4.20.2010

For Lack of Anything Better...

I'm the biggest picture slacker. I love pictures more than the average person, but somehow never bring my camera anywhere! I was skimming my last posts and realizing that my recent cop-out of posting internet picture is really lame. SO, I whipped out Brandon's camera and found some fun old pictures from the past. Bear with me....I will get better at taking pictures. Maybe if I had cuter clothes I'd be more willing to take pictures....geeez Brandon's right....that is my excuse for everything. But really, the lack of cute summer clothes is a serious problem.



When I went home in February to help my parents move into their new house I got to go visit my brother in Eugene! I had never been, which is strange because I've lived in Oregon my entire life and it's only 2 hours away. Anyway, it is an absolutely gorgeous part of Oregon and a really cool city. I brought my little brother with me and we hung out with Ian for the day. This is both of them at some yummy Pizza place we found.


Over Thanksgiving (I warned you these were old pictures, stop judging), Brandon went pheasant hunting with his dad and some friends. No, I don't "like" that he kills things for fun...but there are worse things. We prepared and ate the pheasant meat for our Thanksgiving feast in Park City. Yea, I would not recommend it. Chewy, dry, bland...tastes like blah chicken.


I hate this picture of me. My face was all swollen and I was really sick. BUT it reminds me how much I love that guy. This was taken when we went to Sun River for a week or so last summer when we were in Oregon. His family goes every year and rents a cabin. It's a really neat place, we go tubing down the river, fishing, biking, we lay out, barbecue, watch movies, get ice cream cones every day (nothing makes me happier), eat really yummy food...it's pretty much my favorite.


Most of the pictures on Brandon's camera are from fishing trips he's taken. I just thought this was a cute one of his boat and his dad. Nothing makes Bran happier than fishing with his dad.


Two big ones! I have to look at every one of these pictures when he gets home from a fishing trip. I've spared you all by only posting the "good" ones, the other 200 pictures are individual glamor shots of fish that all look the same, or dead fish, or blood from gutting the fish....boys take the weirdest pictures.


This picture just really makes me miss the Oregon waters! The trees, the mountain (don't laugh if you're from Utah, yes we call those mountains), the boats, the ducks, so pretty!


Brandon would tell you I never want to go fishing, but I know secretly it's just "his thing" and he doesn't want me to go :) because I DO love to go! But it's fine, I think it's good to have things you can do without each other. He has his things (hunting, fishing), I have my things (horses, horses, horses), and it keeps us sane! BUT every once and awhile it's really fun to share in each others favorite hobbies. This past summer we went fishing for the day with his dad on some outlet off the Columbia river.

The first 5 hours were great---really relaxing, beautiful, fun....ok, but really, I don't know how people sit in that small boat all day and wait for a bite. It hit a point where I had had my fun and was ready to gooooo. My first fish was a 32 lb. Salmon. Mitch took this picture on his phone when I was holding onto this fish for dear life. We had it on the line for truly like 30 minutes and it was determined not to be brought in that boat. This picture doesn't do justice to the drama that incured during those 30 minutes. All three of us were literally running around the boat trying to keep this fish on the line. It was exciting when we finally pulled it up, but to this day Brandon still gives me a hard time for not fully appreciating that moment...thus I am no longer invited on fishing trips.


4.05.2010

Really Looking Forward To...

The Oregon Coast!

I have been landlocked in this barren state for FAR too long (5 years!) and cannot wait to enjoy the cold, windy, cloudy Oregon beaches (haha). Yes, the Oregon Coast has a reputation of being miserably cold and nothing like a beach at all, but those who grew up near it will agree that it is still a gorgeous place to be! Seal-watching, whale-watching, crabbing, bonfires, digging for clams, playing at the dunes, eating at Mo's Seafood...can't wait.






Flowers

You know the blossoms on the trees and flowers in the soil are trying HARD to make their spring debut when the daffodils start popping up. They seem to be the most diligent Spring flower (in Utah at least), and are always one of the first to pop out of the ground. Cherry Blossoms are my favorite and I am patiently awaiting their arrival. Stupid Utah "Spring" is sure putting a damper on my mood! This freeeezing and snowing one day and semi-warm and sunny the next crap is gettin' old!














A Puppy!

For Graduation (which will be in June for him), Brandon really wants a white-lab puppy. His family dog growing up was a white-lab and he has many memories with her. Annie, the dog, is still alive but is definitely on the downward hill. He is looking forward to training a new hunting/fishing dog. I'm sure I'll be cursing it's name when shedding, pooping, peeing and ripping up all of my stuff, but in the meantime I'm really excited. I love dogs, but mostly I just love everything in "baby" form right now. You could get me a baby worm and I'd think it's just the cutest thing ever. No, I'm not pregnant.

Brandon plans on turning this future innocent and adorable puppy into a savage bird killer. I'm still coping with this idea...









Fruit Stands

I don't think anyone loves fresh fruit, berry, and veggie stands quite as much as myself. Last summer we found this incredible fruit stand in West Linn and turned into frequent customers in no time. I love that during the summer you can live off fresh fruit for so cheap!















Oh hell, I just looked outside and it's hailing. I really need Summer to be here.

3.12.2010

It's Bulls and Blood, It's Dust and Mud, It's the Roar of a Sunday Crowd...They call the thing Rodeo

Few things ring in the summer quite like the Rodeo. This year I'm going with Nicole and I am so so excited. I can't believe that someone who has owned a horse since she was like 10 has never been to a Rodeo! It's going to be a blast. The St. Paul Rodeo is HUGE in Oregon, and they make it quite the event. Utah produces some pretty amazing rodeos as well, so if you haven't been to one you should make this summer your first! Lehi has a really fun one, and it's the perfect excuse to get decked out in that hot cowgirl get-up you've been dying to whip out.


Squeeky, Dented, Jungle Green, Ford Taurus...oh How I Will Miss You...

Oh the joys of car shopping! After weeks of meeting with, negotiating with and being completely lied to by car salesmen, I am amazed that I married a one! Thankfully I didn't marry a car salesman (they seem to unquestionably be the worst type), but I absolutely married the man that could sell ice to an eskimo. When we were dating I remember being sooo turned off by this "quality" but every once and awhile it does come in handy.

It turns out you can't sell a salesman and therefore I don't know if we'll ever be buying a car in this lifetime! Brandon will NOT budge on the prices he wants. Even after he gets them down by $1,000's if they are even insisting we pay $300 more than his ideal price he will walk away from the deal. To me this a completely ridiculous waste of time, but to him I am a financial disaster waiting to happen, so we agree to disagree. So, we may not be buying a car in this lifetime, but when it happens we will definitely walk away saving an extra $15 a month on our car payment (again, is this seriously necessary?!).

These are the cars we are deciding between, any suggestions are welcome.



Classic Toyota 4Runner. Of course my top pick. The exterior just says "oh hey, yea I just got back from the mountain and now I'm heading to the lake for some boating and then off to the dessert for some 4-wheeling". So cool. The interior is not my favorite though. And we would obviously buy this car used, it's pretty spendy.


Hyundai Tucson was our first choice. You can get the 2010 model for a very reasonable price. The exterior is a bit small looking (however it does look better in person, this picture makes it look like an alien car) but the interior is incredible.


The Nissan Murano is Brandon's first choice. He thinks it looks "badass" (not my choice of words...). I think the grill looks slightly bizarre, but besides that it's not a bad car at all. It does seem to look better with a European license plate, don't you think? Maybe we should move to Europe....but don't even get me started on that.

2.03.2010

We have a WINNER!

I am happy to announce the winner of the Ambrerose Giveaway this month went to....

(Drumroll Please)

Eva-Marie Corcoran!!

A big thank you to everyone who tried! Remember to visit my blog again next month for another cool giveaway!

2.02.2010

LOST

I cannot wait for tonight, the season premier of LOST!! Bran and I are going to our friend's house to make a pizza and junk-food filled premier party out of it and I am counting down the hours. I don't think I've ever been so addicted to a TV show. Usually I get sick of all TV shows after a few seasons because the writing goes down hill and it gets just painful (Grey's Anatomy). Brandon and I rented all the seasons of Lost right after we got married and we watched them all summer until we finished, it was a blast. The writers are absolutely incredible, the plot is so intricate it blows my mind, and best of all Matthew Fox (or Jack) is the sexiest man alive. I'm making Brandon keep his beard at the same scruff level as Jack so I can at least fantasize...




1.24.2010

Sundance Night Skiing!


Brandon and I decided to go night skiing up at Sundance on a whim this Saturday. It was a super fun night with perfect weather and tons of fresh powder. Towards the end though it was just packed. Their runs take like maaaybe 15 minutes, and then you're back in this horrendous line, waiting to get back up to the top. Kinda sucked, but I guess that's why it's so cheap.


Ok ok, really, I just had to show off the new beanie I begged, whined and cried for at Sports Authority earlier that afternoon. It was hard work, but alas, I won. It is the warmest, yummiest beanie I have ever worn.

Gearing up! Ok these gloves were miserably freezing. Big upset of the night was having numb hands. I borrowed them from Bran's sister and now I know what I'm getting her for her Birthday. Thankfully Brandon switched me gloves half-way through....cuz he's the bestest friend ever.


Bridal Veil falls is so purty in the winter. I love the drive through the Provo canyon, it's a gorgeous scenery during any season (which is much more than I can say for the rest of Utah...blech).

1.21.2010

An Ambrerose Valentine's Giveaway

I am hosting another Ambrerose Giveaway this month! How to Enter?

All you have to do is check out Ambrerose and then come back here and leave a comment about one of the items in the shop. Pick one that you like and tell me what you like about it! Be sure to include your email address so that I can contact you if you’re a winner!

For a second chance to win, you can follow this blog and leave a comment saying that you do so (if you already follow me, just leave a comment saying that you already do).

And, lastly, if you have a blog, mention this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment letting me know with a link to your blog post.

This giveaway ends on January 31st, at noon and the winner will be announced at this post. The winner will also be notified via email and the prize will be shipped out shortly thereafter.

With luck, you could win this lovely gift or make it your own Valentine's treat!

What are you waiting for?

**For U.S. only**



1.20.2010

Baby Boy Turns 24

I'm pretty sure the typical blogging wife would take this opportunity to publicize the top 50 reasons they think their husband is the best husband EVER. But, the thought of doing that, no matter how much I love and adore Brandon, makes me gag. You've gotta draw the line somewhere, and I draw it at unnecessary lovey mushiness that no one cares to read about.

Bran and his friends went paintballing for his birthday. He kindly invited me, and I kindly opted out (I'm sure this was much to his relief). For some reason the thought of being chased around in the dark by 10 testosterone filled, grown men with "guns" sounded slightly terrifying. Before paintballing we went to In'n'Out for dinner with Brandon's good friends Ryan and Leah. Later that night we opened presents, my favorite part!! I loooove buying people presents, especially for someone like Brandon who loves loves surprises more than the average person. His main present was new snowboard boots and bindings:

1.17.2010

We have so much to be grateful for

The caption to this photo: "A woman reacts as bodies are removed from the streets with a bulldozer."

TIME has an incredibly moving gallery of pictures from Haiti's earthquake destruction. This picture is fascinating because it captures so many emotions most of us will (hopefully) never have to experience. I cannot fathom what these people are going through.