Ode to Jill

Let's be honest, most 28-year-old Mormon women are blogging about their kids/husbands/crafts. Since I don't have either of those, I get to blog about my roomie. Here are just a few of the things I've learned from Jill:

1. How to Fold Sheets

Tonight for FHE, I learned how to fold sheets so they are all nice and compact and together in a set. Coming from someone who didn't know that fitted sheets could actually be folded, I was embarrassingly enjoying myself.

2. What to Wear.

It's too embarrassing for me to tell you how long it's been since I bought new jeans. We went on Saturday, and thanks to Jill, Towanda is very happy. Very happy.

3. Say Yes to the Dress

This picture is highly embarrassing. Don't show your husbands. I was going to blur out my face so you would think it was someone else with a hot bod, but I was too lazy. (And of course I'm totally kidding about the hot bod part.) I promise this is the only wedding dress I've ever put on. Really. And it was all for fun. Jill works for a way-out-of-my-future-wedding-budget wedding dress label. She's basically amazing at what she does. And one day she had to bring home a dress. So I may have made her put it on me. Just had to make sure there weren't any problems with it, ya know? Want to look and feel like you just lost 15 pounds? Put one of these babies on. (Yes, I will actually do my hair and wear makeup on my wedding day. No, I will not look like a shameless hussy.)

4. Say No to the Robe

Robes are WAY over-rated. And blowdrying hair while wearing a robe leads to excessive amounts of sweating. This is bad if you've just showered. Use one of these babies instead. They're cool, breezy, and even cute! Special thanks to Hawaii.

5. Quitters

You know those days when you don't want to take a shower, do anything to your hair other than a messy ponytail or a hat, or put on ANY makeup? When you work full time, you can't get away with that too often. However, when you get home from work, who's to say you can't "quit" for the day? Calling them sweats is SO 90's. Oh, and one day when we have our babies, we'll have "Quitties for Kiddies."

6. WAY better than Jillian Michaels
(don't judge me for being too lazy to rotate)

Living a block away from a totally awesome Rec Center is real nice. Especially when you have a roomie who will practically be your personal trainer. Dear Jill, my legs hurt real bad right now!

7. Next Best thing to Diet Coke

No, I haven't taken-up drinking diet coke (although Jill would be ecstatic of I did). But I'm pretty sure Jill and I took care of almost an entire pitcher of C.L. (Crystal Light) tonight for dinner. Looking for something to satiate the sweet tooth? Crystal Light. Love.It.

8. Shirt-Folding

The correct way to fold a shirt. Nordstrom style. I've always wondered how they do that!

9. Scarves

While I already had a love for scarves, Jill's plethora of them have kept me both warm and stylish this winter. And since I leave first in the morning I always get first dibs. Thanks for sharing!

10. How to Be the Best Aunt Ever

Got this note from my 6-year-old niece. I know you all think it would be super awesome if I lived with you too, but for now, I'm taken!

A Fresh 2011

There is something wonderful about having a fresh start. I guess it shouldn't take a new year to have that mindset, but nevertheless it's refreshing.

Fresh start on:


Teaching my kids more, filling their day with more enriching activities.
Decorating my house and making it nice for our family.
Working hard on my calling, I have a feeling I am in my final days.
Supporting Russell more in his wild adventure of starting this business.
Being more active.
Reading more.
Bring more fresh food into our home.
Keeping focused on the big picture.
Staying calm.

Adios 2010

I was planning on making a post with some 2010 highlights, but I'm not gonna lie, I had to think REALLY hard to come up with just a few, and most of them consisted of trips that I've already blogged about. (Don't mean to sound ungrateful for the many blessings I DO have, but let's be honest, it's been another one of "those" years.) Speaking of "those" years, remember all the "see a black cat and you get 7 years of bad luck" and "walk under a ladder and get 7 years of bad luck" . . . do bad years really come in 7's? Please bless no.

Since my bff (Mom) passed away a year ago today, I've been thinking a lot about her (well, really I think about her all the time, so I guess nothing's different) but mostly I've been thinking about life and hard things and family and the temple and the Savior and the atonement. (That's a lot to think about! Thank goodness for the modern medicinal miracle called sleeping drugs.) And while I would give anything to have Mom and Linz back, at the same time I wouldn't trade anything for the things I've learned (I know, it's an oxymoron, just go with it). Someone recently commented that I probably have much to share about what I've been through. In some ways, yes, but in other ways, the things I've learned can't be put into thoughts or words, they can only be experienced. And isn't that really what life is all about, experiences? The good, the bad, and the (sometimes too-often) ugly? We all have our own "experiences," tailored to our strengths, weaknesses, and (I think) most importantly to our potential. There are no short-cuts to becoming the person we need to become, and there is only One who knows how to get us there.


So here's to a new year - may it bring, love, peace, joy, some discomfort (for growth) and family togetherness with whatever family you have around you.