my happy little life

it's a big deal for me anyway

this is the piano i practiced on at home, in tahoe. it's my favorite piano i've ever played, its got the right tone (say that like christopher walkin). over the years i've casually looked for one i liked as much at a decent price, but i could never find that same sound- good price or no. i wanted this one. my dad said i could have it. but it lived in california.

alas, my dad moved to utah, and alas, now i have a place for it! it's my piano! i have a piano! it was placed in my living room yesterday by piano movers! i can't get over it. i haven't stopped smiling (or playing) all morning.

special gifts

my sister came over late last night to pass out souvenirs from her european tour. cate and grant were asleep so they have to wait, but i got to unwrap mine.

two things: one, i love special soaps. two, i have worn patchouli oil for about twenty years even though everyone close to me hates the way i smell, no one more so than nicole. she sacrificed and bought me these soaps from nice, france. happy.

another thing to know about me is i have a deep love affair in my movie heart for the austrian captain von trapp and have watched the sound of music more times than i can count. my first email address was mariavontrapp@hotmail.com.

so while in salzburg, austria, my good sister who knows me well splurged on a real fraulein maria worthy apron. it even is heavy, as though i could have made it myself out of drapes!

the weaving is intricate and stunning. it is soft and thick and i am ready to go traipsing about salzburg wearing my apron, having a marvelous time.

thanks coco!

this image makes me feel

inspired, full of dreams, happy, ready to take a dip, like living in a secret garden, desirous of a closet full of throw on pretty dresses, ready for a sunset, a longing for california, natural and comfortable.

(i think it's pretty cool).

_source

g is for grant, my precious

when i posted this picture on instagram, tara asked for the story behind each ring- and i try not to disappoint tara. so here it is, though it isn't terribly romantic, i'm afraid. don't worry, i think it ends good.

i don't like surprises: i picked the rock out. i wanted simple simple simple. i wanted it smaller but grant convinced me to at least make it worth buying. i didn't even let him do something special to propose. it was sized, he picked it up, and then i wore it. the begging me to marry him had been going on for a while (wink), who needed a big cheesy scene now? i did love wearing it though. and loved my hand even more when the solid band was given to me in the temple. things were always so passionate between grant and i during our dating and engagement, i didn't know that someday those cheesy moments would mean a lot to me if i'd have allowed them. i thought the crazy passion would last forever.

the anniversary band of diamonds is even less romantic. in the early days of our marriage i did a lot of house cleaning and nannying and one of my employers worked for a jeweler. she found out i had sewing skills and asked if i could do some custom bedding. cash or ring? she asked. i said cash, but she said, just try it on. i was smitten. ok, ring it is. i got my own anniversary band! i hadn't even been married a year! i really shouldn't have done that. how wonderful to earn, through years of satisfying my man, a surprise reminder that i was still worth the eternal circles on my finger in all their symbolism? i should've taken the cash. and waited.

i've learned at last the importance of romance. i saw the g ring at urban outfitters and had to have it. the other three rings meant i was married, committed eternally. the g means: and i like it! he is amazing and i want the world to see that letter and think she belongs to him not just someone. that gesture of romance felt a little like making it right- and it only cost me eight bucks! i'm going to wear it tomorrow, with my other beautiful rings, as we eat at our favorite breakfast spot for an early valentine's day celebration. (yep, and every day after that).

too blessed to be stressed*

based on my life's experiences, this statement is one of the truest things i have ever read. the last few months have felt oppressive. emotional. physically draining. it was more than just moving, everything got crazy at once.

today i laid on my bed and read a magazine. and i didn't feel guilty. right now i am blogging and listening to wreckless eric and it's making me want to lay down and watch stranger than fiction. and i don't feel guilty about that either. (clearly, i struggle with guilt).

the chaos is dying down. i feel like we are embarking on a really great time of life- everything feels...good. like, yesterday cate telling us about the moon and how every color of the rainbow can be found there, even though we look at it and think it's just, like, grey. to continue the conversation i asked, "is there water on the moon?" she said, "nope just ice" with a roll of her eyes evident in her tone of voice.

then we put her to bed and grant and i watched new girl again- we can't help it. every episode gets watched multiple times. and cozy in my bed i thought, i sure like my life. and now, just cause i'm thinking about it, here's one of my favorite scenes from a movie ever:

*in regards to title: that is what everyone on the street used to say when i was a missionary and we'd inquire as to their well-being. it's funny cause it's true.

me and the mister

are still busy packing. and being excited. and talking via facetime with nicole.

i fall asleep thinking of how i'm going to make our cookie cutter townhouse into a real home with my stamp on it. all i know is it has to do with this picture, it captures my dream:

wowzers, wish i could afford any/all of them.