H&D with L&B in CA

Absence makes the heart grow fonder... that's what we discovered after visiting Lauren and Bridger at their new home in Pasadena. We had probably our best weekend of 2009 hanging out with our friends whom we've missed so much!! We made up for lost time by going to Zuma Beach, taking in the smells and tastes of South Pasadena's Farmer's Market, touring the Getty Villa Museum, shopping along 3rd Street Promenade, feasting on Yogurtland, and indulging in hour-long foot massages. How sweet it is to laugh, talk, and relax with such great friends.
All our activities deserve a blog-post of their own, but I'll try to restrain myself. There is something about a good vacation that rejuvenates the soul. Maybe it's the cool ocean breeze. Maybe it's partaking of delicious food with no guilt involved. Maybe it's catching up on sleep and spending time together. Whatever it is, it was just what the doctor ordered! Thanks to the Jensen's for an all-out amazing weekend!

i've been stalking you...

Our garden has been surprising us already this year, much to our benefit. We planted aspargus 3 years ago, not knowing a thing about growing it. We later found out that it takes 3 years after planting before you can actually eat the vegetable! Well guess what? It's the third year. So we have been savoring every delicious bite of our fresh aspargus, preferably roasted with a little olive oil and parmesan. yummmmmm.....

I also planted parsley a few years ago, and it came back last summer even larger than before. So this summer when I found a big sprouting green plant, I assumed it was the herb coming back yet again. But it didn't have a good, strong parsley scent so I decided to dig it up and replant. As I tried to yank it out of the garden, I realized it wasn't parsley at all, but a pile of carrots! Neither Dave nor I can recall ever planting carrots, but they somehow sprouted up right next to the parsley. All this before June 1? Can't wait to see what else our garden has in store for us this year....

my kind of weekend

My kind of weekend is LONG. and SUNNY. and spent with loved ones.

good food, lots of sleep, and an interesting page-turner make a good weekend even better. not to mention some Iron Chef America, morning walks, and lying by the pool.

And to top it all off, look who decided to join us- not just for the weekend, but the whole summer!

vacuuuuuum

My trusty old Bissell has given up on me, after four years of cleanliness. So the hunt began last week for a replacement. After 2 very disappointing and frustrating trips to walmart, I decided to wise up by visiting my dependable, lovable Target. And yes, they came through for me once again. The Eureka Altima is the coolest- it has a "pet paw" that picks up jo-jo hair better than anything I've ever tried. Plus it has this cool electromagnetic duster that sucks all the dust right off the furniture. Better yet, it was on sale for $70, proving that you don't need to spend $300-400 for a good vacuum (just like you don't need to spend over $100 for a good pair of jeans.) I got the kind of satisfaction today that only a good cleaning product can provide- I haven't been this impressed since I discovered the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Dave even got excited about it and let's face it- that's a deal breaker ladies!

swim, bike, run

Last week dave competed in the 4th Street Clinic triathlon held on and around the U of U campus. The rain made things a little muddy, but it didn't phase dave a bit. Despite very little training, he managed to shave a few minutes off his time from last year. I'm always amazed how Dave can take the winter off from cycling and swimming and just jump right back into gear like it ain't no thang. All the proceeds from the race go to the 4th Street Clinic, which delivers health care to the homeless and needy of Utah. I have many family members that donate their medical and pharmacological skills to the clinic, and this is dave's way of contributing.

I'm also impressed at the wide variety of men, women, and children that compete in these sprint-distance triathlons. Not everybody looks like they could star on the cover of Shape magazine. It even makes me wonder "if they can do it, I can too!" Who knows, maybe I'll join their ranks someday. In the meantime, I'll enjoy supporting Dave with cameras, treats, blogposts, and love. Way to go DW!

Lucky Me!

2 things have happened in the past 2 days that nearly never happen- I got out of not one but TWO weekend night shifts! This is a blessing straight from heaven of which I've been the grateful recipient. Thursday was a hard day at work, one I will not soon forget. Let's just leave it at that. So you can imagine my utter joy when I get a phone call that night around 9:30 from a coworker, "do you want me to work your Friday night shift?" Heck, yes!! I want you all to understand that this very very rarely happens (never say never, right?). To make things even better, Saturday I get a call from work right as I was preparing for my nap. "Do you want to work tomorrow day instead of tonight?" Now I don't like to work Sundays but getting out of a night shift is so tempting... so I agreed to the switch. This has allowed me to attend Ben's blessing, hang out with our grandpa, go shopping with friends, spend time with Dave, and sleep during the night! Talk about good luck and a good weekend...

It's been 6 days...

While spending Easter weekend in St. George, I pretty much over-loaded on candy. What do you expect me to do? I was surrounded by every variety of m&m's, jelly beans, Reese's pb cups, licorice, peeps, and mini twix- so naturally I feasted upon the chocolate and high fructose corn syrup. After we got home Sunday night, I was contemplating the large doses of candy I consumed and realized that I can't complain about un-lost pregnancy pounds when I eat like that. So suddenly, in a rash and unplanned moment, I splurted out "I'm not going to eat any treats for a whole week." ("treats" are defined as candy, cookies, cake, chocolate, etc.) Now maybe this is normal for some of you. Maybe you think it wouldn't be that hard. But if you know me at all, you know this is a huge sacrifice. I don't go a DAY without treats, not to mention a WEEK. Now if I had just thought about withholding for a week, that would be one thing. But I said it out loud, to Dave. So I had to stick to it! I thought about forgetting I ever said it, but I felt bad giving up so easy. I then felt like I had to prove it to myself and to Dave that I really could do it! Well, I'm almost there. It's been 6 days, one more to go, and I'm looking forward to Sunday so I can eat whatever I want. It's been tough- my bowl of happy pastel m&m's (plain, pb, and peanut) have been calling my name every night. But I think my biggest challenge will be tomorrow night- I'm working a night shift, a time I usually live off of treats. Other people have diet coke, coffee, red bull to keep them awake. Me? I stay awake thanks to treats. So this is a dilemma. Since my decision making skills and self-control are usually impaired in the middle of the night, I'll probably figure that after midnight it's technically Sunday and I can have treats again!
I guess I'm proud of myself for (almost) achieving a goal I set, but I can't say I feel so much healthier, look skinnier, or have lost a ton of weight. If any of you are thinking about making a similar goal, stop now, go enjoy a treat, and wish me luck for the next 2 days.

Comforts of Home, part two

Home Sweet Home. I have unloaded my deep feelings of love for my parents' home, but I must say it is my second favorite. Here in my little blue house lies my all-time favorite place. There are so many things about it I love, mostly the feeling I have when I'm inside its walls. From morning to night, I appreciate:

• waking up to this

• the tennis ball hanging in our garage making sure my car squeezes in just right
• seeing Joey look at me through the kitty door as I reverse down the driveway
• finding Dave's socks at the bottom of the bed, knowing he kicked them off while asleep
• doing laundry in our high-tech washer and dryer that I won from Dan's grocery store
• cuddling on the couch after dinner to watch LOST, 30 Rock, or a Jazz game
• how Dave can be in the family room while I'm on the computer and we can still be having a normal conversation
• the painting on our wall that reminds me of getting engaged and melts my heart every time I see it
• crawling into bed with the one I love, feeling safe as I fall asleep knowing he'll be next to me now and always

The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, a handmade gift/treat from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! Here's the catch: you must participate as well. Before you leave your comment, write up a "pay it forward" post on your blog to keep the fun going. Then come back, let me know you're going to play and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift! Who doesn't love a surprise?

Comforts of Home, part one

What is it about home that is so comforting? I think it may be different for everybody and for every home. To me, home is more of a feeling than an actual place.

For the past two months, Dave and I have had the pleasure of staying with my parents in my childhood home. This will always be one of the places I consider "home," full of many memories and traditions. My parents' home provides me with strong feelings of belonging, comfort, and unconditional love. But why?

Maybe it's my mom's delicious food she prepares daily- no matter what is served it always tastes better when she makes it. Maybe it's the way my dad saves the Tribune crossword each morning for me, then comes home after work to check my answers (or help me finish it!). Maybe it's the warm fireplace that draws me close night after night, or the nightlights in the hallway that prevent any bumps or bruises as I find my way to the bathroom. Is it Brittany, looking up at me with her big brown eyes wanting a rub or just a little treat? Is it my dad watching 30 Rock with me when I know he'd rather be watching Criminal Minds? Maybe it's my mom driving me to and from University Hospital several times when I know how much she dislikes finding her way around the campus.

I can't pinpoint what it is about home that helps to heal my spirit and mend my heart, but I know I'd be lost without it. I am filled with gratitude to my parents for making their home a place of refuge, safety, comfort, and love, and Dave and I aim to do the same. Returning home to mine and Dave's house was bittersweet- although I was thrilled to be going home and returning to Joey, I knew I would miss my parents. The closeness I gained to my parents made me want to share each day with them. Never will I forget the generosity and compassion they have shown to me, and although I know I can never repay them I hope to honor them by creating a home that holds the same feelings of comfort and warmth. There really is no place like home.