ouch.

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: on my flight home, we stopped in boise and half of the plane got off. then i had a whole row to myself. perfect for my minor freakout during the descent.

two: the lovely baby shower i attended on saturday. on the hottest day of the year since september. gorgeous.

three: running in my very first organized race, the starlight run. it wasn't easy, and i thought i was going to die from the stitch in my side, but i ran through the finish line. loved seeing all of the friendly faces from the sidelines cheering me [and dad and sister] on.

four: my post-run bath. guys, i'm so not a bath person, mostly because i don't have the patience to wait for one to fill up and then i don't know what to do once i get in, but it was sooo good. i get it now.

five: this video. i'm still not tired of this song or this lady.



six: this gem from pinterest. love it.


from jackcards.com

seven: catching up on all my tv season finales before my favorite summer shows come back.


. . . and 3 that didn't

one: being woefully unprepared for my first 5K. at least now i know how much more work i have to do before i'm ready for hood-to-coast.

two: every part of my body hurts. except my arms. at least now i can lift my right leg up all the way. totally couldn't this morning.

three: coming back to regular life after the best weekend away ever. it is so much better to wake up on my own then to an alarm. phooey.

weekly 10: utah edition

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: surprising my sister with a weekend trip to utah. i called her right before i got to her house and she totally didn't believe me. she even called home to double-check and my sisters played it so well. it was so fun to see the look on her face when i walked in. priceless.

two: the adorable shoes i found at the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale. they're a little out there, but i love them. there is a downside, though. see below.


three: eating at one of my favorite provo/orem restaurants, pizzeria 712. i am always blown away by the amazing food and great service. it is a must every time i visit. that and guru's sweet potato fries. can't be missed. we're trying some new restaurants this weekend and i can't wait.

four: finally watching Tangled. loved it. it was one of those movies that while you're watching it, it feels like everything is right in the world. and zach levi was hilarious. it's now my go-to happy movie.



five: discovering new blogs, like bleubirdvintage.

six: this outfit from kendieveryday. i love dresses, but i usually wear them with cardigans. i love the idea of a blazer instead. now i have to find one.



seven: the two-hour nap i took today after going to 9 AM church with my sister. there is something magical about sunday afternoon naps, i tell you.

. . and 3 that didn't

one: i wore the previously mentioned shoes to the airport. brand new shoes. lots of walking. let me just say, i limped onto the plane kicking myself for thinking that the airport was a good place to break in shoes.

two: getting to the airport at 11:30 for my 1:10 flight and finding out it was delayed until 3:00. huge bummer. luckily i had snacks and reading material.

three: leaving oregon in the pouring rain and coming to utah and it's raining. yay. definitely not a trip to get tan. but a great trip nonetheless.

are you sure you want to read this? it doesn't have any pictures!

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: seeing a movie with my sister at 10 in the morning. half-asleep because we'd stayed up so late the night before. now it makes sense why i was laughing so much more than everyone else in the theatre.

two: a few days of really beautiful weather. maybe this time i can put away my sweaters?

three: justin timberlake on snl. knocked it out of the park.

four: ryan gosling in the trailer for crazy, stupid, love. hello!

five: baking cookies, by myself, on a saturday night. while listening to my adele pandora station. there is something so relaxing about sifting flour. although it did not make my cookies any different. huh.

six: book club this week for half the sky. have you ever had six layer coconut refrigerator cake with sour cream icing? well, that's what we eat at my book club when we read really grim, depressing books about everything horrible that's happening in the world. that and lots of cheese.

seven: finally getting around to reading water for elephants. really enjoying it so far. anybody read it and see the movie? what did you think?


. . . and 3 that didn't

one: watching home movies and realizing how bossy i was as a kid. yikes.

two: and we're back to the rain. here's to hoping summer gets here before august.

three: no pictures. wow, this no camera thing is terrible. i'm going to get right on that.

i never know what to title these.

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: upbeat, fun songs that keep me running long after i want to quit. onerepublic/good life, hot chelle rae/tonight tonight, glee cast/born this way, and glee cast/somewhere only we know.

two: this post from the lovely meg. her writing is always beautiful but especially so today.

three: my cousin phil, who gave my computer a good scrubbing and helped me realize how much junk i had on here that i definitely do not need anymore. now i feel all organized and streamlined.

four: SPOILER ALERT! this week's episode of parks and rec [are you tired of hearing me fawn over this show yet?] was squeal-tastic. i might have watched the kissing scene more than twice. worth the wait and so satisfying. now if only i could get that much excitement and romance in my life!

five: getting my hair trimmed. so long, split ends! and scalp massages and having someone else blow dry my hair. life's little luxuries.

six: painting my nails with essie's "turquoise and caicos" and loving the change from boring pink. it might be raining outside, but it's summer on my nails!

photo from essie.com

seven: these outfits from my pinterest boards. i'm going to try to recreate them- we'll see how that goes.


Nine de la Fressange via rdujour.com


lucylaucht.com


emersonmade.com


. . . and 3 that didn't

one: losing half of a week and valuable training time because i was sick. let's hope that doesn't happen again anytime soon.

two: being unsatisfied with last summer's clothes and wanting to buy everything everywhere. i hate that feeling. i need to learn to be happy with what i have. boo.

three: buying a ring on a warm day and having it fit perfectly until the weather turned cold again. it got too big and fell off my finger and i lost it. moral: buy rings on cold days only.

how was your week?

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: the 70 degree day we had this week. i drove with the windows rolled down and remembered what it was like to be warm. now if we could only have that every day.

two: the tuscan white bean minestrone at california pizza kitchen. so delicious. i'm working on my own recipe so that i don't have go drive over there every time i get a hankering. side note: all of cpk's soups are vegetarian!

three: finishing two books this week, one of which i'd been reading since january.

four: finding these gems at the library.



five: clean sheets and a clean room. i always sleep so much better when my sheets are warm and crisp and i don't have clutter everywhere. mind-boggling.

six: attending two family dinners and an adorable robot-themed birthday party for a two-year-old. family time is great. it might have been a lot for one weekend, but it was lots of fun.

seven: buying my mom a massage for mother's day so that i can get one, too. win-win!

. . . and 3 that didn't

one: getting a cold. i hate not being able to breathe out of my nose. it makes sleeping so miserable.

two: not having a good scanner so that i can upload a picture of my mom and me like all of the cool kids are doing.

three: thinking i had more time before my next semester of classes and realizing i start up again on wednesday. oh the things i was going to do!

may day

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: finishing my classes for the semester. now onto exciting things like cleaning out my car and organizing my enormous stacks of magazines.

two: finding amazing deals, like these beautiful rifle paper co. cards



and baggu zipper bags



three: scary movie night with friends. i brought lots of treats but we never got around to eating them because the movie was so good and scary!

four: a lesson in church about journaling and getting excited about writing again.

five: realizing that i am not such a grump after all and that i can enjoy a good royal wedding now and then.

six: my new favorite song from the newest noah and the whale album. the best line? "don't be shy, be brave little champion." i'm trying to make that my motto.

seven: taking my sisters to see african cats and crying before the movie even started. an incredible movie and so much better than going to a zoo and seeing animals in little cages. whoops, almost got up on a soapbox there.



. . . and 3 that didn't

one: paying $25 for a pedicure that was as good as when i paint my nails. i guess i paid for a foot massage.

two: deliberately not setting an alarm this morning so i could wake up whenever i wanted. hello, 7:30 A.M. sunshine! on my shopping list? blackout shades.

three: finding tickets for adele's concert and then seeing the price. $170 and up. insane.

happy easter!

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: having all of my sisters here this weekend.

two: the amazing weather on saturday. we went to the portland saturday market and i loved feeling the sun on my face.

three: the beautiful great dane i saw at the market. my dream dog!

four: watching girls just want to have fun with my girls. cheese bomb but oh so good.


photo from hollywire.com

five: ebelskivers. tried the frozen ones from trader joe's and now i want to buy my own pan so i can make all different flavors.


photo from williams sonoma

six: settling into a really good book.

seven: getting out of class two hours early because it was our last night. i love getting home before dark!

. . . and 3 that didn't.

one: seeing so many beautiful things at j.crew while easter dress shopping but none in my size. wish list!

two: the enormous drops of rain as i left church. in my easter outfit. seriously?

three: not getting to see african cats on earth day. but at least i didn't let my car idle.

back on track

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: quality family time. silliness and all.

two: the movie arthur. just as delightful as i had imagined. i love russell brand.

three: finishing this book. now i want to buy the audiobook just so i can listen to tina read it. expect a full review sometime this week.


photo credit: amazon

four: the preview for this movie. loved the book, but until now, i was unsure of the casting choices for the movie. now i'm totally psyched.


photo credit: imdb.com

five: these chips. i used to be a huge fan of ruffles cheddar and sour cream, but kettle chips just knocked it out of the park!


photo credit: here.

six: finding these two recipes from giada at home that i am itching to try.

seven: this post by my old friend adrienne from college. why i don't eat meat summed up so beautifully. and some good thinking about veganism, too.


. . . and 3 that didn't

one: needing a good camera but having neither the camera knowledge nor money to do so. boo.

two: realizing that i have been reading far too many books set in World War II and that i need to get out of my rut. on the horizon: half the sky, water for elephants, delirium, beautiful darkness, and a kurt wallander book. what have you been reading lately?

three: trying to find non-toxic sunless tanner. does it exist? i think not.



also: thank you for all of your kind words last week. i should put up pictures more often! but probably not, since that picture took me about 30 attempts with photobooth. so awkward.

"it's called the ground, when it's outside"

7 things that made me happy this week . . .


photo via nbc.com

one: since my favorite episode of parks and recreation thus far was "Hunting Trip," i was so excited for this weeks camping episode. it is now my new favorite. i had a terrible time coming up with a quote for my title though because there were just so many great lines! like: "fishing relaxes me. it's like yoga, except i still get to kill something." or "i should lead a teen abstinence project." "that might be incredibly effective." and every scene with andy lost in the wilderness and tom's skymall tent. and also the last scene where ben was trapped in the crazy bed and breakfast. love this show!


photo via nbc.com

two: my new favorite breakfast. greek yogurt, granola, and fresh berries. so delicious and tastes like summer.

three: the beautiful sunshine this weekend! it has been a bleak winter and nothing lifts my mood faster than being outside on a lovely day.

four: the British miniseries, Downton Abbey. it aired on Masterpiece on PBS in January and is now out on DVD. the creator, Julian Fellowes, also wrote Gosford Park. i love everything about this. the intrigue, well-developed characters, amazing attention to period details, the clothes, the class hierarchy, it's all so good! it also makes me really excited for upstairs, downstairs.



five: people watching at the gym. it's great anywhere, but especially fun at the gym. you get to see awesome gym outfits, guys who act like they don't know anyone's watching them, but are totally loving it, and all while working up a good sweat! so entertaining.

six: i think i found my bridesmaid dress. phew! now i have to find the perfect shoes to go with it!

seven: planning a california getaway. so many people and places i want to visit and i hope i can fit it all in one trip. and maybe even sneak in a day at disneyland?! where would you go if you were in california?

. . . and 3 that didn't

one: going back to school and work after spring break. such a bummer.

two: my travel wish list is impossible! california, boston, seattle, new york, utah, france, chicago, memphis, austin, i can't decide! and i also don't have nearly enough money.

three: having to work this weekend and missing conference. good thing it's all online.

weekly 10: spring break edition

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: the beautiful beach house we stayed at in pacific city. it was unreal to look out the windows and see the waves and watch seagulls divebomb. thanks aunt charlotte!

two: discovering a new sandwich joint, jimmy johns. i have really missed hearty sandwiches since i stopped eating meat, and their vegetarian sandwich is killer. not to mention, the deli pickles. a meal in itself.

three: watching lots of movies, including old favorites [easy A; the young victoria; little mermaid] and fun new ones [the karate kid; grownups; limitless].

four: meeting little huck, who was wearing stripes, of course. so smiley and happy. and a shameless flirt, that baby!

five: all the wonderful shopping that was had this week, such as h&m, where i scored my long-searched-for anorak, j. crew factory, where i found the perfect grey skirt.



six: the amazing, life-changing run i did at the gym. i managed to run for twice as long without getting tired. turns out that slowing down does help you run longer! that and a really good playlist.

seven: tillamook mudslide ice cream in a fresh waffle cone. at the tillamook cheese factory. and i'm not really a cone girl. it was that good.




photo

. . . and 3 that didn't

one: sleeping in a bed that is not mine. my least favorite part about traveling is trying to get comfortable in a strange bed.

two: carsickness. if i'm not driving, car trips are so not fun.

three: overpriced restaurants. not cool. your food was good, but not that good.

awesome sauce!

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: discovering new music, like jessie j.

two: this SNL digital short.



three: the amazing pita wrap i had at the portland saturday market. anybody have a good recipe for tzatziki sauce so i can recreate it?

four: eating an apple the regular way, instead of cutting it up. so satisfying and dare i say it tastes better?

five: girls' night out at the canvas art bar & bistro. ridiculously amazing food and a fun atmosphere.

six: a mix-up in directions led to the most beautiful drive downtown, ending at union station. i didn't even know there was a train station in portland. i LOVE living here.


photo from greatstreets.org.

seven: p.rex is back! anybody else rooting for leslie and ben? i love them.


. . . and 3 that didn't

one: criminal minds. why are you kicking off all of the girls? not cool. kelly, i'm hoping you'll have some insight on this.

two: having to choose between an elephant ear and a crepe at the market. a decision i wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

three: trying on wide-leg jeans at GAP and not being able to see my feet. i don't think there are shoes tall enough to make them work. darn.

grey skies.

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: the black druzy ring that i bought for myself. and the way cool jewelry store i found it in. pictures coming soon.

two: watching aladdin with my little sister because she had never seen it before.

three: hearing adele and mumford & sons playing during yoga somehow made it so much better.

four: stumbling across the 25th anniversary les miserables special on pbs and getting major goosebumps from nick jonas' performance as marius. check it out.

five: the lovely girls' lunch on friday. let's do more of those!

six: my always entertaining book club. we read nurture shock and i highly recommend it.



seven: finally got some decent headphones for running. now i just need an amazing playlist. ideas?


. . . and 3 that didn't

one: no parks and rec, 30 rock or community this week. getting low on my funny supply.

two: one sunny day this week and grey rainy days the rest. so ready for spring.

three: so disappointed with everything that transpired with this guy. took me a lot of hard thinking to come up with this happy list. still so grumpy.

here's to better days!

so, i'm a chicken.

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: all of the pretty dresses from the oscars. seriously, when is it my turn to get dressed up all fancy?

two: the starbucks banana bread that i made from this recipe. amazing.



three: going to see the adjustment bureau and remembering how much i love emily blunt. thinking of rewatching the young victoria and devil wears prada this weekend.



four: realizing today after blowdrying my hair for the first time in weeks that it's long now! i'm dreaming of all of the ways to wear it. goal for this week? heidi braids a la orchid grey and krystal

five: the safe arrival of this baby. so excited for meg and chris and little boston! can't wait to visit soon.



six: joining the pinterest bandwagon. so addictive but so fun.

seven: the super-cute boy that i stared at all during church. and i think he was staring back.

. . . and 3 that didn't

one: i did not talk to that boy because i wimped out. and i have searched facebook for an hour to no avail. lesson learned.

two: finally went to the h&m store and was disappointed at the quality of the clothes. i guess you get what you pay for though.

three: tomorrow is the series finale of greek. i hate when shows i love end too soon.

"skywriting isn't always positive"

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: the golden grapefruit i peeled and ate like an orange. messy, but oh so delicious.

two: the oscars are tonight! can't wait to see how everything goes down.

three: my discussion in the car with a three-year-old about why we don't eat our hair or something equally important. i thought it was sinking in when she interrupted me and said "brittany, that's enough talking now." grreeeat.

four: the new adele cd rocks my socks off. set fire to the rain and someone like you are early favorites.



five: a friend told me that she loves my "nautical style." loved this for many reasons. mostly, because i have a style (!) and apparently an over-abundance of striped shirts is legit.


photo from closetvisit via alyson

six: a snow day. couldn't have been more needed and appreciated.

seven: gwyneth is coming back to glee!



. . . and 3 that didn't

one: taking out my contacts with said grapefruit still lingering on my fingers. oh the burn!

two: the fact that both taylor swift and adele are coming to portland and both shows sold out immediately. so bummed!

three: being woken up at 7:00 on a snow day to kids rejoicing outside. go back to bed!


title from parks and recreation this week. always makes me happy.

happy thoughts

7 things that made me happy this week . . .

one: the clear sky last night on my drive home. whoa, there are stars up there!

two: the crossword that i finished in a half-hour in pen. no, not new york times.

three: discovering that i can, in fact, wear one kind of hat. inspired by this girl.



four: my new book about the secret service detail that protected president kennedy. fascinating stuff.

five: the galentine's party i went to with all of my favorite gals. what a love-fest!

six: this salad, that i've made twice now.

seven: being asked to be a bridesmaid for the first time. so exciting!

. . . and 3 that didn't

one: the ants are back. boo.

two: not realizing that the h&m at the mall opened. no one told me!

three: now i have to find a bridesmaid dress. surely the worst shopping experience next to swimsuits. tips?