Palace de la Midge

People have asked, and so Im delivering. Here are some pictures of my apartment. Its 850 sq feet of my own space. Its pretty much my favorite place to be. I love it. Hope you do too.

This is what you see when you first walk in. Love the counter height table! And I put them together all by myself. Ok, maybe with alittle help from the dudes at the shop.

My kitchen! It has so much space. And I love my valet trash service. Heaven.

My living room. Im still wanting a coffee table, but Im alittle particular with which one I want. All in due time.

Another angle of my living room. Some people much recognize that leather chair. Its been with me since my first apartment in Boston. It might be missing a few bolts, but I just cant part with it yet.

Ahh. My room. And I don't have to put all my personal belongings in it. Between there just being breathing room and my most comfy bed, its my slice of heaven.

Bathroom. Love the shower curtain.

If any of you saw my closet in Manhattan, you would understand how much this is such an upgrade for me. Its a walk in and a door. Amazing. And it fits ALL my clothes. Seriously, Amazing.

I didn't add a picture, but another fabulous amenity of my apartment is that there is laundry! I haven't had an apartment with laundry in so long. Its worth every extra penny I pay for that.

After my interview back in Nov, I went and looked at about 6 apartments that I found online. They were all further away from work than I was looking for, and none of them felt like my place. Moving from Manhattan where things like dishwashers and garbage disposals were not a standard, and where my particular apartment was a basement apartment without windows. (Haha, and one entrance! Yes, death trap if there was a fire!) Pretty much anything was a step up. And I really have been so happy with this place. There is gym that I have been frequenting weekly, which has been an awesome change for me. And there is a pool. A couple even.

I might not be in the city where the lights inspire you, or where the streets will make you feel brand new. But this apartment has helped to make the transition a little bit easier.

Joy in the Journey

This was the theme of one of my EFY years. Maybe I should have learned more about it then!

I have recently been told that I need to learn to realize the joys in the everyday life, whatever that might be. Granted, this discuss came in regards to dating, and about how I hate the game and just want to get through it. So, in light of the reality that that end is still far away, I need to really take stock on what a dear friend kindly reminded me of.

But come on. Not everything is about dating, even though it might seem like that when we are single. Pres Monson said back in 2008 to "not let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do." Ahh. Very wise. And relate-able all stages of life.

I might or might not have the Mormon Bachelor website on my Google Reader! :) They are up to the 3rd contestant. And as I watched her little bio video, she sad something that struck me. Ok maybe a few things. 1) Honoring the Ordinary. Enjoy the little things in life, and relish in it. The day to day things are just as important as the large milestones. 2) Its ok to say that you like to just simply be with people. I remember a few different times that I have been asked what my hobbies are and not really knowing how to answer. I seem to fill up days with stuff that seem productive at the time, but looking back it was just simply spending time with a friend doing what ever that person wanted or needed to do. And that is just find.

The last week or so, I havent been as happy as I might have been in the months prior. And I think its because Im already looking ahead, and not looking at the now. Time to reevaluate and to just enjoy. Stop and smell the flowers. Stop and enjoy relish in my quieter evenings. Stop and spend more time doing the things that make me happy, each and every day. ... Joy in the Journey.

Love me some Peonies!

Delight

My life is infinitely better. . . . . I can buy these in my city! Oh how I have missed them. And if only I could get Fanta Exotic and I would never feel the need to travel to Europe. Oh wait! That will never happen.

According to S Korea:

The following was found on an ad in the subway in S. Korea by a fellow NYC friend. After spending this past weekend in NYC, It feels appropriate to post.

New York is always with you

New York has only best hair designers

New York pursues the best of beauty

New York can make you special

Vegas to Logan

I just got home from a quick and rather unexpected trip out west. My mother's brother has had cancer for years, and in the last few months it had gotten much worse. And within about 4 days his health absolutely deteriorated so much that he is in such a better place than where he was here.

I flew into Vegas, to be picked up by my Mom's cousin. We had a little errand to run for my boss before heading 2+ hrs to Hurricane, UT. We got there just in time for me to throw a black dress on, hug family, and join in the funeral services.

After a few days of clean up both financially and physically (his house and personal items), we headed to Salt Lake in a snow storm. (Mind you, I had about an hour to pack, and didn't see the snow in the forecast, so I only brought flats!) My mom and I drove in my Uncles car, with my Uncle in the urn. Weird?! Yes. And we stopped in Provo to go to the BYU Art Museum and see the Carl Bloch exhibit which was totally worth the stop. I also got to run into a dude that served his mission in Manhattan last summer.

We stopped at Cafe Rio for dinner before heading to my Aunt Lani and Uncle Rons house for the night. We attended their ward in the morning, and then got to visit with a favorite Boston friend and her husband and new baby. We hurried back for dinner with all the Walkers in the SL Valley, and then played a game of Ticket to Ride before hushing off to visit another favorite Boston friend and his wife and new baby. Then a short stop to visit my Moms other brother and makes sure all the graveside service details were done.

Monday was an early day as we had to get to Logan with enough time prior to make sure all the arraignments were being taken care of by the cemetery. Neither my mom nor I really planned for snow, but luckily I had a cousin who had a pair of boots that I could squeeze my foot into. After checking things at the cemetery, we ran to TJ Max and got my mom a proper jacket. So now we were both ready to stand in the snow for awhile, relatively speaking.

My cousin JP drove me to the airport from Logan. He is the only cousin I have that is my age. All the rest are years older/younger. It was nice to visit as I havent really seen him for years. And we made such good time, that I got to end the trip with yet another fabulous meal at Cafe Rio.

It was nice to see family, and even be in Utah. But next time I go there when snow abounds, I will be making it to the slopes! I so miss skiing in the West.

Happy Face

For those fellow Mormons that read this and have your own blog, do you sometimes feel like posting on your blog is alittle bit like sharing your Testimony during Testimony meetings?!?!?! I open up my blog and stare at a blank page feeling like I should update, but not really knowing what to share. But there are other times that I have something I really want to share, but I just save it as a draft as Im not ready to share those thoughts with the world. Ahh. Maybe if I wrote in my real paper journal more often I would feel less like I needed to share big things here, and can share the more fun things that go on in life. . . .

Well. Thats where I am this evening. Not really knowing what to share. But feeling like I have a lot on my mind. But what I really wish is that all those that actually read this could be sitting in my living room and we could just share in person the fabulous, and not so fabulous things, that are going on and those things we are thinking, feeling, and dealing with.

Alas, I live hundred of miles from any of you. And most days, Im content to just hear a voice on the other end of the phone. Or to read sweet words that someone either emails or texts me. But then there are days that I would just love a hug from you.

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of going to AZ for a dear friends wedding. I got to bunk with a few of the girls from Manhattan and one of them being someone new. And there was just something so nice about having roommates for a few nights. It was a little slice of heaven amongst the craziness that can be wedding weekends.

I went to my first RS Activity as being apart of a family ward in my Adult years. And as I was walking in to my apartment afterwards, all I could think about was how genuinely happy I felt. I still don't know why Im in Charlotte. I don't have many friends in town. I don't really feel like I absolutely belong. But I feel like me, the most I have felt like me in years. I feel at peace with who I am and where I am in life. Granted, there are still moments that I really wonder if those blessings talked about in my patriartical blessing will ever come or if I messed up somewhere. But Im happy, Im confident, Im content, and Im ready for the rest of my life. Its taken a long time to get here. I know I have so much more to learn. But for now. I am happy.

Here is one of my favorites of the pictures I have yet seen from the wedding:

Facebook Status

There is something about a facebook status that can say alot, or not! And here are a few of my recent favorites, and thank you for letting me borrow these, if they are from you!:

I never get jealous when I see my ex with someone else, because my parents always taught me to give my used toys to the less fortunate.

Mom: Do you want milk or water?
Son: What day is it?
Mom: It's Wednesday.
Son: I only like milk on Tuesdays. That's when I change my socks.

‎4 days till valentines.. Not 2 late to break up...