SO CUPID MISSED MY HOUSE...

Last year I was such a good valentine to j.rue. This year? Just no. I woke up this morning in the foulest of foul moods and of course j.rue popped out of bed like a spring-time daisy. He promptly went into a ramble about how he's not even going to go and play basketball tonight so we can spend time together, and probably some other things, but by the time he finished, in my most grouchy polite voice, told him that tomorrow was Valentines Day. And then I felt bad. Because today is actually Valentines Day.

So plans are in the works for a make-up this weekend (after we get our taxes done). I'm just very very disappointed in myself. I am a lover of all holidays old and young and I'm not even wearing a stitch of pink.

I don't know why this holiday gets such a bad wrap. I mean, yeah you can be dumb and go and buy the most gargantuan teddy bear that Target sells, but do most people do that? No. Also, why do you have to have a significant other to celebrate? Do you have a mom? dad? sibling? puppy? neighbor? I bet so! We all the know world needs more love, so why not give it. I know you have some to spare.

Come Monday, maybe expect some heart shaped pancakes, some red lipstick, and maybe a present or too, via pictures of course. I'm making a comeback!

Oh and for a nice Throw-Back Thursday:

Oh, summer. How me miss you so!

YESTERDAY.

I just want to remember it. I talk all the time about wanting to write about the little happy things, and then I don't notice them. Last night was just a good night. J.rue and I snuggled under the covers, watching Once Upon a Time (so behind), whilst I wolfed down a turkey burger like a lady. Our puppies were there too, in between leg crevices or on top of heated blankets (dog magnets). Those are honestly some of my most favorite moments, snuggling as a family. Not doing anything of particular importance. It makes my heart want to burst.

And, just to leave you with something that might benefit you in some way: I just got through a really good book. One that was so good I thought about it for 3 solid days straight after I finished it. Knocked my socks off this one did. The Secret Keeper.

/via/

It has some mystery, some romance, history, some twists and turns, and it's almost 500 pages, so it's one of those that's full of beautiful details and descriptions.  I listened to it on CD because I am still dreaming of the days when I actually have time to sit down and read an actual book. A few reviews I read said that the book started out slow and they had a hard time sticking with it. I, on the other hand, was stuck in the car and didn't notice the slowness because anything is better than a radio filled commute home. If you do listen to it on CD, be warned that the narrator has a thick (and lovely) English accent that's hard to follow for the first 10 minutes or so. After listening to it for 17 disks though I started talking like her in my head and felt oh so fancy and English. Loved it.

Oh, and I had the most glorious of glorious of commutes today. Just in case you check this block out of worry for me. So kind.

Spiritual Renewal

Besides my double chin, I kind of love this picture and that little baby.

The Hunger Games was a success last night...after I got over the super graphic killing. My favorite part of the night was all of the ladies that I got to hang out with. They're the coolest. I am definitely motivated me to read the book now. I'm actually going to start today. Right now.

We're so excited for the weekend around here. It will be full of spiritual renewal. We're kicking it off with a trip to the Jordan River Temple with our favorites. We haven't been to one single session together since...well ever. I'm glad that we're changing that. Tonight.

Melinda and I are also meeting at Deseret Book for Nie Nie's book signing tonight. She is such a beautiful spiritual person, I'm stoked! Is is super lame if I have her sign a piece of paper and then glue it in my book when it gets here April 3rd? Of course not! I really am doing it. 

Tomorrow we will be watching and listening to the words of our prophet during LDS General Conference. One of my most favorite weekends of the year. This is where we are truly spiritually recharged. Want to join? Please do. We would love it.

  

You can tune in tomorrow at 10 and 2 and Sunday at 10 and 2. We will be! We've come up with a little tradition over the past few years. Jeremy and I always watch the Saturday morning session together with breakfast in bed. Then we head over to the Ruesches for the afternoon session and later the boys go off to thier priesthood session of conference. While the boys are out we take the chance to have a girls night, anything goes down from eating, crafting, or shopping. This time, we have a baby showers - it'll be like a mega girls night!

Sunday, we head over the my family's house for the day and eat caramel apples in between sessions. Aren't family traditions the best? Even the little ones make like that much sweeter.

Enjoy the weekend and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Digressing from a Funk

You know when you're kind of in a funk, not quite happy but not sad really. Just bla.

I've been in one since Sunday, yes Sunday is when this bad boy moved in. My poor husband bears all the brunt of my funks, poor boy. I feel like today it's finally moving out and I'm finally moving on from it. How's that for dramatic?

I thought I'd share a couple of the things that have gotten me out of this dramatic funk of mine. You know, just in case you fall into a dramatic funk anytime soon. Happens to the best of us right?

#1 Run into a lovely friend that you haven't seen in ages. Mine is Heidi. You can't have mine, but I bet you do have an old friend that you have been neglecting. Again, happens to the best of us.

#2 Listen to THIS song, because I promise that it will make you happy every.single.time. If it doesn't then I can't help you. Hey Jude is my ultimate pick up song -- I can't tell you how many times I've belted this in my car on the way to work...on the way home...in the shower. You get the idea.

#3 Take a bubble bath with with a bath bomb or a bubble bar...or what the heck, throw both in!

They make you're water sparkly, your skin soft, and make YOU feel like you're a princess in heaven. We all deserve to be pampered like princesses, especially during a funk. Oh, it also helps if you can watch a couple episodes of Cougar Town too while you soak your troubles away.

#4 Watch hilarious YouTube videos. The following is especially funny if you've had a rough and tumble run-in with your arch nemesis treadmill lately. I'm not the only one who considers the treadmill to be my arch nemesis, do I?

#5 And finally, last but not least, go and kiss your husband, significant other, mother, brother, or dog. Show them some love and remember that they've been putting up with your crazy funk antics and still love you none the less. How lucky are you?

Lovlies

I'm loving the idea of reading this lovely book. I'll be sure to keep you updated once I get my hands on it.

{source}

I'm loving my Karma necklace from Dogeared. Actually, everything on that site is lovley.

A tiny banana bundt cake with caramel frosting from Corner Bakery. Heaven in my mouth. 

Navy Tennis Elastiques from Bensimon. Classic, cute, and comfy. What more could a girl want?

This video I found on my most favorite blog. It's beautiful and reminds me how lucky I am to have my sweet husband. I love the little reminders to just love more. It's a little longer, but trust me, it will make your heart sing.

Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

March Birchbox

I've been wanting a birchbox since...well, forever. When I finally decided it was time to take the plunge, they were sold out, of course. I was finally able to get my hands on one this month and it was just in the nick on time. This box was pretty much screaming my name. Except for the Teen Vogue. They keep sending me magazines and I keep throwing them away. I am not an "in vogue" teenager mail universe!!! Please stop sending me your tiny, but still very thick, magazines. The box did take it's sweet time getting here. I had to avoid a couple of my favorite blogs as to not spoil the surprise.

Anyway, these were the goods:

Sorry, bad picture, but you get the idea. The content of this beautiful box included:

Essie Luxeffects in "set in stones". This was a chunky silver glitter, it was cute but after wearing on my hands for a few days I've made the executive decision that it is a 'toes only' kind of polish. Still pretty though.

Peter Thomas Roth Mattifying Gel I tried this stuff just this morning. It's a little thicker than I usually like in a primer, but I'll take an extra primer anytime. That is one of those things that I have a hard time spending money on. I think I've gotten by on just samples for the past 2 years. 

Annick Goutal Petite Cherie Perfume. It's a pretty scent, but not as fresh as I like to keep it. Especially in the summer. Probably the thing that made me the least excited in the box.

tarte LipSurgurgence If you remember, I've already posted about these little beauties. I am now the proud owner of 3. The best part about this one? It came in a full size!!! These run for $24 a pop, not a bad deal if I do say so myself. They sent me one in the color "JOY" It's quite orangey when you open it, but it looked pretty good on with a gloss over the top. It will help me leave my color comfort zone for sure.

Last, but certainly not least, the Twistband. Best best best thing about this whole box! Twistbands are hair ties that claim to not leave a crease in your hair. I tested it out on Friday and went to a trampoline gym. I had just washed my hair that morning and straightened it {this is when my hair is most susceptible to creases} So, I jumped my guts out for an hour, sweat bucket loads, and even manged to twist my ankle. An hour after I got home I took out the tie, and lo and behold, no crease! Do you hear the choirs of angles singing from the heavens? I did. They're a little pricier than regular hair ties, but oh so worth it.

I also got a coupon to ModCloth, but I am on a clothes buying celibacy, boo.

Tomorrow: Spppprrrinng Brreeaak!!! Staycation -- mostly in photos