A Happy Birthday, Indeed!

Source: Le Love

And I will have just that...

This weekend was more than I could have ever asked for in a birthday. My day started out with an Asian bath and 90 minute massage at the Kura Door (a holistic Japanese spa in the Aves). Seriously, I would have been happy at that...but then I remembered the fun shabby chic desk back at my apartment that Jimmy gifted me with a few days earlier. And after we got back from lunch, he gave me a copy of The Great Gatsby, his favorite book that I pretended to read in high school. I was showered with love and affection from every angle all day long!

But the best gift came the next day. We went to dinner at Pei Wei to celebrate my birthday and my brother-in-law's birthday. Dinner was great, and the company even better. We went to the mall and to Hobby Lobby and just wandered around for a few hours and decided to wander back home and take Winston for a walk and watch a movie. We walked up to the capitol like we usually do and made our way up the stairs to overlook the city. And then he pulled that little white box out of his pocket.


He said all the perfect words (and I nearly ruined the whole thing by telling him that he didn't need to do it now if he wasn't ready...what was I thinking?!) and helped me realize how special I am to him, and then dropped to one knee. It was perfect. I couldn't have painted a better birthday if I tried.

So now I get him - all of him. Forever. He and I, everyday. I. Can't. Wait.

I Struck Gold

*I've been giving a lot of thought to this post, as I really wanted to convey my true feelings about the subject. I sincerely hope that I can do it justice.


Six months ago, I went on a date. I distinctly remember the feeling I had when I came in the door at the end of the night, smile plastered to my face, drifting to the computer to update my status. "He took me for a burger...and it was the best date I've been on in months." Its' happenstance was completely a fluke. I was trying to diversify my dating pool and decided to give it a shot - what was the worst that could happen? I couldn't have known then just how very amazing that guy could make my life.

So now it's been six months. (Save a very, very unhealthy relationship from my past) This is the longest I've been with the same guy who lives in the same county as me. I struck gold. And.I'm.so.very.happy.


I've been very discreet in the cyberworld about my relationship with a certain Mister Bowen, somehow thinking I might jinx it, or let too much out of the bag too soon, but being that it's Mister Bowen's birthday today, I wanted to let everyone know just how incredible he is...and how happy he makes me...and how much I love him!

Jimmy gives me the freedom to be my independent self while allowing me to fall comfortably into that vulnerable place where it's obvious that I need him. He has also allowed me to express that silly, often embarrassing side of myself without the fear of judgment - and happily embraced his own silly side as well!

He is happy to let me run my life but quick to offer advice when I need it. He has been able to find that delicate balance between overbearing and uncaring - perfection. He carefully crafts his own decisions around what he thinks would make me happiest and I have never loved being so accommodated more!


He has endured numerous meals at restaurants he really doesn't care for, movies he would rather have never seen, and evenings spent at my work events taking pictures or picking up trash. His quiet support is priceless and he always does it with a smile on his face. He is an amazing cook, making me dinner often, and clearly seems to enjoy the process of making a meal.


Jimmy truly cherishes my company and is always able to erase every insecurity I allow myself to feel. If I were to name one flaw, it would be that he cares about me too much. He treats me like a queen and constantly helps me realize how special I am, both to him and to others.

When my car was broken into in September, after only having dated for one month, Jimmy quietly cleaned the glass out of my car while I began the process of canceling every card in my purse. He made sure that I would feel comfortable driving in it, even after I felt so violated. He truly has a gift for making me feel safe.


I know that my few words are just a small expression of the way I feel, but that doesn't discount their sincerity. Jimmy, I love you and I am anxious to see just what is in store for us down the road! I am grateful for who you are, and who I am when we are together! I hope you have the happiest of days today, and I can't wait to share many more with you!

My Family is Crafty

So, several months ago, my sister made this fabulous Spa Bench for her entry and it turned out so cute (and she claimed it was SUPER easy). She reads this blog called "Knock Off Wood" which is a DIY furniture blog and has some fun designer knock off furniture plans - I fell in love! Leigh linked to a Farmhouse Bed plan and I decided to persuade her to coordinate it with all our siblings for our parents for Christmas.

A little back story...my parents have only had one "real" bed that I can remember. It was a water bed that we had when I was a kid. When we moved to Utah, the bed didn't come with us and they just got a bed frame and mattress/box spring. I think my mom has secretly wished for a headboard for ages, and I thought this Farmhouse Bed would be the perfect resolution.

Leigh got both my parents on board (as much as we wanted it to be a surprise, there was no way we were going to all that time and effort only for them to say they didn't want it) and we got to work (I say "we," but really it was just Leigh...I just went along for the ride). The 5 of us spent some quality sibling bonding time and hammered (well, really screwed, NOT hammered) it out. From start to finish, I think it took us the better portion of about 3 days, but it was well worth the effort. We were able to give this bed to our parents for only $35 a piece ($35 x 5 children = $175 TOTAL! And that includes paint). It really was a labor of love :)

It totally transformed the look of their room! Here are a couple alternate views...the lighting isn't the best, but you can get the picture...


Next step...finally hanging the iron bar and frames that we got my mom for Mother's Day 2009...

A huge thanks to Ana at Knock Off Wood for this awesome plan!

For Changing the World...

In all my blog hopping last week, I found the cutest FREE printable - inspired by Gandhi and his life-governing principles. Take a lookie:


I will be printing one of these little babies...best part is, it's a hi-res PDF file when you download it from Francesca so you can get it printed as large or as small as you want. Let's change the world, shall we?