My Favorite Room

We have officially moved the last cardboard box out of the new apartment as of last night!   We have been waiting on getting pantry shelving.  After waiting on an order from Walmart, and then changing our minds after the shipment was delayed, I finally made the drive to Ikea and got a simple wood shelving unit.  And with that, we kicked the last cardboard box outta there! (after emptying it of it's food contents, of course.)

 It probably comes as a surprise to no one that my absolute favorite room in my place is the kitchen.  That holds true for both the old apartment and the new apartment.  But I'm particularly excited about the new apartment and how everything is turning out there.  Not only did we buy our pantry shelving from Ikea, but we bought a beautiful set of hanging wall shelves, too, and I'm excited to grow some herbs in pots on its shelves.

And of course, my sister's EAT sign is rather great and particularly descriptive of our household.  Soon enough, something will be in those awesome potion bottles as well.  Maybe some edible rose buds?  Perhaps some lavender buds?

Our spice rack hung in our old apartment as well, and it's one of my favorite things.  I love having spices readily accessible for cooking, but having them on display makes me even happier.

We've still got more work to do, but I'm so happy with how it's turning out!  And that's all I'm showing you of our new place!  Partly because there's still work to do in the other rooms.  But partly because I want to be sure that you all come pay us a visit.  We love hosting!

Petless

aka. What to Do About This Growing Need to Nurture When I've Just Signed a Lease for an Apartment That Doesn't Allow Pets and I'm Not Prepared for Children Quite Yet

You're welcome that I used the title 'Petless' instead.  But there you have it.  That thirty word title offers you all the insight you need to know about my current dilemma.

Ray and I want a dog pretty badly.  There was a chance we could have a dog at our current apartment, and I was over the moon excited.  I poured over adoption sites to find a dog that would be perfect for us--medium sized, low-shedding, not a barker, okay to live in an apartment without a fenced yard.  I found one or two that were perfect.  We dreamt up names (Ray still stands by the name Uncas...)

And then we found out that it was a firm no; we definitely weren't going to be able to have a dog in our apartment.  Later, we made the decision that we needed to move (completely unrelated to our petless situation, though.)  And a glimmer was at the end of the tunnel.  We could get a pet after all!  We'd just find an apartment that allows dogs!

Apartment hunting was limited--we wanted to remain within our ward boundaries.  We found three good places, two of which had No Pet policies.  But the third had some cons, most especially that the rent was significantly higher.  While we debated over which place to get, I got the text that the third place, that beautiful pro-pet triplex, was rented out.

And so, we've just signed the one-year lease for a great apartment.  The kitchen is large, the wall colors are vibrant, the floor has just been re-done in beautiful faux-wood, the bedroom is large enough to fit our over-the-top-huge king size bed.  But... no dogs.  No dogs for another year.

This wouldn't be that big of a problem.  I've gone without a dog for the past 4 years of my life.  But ever since getting married, I've had this itch.  This itch to nurture.  To hold something in my arms, to offer my love to something less capable.  Obviously, this itch is child-bearing.  What's with that desire suddenly showing up so soon after marriage?  I have a theory that having sex ups your nurturing hormones.  Who knows?  But I do know that we're not prepared for children quite yet.  And thus, the desire for a pet is SO strong.  Something to hold and love, but not quite the financial, emotional, and time-dedication is required.

If you have any suggestions of something I can nurture in the mean-time, let me know.  Plants?  A beta fish?  A blog?  A sewing machine habit?  I don't know what, but I need something quick.  Maybe if it's a small pet, I can hide it from the landlord.

To Spend or Not

Things currently running through my mind on which I want to spend money, but can't decide whether it is responsible or justifiable to do so:

A 60-minute pedicure

Do's

a foot and leg massage

long-lasting polish

cute toes for Vegas swimming this weekend

Dont's

can be easily done at home

costs many dollas

takes up time I could spend making dinner for husband

or watching movies

Birchbox Subscription

 Do's

the recent email promises many Spring face and nail colors

I like new makeup

mail makes me happy

Dont's

previous beauty subscriptions delivered mostly lame face creams

it's a monthly subscription and cancelling is annoying

$10 for 5 samples is maybe not that cost effective

Mini's Cupcake/Great Harvest Cookie

Do's

yum

I want a snack

I want a desserty snack

I'm on a diet

Dont's

I'm on a diet (wah wah)

probably I'll make a banana pb smoothie for dinner

 Crazy Expensive and Beautiful Dolce and Gabbana Blouse

Do's

it's so pretty!

it has stripes!

it's red!

and flowy!

and I want it to be summer!

and if I don't buy all the things above, I'll have saved money!

Dont's

nothing! the $745 price tag means nothing to me!

The Leonardo

Megan and I went to the Leonardo on Friday.  I haven't been since seeing the Bodies exhibit there, but guys, it's actually a pretty cool place.

 Probably the (very strange and surreal) highlight of the trip was spending a few minutes to watch the artsie film Green Porno. Ha.  It's the weirdest thing I've seen in a long time.  Isabella Rossellini plays the part of different animals and insects to display how they mate.  It was educational, fascinating, horrifying at times, and all-together intriguing.  I actually recommend it.  But be prepared for it to be weird.  And slightly inappropriate.

But there's other things to see at The Leonardo, too!  We got to "digital paint" for a while, and I made Sylvester the Snake below.  It was fun in a way I haven't had in a while.  Like, kid fun.

And they also had a station where you could look into a mirrored glass that also reflected a paper below so that you could trace your own face.  Here's Megan taking a turn:

Sometimes I forget about the fun things in my own backyard here in Salt Lake.  It takes a friend to say, hey, I want to do something fun downtown! for me to realize that I have a lot of culture and opportunity surrounding me.  So, friends, never hesitate to suggest hanging out downtown.  I love the adventure of it!  And if you want to go to The Leonardo, let me know.  They're getting a huge Mummies exhibit in on February 16th, and I'm really excited to go!

A joke? But also real. And fun.

Lacy and I decided we wanted to start a bit of a "lifestyle" blog, but in the style of real life.  As in, our real lives that are not glamorous or full of fancy photography and what not.  So we did just that.  You can find us at:

simpleflavorsarekey.blogspot.com

We're gonna be funny, and still try to be informative with recipes and crafts and outfit posts and whatever else seems lifestyle worthy to us.  And you know that also means cat posts and movies and music we like, and things of that sort.  Check, check-it-out.

And if any of you waaaaaant, maybe you can also guest post!

Two

I spent Saturday morning shoveling snow.  Just shoveling and shoveling.  So much snow.

It's crazy how much snow last weekend brought us.  And you'd think a foot and a half of snow would make me curse winter and blizzards and this stupid frozen water... but I actually just love it.
I weirdly love shoveling snow.  It's hard manual work that has a real, visual pay-off.  And I enjoy pay-offs quite a bit.

Our snow boots have gotten a good work out.  Also, see Ray's boots up there? Let me introduce you to the first men's clothing/footwear item I have ever purchased for another man (aside from, like, socks and ties for my Dad, which doesn't count).  I'm feeling pretty great about it.  Ray loves them, they look rather dashing on him, and they were on sale.  Looks like I CAN do this wife thing.

I've been thinking a lot lately about trying to manage my time now that another person gets to lay claim to so much of it.  I was able to see Megan and Allison yesterday, whom I haven't seen since November time-frame.  And I get to see Kristin tonight, whom I haven't seen since mid-December.  And I know there's a few of you who I don't get to see nearly as often as I would like.  But being married suddenly takes up so much of my time!  It doesn't seem like it should make a difference.  The essentials, eating, sleeping, working... those still take the same amount of time.  But somehow my extra time is filled with so many little things.  Making sure there's extra food for Ray's lunches (and snacking).  Going to the gym together (which takes a LOT longer because Ray, bless his heart, sure likes to take his time).  Spending time watching TV together, just to be together.

The thing is, I really love spending time with Ray.  I love just being with him.  And that makes it a whole lot easier to lose days doing menial things like grocery shopping together.  I want to be better at calling up my friends and making time for girls' nights, and I sincerely regret if any of my friends feel neglected.  I hope you know that I'm trying and I think about all of you SO much!  And in the meantime, while I'm figuring out this whole living my life with someone else's schedule, just please give me a teensy bit of leeway?  I promise I'm not abandoning any of you!  Just... trying to work on it.

Do not save this for tomorrow

First and foremost.  I didn't get offered the job, which was actually a blessing in disguise.  I was agonizing over what choice to make, and I was so glad to have that decision made for me.  So, despite a bruised ego, I'm extremely happy over how that turned out.

2012 was an incredible year, pretty much entirely revolving around my relationship with Ray.  Obviously, other things happened, too.  But 2012 was the year I fell in love with, and married, my husband.  So all those other things are kind of trumped by that BIG occasion.

That being said, I'm really excited for 2013.  I love the energy that comes with a new year, the drive to be better.  And I'm excited to meet that challenge this year.  I haven't really made any resolutions.  But I've been pondering a lot on what I want my life to be and how I want to be better.  So I'm going to go ahead and record the goals I have for this year.

First, I want to treat my body like the wonder it is.  We've been blessed with the incredible ability to move and live, to breathe and eat, to dance and run.  I want to thank my body by being better to it.  I want to go to yoga once a week.  I want to eat only things I like eating. (I read this goal from a blogger, and I think it's brilliant.  What a great method of listening to your body!)  I want to exercise when my body calls for it, and relax and sleep when it asks, too.  I'm excited to make this step.

Secondly, my relationship with God has seemed to stall a bit as I've spent time focused on marriage.  I want to re-embrace my love for God.  I want to praise Him daily, and study the scriptures with more understanding.  I want to pray with greater fervor, and live with Christ in my heart.  I want to attend the temple and be more dedicated to my covenants.  I'm excited to re-focus on God this year!

Last,  I want to be a more loving and tender person.  This goal applies to my relationship with Ray as well as my relationship with my family and friends.  I want to be the best wife possible to Ray.  I want to respect his opinion more fully and treat him with greater kindness.  I want to laugh with him and put aside my criticisms and defeating frustrations.  I want him to feel open and able to share his thoughts with me, about anything.
I want my family and friends to feel my love for them.  I want them to always feel that I have an open ear and shoulder for them.  I want them to call when they're sad or happy, and I need to reach out to them first to let them know I'm available.  I want to be more available, whether to hang out, cheer them on, or just take their calls.

I know these goals are many, and not very well defined.  I know that means I'm setting myself up to fail.  But I'm excited to focus on creating a better life.  And maybe throughout the next couple weeks, I'll be able to make these goals more well-defined.  In the meantime, I feel pretty good about this.  2013, I'm so excited for you!