wild

upon first glance he looks harmless enough. . .

. . .but beware, he is a wild little animal.

all we need

so true.

you can buy this tee for your very own self or for someone you love HERE

saved by the bell freeze frame

just wanted to share, because of its awesomeness:

me and my nine month pregnant self + the coolest kids in town jumping for joy

thriving

When I was little, when it rained, my grandmother would always say, "Well, it's good for the farmers." And I would give lip service and say, "That's true," and then I'd feel bad about the fact that I really didn't care about the farmers. I just wanted sun.

For thirty years, I pretty much just wanted sun.

But the other day, when it rained, I wasn't disappointed. I'd seen the difference to my new community garden plot after watering with a hose versus a soaking with a good rain. One keeps it alive. The other makes it thrive. --colin beavan, no impact man

well, then. our little garden is thriving. normally I would be thrilled about the amount of rain we have been getting here in salt lake city, utah. this is no ordinary june. every day on the forecast, more showers. it isn't unearthly hot. I really quite enjoy the thunderstorms.

but only after three pm.

as you could imagine, running a summer day camp {when all your activities are based outside} is kinda hard to do in the rain. especially when kids only come in tshirts and shorts. I guess their parents just don't look outside. so all I am saying is bring on the rain--my garden is loving it, the foliage around this valley is loving it, the water supply is loving it; but I am not loving it during camp.

that is all.

rock the vote

my fabulous place of employment, youth ed, was nominated for best day camp in salt lake city. I seriously believe that club u is the best day camp in the state. our program is engaging, enriching, and exceptionally fun. it is experiential education at it's best. and as a testament to that fact, I leave you with the words of an eight year old camper as screamed for all to hear one day in our morning circle: club u rocks harder than bon jovi! see? how could we not be the best if we rock harder than mr jovi?

go exercise your power to vote. {and exercise that power daily until july 15th!}

fire drill

we had the ever-so-fun fire drill at work today. unfortunately we all knew it was coming in the near future, so it wasn't a total surprise or anything. that would have added to the excitement level. but I guess anytime a loud bell goes off in your office excitement is bound to ensue.

well, I'm only mentioning this fact about my day because I noticed a funny thing about myself. (and this funny thing will be a total no-brainer to anyone who knows me) if I was faced with a dire, you-could-die-if-you-don't-get-out-of-the-building-fast situation my main concern would be:

I don't know how long I'll have to stand out there... do I have snacks? I need snacks!

and then I would take some precious escape time and rummage through the mini fridge in the office for some baby bell cheese and carrot sticks. yeah, I've got my priorities straight. (but in my defense, I knew there wasn't an actual fire in the building... who knows how I would have really reacted if there was. I'm sure I would still grab the snacks.)

one, two three, ready... type!

seriously. didn't I have some sort of resolve at the new year to blog more frequently for myself? instead of all the consumption I'd start producing a little more? man, I totally suck.

it seems that--as often is the case for many--I sit down to write and then I don't feel like writing anymore. even with all this excitement of a new babe in our lives. so I'm sitting down and writing.

here goes.

my mind has been pretty occupied with all things growing in my uterus lately. I'm now safely tucked away into the second trimester. my energy seems to be returning, I don't feel so gross all the time. luckily I haven't really had any morning sickness. I am so grateful for that because I don't know what I would have done otherwise. it does not sound fun.

I feel like my belly is starting to round out. peter keeps telling me that I don't look pregnant. so I guess I just look like a girl with a big belly. I can still fit into most of my clothes. some pants are out of the question, though. I did buy my first pair of maternity shorts yesterday. complete with the wide stretchy band around the waist. now it just needs to warm up a bit more. I can't wait until I'm into the panel.

okay, that thought actually scares me.

but seriously, I have some hopes of reconstructing some clothes into pregnancy friendly stuff. like jeans I find at the DI for cheap. I had a really hard time justifying my purchase last night, let alone a whole new wardrobe that will only be worn for a short period of my life! luckily I have some sewing skills and will be attempting a few minor alterations on some jeans. and I'm sure I'll be living in skirts over the hot summer months.

I have so many things to share with the world. lots of ideas rolling around in this head of mine. lots of ideals that need to be voiced. so be ready.

{my computer is now about to die. goodbye.}

the rule of six

one: go to your documents/pictures
two: open the sixth folder
three: find the sixth photo
four: blog about your cuteness
five: tag six other people: {I tag the six whoevers want to do this}
six: wonder why there is no sixth rule
{thanks, seester, for tagging me and letting me play into my narcissistic side}

okay, so as you can see I totally cheated. well, the truth is there wasn't a sixth photo in my sixth folder {the sixth event in iphoto, that is}. there was a fourth photo, and this is it:

my total favorite photo from my bridal shoot -- I heart pepper nix. she is amazing.

so I went to the sixth grouping of photos in iphoto's photo section {as you can see I was trying really hard to get the magical sixes} and there were only two photos! so below, is said second photo:

again, an awesome shot from the bridals.

so then I tried to do it backwards. go to the sixth newest folder of photos... and there was only four! so here is that one:

pete firing up the snowblower for it's maiden voyage in our driveway.
he loves him his snowblowing, it's pretty cute.

and if you haven't given up on the whole idea yet, this is the sixth photo listed on my desktop.

love, love, LOVE this photo from the mud run. possibly one of my most fave photos EVER.

if I had taken the time {as if I haven't taken enough time on this already--sheesh!} I would have come up with more combos to try and get some magical six combination... at least tried six different ways so there could be six photos. oh well, you can just imagine two more photos of me and/or pete in your mind. try to pick ones where I look cute.

strengthening my resolve

I was told the other day that a person is 43% more likely to keep a resolution if it is written down.  I've been mulling around the things that I would like to do {or not do} as this new year rolls around.  the clean slate that january brings is always full of so much potential.  in all of us is the ability to change.  but we have to want it.  and we have to be willing to work for it.  

* * *

:: chew my food ::  I resolve to eat more slowly, to let the enzymes in my saliva break down the foods so they are more easily digested and the nutrients more readily available to my body

:: read books ::  I resolve to read more instead of wasting time on the computer or watching television just for the sake of something to do

:: blog more ::  I resolve to consume less and produce more.  there is a lot of inspiration and creativity out there, but I need to remember to document my thoughts, feelings, et cetera as well

:: eat closer to the source ::  I resolve to be more conscious of my foodshed.  where it comes from, how it was produced, how it got to me.  more whole foods.  more local foods.  more organically grown foods

:: be more social ::  I resolve to get out of my comfort zone in social situations.  I have a tendency toward non-social behavior.    I need to get over any awkwardness, which really just stems from a lack of self confidence.  I am an interesting person.  I just need to believe that

:: create ::  I resolve to make things out of sticks.  or fabric.  or paper.  or anything that my little hands can get on.  I have grand ideas and little follow-through.  those projects will become reality, hopefully in a timely manner

:: document my life ::  I resolve to put pen to paper and write for me.  I am losing the details that make my life what it is.  the personal things.  the thoughts.  the feelings.  the special moments.  the hard moments.  the daily decisions that lead me through life

* * *

if you're having trouble coming up with your own resolutions this year {come on, isn't lose weight and eat healthy so overkill by now?} check out this list I stumbled across:  fifty things everyone should know how to do.  pick one or two and resolve to learn some invaluable skills this year.

photo via.

twelve

if you haven't heard yet, design mom is holding a fantastic holiday giveaway over on her site.

you could have your chance to win one of twelve very cool prizes.

so hurry on over and throw your name in the hat. you have until midnight{PST}, monday, december 15th so go! now! win! {may the universe aka the random number generator be smiling upon you}

I am exhausted.

one impromptu marathon last week

plus one week of holiday goodness {mostly eating}

plus dog sitting a rather old chocolate lab

plus running a post marathon ten miler this morning

plus dabbling in some holiday decor

plus cleaning the whole house

makes a girl very, very tired.

I think I just might go to bed and it's only eight o'clock!

it's always early, and I'm always one step behind

missing the bus, everybody's doing it.

woke up this morning thinking it was saturday
slept longer than I should have
rushed around trying to get everything together
missed the bus

love my life

'tis the season

while on my run this afternoon I saw, through snowflake-filled eyes:

someone cross country skiing through sugarhouse park
friends getting together to do some snowboarding via the hike method, I'm sure
a guy with snow shoes in hand, hopefully headed out on an adventure

thank you, lake effect, for bringing the fluffy white stuff coming all day.

now for the big news:

peter can hardly wait.

star{fish} crossed lovers

{photo credit}

proof positive: the tetris is true.

for all those who think my husband plays tetris all day at work, you may just be right. here is a little convo we had today via the internet:

me: yo

Peter: yo

me: there's like a billion kids for this fall break camp and I don't know if I want to deal with it

Peter: woah

a billion? that's like the entire country of china!

me: I know!

Peter: do you have enough counselors?

me: yeah, I guess technically we do...

so I really shouldn't be stressin'

Peter: so aspen digital doesn't have to take kids?

me: didn't I set up that field trip with you?

all one billion will be coming to your office to learn about the science behind the digitalizing

Peter: woah, i don't think we have that many nintendos

americana folk rock love

have you ever had one of those blah days? the kind where nothing bad happens per se {except for that unnecessarily long phone call with the cell phone company; fifty years of my life and three reps later the issue is still left unresolved.} but you just feel a little off. your head hurts and your body doesn't seem happy for some reason. and amidst all of this you remember something that you love, something absolutely fabulous that you had forgotten about and it makes you smile.

today it was leslie and the badgers. {I know I've mentioned them before, but please go check them out. I'm sure they will make you as happy as they make me.} more specifically airliner. and my tears are wasted on you. and all of their other fabulous songs, really. I've been listening to them all evening. now go. please. check them out.

{and dear sister, for some reason I totally thought of you while listening to them online today. I think you would fall in love with leslie and her badgers too.}

television in the animal kingdom

I was watching the rachael ray show today and learned these two very important things:
gorillas are 1) very smart, and 2) get bored easily. so with this in mind, what did the memphas zoo introduce to our dear friends the gorilla? television. yes, that's right. television. maybe we can make our primate friends just as fat and lazy as we are?

{and just so you know, the large gorilla pictured here, mwelu, is quite discerning. he dosn't like just any television program, he loves rachael ray.}

goonies never say die

sometimes in life all your plans completely fall through and you are left to fend for yourself. luckily, on some such occasions you will happily stumble across the midnight flick at the tower: the goonies. and life will feel complete again as the film rolls by on the big screen.

you like?

then please vote.

this photo really says, summer. no? so please go vote for my lil' sis: the summer fun photo contest | #15 mary elizabeth. tell your friends. you know you want to. all the cool kids are doing it.

ps: if you vote and/or vote + blog the link, you can be entered in a fabulous giveaway a la miss mary elizabeth herself. what a sweet, giving person. so selfless like that. you should really go vote for her. really.

telly without context

my spoon is too big! | I'm a banana!

if you're dying for some time-wasting fun, please hurry your little web browser over to neave.com. more specifically THIS page. you will not regret it. ever. neave television is bewildering, baffling fun. it takes random to the extreme. and I love random to the extreme.