a shaker bottle and I use this protein. Vitacost has the cheapest vitamins and supplements. This protein is the cheapest for what you get.

I also get the pure protein bars at costco (cheapest) and that's something I can

throw in my purse or something and they are a large amount of protein.

#6 Exercise. It’s just one of those things that you have toconvince your mind that you want to do it, then once you’re doing it, you feelamazing. I used to go to the gym every day but it’s sometimes too much withschool. I’ve started using videos and phone apps. My faves are: JillianMichael’s “30 day shred”, Jillian’s “No more trouble Zones”, and the iPhone app“Nike Training club”. These are all things I can do in my living room and get adecent work out in without being too overwhelmed with everything else going onin my life. I’m trying to add in a good run after doing one of those workouts,but we’ll see how it goes.

Another thing, if you don’t feel like working out, which we’veall been there, just do something. This morning I didn’t feel like an intenseworkout so I did 30 minutes of yoga and I felt amazing. I know this is easiersaid than done, but when I convince myself, I’m always glad I did.

#7 Don’t deprive yourself of treats. Treats are my weakness andif I told myself I couldn’t have ANY, well then I’d eat every sugary goodnessin sight. So I allow myself a treat. When I was being really good, I wouldallow Saturday to be my treat day. Lately I’ve been allowing a dessert atnight. Most of the time I’m ok with that and don’t beat myself up…but thissemester has been stressful, so I have treats.

#8 Cleanse. This isn’t necessary for you to do right away. Iknow it can be overwhelming changing your entire eating habits upside down. Butcleansing is so good for the body to help get rid of stored junk. If you’reinterested, I have a few that you could try.

Now I'm no guru, and I continue to struggle with eating healthy daily, however I've seen results and I know what helps me to feel good. My wonderful mentor, Joline is also a wonderful resource for cleanses, raw recipes and more! Here is her blog.

Leave a comment if you would be interested in more specific posts.

Thanks!

Pinning girl

2011-11-22T19:52:00.001-08:00

Tuesday nights have turned into my DIY pinning party. Ben works late and I have been at school all day and I'm studied out...so I do projects from my new found love affair of Pintrest. This site is amazing and has opened up my creativity in a whole new light. I didn't even know I was creative.
Yes, these are all cell phone self portraits because the Hubs is never home when I'm crafting.

That is, until I attempted to make my own stuffed animals for the BFF's new baby boy.

I started with the animals and then gained my confidence and made the airplane.
All hand drawn.

They are unfinished here but they turned out pretty darn cute.

Then I decided to make a shirt from this tutorial,

after finding the same shirt I already had, on sale for $4 at Target.

I think it's darling and it was really fun!

Then one evening I decided to try out the twisted flowers.
They are time consuming so I stopped at 3 and couldn't figure out what to put them on.
Why not an ear warmer I already had?

Perfect for my BFF New York City trip over New Years!

And tonight's project is from here.

Over sized man's shirt vamped into new and improved off the shoulder cuteness.

I learned the hard way that it's difficult to fit to your own body when you're

the only one at home. Chip clip to the rescue!

Please excuse that I'm in the bathroom.

It has the best lighting at night when there isn't any natural light.

I'm in love.

I'm very proud of my ruffliage.

I may add some flower along the neck. What do you think?

I only seem to blog when I feel profound or poetic

2011-11-01T19:46:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks (maybe months) have been hectic and rough for us. Hence the lack of blogging. I feel like we live such mundane lives that only consist of going to school, going to work, studying and sleeping. And who really wants to read about me complaining about school? Well I guess if you want to, here it goes. This semester kind of stinks. I kind of hate most of my classes, I feel like I'm putting in tons of effort and not getting much benefit in the grades department, therefore I'm feeling frustrated and discouraged. And when I'm stressed, everything goes to kaput. I don't eat as well, I rarely exercise (or think I don't have the time), and I'm slightly cranky.

And then I went to Vegas for work, which was fun and exciting to connect with the people I work with (I work remotely), but another thing to juggle with everything else.

And then I had a profound moment while in Vegas. I was side busting on one of my favorite motivational/health speakers who speaks at all of our work conventions, Dr. Roland Phillips who is a Chiropractor, who has gone to a whole new level (You can find him here) and he was telling someone how basically if you're always living in the future, if you're always thinking "oh once this semester is over, then I'll be able to have fun. Then I'll be able to relax and breath. Then I'll be able to exercise and eat right" then you will always be living in the future and you will never get there. If you think you can't be happy until XYZ happens, then XYZ will come and go and you won't even realize it until it's gone, and you still won't be happy.

It's genius right? It's a no brainier and yet in those month long moments of stress, it seems that nothing will go right, and that life will always be stressful.

Then Dr. Phillips asked the person he was speaking with (because I was side busting right?) to think of one of his proudest moments. For this gentleman it was winning a state championship. Dr. Phillips said to think of that proudest moment, and put it on top of that goal that you're trying to accomplish that is making you stressed. For example, think of graduating from school, feel what it feels like to win that state championship, and duplicate the winning feeling to what it will feel like to graduate from school.

Basically you are creating that moment that hasn't yet happened. You are creating it in the present moment and there is no need to be stressed. This really resonated with me. I'm trying to duplicate this thought process into my daily life, because life sure can get hectic and crazy with everything going on. Which is great, I just can't allow the stress to consume my life. I can do what needs to be done, and still be happy, eat right, exercise, and get good grades.

There you have it, my profound moment.

We are doing well. We are focusing on enjoying this phase of our lives. As stressful or not stressful as it is, I know we'll look back and appreciate what we accomplished. So I'm enjoying it!

girl crushes

2011-09-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

What Is a Girl Crush?

A girl crush is when you meet a woman whose sense of style, beauty, brilliant achievements, or personal charisma makes you admire her, but it is by no means a physical attraction (or maybe it is). A girl crush means you hold another woman in such high regard that you aspire to be like that person.

Every girl has had a girl crush (whether you want to admit it or not), and most of these kinds of crushes date back to when we were just little lasses. The earliest I can remember...

The Olsen Twins.

I adored them in my awkward junior high girly way.

Let's not forget Vada Sultenfuss

Classic tomboy girl with a crazy family

This moved onto Kelly..

Kelly Kapowski

I basically just wanted to be her. She snagged the cutest bf, Zack Morris,

and had the best mall bangs...Like ever.

And she could just dance, with no lessons, then suddenly she could sing.
Oversize pants up to her bellybutton with a big metal belt? For real!

Uhh, I loved her.

Not long after Kelly came my most timeless girl crush…

Cher from Clueless changed my life...'Nuff said.

Then we had classic school girl innocence, Britney Spears

High school I had a mad crush on Faith Hill.

She had the perfect family, hot husband, and both could sing.

One of my all times, Idina Menzel

Once I had discovered Wicked, the role of Elphaba, her voice...

I can't get over how talented and beautiful she is.

To this day I listen to Wicked and Rent on repeat.

And she's cast in Glee? Hello?

Current mad girl crush, Lea Michele

She's can sing, she's hot, she's mysterious,

she's environmentally friendly (but what celebrity isn't. c'mon)

I'm smitten.

update

2011-09-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

We took summer classes.
I went to Portland.
We went on a cruise for our 1 year anniversary.
I moved my mom from Utah to Long Beach, CA.
We started school again.
I'm going to Portland in a week for my bff's baby shower.
I'm going to Portland again for the birth of said baby.
(she's the first of us to have a baby.)
We are barely above water between school, work, and actually spending time together.

And we are happy.

Now you're updated.

Maybe there will be a post on each of those.
And maybe not.

goals

2011-07-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about things I'd like to accomplish in my life... in no particular order

run a marathon (maybe before a baby)

I just lost all concentration. I typed marathon and I think my brain shut off.. Whoaa!

get a masters (maybe before a baby)

ok that's all I got right now.

Either this shows I have no ambition in life, or those two things were so completely overwhelming that I lost all concentration or motivation to do anything else. But I still think I'll change the world.

Maybe there will be a revision to this post when my brain starts functioning again.

In other news, I have found one of my callings in life: hats!
BIG hats!

My new hats job is to keep all those fancy thoughts, ambitions and motivations inside my head.

Done and done!

A 'real' beach

2011-07-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

The good looking man I spend most of my time with suggested we go on a date to the beach.

A "real" beach is what he wanted.

We normally go to Ocean Beach and he wanted a different flavor.

"You know, a real beach, like Pacific Beach"

Because Ocean Beach isn't a real beach at all.

So off to Pacific Beach we went.


My hot date

Trying to teach him to have me in focus instead of the ocean. This is progress.

Surfer walking through my sunset shot turns into a great photo

We had a great time snuggling on the beach, watching cute kids play frisbee in their swimsuits
and swatting the flies away.
I always have the best date ever.

the Surge

2011-07-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

It's been 2 weeks since the Surge, and here is what went down. Dr. Murph cut my boob. Yup. She did. In two places. On the same boob.

I had been feeling super anxious about the surgery and someone whose name will not be mentioned, sent me some drugs, illegally through the mail to help with the anxiety the day of the surgery, because I would not be 'going under'. My anxiety was heightened with the nurse called me a few days before the surgery to give me the run down of how things would go, and she causally mentioned that I may not have movement in my arm for a few days. Whatt What? Yeah I freaked out, because I didn't think this was that invasive of a surgery. Then she told me that the Doc probably wouldn't be prescribing me any medication...you're probably thinking "but she just told you you would have mobility of your arm...?" I thought the exact same thing. Get the minor freak out? Oh, and I was supposed to take a test the day after the surgery, the test I was missing for the surgery...and with no mobility? How was that going to happen?

So the morning of, at 5am, I popped that lovely little blue pill, on an empty stomach (because you can't eat for a long time before surgery, which sucks) Mr. B man drove me to the out patent clinic, which wasn't open yet so we got to sit outside. And that's when I realized I was high. My body doesn't react that well to medications. There are plenty of stories about me on drugs...ask for details.

They had me sign some lovely papers, which I probably signed Cookie Monster for all I know. And for the record, I wouldn't be a good drug dealer or user. I feel the need to tell everyone that I'm high, and that I took pills, that weren't prescribed to me. It's an issue. I'm sure they just smiled sweetly and looked at my husband and said with their eyes "could you take your wife to the waiting room so we don't have to report her illegal activity?"

Shortly after, they took me back, had me put on the lovely gown (which I put on backwards and the nurse tried to switch it around on me while I was lying on the table. It was awkward) and the nurser asked me to use the lovely surgical pen to mark where the cysts were. Insert note: I really wanted to write affirmations on my boob with a sharpie (I was super nervous about the surgery remember?) but the nurse told me that wasn't a good idea because the sharpie marker could have something bad they don't' want getting inside my boob. I understand but whatevs. I followed her instructions. So while in the bathroom, I marked the cysts, then I wrote lovely little affirmations all over my boob because now I had a surgical pen. Nothing holding me back.

Pre-surgery anxiety

I got to wear these cute booties

The lovely nurse strapped my arms down (I had some anxiety about that but the little blue pills helped), sanitized me, put up the blue shield so I couldn't see and I got a lovely heating vent under my blanket to keep me warm. So enjoyable. I was numbed (which didn't hurt at all, thank goodness) It was so bizarre to feel the pressure but I really couldn't feel anything. We chatted. Dr. Murph has pet parrots. One is named Auggie, she likes to go to the wild animal park....and suddenly an hour had passed and she was done. I shyly asked if I would have movement in my arm. She laughed at me as if that was a silly question and reassured me that the nurse didn't know what she was talking about, and that I would indeed have movement. I sat up off the table, got dressed and that was it. I literally walked out like it was no big deal. It was no big deal.

Where they did the deed

I was cystless.

Cysts. Think small limes

Ben wasn't in the waiting room. I had to wait for him, but I didn't care. You would think I would be freaked out that my husband left his wife for surgery and went gallivanting through San Diego, although my little blue pill left me without a care in the world. He finally showed up. He had to leave the waiting room because there were these annoying patients, an elderly father and son who were both in there for surgery, and yelling at each other because they couldn't find their cigarettes. Sounds lovely and I probably would have left too.

I felt amazing. Still high, but less high. No pain, what-so-ever. Doc Murph wrote me a prescription for Vicodin, which I didn't fill because one pill would have killed me. Remember, I don't do pills. B man and I left, I recounted the entire experience of what happened behind the closed door. He was probably in complete overwhelm and I yacked and insisted he drive us to the grocery store.

I was so hyper. It was odd. Ben kept asking me to slow down because he was in more shock after the surgery than I was. We got home, I texted pics of my incisions to everyone I know and watched tv and studied for my test.

My affirmations I took into surgery

And that was that. I had surgery. I had my breast cut open. Twice.

And for the following week I had one over sized looking breast because I kept an icepack in my shirt. Although I'm sure no one even knew because I wore a jacket, and if it leaked you couldn't tell. I'm the only one who knew.

Ice pack

The most bizarre thing about surgery, is that that part of your body isn't your body anymore. It is just something cool that you can show anyone who is willing to take a peek. It's no longer my breast. I found myself opening my shirt to anyone who was interested.

Weird, exciting. And I passed my test the day after with flying colors.
Like I said before. Me = Super Woman


Day after surgery, my BFF Aaron came to visit

The beautiful surprise roses I got int he mail from my lovely Shai

New perspective on my boobs

2011-06-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

So I've been overwhelmed with stress lately. I normally handle my busy life pretty well, and I kind of like it that way. But something happened last week that has caused me to be in complete overwhelm. Then a friend came to visit, and he changed my perspective on things.

To make a long story short, I have these cysts. I've known they were there for a few years and never really thought much about it. I was advised by a women's clinic to get them checked out by a specialist and then was accepted into their program for everything to be paid for, so I thought "what the hell" right? I didn't think much about it.

While I was in the waiting room, a girl walked out crying. I knew something bad had just happened. Then during my appointment, the doctor told me she had just diagnosed her with breast cancer. She's 27. I'm 27. She has the same story as me. You know, the story of "oh yeah you have these abnormally large cysts in your breast, but it's not a big deal. come back and we'll ultra sound them. You have nothing to worry about" and BAM! She has breast cancer. Did I mention she's 27?

Get the overwhelm?
But my instincts kept telling me I was fine, it's not anything to be worried about.

The breast specialist, who is awesome! She has this crazy gray curly hair that is all over the place. And she is so sweet and gentle and kept holding my hand. It made me feel safe. I want to be her hippie boob BFF. I think we already are. She told me that we should do a biopsy, and if the women's clinic is going to pay for it, we might as well just take them out. I agreed. "What the hell?" Right?

Ben and I "celebrated" with Spicy Ta-Ta sushi. It was only appropriate with the situation with my spicy ta-tas.

Then they scheduled the surgery. It's on a Monday, the day of a test, I still have 3 more days of school to attend that week, and I'M BEING CUT OPEN!

The overwhelm set in. I just freaked out. Not about the the cysts, but about the surgery. It just was inconvenient. But I could handle it. Again, but instincts told me I was fine. I can take the test the day after {not ideal but manageable} and I can make it happen. I kind of forgot for a minute that I was super woman and could do anything. I had the fear of being cut open, the violation on my body, my femininity, my breasts. They are kind of special to me, ya know?

Then one of my oldest friends came to visit. He just had surgery too. And you know what he said to me that changed it all?? He said "I wasn't nervous anymore once I realized, 'if the doctor screws up, he screws up. There is nothing I can do about it but be positive.' And everything turned out fine." Well that's logical. My doctor isn't going to screw up. My breast will be fine. My cysts are just happy little cysts that are coming out. I will be fine. I need to stop feeding the situation with negative energy and just be happy about the situation. This is a good thing. I'm getting things taken care of, it's being paid for. And I'm healthy!

New Perspective.
Duh, I'm super woman and my boobs can handle anything. Duh!

Surgery is Monday the 27th in the AM. If ya want to think about my boob during that time, I'd be ok with it.

today...

2011-05-31T14:29:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking I'll get a Masters.

We'll see how long that lasts but I'm thinking that is the next step for me.
I've been so baby hungry {and still am, don't get me wrong} but I feel like that getting a masters is the next step.

I was chatting with a girl in one of my classes who said you can get through the Social Work program in a year. It might kill you, but you can do it. Maybe I'll push for 2 years so I don't die.

That's for today anyway.

My Mr. is 29!

2011-05-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

He is my sweetie, the light of my life and we had such a wonderful day celebrating!

Yours truly woke up early to get crepes going for the birthday boy to wake up to. One of both of our favorite childhood memories, waking up to pancakes {of some sort} on your birthday. I attempted to make almond flour crepes and they turned out beautifully! I was a little nervous, but the experiment turned out successful.

I needed to go grocery shopping, one of my favorite Saturday activities (really) and he decided to come along with me {unusual}. So I decided to surprise him by swing by Nordstrom to pick out a pair of Toms that he's been dreaming about. {the first pair he got, we had ordered off line and they were too small}

He went with the lace ups. They are super styling.

We went to Costco and the Mexican market. Not part of the birthday celebration but necessary for the week ahead. He was shopped out and requested to go home to read Harry Potter. He's on book 7 and it is absolutely darling to see his inner child come out when he reads these books. He reads them between semesters, and now has nothing to do until classes start. Well, he has plenty to do with his internship and applying for fall internships...but you know what I mean. Summer classes will start before he knows it.

I needed a pair of toms too {not really} but I took back a pair I hadn't worn that were too big and exchanged for another pair. I had my eye set on the new crocheted ones, but by the time I got back to Nordy's they were sold out. They weren't that morning but the birthday boy couldn't stand the chaos. So I opted for the black sparkly ones. They aren't black crocheted, but they are beauties.

The birthday boy chose The Fish Market for his birthday dinner. Ah-maz-ing meal! We sat on the deck, right on the water, enjoying the sun and passing boats.

Conversations of our life, our future, our relationship, and observing the two drunk men who ordered 7 rounds of bread and beers with their meal. {I was nervous how they were going to get home}

I feel so grateful to call him my husband, and the life we are making together. I'm a lucky girl.

The birthday boy ordered tilapia with mango salsa.

I was jealous at first, until I tasted mine. I knew I had made the right decision.

I ordered the red snapper with tomatoes and rice. Delicious! I was quite pleased.

The boat we got married on cruised past us.

It was very sweet and memorable.

Awwww....

Opening his birthday gifts.

A toms sticker {that he already got that morning}

and a picture of the rolling briefcase he wants that we're waiting to get until after

our summer loan money comes in.

Complements of the chef
We enjoyed this incredible chocolate fudge gnosh dessert.
It was really amazing.

After the wonderful meal, we enjoyed the water and each others company.

Ok maybe I'm getting a little too sappy, but we had a lovely evening.

After dinner we walked through Seaport Village.

We reminisced about the events since his last birthday.

Last year we went to Disneyland for his birthday, we got married, school...

and his classic "Ya know, I don't feel that old. 29 isn't old. I'm healthy, and have my whole life ahead of me"

Then we closed off the night with our favorite activity, cuddling on the couch and watching a show.

Since we had the incredibly rich dessert at dinner, we had the birthday cake the next day.

I made his favorite sweet potato chocolate torte (gluten and sugar free)
Notice the 2 and 9. Cute.

One of my favorite qualities about B is he makes up songs on the spot. It's darling. And he made one up last night as we were walking the boardwalk. I wanted to record him singing it but he couldn't remember it. So this is the one he did on the spot. Not the same one, but it's cute.

Yeah, he's in bed. Oh well.

He is my joy!

Happy Birthday, my love!

cleanse

2011-05-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

I have this amazing lady in my life, Joline Wondergem. She's my amazing health mentor. She speaks my language. She has coached me through learning about my body, the foods I consume and why, and she has now taken me to a whole new level of health. Joline is a raw foodist and has taught me many of my now personal diet consumption. She's amazing. You can find her website here.

She recently suggested I do a really strict cleanse. You see, I have had rashes somewhere on my body my entire life. My mom called me "diaper rash queen" when I was a baby, as a teenager I had rashes under my eyes, behind my ears, between my fingers, my mission I had rashes between my toes (not athletes foot), and recently I've had a rash in the corner of my mouth and bottom lip for over 6 months now. And all of the listed rashes would stay for several months at a time. I just assumed I had overly sensitive skin. Which is still true, but my mentor suggested I try something new. The rash on my mouth had gotten to the point where it would split if I opened my mouth even the slightest, it would itch, get inflamed and take over my bottom lip. It got serious. I started to think that I was allergic to something because I did notice it would get inflamed with certain foods (wheat) but I wasn't convinced because I wasn't feeling sick.

My mentor thought I could possibly have candida, which is an overgrowth of yeast in the body. Not to get all medical on ya, but it basically causes the rashes, bloating, crankiness, hyperactive, craving for sweets (CHECK), excessive fatigue...etc. This made a light bulb go off in my brain. In looking at pictures on Google, my mouth looks the same as several other pictures.

So this is where I started the 15 day cleanse. NO fruit, NO wheat, NO sugar! These are what candida thrives on and also makes you crave these items. Obviously, everyone craves sugar and pasta. But I would have these weird cravings like I HAD to have it right then. Like someone who smoked "needed a cigarette" only, mine was "I need sugar. like NOW!" As J said "that's the candida talking". Ekk I was nervous. The cleanse would alter everything. But I surprisingly did really well and felt AMAZING the entire time. Only a few times did I actually feel like I was cleansing. I was able to work out to my regular intensity (however I did leave a turbo kick class early because it was the most intense class I had been too, and I was cleansing). Along with the intense eating, I took these essential pills from doTerra, 3x a day. These were to help kill the candida.

What I ate daily: I juiced veggies every morning (because a smoothie was much harder to drink with no fruit). I juiced carrots, red/yellow peppers, cucumber, chard, kale, spinach, beet, cilantro and lime. I really started to enjoy it and continue to juice when I don't feel like a smoothie. I ate every 3 hours religiously (which I normally do) but if I didn't while cleansing I was starving, cranky, and tempted to eat something I shouldn't.

I ate pretty close to how I normally eat, I was just really strict on the 3 No's. For snacks I would eat my favorite brown rice tortilla with almond butter and maybe a handful of nuts. I made my regular brown rice bowls for dinner, or quinoa salad... all classic dishes of mine.

Although, my new favorite additions were the chia see pudding (for a treat) and homemade oatmeal with peacans and stevia (sometimes I would add some protein powder).

Chia seed pudding
grind in vitamix:
1/2 cup chia seeds (if you don't have a blender that will grind them, get already ground chia seeds)1/4 cup flax seed (I added these because I had it)
dump into bowl
Add 3 cups of almond milk to vitamix
Add chia seeds
couple drops of liquid stevia
I added raw coco powder
Blend
Pour into 3-4 cups and put in fridge

Anyway, my rash on my mouth started to clear up. It is no longer cracking which is HUGE! But I probably haven't killed the candida yet (if that is what I have). This will be a long process and will alter my eating habits. I will probably have to do the cleanse several times over the next few months. I'm in testing period to see how my body reacts to a little bit of wheat and sugar in my diet. Candida really plants itself well in your body, and sticks to your intestinal tract, so I will monitor my eating and how I feel.

But, I feel amazing! I feel so motivated now that I have a vision as to what I could be trying to get rid of. Next step is I'm going to take a food allergy test to see if that gives me any more answers. Another huge thing for me is that I seriously feel amazing in my skin, in my own body. I feel me. I feel comfortable. Before I was feeling blahh, sluggish and cranky. I'm still wearing the same size clothes, I am 5 pounds less which is amazing but doesn't change things drastically. and I feel like a new woman!

One more thing I've incorporated Lymphatic brushing. My friend told me her sister specializes in it and it has done amazing for her body. Check out her sister's instructions for a home brushing session. She lives in Utah and from what I hear, gives amazing Lymphatic massages to help move toxins out of the body. Her name is Bobbie, and I will definitely be seeing her when I'm in Utah next!

Thank you for all the support from friends and family, and especially to the husband who even did most of the cleanse with me. He's a good sport!

thoughts of our future

2011-05-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

Today is Friday. I love Fridays. The closure of the week, the beginning of the weekend full of getting things done, grocery shopping (I actually enjoy it), getting my house organized and clean. I enjoy all of these things. I enjoy Fridays. Well, and on Saturday I'm getting my hair done. That makes for a great weekend!

This week I finished my semester. And one rough semester it was. Fights with an awful professor and stupid group projects. My group just happened to be one who wanted to meet every week for 5 weeks in a row to meet. WHY? there is no need. It was the easiest project. You interview a woman, then you present what she said. What is there to meet about more than once? Anyway... Closure.

So today I've been thinking about our future. We were talking about the possibility of a graduation trip. He graduates in December 2012, I'll graduate in May 2013. If we could swing it, I'd love a week (two if possible) in Paris. What better way to celebrate graduation than with The Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral and pastries? I know, I couldn't think of anything better.
Well, second best would be a Mediterranean cruise. We were looking on vactionstogo.com, and you can go on a cruise through Italy and Greece for $500-1000 a person. Depending on length and time of year. Amazing!

We also were dreaming about the first home we'll buy. What started this conversation? Oh talking about having counter space that won't be packed full of juicers, vitamix, protein powder...all because there is no storage in our kitchen. I want counters that are clear of clutter where I can have cute glass jars full of oatmeal, flax seed and quinoa. Ya know, the stuff I use every day, but I pull it out of a tupperware from the cupboard.

Then I started imagining hardwood floors with a nice shag carpet and a coffee table and a washer and dryer in my apartment. You mean I wouldn't have to put quarters in to operate it?

My favorite comment from B today.
B: "We will have a moderate home so we can go on nice trips and take our kids to the beach"
J: "We live by the beach"
B: "That means our kids will go pretty damn often"

haha he's darling and makes me laugh.

new art...

2011-05-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

I had a need for something new in my house. My facebook friend Pixie was having a special and I jumped right on it when I saw her masterpieces. It makes me want to paint. I was inspired and felt peace and joy when I looked at her work.

Check out these amazing paintings I just bought!

Intuition Guides - Raven

For change and movement ahead, intuition guides the way.
Raven intelligently seeks his fortune methodically and playfully.
Use creative means to determine what is next. Know what you need.

Warrior - Great Horned Owl

Owl as Warrior is best expressed by Great Horned Owl.
Fierce and feared, he can be called in for any task requiring resolution,
to hold the front lines. Great Horned Owl sees straight through
to the core of imbalance, revealing the root of the conflict,
as well as how to solve it. He understands how to implement the
changes needed to bring about fruition.

Once he has successfully overcome his issue,
he takes graceful flight toward the moon,
bringing the feminine energies back,
to balance the exertion of masculine energies
needed to fight the intense battle.
The medicine of Great Horned Owl is to wage war
only when absolutely necessary: for survival of the soul and it's purpose.
He effectively releases the ties that bind.
Call upon Great Horned Owl when standing up to the disparaging voices within or
to fight for a worthy cause dear to your heart.

Her descriptions are so perfect and I resonated with them for gifts for friends. I won't say who so they are still surprises, but I got one for them and one of each for myself. What a gift!

If you're interested in her work, her shop is here.

Enjoy!

grateful for the Mr.

2011-05-09T16:38:00.000-07:00

yes, it's one of those posts.

I was just in my home state for a total of 48 hours. I was grateful to see my family, spend time telling stories and laughing, but there is always something missing.

The Mr.

He rarely comes because of school
and he's allergic to the Mama's puppies

We are both rather independent people, rarely talk on the phone when I'm gone because he is normally locked inside the library, or I'm on the go until after he goes to bed. So we text the entire trip, or text when he isn't studying.

But coming home to him is such a dream.
I had driven home from Long Beach (1.5 hours) and didn't even go home before I stopped at Costco and the Mexican Market for our weekly grocery shopping because I knew I wouldn't be able to do it any other time. I just kept telling myself "as soon as I finish shopping, I can go home and shower and get in bed". This is at 2pm, mind you. I knew the Mr. wouldn't be home until 6 or 7, so after I got home, put the groceries away and showered, I put myself to bed with my laptop to watch some shows and relax. My favorite activity after an eventful weekend in Utah, followed by a 12 hour car ride.

B got home at 8, and I felt this surge of energy, breath of fresh air. I finally get to see him. That is the best feeling and yet there are no words to describe finally seeing your husband after a short trip, and yet it felt like it was forever.

This is a sappy post.
get over it.
I feel grateful.

On another note, I was reminded during my trip to Utah, that everything is perfect.
And yes, everything is perfect.

today....

2011-04-21T21:22:00.000-07:00

I want a sewing machine. I want to make pillow cases and curtains and little girl dresses and take pictures of the little girl in the little girl dresses. and I want to make pillow cases with flowers that are a soft white with big mustard yellow flowers and paint my walls.

I'm becoming that woman
what am I going to do with myself?

{almost} figuring it out

2011-04-19T09:54:00.001-07:00

I sometimes feel like I'm still figuring out who I am.

maybe it's a life long process and I didn't realize it before

Sometimes I dream about living in a little cottage where I can have a garden, field, paint my walls a different color every month...allow my inner hippie to come out.

Then sometimes I want to live in the city where I can shop at MAC and Nordy's all the time and occasionally go dancing....

Maybe I want something in-between. A darling little house in the suburbs, with beautiful grass and trees, a garden with tomatoes, zucchini, carrots...and I can paint the walls every month if I want to (although, if you know me. I won't. I think of a project, start it and it is too big to finish. so maybe I'll paint once). And I'm go running with my twin baby stroller through the neighborhood.

I feel like I'm having an identity crisis. I'm loving school, but what do I want to do after? I DON'T KNOW! I want to have a baby(ies) soon, but part of me feels so cliche and something I never said I would do; having a baby right after I graduate. But by then I will be nearly 30, and my baby monitor is screaming!

I'm just me. not just as in JUST, but that's all I can be. Some days I'm a hippie, some days I'm girly and ~~prissy.~~ And everyday, I'm ME, no matter what.

I think I feel like I'm having a 27 year old midlife crisis. The husband and I do the same thing every day. We go to school, work, homework, if we're lucky enough to have dinner, together, homework, watch a tv show, go to bed...start all over again. We both are feeling tired. Tired of school, and ready for it to be over. And yet at the same time I want to cherish this time and enjoy it. Sounds like a double negative.

I have dreams of being at home with my {twin} babies, focusing only on them, holding both in my arms, blogging about them, taking pictures of them. Then I think, am I ok with being a full time mom? I want to be, but I guess I always told myself that was ~~bad.~~ Women are to have careers, be successful, have foundations....I guess I can do all of that still.

I guess I'm struggling with who I am as a feminist. I've learned all these new ideas, and I agree with a lot of them. Is it bad that I want my man to take care of me? That's so non-feminist.

like I said, {almost} figuring it out.

these are the things going through my head right now.
oh, and I'm obsessed with twins right now. I just have that feeling.

I'm grateful in my confusion.

I dream...

2011-02-10T19:24:00.000-08:00

lately I've been dreaming a lot about:

after I graduate from school....will I go on to get a masters? In what? Do I really want to? IN WHAT?

when B graduates....then what? He's going to be a LAWYER. Like a real one. That doesn't seem real.

when we decide to have children. Will that ever come? Can I do it? All I read/hear about are sleepless nights, cranky babies, cranky mommies. Am I up for the challenge? Can I do it?

being a really good photographer. I don't want to be mediocre. I want to really be good and know what I'm doing instead of pretending.

photographing my children. See? there I go again with this baby stuff. I want a baby to photograph. There is a baby who lives below us. The parents are quite shy and rarely talk. Even if I talk to them. I can hear their baby voices and happy baby laughs all day long. I love it. I want to knock on their door and say "hi. I know you don't know me. but can I snuggle your baby for a bit and take pictures of her? Thanks!"

do I get a masters first or have a baby? if I have a baby will I get a masters? If I get a masters will I have a baby?

oh, and dreaming about the cruise we just booked for our 1st anniversary! I'm already planning the swimsuits and cute cover ups...

I think about all the wonderful things we're doing in our lives right now and I know we couldn't do them with a baby. I am really understanding that I was programmed that I have to have a baby right after I get married. Obviously, I don't like following the norm, hence where I am in my life right now. So for now, it's perfect that I don't have a baby right now. But that doesn't make me googoo gaagaa over them.

so for right now. I'm grateful for where I am in my life. Everything is perfect.

Top TEN in 2010

2011-01-03T08:17:00.000-08:00

2010 was an amazing year for us.

Here are our Top 10 moments.

10.
Ben did amazing in school. He made Distinguished Honor Roll
(meaning he was in the top 10% of the whole school)
Julia started her first semester at SDSU and did great (4.0)

9.
Julia finished a "ton" of races. like 5. I didn't keep count, and probably should have, but I was proud with how many I did. And they were all spontaneous.

This is the longest one I did, and decided to do it the day before. My first 10k and it was seriously hot outside!

8.
I surprised Ben for his birthday with Disneyland tickets (that we got for free from volunteering, but he didn't know we got the tickets because we almost didn't...long story)

7.
We went to Ridgecrest, CA to see Ben's hometown and his mom and brother.
We had a great time hiking and chatting!

6.
I went to Champagne, Illinois with my Aunt Patricia. I got to see my dad's side of the family that I hardly know. It was so fun!!

5.
Christmas in New York.
When my friend Blake called to tell me he was leaving New York in 6 months to a year, I knew we had to jump on that invitation of staying with him. So we decided that would be our Christmas gift.

We had so much fun and tried to fit everything we could into the trip. The (32 degree) weather was perfect. We never got snowed on, and missed all the rain in California.

And in the same trip we went to DC to visit some friends.

4.
All the siblings together again for the first time in 3 years.
We had a lot of fun at Christmas telling stories.

3.
Changing our eating habits
and learning how to cook yummy vegetarian meals.

2.
Honeymoon in Mazatlan, MX!
We were truely blessed to have been given our honeymoon as a wedding gift
from a wonderful friend.
We had such a great time exploring the city, countless $13 massages, pool side drinks and meeting new people.

Number 1 thing of 2010:
our beautiful wedding!

We got married in the San Diego Harbor on a wonderful Sunday afternoon.
Our close friends and family joined us and everything was absolutely perfect!

And to close out 2010, on New Years Eve, we made our vision boards for 2011!

What Ben is creating:

What Julia is creating:

Our goals for 2011:
Ben: To network more with the law community
Julia: to do something new every month
and take a photo every Saturday.

I think I just had a mild heart attack...

2010-11-21T19:52:00.000-08:00

So. There I am. Sitting HERE, at my desk. not doing my homework, home alone, browsing the internet, looking at blogs, surfing facebook, then clicking on my speech outline for Tuesday's group speech...back to facebook...

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN...

There was this LOUD noise outside my apartment. It sounded like a mixture between someone running/stomping right outside my apartment and someone banging along the entire outside wall of our apartment. and it was LONG. not like "oh someone just fell and tripped" but like a LONG run/stomp. like 7 seconds long. like there was an emergency, or someone was really trying to make my heart jump out of my throat. I felt personally attacked.

Was there an emergency? Were cops banging on someone's door? GEEZ!

So I run over to my door. As I'm looking out the peep hole, and slowly locking the door (because I didn't want THEM to hear me locking it). There is nothing. No doors open, no people, no movement. NOTHING. Then there is a loud noise again. Now I'm thinking there is a bad guy, against the wall where I can't see him, and he's going to jump out at me... the me behind the peep hole. But still no movement.

When I remembered to start breathing again, I sllowwllyy opened the door... look outside... and there is a CAT looking at me from the roof! It must have had a jumping fest over my head which caused me to nearly soil myself.

green smoothies

2010-11-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

So I've been asked a few times about how I make my green smoothies. I was first introduced by my good friend Wendy who read a book called Green for Life. This lady's website is awesome! Her whole family is raw foodists, and she's done extensive research!(They even have a silly music video about eating raw). I totally got into green smoothies about 2 years ago started making them in my regular Oster blender, which worked great! Then I got the much coveted Vitamix as a wedding gift and it's changed my life in regards to green smoothies! (this website is also awesome and has videos that show you how to make different smoothies/soups)

Soo this is the base of how I make my smoothies and I just change up the ingredients. My measurements make 2 - 32oz cups.

This morning I started by cutting a fresh pineapple. I watched a video that said to use the core and all (when using a vitamix).

I always start my smoothies with the soft, fresh fruit on the bottom because they are softer and blender easier. (also learned from a video)

So I've put in 1/4 of the pineapple, banana (you can peal and freeze them too if they are ripening faster than being eaten) this one is fresh, and a whole avocado, pit included, not peal.

So here again, 1/4 of pineapple, banana and avocado, pit included.
I learned to put the entire pit in when I bought my vitamix from Costco. The lady giving the demonstration was a nutritionist and said an avocado pit is the only way to get Omega 9. So why not? And the vitamix can handle it and blends it smoothly.

Then I add my frozen fruit. I put in about 5-6 strawberries, and mango - probably 1/2 cup. I get my strawberries at costco for $8-$9. Awesome! It lasts about 2-3 weeks. The mangos, I get at Trader Joes. I sometimes use frozen pineapple instead of mango.

Then I add my greens. I get my spinach from Costco. It's $3! Amazing! As opposed to $4 for the handful I use in my smoothies. This bag will last about a week with our morning smoothies and daily salads for lunch.

My LARGE handful of spinach.

Today I used chard because I had it and it needed to be eaten. Normally, I use kale. Kale is soo awesome and the most nutritious green but it is bitter and tough to chew so I like it best in smoothies.

I add 2 cups of water at first, then add more as needed.

I got so excited and started blending! I forgot my carrot and cilantro! Cilantro is one of MY favorite things to put in a smoothie. It adds such a great flavor! mmmm

Here it all is! (minus carrot and cilantro)

Anddd.... I forgot the lime (peal included), and a sliver of ginger! Sooo good for you! Be sure to blend it well so you don't get ginger slices. (I don't love the flavor of ginger so I use a little bit, and make sure it's blended so I don't have to chew it)

Blending! Again, make sure you blend it long enough that the avocado pit and ginger are blended thoroughly. Here is where you would add ice if needed. I didn't in this smoothie and it would have benefited from it. The frozen fruit didn't make it cool enough.

Sorry a little blurry, but there are our smoothies in our D.I. cups. These are 32 oz and I read on http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/ that you should have 32 oz a day of green smoothie!

Green Smoothie girl is in Utah I think and has classes. Her website is AWESOME! She has videos, facts, recipes, and a "cook" book you can buy (but I think her website is adequate enough)

And again, Green For Life has all the facts about the importance of greens in your diet, and also the importance of blending them so that all the nutrients can be absorbed. This book is on my Summer reading list!

One more tip I learned from the Costco lady is if your spinach is going bad, put it in your blender with a bit of water, blend and freeze. Then put the cubes in your smoothies. It worked beautifully!

I love green smothies and I feel fantastic when I eat them!

Healthy train

2010-11-04T20:51:00.001-07:00

Sooo.... I'm kind of a health nut. Ben and I became vegetarians a little over a year ago and I love it. And in that transition I took on more vegetables (I say this because most vegetarians grasp for carbs). I've learned a whole new way to cook, I subscribed to an amazing magazine. www.vegetariantimes.com I love it. So much variety and with normal every day foods. Health train = me! I lost a bunch of weight, was working out every day, feeling GREAT about life! I felt skinny and beautiful on my wedding day...

and....

now...

ALL I WANT TO EAT IS CRAP!!

What is wrong with me? I know how to eat right. I know what is good for me and what makes me feel good. But all I want is In-n-out grilled cheese (God's gift, in case you're wondering), Diet Dr. Pepper, chips, cheese, cookies, ICE CREAM!! And then I feel like crap after. Sometimes I don't cave into the cravings, anddd.. sometimes I do. I feel like the caving into cravings happens more than not. And after I feel horrible. I get headaches, I beat myself up. I know it's all a mind game... so why do I do it?? Why do I cave when I KNOW it's going to make me feel horrible?

And have I mentioned I don't want to work out??

Is all of this happening because I'm in school and super busy? Um hello? No! You have to eat while you're in school and it's just as easy to eat healthy as it is to stop at in-n-out on the way home. I know I don't work out as often because of time. But time isn't an excuse to not eat healthy. I have class 3 times a week at 9am. So I committed to work out at 7am those mornings. I do it about 1x a week. Yeah... not so good at that.

Uh... So there is my rant.

I don't have the answers yet. Other than to just STOP eating crap. But I've already told myself that and then Halloween came and my neighbor brought over candy.

Soo... I take it one day at a time. I'm committing to eat healthy tomorrow and work out in the morning. Crap - it's Friday tomorrow. Friday is date night. Ugh... Maybe we'll go to Tender Greens.

My positive affirmations: I am healthy. I am skinny. My body is beautiful. I don't need to eat food that isn't good for my body. My hair is growing long and healthy.

to change the name or to not change the name?

2010-11-03T16:04:00.000-07:00

It was always just "assumed" and taught that when a girl gets married to the man of her dreams, she changes her name. And as a little girl you dream of what your future last name will be. You would write your name next to the last name of your crush and oo and ahhh... Julia Oats. Awwww I really liked Joseph Oats in elementary school.

Now fast forward several years, and here I am, married to the man of my dreams (almost 3 months now) and I was soo excited to become Mrs. Lewis. and still am. I never really liked Morrow. I always was teased as a child. Called "moron" or "toooo - morrow, tomorrow, I love ya..." you get the idea. And then when my name is called in class - for some reason Morrow is super hard for people to pronounce, even though they say it 100x a day. "see ya tomorrow!" blach... anyway...so I never liked my last name and was so excited to change it.

Julia Lewis just sounds so great. It's easy. People know what it says and how to spell it. And if I do have to spell it, it just rolls off the tongue. Unlike Morrow, with the double R...and one always gets lost. and I have to say "You know, like tomorrow". I was blessed with a good married name.

And then I take a woman's studies class. And learn that all of my personal views are called "being a feminist". No, I'm not a raging, bra burning, crazy lady. I'm simply a feminist who believes in equal rights, female rights, gay rights...etc.

And the week after I legally change my name, we talk about if a woman should be "forced" to change her name when she gets married. How it is not socially acceptable if a woman doesn't change her name to her husband's name. Does that her identity get dissolved into her husband's? Back in the day - women were property and the ownership went from the father to the husband. Just like the name does. So sitting there in class I was feeling bugged. Is it acceptable to be a feminist and change my name? Well the deed has been done. But I had to come to terms with it.

This is my conclusion on the matter. I didn't like my previous last name. I like my new last name. Alone, that is enough to change it. However I don't feel that I have now dissolved into my husband's identity. I defiantly have my own identity. I like to do somethings the traditional way, and other things the totally NON-traditional way. This is one of those "traditional" things. I like being Mrs. Lewis.

bullet points

2010-10-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

Instead of recapping the last 3 months of our lives, I'll just give what is on my mind now.

Loving today. Loving San Diego's fall (slightly missing Utah's colors though). Fall is like a beautiful Summer's day.
He's doing great in school. Sometimes he forgets how he's a genius, but I just remind him.
I swept and mopped today. There was a lot of dirt - but I swear I did it last week!
I'm wearing fake eyelashes in honor of the holiday and I'm LOVING it. Wish I could pull this off every day of the year.
I dragged myself to the gym and did a kiss ass workout - then came home and ate left over pizza. Uhh I've lost my motivation and it BUGS me!
I "quit" the one job and have felt such relief from it!
Woman's Studies class is rocking my world and I'm a moderate feminist.
I've been having seriously vivid dreams lately. Like that I had to hide my mom from the cops and that one of the walls in my house was taken over by ants. Wonder what that means?
I'm addicted to facebook. Mostly when people comment on my posts. I know I'm funny and clever, and I love when other people think so too.
I bought new boots on ebay for "winter" cause my feet were cold during the intense SD rains... and I just found a pair of boots I forgot I had. My feet didn't need to be cold all that time.
My hair looks like candy corn and I don't love it. But I try not to think about it.
I wish I had more friends in SD. Girlfriends I could just call up and go have brunch with and chat. hmpf
Because of previous bullet point, I booked a trip to Portland to be with my girls. I can hardly wait. All we're going to do is have brunch, sit in coffee shops and chat.
This hunky man I'm married to took me to have margs last night. Who knew El Torito (of all places) had a live band?? I was able to dance with my man, and he was able to watch the Laker game. It was a win/win situation and one of the funnest dates we've had. Love spur of the moment stuff that ends up amazing!
I love that I get to create everything in my life. I've created some pretty awesome stuff! I'll save that for a later post.

Loves,
J

post wedding post

2010-10-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

Sooo....we got married. And it was AMAZING!

The week of the wedding was so smooth. I was quite organized but still wished I had a "wedding planner" or someone else other than myself who knew what was going on - or to just do stuff, or to REMEMBER to do stuff... so I did a lot of bossing around.

My photog was amazing! I've only received a few photos,and I"m sure you have all seen these on facebook... but still. They are beautiful!

The entire day was absolutely a dream! I felt on cloud 9! And really, who doesn't love to have a day based all around them and their sweetheart?

As soon as I have more pics - I will be posting them for all to see.

The wedding/reception was 4 hours, so we had some wonderful time to relax and enjoy our guests. Later in the evening before the sun went down I got a wild hair and we decided to do a trash the dress. I always wanted to do one and Brooke was totally on board!

We had a combined bachelorette/bachelor party at the drag queen show "Lips" soo totally fun!!

The "triplets" as my mom has called us for so many years. I love these girls!!! These girls helped me out so much!! Andrea did bouquettes and make up, Kate did hair and make up and entertained Brooke. They are just absolutely wonderful!

The wonderful Aaron and Kate. I don't know how I didn't get a photo with Aaron, but there has got to be one floating around out there. But he is amazing and helped out with soo much! Bff since 8th grade!

The day of the wedding was pretty relaxed even though my heart was beating super fast the entire day. Maybe that was the love just pound right out. Everything was seriously soo smooth. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day to marry my honey!

last minute things...

2010-07-26T19:48:00.000-07:00

Well, the wedding is in 2 weeks from YESTERDAY! (Well it was when I started this post. Now it's a week from Sunday!!) I can hardly stand it! The anticipation is killing me, but I am grateful there is still time because there is so much to do! (Not really, but I feel like there is)...like these TAN LINES that I can't get to go away!!

Ben is filling his time with studying for his final that is this Saturday.
I have been filling my time with errands, Errands, ERRANDS!!

I can't believe all the little stuff that needs to get done. Like ribbon for the card holder, buying the 3rd pair of shoes for Ben. (The 13s and 14s didn't fit) so I had to order the 15s....Let's remember this is the 2nd time I've had to order them. Today I ran (literally, so I could fit in some physical activity) to find a restaurant for the rehearsal dinner. I booked the Pier cafe that is right on the water. (let's face it, everything about this wedding is on the water) The manager is super willing to work with me, will seat us wherever is convenient for us (others wouldn't). Everything about it is perfect, fun, and easy!

Who ever thought you would need a honeymoon swimsuit, but when I found it I knew I had to have it! I never thought I'd be posting a photo of myself in a swimsuit, but look how darling this is! Helloooo Mazatlan!

Writing a few days later...
Since this post didn't get finished I might as well add onto the odd and ends that I've been doing.

The last few days have consisted of living at Kinko's. I've been there 5 times because something was misspelled, wrong last name, double line, too small...ya know...editing stuff. And thank goodness the Kinko's guy has a crush on me because he didn't make me pay.

I love how the placement tags turned out!!
Doesn't that name have a nice ring to it?

The programs

I've been gluing away and just ran out of super glue (hence why I'm blogging). I knew I wanted programs but didn't know how I wanted to present them. My girlfriend went to a wedding recently and they had the programs as fans. How brilliant is that! A program AND it's useful! And it's cute...

Another thing we hadn't anticipated, and it's a week before the wedding...Ben's ring just arrived in the mail from China (well from Utah. because I accidentally sent it to Utah first...oops) and it's...TOO BIG!

Way too big!

Now we're on the search for a plastic filler and we will ship it back after the wedding for a different size.

Ben modeling his ring. He had requested an all onyx ring. It's pretty studly!

Now it's time to go to the gym, more super glue...and keep making these programs! Good thing it's a small wedding and I don't have to do 100s of these...phew!

Blessings!

How I do a wedding...

2010-07-09T15:17:00.000-07:00

Sooo my friend suggested I blog about the wedding plans. Soo here is a quick run down!

We are getting married on 8/8/2010
We chose that date because it's absolutely perfect! I had posted earlier about the meaning of the number 8, it is all about eternity, never ending, abundance. The endless loops signify an infinite flow of....and you fill in the blank! And since it's double it's even more powerful!

The wedding ceremony and reception will be on this:

When someone suggested a yacht I just laughed but when I looked into it, it had all of my requirements. Which were, I didn't want to do anything. I basically wanted to hire a wedding planner/coordinator without hiring them...and that's exactly what they did for me! EVERYTHING is included!! Well, almost everything...

We have invited a small group of our closest friends and family will be sailing around the San Diego Harbor from 12-4. Afternoon wedding, short, sweet, and absolutely perfect!
The sail will include hors d'oeuvres and champagne, followed by the ceremony on the bow. They will then seat us for lunch and then we will cut the cake and have an afternoon dance party!
Doesn't it sound charming?

The beautiful cake I've chosen:

I copied it from a friend's wedding. We won't be having the top tier, and ours will have pink roses and calla lilies on the top and side.
I'm still on the hunt for the perfect ribbon.
The bottom tier will be carrot cake with cream cheese filling
The top tear will be a soft, spongy white cake with raspberry filling.
Mmmm mmm!

Speaking of Roses. We will have the Armageddon rose:
they are kind of a coral color.
and combined with mini calla lilies.

I don't want to give away the my whole wedding dress ensemble so I won't be included a pic of me IN it...but here are the details.

I'll be wearing this:

After the ceremony I'll probably take the veil off and put a cute pink flower in my hair...we'll see.

Some of these:
and this:

And these:

Well I'll be wearing the front ones. but the back ones are equally amazing!

Ben will be wearing a dark brown 3 piece suit
(I still have to find the vest...uhh)
Oh and I have to find Ben shoes (size 14!!!)
a tie
shirt
cuff links

I kind of waited until the last minute (month) for him...
but who knew his stuff would be so difficult?
Ben requested a solid black stone ring.
I've found this black agate ring that is amazing. Just waiting for the supplier to tell me if they have the right size.

I am flying in our photographer from Utah. The amazing (recently engaged) Miss Brooke Kinsey with Blush Photography

I found these cute little place card holders that will act as party gifts and people can take them home for photo holders or something...something to remember our wedding by.

We will be heading to this beautiful land of Mazatlan Mexico for a wonderful week long honeymoon filled with authentic food, surfing, salsa classes, margaritas, laying by the pool and endless adventures and exploring the city! I can hardly wait!

Doesn't it sound amazingly romantic?? I know! And I get to do it all with my wonderful honey and partner! I can hardly wait!!

He's the most amazing man! He's perfect for me and I finally convinced him to marry me...haha I'm only kind of kidding...
He's SMART! ambitious, FUNNY, tall, and handsome! Who couldn't ask for more??

Photo for Liz

2010-02-27T15:37:00.000-08:00

This is my ring. I don't have the bands yet but I want them.
Just the solitaire. It's beautiful! I picked it out!

Daily Photo

2010-02-15T18:11:00.000-08:00

I started a new challenge. It isn't replacing my weight loss challenge, that is still ongoing. (I'm down 13 pounds)

February 15
La Jolla Cove, Scoping out Wedding Ceremony locations

February 14

Long Beach, Aunt's yard

random thoughts from J

2010-02-10T15:34:00.000-08:00

What is going on in my life?

I sit at home, in my pajamas, and work. all day. by myself.
Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't.

I was really cranky for a couple of days about my taxes because I thought I was going to have to pay.
Now I'm getting back more than I've ever gotten back in my life. I even cried. I'm sorry for being cranky.

I'm still loosing weight. Eating healthy and every 3 hours, a gallon of water a day, exercising my butt off. I even went to a cycle class and didn't think I wanted to die. I did it!

I finished applying to USD. Their application was too in depth (for my taste). Do they really need to know how much community service I did? I made most of it up anyway.

I am grateful for my life. I'm marrying the most wonderful, funny, smart, {and} tall man!! I get to wear a pretty dress, on the beach, with my closest family and friends. couldn't be more excited.

My grandpa gave me a new camera. For some reason I've been super overwhelmed by it. Probably along with everything else in my life (that isn't that overwhelming...but I've just been overwhelmed). I'm going to my Auntie's this weekend for my "Birthday weekend" and her concert and she's going to teach me how to use the camera. I signed up for my first photography class by my fav photog. (who is doing our wedding. YIPPEE!)

I want to wear extensions for my wedding. Pretty ones. Not ugly ones. Not too long of ones. the perfect ones.

my life in photos

2010-01-24T14:56:00.000-08:00

so maybe I'm to lazy to take my super-duper nice, big camera with me everywhere I go... so I take iphone photos.
So here is my last week in photos - iphone photos. Nothing fancy. just expression and documentation.

Flooding

On my way home from the gym.
it was dry when I went in. I was there an hour.
it was poring when I walked home.
We've been experiencing massive amounts of rain. I like to call it "river rain" or "loud rain".
It's so loud on our flat roof. I feel like I have to yell at Ben for him to hear me.

Floating Beer
This is probably 2 feet deep. How perfect is the floating beer can?

Fridge magnetI've felt inspired this week. Thanks Gandi for your wise words.
Thai food does change my life.

Ants. Again.
This is the second time since moving to California that we've had ants. And we're the only ones in the complex (or so they say). What is wrong with us?
This time they are in our bedroom. Perfect. Apparently they like essential oils. They used my book ("Three Cups of Tea") that was leaned against the wall as their bridge to get to my nightstand.
Brilliant neighbor gave us some raid. They were dead in seconds.

KaleI have a new obsession with Kale. It's delightful and full of healthiness.
I'm changing my lifestyle (beside the frozen yogurt that sent me to Utopia last night.) in the food I put into my body and the way I exercise. I'm seeing results and loving it.

Home office
I am sitting here on a Sunday. As you can see I'm organized, I have my space heater, blanket, trash, Ben's computer (because for some reason mine won't print what I need it to)

I am grateful for a good week.

2010-01-20T14:08:00.000-08:00

I'm kind of a hopeless romantic. So I made this video of us from the beginning. He's my sweetie and I adore him.

Click here.

So I'm doing this thing...

2010-01-07T09:28:00.000-08:00

The SXinney challenge.

Some Liv (the company I work for) distributors started this challenge on January 4th to help people be held accountable for their resolutions.

so I joined...

I thought, "why not?"
I keep telling myself I need to be more dedicated and want the motivation but haven't found it on my own. I go to the gym almost every day, but haven't gotten into a "routine" or something to push myself. You know, I do the elliptical for 20 minutes and go home and stretch. I have weights by my desk (at home) and I will lift weights but that's about it.

So I weighed in, sent in my measurements and before pics.
I've been going longer and harder at the gym, and I just started Jillian Micheal's 30 day shred.
I really enjoyed it. (I've done it once.) It was challenging. And as someone else described it, "That soggy sweat means you're working hard" Thanks for the encouragement.

I have changed my diet and I lost 15 pounds.
Ben and I are both vegetarians and we really try to eat a lot of fresh (as in fresh. not frozen or canned) veggies and fruits. But I still love those carbs and sweets. So I am trying to train my emotions and my cravings to be ok with only having one bite, being done, and being ok with that.

I am free to be healthy and comfortable with my body and eating habits.

New Year. New Thinking. Fresh start.

2010-01-02T19:48:00.001-08:00

Since moving to California I think I have begun to battle with depression of some sort. Don't get me wrong, I love it here! But I'm alone most of the day. I work from home and don't have a lot of human contact. And when B is in school I have LESS human contact....needless to say I am lonely.

I have caught myself saying phrases like "I don't have friends in San Diego." or "I'm lonely" (please see above) and the list of self pity goes on and on. And I am quickly realizing that I am creating this reality with my words (and my actions).

I say I don't have friends and the Universe says "your wish is my command". I say I am lonely and the Universe says "your wish is my command". I am not walking my talk, and I forgot that my thoughts and words create my reality. So I am changing that!

I am reading a book by Pema Chödr ön called "Comfortable with Uncertainty". Pema is a buddist nun and this book is based on 108 of her teachings from an interview (or seminar) she gave. She teaches about how you really can't change anything but yourself (duh! but I forget.) And if you take the pain of the world (But I like to think of just taking my own pain) and changing it into compassion for the world then it will make our world a better place. Meaning our reality. We create our reality.

She talks about Bodhichitta which in Sanskrit means "noble or awakened heart" and is equated with our ability to love. And each individual on this planet has this characteristic. I am beginning to understand if I can hold each person I come in contact with in that light, then I will be a happy person. Meaning, if I see everyone for the love that they truly are, it will then make my life more full of love and light.

B and I just watched "What the Bleep do we know". I had heard of it but never have seen it. I loved the way that they portrayed their message. I don't know if you have ever heard of the experiment that a Japanese man did with water. He took microscopic photos of water and for 24 hours put a negative word on the water and then another 24 hours he put a positive word.

Here he put "You make me sick. I want to kill you"

"Thank you"

"Love and Appreciation"

This was obviously an amazing study. What I took from "What the Bleep do we know" was obviously look what negative and positive words can do to water, but what does that mean negative and positive words are doing to me? The human body is 90% water.

I am the creator of my reality and happiness.

After reading this friend's blog, I get that I can't just change my way of thinking overnight, but I can make baby steps. She gave herself the goal of when she catches herself thinking negatively about herself, she then can only think positively about herself for 5 minutes. This is perfect. It's tangible and attainable.

And so it is. I am a good person. And I can be happy.

Christmas 09

2009-12-31T11:07:00.000-08:00

I figured that I should make a Christmas post before I create a New Years post...Ya know, just to keep things "in order". My fam came down from Utah and spent a week with us for Christmas. It was so fun and relaxed. Of course we are a hoot together!

For some reason Ben thought they said "smile like your 5 years old".
We all went up to our friend Michele's house who lives in Escondido (30 minutes North and East from us). We had an AWESOME dinner (Jay made fish just for us!) and sat around the camp fire singing, Ben doing his funny impersonations (he was the star of the show!) and enjoying each others company.
Of course we didn't get any photos of us alll together... Bah!
So here are some of us in a couple of pictures...

The smoke made a cool effect on their skin.

Sadee loved playing with mom. Mostly because no one else will talk to her in doggy voice.

He's so sweet.
Too bad my super cute flower wasn't on the other side so you could see it.

John is such a stud. He's soo fun to hang out with.
He is growing out his goatee in honor of his friend who died. He's so cute!

K just sent me this photo from her phone. So one photo of MOST of us all together... This is in Ocean Beach by the OB Christmas Tree. All the locals kept told us that someone donates a tree every year and this one is the ugliest they have had.. haha

We took them up to La Jolla which is one of the most beautiful parts of San Diego. We are standing on caves that drop into the ocean and in the summer (when the waves aren't so violet) you can swim through them and go on kyak tour. Wayy cool! We are getting married just around the corner from here. It is absolutely beautiful!

For some reason this picture is cut off, but it isn't when I post it. annoying.
We headed up to Long Beach for the Christmas part of the trip. My Auntie Carolyn lives up there so we spent a lovely 4 day weekend up with her. She is the one who is teaching me all I know about photography (which isn't much) but she's the Master Sensai.

She also is a gourmet cook! Her specialty is what we call "Mexican night". She makes 3 types of meats (and mushrooms for us veggies!), 3 salsas, all the toppings you can imagine...and it's amazing! It's a tradition.

She gets more and more beautiful by the second. Bleh!

I colored her hair and put some awesome purple panels in. Then of course I had to put some in mine!!

Auntie Carolyn took some photos of us on the Long Beach pier, and she caught this handsome fella looking like a stud!

And of course the stud eats all day long! He's like a baby. On an afternoon at Seal Beach (5 minutes north of Long Beach) he had to get a taco at this lovely beach taco stand.

I wasn't hungry, either was John...but they gave Big B tostada sized ships that were quite tasty! There was one bench. And we snagged it.

John played su-chef all weekend and loved it! I'm sure CB loved it just as much!

Christmas day we headed to Venice for the afternoon and of course had soo much fun!
There are more photos but I haven't edited them and don't really feel like it. Buttt...we learned that Jim Morrison lived in an elavator shaft in an apartment right on the Venice boardwalk for 2 months without anyone knowing he was there and wrote most of the Doors' most popular songs. He later moved out into an apartment across the street. That apartment is now called the Morrison Apartments. And there are painted murals of him all around Venice (we only saw one...) Maybe I'll edit those sometime and get them up... if anyone's interested.

Anyway...

Merry Christmas from all of us!

2009-12-15T15:00:00.001-08:00

December 14
Big B finished his first semester of law school today!!
Yippee!!
He feels really good about his finals and I already know he did great! He is a brilliant man and sometimes I have to say "Can you say that in non-lawyer terms?"
My cutsie little brain sometimes doesn't understand.

To celebrate we went here:
We have some veggie friends who told us about it.
This was our first time since being "veggies", trying a vegetarian restaurant.

And let me tell you that we LOVED IT!!
and really any dine out with him is enjoyable.

The restaurant was so cute and eclectic.
Of course we enjoyed our time in our own conversation, but also listening to the overly passionate man (who was on a date) talk to the hostess about diesel fuel and gasoline. Meanwhile his date was texting...

Of course like any great "one of a kind" restaurant, this was a "hole in the wall" one.
It was the only store on the longg street with lights on, and we were the only ones there (at 8pm) but were soon joined by the "regulars".

So if you'll excuse us, we are going to enjoy our veggie burgers now...

And here is to many more successful semesters of law school!

P.S. Don't let B get the "daily side salad" which turned out to be curried apple and potato salad.
You will be awakened in the middle of the night waving your hand in front of your face (in your sleep) by the dead cat fart smell.
During dinner he would take a bite and say "this is just to much. too much curry." while taking another bite...

2009-12-12T17:10:00.000-08:00

December 12

merry christmas!
Love, Pumpkin Spice Latte

2009-12-07T14:15:00.001-08:00

Today is a perfect day to blog. It is rainy and quiet. I time to reflect and remember.

November
I came home from Utah to a wonderful man and a bottle of this:

He surprised me with a bottle of one of my favorite wines.
He said "I was going to make you a huge sign but I couldn't find paper big enough, and then I remember that I have horrible hand writing".
A bottle of wine and yellow daisies are perfect, love!

December 28
The best Auntie let me borrow 2 lens' AND a tripod!!
I've had so much fun experimenting and playing.

I put up our Christmas tree and had a heyday with the tripod!

December 1
I decided to make my own Christmas cards this year.
I had a lot of fun painting and being creative. I've since made a total of 3 batches.
I can't get enough of it!

Somehow my ninja angel was the focus in the pictures and I didn't notice until after. haha

December 3
My brother made his way down to San Diego for a visit.
He refers to himself as a "street kid".
I learned the proper term while he was here. Never refer to a kid who travels the freight trains, and moves from city to city as "homeless".
What we know a "homeless" people are in fact "home bums": old, lazy people who stay in one place and don't do anything for themselves. (according to Rob)

I picked him up with his friend Boston, who is from Massachusets.
I learned what Mass-hole" means.
Sometimes from Massachusets. Brilliants. I know.

Robbie was trying to get rid of him and told him we could only give him a ride to Ocean Beach but he wasn't welcome to stay with us (me).
He takes things. Michele offered to give "them" (meaning Robbie) a pack for the dog and Boston's response was "Heyy cool thanks!" and picked it up for himself. I think he soon felt bad (and realized it wouldn't fit his dog) and gave it to Rob. I was glad! Or I would have whipped out my Mass-hole on him.

Boston giving a toast.

He liked to put his nasty beard in his mouth when he talked, he was very eager to tell us about all the women he has slept with on the streets, and their ages.

This amazing couple let Hank, Rob's dog stay with them. They have a yard and 2 other dogs and gave him a fun place to play. Even though he tore up their seat cushions that were out there...

December 4th

Robbie getting some much needed sewing in, with dental floss.
He sported Ben's Turkey Trot very well.

When I offered to wash his clothes, he refused.
For one, if washed they would either come out in scraps, or be close to it.
For two, "Stinkiness is good on the road, it gives you credibility".
Spoken from a true "street kid" himself.

We had some deep, heartfelt talks. Some that brought up a lot of emotions for me, and helped me understand him more.

December 5th

Looking exactly like Uncle Jack here in his new hat.
He was such a good sport in letting me take his picture and try new things out.

And 2 days later he was back on his journey.
I drove him 50 miles out side of San Diego to a rest stop so he could try and hitch a ride. I haven't heard from him and it's been raining, alot.

All I can do is send him love and angels.
This is his journey, not mine.

gratitude.

2009-11-27T11:22:00.000-08:00

Ben and I started off our Thanksgiving running the Long Beach 5k Turkey Trot! I loved it!
The last 5k I ran was a year ago and I didn't prepare at all! (not a good idea)
After the run, my muscles froze up and I wasn't able to move or walk for a long time.

This time around, I decided to train and prepare.
Brilliant, I know.
I was running about 2.5 miles a couple of times a week but 2 weeks before the run I got a horrible cold and wasn't able to run because I couldn't breath.
And then I went to Utah for a week and didn't run at all there either.
Needless to say I was slightly worried about the Turkey Trot and didn't want to have the same results as I had before.
Surprisingly, it went really well!! We both ran most of it, and I think I ran it faster than the last! I'm feeling great and we had a fun time, and a great photographer to document!

Grateful for health and support.

Grateful for where we live.

We ran along the Long Beach boardwalk.

We spent out Thanksgiving with my Auntie Carolyn at Kate and Gabe's. Kate and my mom have been friends since high school!
It has been so enjoyable to get to know these people as an adult.

Grateful for family, friendship and music.

Carolyn and Kate sight reading a duet.

Grateful for celebration.

Thanksgiving day also happened to be on Sara's 25th Birthday!
I know it's out of focus, but I still love it.
My mom told me today that Kate told her she was pregnant with Sara when my mom was in labor with me at the hospital.

Grateful for companionship.
(These are the flowers he gave me when I got home from Utah)

Carolyn let me barrow 2 of her lenses AND a tripod.
So I've spend my Black Friday experimenting! :)

Grateful for girly, pretty things.

These are a few of my favorite things.

Grateful for over 2 wonderful years with him.

Grateful for exploring new ideas.

Grateful for all good things.

I'm going to attempt to make Thanksgiving dinner for me and Ben this weekend. I will document.

top t.e.n. list

2009-11-24T20:31:00.000-08:00

Things you may not have known about me:

1. I'm a blog stocker (this includes facebook stocking, of course)
2. I'm one of those "creative" girls who will start a project and not finish it because I get bored or frustrated. I thought it would be so fun and turn out great when I started!
3. I don't shower as often as I used to.
4. Ben and I are recent Pescetarianis.
and I'm really enjoying it!
5. I'm indecisive.
6. I enjoy spending my alone evenings looking at photography sites.
7. I'm a closet feminist.
meaning that feminine rights are important to me, but I don't protest them...
8. I a metaphysicalian
I made that up. But you know, like a Christian...I'm a Believerian.
9. I want to travel the world.
(doesn't everyone though?)
10. My body reacts funny to drugs.
I once couldn't open my left eye for over 24 hours after getting my wisdom teeth out.
Another time while flying from France to Utah, I was given a "pill" and couldn't move my arms and would yell out "I can't move my arms". My mom would quietly shush me and smile at the gaukers...

8.8.2010

2009-11-10T20:43:00.001-08:00

I don't think a lot of people read this - so we'll see!

But it's been decided!! We are getting married on 8.8.2010!
We were planning on getting married in August because of Ben's internships this summer and not knowing where he will be and when I saw that the 8th was on a Sunday, it just seemed perfect!

I love the Angel Numbers book. It gives the angelic meaning of numbers.
8.
The number 8 signifies abundance and prosperity. The endless loop in this number signify an infinite flow of money, time, ideas, relationships, or whatever else you require (especially for your life purpose.)

88.
This is a very auspicious and favorable sign about your finances. Your actions, prayers, visualizations, and manifestation work have resulted in a large inflow of abundance. Open your arms and receive!

The Numerology meaning of 8.
You are inspiring, result-oriented, powerful, ambitious, visionary, generous, perseverant, forgiving, broad-minded, money-conscious and self-disciplined.

You have the potential for enormous success and the possibility to accumulate great wealth. You are also a good judge of character a natural leader and a survivor.

8 is the number of the perfection, the infinity.

In China, the 8 expresses the totality of the universe.

I could go on but I won't.

We are going to have it here:

In one of these:

Celebrate at something like this:

And all with him:

Adoring him...

2009-10-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

My honey has been studying soo hard and non-stop! I'm so proud of him! He said "this is the hardest thing I've ever done" and he's totally staying on top of it and loving it.
It's funny how I love him more and more every day...weird how it works.

Especially with this photo sitting around so I can look at him every day.
He's so handsome!

tribute to a friend in photos

2009-10-01T22:47:00.000-07:00

One of my bffs, Aaron came into town from Arizona last weekend and we had a lot of fun doing a photo shoot in downtown San Diego.
Our weekend was full of laughing, talking until the wee hours of the night,
enjoying a bottle of wine together, the beach.... and the only photos we got were these...
and they are good!

You know those kinds of friends who are up for anything? And always enjoy the ride...?

Those friends who will break into forbidden places just to get an awesome photo... and wave at the pass-er-by-ers who giggle at us...

Or those friends who know you inside and out. Who don't have to say a word, you just know by the look....

You know what I'm talking about.
Friends who will celebrate your successes
and will laugh about your mess-ups.

The friend who will watch YouTube with you all night long on a Saturday night...

That friend who you haven't seen in 2 years, but the fun always
picks up where you left off.

The friend who motivates you to run. Who is running a Marathon in December
and you almost consider running it with him.
Or maybe I'm just competitive...

And my favorite photo of the whole shoot.
I can just feel his sweet, fun, loving energy poring out of this photo.

Aaron is all that and more. He is my soul brotha who will never leave, but will always
be there with me.
I definately know we made a contract to be best friends.
Since 8th grade!

Love you Aaron!

And of course I had to post it with a different texture to it...Love!

And the photographer in all her glory!
We had gone down the wrong stairwell, and they were the kind where one set
went to the evens and the other side went to the odds. Weird. I know.
And we went down the wrong one! And I was wearing a dress, and had to hurtle myself
between the two railings...and this is the product of it!

Enjoy!

Testing

2009-09-09T19:46:00.001-07:00

Who says money can't buy you happiness?

2009-08-31T10:38:00.001-07:00

I have found my true love.

A year ago Ben and I went on a vacation to California, and we did this:

And I knew I had to have one.

She is vanilla and pink.
And even has a pink basket.
And I look darling on her!

Now, what to name her?

From the Universe

2009-08-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

Last night, Julia, I was dreaming of you, again.

You were radiant, confident, and light beamed in every direction from the core of your being. Music followed you, angels serenaded you, and everyone was elevated by your presence. Wisdom shown from your eyes. Kindness emanated from your touch. And your power was simply awesome.

You looked, well... pretty much... exactly as you do right now.

Wow,
The Universe

Radiant huh?

hehehe

This is the beginning....

2009-07-15T15:00:00.001-07:00

....of something very exciting and new. Yet scary, emotional, thrilling....FREEING!!

We are headed to the BIG San Diego!!! Ben is starting law school at Thomas Jefferson, in Old Town San Diego. He has been preparing for a long time, and the time has finally arrived!

We are both so excited to start a new chapter of our lives together. Part of it is sad, because we are leaving my family and our friends in Utah, but they can always come visit right? Part of it is just sooo exciting! We don't even know wha t to expect! But we know it's all good!

Stay tuned as we turn the pages of our lives. This post is not really clever witty, but I'm throwing it together at work...cut me some slack!

In the mean time, here are some pictures our friend Sara and my Auntie Carolyn took of us! Enjoy!