Saturdays

Saturdays are my favorite days, because it means that me and my guy get to do fun stuff. Like go to the arts festival in SLC. 

A few weekends ago we ventured out into the heat and spent an afternoon wandering around booths admiring the work of local artists.

It was a fun and hot outing, after we were thoroughly sweaty and borderline dehydrated we left. 

Always a fun time at the Arts Fest. 

A Few Updates

1. I'm still alive! Here I am! Breathing! Living!
2. Finals/Preparing for Europe was a bad idea - the timing?! What was I thinking??
3. It's finals week.
4. I leave for Europe on Saturday.
5. ^^^ Saturday!!!!!
6. Tonight is my mystery basket final. Real life chopped. Except I fail if I can't figure how how to properly pair candy hearts with leg of lamb and I don't win $10,000 if I pass.
7. ^^^ Please bless that I don't have to cook leg of lamb tonight.
8. One day last week I ate 4 Kneaders cookies. I'm feeling stressed. Don't judge.
9. Last weekend that sweet guy I'm married to whisked me away to the mountains for a little pre-anniversary celebration.
10. We ate brunch at Stein Eriksen's lodge.
11. ^^^ $$$$$ most expensive waffles I've ever eaten.
12. On our real anniversary (this Wednesday) I have mandatory kitchen deep cleaning at school. Boooo!!!
13. ^^^ :(
14. Adam got a new job!
15. He is the VP of Marketing - and oh man he is excited.
16. I'm proud of him.
17. To finish here's a cute picture of us:

18. Happy Monday!

New Home

 

 

Sorry for the brief blogging hiatus. I feel like so much has happened in just a short amount of time. We are all moved in to our new apartment. Well, technically it's a house. It's the upstairs of a house. A darling 2 bedroom house in Orem, to be specific. I'm still getting used to living there. The creeks and beeps and squeaks are so unfamiliar, and I jump at everything. Hopefully soon that will  go away. It's weird I know it's ours and all of our things are there, but I still feels like we're having a sleep over at a strangers house. I love it though, I particularly love having a second bedroom, I love having a bath tub, I love the brick wall in my bedroom, it's just so charming, and comfortable. It's a sweet little place and I'm happy to call it home.

Four Things

1. On Friday I have 90 minutes to cook and plate a perfectly executed meal. 1 protein, 1 starch , 1 veg, and a sauce. Two master chefs will be digging into said dish. And I'm not talking about the TV show here, these people are the real deal. I'm petrified.

 

2. I have been spending a fair amount of time on google street view. Familiarizing myself with the city I'll be in next month. (!!!) Also talk to me about how tough the french language is to learn. All I have down is hello, thank you, and where's the bathroom.

 

3. Mustard jeans. Why has it taken me this long to realize that mustard colored jeans are in fact a necessity? Especially when they're on sale at urban for $19.99!? Win.

(Sorry that this photo looks like the top half of me is drowning in floral print peplum...)

 

4. We are moving into a house with a PEACH TREE in the back yard THIS WEEKEND. I'm excited. Hello blossoms. Also I hate moving. I hate it so much right now.

 

 

(photo of the new casa to come)

Random Facts II

I decided I couldn't leave Adam out,  you need to know fun facts about him too! He's kinda awesome. 

Fifteen Fun Facts about Adam

1. His favorite dish is a pulled pork sandwich from Oklahoma Joes BBQ with spicy BBQ sauce and a side of fries
2. He enjoys snacking on the cheapest vanilla ice cream the freezer isle at Winco has to offer
3. He feels most manly when riding his motorcycle (grilling comes in as a close second)
4. He is always reading at least 3 books at any given time 
5. Recently he masterd the art of the metalcore roar
6. In his opinion the only tv worth watching is football, The Colbert Report and Spongebob Squarepants
7. He is an on again off again coke addict
8. Hates top 40 radio
9. On occasion will laugh in his sleep (and have no recollection of it in the morning)
10. The most common words uttered from his mouth are "This is the best [blank] I have ever eaten"
11. His toes pop at least once a minute.
12. Hates when wet towels are left on the floor
13. Has defeated the Big Juds Burger challenge
14. He loves the smell of drying laundry
15. He likes editing papers

Random Facts

I really like to make lists. It's sort of a compulsion. I would share my grocery list but that would be strange...right? Right. Here's a list about me! 

Fifteen fun facts about Amanda

1.       My favorite thing to wear is a dress

2.       Cookies are my favorite food

3.       I love the east coast. Like a lot.

4.       I have to check behind the shower curtain before I pee, to make sure there’s not anybody in there.

5.       I burn grilled cheese sandwiches every. single. time.

6.        My car is always a mess

7.       I hate the dimple in my chin

8.       I love string cheese

9.       My best friend (and husband) call me Mandersnatch (in reference to the Bandersnatch from a poem written by Lewis Carroll)

10.   I hate taking the tags off new clothes – I’m always afraid I might want to return something

11.   I really enjoy grocery shopping

12.   I have a big pet peeve with the way people eat/drink. If it’s too loud, too gulpy, if there’s heavy breathing after drinking, if the utensil hits the plate/bowl too much, etc. I’m extremely sensitive to strange eaters/drinkers.

13.    I love fake American Chinese food – Let’s talk about Panda Express?

14.   I have severe claustrophobia. No elevators, no underground parking garages, and I realllllly struggle traveling via metro, if I think hard enough about it even being in the car can be too much.

15.   I have an obsession with tiny baby things. Baby carrots, baby humans, baby pigs. 

Saturday is a special day

 It's been at least 6 months since either of our cars have been washed. Today it finally happened.
 It truly was a special day.
Isn't having a clean car the best?

That husband of mine

He got himself a motorbike. 

He sure loves it. 

It sure makes him happy.

And that makes me happy.

The Hedge

 Pouring rain + overgrown hedge + these two = this photo

(Adam and his brother Scott) 

 We took a little trip up to Idaho to visit Grandma and Grandpa Andersons this weekend.

And to attack the hedge that so desperately needed trimming. Unfortunately it poured rain the entire time, but we (they) pressed on with the yard work.

 Poor guy - look at that face. He still smells faintly of pine. 

So that's good.

Somtimes I can sew

Isn't pinterest such a wonderful evil?
The vaccume of my time - it just sucks it all up.
The cure for my boredom. 

The site on which I saw a maxi dress (WITH SLEEVES!!) on a cute girl and clicked on the link, curious of where she could have bought such a find. Upon opening the girls blog page I realized that it was a tutorial on how to make the dress not where to buy it.  A little disappointed I began to read the step by step instructions and by the end of the post I was filled with excitement. Could it really be that easy?! Sew, sew, sew, cut, cut, cut, cut and done!? I couldn't get in my car fast enough to head on over to the local Joann's to pick up my extra stretchy jersey knit fabric (a fabric that doesn't exist by the way, which made things a little confusing). After debating about what type of stretch-knit-type material to buy I took the plunge and bought something that reminded me of some cotton dance pants I owned in Jr. High. I picked a color, the material was cut and I was out of the fabric store. Headed home to start on my project filled to the brim with excitement.

And then I sewed three. straight. lines. And cut three holes. And cut a little off the bottom.
And I was done. No hemming. No pinning to a pattern.
Just sew, sew, sew, cut, cut, cut, cut and done.
It really was that simple

At that point I was overflowing with excitement, because I didn't screw anything up and it actually looked like a dress. And I'm actually going to wear it! This weekend! When I am hanging out on the white sandy beaches of MEXICO!!

Anyway it was magical.
You should make it.
Here's the link. 

Hey there I am in my creation!! 

Thank you Pinterest.

Hey remember that one time we drove for 35 hours...twice

I was just looking through photos on my phone and felt a tinge of stress when I saw the following photos. I was immediately swept back to a flat stretch of land somewhere in Nebraska. Hundreds of miles away from anything familiar. It was fun the first time. The second time not so much. We drove to and from Washington DC and Utah. We listened to our iPods, and then a couple of mix CDs, we then hit up the FM radio (when we could get it) but I think what I enjoyed most was when we resorted to AM radio. That was...fun. My heart sunk when we had driven 400 miles and then the GPS told us we still had more than 500 to go. Woof. Obviously our faces show what I cannot describe here in words. But after all of the hours in the car, all of the miles behind us we were rewarded at home with hugs from family, chicken noodle soup on the stove and a beautiful welcome home sign.

 

A week at home and we're still in the process of recovering. 

It's a process. 

We'll get there.

St. Patricks Day

Neither of us wore anything green, there was no corned beef or cabbage, no Irish soda bread, no restaurant with an O' or a Mc at the beginning of the name.

 Just this cute guy a bar b que chicken pizza, a spinach salad, and some March Maddness 

Spring

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:  when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."  Charles Dickens

Adam and I took a little stroll last weekend and took a couple of photos of the beautiful cherry blossoms. Then we got in a debate about whether or not the actual fruit grows on the trees. I told him that these aren't the type of trees that produce cherries. No fruit actually grows on them.
 What a mistake that was. It was as if I had told a 4 year old that Santa Clause doesn't exist. He was so disappointed. I think he imagined himself along with all the other Capitol hill employees cherry picking on their lunch breaks. In other news I think I mastered the "sock bun". The number of days that I can go without washing my hair has significantly increased. This is a beautiful thing.

Lately

 

Orange flavored chocolate ice cream, and old town Alexandria, 

river walks, pulled pork, 

birthday parties, a pink bicycle,

and the Washington DC temple, 1st frappuccino of the season, 

and cherry blossoms

Friday

 It rained all. day. long. today.
But around 5:45 this evening, the most beautiful thing happened. The sun peaked out between grey clouds and colored all of Capitol Hill's ivory buildings pink.

 

PS: I saw cherry blossoms today, it made me want to wear white jeans. Spring is almost here. 

Hooray!

Running to the bus

I ride the bus.

It's a fact and it's not that fun. But it's cheaper than riding the metro and the scenery is better.

Sometimes I walk out my front door and I walk to the bus stop accross the street and I wait 15 seconds and a bus shows up. I get on and ride peacefully to work.

Sometimes I walk out my front door and I see the bus speeding by and I run for 15 minutes to try to catch it. Sometimes I catch it and sometimes I don't. Whether I catch it or not nothing changes the fact that I RUN for my life, weaving in and out of people, speeding down M street, waving my arms with the hope that the bus driver might see me and stop. Nothing changes the fact that people stare. Nothing changes the fact that I'm out of shape and every time a scenario like this happens I feel that exercise induced asthma is a real possibility for me in my current state. That happened 4 times this week. And 2 of those times it was pouring rain. It's a problem.


I have decided I'm going to judge how good of a week I have had by how many times I have to run to catch the bus.

This week was a so - so week. Hopefully the weekend will be better. I'm starting it off by eating 3 Costco taquitos and watching Sleeping Beauty till husb gets home from work.

Happy weekend!

You should know

1. It's currently snowing on the streets of Georgetown and I kind of, really like it. First snow of the season for us, it's a big deal, I just made cookies to celebrate.

2. I am married to a zombie maniac. He and I have recently (as of tonight) started watching The Walking Dead, a zombie series on amc. 6 episodes in one night, my friends. (We're addicted, it's like I can't pull my eyes away from the gore). I will not be sleeping tonight. I am terrified.

3. I got a JOB! I am nannying part time for a family who lives near me. They have a 3 month old baby girl. And when I am with her my life is bliss. And my baby hunger subsides. So that's good (for Adam).

4. We ate at Panda Express today. At first I was guilty because I didn't want to eat a chain restaurants while we are here in DC (too many other, better options) and then I decided, sometimes a girl (and her guy) just need some Panda.

5. Tomorrow morning we have to be at the White House at 7:45 am. I just realized that it has been 3 weeks since I have seen an hour on the clock before 9am. I don't hate it. (White House tour tomorrow Woop Woop!)

Goodnight DC.

2011 in a Glimpse

2011 was a great year. Milestones were passed, and we had lots of opportunities to learn and grow. We made it through one year of marriage with out many bumps, and even took up a few new hobbies. 2011 meant the last year at BYU for Adam and the last year being a supportive wife in Provo for me (hello, whole new world!). This year was a year of preparation and saving, and the ever continuing process of discovering what it means to be an adult.

In January Adam learned to ski

In February we went snowmobiling in a blizzard

In March I learned to sew

In April we celebrated 1 year of marriage

In May best friend Tess got a new last name

In June best friends vacationed in Las Vegas

In July we tried out our camping gear

In August Adam experienced his last first day of school

In September pumpkin bread became its own food group

In October we hosted a Halloween dinner party

In November we got goofy with family in Kansas

In December we celebrated Christmas at home with my favorite people

Now as we say goodbye to 2011, we also say goodbye to our family, our jobs, and our home
and say hello to an exciting new adventure staring us in the face.
2012 we are ready for you, let's make it a good one!

Thoughts on moving

The end has finally come. I'm still not sure that it has really sunk in yet. We're moving out of our apartment. Our first home together. Finally moving out of Provo. In the fall of 2009 when I first moved to Provo my original plan was to stay one, MAYBE two semesters. Thanks to the BYU student I married I have now been here for two and a half years. Although I never thought I would say this (Provo is not my most favorite place in the world) I will miss our sweet little apartment on University and University. I will miss driving to the Y on the motorcycle on warm nights. I will miss Rice King on center street. I will miss our first home.

This change is a really good thing and don't get me wrong I am so super excited for all of the new exciting things that are coming our way, but I think it's safe to say that this move will be bittersweet. I almost feel like I am deserting a good friend and that in some way my empty apartment will miss me too. I look forward to the day when I will be able to drive around Provo with my kids pointing out important landmarks in Adam's and my relationship, specifically "Mommy and Daddy's first home".

Mostly I'm just so grateful for how everything worked out with our first apartment and getting the job as resident managers. We have been so very blessed thus far in our marriage and I am thankful for my Heavenly Father's support. He really does know and care for us on an individual basis, that becomes more and more apparent to me every day.

This Week

The moment in time when I realized I really am an adult happened to be when I had to buy new tires this week. Why did nobody tell me that rubber is so expensive? Was this a fact of life that I missed out on? Was I absent that day in school?


I got crafty this week and spent 16 hours of my life modge podging. Just remembering those dark, sad, gluey, messy hours depresses me. I'd rather not talk about it.


This week this little number entered my life. Adam and I finally exited the world of relying solely on our phones to take pictures. Hallelujah. We will be enrolling in a photography workshop asap.


This week I experienced the joys and pains of being an adult.