I'm Back... Wait What?

A physical picture of my abandoned blog.

 Guys, I just can't stay away from this blog. I think I really like blogging, but I also don't.  I think the reason I don't like blogging is cause I don't have time or resources to create beautiful posts with perfect pictures about my outfit, the food I cooked, my {messy} home, etc.  Those are the things I WANT to blog about... mostly food... but I just can't get a grip. 

I did get a new job, where I'll be traveling via train every day, and maybe that will be a good time for me to put together my posts. Maybe I'll have more time and energy once I have a job I don't loathe.

In the meantime, don't abandon me. I'll be back soon.

P.S. Dear Blog,

I'm sorry I broke up with you. It's me that has the problem, not you. I promise I'll see you again soon and we'll be best friends again.

My Thoughts About 2014

It's a new year.  Time to reflect on who you were on January 1st the previous year, and to see how far you've come.  Time to make new goals for your coming year. I really love New Years Day.  It's so wonderful to have a fresh start, even though REALLY your fresh start could begin any day, there's something about writing a new number every time you date something that is so refreshing.

This year, I'm wanting to figure out what makes me tick. I know I'm a passionate person, but the problem is I'm not quite sure what I'm passionate about.  It seems like I'm passionate about everything! But then when it really comes down to it, maybe nothing? 

Does anyone else feel that way?

I am constantly daydreaming about lives I could live. I would love to work at a zoo, and spend time with the animals, but I don't have the time.  I would love to be a concert pianist, but where to begin? I would love to be a writer, but what would I write?

I would love to travel! I would love to conquer my fear of heights this year! I'd love to start a charity.

But where to begin?

Maybe it's just me holding myself back, but I guess this year is going to be about making the time to do those things, and actually pursuing them. 

Because what are goals if you never intend to conquer them?

Our Newest Addition

Ever since we moved into our home, I have been dreaming of adding an acoustic piano to the mix.  Of course, this piano would be perfect.  There's a whole list of qualifications I had in mind for my dream instrument.

1. It must have character.  

2. It had to be a full upright, as that's all we currently have room for.

3. This piano needed to have a good touch to it.

4. Preferably be something I could fix up a bit to TRULY make it mine.

5. It absolutely needed to be affordable.

As you can imagine, finding such a piano would prove to be quite the task. I wasn't in a hurry to find it, because my Clavinova worked great for the time being, but I really wanted to find an acoustic piano to practice on as I was going to school.

Then, one day, I found it.  The perfect piano.  It met ALL the requirements, and it was even better than I had ever hoped, because it was turquoise.  Yep, they painted it a gorgeous blue and I am in love.

How perfect is that? It will need to be re-keyed, and some of the hammers will need to be repaired, but it is a project I am willing to take on!

. . . I'm so spoiled.

Currently. . .

Making : My Christmas list for Trevor.  I'm way excited for some of the things I'm bookmarking!

Cooking : has been lacking.  I've struggled to find things I'm excited to cook lately, but I did cook a chicken in the crock pot yesterday that is waiting to be devoured.
Drinking : water.  I just ate my own weight in tater tots and am feeling pretty lousy.  No soda for this chicka right now.
Reading : Gone Girl. I just started it, and have loved it so far!
Wanting : a million dollars to spend on Christmas decorations! Specifically at Target.
Looking: for the perfect White Elephant gifts. 
Playing: Plants vs. Zombies. . . again.
Wasting: a lot of time watching How I Met Your Mother.
Sewing: projects are in the works for some great curtains!
Wishing: it was still the weekend!
Enjoying: lots of family time.
Waiting: for a good snowstorm!
Liking: my new Ox-Blood colored nail polish!
Wondering: what Christmas gifts will be under our tree this year!
Loving: spending this holiday season with my husband.
Hoping: my moisturizer gets shipped out quickly! I am completely out!
Marveling: at how blessed we are, and how real God's love is.
Needing: a long winter's nap!
Smelling: coffee brewing here in the office.
Wearing: lots of sweaters.
Following: our Christmas budget. It's just so tough to not buy EVERYTHING in sight! (Do you see why Trevor is in charge of finances? :)
Noticing: that my keyboard is actually really dirty.
Knowing: that Christmas is only 23 days away! I have Christmas on the brain.
Thinking: about all the things I need to get done this week.
Feeling: so grateful for my family & friends.  I have the greatest people in my life!
Bookmarking: Trevor's gifts!
Opening: my piano studio!
Giggling: at this series of videos. Seriously, they never cease to make me pee my pants.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving is probably one of my favorite holidays.  I love this time of year in general. It starts with Halloween, where I get to deck out my home in creepy crawlies.  Specifically skulls galore this year, as we are building up our Halloween decor and skulls seem to be what I am drawn to each year. 

Then of course, we've got Thanksgiving.  The leaves have changed, there's frost on my car in the morning, and there's really nothing better than a good turkey dinner with family.  This year, we are flying out to Arizona to spend Thanksgiving weekend with Trevor's grandma and grandpa.  I'm really excited because this will be the first time I've met most of his extended family on the Evans side.  Also, we're flying, and that means we get some airport time, which I LOVE.  There's nothing better than the hustle and bustle of the airport.

Even though I'm loving the holidays, I am so ready for November to be over.  It has seemed like each week we have plans after plans after plans, until we are all planned out and just want to lay in bed.  The day we get home from Arizona, trust me, there will be a major winter's nap occurring!

*Also, has anyone ever checked out the Smitten Kitchen blog?  Deb is my hero. No, really, I idolize her.  And she's been posting some great Thanksgiving recipes lately.

Homemade Green Bean Casserole?  From scratch, homemade crispy onions and all?

Oh yes, please!

 

A Love Letter.

Dear Trev,

Always yours, B

Weekend Snapshots and Gratitude

We always look forward to weekends at the Evans house.  I mean, really, who doesn't, but we REALLY look forward to our weekends.  It's when we get to catch up on laundry from the week, dishes that have been sitting in the sink for a day or two too long, and of course when all the work is done, it's time to play! 

This weekend was no different.  As soon as I got off work this Friday, I headed down to Spanish Fork, taught a piano lesson, then picked up my three youngest siblings for a sleepover.  We picked up a bake at home pizza at Walmart, a Redbox movie, and headed home for a cozy night in.  It was a blast, and if you haven't seen the Croods, you really, really need to.  Plus, the voice of Eep, the leading lady, is my number one chicka, Emma Stone.  Doesn't get much better than that!

Saturday, Trevor headed to primary program practice, while I taught Zach and Addie lessons and we watched lots of Arthur. It was the perfect Saturday Morning... plus, we had pancakes for breakfast.  Delish!

For the last big event on Saturday, we took a wonderful Ikea trip and purchased a bed frame, FINALLY.  No more slumpy mattress for us.  It's been great so far, except the gigantic bruise I have on my hip from running into the footboard.  It will take awhile to get used to, but we are definitely classier people now. 

Phew! I think those are all the updates from this weekend.  It was an eventful couple of days, but we loved it. 

I thought today, since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I would share a few things that I am thankful for. Since I'm not a huge fan of "one a day" gratitude posts on Facebook, I'm sharing a few here. Because I am grateful, just not on Facebook. K thanks.

First and foremost: I am of course grateful for my husband.  I have to start there, because I have a million reasons to be so thankful for him.  He works so hard, even when work is tough and unfair.  He is so patient with me, even when I'm mean and unfair. And really, he's the funniest person I know. It's ridiculous how many times a day I have to say "STOP! I can't breathe!" in between laughs.

Next, I'm grateful for our home & neighbors.  It was scary buying a home, especially in an area where we really don't know anyone.  But so far, the experience has been more than we could have asked for. Our ward is great, and already have us very involved in callings.  It's great to feel needed and to be around great people, and we are definitely surrounded.

I'm grateful for my family. Both my immediate family, and the inlaws.  You always hear about people complaining about their inlaws, but Trevor and I are always talking about how much we both lucked out.  We have great families, and they're our best friends.

I'm grateful for a body that is healthy and happy.  There have been so many things lately which have really made me grateful for mine and Trevor's health. I am constantly praying for others who may not be so fortunate, but it does help me to keep things in perspective of how blessed we are to not be struggling in our lives at this time. 

And lastly, I am grateful for the love of Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father.  I am grateful for our temple marriage, and that we were able to make the decision to be sealed there this past August.  God truly is great, and we have felt quite the outpouring of blessings and love since our decision to make it to the temple together.

I hope everyone has a great week counting their blessings, and being grateful for everything we have to enjoy this season. What are you grateful for?