My Life Uncovered

A born reader

2012-01-24T16:10:00.001-08:00

Reading has always been an enjoyable pastime for me. As a little girl, my books fascinated me. I loved being read to, especially my favorite stories over and over and over again. My mom would usually end up falling asleep as she read to me, thus leaving me to recite the rest of it by pure memorization as I turned the pages.

I don't remember exactly when I learned to read on my own, but I'm sure it was a monumental day. I loved the quirkiness and rhyming rhythm of Dr Seus. I loved the family togetherness of the barenstien(?) bears. The classic appeal of toad and frog. Ah it is all too much. Nostalgia is at an all time high!!

High school was when my book preference really took a transformation. In my AP english class, we had a required reading list. I took one look at it and didn't find one title I had ever heard of! Boy did that get me out of the box. I started reading novels like Me Talk Pretty One Day and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I realized there was more out there for me than teen girl melodramas. I discovered a new world in books. I still get excited each time I open a new cover. Where will I go today? What will I be doing? I root myself in the story and allow myself to get taken to another place. It awakens my soul and broadens my imagination.

I hope Winnie will like to read one day. I hope she will find it enchanting and life altering. I want to share with her my favorite books and hope she keeps coming back for more.

I always wanted to be with someone who loved to read almost as much as I do. I envisioned late nights in bed as we both hold tight to the pages completely enthralled with our stories. I pictured early Sunday mornings reading the newspaper together and sharing a cup of coffee.

Kyle likes to read. No wait. He loves it. Hallelujah! Crisis averted.

I recently started my first Steven King novel. It's called 11/22/63. It's over 800 pages! Easily the longest book I will have read. My mom finished it in a matter of days. Piece of cake for her. I know without a doubt that is who I got my fierce desire for reading from. Watching how glued she was to the thing, I can only imagine it's good. It's about time travel and a man's quest to stop the assassination of JFK. So far, 150 pages in, I'm hooked.

In fact, I must go. I have more to read!

The realest of the real

2012-01-23T18:44:00.000-08:00

Last night, as I tried to convince myself to get sleepy, I read a blog from a girl I went to high school with. Quickly I became entranced by her stories. Apparently we had more in common than I thought. We were never close in school, but as we've grown up, it seems as though our lives have taken similar paths. Anyways, her writing swept me away. She was so real. Her stories so bare and organic. It inspired me. I find myself always writing about the great things in life, the wonderful, joyous moments. And while that is all fine and dandy, it may be possible that you don't constantly want to read about how magical my life is. And trust me, it isn't always so. In the past, I thought "who would want to read about things that are sad and depressing?" But truth be told, and I can attest to this, it takes those true, deep, and sometimes low points in one's life to be able to connect with an audience. I believe people are rivited by personal challenges. And success, of course. But the tough times are what bind people together, bring you closer in. Because let's face it, we are not perfect. So here I am. I am getting real.

In the past couple of months, we have undergone quite a few changes. And besides the most obvious one, our new addition to the family, we also managed to loose one as well. My beloved cat, Skeeter, has a few issues. Ok, the cat is seriously bonkers. But I love him. Probably, wait, no definitely, more than I should. Before making his home permanately outdoors, he peed all over our bed, thus forcing us to buy a new mattress (which we really couldn't afford, so we had to buy an inexpensive, and just so happens to be an extremely firm one.. causing much back pain for both of us and a lot of trouble falling asleep because it feels like laying on wood floors). For the longest time, it has been hard for me to admit this harsh reality about my cat to others. I was, and continue to be, ashamed that I let matters go as far as they did. It put so much strain on the relationship between me and Ky. I still don't know why I let it get between us like it did. My stubbornness has GOT TO GO! Let me continue. He then peed on our couch, multiple times. We are still trying to get the stench out. Cat urine is honestly the worst smell. It's the kind that permeates all things around it, and the kind that you can't get out of your nose no matter how hard you try. He also managed to pee in the nursery, before it was a nursery of course. So every once in a while, the smell comes wafting back. Ugh. It is an absolute nightmare, one that we are fighting to end once and for all. He has caused so much irrepairable damage. I am exceptionally cranky today because of my poor nights sleep. Awful. Miserable. And I can't even blame the baby. What is this!? We were blessed with a good sleeper and I can hardly reap the benefits. Boo. And yet, I continue to love him. One will never know or begin to understand why, not even me.

On to other matters..

From the beginning, breastfeeding has been a challenge for us. Winnie and me, that is. At first, it was just painful. Excrutiating hardly describes it. Sometimes, I could do nothing but cry as I tried to feed my baby. Eventually the pain subsided and we moved on to other issues. She began to get fussy almost every time she nursed. It was so hard to get her to latch on and be content. It has been such an internal struggle for me, a new mom. Not only was I feeling downhearted because it wasn't easy, but what is a brand new mommy like me to do when she can't provide for her baby? I tried not to get too down on myself about it because it only made things worse. I know it's not always a piece of cake for people, and certainly not me. But every once in a while, the feelings of not being enough, not being sufficient for my child creep back in. I know I am a good mother, and in some form or another, I will find a way to nurish my baby. But the road has been and continues to be a long and challenging one. She still gets fussy from time to time, and it's hard to tell if she is getting enough. My newest worry is her constant spitting up. More times than not, she will spit up quite a bit after she eats. It is a lot. I am not overexaggerating. Is she having a bad reaction? It is something I ate? Is she allergic? I just don't know. It is exhausting. And yet, I won't give up. I have gotten used to the fact that most of the time I am covered in spit up. We even joke sometimes that I have become immune to the smell. And it doesn't smell nice. Oh the wonders of mommyhood...

Since sitting down to write this post, I have had to get up three times to calm my crying baby. It's bedtime, and definitely not her favorite time of the day. I've had to learn to let her just cry it out sometimes. As hard as it is, she sleeps so much longer and deeper because of it. It just makes me so sad listening to her unhappy though!

Four.

Being faced with these struggles has tested me in more ways than I can count. At the end of the day, I am grateful. For gaining more patience. For becoming a nurturer. For earning strength and for letting go of what I cannot change. I am grateful for battles big and little, because they shape me and force me to grow. And that is a good feeling.

Goodnight.

Winnie's first snow!

2012-01-18T19:33:00.000-08:00

Little gnomie baby loved the snow! She was in quite the photogenic mood (*see other post on photoshoots..) I just couldn't wait until the perfect opportunity to get her in this cute poncho and bootie set that I found on etsy! Today was the day. She totally rocked it!

(* sidenote: look at how long my hair is!! I'm chopping it off soon.)

Love these precious moments with my girl.

Can't believe she is already sitting in her bumbo chair! Seriously, where did the time go?! I simply can't get over what a big girl she's turning into. She loves when she gets bumbo time. She could sit there for hours if we let her!

I'm gonna be sad when this little snowsuit doesn't fit anymore. It's so soft and cuddly.

This girl smiles like it's goin outta style. LOVE her! Can't wait for more snow days spent with my little family. I was just thinking... next year is going to be so different with her when it snows. She might actually wanna play in it, or my guess.. eat it! ha!

Lake Chelan Fire & Ice festival

2012-01-17T12:55:00.000-08:00

Lake Chelan is always one of my favorite vacation destinations. I love the hot, hot summers and am glad to say, the winters do not disappoint either. Winnie experienced her first snow while we were there-- what could be more special than that?? I had no idea there was such a thing as professional ice sculpting, but apparently there is! These people were incredible. All throughout town, there were giant ice blocks set up that were eventually turned into masterpieces! They used chainsaws to do it, too! It was unreal.

We went to a few different wine tastings at our favorite wineries. Yum!

But the best part was being with my family. Big ups to our little girl for being such a good trooper through it all. The long car rides, no swing to lull her to sleep, a different environment-- she did so great!

Recipes

2012-01-16T19:02:00.000-08:00

As I've said, one of my new year's goals is to cook more often. And let me tell you-- I have been workin' on it! Thought I'd share a few recipes with you, in case you are looking for something new to try.

Tonight for dinner I made:
-chicken
-green beans
-spicy roasted sweet potatoes (!!)
They weren't kiddin-- these babies are SPICY! Loved em. The recipe is super easy. All you need is cayenne pepper (1/2t), chili powder (1/2t), garlic powder (1/2t) and some salt. Coat a baking sheet with olive oil, heat the oven to 400*, peel and cut potatoes into 1/2 inch pieces and coat with ingredients. Cook for 20-25 minutes, flipping half way through. Delish! Click here for a better reference:http://homeiswheretheholmansare.blogspot.com/2010/11/spicy-roasted-sweet-potatoes.html

I also made a version of the oh-so very popular PAZOOKI )deep dish cookie with ice cream on top) for dessert. It gave me a great excuse to use my sweet little ramekins that Jaimie gave me last year for Christmas.
You can find the recipe here: http://www.blueeyedbakers.com/home/2011/8/8/deep-dish-cookie-pies.html
*sidenote-- I didn't put as much butter as it calls for and I substituted the milk chocolate chips for white chocolate :)

I've found so much inspiration on Pinterest for new recipes to try. Tomorrow I am going to make crockpot Chicken Taco chili and put it over rice. Yummmm (hopefully ;))

Cheers!

A full nights rest

2012-01-10T11:15:00.000-08:00

This is just too good to be true not to say anything.

WINNIE SLEPT 8.5 HOURS IN A ROW LAST NIGHT!!

That was after she took a 4 hour nap before that. And after I fed her, she went back to bed for another 3 hours! That girl really likes her sleep apparently.

She must be growing. :)

I am a happy and well-rested mama today! Bring it on, world!

Winnie- 2 months!

2012-01-04T15:47:00.000-08:00

Yeah, that's right-- our girl is two months old today!! And to celebrate the occasion, I thought I'd show you a video of baby buggy in the tub. She's getting so big!

Mama bird and Poppa bear love you sweet cheeks!

Welcome, 2012!

2012-01-04T15:36:00.001-08:00

I must say, 2011 was one of the best years of my life. Wait, no it was the best year of my life. SO many amazing and wonderful things happened-- it was definitely hard to see it go.

However, I look to the upcoming year with much excitement because I know there is a lot in store for me and my little family. I can't wait to see the magic that unfolds!

After reading a new years article in the newspaper I felt inspired to change up the all-too-common resolutions and turn them into things I want to do more of. The word 'resolution' has a bit of a negative connotation, meaning that there is something that needs to be resolved, as if there was a problem there in the first place. And although there might be, I really want to focus on the positive side of things. So I contemplated my life and how I see it and how I want to improve it. First, I know I want to learn to cook more often and be more daring in the kitchen while I'm at it. For some reason, the thought of cooking has always intimidated me; the fear of messing up turned me away. But not anymore! And I have my parents to thank for the awesome new pots and pans that have gotten me all the more inspired!

In my new role as a mommy and soon-to-be wifey, it has become more apparent that I am shifting from life all about me to life all about my daughter and my fiance and us as a family. I am no longer a single unit but I have multiplied! I am a provider and a nurturer, a person attempting to break down my walls that I've built up as an individual and I'm learning to welcome others in. This year, I want to create the habit of putting others before myself. I want to do more random acts of kindness to both those I hold near and dear and those that are merely strangers in my life. I am opening my heart and hope to become a better person for it.

Here are a few other habits I am working to eliminate or improve upon:

-wear robe LESS.

-eat LESS sugary treats and eat MORE healthy

-work on time management and get out of the house MORE!!

-more simply said, I want to work on the notion that LESS is MORE. I need to recognize that excessive desires (shopping, candy) are a major impulse for me and a not so good one at that! I want to break life down to the simple joys- the things that really matter.

So here's to a new year, another great year I hope!

Cheers friends

Photoshoot!

2011-12-20T19:06:00.000-08:00

Baby W certainly is a diva, that is for sure! We arrived at her first professional photoshoot feeling inspired and excited to capture our precious little bundle. Unbeknownst to us, Winnie was not wanting or willing to cooperate. She made it very clear that she did not want her picture taken! Cried the entire time. Wide eyed and uncomfortable. There was no soothing her or calming her down. Despite it all, the photographer (Jenni Muehlenbruch) managed to snap a few successful pictures. Woohoo! All was not lost. Except for maybe our patience. Ha!

Taken on December 4th, exactly one month old.

Check out Jenni's other pictures on her website:http://www.jennimuehlenbruchphotography.blogspot.com/

On Dasher, on Dancer, on Comet, on...Winnie?

2011-12-16T15:18:00.000-08:00

Baby W continues to sparkle and amaze us each day. We love her with all we have.

Her stats and "isms":

-At one month she weighed 10lbs, 2oz and added one inch in height, putting her at 21inches

-loves bathtime (used to absolutely HATE it!)

-has slept six hours...in a row! Woot woot, that's my girl

-she is starting to smile more each day. and let me tell you, it's the cutest smile the world has ever seen.. (at least I think so!!)

-when she's not sleeping she is VERY alert.

-when she's not grunting (which is A LOT), she is "oohing" and "ahhing" or tooting and burping :)

-has a blast on her activity mat, it's really quite adorable to watch eventhough she's not doing a whole ton yet.

-loves to be held and rocked, kissed and snuggled

-Her new favorite is being held out in front of you so she can see what you see

We just adore her.

Blessing bags

2011-12-15T13:34:00.001-08:00

Today I am feeling inspired to spread the christmas spirit.

Although the gifts and the glam are a fun part of the holidays, it is not the reason we celebrate. Or at least, not the reason we should celebrate. I need to remind myself that the holidays are a time to be with loved ones, share simple moments of happiness and togetherness, a time to give (and cherish) to those you care most about, and even to those you know nothing about. It is not self-centered but rather all encompassing. It is not about how many presents you get, or giving the most expensive, spectacular present. It is not about me. It is not about you.

It is about us.

I am working more on us today.

I recently found a pin on pinterest (I know, I said it. I'm a pin-addict.) that caught my eye. Here is what is was-- http://kwavs.blogspot.com/2011/05/blessing-bags-how-to.html

and now I'm going to make my own blessing bags. I can feel my heart growing already!

Hope the holidays are treating you well---- love to all!

Winnie Kai Eads- 1 month old

2011-12-04T21:08:00.000-08:00

Our little darling is one month old today! Can't believe four weeks ago, we were at the hospital waiting to meet her.

Winnie has grown so much already! I got a little weepy when I realized she was starting to no longer fit in her newborn clothes anymore. Not quite ready to let go of her tiny cuteness. BUT, I am excited to see her continue to develop into the little lady she is destined to be. She is just so darn lovable it nearly knocks me over!

* My apologies for waiting so long to post these pictures. I guess I have a good excuse of being preoccupied with being a new mommy and all ;) There are countless stories and memories we've already made to share, but they will have to wait for another time. This mama can only be away from her baby for so long. I miss her too much!

Winnie Kai Eads, born November 4th 2011 @ 6:37am, 7lbs 9oz

For my daughter

2011-10-28T15:01:00.000-07:00

Upon discovering I was going to be a mommy, I knew I wanted to encapsulate my memories of the journey to come. I wanted to create something my daughter can look back on years and years down the road and reminisce on just how much she has truly embraced my life. Envisioning all things sentimental and keepsake, I started by making a calendar. It charts all of the special moments we've shared in the first nine months, the doctors appointments, the date that unveiled we were having a girl. I often wondered to myself as I was making this if she was going to appreciate it as much as I hoped she would. And then I thought, even if she doesn't, it meant something to me. I will forever look back on that calendar and smile as I remember some of the greatest months of my life.

Have you seen the google chrome commercial yet? If not, take a moment to watch it right now. It will truly tickle you, especially if you are a parent or aspire to be one someday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4vkVHijdQk

It makes me teary every time.

I suppose it had such an affect on me because this is what I want to do for my daughter. So I started writing to her. And I will continue to write to her. One day, she will get to read it and hopefully understand just how loved she was, is, and will always be.

The true beauty in life lies in the unexpected moments. The moments that open your eyes and open your heart to something completely unknown. You were the best surprise, and the greatest gift, I have ever received.

Pumpkees!

2011-10-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

Our October tradition-- pumpkin pickin' at Spooner farm!

He's going to be one cute daddy!

I need to upload the picture of us at the pumpkin patch from sophomore year of high school I think it was... oh, and the one from 7th grade! Wouldn't that be fun to see how we've changed through the years?

Here I am, 9.5 months along! I think the pumpkins and I share some commonalities.. we are both very big and very round! Can't wait to bring our little bebe with us here next year :)

Maternity photoshoot!

2011-09-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

We had an absolutely phenomenal time doing our maternity shoot with Alicia Reynolds (Kyle's sister)...despite the intense heat and spiders crawling up my skirt! It got me so excited to meet our baby girl and I think that is clearly visible on both of our faces. We are just overjoyed!!

She couldn't have captured these special moments any better, I am truly in awe of each and every picture. These are times I will never, ever forget. Gosh, I love my fiance (!!!) so darn much!

Only 6 more weeks until we get to see our bebe sugar! Life is just peachy :)

A speckled belly

2011-09-01T16:49:00.001-07:00

Mommy and daddy love you, little one!

The proposal

2011-08-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

So you wanna know how it all went down, huh?

Trust me, I love telling the story.

Wednesday August 3rd, while at work, a handsome man showed up in my department. I had been expecting him because we had been talking about doing some light shopping for him. Little did I know, shopping was the last thing on his mind. He meets me at the desk and quickly tries to swoop me away. I resist, knowing I still have a few customers in the dressing rooms. I asked him to wait for a few minutes while I finished up, and despite his reluctance, I noticed nothing out of the ordinary. Sure he was looking good, better than good actually. He looked and smelled amazing. My workmate, Kylee, tried to get me on my way, too. {Ky & Ky had been in cahoots for weeks on planning his proposal...and still, I had no clue!} I was completely oblivious. But, I eventually cave in and we head for the escalator. I kept telling him over and over how dashing he looked, I mean seriously, girls, the guy's the bee's knees. Once we reached the bottom, he whiskes me toward the jewlery counter. "Something caught my eye as I was walking in and wanted your opinion to see if you like it..." Did he find a watch he wanted?? What else would he be doing at the jewlery counter....? "Betsy, would you mind showing this lovely lady what I was just looking at?" Still not knowing what's going on, {it was a serious blonde moment!}, I gasp as she presents a little black box. At that moment, I started to raise my eyebrows. Ky leads me next to the piano, when suddenly the most beautiful music starts playing {I actually didn't even hear the music, I was in too much shock and too distracted by what was about to happen to focus on what was happening at the piano}. I later find out he had printed the sheet music to "Marry Me" by Train, a song that transformed our relationship many moons ago.

He gets down on his knee. I lose it. I am a complete blubbering mess. I couldn't keep it together and he hadn't even said anything yet!! At this point, I begin to see people crowd around us. My coworkers, my manager, women from my neighboring departments, Kyle's mom and sister, shoppers-- all eyes were on us. It was my moment. Typically not one to relish in the spotlight, I was soaking this up! Skip back to the charming man on his knee...

He had such an eloquent speech prepared, although that too is a blurr. But all that mattered is the conviction I saw in his eyes. He was asking me to be his forever lady! How could I resist??? Flashbacks raced through my mind, times of us as young kids flirting and playing coy, to times spent with my closest girlfriends giggling and developing plans of mine and Kyle's future marriage, to finding him again years later and literally feeling old feelings rush through me at the gym. It's funny, but the honest truth is I always knew he'd be the one. Somehow, someway, we were going to be together.

Through the blurry eyes, coated in overjoyed tears- I managed to nod uncontrolably and say yes. I couldn't hug him fast enough. I couldn't wait to give him a kiss to "seal the deal". Applause fills the store. Still in disbelief of what just happened, he tells me we have a car waiting to take us to dinner at Indochine! Booyah! My favorite. Not only did I just get proposed to in such a spectacular way, but I got off work early, too! Haha.

Outside, our car awaits. It was such a "Carrie and Big" moment. The driver, the champagne {yes, I did treat myself to a little glass of the bubbly on our way... :)} it was absolute perfection. Kyle knows me so so well! We enjoyed a phenomenal dinner followed by my favorite: cupcakes. And the rest is history!

We still have yet to set a date.... many decisions to make before that can happen. Destination wedding perhaps? We shall see... :)

By the way, did I mention I'm engaged???? Woohoo!

Kate Quinn Organics

2011-07-20T13:56:00.001-07:00

Nicole introduced me to my new favorite baby shop, Kate Quinn Organics, and now I can't get enough of it! I love all of the prints, baby girl dresses & jumpsuits, and sweet Plum Bunny line. It is all so adorable I can hardly stand it! I am about to put in my first order... I think I found the perfect crib skirt which makes me sooo excited! For those of you with little ones, you absolutely must check out the website asap : http://www.katequinnorganics.com/
-------

In other news, I recently purchased a Clarisonic from the Anniversary sale. If you haven't heard of what it is yet, you are OUT OF THE LOOP! Ok, kidding. But it is big news around the Nordstrom gossip. It is supposedly one of the best cleansing systems for your face and body. A co-worker of mine has one and swears by it. It's really gentle and easy to use. I've had it for a few days now and am loving it so far! I got a zebra print one :)

the scoop

2011-07-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

Well life has certainly been busy these past few weeks and months. Trying to keep up with everything all while still trying to enjoy what little of warm summer weather we have! Since graduating, my day-to-day has been passing at lightening speed-- and here I thought I'd get a little bit of a break! Nordstrom's been wild and crazy with the Anniversary sale (note to self: never wear heels on the opening day {or any day, for that matter} of early access shopping...bad idea!!!) My toesies & arches are still recovering.

Oh, sidenote, this post will probably seem slightly {very} scattered with thoughts and ramblings. That seems to be the way I roll these days. So much in my mind, not enough time to breathe, or pause, to get it all out and make sense at the same time. Ok, back to posting.

On to all things baby:
We recently put the crib together {we got a great deal from a coworker of mine- a white sleigh crib in mint condition- score!!}. We painted the nursery. Hoping to reveal a light shade of grey on the walls, but instead discover it looks more bluish, but still completely loving it nonetheless! Talk about calming and serene and neutral, exactly what we sought after in the first place! Oh and we did some shopping. Ok, this time, by "we" I'm referring to my momma and I, because let's face it, girls have more fun shopping. We ventured up to the U Village and had a great time getting swept away by pretty much all things baby. Came home with many adorable things including, a changing pad to go ontop of a changing table my mom has been working on for us, as well as bedding and some crafty things to make baby shower invites-- coming your way soon! The nursery is really starting to come together making this all the more real. As we put the crib together {actually how it really went was Ky put it together and I sat and watched and ate chocolate cake- he insisted, people!!}, we started to really imagine our little girl. Invisioning nights going in her room to find her peacefully sleeping {we can dream, right??} or rushing to the changing table to perform an emergency diaper change. As perfect or chaotic as it will be, I am starting to look forward to those little moments with our daughter. Speaking of the little sugarlump, she is moving LIKE CRAZY! I'm talkin' constant. It's getting even more prominent now because I can feel her while I am busy at work. She needs attention, mama! And she needs it now! We play "rock the remote" a lot, where we put the tv remote on my belly and you can literally see it getting bumped and tossed all over the place. As far as me showing, there's a little somethin somethin there, a few daring strangers have even commented lately {which I love!}. I officially can no longer rubber band my pants on. That was a sad day. But I'd say I've gained about 4 pounds total so far. Which I'm completely fine with. At times I wish there was more to show, but I know it will all come eventually so I need to be patient and embrace staying "little" as long as I can.

Woah, that was a lot.

Are you still with me?

I better give this a rest. I'm exhausted from just typing it all. Now it's time to finish reading The Help and get started on the next book! Wishing you a happy Tuesday :)

Boy, girl, boy......

2011-06-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

GIRL!!!

Yesterday we found out we are going to be a mommy & daddy to a beautiful baby girl and we couldn't be more excited! Secretly, maybe even not so discretely, I was hoping for a little girl, but I would be happy either way as long as we have a healthy baby on our hands. And we sure do! Watching her on that ultrasound was something so special. She was moving around like crazy, wiggling her feet and arms all over the place! No wonder I've been feeling her so much lately :) When we first started, she was curled into the cutest little ball. Her feet were all the way up by her face with her booty held high in the air! I couldn't believe her flexibility (she certainly doesn't get it from her mama!). The technician said she's currently the size of my palm from head to bottom. Wow! Babies really do grow fast.

We are so absolutely elated to be having a girl. I can't wait to dress her up in sparkly tutu's and play with dolls together (yeah, I can still get into that!), but most importantly I can't wait to have a lifelong best friend and someone I can share a deep and special relationship just like my mother and I have. I also can't wait to see her with her daddy. She is one lucky little girl to have him. He will be so wrapped around that little finger of hers!

Yesterday he said to me... "the world is a better place now that there's going to be two of you in it."

Ladies, I about lost it!

Yesterday was easily one of the best days of my life.

I can't wait to meet our daughter :)

LB!

2011-06-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

To celebrate my recent graduation, my parents spoiled me with a trip to Laguna Beach with my man candy. How lucky am I?! We had such a great time together enjoying the sun, the beautiful beaches, and the luxurious shopping-- it was a girls fantasy! These two pictures of Ky & me are taken at Newport Beach actually. We ventured our way over there one evening to enjoy a fine dining experience and soak up yet another gorgeous beach!

I don't know why this picture makes me look so pale.... We both got absolutely fried our first day. Who knew waiting for our room to be cleaned, sitting (or should I say lounging across a beach bench) by the ocean would cause one to burn so quickly...!

One afternoon, we decided to visit a local mammal habitat rehabilitation center for sea lions and seals. They were sooo cute! And so was Gracie (the bird pictured) who was known as the "seal keeper". It was great to see people volunteering their time for such a great cause-- to give these animals a new and better chance at life.

This was the day we went on a hike. Oh boy, what a hike that was! Remember my FB post about the rattlesnake? Yeah, that was this hike. I still can't believe I didn't lose my ankle to that beast. Oh and I am trying to show off that bebe and I conquered the hills (I'm talking serious HILLS), but you can hardly see my bump! I swear there's a baby in there. One day, just my luck, I am going to blow up like a balloon and all you'll see is belly. Just wait.

My favorite beach bum! (He still thinks he's in Hawaii...)

If you ever go to Laguna, you absolutely MUST eat at The Cottage! We did-- three times! Haha, it was our go-to local spot. Their food is delicious. Seriously, dangerously good.

We had so much fun together! I still daydream about it. Ok, so it's only been a few days since we've been back. But in my mind, I am still living back at that beach. I am so unbelievably lucky to have Ky. He made my trip unforgettable.

Love,

P.S. Other +'s

-we rented our first car (a Ford Fusion-- and it was AWESOME! sunroof and Sirius radio included:))

-Ky got his fix of seeing some of the most beautiful cars in the world. Every two seconds (literally) as we were walking or driving he would exclaim his fascination with this car, or that car. It was pretty cute actually, but eventually I had to tune him out because the names of the cars alone would make my head spin off.

- I bought the cutest ice cream scooper. Yes, it was $24. But I couldn't resist! I knew I'd be needing it in the days/months to come, so really, I was doing myself a favor!

-Oh and one other thing.... I FELT THE BABY MOVE FOR THE FIRST TIME!! I'm beginning to think we have a little beach bum on our hands. :) And now I've felt little sprout every day since then and I love it!

Citrus craving--now I understand!

2011-05-10T14:30:00.001-07:00

Baby has gone from the size of a:

To a...... IN ONLY A WEEK!

It's all starting to make sense now. I have been craving anything and everything citrus! Even my lemony soap makes me hungry! haha I know, they have no connection but I can still pretend, right?? We are getting more and more excited for our second appointment :) It will be so fun to see how much the baby has changed just in the last month alone. Pretty incredible.

Cheers, lovlies!

Progress Report

2011-04-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

Update on my blossoming sprout:

Week--> 13.5

Feeling--> bouts of energy, then sudden exhaustion {but most of all, I feel so much better and happier}

Craving--> Cantaloupe & lemonade

Most embarrassing moment--> peeing my pants because I couldn't make it in the house fast enough. Guess I can't hold it like I used to.

Most awestruck moment--> seeing our baby movin' and grovin' on that screen. Nothing in the world compares. I can't imagine what I'll feel when I see our baby face to face for the first time.

Worst habit--> falling asleep on the couch after a long day of work or class and not wanting to get up, brush my teeth, and get into bed. It always sounds like the biggest, most difficult thing to do! Ky has to literally peel me off of that thing.

Best habit--> eating lots of fruit & drinking lots of milk

I'm smelling--> EVERYTHING! Holy moly. Moseby's been booted outside because of it :( it had to happen sooner or later.

I'm wearing--> my same jeans! Except, instead of buttoning them, I've been using a rubberband. {best trick EVER!}

Skeeter is--> massaging the baby daily. You know how cats kneed things? He does it to my belly constantly. I really think he knows something's in there.

School is--> almost over!!! I can't wait! One less thing to steal my focus away from my growing baby.

And there you have it! That's all I can think of at this point. Figured I should finally post something about my pregnancy, right?! Have a great Saturday :)

Love,
Jill

It is official!!!!

2011-02-25T19:25:00.000-08:00

My new blog is up and running!

After much thought and consideration, editing and criticizing, I have made a fighting attempt at creating something that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also a show case in which to present my work.

Now, I ask for you to come and check it out! And let me know what you think. There are a couple pieces already waiting for you to read.

Thank you for your sweet support and patience.

Love you all!

http://jillianokazaki.wordpress.com/

Happy friday to YOU & happy friday to ME!

2011-02-25T15:12:00.001-08:00

Ladies, it's time for us to let our hair down. And to help inspire you to let loose just in time for the glorious weekend, take it from Willow Smith.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh9XgGGh4L4

She's a lil cutie-- and quite the fashionista, too!

Enjoy :)

Something new

2011-02-11T13:17:00.000-08:00

Good Friday to you all!

I hope you have had a very fulfilling and satisfactory week and go into this weekend with no stress and a carefree agenda. That is my plan, at least!

I wanted to share something with my most favorite followers (however many of you there are) about a new endeavor of mine.

I will be launching a new blog, in addition to this one, in a matter of days. I am particularly excited about this expedition because it is centered around my biggest passion in life: writing. I welcome you, and would love for you, to follow me along this adventure. I need as much support as I can get!

Basically, this idea transpired a few weeks ago. I had been wanting to start a capsule of my writings and allow the world to read the stories as they unfold. And seeing as it is getting down to the wire before I graduate, I needed to find an outlet in which I can showcase my work for potential job opportunities and I guess just to get my stuff out there. I guess it's time that I announce that I want to write professionally?? When I started My Life Uncovered a little over two years ago, it was just a place where I could write, ramble, update, share personal transformations, yadda, yadda. I kept it low key; almost as a secret. Most of my friends don't even know I have a blog. Why is that, Jill? Why feel the need to be so secretive? I guess I just wanted something that I could call my own and escape without having watchful, judging eyes on my world. Trust me, to those faithful few that read my sparse entries, you have made this experience more than worth it. Thank you for taking the time. It is my hope, however, that this new blog will be much more public-- let's cross our fingers I don't botch anything up!

Alas, do not be afraid! I will continue to write on this blog as much as possible. This is my personal, intimate space for close friends and family or whoever wants to read about my life. The other blog is going to be more professionally based without much personal reference (if I can help it ;)).

I will let you know when it is up and running and at that time, I'm sure I will beg you, again, to go check it out. Love you all!

Forever young

2011-02-10T20:35:00.000-08:00

Let us die young or let us live forever
We don't have the power but we never say never
Sitting in a sand pit, life is a short trip
The music's for the sad man

Forever young, I wanna be forever young
Do you really want to live forever?
Forever and ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1nbvplgElw

A very yellow sunset

2011-02-09T19:52:00.000-08:00

Here's some sun to warm you on this ch-ch-chilly day.

2.8.2011

2011-02-08T15:22:00.000-08:00

Today's horoscope for the oh-so-happy Cappy:

"For you, Capricorn, relationships with other people should be going so well that you feel more loved than ever. A new friend or perhaps an old one you haven't seen in a while could suddenly become a powerful part in your life. You're probably feeling exceptionally innovative and more likely to make a success of whatever new ideas you have. Prepare for a busy and satisfying day."
-horoscope.com

This couldn't ring more true for me today. In fact, I had a conversation with Ky earlier that went something like this: (after having released the many pent up ideas surrounding my brain for what is to come)
J: I'm an innovator!!
K: Yes, and often people call me a dreamer. Innovating and dreaming go hand in hand.
J: Well it makes sense. I am the innovator and you are the dreamer, and we go hand in hand.
He takes my hand, and I grasp it.

He proceeds to thank my cup of coffee for the pep in my step. He says that everytime I drink coffee I am unstoppable; I become something fierce and the determination and exuberance flood my whereabouts. And he likes it. He says I should drink it more often. Something in which I intend to do.

We had been chatting about the many things we want to see in our future and I couldn't help but feel this surge of unrelenting energy and verve for my life. I am at the cusp of something monumental, I just wish I could tell you what it is. But it remains to be seen. However, the feeling is undescribable.

Maui, No Ka Oi !

2011-02-08T11:38:00.001-08:00

Wishing to be back in this beautiful place. Maui was so good to us!

A challenge for you

2011-01-23T20:34:00.000-08:00

Why have we trained our minds to battle the here and now?

Why have we trained our minds to resist instead of welcome?

Since when did spontaneity and originality become the villain?
.
..
...
....
...
..
.
I often try to remind myself to embrace the unexpected. However, I remain unfooled by my urge to seek security and routine. I sit here not accusing anyone of anything, because I am at the mercy of this plea. Why is change so difficult? Why are excuses for lack of change so easy to find? I gracefully tip my hat to those who live without caution. Be daring! I want to vow to cherish this moment and the next and the next. Will you join me? I want to be present right now instead of anticipating what's next. If someone were to entice me to drop my plans and grab a hand full of cash to embark on a random day adventure-- I want to be known as the girl who is going to say YES! Will you say yes, too? Or would you fight the urge and go with what's comfortable?

Everyone needs to be challenged. It makes life exciting and complex. It gives breadth to our stories and gives us a reason to keep searching for more. I try and challenge myself everyday but somedays I forget. Will you remind me?

Here is a list of my current challenges:
>reach out and make new friendships
>be a better listener
>put in the time and effort to make things happen
>find consistency in caring for my skin
>teach myself to act in a more selfless way
>speak up and use my voice
>appreciate people and their lives/situations

How have you challenged yourself lately?

Oh to be a dreamer

2011-01-06T15:22:00.000-08:00

To be a dreamer...

One could be so lucky.

What does it mean to dream? Surely it is more than slipping away to another realm of consciousness. When one sleeps is not the only place to dream. To dream is to live; it is to welcome the unknown, the unexpected. As I watched Alice in Wonderland the other day, I sat contemplating the possibilities that the imagination holds.

Where is my rabbithole???

Alice is accused of being so easily distracted. But how can one life a life without coloring outside the lines? We fall prey to normalcy. We are the outcome of incarcerated imaginations.

If I fall down the rabbithole and get lost in my dreams, I would have a story to tell. To dream up a Mad Hatter and a Queen of Hearts, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, I would be one happy girl. Adventure is waiting as I close my eyes, so do I close them or keep them open?

To dream is an act of immaturity in the finest of forms. Alice does not question the absurdity of her dreams, she embraces it. Some may say that being a dreamer is a bad thing. Imagining and hoping for so many seemingly unattainable outcomes, but never making them come to fruition. I do admit, it is tiring to listen to the endless babbles and mindless banter. SHOW ME! But to be a dreamer holds many different meanings.

A dreamer is someone who lives without hesitation and breathes adventure and opportunity at every chance. Searching for meaning and life in every nook and cranny, and never reaching full satisfaction- you have to keep looking! There will never be enough discovery. There will never be enough dreams to be dreamt.

2010

2011-01-04T12:34:00.000-08:00

2010 was a year of amazement. My life took an unexpected turn on January 16th, 2o10. I dared to dream and dream big. I made a change, a sacrifice, for something I could only hope would blossom into something huge and beautiful and unimaginably great. For the first time, I put all fear aside and let myself fall. No longer would I let what-ifs deture me, no longer would I let hopes of potential dictate my future of happiness.

2010 brought me a year of joy and laughter. I reconnected with my long lost best friend whom I thought I'd never speak with again. I reconnected with school and my passion for learning and engaging with the world around me. I reconnected with myself.

It was in 2010 that I found myself. I discovered the things in life that truly make me bubbly and giddy inside. I got my first tattoo. I turned 21. I fell in love deeper than the ocean blue.

2010, you changed me. You taught me how to love freely and without hesitation. How to treasure and adore those precious moments that I might otherwise have overlooked. Unleash my energy and revel in the sight of awe. You gave me the best year of my life.

And although you brought me many unforgettable adventures such as Hawaii and New York with the lovliest woman and dearest soul, and experiences like running a 5k and freezing my buns off, the opportunity to become a Nordy girl, I thank you most for giving me the one thing I've been waiting for: Kyle John Eads. He is my silver lining.

2011, I can only hope you will be just as bright and cheery as 2010. And I have a feeling you will.

love,
Jillian

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T21:08:00.000-08:00

Cheers to celebration and reflection on the year that was and the year that will be.p.s. NYE in Seattle is TOTALLY worth it! We had a blast :)

Our tropical getaway

2011-01-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

This season was spent listening to Christmas music, eating an overload of peppermint candycanes, thanking my lucky stars for the amazing life I am blessed to be living, annnnnd decorating gingerbread houses with loved ones. Ky's and mine just happened to turn out as a beachy escape (wouldn't that be nice right now?!)

* far left is Ty's train, next is Dean and Nicole's, then ours, mom and dads, and gma and gpas

The double deuce!

2011-01-02T20:49:00.000-08:00

My baby turned 22! This was cause for celebration, of course :)

He is one handsome, and not to mention, refined and mature man. Happy 22 beb!

Our first tree

2011-01-02T20:44:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! (even though it was a week ago :))

Journal to blog

2010-11-19T10:57:00.000-08:00

When working on your character-- where do you start? I need to find out because I want to rid myself of my bad habits. I want to be more of a giver and less of a taker. I want patience and solitude. I want to feel relaxed and in control but not completely. Being a control freak is never a good thing. Sometimes, in fact I want to say always, the outcomes are better when you learn to let go.

-taken from my journal

Updates

2010-11-17T19:21:00.000-08:00

Hello again! Been staying real busy these past few weeks. My second to last semester is winding down, which means my work load is really picking up. Lots of papers, projects, and assignments have been flooding my workspace leaving me not nearly enough time to blog!

Here's what's going on in my world:

1. the catnip is growing like wild fire! Skeeter is loving us more and more each day for it. He sits by the pot and sniffs it until he just can't sniff it any more.
2. i got new tires on my car (much needed before the winter weather kicks in)
3. still working at Nordstrom (however, I've been doing a little too much shopping lately....not good, Jill)
4. Moseby has learned to jump down (or rather fall off) from his stoop where his cage is onto the floor, which is a fairly sizeable distance for a little bunny like him
5. I started my book club! We had a little meet & greet on Sunday, and although not many showed up, I had a great time with those that did & I can tell they are all just as excited as I am to be doing this. It makes me happy :)
6. I made my first pot roast! It was pretty delish I have to say. Kyle & I have been making dinner for my parents one night a week for a couple of weeks now. We wanted to start getting practice in the kitchen but haven't taken the step because my fabulous mom always makes the best dinner... but we made a compromise and I think they are enjoying being treated each Thursday.
7. Skeeter is infatuated with me. I think it was ever since I found him under our shed that he developed this strong love. I smother him so much and he actually likes it... my cats in the past get tired of my attention quick and Skeeter just seems to adore me more. Love him!
8. Despite all of the stress that comes along with school, Kyle & I have managed to keep it at bay and still give each other the time, attention, and care that we always have. He definitely keeps me grounded and for that, I am so thankful.
9. I am working up ideas for Christmas gifts this year. I am so excited for the season! I'm hoping to be more crafty and clever and really make each present meaningful. So we'll see what I come up with!

Hope you are staying warm in this weather! I hear it's supposed to snow this weekend :)

J

Crazy for Catnip!

2010-11-08T19:03:00.000-08:00

As I came home on Wednesday night from work, after an extremely long day (half yearly's first day), I walk into my kitchen and notice some surprises Ky left for me.

1. Hand dipped chocolate covered strawberries (my favoriteeee)

2. A sweet card telling me how much he loves me

and 3. A pot for planting catnip (he picked out both) for our Skeeter boy

Isn't he the sweetest??? I love the fact that he picked catnip.

He is the ying to my yang; the syrup to my waffles; the the frosting to my cake.

Hopefully it grows without much sun!

Love, Jill

In the spirit

2010-10-28T18:36:00.001-07:00

We went to an event called the Hoot n Howl at Northwest Trek last week. It was soo much fun! We took Jaxon, (kyle's nephew)-- he had such a great time! They run a night tram which was pretty amazing. We got to see lots of animals and eat lots of candy. They also had games for the kids to play, trick or treating, and crafts. If you have small children, I suggest you go to this next year. It's totally worth it!

Aren't they the cutest??

Here's Jax wearing an old crazy man's hat.

Can't wait to go trick or treating with him on Sunday!

Luv & hugs,

Jill

A brilliant idea

2010-10-25T21:00:00.001-07:00

i hope you think it's as brilliant as i do because i've been pondering this for quite some time now.

i am going to start my very own book club. & i want YOU to be a part of it!

here's what i'm thinking:

i want to start off by reading The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. you can read the synopsis here. i have heard amazing feedback about this series and have been extremely anxious to start reading! however, i thought this might be a good introduction to my masterpiece.

so there's three books (the hunger games, catching fire, and mockingjay) which i thought could be tackled a month at a time. there is going to be a monthly meeting (something which all members can agree upon) where we will discuss our book, chat, create friendships, eat and be merry.

because i don't expect everyone to be completely on board with this at first (which i hope you cave in to eventually because it will be so amazingly worth it) i plan on tackling the first three book club chats with full force. after that, it can be up for debate on who wants to take the reins for the next book, meeting destination, what-have-you's.

in my mind, i picture a group of about 10-13 ladies, however, i welcome the idea of having more or less. i want this to be a place to socialize and make lasting relationships with those who share a common interest(reading & friendship), a place where we can all let our inner bookworms out.

it is my promise to you that i will make treats and provide tastey bevies to indulge in over our conversations.

i realize this probably won't make a ton of sense right off the bat, so i want to host a meet & greet sesh with all the girls so we can all get to know each other and get to know the book club. it will be a time to establish guidelines and ideas for how our book club will unfold. we will discuss it all.

i just want to have fun and experience something new.

this is merely me just getting my feet wet and seeing who responds. i have been putting this off for a while because i wanted it to be perfect and neat and orderly, but then i thought--what the heck, i just need to submerge myself in it and see what happens.

who's with me?

loves to you all,

j

Moseby's future abode

2010-10-19T13:02:00.001-07:00

When we first brought baby Moseby home we invisioned him nestled up in a luxurious, country chic rabbit hutch. It didn't quite pan out like this for many reasons. One, it's time consuming and requires labor and equipment. Two, hutches take up quite a bit of space.. and seeing as we don't have our own place just yet, we weren't sure if it would be a wise decision to go on with buliding one not knowing where our future would be. So we had to make a sacrifice for something less chic and more practical. Boo! We know bunnies don't last forever. But we wish they did.. at least our Mose-man. He is our sparkle, our flame, our peacekeeper (ha! it's true. J&K make sure be on their best behavior in the presence of precious Moseby)

But when we encounted this picturesque bunny barn, I melted and only hoped to one day have one of our own. I got so excited-- I started planning when we could begin the development process. However, we have to wait. Why am I so impatient?! I can't help but get amped up for the future residence of my furry baby. I want it NOW! Wouldn't it be so cool??

But for now, while we still live under the roof of my parents, we must wait. One day, hopefully within a year or two, Moseby will get his hutch. I just hope his ticker last longer than the average bunny's 4 years. I think it's possible.

Love,

the always hopeful and forever passionate Jillian

Punkies!

2010-10-17T20:46:00.001-07:00

How to find the perfect punkin': Get a wheel barrow and be ready to find lots of treasures. Some big, some small, some orange, some greenish-orange, long stumps, short ones, short & stumpy, long & slender..don't be afraid of the possibilities.

Try to find one without bumps, bruises, or abnormailities (or if you're like Ky, find one that has all of these qualities)

Make sure you soak up the gorgeous scenery and time spent frolicking in pumpkin fields with your loved ones.

Always, always, always take home a white pumpkin! They're awesome.

Don't get overwhelmed by the massive amount of organe blurr. Take the time to look at each individually (or at least quite a few of them;))

Ask yourself: Does this pumpkin look like me but in an object form?

Be ready to haul it across rows of pumpkins because you forgot your wheelbarrow at the beginning due to sheer excitement of what was in front of your eyes.

*(he liked this one a lot because he thought it looked like butt cheeks...how did I convince him not to bring this one home? He is such a guy.)

We love Spooner's Farm.

Love,

The heart of a lion

2010-10-12T12:39:00.000-07:00

Remember my last post? The one about how my Ky guy inspires me?

Here is the story behind that post:
One day he decided to start jotting down thoughts that moved him, and little moments that he encounters throughout the day, and words that he likes and wants to incorporate in his daily vernacular (sorry, if this was supposed to be a secret, babe!!) and he suggested that maybe I should do the same, but for my own reasons. I thought: This boy is a genius! We always talk about how I wish my memory was better, or how I have these funny little sayings, or interesting ideas pop into my head only to vanish within minutes because I have moved onto the next thought (Do I have ADHD?!). So I took his advice and started a journal.

This journal is to act as my written memory. I write down certain feelings and emotions I am experiencing, I ask myself questions that I can later go back to and dissect, I write down my to-do's (can't get rid of making those lists!), quotes, and it goes on. And let me tell you-- it helps! I feel a little bit more complete now. It's hard to realize how important and vital memories are to one's life until you can actually REMEMBER them. ;)

Anyway,
I wanted to share with you one of my enteries.

"Like the cowardly lion, I just need courage. If I could change one thing about myself- I'd pick bravery. I need more of it. To speak what's on my mind and feel comfortable doing so would be nice. To stand up for myself and say the things I want to say in front of a crowd-yeah, that's what I want. Hold nothing back, follow my inhibitions, and show people who I really am and feel good about it.

Is it bad to be a quiet girl? To a certain extent- yes.

Make a name for yourself-- a good one. Don't be shy."

That's all.
For now.
Loves and hugs,
Jill

"You. You are everything I want."

2010-09-30T20:44:00.000-07:00

My guy inspired me today.

In fact, he inspires me every day.

So thankful to have him.

<3 J

Fear is lifes only true opponent

2010-08-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

" For fear, real fear, such as shakes you to your foundation, such as you feel when you are brought face to face with your mortal end, nestles in your memory like a gangrene: it seeks to rot everything, even the words with which to speak of it. So you must fight hard to express it. You must fight hard to shine the light of words upon it. Because if you don't, if your fear becomes a wordless darkness that you avoid, perhaps even manage to forget, you open yourself to further attacks of fear because you never truly fought the opponent who defeated you."

- Quote taken from the book Life of Pi

voila!

2010-08-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

The finished product. After a lot of sanding and spray painting, this is the new dresser. Kyle wanted to keep the original handles to accentuate a vintage feel.

I wonder what the next project will be......

Until next time, my friends!

Bringing bunny home

2010-08-25T15:20:00.001-07:00

Big news coming from the two of us. We got a bunny! ( I know right, you never know what to expect from us.. that's the fun part.) It all started out with a trip to a local pet store to pick up a fish for our newly decorated place. This fish would be the perfect accent to bring life to our apartment, however when we stepped into the animal kingdom, it was something much different that caught our attention. It was not a clown fish that we couldn't take our eyes off, it wasn't the ducks, or chickens, or chinchillas... it was this little floppy eared rabbit. As we both stared down, peering into the shifty eyes of this baby bunny... it was fate that he would be ours. I had not planned to go home with a fuzzy bunny, oh no, not at all. But that's what is so great about this life we have been given, it is full of wild and unpredictable surprises.

Bunny rabbits are funny creatures- something I have always dreamt of having one day, but never thinking it would be a reality. And here he is now. We named him Moseby.

Moseby is the ideal pet: loves to cuddle, never barks or scratches or claws, low maintainence, easy to get along with, calm and has a unique sense of humor.

He has his own home, right outside our window so we can keep a close ear on him. He has toys and a litter box (which he uses as his bed) and an endless supply of hay (bunnies looove hay). Needless to say, we think he is pretty happy to be with us.

This is his god-mother (& my best friend, Jaimie). It was their first visit and certainly not their last. She's a natural when it comes to nurturing. Perfect for our Moseby.

We got him a collar to wear, and yes, he actually likes to wear it. It has his name on it and on the back it says......

** Property of kyle & jill

The quintessential bunny goes wild for his carrots. He'll even do tricks.. you should see it.

Moseby completes us. And although you can't tell what he's thinking or even if he is thinking at all... and despite the fact that he cannot control the little pellets he ejects, sprinkling a pathway from his rear end... we love our little bunny foo foo.

Love,

One man's junk is another man's splendor

2010-08-06T20:40:00.001-07:00

We've been on the hunt for a good bargain dresser for Kyle. And we just so happened to get lucky one day at Goodwill. It only cost 20 bucks! It's a big dresser...and has definitely seen some ups and downs by the looks of it. We decided to take it under our wings and show it the love it deserves.

It's been so much fun working on it together (moreso him than me if I'm being honest...). And I can't wait to see the finished product! More pictures soon to come :)

Love always,

Random Facts Day!

2010-08-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

I have officially declared today as random facts day! This is a great way for you to get to know me && all of my oddities. And maybe even inspire you to do the same on your blog :)

My favorite summer fruit: Nectarines
4 things that are always in my purse: chapstick, altoids, pen, floss
What habit could I not live without: making lists
Most frequently used word: Boo Boo (as voted on by Kyle) but I think it's 'absolutely'
Biggest summer annoyance: fruit flies
Funniest summer memory: Walking down Broadway and noticing my mom has tp draping out her pants (sorry mom!! but it was hilarious)
Favorite accessory: big, chunky rings
TV Show: How I Met Your Mother, So You Think You Can Dance, Design Star
One of the most random things I could not survive without: Toilet seat covers (public bathrooms scare me!)

I think I might make this a weekly occurance. Maybe just write one random fact a week.. I don't want to overwhelm you! Hope you are enjoying the lovely summer weather :)

Love,
j

To me, he is everything

2010-07-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

It is amazing the feeling that this guy leaves me with each day.
It is amazing that he embodies every thing I could ever dream for.

It is amazing to know that I have found my one.

J

There seems to be a pattern..

2010-07-28T20:19:00.000-07:00

I love to blog.
But, by the looks of it, it would not appear to be so.

I am here to admit one thing. I am a lazy blogger.

There-- I said it. OOfta! I feel much better.

If you will kindly accept my lackluster excuse, allow me to explain myself...
You see, ever since I got out of school I have been going a million miles a minute. (It's true). It started out with a trip to Portland with my handsome, then I left for NYC with my momma. Upon arrival back to the SeaTac airport, I proceeded to (basically) jump into the car and head straight to good ol' Walla Walla Washington to check out the wineries and happenings with my handsome yet again. Can you tell I am loved? I was stuck happily in the midst of a mom and boyfriend vacation frenzy--- experiences I will never ever ever forget. (Pictures, and plenty of them, soon to come)

Days after I returned home from WWW I began my internship at the places of all places, or shall I call it palaces of all palaces? NORDY'S BABY! My home away from home swooped me up into their loving arms and I started to learn everything there is to know about the company. C'mon, quiz me! I was assigned to Point of View, which I have to be honest, wasn't my first choice..but I knew it would be busy so that made me feel better in the end. 8 weeks. The program would last only a mere 8 weeks. Let me tell you- of the 6 weeks I have worked so far, it feels like I have learned a lifetime's worth of knowledge. Not only stuff about Nordstrom, but about life and I even learned a lot about myself in the process. Now, I sit here...taking a break from wraping up my portfolio for my summer intership class (oh yeah, did I not mention I'm taking my first (&&& last- fingers crossed) summer class?) with only two weeks left of being an intern. It is bittersweet. I am having such a good time, I have met so many amazing people, I'm really not sure if I'm ready for this to end quite yet. But, the good news is, once it is over I will stay on as a part time salesperson for the duration of my senior year. After that, I will be in the running for an assistant/managerial role if that is what I choose to do. Big things are in my future, I can feel it. However, I'm not sure yet what those big things will be.... you will just have to stay tuned.

As for me, right now, I am ready to finish up my summer class and let summer take off right where it started... at a little place called Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland, OR. Ok, maybe not that exact location, but something/somewhere just as sweet as those treats.

I love you all. Truly. Madly. Deeply.
& thanks for loving me in return.

J

p.s. I know I say this often... but I am going to try to be a better blogger. There-- I said it. Now hold me to it.

Goodnight

Just because it's Saturday

2010-05-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a music video for your Saturday enjoyment. Disclaimer: It is a bit risque, so if that bothers you, don't watch it. I just love the song, it has a very fresh sound and it also makes me want to dance. And because it is Saturday, I hope it makes you want to dance too.

Somebody to love- Leighton Meester
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZg3ibOt964

I have found my somebody to love. And he is taking me out tonight! Yippee!

Enjoy the day,
<3 J

Summer--it's here!

2010-05-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

Lots of fun things are already happenin' && I just so happened to capture a lot of it on camera! Get ready, prepapre yourself, this post is loaded with pictures. My ever-so-beautiful dad & mama-- on our way to our first M's game of the season!

Kyle & I made eggs benedict for mama on Mother's Day. It was cold by the time she ate it, but she still had a smile on her face :)

My grandpa: intensly watching our game of botchee ball.

I'm not kidding... it was intense.

Dean & Nicole!

Like a pro

Yup, he's all mine.

I can't get over how amazing she looks in this picture.

Happy Mother's Day-- we love you!!

My mom picked out a new puppy for my grandma as her mother's day gift...

Needless to say, she is my grandma's baby already. Isn't she the cutest??

Bonfire & 'smores night with Jamestown!

Three devishly handsome men posing by the fire.

Jaimie && Kona!

Love her!

Kevin & Dad-- so silly.

Us!

Everyone huddled under the umbrella when it started to rain on our BBQ day (that's Kyle's mom & her fiance, Brian in the picture).

Cheers!

Boo bear!

Having a moment by the fire.

I think this picture miiight be my favorite.

I love summertime, don't you??

Hope that massive amount of pictures didn't overwhelm you. But don't say I didn't warn you. Until next time, friends!

Love,

A sweet baby girl named Paisley

2010-05-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

I met my cousin Ali's baby girl last weekend and I must admit, she has to be the sweetest, cuddliest, adorablest, quietest baby ever... seriously. She instantly warmed my heart. I could probably hold her forever in fact. Until my arms fall off at least ;) Congratulations again to Zach & Ali, she is such a wonderful and precious gift.

Love,
Jill

p.s. note the fact that my font is pink...pink for Paisley!

Grandpa's little girl

2010-05-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

Each time we embrace our cheeks brush up against the others and his scent leaves a distinct mark. When I was a little girl, he would swoop me off my feet and gather me into his arms and say “dance with me, my little girl.” I’d accept his offer as I let out a sheepish giggle. I was rather uncoordinated and clumsy, and soon, he caught on and placed my feet upon his and we’d take off, gliding along the linoleum that covered the kitchen floor. He loved to twirl me and dip me, all the while, my legs are flopping this way and that in mid-air. He was strong. After a while, he stopped asking me to dance. Not because he didn’t want to anymore, but because I had gotten older and I’m sure he figured that I’d be reluctant to partake in our childish endeavors. But he still hugs me and kisses me on the cheek whenever I see him. I look forward to those times because it brings me back to our memories that we created on the “dance floor”. He still smells the same; his scent clings to my skin, devouring any previous aromas that were once so pronounced. I get reminded that it is there when I turn my head or flip my hair; it comes wafting back. I don’t want that smell to diminish. It is the one strongest scent I can remember all the way back into my childhood days.

Peak-a-BOO!

2010-05-17T18:47:00.001-07:00

I see you! Happy Monday :)

Love,
J-to the I- to the L- to the L

Happy Friday!

2010-05-07T14:00:00.001-07:00

Here's a song to start your weekend off right.

Kris Allen- Live like we're dying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3N5CsXYlCk

Love you all!

<3, J

Today's Anthem

2010-05-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

Shark in the Water- V.V. Brown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPQlxHWsemI

Enjoy today!

Lotsa Love,
J

Moment of Truth

2010-05-03T19:53:00.000-07:00

We are sitting in a bar, a few drinks down the hatch, just enough to put us both at ease for what is coming next. I watch him as he stumbles and hesitates to find the right words, the words that I already knew were coming. “Hurry up and say it!” I think to myself as I see his brow line begin to shimmer. He’s sweating bullets, quite literally. I take another giant gulp of my beer trying to curb my nerves. I have never longed to hear the word “love” more than I did at that moment. To be honest, love has been a constant fear of mine. I am afraid of commitment and sacrifice and dependency. Somehow, those trepidations seemed to disappear and I was left yearning for his love and to give him mine in return. He scratches his head, his eyes shifting from mine to his hands and back to my eyes again. He carefully opens his mouth and manages to muster out “I’ve known this for a very long time and I know that this feeling is not going to go anywhere. I love you.” As anxious as I was a moment ago, I couldn’t find the words to put together to respond to this nervous wreck sitting next to me. Ok, I'll admit, I was a nervous wreck too. Those three simple words made me tingle down to the core, more so than I have ever felt before. I wanted to say so many things back, I wanted to spill all of my pent up emotions and excitements. But all I could say was “I love you too”. I think that was enough for him because he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face even for a second and neither could I.

Creamy Lime Crumb Squares

2010-04-12T19:48:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

Just wanted to share with you a delightful treat I found on The Pioneer Woman website. She kept highlighting this recipe so I decided to take the plunge and make my own!

And the result..
.
..
...
....
Delish! Quite tastey if I do say so myself. The best part about them is the size. They are tiny (well I guess it depends on the baker..depending on how small you cut the squares). A little goes a long way with these guys, which is great!

Sidenote: The recipe originally calls for lemon ingredients. However, I made mine with lime. Yum-o!

Here's the link: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/03/creamy-lemon-crumb-squares/

Enjoy!

Love,
J

Rainier 2 Ruston

2010-04-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

My Ad class was required to create an advertisement for this event that is called Rainier 2 Ruston. I had never heard of it before but I imediately got excited when I realized it was a fun, outdoor activity.

Basically, it is a relay that takes place from...that's right, you guessed it, Rainier to Ruston way. It is for walkers and runners alike and the course is about 27 miles in length. I am writing this because I am on the verge of signing up. However-- I need a team! So. If you are at all interested to register with me.. you should definitely let me know! The walking relay allows people to walk each leg of the race in pairs. For example, if it was a team of six, there would be 3 pairs, each covering 2 legs. The walking relay only covers the first 6 legs which take you from Rainier to Orting** I'm not positive on how long each leg is, I have to do some more research on that. I think it would be a really fun way to get involved and help better our environment. The cost for registration is $25, which goes towards getting a paved trail all the way from Rainier to Ruston. Wouldn't that be awesome?? I think so. The race is on June 5th, aka National Trails Day. Clever huh?

If I have at all peaked your curiosity, you can find more information about this event at their website: http://www.rainiertoruston.com/

I'll be waiting to hear you. No, seriously, I will. So get inspired && let's do this!

Love,
Jillian

Hey, soul sister

2010-03-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

Goodmorning to you all!

So my world was completely rocked last night. Kate, a very close friend of mine, introduced me to one of the most beautiful music videos I have ever laid eyes on. I have heard the song many times before, but it didn't really sink in until I watched the video last night. That is why I have to share this with you.

It's called "Hey, soul sister" -- Train
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVpv8-5XWOI

May this song lift your spirits on this gorgeous Friday!!

Love,
J

My beautiful

2010-03-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

Experimenting with my camera. These are some of my favorites. I am lucky I have such a good model :)

Hope you all had a wonderful day!
<3>

If it weren't for bacon, I'd be a vegetarian.

2010-03-23T18:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday everyone!
I hope you got to enjoy the beautiful sunshine more than I did, because I was stuck in my dungeon all day working feverishly on my homework, studying for midterms, finalizing projects, etc. But hey! I am still kickin' & in good spirits.

So! Want some more news, eh? Well, I got some. I think I decided that my tactic is this: bullet most, elaborate on some. That way you will get a taste of each without (hopefully) getting overwhelmed by all the madness. Let's get to it.

1. One of my biggest goals going into this semester (the last half of my JUNIOR year--holy me!) was to really break out of my shell. I know, this seems late. And yes, I have to admitt.. I am a late bloomer. Ever since I went to college, I became a bit introverted in the classroom. I guess I was shy, perhaps lacking confidence, and I just never felt totally comfortable. Well, I wanted to let all of that go. Why waste time being shy? Why waste time not asking questions that are constantly surfacing in your brain?? I put it to rest. This semester has been the best yet. I have met a ton of great people, made strong relationships with my professors, and I emersed myself in knowledge & inquiry.It has paid off big time! In fact, a professor of mine recently recommended me to the recruiter of our MediaLab program at PLU. It's a BIG DEAL. But that's a whole other story... one in which I will explore later.

2. I love BACON. I love it on sandwiches, for breakfast, in my salads, plain.. I could eat it with anything really. Anyway, I just cooked it for the first time all by myself. Sounds silly, right? It totally is! It just intimidated me for some reason. Like I could never live up to the perfect piece of cooked bacon.The first time it turned out burnt... ok.. really burnt. It was charred. But, I ate it and enjoyed it! I've made it a few times since then and each time gets better and better. Practice, baby! I have a mad love for bacon. I don't eat meat much, however, I don't think I could ever eat enough bacon. I always say... if it weren't for bacon, I'd be a vegetarian.

3. I have been watching more "dark" movies. When I say that I mean, war movies, thrillers, etc. This is huge for me! This is coming from someone who can't watch violence or blood, & who jumps at the slightest twitch on the screen. I am facing my fears & broadening my film horizons.

4. I've learned to not hate cleaning my bathroom so much. Also big stuff.

5. (this really should be number one.. but most of you already know this so it got bumped) I got a summer internship at Nordstrom! If any of you truly know me... you know that this is my haven. I live and breath this place. I have always wanted to work there, but never got the opportunity. And now I do! And I am all over it :) I can't wait! If you need a personal shopper-- I am YOUR girl! The woman who interviewed me said that upon completion of the internship, I will move into a management position. How cool would that be?!

6. My baby cousin will soon be (for sure!!) official. It has been a long time coming && believe me, we are all absolutely ecstatic!

And that's all for now! It's back to the grind for me, more studying and writing. Oh joy! Tomorrow holds new stories-- stay tuned!

Love

Song of the day

2010-03-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

P.S. You Rock My World -Eels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TOp2RzBwyU

Is it just me, or does this picture make you smile a lot too?

Life is magical.

The new and improved Me

2010-03-22T17:43:00.000-07:00

Hello to all you beautiful people! I've missed you. Lots. I cannot begin to tell you how life has changed for me in the past two months. It has been wild, unexpected, and completely wonderful. Now, how do I go about telling you the updates? Do I write a separate post for each, giving me room to elaborate and differentiate from the other news? Or do I list them in bullets and keep it short and sweet? Decisions. Life is all about decisions, isn't it? I think I should start at the beginning, the tipping point. It will help make things more clear and understandable (at least that's what I am hoping for..). Just prepare yourself, while it may be a sad beginning, I promise you it has one of the happiest of happy endings (or new beginnings, whichever way you see it).

It began on the day before Valentine's day. You see, my heart had been pulling me in so many directions. I felt utterly lost and overwhelmingly confused. Deep down, I did not feel good about the spot I was in. Sam and I had been together for over two years. Don't get me wrong, those were some of the very best years of my life. I learned and loved in a way unlike anything I could have anticipated. We became best friends. It took me a while to notice (or maybe accept is a better word) that we were lacking something. I couldn't describe it, especially to my family, which was really hard for me. Everyone loves Sam. I joked for a long time that I thought they loved him more than me... although I know that wasn't the truth. However, it still bothered me. I felt like I couldn't let my real feelings out because I had other people to protect. I didn't want anyone to get emotionally damaged.

Anyways,
I was tired of masking my apprehensions, it was getting harder and harder to do as the days went on. He began to see it. He saw me start to question things. At first, I didn't want to admitt it. I wanted to work it out and just hope for the best. A few months into this dark phase, I struck reality. I realized that what we were lacking was passion. Sure, I loved him and he loved me. But a relationship isn't all about love, is it? It's about comittment, desire, inspiration...it goes far beyond satisfaction or admiration. I didn't have the urge to make every moment with him, or show the world our undeniably amazing love for one another. As much as I wanted it to be there, it wasn't.

I ended it on the day before Valentine's day. It was the hardest thing I have had to do and yet, it was the best thing I have done. I still appreciate him and think fondly of him. I am glad that although it was a painful time, we are still able to talk to each other or simply smile as we pass by on our way to class. He will always have a piece of me, as silly as that sounds. I am not sure if he fully understands what happened or why it happened, but I believe that one day he will.

On to the brighter side...

This is the happiest I have been in a long time. A LONG TIME. Those of you who really know me know that I've never been an unhappy person... but I have never imagined that it was possible to be this happy. Of course, there are any reasons for this feeling. And yes, I will share them all.. in due time :) I feel free for the first time. I feel invigorated. I feel inspired. I feel Beautiful, Spontaneous, Light, Dreamy. Adventurous.

Happy.

I urge you to follow your heart. It will never lead you astray. Your heart is who you are, if you don't listen to it..then you are being untrue to yourself. I cannot tell you enough how good it feels to be me again. I am free. I am alive. And I can't get enough.

<3 J

Disclaimer: When I promised, promised, promised I would post "tomorrow" on Friday.. tomorrow meant the next weekday. Although, I'm sure you all caught on to that... ;-) Happy Monday, everyone!

It's been two months..

2010-03-19T20:54:00.001-07:00

Hello all!

I have been on a blogging hiatus for two months now! Wow, time has flown by. A lot has happened & I can't wait to share it all. A certain blog follower(who shall remain anonymous) of mine has been persistently reminding me to update my blog, UPDATE MY BLOG, and yet I held off until my exact two month mark. It was hard, let me tell you. I am not here right now to spill it all (seeing as it's a friday night, people!!) but I promise, promise, promise I will post some real good juicy stuff tomorrow. Until then my luvlies!

<3 J

Stagnate.

2010-01-19T19:26:00.000-08:00

Lately I feel as though I have gotten wrapped up with routine, normalcy, stagnation-nation. Life is at a stand still and I have lost sight what it means to be a free spirit, a go-with-the-flow kind of girl. Where did I slip in betweent the lines? Unfortunately, it happens all to easily.

I have been loving the Buddhist philosopher/author Thich Nhat Hanh for quite some time now. And although I am not Buddhist, I do find myself drawn to their way of life and how they see the world. I usually turn to his work in times when I need advice, motivation or a wake-up call that hits you like a ton of bricks (in a good way... if that is at all possible).

One of my favorite books of his is called You Are Here. It is all about learning how to live in the now and embrace the present moment... something I am trying to work on. Life is too precious. I don't want to let it pass me by. I want to make the most of every moment. I want to rejoice in the sun, the rain and the snow because they are reminders of how good God truly is.

Here is a passage (it's rather long, sorry) that I felt to be particularly enlightening.

"Albert Camus, in his novel The Stranger, used the term "the moment of awareness." When the protagonist of the novel, Meursault, learns he is going to be executed for the murder he has committed, anxiety, fear, and anger are born on him. In despair, he is lying on his prison bed looking at the ceiling when, for the first time, he sees the square of blue sky through the skylight. The sky is so blue- it's the first time in his life that he has gotten deeply in touch with the blue sky. He has already lived for decades without ever really seeing the blue sky. Perhaps he has looked at the sky from time to time, but he has not seen it in a deep way. Now, three days before his death, he is able to touch the blue sky in a deep way. The moment of awareness has manifested.

Meursault decides to live every minute he has left fully and deeply. Here is a prisoner who is practicing deep meditation. He lives his last three days in his cell within that square of blue sky. That is his freedom. On the afternoon of the last day, a Catholic priest comes to Meursault's prison cell to give him the last rites, but Meursault refuses. He doesn't want to waste the few hours left to him talking to the priest, and he doesn't let him come in. He says, 'The priest is living like a dead man. He is not living like me, I am truly alive.'

Maybe we too are living like dead people. We move about life in our own corpse because we are not touching life in depth. We live a kind of artificial life, with lots of plans, lots of worries and anger. Never are we able to establish ourselves in the here and now and live our lives deeply. We have to wake up! We have to make it possible for the moment of awareness to manifest. This is the practice that will save us- this is the revolution."

I need a revolution.

This can be a reminder to us all not to wait until it is too late. We are alive right now, we are breathing and we are healthy.. it is time to live. I can't keep focusing on the future or what tomorrow will bring. Otherwise, I will miss what magical and beautiful things are right in front of me.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

2010-01-06T21:07:00.000-08:00

I decided that while I have some down time during the month of January that I am going to cram as many books into my head as possible (metaphorically speaking). I absolutely love to read yet seldomly find enough time to dedicate to a book during my busy school schedule. For Jterm this year I am only taking a 1 credit class, hence why I will have so much free time on my hands. Why not use that time to treat my mind and feed my passion?

My first book (completed in a mere 2 days) was The Art of Racing in the Rain. It was written by a local Seattle Author, Garth Stein, in 2008.

I had my eye on this book for months... but could never muster up the will to buy it. Why? I HAVE NO IDEA! It is still a mystery to me. While I was away visiting Sam's family over the holidays, I was presented with this lovely gift from his mom. She and I have traded dog books and personal stories back and forth about our faithful (& furry) companions for quite some time now.. and needless to say, she hit it spot on the nose when she got me this book.

The Art of Racing is a story about love and heartache, triumph and loss told through the mind of a dog named Enzo. Although there are some dreadfully sad parts, Enzo (& Garth Stein) balance it with some humor and wit that is sure to get your side achin'. Sometimes I would find myself crying from sadness and laughing from the cleverness at the same time. Bet you didn't think that was possible, did ya?

If you are a fan of dogs and know what a joy they bring to one's life- this is a book for you. A dog really is a man's (or woman's) best friend and this is truly represented in the Art of Racing. There is something that a canine can provide for a human unlike any other specimen. I always thought of dogs having a sixth sense, they have the ability to feel what their human companion is feeling even without being able to speak or use gestures. I vividly remember a time after I lost my cat, Chili, and how devasting it was for me, and somehow Boo knew exactly the pain I was experiencing.. and he comforted me better than any person could. Sixth sense.

This is a story that I could honestly read time and time again.. and I'm sure I will. That is why I want to share this with you- I want you to experience the same joy I got from reading it. I don't want to give any details away about this book. You simply must read it for yourself. Just prepare to get swept off your feet by the endearing and insightful Enzo. He is a dog you will never forget.

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes.
This quote is from a time when Denny (Enzo's master) takes Enzo out for his first time on the racetrack.

"Yes, one more lap. One more lap. Forever, one more lap. I live my life for one more lap. I give my life for one more lap! Please, God, please give me one more lap!"

This is exactly how I imagine Boo and Kona reacting everytime they get their favorite treat, hotdogs.

That's all for now,
<3 J

Birthday Boo

2009-12-20T20:19:00.000-08:00

This post is dedicated to my birthday Boo ( get it--- like birthday boy??) He turned THREEEE on December 6th. That's like 80 in dog years! He's getting up there. But last night I told him, "Boo, although you have gotten older, you truly have aged so gracefully. You can't even tell that you are three now instead of two. You only get more beautiful as the years grow... instead of the opposite...which happens to most dogs. Consider yourself lucky!"

Here are some pitures of Mr. Boo throughout the years. Unfortunately I don't have any from when he was a puppy as they are still on my old computer. However-- I am sure you will enjoy these that truly represent the majestic and ever-so-poised MALIBU!

Happy birthday Malibu!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-20T19:58:00.001-08:00

The Okazee's have finally struck Christmas spirit in full force today-- look, even dad joined in! (sorry in advance, dad... I'm crossing my fingers this won't dimish your masculinity)

We decorated our Christmas tree tonight! && it looks marvelous! I love Christmas time :)

Who knew ornaments could be such fashionable earrings??

Doesn't she look fabulous??

My dogs are particularly jolly during the season. Just look at those big smiles!

Too presh.

Lots of love to all my faithful readers && wishing you a very merry Christmas!

<3 J

Cheeeeeese!

2009-12-16T19:32:00.000-08:00

My baby cousin! He's growing into such a little man. I adore him.
PS- I haven't mentioned this yet... but he will soon be an official member of our family! We couldn't be happier :)

An explanation.

2009-12-03T20:57:00.001-08:00

Sorry for my lack of posts.

I just got on here real quick to notify all of my readers that I am still alive....barely.

College is sucking every living particle of my being away from me. It's best you stear clear until after finals because right now I am just one hot mess. One.Hot.Mess.

Wish me luck as I bring this semester to a (much awaited for) close. I will let you know soon enough if I survive.

Til next time... I hope.

<3 J

Hot Chocolate :)

2009-11-16T18:30:00.000-08:00

Mmmm, hot chocolate is perfect on a windy, cold night. I think I'm finally learning how to embrace cold weather. A warm jacket, gloves, scarves, hot tea, coffee and cocoa...and don't forget the slippers. You cannot forget the necessities. Plus I am a big fan of layering, so why not take advantage of the season and pile it on! Garnish the perfect fall/winter outfit with a hot latte and I'm set :)
Have a fantastic night!
<3 J

Things to look forward to

2009-11-12T18:53:00.000-08:00

Right now is a busy time for me-- even though I have a little over a month until finals, they are already kickin in full force. Just to put it in perspective: I have three 10-15 page research papers, four presentations, and three tests piling up in my schedule before this semester is over. Needless to say, I will be a social recluse for the next month. I won't be surprised if I pull out all my hairs or if my face breaks out into a million stress pimples or have numerous panic attacks. This week alone has been really stressful and packed full of homework and research and outlines...so for now, I need to make myself happy by looking forward to things that are to come in the future.

Such as.....
Going to The Used concert tomorrow night in Seattle (I consider them my "first band love", a band I will always feel connected to)
I'm getting my hair cut/colored by a very old and dear best friend of mine--I am super excited!
Girls night on Saturday- lots of chit chat and laughter (I need this!!)
Thanksgiving (for the obvious reasons..)
Christmas (also for obvious reasons.. but for some reason, I feel uber excited/festive this year!)
My 21st birthday (January 11th.)
A long break from school (Need to recoup and gain strength to finish out the year)

Lots of good things are coming my way, and for that, I need to stay positive and remain determined to stay focused in school. Thinking of the future always helps keep me grounded for some reason. Knowing that brighter days are just around the corner reminds me to not stress about the little things- it will soon be over and done with. With all that being said, I still know I will be a freakfest come finals week..but it's always worth a shot trying to talk myself into a better state of mind.

I had a conversation with Sam the other night. I couldn't fall asleep, I was too stressed and worried and then I asked him...will life be less stressful after we graduate? I'd like to think so, but something tells me I will find other things to stress over. But what will those things be? Surely it will be better than homework and papers and labs, right? I can manage paying bills or cleaning the house...that seems way less complicated. I bet you're thinking "Jill, my friend, you have a lot to learn." It's true. I do.

I'll admit it, school is hard. Sometimes it gets the best of me. But I keep trying to tell myself that these are the days--I am free. My only true obligation is school. I have it pretty good. PLU is a great University to attend, so why do I waste my time getting flustered over little things? It's time to live it up.
Live it up, Jill.

Something's are easier said than done... but I will try.

Ok, that was a lot to lay on you. Hope my scatterbrained thoughts make sense.
Have a good night :)
<3 J

Boots Heaven!

2009-11-04T17:35:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love a good pair of boots. In fact, I think I could say I'm nearly obsessed with them. If they could go with any outfit ensemble (i.e. sweatpants, slouchy jeans or pjs) I would wear them all day, everyday. For some odd reason, I find them to be totally comfortable, not to mention develishly stylish- so any chance I get- I throw a pair on! I've been perusing around Nordy's (my number one go-to shoe palace) for months looking for the perfect boot for this season. Well you know how the saying goes.. if you are looking for it, you'll never find it...errr something along those lines. That was the case for me. BECAUSE, because, because...guess what. I just scored a brand spanking new pair of Dolce Vita (!!!) boots for free! It is so wonderful to have friends who look out for you and know just how to make you happy-- boots, of course! I am one verrrrrry happy girl :)

P.S. Since this post is about shoes, I figure now is a good time to give a *shout out* (for lack of a better word) to my beautiful (and pregnant!!) cousin because I know she is just as much of a shoe lover/obsessee as I am. Love you girl!

So close I can almost taste it..

2009-11-03T22:06:00.000-08:00

Just want to update everyone that I will officially be 21 in 10 weeks!

Where has the time gone?
In the past year alone I have grown so much.
I have experienced so much.
I'm eager for what this next year has to offer but.. for the meantime, I am embracing where I am at now and grateful for how far I've come.
It's been a great 20 years- I am truly blessed.
I have a feeling my 21st year will be an extremely yummy one... :)
<3 J

mmm cupcakes

2009-10-07T11:00:00.001-07:00

I'm definitely itching to get back to work at the cupcake shop. I only work weekends there, and I was gone this past weekend at Oktoberfest...so that means I haven't been to work for two weeks! Yikes. I need money PLUS who doesn't love cupcakes?! **This is not a picture from Sweet Things cupcakes-- this was a picture I took during the summer at Indulge Cupcakes.

Chelan

2009-10-01T11:13:00.001-07:00

I am finally posting pictures of our Chelan trip.. it has been long overdue.

This vacation was an absolute blast! It was so fun to be with family and close friends && enjoy what Chelan has to offer together. So many memories...

"Halley Barry!"

"Uhhh mom, we need to get to a car wash...now!"

Dean's tramp stamp...

It's a trip I will definitely remember forever! All of the wineries were fantastic, the cash-ino, momma's cookin, Poker (&& Bones!), the water slide (++ bloody noses)-- it all made for a great time. Thanks to mom for making it all happen (love you pretty lady!)

Harvey

2009-10-01T10:20:00.001-07:00

Meet Harvey. He is Matt's (a close friend of mine) puppy. Isn't he the sweetest? He went to Chelan with us-- and we all enjoyed him very much.

Wicked!!

2009-09-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

Wicked was absolutely fabulous this year!

Some friends invited mom & I to join them in a huge girls night/wicked party--which included a party bus (woohoo!) appetizers, lots of wine (!) and some yummy desserts :)

We had such a blast! Good company and a great show equals one fabulous night! And although we were seated in the 5th to last row..of the entire theatre..it was still just as good as I remembered it the first time!

A big hug and thank you to Jaimie and her momma for including us in a wonderful evening!

<3>

Sex and the City-- The Sequel!

2009-09-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes!! The girls are back!I have patiently waited (that's a lie! Extremely impatient is more like it.) for SATC 2 to come out and it is finally in the works! I know, I know..don't jump out of your seat! The sequel is said to hit theatres May 28th--perfect timing seeing as that will be my last day of class! It will be a great way to celebrate :) So I'm thinking I need to start preparing for the big day well in advance, say starting...now. My goal is to save up a good chunk of money so I can buy my very first pair of Manolo Blahniks, and wear them to the show!-- wouldn't that be fabulous?? I think so.

I don't think people understand my insane love for Carrie (and the rest of the girls!)..but especially Carrie. She is the epitome of who I want to be (minus the smoking). She is fabulous in every sense of the word. Haha, I would go on and on about how much I love Carrie, but then you would begin to see my crazy side and it's probably best to keep that hidden ;)

Needless to say, I am psyched!

Just thought I'd share that with you :)

<3 J

Missy Higgins

2009-09-20T20:48:00.000-07:00

Warm Whispers -Missy Higgins

I absolutely love, love, LOVE this song. So beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VjPa38p4_Q

Enjoy,
<3 J

Etsy

2009-09-20T19:15:00.000-07:00

I have found a new favorite website! It's called Etsy.. it's a place where people can buy and sell artsy/crafty things. I have heard of it before but just recently decided to visit the website (thanks to Sarah:))It is amazing! I am already so excited to buy some art for my bedroom and kitchen :D

If you haven't already, you MUST check it out.

That's all for now.
<3 J

Got a job!

2009-09-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

So my dream job finally made it's way into my life! Just yesterday I was hired at a brand spankin new ( and super cute if I do say so myself!) cupcake shop/cafe. I have been wanting to work in a bakery for quite a while, so this was just perfect. It is truly a blessing to have good friends who put in a good word for you :)
Tomorrow is my first day-- and I cannot wait! If any of you are interested, (and you should be!!), the grand opening is tomorrow! It opens at 8am with lots of delicious cupcakes to choose from and coffee to go with it. It is called Sweet Things Cupcake and Couture :)
Come check it out asap.

Soon to come:
lots of pictures from our Chelan vacay
update on my school endeavors
pictures of my new apartment

Stay tuned!!
<3 J

Eat, Pray, Love

2009-08-20T12:08:00.001-07:00

Here's a fun fact about Jillian: I loooooove to check out books (as well as music) from the library. I have a huge passion for reading, I find it to be a great escape; a way to relax, learn and spend time doing something healthy for mind and soul. Anyways, as many avid book readers know, it is an expensive habbit, especially if you buy your books from Borders, Barnes and Noble, etc. So I decided to start making full use of my library membership and began checking out my books instead of buying them (and reading them once, mayyybe twice if it's THAT good.)
Consider doing this! haha No joke. It is a fabulous (and did I mention FREE???) resource to indulge in your book/music/movie-loving life.
The whole point of this post wasn't to tell you about my library,(although I'm sure you love me for it, right?!) but rather about this amazing book I am reading currently.
It's called: Eat, Pray, Love. It is good, good, GOOD. Ok, so I'm only halfway through it, but trust me, it is good. It's about this woman who dedicates a year of her life (after a tough divorce, && struggling to find selfworth) to travel to 3 places in the world (Italy, India, & Indonesia), where she engages to find pleasure, prayer and love. The author, Elizabeth Gilbert, is entertaining to say the least. Her writing is full of spunk--the way she relates her crazy encounters to real life is truly something that will keep a smile on your face and eager for more.

Go check out a copy of it STAT, you just have to trust me on this. Because c'mon, I'm not a book critic--I can only say so much, so just trust me.

Hope this inspires you!
<3 J

An apoology for my readers..

2009-08-19T10:19:00.000-07:00

I feel as though I owe an apology to my many, in fact thousands, of readers...(NOT..in reality there are only a select few) for not being a good blogger. If only I were Julie Powell and started a blog and soon enough thousands of readers were following my blog posts, which turned into getting offered to write a book about my blog and then turned into a movie--wouldn't that be awesome!? Why can't that happen to me? Maybe I need to spice things up a bit. Who knows. I always think about things I want to post throughout my day, but then when I eventually go sit down at my computer-- I completely space out on my blog-worthy stories, isn't that awesome?! So, here I am. I've been so busy this summer/especially lately and have had soo many amazing things happen but I have no idea where to start. Instead of going through it all, I think I'll skip the details and just let you know that life is great. I'm anxiously counting down the days until I head back to school, unsure of whether I am excited or sad to be leaving summer in the dust. I just can't believe I'm already a JUNIOR!! Holy cow, it really really does go by fast. The first year seemed like forever but once you tackle that hurdle it flies by--that is not a joke! Two years left doesn't seem that bad, it is definitely something I feel like I can manage ( && hopefully sustain my spot on the Dean's List :))

Here are a few big things that have happened over the past few weeks (thus leaving me hardly any time to post..unfortunately)

-I moved back home!!! Note: it will not be official until the end of summer, but still. It is soo nice to be back home.
-My mom and I have been busy painting and re-vamping some awesome furniture items we found at garage sales--yes it's true, we garage sale shopped til we dropped! (well, sort of. That is a very tiring task, because it takes forever until you find what you want!!)
-I got tickets to go see Rascal Flatts at the Tacoma Dome for Sam and I! (We will be celebrating our 2 year aniversary! And this must really mean something...because Sam is not into country music AT ALL. Just shows what kind of a guy he is- very sweet and thoughtful.)
-I hosted a sushi party at my house this past Sunday; it was sooo much fun! && not to mention yummy :)

I think that's all. I don't really feel like racking my brain on what else I've been up to.
Have a great sun-filled day!
<3 J

Samuel <3

2009-08-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

Sam visited this past week, which was fabuloso! We were busy the entire time doing fun things and enjoying the sun && eachother's company. Here is what we did.
Thursday: After I was done babysitting, he swooped me up and took me out to dinner at BJ's (which is delicious, but I always leave feeling really full and slightly sick after the pazookie's...hmm)
Friday: Spent the afternoon shopping at Pier 1, picking up some sweet stuff for mamasan, with Sam and Jaimie. Then we had a family birthday dinner for Peggy and Stef at our house (so much fun- i love them all so so much!)
Saturday: Went to Pike Place Market with Sam and mom, bought some BEAUTIFULLY enormous sunflowers and ate lunch at Matt's in the Market (thanks to Dean's recccomendation).
Sunday: Went garage sale hunting for a queen size bed frame and a dresser...was pretty successful for finding a cute dresser for $20 AND they gave me a rocking chair too! both in really good condition, but I will def. be sproucing them up with lots of flava!
Monday: Went with Sam to Seattle to watch his little brother, Max, play 2 baseball games! It was a lot of fun && plus, when we were leaving, we got a glimpse at the Barcelona Soccer team practice at UW's soccer field. It was awesome..although I couldn't understand a word anyone was saying....
Tuesday: Went on a trecherous hike on Mt. Si. It was crazy!! Either that or...I'm incredibly out of shape. Probably the latter of the two, but still, it was tough. But definitely beautiful.
Wednesday: Went out to lunch at Panera and then had to bid Samuel farwell.

And now I'm one sad and lonely girl :(
But it was a lot of fun! I always love when he visits......
I will post some pictures of our adventures real soon....stay tuned.
<3 J

India Arie

2009-07-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

The song that's been playing over and over again in my head:

The Heart of the Matter -India Arie

(you can listen to this song at --->) http://www.last.fm/music/India.Arie/_/The+Heart+Of+The+Matter

It's a beautiful song, full of truth and the awakening of what it means to forgive.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

<3 J

The Okazeeee Vacazeeee

2009-07-15T14:22:00.001-07:00

Lake Coeur d'Alene baby!! We did it up this summer. And had a blasty blast while doing it! I never pictured myself in Idaho...but honestly, I had the time of my life. The vacation was so laid back and relaxing..but filled with so much fun and energy at the same time. I got to spend a week with the people I love most, and I guess that's all I can really ask for. We had such great times, we made ever-lasting memories ("HARD LEFT!!!!" dad cranks the boat's steering wheel to avoid hitting the bottom) and I got to bring my doggies too

Here is Nicole ( my brother's lady friend). She was FABULOUS.

Sam got up on the wakeboard. It was a very proud moment for me :)Such a stud, huh?
My brother is a pro at wakeboarding.. he made it look waaayyy too easy.

Slicin' up that water!

Sam is so cute. I can't handle how smokin my man is! He is my favorite travel partner (besides you, mom!!!)

It's time to party!

The gang sitting by the fire and enjoying a beautiful 4th of July. So many fireworks and delicious 'smores!

Kelvin diving off the 1oft pole.

Sam being a macho man.

Ok, so apparently I took more pictures of Sam than I thought.. but I can't help it. I mean seriously..could you?! Look at him.

All of our gear.

Dean && Nicole :)

The boyzzzzzz

The girls (Nicole and Erin)

Just kickin back by the water.

All the puppies on the boat, suited up in their lifejackets :)

Mom & dad-- lookin good you two!Sunsets on the lake = amazing.

And I will leave you with this image. Notice his water boots..aren't those fashionable?

BTW, I am still learning (slowly, I must add) at how to properly upload pictures on this thing... so I must admit...the end is the beginning and the beginning is the end. Not that it makes much difference. Anywho. Hope this pictures give you a slight idea of just how much fun we had. I love my family.
<3>

Indulge Cupcakes

2009-07-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

I went to this fabulous cupcake bakery for the first time yesterday. &&&&
I LOVED IT! It's called Indulge Cupcakes, and it is located in the heart of downtown Puyallup, near the Farmer's Market and Trackside Pizza.

It was just what I was looking for in a cupcake. Which means...
I'm applying for a job there ASAP! I think it would be a perfect fit and also a great way to get involved and educated with the baking world. So wish me luck!!!

In case you were wondering what flavor cupcake I got... I tried the strawberry shortcake one. To sum it up in one word: absolutelydeliciousbeyonddescription.

Have a splendid day!
<3 J

house/dog sitting

2009-07-10T17:27:00.001-07:00

Greeeetings!

Currently I am posted up in a good friend of mines house, dog sitting for her family for a long weekend. It's rather lonely, I must admit but the weather's nice and the house is beauitful so I can't complain too much. They have two Westies .. seriously two of the cutest dogs I've ever seen!

In other news-- I am reading Julie and Julia (which is about hit the movie theaters in a couple of weeks) and it is so so good! It's all about a woman's story of her adventure on learning how to cook French cuisine. It's hilarious and I can't wait to see the movie now!

Also in other news-- I made the Dean's list at PLU last semester!! Which is a big honor and I'm thrilled that all of my hard work and stress paid off in such a great way.

Needless to say- I am one happy girl right now.

bucket list

2009-06-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

I was chatting with a friend the other day..and I suddenly became inspired to start a bucket list. I have so many things I want to do and see in this world- I want to make my dreams a reality. Life is too precious and fragile to let the things you love pass you by. I want to live a spontaneous, adventurous and fanscinating life.

Here are some of the ideas on my list thus far...

1. Travel to: Greece, Barcelona and Ireland
2. Be fluent in a foreign language
3. Win the lottery
4. Live on a farm
5. Go to culinary school
6. Learn how to whistle
7. Go shopping in New York
8. Be a member of a book club
9. Invent something fantastic
10. Backpack through Europe
11. Learn how to play poker
12. Skydive
13. Eat exotic food from all over the world.
14. Have lots of dogs. ( I want to name my first two, Dooney & Burke. hahaha)
15. Go on a random trip somewhere far away without any plans.
16. Witness something so phenomenal that I cry and then laugh.
17. Learn how to play a musical instrument exceedingly well (preferably the piano).
18. Have a random pen pal who lives on another continent.
19. Learn how to make sushi
20. Learn how to waterski
21. Take photography classes

that's it so far.
i'll add on soon.
<3 J

Let the fun begin.

2009-06-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

Hellllllloooooo World!
It's been awhile, yeah? Yeah. Tell me about it. These last few weeks have been non-stop insanity....mostly in a good way.
1) I finished this year off with a 3.5-- BOOOOOOYAAAAHHHH! haha needless to say, I worked my booty off to get that GPA. It was a long and tough semester, but definitely one to be proud of and enthusiastic about. I had great professors, learned a ton, and enjoyed myself while on the journey!
2) As soon as I took my last final, I was on a plane to Arizona for some much needed R&R. This was the first time all year I was fully able to let go and relax. I had nothing to worry about, no papers to write.. I was free. I got to enjoy the hot desert by a nice pool, sippin on iced coffee whenever I got the chance. The best part of all, I got a lot of "thinking time"... I constantly have school on my mind so it was refreshing to get back to my other passions in life and really explore other possibilities.
3) After AZ, I worked.. a lot. haha well, for me it was a lot. and I realized how unhappy I was at the Kennels...
4) After those dreadful days at work, I was destined for my wisdom teeth operation! Surprisingly..I was excited. Not only would I have to do absolutely nothing for days to come....but I was fascinated by the whole sedation part too. haha. Anyways, the surgery went as smoothly as it possibly could. It was a breeze for me, so allow me to shed some light here. It's really not as bad as people make it out to be. I didn't experience any pain...well not really. and also, I had no major swelling. Pretty awesome?? I think so!
5) After recooping.. I was ready to kick summer's butt. It started by me quitting my kennel job. I was miserable there. It had to happen. Why spend my summer unhappy and bitter about picking up dog poop all day and breaking my back to clean kennels? It wasn't worth it. And that's saying a lot because you all know my love for dogs. But, I quit. Talk about liberating!!

So. That is where I am today. With all of that out of the way, I am read to unleash summer. I am ready for something big and amazing to happen.

<3 J

My new Love

2009-05-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

What do you think? Isn't it magical?

Can you tell I love it a lot already? Cuz I do.

How did I get so lucky??? What did I do to deserve this?! I'm still in shock.......

I need a breath. of. fresh. air.

this is TOO much for me to handle.

OMG, OMG, OMG!!

2009-05-14T18:45:00.000-07:00

Oh-My-Gosh!

I am officially crazified!

My mom just gave me my very own (brand spankin' new) kitchen aid!!!!!!!!!!
Yes--- it's RED! && yes--- it's fabulous!!
&& yes--- I will definitely be making something fantastically delicious in it tonight!

(can you tell I'm excited?)

I am in LOVE*LOVE*LOVE*LOVEEEEEEE!

I will be posting pictures of me and my new baby asap. just wait.

Updates!

2009-05-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

Life has been very fulfilling lately. I've been having so much fun! Here are some pictures show-casing what I've been up to as of late.

My cute cousin (sporting the shirt I picked out for him for his 1st birthday) fell in love with The Okazaki Wagon on Mother's day. He couldn't get enough of it! He even took a nap in the wagon. It was priceless.

The other two cute kids are two (of the three) littles ones I babysit. They are a bundle of fun! & always keeping me busy, that's for sure!

And then there's the easter cupcakes! Yum-a-licious! I must say, I was pretty proud of my mom and I for making these orange buttercream delights! Maybe this whole bakery thing really will work out!! Yay for us :)

That'a all for now!
Hope you had a fabulous Monday.
<3 J

Yabadabadoooooo!

2009-05-06T19:44:00.001-07:00

It has been declared (by me) that..

Writing four page papers in under a day is my new found specialty.

I knew this is why I wanted to go to college.

:D Note the sarcasm.

But on a brighter note-- I have one week remaining until finals! Meaning...summer time is LITERALLY just around the corner. I have waited all year long to be able to say that.

Teehee!
<3 J