Love is for February

I love Valentines Day. It is definitely one of my favorite holidays. It didn't use to be, until I turned it into a day not about how hot my Valentines date was, but instead, as a day to ensure the people in my life know how much I love them. I usually made it mostly about my sisters, and now my lovin' hubby is in the mix too.

This year I went pretty simple compared to past years. I made Jeff these silly little magazine holders that are designed to hold his most prized possession, his comic books and graphic novels. Yes, I am married to a dork. Not only are these meant to finally give Jeff a place to store his comic books, but also a promise to finally re-do the office. For reals this time.



I painted the magazine holders with chalk board paint on the outside and an nice burnt orange on the inside, to match the colors in our office. On the chalk board side I drew different scenes from comic books and had re-stickable super heroes I made out of comic book trading cards. This way Jeff can make up his own stories, or draw to his hearts content and wipe is away when he's done. This would be a great project for a youngin', or a husband with a young heart.


I also got him this marvelous book by Rob Ryan. It is a love story made out of his paper cutting art. I just fell in love with the art and the story.


I woke up, gave him a message and made him breakfast, which is pretty standard for this holiday. This year Jeff helped with breakfast though. I think it was because we got to use the Star Wars pancake molds I got him for Christmas. I didn't get any pictures but they were super fun. I am still a fan of the pancakes I made him last year though, little pink hearts!

This year I went simple with the sisters too. Didn't take any pics again. For my older sister I got her heart shaped sugar cookie cut outs and a red trivet for the kitchen. For my younger sisters I got them PINK hot chocolate.


Image from here.

Last year's gift to my sisters was probably my favorite and I had no idea how to top it this year. Last year I hit up ebay and got each of my sisters vintage Avon fashion jewelry. I got Heather and Sage rings, but there was no way I could find a ring small enough for Jade, so I got her clip on earrings (she doesn't have her ears pierced). I made some templates on the computer and printed them out on card stock in place of traditional cards. I thought they were so cute.


As another side note from last year, I also gave our Nursery kids at church a little valentines. I wasn't teaching my CTR kids for the holiday this year, but I think something like this would have worked for them too. Anyone who has ever been in Nursery knows how much little kids LOVE bubbles.


Of course I got a gift or two myself. Jeff really hit it out of the park this year.

1. Chocolates: Check- girl scout cookies
2. Flowers: Check- a beautiful rose
3. Perfume: Check- Reed diffuser- perfume for the house
4. Jewelry: Check- A wonderful lovely heart bracelet.



Valentines always makes me so happy. I hope everyone else had as wonderful of a day as I did.

30 X 30: Road Trip

I finally took one off my list, the Road Trip!

1) Have my hair professionally dyed a dark auburn.

2) Go on a 'real' date with Jeff once a month, no family members invited.

3) Blog once a month.

4) Update my wardrobe with at least 5 fun and totally non-essential items.

5) Lose 20 lbs, feel more fit.

6) Take a road trip.

7) Organize the garage and all our tools.

8) Re-vamp the office. It needs an overhaul.

9) "Grow up" our decorating style a little.

10) Paint the hallway and stairwell.

11) Frame the dried flowers from our wedding.

12) Print the disposable camera pictures from our wedding.

13) Make a window treatment for the kitchen window.

14) Complete 5 crafts from the Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Crafts.

15) Find at least 5 go-to recipes from "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cook Book."

16) Take better pictures with my Nikon.

17) Write, record, memorialize my grandparents history.

18) Sew something.

19) Decide if I'm going back to school and for what.

20) Stop drinking caffeinated soda.

21) Tithes.

22) Pray more.

23) Go to the temple once a quarter (4 times a year)

24) Read the Book of Mormon again.

25) Get preggo.

26) If preggo, decorate the cutest nursery ever!

27) Read 6 books.

28) Reduce our monthly expenses by 10%

29) Learn how to play my favorite piano song from the Sense and Sensibility movie.

30) Take a trip with just Jeff and I for our 30th birthdays.

A couple weeks ago 'the girls' (meaning Heather, Lora, Sage & Jade, as always) and I went on a little day long road trip to Rhyolite, NV.

Like the dork that I am, I did a little research so that I could be the 'tour guide' for the day. The research simply went on notecards in my back pocket. (Don't worry, I wont bore you with the history lessons here on the blog). Rhyolite is just a couple hours outside of Vegas and makes for a great day trip.

We started the fun at the candy shop in Beatty, NV while eating Subway for lunch. After the candy shop we took the 11 mile trek out of town and walked around Rhyolite. On the road we shared our mounds of yummy candy goodness.

It was interesting to see a town that was all but washed away. Even though it may be the most popular "ghost town" in Nevada, it wasn't scary at all, mostly just sadly interesting. I couldn't help of think of Las Vegas and our own recent boom and bust cycle, our own empty and abandoned buildings.

We ended the day by stoping in Pharump on the way home and having dinner with the grandparents. It was by all accounts a very lovely day. Their were no boys, no complaining, no work, no nonsense. We girls just had a wonderful day together and I loved it!

2010 EOY MIX

Every year Jeff makes an end of the year music mix with all of his favorite new music from the year. He burns a bunch of disks and gives them out with Christmas presents for friends and family. Here is his list this year written by Jeff for facebook:

1. Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap. Not a secret to many people. It was the song of the weekend when I visited my sister up in California. We saw a "white boy reggae" singer groovin' and singing along. I too love to sing and groove along. You may remember the song from 500 Days of Summer. Good movie.

2. My Own Sinking Ship by Good Old War. Trying to get all of my California trips out as soon as possible I guess. These guys were so fun in concert if you don't believe me just ask the two guys standing in front of us at the show.

3. Violent Dreams by Jump, Little Children. The California trip is done but Becky's hand is quite evident. I ran into the house to grab a CD to play in the new stereo the wife got me last Christmas and it was a 90's playlist made by my sister. This is the third or fourth track and it was my favorite reintroduction on the disc. It was my favorite song of the year that was not made this year. I have to turn it up and sing along. I am finding it hard to type right now as the song is playing. The title track for the CD (kind of) I love the lyric "She's hanging by a needle and a thread" "All my waking hours just to see you live through this sleepless night" Beautiful song. Hits home as it seems I am never sleeping.

4. Excuses by Morning Benders. If you download one song from my mix that was made this year, this should be that song. It has the feel of the song you think you've heard before. Amber asked me if it was an old song or if someone was covering an old song when she heard it. "I put no one else above us, we'll still be best friends when it all turns to dust" Good song. Classic melody.

5. After the Storm by Mumford & Sons. Beautiful heartfelt lyrics that made me cry the first time I heard this song. Persevere! One of my favorite albums of the year. Good band.

6. Breakneck Speed by Tokyo Police Club. I have been a fan of Tokyo Police club since I first heard their first EP. Perfect example of a band evolving and still very much rocking. Head bobbing fun and dancing is what inevitably comes from this song. Good to be back indeed.

7. Bloodbuzz Ohio by The National. Not sure how this song slipped past the Twilight people. The Baritone voice doesn't hurt. The song is the best from their new album which is all pretty good. And the first of two songs back to back about a dude taking his shirt off. Take from that what you will.

8. Lewis Takes His Shirt Off by Owen Pallett. As if it could be any other song about a dude taking off his shirt and preparing to defeat the being oppressing his people. You thought Colin Meloy could write a good story in a record, check out Heartland.

9. Generator (First Floor) by Freelance Whales. I love the way this song builds into something you never want to end. Kinda like a musical version of your proudest piece of Lego artwork.

10. I Can Change by LCD Soundsystem. I like the beat of this song and his dramatic singing. I went to the concert that Vegas couldn't give away tickets for. "Love is a curse shoved in a hearse," Cool song.

11. Citizen by Broken Bells. James Mercer has one of those voices and everything Danger Mouse touches turns to gold. Including this album and song.

12. What Part of Forever (Remix) by Cee Lo Green. Speaking of Danger Mouse collaborators. Cee Lo had a couple great songs this year including the one called "That song Gweneth Paltrow sang on Glee".

13. It Will All End In Tears by The Drums. Very Joy Division meets The Cure. I like the chorus for this song."Your eyes are always saying goodbye". Nice.

14. Nothing Like You by Frightened Rabbit. After having the title track on 2008 and coming just short of making 2009's playlist Frightened Rabbit is back. His voice is intoxicating. They were good live even though Amber and I were both tired (thanks beauty bar) We both had a good time and enjoyed the set despite it's many technical difficulties.

15. Bullet by Steel Train. Careful! This song will hit your brain like a bullet and you won't be able to get it out. "As long as you're here, together we can die alone" With all of its ooos and ahhhs it is catchy as an h, an e and a couple hockey sticks.

16. Goodnight Moon by Go Radio. If you are going to name a song after one of the most iconic children’s books it better be a good frackin' song. It is a good frackin' song. Perhaps the most emo of all of my entries, but it is soooo cute.

17. Barles + James by Band of Horses. Alright, I know that isn't the real name of the song, but that is what I call it and this is my mix. "The door stood as if it was standing guard, of a dozen 'chickmunks' in the backyard" Great imagery. Fantastic song from the soul.

18. Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. You have heard this song if you still watch commercials. I liked it best when they sang it live. Very friendly and cool all the way to their Bob Marley campfire sing-along (minus the campfire). Again, severely under attended by my fellow Las Vegans.

CHECK THEM OUT!!!!!!!!!!

Wait UP!

So it's only the middle of January and I feel like I'm already behind. I think of all the things I need to do and I get so overwhelmed that I don't know how to start. Somehow,I must already be behind.

I've been trying to think of the things that I HAVE to do, the things that I SHOULD do, and all those many things I WANT to do, to organize myself and not get overwhelmed. Again, I don't know how working moms do it? So here is my basic list:

HAVE TO: Work, work overtime, clean, wash, make healthy meals, pay the bills, run errands, church callings (including talking this last Sunday at church- I could make 5 other posts that describe how much I truly HATE speaking in church, but that can be another day). This list doesn't seam all that long, but in reality this stuff takes up 90% of my time, makes me exhausted enough that I don't know if I can get up the strength to go on to other items below.

SHOULD DO: Work out for an hour a day, read more, research fertility treatments, research adoption, volunteer, visit with family, date my husband, help Jeff with his "new" job, get a hair cut, wake up earlier so I look presentable everyday, have a pedicure, have family home evening every Monday, make weekly meal plans, clean the grout in the kitchen, etc.

WANT TO: Basically everything on my 30x30 list and I think I've added like 5 more things to that list since I created it in November (fix the plaster on the stairs, paint strips in the downstairs bathroom, make a new ottoman/coffeetable, granite for the kitchen, new 'grown up' dishes). I also want to just sit on my couch and watch TV or a movie. I want to update my Ipod, I want to update and fix our whole house, I want a dog, I want, I want, I want. Basically this list never ends.

And when I sit and think of all this stuff I have to do, I should be doing, and that I want, I am still overwhelmed. I guess this is part of being an adult. I guess the worry and sleepless nights and feeling inadequate are just part of life. But you know what? I'm done. I am DONE with it! Fini! Geschehen!

Every year I make a mantra for the year, kind of my own small way of doing a resolution. Last year I consistently tried to console myself with the mantra of "Lighten' Up" because I am always so worried and serious. It did help, sometimes. When I was being taken over by "stuff" to let myself know it wasn't the end and I should just get over it. I even lightened my hair as a physical reminder to be more care free. This year I was thinking that I may need to make a mantra like "Make it Simple," or something else consoling, but in the end I decided to just . . .

FIND JOY!

I NEED TO do what makes me happy and stop worrying about all this "stuff". I don't need to worry if I am always on target, always my best self, I should just be myself. I think if I just follow my passions and desire that I will be a more interesting and better person.

So many times my natural man, or the man of the world, takes over my body and mind. But if I can just be true to me and, for instance, read a geology book if I want and not worry that it's the most important of books, or the best use of my time, but just because I think it is interesting and enjoy doing it. If I take a cooking class because I think it sounds like fun and not because I am ashamed that I am not as a good of a cook as so and so. This is my goal. Find what brings me joy.

Temple Square

This year my mothers family decided to take a Christmas trip together. "The parents" decided on visiting Temple Square in SLC. The trip started off great, Heather and I were able to stop on the way up to SLC and see a couple of old friends, Emily and Natalie. It was so great to catch up with them for a little while and see Natalie's ADORABLE 2 month old baby Walker. (My baby hunger was at it's peak, let me tell you.)

That night "the parents" dragged us all to a Michael McClain concert, The Forgotten Carols. I like musicals, I like the theater, but this just was not my thing. I was totally jealous of my hubby and Lora's fiance Mat for going to the Utah Jazz game. MUCH rather have been there!

The next day ended up turning around again though. As we were inevitably waiting on the rest of the family to get where they said they would be an hour ago, Jeff and I got to explore Thanksgiving Point (I didn't mind getting to hang out with just the two of us). They had these reindeer on display for the kiddos and I think that they were a little stressed out.

This picture just needs a caption under it saying something like "You want me to pull this slay with the jolly ol' 200 lb elf in the back?"

We walked the grounds and saw how pretty it can be when you don't live in Vegas. I actually was considering moving to Utah!


An hour later the rest of my family finally met up with us at Thanksgiving Point and we toured the Dinosaur museum they have there. I love that going to a dinosaur museum is what my family does on vacation. We are all such dorks.








That night we went and toured the grounds at Temple Square. This was by far my highlight of the weekend. Since a BYU game just got out at the Energy Solutions Center (Jeff ditched us all again and went the game), the grounds were super crowded and everyone was so joyful. It was wonderful to be around so many Saints. Not to mention, the Temple Grounds were gorgeous!


Such a cute newly engage couple!

The whole gang

Jeffs new best friend this trip, our little cousin.

The next morning we went and saw a taping of The Spoken Word. That was just the cherry on top to the end of our little vacation. The Tabernacle Choir was amazing live. I couldn't believe that I had been in the SLC area on so many Sunday's before and not taken advantage of this. I will definitely be doing this again next time I'm in town.


Since the Spoken word is a live taping, they asked everyone before to be as quiet as possible to get a good recording. I have never before heard that many Mormon families with a bunch of little kids be so silent. If only we could all do that in Sacrament I'm sure we would get more out of the talks.

All and all it was a pretty fun, quick, and painless weekend. I'm not sure if I would want to do it again with that many people, but I could see Jeff and I taking the kids up one year (once again I am making plans for our imaginary children). Definitely a good way to enjoy in the all the Christmas cheer!

NO GRINCH IS STEALIN' MY CHRISTMAS!

Last year I was a total Grinch. I did not want to participate in any reindeer games! This year, I cannot get enough CHRISTMAS CHEER! Why am I loving Christmas so much this year? Maybe it is because we are so blessed. Maybe it's because my Christmas shopping in 95% done and I will be spending less than a few hundred buckaroos on all our gifts this year. Maybe I am just making up for last year, but I am totally lovin' this Christmas season.

Every year I help my youngest sister make her own gifts for everyone. This year one of our gifts was an advent calender for our parents. We took a plastic bead holder, Christmas scrapbook paper, and markers and turned it into a DIY advent calender.

Jade did every last thing herself. All I had to do was show her how it would work and she took care of the rest. She even thought of all the different activities to put into each jar with a little treat.

She did such a good job that a couple days later I made one for myself. I wanted something a little more simple. I loved the advent calenders I saw on Ohdeedoh, especially the coin envelop Christmas tree one. But, I refused to pay $17 for a box of coin envelops that I would never use again. It ended up coming together when I scored these white paper gift bags from Michael's for $2. They even came in a pack of 25, how much more perfect can you get?




All I used was the little gift bags, leftover scrapbook paper, ribbon, string, stamps, clips (from Jeff's birthday) and a little glitter (for #25). After an hour or so I had my very own, first ever, advent calender.

I even went out and bought my first ever wreath on Black Friday. Usually I don't go for this kind of stuff, you know. It's only used once a year, it is usually too expensive, cheaply made, and just a bunch of clutter "stuff" I don't need in my garage, but this year I didn't care. I want to decorate for Christmas and I don't care who knows it!

I am even trying to talk Jeff into going shopping with me the Monday after Christmas to get more decorations on sale. I am thinking that a full sized Christmas tree, lights, ornaments, and all the trimmings are in order (we still use my small tree from college). I don't think he is buying into my senseless, consumerism love of Christmas this year, but maybe he will come around. Hopefully next year I will still have enough Christmas spirit to actually put up all the new decorations :) Can't wait!

Amber's 30 X 30

I've created my list of 30 things I want to accomplish before I turn 30. I'm giving myself plenty of time, but I'm sure I will still struggle with completing everything on this list. Time moves so quickly, I'm not sure how to get a handle on it. At least with this, I'll have goals.

Here it goes in no particular order:

1) Have my hair professionally dyed a dark auburn.
2) Go on a 'real' date with Jeff once a month, no family members invited.
3) Blog once a month.
4) Update my wardrobe with at least 5 fun and totally non-essential items.
5) Lose 20 lbs, feel more fit.
6) Take a road trip.
7) Organize the garage and all our tools.
8) Re-vamp the office. It needs an overhaul.
9) "Grow up" our decorating style a little.
10) Paint the hallway and stairwell.
11) Frame the dried flowers from our wedding.
12) Print the disposable camera pictures from our wedding.
13) Make a window treatment for the kitchen window.
14) Complete 5 crafts from the Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Crafts.
15) Find at least 5 go-to recipes from "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cook Book."
16) Take better pictures with my Nikon.
17) Write, record, memorialize my grandparents history.
18) Sew something.
19) Decide if I'm going back to school and for what.
20) Stop drinking caffeinated soda.
21) Tithes.
22) Pray more.
23) Go to the temple once a quarter (4 times a year)
24) Read the Book of Mormon again.
25) Get preggo.
26) If preggo, decorate the cutest nursery ever!
27) Read 6 books.
28) Reduce our monthly expenses by 10%
29) Learn how to play my favorite piano song from the Sense and Sensibility movie.
30) Take a trip with just Jeff and I for our 30th birthdays.

Now, the explanations. This is more for my record keeping of course, so in the future when I am wondering "why am I doing all these pointless things?", I can read this and remember. I wish I could do the whole bloggy "after the jump" thing, but as I am technologically impaired, I'm writing this in plain sight for the world to see (or one of the 3 people that may glance at this blog once a year). The writing below is boring, I beg you, turn away now.

1) Have my hair professionally dyed a dark auburn: I've always wished I had curly red hair. Bottled hair dye just doesn't seem to work for reds. I'm going for realistic here.

2) Go on a 'real' date with Jeff once a month, no family members invited: Every movie or dinner I get the question, 'Can so or so family member come?' Now I love family too, but just the two of us would nice every once in while.

3) Blog once a month: Just write more, practice makes perfect.

4) Update my wardrobe with at least 5 fun and totally non-essential items: I tend to only buy things that have purpose and can be used over and over (and are priced under $30). This leads to a very basic and dull wardrobe. I need to spice things up!

5) Lose 20 lbs: I am not ready to say good bye to my looks just because I am getting older, I should try and get them back while I am still young-ish.

6) Take a road trip: Even if we are too poor and the only trip we make is camping in Zions, I'm good.

7) Organize the garage and all our tools: This is more for Jeff (and my sanity).

8) Re-vamp the office. It needs an overhaul: Seriously, it's gross and it is taking me way too long to get it all put together. I've had it decorated in my head for at least a year.

9) "Grow up" our decorating style a little: Things are looking a little one dementional at the Bame house. We need to take our style up a notch and get a little more . . . MORE.

10) Paint the hallway and stairwell: It again, has been a year with paint testing strips on the wall. Decide and conquer!

11) Frame the dried flowers from our wedding.

12) Print the disposable camera pictures from our wedding: I have to be the laziest person in the world, or the cheapest. I can't decide which.

13) Make a window treatment for the kitchen window: As much as I enjoy people driving by on the street seeing what I'm watching on the TV I think I may just cover up the kitchen window.

14) Complete 5 crafts from the Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Crafts: I really should give quilling a try.

15) Find at least 5 go-to recipes from "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cook Book": Let's face it, cooking something, anything, will be an improvement. How I made it to 28 without being a good cook, a good homemaker, and childless is beyond me. I need to get at least 5 easy recipes memorized, so I can pull them out in times of need in the future.

16) Take better pictures with my Nikon.

17) Write, record, memorialize my grandparents history: I've been thinking about this for years and just need to do it while I still have the ability to.

18) Sew something.

19) Decide if I'm going back to school and for what: I have been knocking around going back to college ever since I graduated. I can't decide if I want to get my teaching certificate, a masters in public administration, or just get a certificate in something totally different - like a synographer or something.

20) Stop drinking caffeinated soda: I hate being an addict.

21) Tithes.

22) Pray more.

23) Go to the temple once a quarter (4 times a year)

24) Read the Book of Mormon again: venturing into the Old Testament wouldn't be a bad idea either.

25) Get preggo: Sometimes I worry I've already missed my shot at motherhood, other days I don't know how mothers can survive, I just know I've been ready to experience the craziness of motherhood for some time.

26) If preggo, decorate the cutest nursery ever! Let me be honest. I already have the majority of the items to decorate a nursery for either a boy or girl picked out. Color schemes? chosen. Crib? picked out. Yep, I'm 'that' girl, talking, thinking and planning for babies that have yet to be conceived.

27) Read 6 books.

28) Reduce our monthly expenses by 10%: We need to bring down our monthly bills. Our power bill is insane, we are paying for internet on our phones and for our computer. We really just need to get smarter and make our money go further.

29) Learn how to play my favorite piano song from the Sense and Sensibility movie.

30) Take a trip with just Jeff and I for our 30th birthdays: Even if it's just to Mesquite, although I'd love to take Jeff on a cruise, jet to New York, or go see the Grand Canyon. How has this boy not experienced these things yet?