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?

Florence + the Machine

So...it's been awhile. But I have a new(ish) infatuation. Her name is Florence. And apparently she has a machine. She is a musical genius. Partake of a favorite of mine, The Dog Days Are Over (and this love is completely independent of the trailer for Eat. Pray. Love. AND the latest installment of GLEE).



And another one (used on one of my favorite dances from last season of So You Think You Can Dance). The idiots at YouTube won't let me embed, so if you want to see it, HERE is the link.

Check her out. You won't be sorry you did.

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So...it turns out that Real Simple agrees with my shrink. Today's thought is:

“We’re so busy watching out
for what’s just ahead of us
that we don’t take time to
enjoy where we are.”

― Bill Watterson

There is absolutely nothing wrong with just dating for fun (unfortunately, I didn't learn this lesson when I was 17). I am NOT going to marry everyone I date, nor do they want to marry me, or commit to me long-term, or be with me 24 hours a day. They just want to have fun with me, with the possibility of seeing where it goes. I've been so paranoid in my dating ventures that I have neglected having fun with the guys I go out with - I'm just constantly looking for the signs that I could marry them...doing both of us a huge disservice! I know, I'm severely retarded.

Now that I've revealed all my neuroses to the blogosphere (or at least the 4 people who actually read my blog), again, I ask, please withhold judgment...or at least judge me in person.

I'm Coming Out of the Closet

The last two months I've been living something of a lie. My life has a huge secret I feel I need to reveal...

I. Am. A. Plasma Donor.

Turns out I like to spend money. Consequently, I'm running out of money to spend. Therefore, I've turned to alternative means to supplement my income (means that don't involve taking my clothes off in public). I was ashamed of this decision, being aptly employed with an adequate salary...but that inclination to spend overtook me and I needed more cash. Please try to withhold judgment.

It hasn't been all bad - I got a date out of it. He's quite a cutie, but after only one date, I can't divulge many details without putting the kibosh on the whole thing. He took me to see Inception, and allowed me to put him through 2 hours of John Mayer and So You Think You Can Dance, and he actually tried to come back for more the next day. He was the perfect gentleman. Perhaps he will last longer than the usual 2 dates.

The "NEW" John Mayer

So...there's a long boring saga about how I finally got "Cute Plasma Boy" to ask me out...and I can fill you in on the deets later. But there's a more pressing issue...apparently there's a guy out there masquerading as my John Mayer, calling himself "Jon Meyer." Trust me, I was alarmed when I found this note on my car this morning on my way to church...

Click the pic to enlarge

Cute as it was, it is sincerely one of the strangest post-date happenstances I have ever experienced. I guess I should just be grateful to know he was paying attention when I made him watch "Storytellers: John Mayer" when we got back from the movie. Call it a form of initiation.

Did YOU Want to be an Icon??

It's true...I embarked on an 18 hour adventure with the Shark, all the way down to Vegas for a show that WASN'T John Mayer. *Gasp*

I'm sure she hates when I do this, but Tib wrote a fantastic write up of the Keane show at the House of Blues, complete with pictures and video - man, she's awesome! Suffice it to say, they pleased me. I might even consider seeing them again.

Highlights:

• Meeting Mindi and her St. George posse
• Learning what defines a "douche nozzle" in Tib's book
• Getting to see Ingrid Michaelson cover Toxic (and I guess the rest of her stuff wasn't too shabby either)
• Seeing Tib "sweat like a whore in church" awaiting Keane's arrival on stage

Regrets:

• Not getting to stay longer in our posh hotel
• Not making out with Ingrid Michaelson's super cute merch guy (what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? I guess I didn't get the memo...)
• Not buying the shirt above...I have to admit I've looked at it three times on the website wishing it was in stock...should have coughed over the $30 at the show...le sigh.

Yeah...you wish you came too.

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Carry her in your arms, and pretend you'll throw her in the swimming pool... She'll scream and hit you, but secretly she'll love it. Hold her hand while you talk. Hold her hand while you drive. Simply hold her hand. Tell her she looks pretty. Look into her eyes while you talk to her. Protect her. Tell her stupid jokes. Tickle her, even if she tells you to stop. When she starts cursing at you, tell her you love her. Let her fall asleep in your arms. Make her mad, then kiss her. Tease her. Let her tease you back. Kiss her cheek. Kiss her forehead. Just kiss her. Let her wear your clothes. Go slow. Don't force anything, and when you fall in love with her, tell her.

*Stolen from a friend's Facebook page