The Almost Perfect Night

Last night, I discovered the secrets to an almost perfect night. Most nights I plant myself in front of the TV and get nothing accomplished until, hours later, I look at the clock and realize I have wasted my whole night while simultaneously melting my brain.

I left work yesterday determined to break this vicious and inevitable cycle by having a relaxing, productive, entertaining night. Without further ado, here is my recipe for an almost perfect night:

crisp, fabulous smelling, chilly, new jersey autumn weather

high school kids hopped up on cold medicine belting out a killer rendition of It's My Life/Confessions

Ice-T (need I say more?)

processed cheese and condensed soup goodness

good old fashioned, long time coming living room ORGANIZING party (with yourself)!

one wicked fire built in a sweet 1970's brick fireplace by a girls camp alum who took full advantage of fire building lessons

some quality cuddle time with your favorite critter under a nice warm quilt on your TOTALLY awesome florida show home couches

throw in a little:
sexual tension between an anthropologist and an FBI agent

a trip to another universe to discover where the half human droids are coming from and what they want

m&m's in a vintage gumball machine

a little NIENIE for good measure

and the wonderful aroma of spiced cider with a dash of winter

Mix together and enjoy your almost perfect night.

Why almost perfect you ask? The one thing that will push your night to perfect status...

a STUD like this to enjoy it with you.

what is your recipe for a perfect night?

Sealing Pictures

I already wrote about going to the temple so this just a picture post. These were all taken by Robbie Card. FANTASTIC!! And thank you!

Squeegee

Just another Manic Monday for real. Billing at work today which meant lots and lots of work. I suppose it made the day go by faster but but WOW I DO NOT look forward to the first of the month. I was told that I am being given a new position at work which will entail a lot of learning and possibly a raise!! YAY!! We will see how it goes.

I started the first of my three summer courses this week. Of course I saved it all until the day it was due which meant I had to read 60 text book pages, take a quiz, partake in the discussion on the class message boards, pick a topic for my end of semester paper AND write a response paper. WHEW! It is tiring just typing everything I had to do. I got it all done with only about 4 minutes to spare until the due date. Perhaps I should start on my next two chapters earlier this week.

Mike and I got to attend Jason and Lindsey's wedding this weekend. It was so great to see them get married. They are such a beautiful couple! It was a small wedding so I kind of felt privileged to be there. The ceremony was in her uncle's backyard right on a river. The weather was perfect and the yard looked great. 

She looked beautiful walking down the aisle and Jason could NOT stop smiling and he couldn't take his eyes off of her. I seriously cried when I watched her walking towards him! It was a very personal ceremony and it was great to hear a lot of talk about how a happy marriage is built on the teachings of Jesus Christ. It was a good reminder for Mike and I to keep first things first. 

They both looked great but it was almost difficult to even notice what they were wearing beside their smiles. They were so happy that it overshadowed any other detail of the day.

Me, Mike, and Ryan

The reception was great. It was in a smaller room which made it feel more intimate. Their first dance was so cute! I think they must have taken dancing lessons because Jason looked like he was concentrating really hard but they just couldn't get it. They both laughed it off and it was quirky and great.

Their cake was simple and beautiful.

Partying Down

CONGRATULATIONS MR. AND MRS. FARNSWORTH!!

By the way, they are going to Greece AND Egypt for their honeymoon.... JEALOUS!!!

I am sure they will have a fabulous time and I can't wait to see tons of pictures.

It was (mostly) a great day. I won't even get into the reason it wasn't totally a great day. Anyway this post is getting a little long but there is so much to talk about! I guess I will leave you with some gratitude and save the rest for another day.

1. I am grateful to have such great, down to earth, sweet friends.

2. I am grateful to be smack dab in the middle of wedding season. It is just so happy!

3. I am grateful that Mike cleaned the kitchen while I was at work because it was making me gag.

P.S. Congrats Mommy Whilden on your upcoming nuptials! 

Frazzle Snazzle

I know! It's been a while since I have posted. I guess I have been busy or just neglecting or both. Anyway, It's Memorial Day weekend and OC is OVERRUN by shoobies. Ugh! I had to park in my own backyard just to be close to my house. I think we should paint our curb yellow but that might be just a little illegal. 

It is Sunday today and Mike is at work all night again. Church today was really great. We talked about provident living, eternal progression and the Plan of Salvation. All of these topics seemed very fitting as Mike and I just began our eternal journey together as a family. Everyone told me that every day after our sealing, it would start to be a little bit different from before. I have to agree with them. It gets a little bit better every day. Just realizing that we belong to each other FOREVER is a comforting thought. I don't think we will ever fully understand it in this life but I am so excited to learn more and grow closer to each other and closer to the Lord together. The temple was certainly a new experience for me but I am eager to go back often and to learn more. It seems like my mind was opened but instead of getting this great understanding, I just have more questions! I am really happy to notice this in myself as I think it is infinitely important to always question and always learn. I can tell when I am on the right path and doing the right things because instead of being content with what I already know, I can't wait to know more. You all know me and know that I am the type of person that needs to know everything about everything. I need to know why things are the way they are. I need to know were things came from, what the purpose of them are and why they are important to me personally. It is a humbling experience to not be able to get all the answers all at once. This life is a continual learning process and I am slowly starting to accept that.

Another new thing I have had to adjust to is garments. I really thought I would hate them and they would be uncomfortable. And for the first day or so, I really did and they really were! Everyone told me that they love their garments and feel naked without them. It was really hard for me to believe but wore them because I knew I should. It has only been a week but my change in attitude about them is astonishing even to me! I went to the beach yesterday and wearing my swimsuit and not wearing my garments, I felt really uncomfortable! I can't explain it but I just wanted to get home and put them back on! I suppose they are just a reminder of the sacred covenants Mike and I made and I like that. I feel closer to the Lord.

Our temple weekend was great. It was overwhelming but a weekend I will never forget. I can't even say how grateful I am having my family and our closest friends there. Seeing three of my best friends in the sealing room with their spouses made me feel so blessed to share an eternal moment with them. Although we don't see our friends as much as we would like to, it is comforting to know that we will always be there for each other and we have eternity to continue our friendships. 

I am really writing a lot this post so I will wrap it up with my three things for today.

1. I am grateful for the spirit I can feel in church every Sunday.

2. I am grateful that Memorial Day weekend is almost over and the great shoobie exodus will take place tomorrow night.

3. I am grateful to have a husband who thinks I am beautiful no matter what crazy hairstyle I try.

What are you grateful for today?

Blunderbuss

1. I am grateful that Mike and I discovered delicious cheesesteak pizza (sans american cheese) at Maurizios.

2. I am grateful I got a B on the psychology test I didn't even know I had today.

3. I am grateful that Fringe is AWESOME!!!!

Twitterpated

Isn't it a beautiful day?! I love the rain the best but I have to say... you sun lovers may be on to something. I can't believe how great of a day it was. Although I was at work for most of the day, I had plenty to do while I was there. It made the day go by a whole lot faster. I got to eat dinner with my brother tonight. I don't get to spend much time with him because... well just because he is a teenager. I'm proud of him that he is going to the college of his dreams and doing what he thinks is best for him. I will miss him but I guess I just have to keep thinking that even though he will be far away for now, we have a whole eternity to catch up. 

I am just happy today. I realized that the more you wait for tomorrow, the faster today slips by without noticing the little things. I am trying to appreciate today more and to have "joy in the journey" (thank you President Monson for your fabulous conference talk last October!) The more you expect things to go right, the less things go wrong. I don't know if that makes sense but I guess it's just one of those "attitude is everything" things. 

I don't know if I can pick just three things today so I guess I will just list until I get tired.

1. I am grateful that the sun was shining.

2. I am grateful that I can hear the ocean from my house.

3. I am grateful that it is quiet on the island again.

4. I am grateful for Mike and that he allowed me to come home to a clean, beautiful home today.

5. I am grateful I had MORE than enough hot water for my shower tonight!!

6. I am grateful that Mike found where the leak in the toilet was coming from and collected the water properly so that the floor wasn't disgusting with toilet water anymore.

7. I am grateful that we lowered our electric bill another FIFTY dollars!

8. I am grateful that I can still keep my windows open and allow the breeze to come through the house.

9. I am grateful that I can smell and feel the sea in the air.

I could keep going but I'll just wait until tomorrow. What are you grateful for today?

Scaliwag

Short blog post tonight because I am beat.

1. I am grateful for the way the bay looks during the day: like a million diamonds shining in the sun (no... NOT like Edward Cullen) and the way it looks at night: glassy, smooth and reflecting the soft yellow lights from the houses along the bulkhead.

2. I am grateful for the Atonement and the way I have learned that I am not the only one who needs forgiving. And if I refuse to forgive others, I can't really expect to be forgiven for my many, MANY shortcomings.

3. I am grateful for the sound of water fountains and other various water features. Insert your favorite here __________: waves, rain, pond fountains, babbling brook... I love them all. Water makes me happy! (Is that weird?)

What are you grateful for today?