suckers never play that

I love catching up on Bike Snob so much.


via 407fixedgear.com

con te partiro

I spent last night helping Tasha and Christopher with a Christmas treat for their friends and family. They had some Christmas music on. Morgan was naked 50% of the time. Danny was there making inappropriate jokes. My friend Aaron was also there trying to get a bike video to load for like an hour on stolen internet. So I now feel better about the season.

Plus, earlier in the day I got a new phone. It's totally red, so Christmas spirit. And it has a whole keypad! I can text the shit out of you all now!

To celebrate my good mood, here is a video I've posted elsewhere on the internet. However, that doesn't stop it from being awesome.

Do you see why I never want to move away from Nate?

the friendly beasts

I feel a little scroogey this holiday season.

I have yet to drink any hot chocolate. I have been to no Sugarhouse streets nor Temple Squares famous for their lights a'plenty. I have done no Christmas shopping at all. At all! I haven't baked anything sweet, not even from a box. No knitting gift projects started. No festive parties attended. My half of house decorations are sitting in a box in the dining room. And then there is Jesus.

Oh right...Jesus.

I am very much into the friendliness and familiness and treatliness of Christmas, but I am also very much into the birth of Christliness of it too. So in my lack of seasonal preparation I have been missing out on that most important focus of it all and I feel it. And it's disappointing.

At least this song from Sufjan Stevens brought to you in "Beautiful Psychedelic Electric Groovy Vision" helps me feel better.


And the non psychedelic electric groovy version if you are interested.

blessing in disguise

Monday, Dec 8 - How lucky we are that water flows clean and consistent here. I drank like 700 oz of it last week.

Tuesday, Dec 9 - My mom has always loved Burt's Bees products since it's her family name. This stuff is like heaven on my lips every time I use it.

Wednesday, Dec 10 - I never said I wouldn't be thankful for Morgan every week. I got to babysit him last Wednesday at my house and it was so much fun to hang out, just him and me for a while. That face! I want to eat it!

Thursday, Dec 11 - That Morgan baby's mama (though this is a little bit of a cheat because I took the picture on Friday, but I had been trying to get one since Wednesday). Tasha is the world's best person. My life is better because she's in it...and I believe anyone who knows her would say the same.

Friday, Dec 12 - Elizabeth was right, I can have a party in my bed! I was nearly asleep, but staying awake a little later was worth seeing all these faces...in bed.



Saturday, Dec 13 - Pretty tea...echinacea specifically helped me through the sick.

Sunday, Dec 14 - It's no secret that I love to shower. But man...in these cold months, the blessing of a hot shower and a warm bed are unparalleled.

emmanuel

Katie went to the Amy Grant Christmas show over the weekend and I was soooo jealous. Growing up, it was my favorite. One Christmas season my dad took just my little brothers and me to Idaho to visit my grandma and we took with us the Amy Grant tape...I remember belting this one out in the backseat because it IS SO POWERFUL!!!!


The video cuts off like halfway through, but you didn't want to watch the whole thing anyway I bet.

your sickness

Sun Valley didn't win, the cold won. I am on day four of
staying.
in.
bed.

I think I've been asleep more than I've been awake the past few days. And the funny thing is, if someone I knew was sick, I would be the first one to say "You have to rest, your body will only recover if you sleep and hydrate and let it heal."

But between work and school pressure and thinking I'm a little bit smarter than a head cold (I'm not), it took a week of feeling crappy and then a weekend of it making sure I knew who was boss to really get it through my head.

When I was younger I used to come down with stuff pretty easily, it seems at the beginning and end of each cold season I always spent a few days out of school. In my years since high school I have focused much more on health and attempting (sometimes more successfully than other times) to keep my body strong. I have discovered that I love to run long distances, albeit slowly, and that I love to feel the stretch of strength through yoga positions. I've experimented with eating habits and felt the difference between making wise choices and making candy choices. There have been sick days here and there, but thinking about it (I've had a lot of time to think about it), it's been at least a few years since I was laid out like this.

And in all that time when my body generally functions how I expect it to and together we run around life without much thought of ailments, I completely forget that it might slow me down or stop me up at some point while it needs to fight off danger on a biological level. And when my body does speak, it's amazing really. I am fascinated by the amount of sleep I suddenly need. No soda or treats sound appealing but protein and grains and vegetables are what I've been craving. A weekend away I'd been looking forward to suddenly sounded miserable and the social events of Salt Lake weren't more tempting than my bed and Friday Night Lights (although FNL will always win anyway). My muscles ache and I've been sad to feel the hard work of The Shred deteriorate, but I'll get it back.

Listen to your bodies people. They know whats best.

the prayer

I'm sick. I've been denying it all week but yesterday it hit me hard. I left work early, took a nap, ate some vegetables and was in bed again by 8 not to arise until 9:30 this morning. I woke up this morning with crusty eyes and feeling pretty much the same. However, I hit up the store before Tasha and I went to get some soup because freakin A, I'm going to win:

So guess what cold? Eff you! I'm not going to let you ruin my quick trip to Sun Valley plans this weekend even if I'm drugged up the whole time and even if I'm miserable. Take that!

the modern things

As a grandchild of my grandmother, I will always be a lover of mid-century modern design. And the original The Parent Trap.

So I've been meaning to say for a while that in my very short link list, I have a new one, Grassrootsmodern. I ran across it when Creede guested on Design Sponge and wrote about his dope home addition. Besides posting about great sites and products (like a particular couch I am tempted to buy), he's a Salt Lake guy so I've found out about some great local resources from him.

And then what do you know, swissmiss posted this lovely Eames chair video today and I think everyone should watch it.


via SwissMiss

being bored

Naomi and I are old, but not that old. Like, computers shouldn't be magical to us.

But oh man, the video Google chat is SOOOOOOOO awesome!!! I can't believe it! When I finally downloaded it on Saturday I had to sit across from Naomi and make her talk to me.

Here I am being a little bewildered by technology.

Here Naomi is making noises into the microphone.

And here I am thinking I'm so funny while Naomi is acting really mature.

thank you louise

Last week of thankfulness in photos...

Monday, Dec 1- Studying with Hayley at Nostalgia
I look forward to our standing date every week because she is so great and it's one of the few times in a week I'm actually school productive. At some point Hayley usually pulls out Dove chocolates.

Tuesday,Dec 2- Free Horchata Tuesdays
Alberto's bean burritos have become a staple in my life. Danny and I started going there a lot this year since it's clean and open late AND delicious. Throw in the free horchata and Tuesday Alberto's runs are basically perfect.

Wednesday, Dec 3- All the colors
It's more difficult than you'd think to get a picture of what you're wearing. But the point was to get those colors. I like clothes, and I like sticking a lot of stuff together. Tasha is the best at it so I'm glad she's my sister-in-law and that see her often enough to copy everything she does!!!

Thursday, Dec 4 - Nate Soffe (at Alberto's actually)
Nate was a great friend in high school and having him live upstairs the past five months has been more fun than I could have possibly imagined. I hope he and Joel will always be my neighbors.

Friday, Dec 5- sushi!
I'm glad it was a successful evening and that I was with people who were a lot of fun.

Saturday, Dec 6- Breakfast with my dad and Elizabeth
We go every week. I always love it and look forward to it.

Sunday, Dec 7 - my bed
I love my bed all the time, it's my favorite place to be. I wish I could go to school and work from my bed. I wish I could have parties in it and shower there. But specifically, a cold came on fast and hard on Sunday night so I was extra grateful for it (and NyQuil).

try it now

There was a sushi Christmas miracle! I don't hate it! And you know what? All of my fantasizing about how sushi restaurants must be cool and how everyone in them probably look hip and like they're talking about books is true (as evident by Nick and Amber above). But besides that, I feel like I had a great experience. I had read online Friday afternoon about the different kinds of sushi and the best way to go as a beginner. So I was interested in tempura rolls and eel (since eel is pretty much always cooked).

Brooks and Aaron were particularly helpful and invested in getting me something I would like, which was very kind of them.


I forget what these rolls were specifically but one was fried and there was no seaweed on the other...so good news for me!



We had another roll too and I sampled a couple of others at the table that ranged in taste to me, but I really did actually like the tempura shrimp one. No fishy business, no slimy ingredients, and a lot of fun to eat. So blah, blah, blah, I know I should have tried it sooner and I shouldn't be such a hater in general. If I ever write an inspirational self-help book about trying new things, and make millions as a motivational speaker this will be the experience that starts it all I'm sure.

lovers in japan

It's happening tonight.

I got myself into a sushi situation and looks like this girl is going to have to face the seaweed and swallow. I think I'll stop at 5 Guys first and load up on a hot dog and french fries just to be safe, but I am trying to be optimistic.

Because the food aside, I really don't like that circus animal kind of focus...you know where you are center of attention and everyone is watching you like you're a monkey with cymbals or something. So the plus side is that I'm going with a group largely unaware of my ever so slightly picky eating habits. Which means that even if I don't have a sushi Christmas miracle, at least I won't be the elephant balancing on a tiny ball act.

nothing's gonna stop us now

Someone mislabeled a bunch of Journey songs on our music server at work. One of which I recognized from the first synthesized moment as the Starship classic, We Built This City.

I have a very distinct memory of loving that song at a very young age. Specifically I remember being in the car with my friend Alana and her mom on Pheasant Way and and the song coming on the radio. I thought the chorus was soooo awesome and that we weren't listening to it loud enough. So right now I'm listening to it loud enough.

But this is a terrible video. I'm glad I was never older than eight in the 80s.

solid ground

Last night I got together with Corinne and Kylie and Tasha to learn at the foot of a queen knitter. The baby hat project we're now all working on is like punch you in the face cute, so when (if) I finish I will post pictures so you can all tell me I'm so talented and amazing.

Morgan and Christopher came for a second and Danny stopped by too. Danny hadn't seen the boy in a few weeks but it's clear that so far he is being a really great Godfather to Morgan.

(yes, you can be little creeped out that Morgan looks like Mini Me in this picture)

in step

People.

It has now been just over 30 days since Naomi and I began The Shred.

And I was not so Jillian militant, so The 30 Day Shred was more like The 4 or 5 Times A Week Shred. It was also The Trip To Boston and Thanksgiving Shred, as well as The Cadbury Christmas Ball Shred. But nonetheless, I tried to stay consistent with it and to generally watch what I ate so it was also The Emily Has Some Muscles And Lost 4 Pounds Shred.

Which I believe shows, that Jillian does in fact, know her stuff. And...I feel really good which is always the best reward (though feeling up my own rear end is also kind of the best reward).

old friends/bookends

You know...this little blog is important to me in that I like to say things and I like the internet so I like saying things on the internet. And without much effort I seem to post something just about every weekday. So that coupled with the fact that Facebook is my only talent makes me sometimes worry that I am too wrapped up in it. But then a few weeks happen like that last few weeks where traveling and hanging out with my sister and Thanksgiving and real life butterflies in my tummy (and a What Not To Wear marathon) all meant I wasn't around here much. And my head didn't explode and neither did yours.

My thanksgiving was fine, it was mostly a delight to have Sterling and Megan around for a day or two and to see Megan's growing baby belly since she is pregnant with what will be the second CHILD OF THE FUTURE. Exciting! I can't wait for April!

With the new baby news on my mind, the few days before Thanksgiving I thought a lot about how much I have to be thankful for (cliche). Mostly I'm thankful I have a really great life and that no one I know was in Mumbai last week even though Dallas is currently in India. And I think until Christmas I'm going to take a picture of something I'm thankful for everyday and see at the end of each week what that means. I kind of accidentally ended up doing it last week, so here is the first version of the experiment...

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Awww...look at me, it's all people! I'm such a way not materialistic person.

the sound

Morgan and his parents are spending Thanksgiving in Mexico with Tasha's family (the nerve...). I took one million pictures of him last night when I was briefly visiting because I hadn't seen him in a week and it's been AT LEAST 10 days since I posted pictures. And he will not be available tomorrow for Thanksgiving Indian/turkey pictures so I will instead have to see if I can get photographic evidence of the elusive Clifford named Sterling since he and Megan are in town for the holiday.

But dummy me left my camera cord at home (for like the first time ever), so unfortunately no Morgan paparazzi pictures today. However, I do have some Boston gems with me.

Besides Callie and Carl, pizza and Cadbury Christmas Balls (4 bags total by the way), there were some other things of importance too.

Like for instance, this hawk, eating a squirrel in Boston Common at the beginning of the Freedom Trail.

Or Callie talking about the size of horse balls on the Paul Revere statue.

Or how much I loved the design of the Boston City Hall building.

Then there was the fact that we ate at a Texas Roadhouse.

And that Katie danced across the living room floor without any provoking.

There was the trip to Newport, RI to hit up The Breakers which was awesome even if my ability to take a picture of us was not.

(but I did rule at getting Katie jumping with excitement to be in the presence of richness)

And even with strict NO PHOTOGRAPHY there was Katie sneaking pictures of me with the old school sitz bath behind me in Mr. Vanderbilt's bathroom.

And as an extra treat there was the slumber party with these two fantastic New Yorker women who are so much fun.

And with all the other delightful things that happened, it ended of course with public dance moves.


I love that sister and her city of beans.

weed party

Yesterday I came home from Boston (boo...). I had a layover in Detroit and when I turned on my phone in between flights I had a few text messages. One from my mom:

Funny. A sort of hip hop kid just walked up to me at the train and said do you know what time it is? I checked my phone and said, it's 4:20!

It is awesome on it's own and then it's extra awesome because she also sent that text to Callie.


Oh Jayne, what did we do to you?

leave this city

I am in Boston visiting the Clifford known as Katie. Hooray! But by a stroke of good luck, this girl is also here!

So besides that, running around Wednesday and traveling all day yesterday have already been worth it because of this,

and also this (I might have eaten a whole bag last night already).

sucker punch

Last Friday night I changed my gchat status to something I thought that my brothers and my friend Chris would find funny from a semi-recent Bike Snob NYC post.

However I forget that the internet makes me do/say things I wouldn't normally do/say in real life (insert testimony building experience here). I also forgot that my mom is often around gmail until she popped up yesterday.

But then she just started talking about Morgan right after that as though I hadn't just said something totally disgusting, so I guess my mom understands that what happens on the world wide web stays in the world wide web.

don't forget to breath

I rented the Sex & The City movie last week to finish out the month and a half of my Sex & The City immersion program (but it totally worked cus now I am completely fluent). I Redboxed it cus $1. But the problem with me is that I forgot and ended up carrying it my bag for 6 days.

All of you people who use codes for free movies and return on time, don't worry...I'm the poor slob who keep those guys in business.

hey muscles I love you

Perhaps you remember my desire to move myself into the those people category with the one hundred push-up challenge. But actually, like 5 days into it both Naomi and I crapped out. So whatever, my own laziness crushed my dreams.

However, in her ever present quest to increase physical toughness and her internet browsing talent, Naomi ran across a little thing called The 30 Day Shred.

And while I have no need of the losing 20 pounds in 30 days part, getting Jillian's awesome arms in 30 days is something I do need cus I'm totally the person who stinks at doing weights or anything but cardio workouts (oh yeah, and for the past 2 months I've stunk at doing ANY workouts at all).

So Naomi ordered it and we egged each other on as roommates should, and now we're almost 3 weeks into THE SHRED. I learned from my push-up experience to not post about something hastily which is why I am only mentioning it now because see, I totally didn't crap out on this one.

And it's cool, it's exhausting and that Jillian is as mean on the video as she is to the biggest losers but it's just because she wants us to get great abs!! I have definitely noticed my endurance and strength increase even if I'm not necessarily seeing it right now. Joel did remind me last night that change takes time and he still thinks its great we're doing it (thanks dad) so I realize that's true. Nate has been a big support too as evident by Naomi's recent post about him watching me SHRED.

The DVD is like $11 and the workout is just 25 minutes (even though the higher levels kind of do make you want to throw up). So how about you all get it too and then we can really be some of those people who have toned arms and say things like "this is fear leaving the body" (she really says that once and I HATE it every time).