On homemade bread and happiness

I made homemade bread for the first time last week, and it made me feel like such a grown-up woman. Mondays are now my day for catching up on homemaking duties, and for things that make me feel relaxed and happy. And I've found that those two overlap quite a bit. I love being a woman, and I believe part of my divine nature as a woman is an innate desire to care for a home and family. I get a lot of joy out of things like neat stacks of folded laundry, a clean and comfortable home, or pulling off a great meal. Taking one day off each week was such a good decision for me. My life finally feels like it's in balance.

Yesterday I stayed busy all day. I did laundry, cleaned, grocery shopped, went to Costco, made bread (again. it's too fun.), wrote in my journal, visited a friend, and caught up with my mom on the phone. Oh and of course watched The Bachelor finale. (Oh, guilty pleasure.)

I'm looking forward to an early morning flight to Utah on Thursday. I scheduled this trip in early January in a fit of post-Christmas-vacation homesickness. That has since passed, but I'm still so excited for the visit home. I can't wait to squeeze my nieces and nephews, chat with my family (without burning through giant chunks of cell minutes), eat out at old favorites and new places, catch up with SmilePerfect ladies and other friends, and throw an awesome baby shower for sister-in-law Michelle.

I have been so happy with life lately. I feel content where I am and what I'm doing. I love living in New York. I love the energy and unique beauty and life of the city. It envelops you, it sucks you in and you become part of this larger entity, this almost living, breathing thing that is New York. There's no place like it. I love being part of it.

On Sunday I looked out the bus window at the brownstones and old churches in Harlem on the way to church and tried to imagine driving away from here in a U-Haul knowing we weren't coming back. It made me sad to imagine that day! It will be hard to leave this place and our experiences and memories and friends behind. We used to say "a couple years," when asked how long we'd be here, but we're already coming up on the year mark and I don't feel even close to halfway done. Don't worry, family, we're not going to be here forever, but we definitely love it here and are in no hurry to leave.

And I think that's good. It's good to be content with life. I'm so much happier when I'm not looking for some change that will supposedly bring happiness. This is the time in our life to live in New York, this is the only shot we get at the present, and I really want to live it. It feels good to be content with the present. I love my family and I still feel so connected to them. I don't feel like I need to move closer to family in order to be happy anymore. And it feels really good to be happy with my life, exactly as it is today.

Regular trips home can't hurt, though!

Joy all around

I've had a lot of joy in my heart lately. True, honest, can't help but smile, squeal and jump around, hug someone tight as you can, thank God for your blessings type of joy.

Joy in homemaking; in folded laundry, clean floors and freshly baked bread.

Joy in my husband; in simple things like waking up next to him, in stolen kisses on commercial breaks, in welcome-home hugs.

Joy in embracing my divine role as a woman, and therefore a wife and (future) mother.

Joy in my faith, in the direction and hope it brings to our life.

Joy in my family and appreciating where I've come from.

Joy in simple things, like the giant, fat, puffy snowflakes falling on my face this morning. In breathing the morning air. In having the park almost all to myself. In quiet. In God's beautiful creations for his children. In feeling God's love for me confirmed through his Spirit as I tip my head back and feel the snowflakes on my face.

This morning in the park was nothing less than breathtaking. I smiled all the way to work. Didn't even mind that my knees were wet by the time I got there. I wish you could see the snowflakes. (If I had brought my camera, I could've frozen them in the air and you could see how huge they were! I would've also had a wet camera and been a little late to work.) I can't wait to see what this storm ends up unloading on the city. It's supposed to keep snowing all weekend! Life is good, people. Life is good.

This husband of mine...

I love Klane. He is the perfect husband for me. He is so patient and his personality balances mine so well. I love being married to him. In honor of Valentine's day (and since I sort of spaced getting him a present...) here's a little list of some things I love about Klane.

Well, I do think he's pretty handsome.


He's smart and oh so talented. He got a job in New York and therefore gave me the opportunity to come live in this amazing city! What an adventure and incredible opportunity I never would've experienced without him.


He is passionate about music and keeps me listening to new stuff all the time. And he pulls off this hat smashingly.


He's romantic.


He'll do crazy things with me. Like climbing on the roof in a lightning storm.


He ran a half-marathon with me. Now that is love. (And we're doing another one this spring!)



We have a lot of the same interests, and we've done so many fun adventurous things together. He is up for anything and I love all the memories we've shared together.




He is funny and always keeps me laughing. He doesn't mind posing for all my pictures. Many of his poses make me laugh.


Speaking of funny, I love when he sings and/or dances along with his music. He's doing it right now, actually. :)


Klane is a great example of service. He serves the youth in our church. He is always stopping to help people carry strollers up the subway stairs, holds doors for people, and performs small acts of service for people around him.


He keeps on loving me, even when I'm in a bad mood or impatient or frustrated. He's so good at dealing with stubborn old me.


He teaches me so much, he is very knowledgeable and passionate about a lot of things. (photography, film, advertising, computers, good design, technology, investing, money management, the gospel... to name a few)


He will probably be embarrassed that I did a post all about him. But I am so grateful for my husband. I really am. He is so perfect for me. I'm so happy we get to be together forever.

SNOW!!!!

I looked out the window this morning and saw snow falling! I was unbelievably excited! Not just wimpy flurries either, we're talking big, fat, fluffy snowflakes, and lots of them! It reminded me of home and made me so happy. I really miss the snow! I took some pictures on the way to work.


A view of a Harlem street corner, on my walk to the subway.



On Park Ave. The pictures don't do it justice, it was really really snowing!


Excuse the no-hair look and the squinting from trying to keep snow out of my eyes. But I was happy!



A couple photos from the window at work. All my coworkers knew just how thrilled I was about the snow.

And after an hour or two, it stopped. By lunchtime the skies were blue and it was back up in the mid 40's. I even still took a lunchtime walk!

Utah Highlights

You may never realize how much you love something until you leave it. Living somewhere so different from Utah has made me appreciate where I'm from, and realize all the things I love about it. While in Utah we squeezed in as much as we could, trying to get our fill of the things we miss about living there. Here are some cell phone pictures of what we love in Utah and fun things we did there.

The beautiful mountains and wide open spaces.


Cafe Rio, of course


Regular snow storms and tons of snow! Snow that actually sticks around, builds up and gets deep!

This picture is from a drive in the canyon, and it reminded me of another thing I miss: driving in cars! Taking whatever route you want to your destination, leaving and arriving whenever you want.

Hello Yogurt (we made a trip during a blizzard). I have a history with Hello Yogurt. Sara and I have a history with Hello Yogurt, which the boys get pulled into. And Dave and Kaylene came along for the ride too. :)



The babies. All the nieces and nephews. All the family.


A trip to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple with the family. So great to be there together.



The Pie pizzeria after the temple. Haven't had pizza like this in NYC! It's a different style and it was delicious. (The root beer was so good. Ahh... root beer.)






JCW's for burgers, fries and fry sauce. YUM. Thank you, Utah, for fry sauce. And those char-broiled burgers really are one of a kind. We haven't found a similar burger place in the city. (Klane also made sure to visit Apollo Burger while in Utah.)



Macey's soft serve with Mike and Sara, and then hanging out at their place. Just like the good old days!

Our visit to Utah was so great. It was so wonderful to spend time with our family. It was almost like we never left! We love and miss all of you, and can't wait till our next visit! In the meantime, here's our open invitation for everyone to come visit us and see our second home, here in NYC.