Aaaaand we're back! Barely, that is. We've spent this lovely Memorial Day being as lazy as humanly possible after we just had a killer of a weekend... both literally and figuratively. Let me explain.

We drove down to Southern Utah near the Escalante River to a beautiful little area called "Coyote Gulch." To access the gulch you must backpack in a good 5-6 miles through the hot desert, and then hike in as far as you'd like within the breathtaking revine. You walk through and along a river as you bypass steep cliffs, incredible greenery, natural arches and bridges, waterfalls, and more. You can set up camp anywhere you desire; we chose to set up our temporary abode in a little meadow near the "Natural Bridge," about half-way through the gulch. It was perfect.

And then we woke up the next morning after our killer 10 mile hike into the gulch (believe me... 10 miles doesn't sound too bad, but it is a lot worse with a 40 pound backpack... the whole way). As we went to boil some water for breakfast we realized we had bought the wrong propane bottle for our portable stove. Uh oh. No stove = no boiling water = no way to cook our next 3 meals. We looked at each other, with our aching muscles and feet and said "looks like we better hike back out!" Haha oops. So we hiked 10 more miles the next day.

So there you have it! Our adventure was a little shorter than anticipated, but just as breathtaking and beautiful as I remembered Utah being. But I must say, it was a lot more painful. :) It's funny how you forget how backpacking is such hard work! By the time we pulled in last night we could barely move. And I'm not exaggerating. We were both limping and walking hunched over. I'm sure we were quite the spectacle. After a lazy day watching movies and making a big breakfast today, I think we are ready to take on the world again, or at least be able to walk...

Oh and don't worry, despite being so particular on what I would carry in my backpack for fear of excess weight, I knew one little addition would be worth it:

This picture showcases two of my loves in life... in no particular order of course. :)

The Inaugural Trip

The husband and I are packing up all of our gear that has been so neglected for the last two years. It has made me giddy pulling out all of my things that I used to use so very often, remembering adventures of years past, and anticipating the untold adventures that are ahead. I love, love, love being out in nature. Nature was hard to come by in Texas, and honestly, I felt like I lost a side of myself living there. I'm excited to go camping where I'm not next to an RV and there is not a porta-potty in sight. I am so happy to be living where my Osprey backpack, Thermarest, Smartwool socks, and Chacos can be fully utilized.

And mostly, I'm just excited to be out in the middle of nowhere with the husband. We have needed to "get away" for like 5 months, but seeing as we didn't really live with each other, it was kind of difficult. We have been anticipating this trip for quite some time.

So Mr. Adventure, are you ready for us? We are sure ready for you!

I Need a Job

Thanks for all the nice words about the house! We are pretty stinkin' excited, and now just can't wait till we can actually be in the house! Let me know when you want to come visit, we'd love to show you around!

My main responsibility of house hunting is completed, so now I've started the oh-so-fun job hunt. While working the 8-5 Monday-Friday job, I always thought "it'd be so nice to just stay home and do nothing!" Ok, that is fun for like 2 days. It's been about a week, and I'm already getting a little stir-crazy. I know it's time to get a job when I do two crafts in one afternoon.

First, I embellished an old striped shirt with some scrap fabric using this tutorial.

Then I made this bow headband with some fabric I picked up from Ikea, based on this tutorial.

And you better believe I have some more things up my sleeve. But mostly, I just need a job! If anyone has any leads here in Utah, send them my way! I promise, I've got skillzzzz. :)

Our Crazy Weekend

Oh hey blogland! This has been a seriously crazy (but good) weekend. It is Sunday evening and I think we are both feeling quite exhausted. I'll stop talking and let the pictures do the explaining.

Oh snap! Did you like how I just threw that little piece of information in there?!? I guess I spoke too soon with my previous post. I know life doesn't always work this fast, but one window closed and another opened in like 4 days. By the end of this search, however, I probably walked through a hundred or more houses, all equally depressing and definitely not ours.

House hunting is like shopping for a wedding dress. 

As soon as you put it on, you just know.

When I walked through this house on Friday morning with my realtor, I really felt like the skies had parted. This house is everything we've been looking for and more, and I feel so grateful it fell into our laps. For you Utah peeps, it is in Lehi against the Jordan River. Instead of backyard neighbors we will have the Jordan River trail, the river, and a view of horses and mountains, yet we are only 7 minutes from the freeway. As I stood there and looked at the view, geese were flying off the rvier, ducks were quacking, and the sun was shining. I knew it was our house.

Everything happened much quicker than anticipated. Friday evening at Natalie's graduation we got a text from our realtor telling us someone else had put an offer on the house! No! Not our house?!? So Saturday morning we showed up bright and early, made a strong offer, and after a short but sweet bidding war, we signed a few papers, the house was ours. Yet we are relieved because even with the bidding war the house is still at the bottom end of our previously set budget. Obviously we still need to do all the financial side of house-buying (a.k.a getting a mortgage... eek!), but right now we are still letting it sink in that we found our house.

Here's the quick rundown:

3 bed, 2.5 bath, (with a loft that can be made into a bedroom if need be)

Brand new -- owner built it and included some pretty nice upgrades, but had to back out last minute because he lost his job (sad, huh?)

Just over 2,000 square feet

1/3 of an acre

Obviously not landscaped yet. Yikes! We have our work cut out for us.

And now, my friends, it is time to retire from this epic weekend. I'll keep y'all posted if anything else crazy happens. It seems to occur often these days. :)

Because You Asked...

A lot of you have asked where we are living here in Utah. Well, if that isn't the #1 question of the year I don't know what is!! When I had come to Utah a few weeks ago, we nailed down an area that we loved and found a house in our price range. Bada bing, bada boom, an offer was made, offer was accepted, we were homeward bound! (pun intended). Hold up. Not so fast. Tuesday night we had our inspection of the house, and it turns out this house wasn't so great. A few leaks in the roof and the basement, some grading issues, amongst a load of other concerns that were brought to our attention. Needless to say, we went home completely deflated and dissapointed. This was not our house.

Back to square one! So now I have been out with the realtor every day to try to figure out where we want to live. I'm finding house hunting to be the most frustrating experience EVER!!! Especially in our phase of life. No kids right now (so do we buy a house that fits us now and move when we need more room??). Not millionaires (aka, needing to sacrifice something in our house/location/quality to fit our budget). Haven't found one particular "area" we looooove (and therefore have driven all over Salt Lake and Utah valley).

Blech.

Everyone keeps telling me to be patient because the house will come. I know, I know. It is just a slightly frustrating process, and whoever said house hunting is fun is crazy!! I am ready for this to end.

 via

Until then? We found an amazing deal living down in good ol' Provo, sub-letting a one bedroom, one bathroom apartment for the summer. Sometimes I have to laugh that we ended up closer to campus than we lived when we were students, but hey, we're going to make the most of it and have a heckuva summer living life in the beautiful Provo in front of "Y Mountain" and finding the perfect house for us.

The End.

We're Heeeeeeeere!

We've moved! It's official. We are, once again, residents of the beautiful state of Utah. I think I'm going to need to get me one of these prints. What d'ya think?

There's no going back at this point, because I'm pretty sure you couldn't pay me to do that whole moving thing again. Since Russ was already living in Utah for work, it was my duty to pack up the entire house... alone. Yikes. I thought that would be the worst of it, but it turns out our bad traveling luck struck again. Russ's 4 hour flight to Texas turned into a 24 hour extravaganza no thanks to a snow storm in Denver. We finally packed the truck Thursday night, stayed up till 2 in the morning cleaning, wrapped everything up Friday, fought with the lovely people at Budget for messing up our reservation, and finally pulled out of San Antonio at 5 in the afternoon.... 10 hours later than planned.

We made it to Roswell, New Mexico at about 2 in the morning, now running on barely no sleep for the last few nights. It was fun to sleep with the aliens. Oh, Roswell, you were fun.

After another 15 hour day in the smooth, comfortable ride (just a hint of sarcasm here), we finally pulled into Utah at about 1 in the morning. Like I said, there's no going back.

So now we're here, and I'm really so happy about it. When you live in Utah you really take those mountains for granted (I know I sure did before Texas!). But they are absolutely breathtaking. I went for a run yesterday morning and was almost giddy with the crisp, cool, mountain humidity-free air. We've already seen most of our family in the last 2 days, and I can't wait for the many, many other get-togethers that are sure to come.

So Utah, it sure is good to be back. Now if only you could bring our friends from Texas up here, too? Thanks, that'd be great.

My Partner In Crime

It's Wednesday. But unlike every other Wednesday for the last few years here in Texas I did not get up and go to work. And let me tell you, it was weird! Yesterday was my last day at my job. I am a tax accountant, which means I show up to the same desk and sit there for at least 8 hours of the day... preparing tax returns... every day. To most of the world that sounds like forced torture. But really, it's not so bad, especially when you have a best friend and partner in crime like I was lucky enough to have.

Most of you who have read my blog for a while have read about Sada. We both started working at that office within a few weeks of each other, and I knew it was friends-at-first-sight. We're practically the same person, so the fact that when she got married and her new last name was Lewis, just like me, it wasn't really a surprise. (I mean, come on, our husbands Russell and Reagan are both R. John Lewis's. Same middle and last name. Coincidence? We'll never know).

We spent hours and hours talking about everything under the sun, going to lunch, envisioning all sorts of crafts we can do together, running, cross-fitting, planning our futures, planning her wedding, shopping, talking, talking, and more talking, oh, and working of course. :) I honestly don't think I could have gotten through my time here in Texas without this girl. I mean, who else is willing to do an impromptu photo shoot in our "tax pit" on my last day? Sada. (PS. I highly recommend checking out her blog, seeing as she's an amazing photographer. Remember this photo shoot? Yup, Sada took those).

This picture is absolutely ridiculous, incredibly dorky, and slightly embarrassing. But I post it to give those people I have told about my "corner" at work a visual. I literally looked at a corner every day in a room with no windows and only fluorescent lights. It was fabulous. But as I walked out of that room for the last time yesterday, I was surprised to find myself rather emotional. I closed another chapter of my life, and said goodbye to another amazing friend. Luckily, she's a friend for life and this goodbye was more of a "see-you-later."

So, I'm Moving This Week.

If you asked me to explain how I'm feeling right now, I think I've got just about every emotion on the map. I am...

Excited to be with Russ again

SO sad to be leaving my friends here in Texas

Stressed about getting everything done

Tired from being stressed for 5 months

Happy to be moving closer to family

Relieved that Russell really does love his new job

Overwhelmed with finding somewhere to live

Stuck as to where to start looking for a job for me

Oh, and did I mentioned excited, stressed, and sad?

I think the reality of the situation really hit me today. Tomorrow is my last day of work! Russell comes on Wednesday! We pack the truck Thursday! We pull out Friday! WOAH. As excited as I am to not be alone here in Texas anymore where I'm left to eat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese alone for my Mother's Day Celebration meal (yes, I really did that), I really will miss our little life in our red brick house down here in Texas. 

As I've been packing everything up, I've been trying to engrain the little details of this house into my brain. Like this wall in our front room. For some reason it just made me so happy. I finally got permission from our Landlord to paint it grey, and then I hung the Ikea frames on the wall with the intention to put real pictures in them. I got sick of waiting and put some scrapbook paper in them as a "temporary" solution. I liked it so much they stuck! Nothing like a budget-friendly solution! :)

This guest bathroom was another favorite little room of our house. The towel and shower curtain are Amy Butler from Bed, Bath & Beyond and they really would make me smile. Even my little 3-year-old niece Lucy saw the greatness of Amy Butler. When they were here visiting last fall we all heard a "cuuuuuuuute!" from little Lucy as she was going to the bathroom. Thanks Lucy!

The graphic print says "Come What May and Love It." I bought it from this seller on Etsy. I guess that is the theme to our lives these days. We are trying to plan, plan, plan, and usually what you plan doesn't work out. Such is life! Sometimes you have to roll with the punches, like when life causes you to pack up your life in Texas and move 1,400 miles away. Yeah, just like that.

Fictionist & Rolling Stone: ROUND 3!

I know you have been dying to hear an update about Fictionist and the Rolling Stone Competition. I guess the title gives it all away -- they made it to Round 3!!

 image via

 

This is huge, people. The competition started with 16 bands from around the country, and now they are in the final four. That's all good and great, but now we need to pull out the big guns. They are up against some pretty great bands, and the bands who make it to the next round get to perform at Bonnaroo Music Festival in June. For those who have never heard of Bonnaroo, it's a hit line-up music festival where you go around and listen to the best of the best play all day long. A music lover's dream. This year some of the headliners include Arcade Fire, Iron & Wine, Ray LaMontagne, Eminem, The Black Keys, Robert Plant (hello... Led Zeppelin anyone?), Alison Kraus, Mumford & Sons, Florence + The Machine, and LOTS more.

Take a few seconds, rate Fictionist "5 stars" using the widget below, or if you are in reader, clicking on THIS LINK. If you are feeling extra generous, go ahead and "like" them on Facebook or twitter, because believe it or not, these Rolling Stones guys are looking at every online avenue to who should be on the cover of such an iconic magazine. And last but not least, tell your friends!

And because you have endured endless rambling about Fictionist and Rolling Stone, I will treat you with a picture that makes me laugh every time. This is Stu on a farm we stayed at during a family trip to Australia. I get to post it because I took it, and well, it's S.I.L. duty to be annoying and tease the man who married my sister. Love you, Stu! :)

On Running

The 1/2 Marathon I signed up for a few months ago is just 6 short Saturdays away! Wowzers! It's amazing how fast those races creep up on you. I've been trying to up my mileage lately in order to be prepared for 1/2 marathon numero tres. Texas blessed us with a cool and crisp morning today which I used to its full advantage as I got another long run in. It was one of those runs that reminded me how much I love running.

I haven't always loved running, believe you me. In fact I used to hate it. But in college I found it to be the best and fastest way to get a burn. My sister convinced me to do the Moab 1/2 Marathon with her in March 2009, and I haven't looked back since. There really is something to be said about the "runners high." Not every run is amazing, however. In fact, some, and perhaps most, are just down right hard and sometimes painful.  But somehow you still get back out there to try again.

But it's those blessed runs that come every so often that make you truly love the sport. Maybe it was my favorite shorts or my awesome neon yellow shirt given to me for my birthday by my running friend/hero, Andrea, or maybe it was just luck. But today was one of those blessed days. It's the runs like today where I went out for a 9 mile run, but ended up running 10.5 miles, just because I could.  It's the runs where I dance a little bit while running when a good song comes on, or when my mind stops thinking and just let's me be. It's the runs where I feel strong, confident, and accomplished.

Whatever it is, I'm just so grateful for running. I love that every running achievement is a personal one, and no matter how far a run is--whether it's 1 mile or 10.5 miles, you never regret that you did it.

A Ruffled Wreath... and more!

I made yet another wreath. Well, I guess you can say its just a revised edition of a wreath I made a few months ago. Remember this wreath? Remember how I only pinned the rosettes in so I could modify if need be? Best. Idea. Ever. Now picture me sitting on my couch on a Friday night, needing something to occupy my time besides eating homemade cookies, and finding some scrap fabric needing a home. This is the scenario that led to this new wreath.

Ruffles make me happy. And obviously so do homemade wreaths.

If I were you, at this point I'd be thinking "geez Camille, you need to get out more!!" Don't worry. I tried making this weekend a productive yet enjoyable one, by doing the following:

I ran for a cause! I ran in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, along with about 28,000 other people. It was quite an amazing sight. I ran in honor of my amazing Grandma Joyce, who is a survivor of breast cancer. She's sure a fighter, and I am so grateful for her example and the privilege I have to be her granddaughter.

I spent a few hours at the pool. Ahhh yeah. Russ told me he woke up to 2 inches of snow in Utah this morning. Yikes. I may die when I move there in a few weeks. So I figured I may as well try and soak in the sun while I still have it.

I watched Elizabethtown while doing 3 loads of laundry (how does 1 person have so many loads??). Do you guys remember that movie? I had never seen it. It was quirky, yet surprisingly charming with an awesome soundtrack. With tunes from Elton John, Ryan Adams, Lynyrd Skynyrd and others you can't go wrong.

Now I need to go do those dishes that for some reason won't clean themselves. See? I've got a life!

A Chocolate Chip Cookie Evening

What does a girl do when she's home alone on a Friday night? Bake some fantastic chocolate chip cookies and catch up on the Royal Wedding, of course!  (Which was incredibly beautiful, wouldn't you agree??)

 

I've been meaning to try this new chocolate chip cookie recipe for a while. It claims to be the "best chocolate chip cookies." A little skeptical, yet hopeful, I whipped them up. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to exclaim which cookie is "the best," but DANG! These were amazing. You can't stop at just one. My advice? Follow the recipe exactly. Even the whole "whacking the cookie sheet" recipe part. I think I am going to need to find something to do tonight in order to refrain eating the rest of these. I'm running a 5K in the morning, and I'm pretty sure these are not the recommended pre-race meal. Just guessing.

PS. I just realized my last three posts have involved desserts. Don't judge me.

Better Late Than Never

You know that tradition where you freeze the top of your wedding cake and eagerly wait till your first year anniversary to dig in? Yeah, we didn't do that. We ate our cake on our 1 year 9 month anniversary. Oh, that's not an anniversary most people usually celebrate? My bad. 

See, the problem was that when our first anniversary rolled around, we were in a different state than said cake. My sister had graciously taken the cake home from our wedding as we whisked off to our honeymoon, and that darn cake stayed in her freezer up until this last weekend. I think she finally got sick of our wedding cake taking up her freezer (and her nice tupperware!) and kindly told us to get it out of her house when we were over the other night. The second problem came when we realized Russ and I aren't really living together these days (he's in Utah, I'm in Texas), and we don't really have our own freezer in Utah to keep it in.

It just so happened our 1 year 9 month anniversary was only a day away, so heck, we took out that super old cake and ate (some of) it. I was a little afraid of how old it was, but it surprisingly tasted pretty good! It didn't quite look the same as the beautiful chocolate cake you see above, but the general purpose was achieved. Here's to keeping to tradition, even if you're a little (or a lot) late.

Birthday + Easters = Fun

I'm on my way home from Utah to Texas and loving the free wi-fi in the Vegas airport. It's those little bonuses in life that really stand out. I just spend the last week reunited with Russ. It was a week filled with no particular set plans, but was still busy, busy, busy! First order of business was to celebrate my birthday. I turned the big 2-5 last Sunday, which was spent, for the most part, hanging out at my house alone. It was slightly depressing, but I just knew we would make up for it in the week ahead! (Although I must publicly thank my awesome friend Sada and her sister Emily for taking care of me and feeding me amazing Salmon on my birthday. It's friends like these I will miss when I leave Texas).

Anywho, I finished tax season in Texas and wasted no time to fly to Utah. I landed, got my hair cut (which was way over-due), and then ate cake. An amazing chocolate cake made by my father-in-law. I know, impressive.

Thanks to all of my amazing family and friends that made me feel so special and loved on my birthday. I'm feeling optimistic about the mid-twenties. We have some exciting changes in the horizon...

Near the end of the week we had a perfectly low-key, yet delicious, Easter feast at Brittney's. I loved celebrating two holidays with my family. I got in much needed sister and mom time. Earlier in the week Brittney and I both bought our husbands the same shirt from the outlets. Little did we know they would both wear it for our Easter feast. Great minds think alike.

Now it's back to Texas to finish up some last minute business and get ready to move. Whew... I really hope this crazy life of ours will slow down sometime soon! I need a vacation. Oh wait, I'm just coming home from one. A vacation from a vacation? Ok thanks.

Flower Child

I'm flying solo this weekend, yet I still managed to have a pretty good Saturday, which included the following:

Sleeping in till 9 (gasp!).

Going for a great run in the park/gym.

Pulling some weeds (not so great, but necessary).

Getting a fountain Diet Coke at the gas station on my way to...

lay at the pool, where I got some much needed Vitamin D.

A craft session with Karen,

where I made these:

... which really are just miniature versions of these lovely flowers. I wonder when I'll move on from fabric flowers? Soon? Probably not, considering I'm in the middle of another fabric flower craft. Oh well, as I mentioned earlier, life goes on. :)

L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.

Oh hey blog land! Nice to see you again. I've been a little consumed this week with a combination of preparing taxes, helping Russel move, searching for houses online, running, and (attempting) sleep. It's Friday night, and instead of going home to an empty house I thought I would pass the time by walking around the mall. In the midst of trying on some clothes at J.Crew I can't afford, I looked in the mirror and thought, "dang girl, you look bad!!" The glossed-over, blood-shot eyes and greasy, unkempt hair look is so not cute. I can't wait for some much needed R&R.  Oh, and a hair cut.

It's April 15th, which normally would be a REALLY happy day for a tax accountant, that is except when Washington D.C. decides to throw off the whole system and have their only little "Emancipation Day." That leaves us accountants having one more weekend of chillin' by themselves and having taxes hanging over their heads rather than whisking off to Utah be with their husbands... oh wait, that's just this tax accountant. But you know what, life goes on! Which brings me to this song I've had in my head all week. Listen to it and tell me you don't think it's catchy. I dare you.

Life on Turbo

I'm missing this guy today.

After a crazy, crazy week of working, packing, and goodbyes, Russ pulled out of our little red brick house and drove away from San Antonio. His last day at Ernst & Young was on Friday, he is driving to Utah all day Saturday and Sunday, and he starts his new job on Monday. Talk about fast-paced living. As Russ says, "we live our life on turbo." We seem to be pros at packing huge life changes into short periods of time. Like when we got married, for example. We got engaged, both graduated from college, got married, moved to a new state, and both started our first careers within a period of 4 months. Whew! I'm feeling very much the same these days.

I'm ready for life to slow down a bit, to relax, and to have a Saturday to myself (which I haven't had since February). Yes, life has been crazy, but we've managed to have a little bit of fun here and there. Last weekend we spent the afternoon with some of our friends in a park near our house. For the first time in a while, I felt carefree and so relaxed. There's nothing like spending some time on swings to make you feel like a kid again...

... or playing with little puppies helps, too. Brittany and Dallin got a dog, and I'm pretty sure Russ is obsessed.

... oh, and those little babies are bound to bring a smile to your face. Morgan and Karen's little baby Carter is such a beautiful baby who falls asleep in your arms. It's priceless.

So we have one more turbo-charged week ahead where I'll finish off busy season (HALLELUJAH!), Russ will start his new job (no big deal), and then we will be reunited for a short time. Until then, you might just find me on the swings trying to feel like a kid again.

Cooling Things Off

I looooooove the feeling of sleeping in a big fluffy down comforter. There's nothing like being completely enveloped by a big fluffy blanket when you first wake up. Russ was a little reluctant to get a down comforter, but I assured him he'd loooooooove it too. And he does. Except for one problem... we are in Texas, where it started hitting 90 degrees early March. So, for these warmer months I knew we had to find an alternative to our big fluffy comforter to cool things off.

I had just the thing in mind.

I've been eying a particular coverlet for a good 5 or 6 months now, and when Megan and I made our aforementioned trip to Target, I decided to just make the plunge and buy the darn coverlet. And I am oh-so-happy I did. I'm practically in love.

It's the perfect weight, I can use all the same throw pillows, and it is covered in grey and yellow happiness. I wonder if I'll ever get over my grey and yellow obsession? Probably not. When we unwrapped the coverlet for the first time, I almost shouted for joy when there was a bonus underside on this perfect new blanket. And that's when I feel deeper in love.

I realized I'm probably sounding completely ridiculous, but walking by my bed seriously makes me grin from ear to ear. It's all about those little things my friends. And those grey sheets? Yep, those are from Target, too. The Dwell Studio line at Target is just my style, and luckily doesn't break the bank compared to other high-end lines.

I am just so glad we decided to cool things off.

Soaking It All In

Well my goodness! Talk about Russ coming out of blogging hibernation with a bang! I know this little announcement Russ made this weekend may have come out of left field for some of you, but the truth is it's been a long time coming. We moved to Texas knowing it would be a starting grounds for our life together as newlyweds. We've been here for just short of 2 years and it has been quite the experience! We both started new jobs where we learned a ton and worked like crazy, we made amazing life-long friends who we are so sad to leave, and we have learned to rely on each other when life gets tough (as it inevitably does). Picking up and leaving is so bittersweet, but when this offer came along it was too good to pass up. So why Utah? Let me tell you:

All of our family lives there besides my parents... for now :)

Great job opportunity

Amazing friends from college who we miss like crazy

NATURE. 

 Big mountains. Mountain biking. Snowboarding. Camping. Etc.

So in anticipation of leaving, we have been trying to soak in every last minute here in Texas. Russ is moving this upcoming weekend, so we spent this last weekend with some of our favorite people experiencing true Texas life. Like meeting with Brandon and Megan at Rudy's, for example.  I've never been a big barbeque fan, but I have to say, Rudy's is pretty gosh-darn good. You get the whole barbeque experience with the red and white picnic tablecloths, food served in a plastic crate and barbeque sauce by the liter. Mmm mmm good.

After dinner Russ and Brandon left us for some "man time." Fine by us! Megan and I completed the night with pedicures, a trip to Target (or as Brandon says, the Mothership), and some good old-fashioned girl talk. There's nothing like a much needed night with your friend.

We love all of our Texas friends. And dang, we are sure going to miss them.

New Horizons

Hello Blog world.
This is Russ.

I have come back.

With a major announcement.

I have a new employer.

Camille and I will be returning to Utah as I begin my new job with Adobe Systems in the Salt Lake Valley. I will be working as a Test & Target Consultant. We will be moving next month and I will be starting my new job this month. We are very excited to move closer to family and start a new career. We will miss all of the friends we have made here in San Antonio. It has been a great experience being a Texan and working at E&Y.

And yes that is a double rainbow.

all the way.

I'm Grateful

Today I heard an amazing lesson at church. I sat there almost the entire time nodding my head thinking, "this is EXACTLY what I need to hear right now!!" You know what it was about? Gratitude. This emotion is so easily swept under the table and put aside for later. Later, as when life slows down a bit, that huge trial finally ends, or that thing we keep asking for finally happens. But life doesn't work like that.

An amazing lady stood up and talked about her young son who passed away about a month ago. She spoke of how she is grateful she never took one day she had with him for granted. How amazing would it be to say that? He was mentally disabled and required a lot of extra attention, but he had the sweetest, kindest, happiest countenance. Most understandably, she misses him dearly. She then spoke of how the biggest lesson she has learned this month is that life is short. You may have some people in your life that you are grateful for, and think "I need to let them know someday how grateful I am for them." That someday needs to be today, because, like she said, life is short. I was humbled and inspired to get to work and let those I love know how grateful I am for them, because after all:

Take a few minutes today to write a thank you note or drop a line to someone you love, expressing your gratitude for them in your life. I'm pretty sure you won't regret it. :)

picture via

To Argelia

As I scarf down some cereal before I go in to work, I just want to pause for a second and wish my amazing mother-in-law, Argelia, a very happy, happy birthday!!!

I am so grateful to have married into an amazing family, and on top of that, have a mother-in-law who is so full of love that I felt welcomed from the day I met her. She teaches me so much. Some things I have learned from Argelia include:

Writing a hand-written letter, just to say you were thinking of that person, is one of the kindest gestures you can do for someone.

Food is soooo much better when it's warm.

Wearing rubber gloves while doing the dishes keeps your hands from getting too dried out.

A clean kitchen is a happy kitchen.

Cooking for others is an amazing way to show those you love just how much you love them.

You are never too old to love Nacho Libre.

{And so much more}

I hope you have a fabulous day, Argelia! I love you!

Role Reversals

You guys, I just watched the Cougars fight till the end in their final NCAA game and lose it in overtime. It is such a sad moment, but they fought a good fight. As I've been sitting here literally freaking out, I've been thinking how tonight we've had a little bit of a role reversal. Russ has been calm and stoic and I've been yelling at the TV whilst standing up and shaking my fist. Since when did I freak out while watching sports? Something's off...

I've also seen a role reversal as I'm in the middle of busy season; now that Russ is home he has been my saving grace by managing to get dinner on the table. Or do the dishes. Or both. Man, I owe that guy.

Or how about these boys wearing our purses? Even thought the picture is posed, the fact that they were all wearing our purses at the same time was not planned. Sometimes role reversals really lighten the load. (pun intended)

They Sucked Me In.

Have you guys ever heard of Lands End Canvas? I'm probably the only one who hadn't, up until recently. It's another line of Lands End that has a little younger and more casual approach, yet still carries those classic looks that will never go out of style. You guys should totally check it out. I scored some awesome black pants that I kind of want to wear every day and a fun swim suit for uber cheap a while back. 

When I got my package that I was so eagerly awaiting, I also received a separate letter, hand-addressed to me! Oh, how I love getting mail that isn't another credit card offer. When I opened the envelope, however, I was a little surprised to read that it was from the Lands End Canvas customer service department and not some friend from years past. After close inspection, I determined that Nick at Lands End really wrote me a hand-written "Thank You" note for shopping with them. What?!? That kind of stuff happens?

Now that's what I call customer service.

Call me a sucker, but I will for sure be buying from them again.

It's over. It's finally over.

This is how we're feeling right now. We are both jumping for joy (literally and figuratively) that this weekend has come. Before I go any further can I please talk about how funny this picture is? First of all, how freaky does my leg look? I didn't know I could/should bend like that? Is that normal? Also, Russ's face is very, very animated... almost creepy. Everything about it just kind of cracks me up.

Ok, moving on. Why are we jumping for joy? Let me tell you. This is the first Sunday where it isn't the "night before Russ leaves." Russ has been traveling with work for almost 3 months. Think back to New Years Day... yep, that's how long it's been. He spent 2 months working at Dell in North Austin, 2 weeks in Denver, and this last week he was in Dallas. He'd leave Monday mornings and come home Friday nights. This is one aspect of our lives that I haven't revealed to the world wide web, for obvious reasons. I have literally been living alone for nearly 3 months.

Luckily I have a job that keeps me busy during the day, but the nights have been rough. I hang out alone, come home to an empty house, go to bed alone, and wake up alone. I can honestly say this has been the hardest and loneliest 3 months of my life, and I am so, so, so glad it's over. I'm not usually that dramatic of a person, but even I knew it was bad when I would randomly cry on the way to work, sitting at work, or at home. Geez, just writing that sounds dramatic, but it's true. It has tested me in ways I didn't think possible -- it has tested my optimism, patience, our marriage, our communication, and more. It has also proven that I would be terrible in any long-distance relationship. It's been hard on both of us. For Russ, he has been on the road, living in hotel rooms and eating out for almost every meal (which gets old fast). I, on the other hand, have been living alone in a city with no husband or family. Yes, I have friends (and amazing ones at that), but they have husbands and families of their own that I didn't want to impose on.

But it's over. For now.

I'm sorry for airing out my dirty laundry, but it's my blog and writing this kind of stuff down every once and a while is therapeutic. Isn't it funny how you can look at someone's life (via blogs/facebook/etc.) and think their life is peachy-keen, only to find out they have been fighting the biggest battle up to that point in their life? Yep, that's been this here blog as of late.

Thanks for being there for me, my friends. You know who you are.

Play On!

Our neighborhood connects to a really large park. It's not your traditional park with lots of green grass (because San Antonio doesn't really have grass.. at least grass you want to sit in). But there is a huge network of trails for running, biking, walking, etc. The other night on my run I ran over some "graffiti." After thinking "ugh, those darn people that grafitti in this park... grumble grumble..." I looked a little closer to discover that it wasn't in fact graffiti, but a quote that brought a smile to my face:

As I ran on, that quote made me reflect on music and how influential it is in my life. I have always, always loved music. A lot of it I blame on my Dad (thanks Dad!). I am grateful for how one song can bring a complete change to your mood. This week has been a very "blah" week, mostly due to... you guessed it... work. So, I scouted out some new tunes that have successfully turned this frown upside down. Here are some of the new tunes (in no particular order) that I have been grooving to in my lovely corner in the "tax pit":

White Knuckles - OK Go

Kites - Geographer

Hummingbird - The Weepies

Normandie - Shout Out Louds

This Empty Northern Hemisphere - Gregory Alan Isakov

Don't Carry It All - The Decembrists

Only the Young - Brandon Flowers (loooooove this one)

 Normandie - Shout Out Louds

Off We Go - Trent Dabbs

Comes and Goes - Greg Laswell

The Ghost Inside - Broken Bells

Everything is Burning - Ivan & Alyosha

Giving Up the Gun - Vampire Weekend

Yellow Brick Road - Angus and Julia Stone

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Greg Laswell

Whew! Ok I'll stop there. I have a handful more, but I don't want to overload you. Go set up an account in Grooveshark and start groovin'! If you haven't heard of Grooveshark, you are missing out. It's like Pandora but BETTER. I put Pandora to rest a while ago. You can search for a specific song, listen to it, and make your own playlists. It will even do a random radio like Pandora, but I just like the fact that you can type in a song and get that song. What a thought, eh? Here's the best part... it's FREE! If you join, let me know and I can share this playlist with you so you don't have to search out each song. Or you can if you want to, cause that's also fun sometimes.

Anyway, one last song that has been in my head for a few days is brought on by the inevitable Jimmer-mania that has swept the country. I have always been proud to be a Cougar, but especially now as BYU is rockin' March Madness. What am I going to do when they play Gonzaga!?!? Conflicting loyalties... Spokane vs. BYU. Yikes. I think I'll have to go with BYU, especially since this song just rocks. Teach me how to Jimmer y'all.

Lunch Break Thoughts

My thoughts are all over the place right now. Let's just start out with a list shall we?

a) I'm loving that I can get in a 12 hour work day, drive home, and still have enough light to run for an HOUR outside. Not just a quick 20 minute run, I ran for a full hour before it got dark! This is a miracle. I can't wait to do it again tonight.

b) YAY for Emily!!! (You either do or do not know what I'm talking about, but I'll leave it at that).

c) How scary is all of this stuff in Japan? I think the fact that my little brother is over there makes me that much more aware. Thankfully, he is about 300 miles away from Sendai and is happy, healthy, and safe. His birthday was about a month ago, and I have still failed to get him something (what do you get a missionary who is about to come home?!?). I was about to take the title of "worst sister in the world," when I heard about this shirt where 100% of the proceeds go to the Salvation Army relief efforts in Japan. This is possible because a donor is covering the full production costs, allowing all of the profit ($20 per shirt) to be donated. Awesome! Happy Birthday, Jace. You are helping Japan.

.... and finally, the news I'm especially happy about ....

d) Fictionist made it to round two in the Rolling Stone competition! In case you missed this post, Fictionist is an amazingly talented and hip band that has been making quite the splash in the music scene lately. The front-man, Stuart Maxfield, also just happens to be my brother-in-law (and yes, I will always play the "I'm related to him" card). Anyway, they were one of the 16 bands selected to compete in a competition for Rolling Stone. The winner gets to be on the cover of the oh-so-popular magazine, a record deal with Atlantic Records, to play on Jimmy Kimmel live, and a bunch of other goodies. Because of people like you and me who rated them 5 stars, they were one of the 8 bands to advance to round 2. Well now it's even more serious, and we need you to vote some more (it's as easy as clicking the 5 stars below)! Help Fictionist get to round three, my friends. To find out more, go here.