Sun Valley Visit.

Fun weekend, friends. Highlights included the following:

1. Visiting downtown Hailey & Sun Valley.

Sun Valley has been only two hours away from us for the past 2 years! 

I can't believe it took us this long to visit. Holy gorgeous.

2. Beautiful Spring Blossoms.

I guess spring comes a little later up in the mountains because there were white blossoms flying everywhere. It was like snow, but nicer smelling. 

3. Ice cream (naturally)

...doesn't this picture of gid make you laugh? It sure makes me laugh...

4. Tour of the ice rink where the professionals perform.

I totally fit this poster. I'm not sure if I'm proud of that though.

(Cardigan: Target, Top: Anthro, Jeans: Banana Republic)

5. Redfish Lake. 

Pretty pretty pretty. 

Reminded me of our honeymoon.

I know I look a little grouchy. I think I might have been hungry.

Happy Weekend to you, friends!

ninja dreamer.

You guys. I think there might be something wrong with me.

For the past few weeks I've been having vivid dreams where I star as a but kicking hero. It's so weird; my inner psyche must be really overly confident in my self defense skills. The closest I've been to karate class is jackie chan films (and kicking the microwave shut with an enthusiastic hi-yah), but I haven't watched an action film for months and months. I just don't understand the sudden boost of action in my dreams.

They all have a very 'sleek secret agent spy' feel to them. And gid has only been in one of them; we were on the same team trying to save someone from some horrible fate. The last few nights its like I've been a spectator in my dream- like there's two of me. I'm watching myself in my dream. I'll see a bad guy coming behind me, and before I get a chance to warn myself that he's going to try to get me, the me that I'm watching elbows the bad guy in the chest with ridiculous strength, then I disarm him, smack him with his own gun across the face, rendering him unconscious. Then, calmly, I walk away in broad daylight as I slide retro sunglasses over my eyes. Cool as a cucumber. I'm not positive if there is jazzy music in the background. There might be. The me watching me in my dream, by the way, is completely startled. Where the heck did that come from? '

What's really concerning is that I think I've (the awake alyssa) been infected with the overconfidence. The other day, as I was walking out of the grocery store, there was a guy about 20 feet away from me who didn't necessarily look suspicious, (but in movies, its always those ones that are sleeper bad guys) and as he walked closer and closer, I made an action plan as to what I would do if he hypothetically were to try anything fishy. By the time he walked past me (with a charming smile and nod) I had one hand clutching my keys wolverine style, and the other clenching my clutch wallet. In case you were wondering, I planned to smack him with my clutch (only $12.99 at target and ADorable) and then if he was still conscious, I was going to use some serious XMEN skills on him. Oh! Maybe I'm having these dreams because of the new x-men movie coming out! That makes sense. I've always yearned to be an X- Chick.

The first few times I had these 'Bourne-Identity-esque' dreams, it was funny, and entertaining for gideon when I would excitedly tell him what an awesome spy dream-alyssa is, but they've been happening pretty frequently for about three weeks now. What the-?

Has anyone within earshot of my cyber-voice ever had an experience like this? Is it the hummus I've been eating or the excessive kool-aide squeeze its? Is it the 10 miles I ran this week? Are the sore muscles in my legs sending messages to my brain that are translating to action packed dreams? Is it the change of schedule- going from a full time job to part time work and lots of time to think and online shop? Seriously, you guys. I could be Jack Bauer's body guard. Not that I'm trying to stop it-- I kind of like having a new action story to tell Gid in the morning. But there's nothing wrong with me, right?

I'm still planning on having carrots, some hummus and a squeeze it for lunch. Notify me if you think it would be ill advised.


Have an adventurous friday, friends!

PRESENTING:

1. I hate when he asks me questions (that would require more than a yes or no) while he's got my mouth so wide open that even my nose is feeling a little bit stretched out. And he looks at me waiting for an answer. And I just stare at him with big eyes. And a little drool seeping out the corner of my mouth.

2. I hate when he tells me he's almost finished ten minutes into the appointment. Then twenty. Then forty. Then an hour.

3. I hate that I'm stuck in that horrible chair, and I'm not supposed to move. I actually don't mind being still. I just like to be able to control whether my mouth is open or shut. So, when I'm at the dentist, I'm tap dancing in the air to make up for my voice that's been taken away from me.

4. I hate the air sucker that takes all the moisture out of my mouth. I hate the intrusive necessity of dental work. And the vast array of pointy tools frightens me. Seriously. Nightmare material, those things.

5. I hate the fat lip I get when he numbs half my face. And the irresistible urge I have to feel it while its all tingly. And the drool that gathers in one side of my mouth. Then I spit it out when I get home and I feel seriously stupid.

6. I hate the scrape scrape scraping of the cleaning, and the taste of the polish and all the other stuff they put in your mouth.

7. I hate that he pats me on the head three times and says, "Way to go, champ." 
(ok... I actually do like that)

8. I hate the stupid posters on the ceiling that say things like, "Today is a gift." Any day at the dentist isn't what I'd describe as a gift. They should have a poster that says something like, "Tomorrow won't be so bad," or "This is the freaking reason you're supposed to floss." Yeah. That one would be more effective.

9. I hate that he tells me not to eat for 1/2 an hour or more. Agency stealer. But then when I do eat, I regret it. I hate how right he is.

10.  I hate that I'm supposed to come back in 6 months for another appointment.

Things I like:

1. The little care pack they send me home with. (Complete with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and sugar free gum)


Side note: my current dentist is actually my FAVorite dentist I've ever seen. He's super nice. I just don't trust a man with tools that look like they belong to an international terrorist. The end.

biking with my beau.

Over the weekend, Gid and I went for a little bike ride. Nothing over the top special. 

Just to the human rights park dedicated to Anne Frank. 

(Top: F21, Jeans: Gap)

Reading about the past can have a way of sobering you, don't you think?

Just kind of makes you grateful for things you take for granted. 

 I'm going to miss you, boise. That's all. 

Also- I love gideon.

cookies with my sweetie.

yum.

window shopping sick time.

Haven't been feeling well this morning. So I've spent my morning in bed watching episodes from the first season of Parenthood, and looking up decor for the adorable house I will have in the future. 

Cute quilt much? I want to buy it and have a picnic in the park on it. 

With watermelon. And pears. And raspberry lemonade.

And I'd be wearing a sun dress. 

And gid would wear suspenders.

Super cute chair. I want one. At least one. 

...Well, I would buy one if it was about $299 less. And if Gid and I weren't going into expensive graduate degrees simultaneously. And if I had any idea of where we're going to live for those two years. For all we know, there won't be any room for furniture. I mean, who's to say we won't live in a studio thats 300 square feet? {That's what the psychic on the radio hinted at when I called in to ask about our housing situation in grad school. Maybe she's onto something.} 

...just so you know, we do have a few good leads for an apartment in grad school. It's just hard to make a concrete decision unless its a few weeks in advance, and unfortunately, we're still not quite there.

Maybe all of this home decor inspiration is because we just bought the cutest little love seat for super duper cheap. We've had ours since we got married almost two years ago. Gid found it at a secondhand store for $40. He was so proud of it, and it was actually pretty cute, but over the past several months its been through two couch covers, started to sink in (more un-optional snuggle time), lost its cushion covers, and so much more. Sweet little couch. Time to say goodbye. 

So thats been my morning friends: laying in bed online window shopping and pretending that I don't feel sick. I hope you are enjoying your friday as well.

and ps- this is not morning sickness, so don't ask if it is.

dear gideon.

This might seem out of the blue.

But I just wanted to tell you how much I love you, and what a lucky duck I think I am to get to have you Forever. Thanks for putting up with me skipping around our small apartment strumming my ukulele to made up songs that usually go to unnaturally high octaves. Thank you for knowing that even though I'm extremely excited about graduate school, I'm also terrified. Thanks for the kind words; for all the encouragement, hugs and kisses.

Thanks for telling me I'm pretty. Especially on days when I feel like a swamp witch. Thanks for sweet nicknames; for letting me be needy when I'm needy, and grouchy when I'm grouchy. I don't know how I tricked you into marrying me, but I'm really glad you did. And when you come across this special post, I hope you know I'm head over heels for you, and I'm never ever going to fall out of love with you. I'm so lucky.
(You are too, but that's not what this post is about.) 
I'm glad you're mine and I'm yours, that's all..

I love you so so much, sweet boy.

weekend status update.

Isn't it funny how facebook has sneaked its way into the culture of our generation? 

And by funny, I mean... 

well, not funny. 

I was looking at a friends page, and noticed status updates every 10 minutes at least. 10 minutes, people! Isn't that crazy? The really funny (again, funny isn't the right word) thing are people like me who read the constant status updates while inwardly swearing that we'll never allow less than a week to go by between status updates (thus preventing people to know that we're on the social network as often as we really are). Husband and I went out of town this weekend, and I kept finding myself making mental status updates that I might put on a personal facebook journal page. They'd look something like this:

Friday May 27th, 2:00 p.m. - "Road trips are the worst."

Friday May 27th, 5:30 p.m. - "Dear Kiwi Loco. I know we just met, but I love you."

Friday May 27th, 6:14 p.m. - "Holy Conference Center, Rexburg."

Friday May 27th, 6:45 p.m. - "The kirkham will always be magical."

Friday May 27th, 11:15 p.m.- "Not impressed, Americinn. Not impressed."

Saturday May 28th, 10:00 a.m.- "Congratulations Dustin and Julia. You're so loved."

Saturday May 28th, 11:00 a.m. - "Eating breakfast with my 90 year old husband at Frontier Pies."

Saturday May 28th, 3:00 p.m. - "Found a new couch! YAAY!!"

Saturday May 28th, 5:14 p.m. - "Road trips are the worst."

That pretty much sums up our weekend. Highlights included us getting a private viewing of the new conference center on BYU Idaho's campus. I persuaded a janitor to let us peek in, and he even let gid and I spend a few minutes alone just staring in awe at the magnificence of the architecture and feeling nostalgic of our undergraduate years. 

Afterwards we visited our favorite building; the Kirkham, naturally. It seems smaller somehow. Its weird to think of all the rehearsals we shared in that building a few years ago. It felt like we lived there during college; it was our life. It seems weird that I worked there; that Gideon proposed there. And now we're just visitors. But still. Even as visitors, the Kirkham will always be magical to us.

Perhaps the best part of the weekend was going to see two of our best friends get sealed in the Rexburg Temple. Such an honor to witness and feel the spirit there. I know everyone is special, but sometimes I think my friends are especially special. At least these two are. 

Oh, and I know finding a couch shouldn't really be exciting (especially compared to the temple), but it was. I'm so happy to be getting rid of our current seating arrangement. Why, you ask? Don't worry, I'll be sure to dedicate a post to that.

Huh. My point was supposed to be that you can update your weekend through several posts every few hours. But I think my lengthy explanation of my posts kind of contradicted that stipulation.

Wow. Scatterbrained post much?

Have a happy day, friends.

old and new...

I bought these sweet old things at an outlet mall about 3 years ago.

 They were such dear flip flops to me. They've been with me to college, to Texas, California, Canada, Oregon, Hawaii, Russia, and everywhere in between. Have you ever gotten so emotionally close to an article of clothing or even a pair of (sniffle) shoes, that seeing them get old makes the corners your mouth turn down uncontrollably? Why do things that I love have to get old?? These little slip ons began to thin about a year ago, but over the past few weeks they've torn enough that you can see right through them almost.

It's time.

I ordered these from a factory site that was ultra ultra clearance.  

I think they're adorable. And I can't wait to bond with them and make new memories until you can't even see where they're from like my old ones. 

Happy Day.



ps- Thanks, bike. For not getting old yet.

Have a Lovely Thursday Friends,

yeah, about that...

Hola Amigos e Amigitos! (Is that even real spanish?)

Remember how I'm leaving for Salt Lake in 2 weeks to start up an intensive dance program that I got a scholarship for?

 Remember how I'm super nervous and excited and haven't even started packing? Remember?!

...yeah, about that. 

I got an email yesterday telling me that due to under-enrollment they're canceling IMS this year. Bummer deal, right? I'm still kind of in shock. I mean, up till about 12 hours ago, I was fully under the impression that I'd be moving to Utah in two weeks. I was preparing myself emotionally to be apart from my husband for about a month and a half, and I was seriously considering conditioning with the shakey weight that gideon got me as a gag gift.

A gag gift that I asked him for. 

In jest of course.

 Come on, I didn't think he'd actually wrap it up and get it for me! 

So I was thrilled. Sue me.)

I'm not sure whether to be majorly bummed or relieved. I mean, being bummed is a little inevitable for a few large reasons the most obvious one being that I quit my job. Uh, now I'm unemployed for the next two and a half months; and I'm pretty sure its going to be tough to find a position that will want me that short term (but if you hear anything tell me). Also- I've been looking forward to this for the past several weeks (since March 22 when I opened up my acceptance letter to be exact.) So thats sort of a bummer, you know? ALSO. I told everyone! So now, when I run into people and they say, "Hey, aren't you supposed to be in Utah right now," I'll just begin by saying, "...yeah, about that."


But lets look at the bright side, shall we? Now that IMS has been cancelled, Gideon and I will be able to spend the fourth of july and my birthday together, which we were super bummed about before. We're going up to northern Idaho for the fourth, and I'm pre-tty excited about it. We're not going to have to worry about living apart (although, I think it would have been well worth it for the IMS program), and we won't have to worry about two apartment rents to pay. I'll have more time to pack up our lives in the most organized and efficient way possible, and I'll also have some extra time on my hands to do things. "What things," you ask? Anything I want (that doesn't cost money of course). I can learn how to play my ukulele and guitar and piano. I can practice new recipes. I'll have all the time in the world to read books, paint, write, go on bike rides, or go to the temple.

I can actually do PHOTOSHOOTS!

I'll have to offer some huge special for my friends down here who have been asking for shoots, cause (giggle) now I actually have time to do them! Best part: I'm registering for two intensive dance workshops during the summer! One is here in boise, and the other will be down in Salt Lake just a few weeks before I start Graduate School. Excitedmuch?

It is a bummer that I have to wait to do IMS (thankfully, they're still honoring my scholarship next year). This morning I just sat in bed in my pjs (with a box of oreos and a squeeze it next to me) and felt sorry for myself. I've so been looking forward to starting dance again. The fact is however, things happen for a reason. And there is so much living to experience while I'm still here in boise!
Wopee. (Exclamation Mark.)

Have a Happy Wednesday, Friends!