The word’s out: I’ve married myself a traveling man.

James’ job takes him venturing across the country on the frequent–so I’ve spent quite a bit of time on my own in our little home in the evenings. On his week-long trips I: work, go to class, play with girlfriends, paint my nails, and buy expensive gelato at the grocery store. A week is doable and typically only involves me pawning my “party of one” self off on my paired-off friends for a few nights at a time.

However, this time, he’s been gone for three weeks in a row. Three weeks, three weekends…21 days!

I have a girlfriend at work who’s husband is leaving for three months this summer, and when comparing traveling husband stories she stopped and asked, “I bet you learn some new things about yourself when you’re living alone.” I’d never thought about it that way–but now that she mentioned it, you can’t help but get to know yourself a little bit better when you’re spending more time with, well–yourself.

Some things I’ve discovered about myself during my husband’s hiatus:

1. I don’t use our living room or kitchen table–who wants to sit in an empty space with no company?
2. Because I sleep pretty still, I can keep laundry on half of my bed for a week at a time without it getting in anyone’s way
3. I subconsciously leave the shower curtain pulled back so I can easily see if a stranger is hiding in there when I get home
4. It feels good to miss someone a whole lot, sometimes

I came across this hilarious video the other day and had to share–I feel that it sums up my “living alone” experience pretty accurately (the laundry part=identical), what about yours, I’d love to hear your living alone stories!

“The truth was that Jay Gatsby, of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself. He was a son of God — a phrase which, if it means anything, means just that — and he must be about His Father’s business, the service of a vast, vulgar, and meretricious beauty. So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen year old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end.”

–F. SCOTT FITZGERALD, The Great Gatsby

With the director of Moulin Rouge and Leo as the star, there’s no way this film can flop. Also, I’m looking forward to see how Carey Mulligan’s “Daisy” compares to the 1970s Mia Farrow. December can’t come soon enough!

Now that Instagram has come to us Android users, I’m the newest convert (sorry you iOS users who believe Instagram was a mark of the elite and that Instagram being used by Android-ers is like the trailor park moving into the Hamptons).

This week was filled with mothers, weddings, rainy days, the beehive bazaar, baseball, and free food. A pretty successful start to the summer if you ask me.

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.” — M. Scott Peck. MD

For me, it’s the deeply uncomfortable moments, the moments that make me want to hide in the back of a dark broom closet, that have been the most evolutionary. Whether it’s been the decision to quit an old job and start a new one, change my focus to a seemingly unpractical course of study, dive into a relationship, or begin a new and daunting project, these have been the moments that have been the most shaping.

Making difficult decisions and stepping blindly off the edge can be terrifying but I think it’s when we step off these edges that we most often surprise ourselves.

So here’s to making difficult decisions and stepping off of edges. Happy Tuesday.

My best friend from Canada and her cute fiance came down to visit this weekend and I had more fun planning her bridal shower than I’d have at Disneyland. I used colors that already went with my living room set up so we didn’t have hot pink balloons paired with my mustard and rust cushions. Overall, the morning was lovely and filled with good friends, food, and games (I even enjoyed the games and I’m the hater of all things game).

I found these cute metal letters and ended up getting an “S” and a “T” for Steph & Tyson. That & sign may or may not have made an appearance in mind and James’ bridal shoot but I’m all about recycling.

I’ve become newly obsessed with birdcages and picked this one up at my new favorite store, the hobby lobby. The name is nerdy but go to the one on University Avenue and you’ll fall in love as well.

I wanted a cute take home gift that wasn’t something you’d just go home and toss. I found this precious gourmet popcorn shop around the corner from my house and picked these up. Caramel with milk and white chocolate. Delish.

The shower was in the morning so we did a crepe bar as the main course.

Then I ventured into the realm of the domestic and crafted these blueberry pancake cupcakes. The recipe can be found here.

Finally, along with some other fun games, I designed this “how well do you know the bride?” template. I have the InDesign file if anyone would like to use if for their own purposes : )

Thanks for getting married Steph. Can’t wait to travel to the great white north for the big day!

Summer weddings are my favorite and this one at the Red Butte Garden up in Salt Lake City was definitely one of my favorites to date. Congratulations Kyle and Lex, the day was so beautiful.

The secret’s out: Kyle used to be BYU’s Cosmo the Cougar. Naturally, Cosmo had to make an appearance at the wedding.

And the whole day reminded me of this day…almost one who year ago

Ladies and gentleman,

Do any of you listen to the radio show “This American Life” with Ira Glass? If not, you need to start. If you do, I have the best news ever! David Sedaris, author of the memoirs Me Talk Pretty One Day, Holidays on Ice, and Dress your Family in Corduroy and Demin (among many fabulous others) is joining forces with Ira Glass to “perform an episode of This American Life on stage at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City and beam it live via satellite to more than 500 movie theatres around the US and Canada”!

This will probably be one of the most epic episodes of This American Life and I’m not sure that it will be aired later so better to be safe than sorry and buy your tickets now. I checked in Utah and even the larger theaters are showing the premier, not only little Indie theaters up in Salt Lake.

Anyways, if I haven’t convinced you, here’s the trailor.

I know this lady will love it!

When I was younger (because I’m so old now), I hated Saturdays. They were such an awkward day, no school, no plans, and definitely not a day for homework. However, as I’ve been working full-time M-F over the past year, Saturdays have become my favorite day.

Why you ask? Sleeping in, working out in the morning (I really don’t like working out at night but I have to because I work in the mornings), running errands (who came up with a 9-5 schedule? If everyone works during that time, there’s not time for errands when stores are actually open), and date nights.

Because today’s Saturday, here’s a weekend treat, watch it–seriously.

Because we started our morning earlier than usual today…my morning poem for you.

I think I will spend more time  
In the Morning
walking awake while the others sleep.

While chunks of the earth’s
color are still missing,
hidden beneath the shadows of leaves atop weathered sidewalks.

Morning: the purest time—the cleanest time.
Before the heat has had the time
to weigh the earth down with popsicle drips.

And to rarely cross paths with another.
To instead have the time to unravel
the tight coil of one’s unruly thoughts.

But when paths do cross–
a simple smile spreads across simple lips
as the morning’s peaceful secret
is theirs through a nod and silent–hello.