ramblings.

// As I've gotten further along in my pregnancy, this blog has turned into mostly weekly bump updates. Bumpdates, if you will. And even then, I can't tell you how impressed I am with myself for sticking with it since the blog is the first thing to go when I'm sick or busy or looking for focus again. However, I'm hoping that over the next few months my drive to continue posting will return and fingers crossed it isn't all baby/kid stuff. ;)

// Ben and I stayed up until 12:30am last night watching clips from Jimmy Fallon's YouTube channel and completely lost it when this clip played. We couldn't stop laughing and I'm pretty sure I haven't cried so hard in quite a while. My favorite moments in marriage are the ones that you can't capture with a camera.

// I've been completely awful the last month to month and a half at setting aside time to read. I have a stack of books on my nightstand that I'm interested in getting through, I just haven't found the motivation to start them. After recently feeling like my brain was slightly turning to mush, I downloaded a few eBooks and audiobooks from my library app and have done much better at using "down" time to get through those. Now if only I could get myself to physically pick up a book.

// The weirdest thing about waiting for baby to come any day now is not being able to make concrete plans or commit to being at events. Dinner with friends in a week? Can't promise we'll be there. Cooking club next month? Probably not. Early morning meeting on Sunday? Possibly. It's so incredibly hard for me not to have a set date and time, and just go with the flow. ;)

// I have a little huge travel bug right now. With gas prices as cheap as they are, I'm itching to go on a road trip and explore a new city or state! I'd probably drive to Kansas City or Indianapolis (both on my 2016 list!) if we weren't expecting a major life-altering event to occur any day. . .

// I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to my maternity leave. My job and coworkers are great, but I'm so excited to take a break and focus on my family 100% for a few months. Everyone keeps telling me how fast it's going to fly by and how I won't be able to get anything done with a newborn, but we'll see! Once baby is a little bit older and it starts to warm up outside I'm hoping to get out of the house and explore some local attractions that I haven't yet seen. Or I might just settle for a shower. We'll see. :)

current favorites.

There's no rhyme or reason for this post I just want to share some things I've been loving with you all. Probably because when I find products that I love, I obsess over them and want everyone around me to experience the same joy. ;)

Bumble and Bumble Pret-a-Powder // Some people really luck out in the hair department and are fortunate enough to go days sans greasy roots and stringy hair. I was not one of the lucky few. I was, however, blessed to stumble upon this amazing dry shampoo/volumizer that smells fabulous, doesn't leave a white residue, and actually works. This girl, who has had to wash her hair every single day or every other day for years, has been able to go up to four days between washings. Gross. And fabulous. This small size has lasted for months and has been well worth the $12.

Rifle Paper Co. Phone Cases // I'm extremely particular when it comes to phone cases. . .I don't like anything too bulky, it has to be cute, has to be colorful so I can find it easily when I set it down, has to be able to withstand being dropped a few (hundred) times without cracking the case or breaking the screen, and it can't cost an arm and a leg. As you can see, I have several demands. ;) My in-laws gave me this phone case for Christmas last year and it was fabulous because it had a hard shell that protected the back and sides, with a soft inlay that protected the edges on the front. I dropped my phone more times than I care to admit and never had a single issue with it. Since my phone recently decided to give up the ghost, I bought a new one and subsequently ordered this case. I'm just as happy with it as with the first!

Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter // I didn't get serious about using any lotion/body butter until a few weeks ago. However, it has since become a necessity as my skin has started to get super itchy . For weeks I've been searching for a firming lotion/stretch mark cream that doesn't smell awful and doesn't leave me feeling greasy for hours. One lotion in particular that I tried had such an awful smell that I threw it away after using it twice, and that made my frugal heart break a little. After reading some articles and talking to a few friends, I decided to try the Burt's Bees stuff and it's ahhh-mazing. There's no smell (which I love), it soaks in within a matter of minutes and leaves my skin incredibly soft (which I love), and it prevents me from feeling itchy all day long (which I really love)! This is the kind of stuff that I plan on keeping around even after baby comes to get me through the winter!

PinkBlush Maternity Dresses // (For starters, it's ridiculously hard to take a photo of a dress, so here's my 14 week baby bump photo.) I can't even describe how much I love these. The fabrics are amazingly soft, the cuts are comfy, they're nursing friendly, and they'll fit like non-maternity dresses after baby comes! I'm all for maternity clothes that I can still wear after baby arrives. The downside is that they're a bit pricier than what I normally like to spend on clothing (because I'm cheap), but I'm finding that's just the case with maternity clothes in general. (More fabric, higher costs? Specialty clothing, higher costs?) With PinkBlush, I wait for one of their awesome sales or search online for a coupon code before placing my order and that makes the purchase even better. 

Have any products you've been loving lately?

i hope your friday is filled with doughnuts.

I've been thinking a lot this week about a few comments I heard in lessons at church on Sunday, which to be honest, is pretty rare for me. I'm definitely guilty more often than not of going to church and never giving a second thought to what was said as I go about my week unless it was one of those Sundays where I'm assaulted with everything I've been looking for/needing to hear. 

Here's a very rough summary of my favorite comment made on Sunday: we're all looking for lovely things in our lives and what one person considers to be lovely doesn't necessarily touch another person the same way.

I've been trying to focus more this week on what I find lovely. What makes me happy. What draws me closer to God and lifts my heart. And I've been thinking about why we're sometimes hesitant to share that with others around us.  

So here's a picture of a doughnut. To me it's a reminder of the morning after Ben had to meet a rather big deadline and the first morning in a long time that he was able to take a breath and slow down. Even though it was a work day, we didn't set any alarms for 5:30am and instead woke up to the sun. Upon discovering that it was (supposedly) National Doughnut Day (still can't tell if it was or wasn't!), we walked a few blocks out of our way to pick up doughnuts before jumping on the train. It started to lightly sprinkle as we ate our doughnuts and walked, and it was just a really fabulous start to my Thursday morning. To be exact, it was one of those times I found lovely. 

So here's to sharing more of the lovely moments in life, and I hope you do the same!

catching up.

You know when you discover a food that you love and you eat it every chance you get for weeks, months, maybe even years? And then in one strange moment you realize it's not appealing. At all. You're confused of course, because hello, your favorite food. (Maybe just me? Definitely went through a Pork & Beans phase, a Top Ramen phase, a mandarin orange phase, an oatmeal phase, etc. while in my youth - some lasting for years.)

Well, my friends, that same thing happened to me with blogging. It was sandwiched on my list of delightful activities between cleaning toilets and lugging groceries up two flights of stairs; essentially it became a chore. Granted, it was a self-imposed, non-essential chore and because it was so non-essential, I happily let it fall to the wayside without a care. But now I'm kind of wishing that I'd kept up the last two months with posting pictures or just the basics because I don't document life anywhere else. Everyone has things they're really great at, and for me writing in a journal is sandwiched between rapping and making bundt cakes (totally awful at both... don't ask me to try either) (lots of "sandwiches" today - must be hungry).

So what have we been up to for the last two months? Moving, surviving crazy Airbnb guests, going on bike rides, celebrating our birthdays, cleaning up after a flood in the basement and garage, avoiding unpacking because it's the worst, watching baseball, indulging in Netflix marathons, partying for a weekend with the girls, working more hours in three weeks than I ever thought possible, driving out west to visit family, and celebrating my best friend.

It's been busy. Especially the Netflix part.

 ^^Ben bought me a bike. We flooded. We flooded some more.^^

^^Mormon Night @ the Cardinals. Girls' weekend in St. George. Road trip out west to see family.^^

^^Jackson Hole, WY. Best burger & fry sauce of my life. Sister-in-law's graduation.^^

^^Sister-in-law went through the temple. Baby shower for my BFF. Park City with the family.^^

miscellaneous.

// I just started listening to The Book Thief and I'm loving it thus far. We also watched The Imitation Game this past weekend and rather enjoyed it. Anything WWII is my favorite.

// Because I was promoted to a clinical position at work, I had to get a drug screening done. Instead of having you pee in a cup, they shave a 1" x 1" square in the back of your head. I've never felt so attached to my hair.

// I read an article this week that ranked the top 10 worst cities to live in if you have allergies. Of course, St. Louis made that list. Ha. My eyes and nose can testify of the validity of that statement.

// I'm 24 days into the Whole 30 program and last night I had my first dream about food. Snowcones, to be exact. Am I dying for sugar, or am I dying for summer? Probably both...

// For 3.02938 seconds, Ben and I considered spontaneously going to Ireland until we realized that would be an incredibly stupid financial decision for us right now. It was a fun 3.02938 seconds though and I can't stop looking at Groupon vacation packages.

// I recently created a Goodreads account and love that it allows you to keep a list of books you want to read! Do you have an account? Let's be friends! (Random fact: I like to read multiple books all at the same time.)

"these are a few of my favorite things"

receiving flowers
sleeping in
finding notes in the mail
going to the temple
date night
trying new restaurants
boarding a plane
Cafe Rio pork & tomatillo dressing
buying something I want or need for a good deal
clever memes
reading
going to bed after a long, productive day
soft and warm pj's
being home while it's raining
stripes and polka dots
organizing and cleaning
clean comedy shows
fresh, warm bread
trying new things
planning a vacation
decorating for a holiday
knowing I did my best on a task
Primary
candles
figuring something out that confused me before
surprising someone
being surprised
entertaining YouTube and Vine videos
multitasking
Amazon Prime
girls' nights and chick flicks
an empty laundry basket
new makeup
funny things kids say
pico de gallo and tortilla chips
finishing a project
mozzarella
wrapping up in a blanket
Christmas & church music

3 day weekend.

I can't tell you how nice it was to have an extra day off of work this past weekend! I tried to convince Ben that we needed to go on a road trip to somewhere warm (my vote was Georgia - lots of MLK sites to visit there!) while gas is so darn cheap, but unfortunately, he had to work and isn't a giant fan of road trips. ;) So instead of migrating toward warmer weather, we stayed home, hung out with friends, discovered a new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, and I de-cluttered our apartment while Ben worked all of Saturday and Monday. It definitely wasn't as warm as Georgia would have been, but it was productive and fun and wonderful.

I know, we're terribly interesting people. Haha.

Our Thanksgiving break was desperately needed and absolutely fabulous.

// We kicked off Thanksgiving break with a homemade pumpkin roll, because hello, holidays. My mom makes pumpkin rolls around this time of year, so I decided to give it a try. Needless to say, I had quite the experience trying to get the cake out of the pan and on to a towel to roll it up. I may or may not have contemplated just giving up on the whole pumpkin roll idea right then and there and thought about turning it into some very cake-y pumpkin bars. After some cracks, tears, and pieces completely breaking off, it somehow turned into a successful pumpkin roll. Checking that off my list!

// It snowed the day before Thanksgiving and I was in holiday heaven. That is, until it turned to ice and I slipped down our back steps giving myself a gnarly looking bruise and adding some battle wounds to my boots. #thisiswhyicanthavenicethings

// Instead of heading to Denver or SLC for Thanksgiving, we stayed in St. Louis and had a Friendsgiving. Some couples from church and one of Ben's coworkers came over for a feast, and a feast we had! Turkey, steaks (my family's go-to instead of turkey), mashed potatoes & gravy, stuffing, rolls, and a random assortment of dishes--it was delicious and I probably gained 10 pounds. (Good thing J.crew just had a sale on stretching pants/leggings.) After eating, we busted out the new Just Dance game and spent an hour learning some new moves. ;) It was only natural to follow that with pies and ice cream.

// Because of the protesting going on in St. Louis, we weren't expecting many stores or malls to be open, but fortunately a good number of them were. My friend and I hit up Michael's and Old Navy on Thursday night and were surprised that both stores were practically empty. Friday morning, Ben and I ventured out to check a store or two and successfully finished 90% of our Christmas shopping. (Boo to protestors shutting down the mall and other stores.) Side note: IT IS SO HARD TO SHOP FOR TEENAGE BOYS, LET ALONE THREE OF THEM. That is all.

// Ben got one of his Christmas presents early and has since tried to teach me how to play Halo. I will never understand, or be good at, video games, and somehow I manage to live with myself. ;)

// Working at a hospital is bound to kill me one day. Regardless of how many times I sanitize my hands, pens, desk, phone, etc., I seem to catch a cold at least every two weeks. No joke. The amount of tissues and cough drops I've purchased in the last few months is exorbitant. I spent most of Thanksgiving break in bed watching Call the Midwife (I finished it and don't know what to do with myself. Show suggestions, please.) and working on a blanket I'm crocheting. Ben thinks I'm an 80-year old lady sometimes--can't say I blame him.

// We had the missionaries and some friends over for dinner on Sunday night, and were shown this great video that the church has produced. What a great reminder of the reason for the season!

snow, Christmas decor, and ramblings.

// It snowed! It snowed! There's just something about the first snowfall that makes me giddy and even more excited about the upcoming holidays. Plus, giant steaming cups of hot chocolate sprinkled with cinnamon? I'm sold.

// Ben has been in New York City for the past couple of days, so I've been left to my own devices - which usually results in a lot of chick flicks, Honey Bunches of Oats for dinner, and crafts that involve glitter. This past weekend I dragged some of our Christmas stuff up from the basement (gasp - before Thanksgiving!) and got to work. It's a work in progress, but a start's a start. If only I could haul that Christmas tree up two flights of stairs...

// Yesterday I decided it was high time I put on my big girl pants and get myself over to Home Depot to buy some window insulation kits. These are the kinds of things I usually leave for Ben to do, but with him gone for a few more days and the apartment being a drafty 67 degrees on a good day, I took matters into my own frozen hands. I'm happy to announce that I can now insulate a window all by myself and it doesn't even look half bad! Feeling kind of invincible--and warm--right now.

// I'm sure most, if not all, of you have heard about the Ferguson happenings over the past couple of months. (Ferguson is 9 miles from our place.) Basically, it's the Trayvon Martin case all over again. The grand jury is supposed to announce in the next week whether or not the officer who shot Michael Brown is guilty, and regardless of the decision, major rioting and violence is expected throughout the city. If you're the praying type, would you mind saying a few prayers for the police officers and National Guard members that will be responding to the events, and maybe St. Louis in general as well? Thank you, thank you! Also, if you have any great 72 hour kit tips feel send them my way as I put ours together in the next day or two.

// Since I can't end this post on such a somber note, I have to share this video on how to lose a million dollars (and a car!) in a matter of seconds. Bless him.

10 great things from the weekend.

1. Receiving instruction, words of hope and comfort, and encouragement from church leaders.

2. Bundling up in sweaters and boots, and going for a walk under the changing leaves.

3. Halloween cupcakes that were amaaaaazing.

4. Date nights that include Mexican food.

5. Call the Midwife.

6. Starting another book together and spending our Sunday evening reading.

7. Having friends over for dinner.

8. German Pancakes for brunch.

9. Fall scented candles.

10. Staying in pj's until 1 pm both days.

currently.

listening: to "Glorious" by David Archuleta (on repeat!)

making: our meal plan for the next 2 weeks

cooking: some pumpkin cupcakes tonight

drinking: ice water

wanting: to be outside in the crisp fall air

looking: at retirement investment packages

playing: phone tag with a friend

wasting: time filling this out

wishing: for mountains to miraculously pop up in Missouri

eating: apple slices dipped in peanut butter

enjoying: the fact that it's a Friday!

reading: The Fault in our Stars & Gone Girl

waiting: for General Conference!

liking: all of the positive things happening in the lives of those around me

wondering: why every day can't be Friday

loving: this great conditioner that leaves my hair feeling fabulous (+ it is ridiculously cheap!)

hoping: to do some fun fall activities this month

marveling: at all of the changing colors

needing: a relaxing beach vacation

smelling: peanut butter

wearing: jeans, boots, and a cardigan over a sweater

following: the Prophet (Haha. Can you tell I'm a Primary teacher?)

knowing: probably too much about the development of brains

thinking: of Mexican food

feeling: content

bookmarking: Halloween decorating ideas

noticing: so many people who need help, love, and encouragement    

opening: lots of emails

giggling: at short videos on Facebook

borderline obsessive.

If you've been around this neck of the woods for a while, you'll probably realize that I mention Cafe Rio often. See here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. As you can tell, it's something that crosses my mind often - that sweet pork and tomatillo dressing! Mmm.

Last week Ben came back from Utah with a salad for me and I'm pretty sure I've never loved him more. Cafe Rio is my main love language. ;) 

(Don't mind the ginormous bags under my eyes...his plane got in at midnight.)

what can i say? i like holidays.

// Ben left Friday morning to head out to a funeral, so I was home alone all weekend long. I decided that in addition to studying for a Human Development test coming up (bleh), I was going to do all of the girly things I've been wanting to do. Like make some crafts and decorate for Halloween. And maybe watch a few episodes of Call the Midwife.

// Speaking of decorating for Halloween, I had absolutely zero Halloween stuff so I made myself those sparkly black letters, bought some candy and a black bird, and sewed a few buntings. This could be the start of something expensive wonderful. I like holidays too much.

// I discovered the easiest and most delicious recipe for Reese's stuffed peanut butter cookies and I'm grateful for friends who helped me eat all of them so I didn't.  I also rediscovered my love for frozen grapes.

// I've been thinking a lot about this talk and how agency can bring about some of our greatest blessings, or lead to some of our greatest struggles.

// Calling all bookworms:  lately Ben and I have been taking turns reading Divergent aloud to each other in the evenings right before falling asleep. We're almost done with the book and need suggestions for what to read next!

Happy Monday!

feelin' like i'm in hawaii.

This past weekend was especially great - largely in part to the perfect (not humid!) weather we enjoyed and those gigantic flowers up above that made me feel like I was somewhere tropical. . .or anywhere other than the city. ;) Ben and I acquired a few mosquito bites and sunburns, but we just couldn't refuse the chance to enjoy the weather.

In other news, here are some links to waste a little more of your time. :)

This post on inexpensive sunless summer tanning products!
These 6 tips for living frugally.
An easy recipe for baked cheesecake and fruit sauce.
An outfit that makes me regret not buying that skirt.
A cute print for your home.
This tutorial on messy waves for short or medium hair.
Chocolate Chip Cookie S'mores found here.
The cutest baby shower gift.

Some Life Rules // Part II

1. Don't ever gauge if a bathroom stall is taken by looking through the little cracks. It's creepy.

2. Stock up on candy the day after a holiday.

3. Don't discipline children that aren't your own.

4. It's okay to ask the group of teenage girls who are giggling/talking during a movie to be quiet - as long as you do it nicely and with a half-smile.

5. Take the stairs instead of the elevator if possible, or walk the long way if you have time.

6. When you're in a social setting, put your phone away.

7. Keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse. And band-aids.

8. When making brownies, make sure you lick the spoon and bowl clean. It's worth the risk.

9. Celebrate the little things.

10. Give yourself plenty of time to get to places you need to be. It's better to be early than late.

You can find Part I here.

Some Life Rules

1. Don't buy something you don't need just because it's on sale.

2. If you're going to waste calories on junk food, make sure it's something delicious like homemade cinnamon rolls or warm chocolate chip cookies, and not a bag of Tootsie Rolls.

3. Think of others.

4. When grocery shopping, always buy the cheapest option/store brand unless it's something really important like chocolate chips. Or candles.

5. Make your home a place you want to be.

6. Treat yourself to something nice every once in a while.

7. There's a difference between being busy and being stressed/rushed. Being busy isn't a bad thing if it's time spent doing important things and/or the things you love.

8. Pray.

9. Not everyone will see things the way you do or agree with your beliefs, and sometimes they'll attack you for it. Ignore them and move on.

10. Little kids are easily bribed with treats. Take advantage of that.

The end.

now.

watching. Parks & Rec.
excited. To go to Chicago this weekend.
loving. Spending time with Ben.
annoyed. With this humidity and how it makes my hair frizzy.
missing. My family.
obsessed. With cleaning.
craving. Raspberries & peaches.
enjoying. Life in general.
wondering. How to motivate myself to get through Stats.
laughing. At Harry Potter memes this morning.
wishing. I could ditch out on work today.
wearing. A button-up shirt, a pencil skirt, and wedges.
drinking. Water, water, and more water.
wanting. A massage and/or pedicure.
looking. For a yoga class.
waiting. For Christmas. :)
smelling. Cherry Blossom lotion from Bath & Body Works.
thinking. About the book I'm reading.
feeling. Happy and busy.
smiling. Over those Harry Potter memes still.

Stole this idea from Simply Clarke because I had no clue what to write about. ;)

21 things i learned (and re-learned) during my 21st year of life.

Thanks to family and friends for making me feel like a million bucks yesterday! I had my hesitations about leaving 21 behind, but we're one day in and so far so good. ;)

21 things I learned (and re-learned) during my 21st year of life

It's okay to spend Friday night at home with no plans.

Getting laid off is no fun.

I can be in a hospital/around blood and not pass out.

Pray, pray, pray.

Cooking is actually fun.

Baking is even more fun.

Don't do business with people you know well.

Doing new things is good for you.

Traveling with your spouse is awesome.

Clothes and makeup don't bring happiness, but they kinda really do at the same time.

People like it when you remember small details they've mentioned.

The best things in life take a lot of work.

Choose good landlords.

Teaching a Primary class can be really frustrating and rewarding.

Sometimes you just need some froyo.

Date nights are the best nights.

Things will always work out.

Spontaneous plans make way better stories.

Peanut butter is delicious.

Stand by what you believe in and don't let others convince you otherwise.

Take a deep breath and start over.

unexpected discoveries about Missouri.

I have no clue where this picture was taken because I didn't take it.  And it looks more like Illinois than Missouri, haha.

My mom and I were talking a few weeks ago about St. Louis.  I told her that sometimes I have these moments where I'll be walking to my car after class, or driving on the freeway after going grocery shopping, where I think Oh my gosh.  I live in St. Louis...I live in Missouri.  And not that I consider it a bad thing!  I just never imagined that I'd be living in Missouri one day.  In fact, if you had asked me a few years ago where St. Louis is and what's there, I would've had to stop and think for a minute or two.

I knew St. Louis was in the Midwest/Northwest somewhere, but I definitely didn't know it's right on the Mississippi River.

I wasn't expecting extremely humid summers and so many rainy days.  I also wasn't expecting so little snow in the winter.

I didn't realize that St. Louis has socio-economic and racial diversity.

I thought Missouri was going to look an awful lot like Kansas--flat, brown, and empty.  (It's actually hilly, green, and has a lot to offer.)

I didn't know that there are so many "big" cities within 4 hours from here (Nashville, Memphis, Kansas City, Louisville, and Indianapolis), and even more 5-6 hours away (Lexington, Cincinnati, Chicago, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, and Des Moines).

I wasn't expecting so many drivers that go 5 mph below the speed limit and never use their blinkers. ;)

I didn't know that I would enjoy being in a small ward as much as I do.  So many service opportunities and chances to teach investigators with the missionaries have come my way, that I feel so blessed!

I really love that there are so many new things to explore and discover nearby, and it makes me excited to figure out over the next few years where we'll end up next!  It sure keeps life exciting. :)

neon workout gear is all the rage.

About a month and a half ago, Ben and I woke up to hundreds of runners right outside our window.  As you can see from the picture, most runners were wearing neon gear of one kind or another.  Not pictured is the middle-aged man wearing a wig and belly shirt dancing to music he was blasting out of his car, AND banging on a cowbell.  All day long, and all throughout General Conference.  That was awesome.

After much some contemplation, I have concluded that neon workout gear is great for three reasons:

1) You're less likely to get hit by a car because everyone can see you from three blocks away. 

2) Your bright outfit will distract from your sweaty face.

3) You can go straight from a run to an 80s dance party or perhaps a circus.

Neon workout gear forever!