hello, are you still there? I'm back!

{our lovely photographer samantha kelly. check her out!}

well, hello.

it has been quite awhile, wouldn't you say?

so, so, so much has happened while i've been away.

big things and little things.

since my last post, here are the "top 10" since then.

1. i'm retired! i decided after much thought that it was time

to move on from the wonderful world of ballet.

it was the best chapter of my life. i will always be a ballerina at heart.

2. we made a quick move and lived in utah for a few months 

this summer while lovebird enjoyed a wonderful internship.

3. i chopped my hair. 

it's new, a change and something i have always wanted to do.

{not having to put my hair in a bun every day anymore, gave me the green light!}

4. baby stice will be joining us january 2014.

we couldn't be more excited.

5. this summer i did a bit of "local" traveling;

portland, island park, hawaii and west yellowstone.

it was a fun summer.

6. this summer, we lived with my parents.

it was a complete joy- family is one of my most important gems in life. 

7. we are back in california preparing for baby and lovebird's graduation.

california feels like home to me. we are oh-so-happy here.

8. mowgli turned one this month!

{happy birthday to our favorite pup}

we are kind of in shock that we have already had him for a whole year.

time needs to s l o w down.

9. our favorite things from summer:

fly fishing, frozen yogurt, camping in kauia, pickles,

hanging with old/best friends, salt lake restaurants, finding out about baby stice,

home cooked meals and the beauty of utah.

10. lovebird and i celebrated our 3rd year anniversary this summer.

time flies when you are in love-

and boy, am i in love. 

it's so good to be back.

i'll be here to stay for awhile.

happy holiday weekend.

xoxo

we're busy over here.

jam-packed into the next two weeks:
- rehearsals and a performance! i can't believe it's the end of the season already.
- packing.... yeah, i should probably get started.
- lovebird's birthday to celebrate. yahoo.
- cramming in as much hang out time as we can, with our dear friends.
- saying goodbyes, more like "cya laters",  to my piano students for the summer.
- clean, clean, clean. my little home is begging for it.
- spend a few days by our pool before we go brave the cold weather that still exists in utah.
- one last day trip to san francisco, just to get my fix before i leave for three months.
- possibly a pedicure. after a long season of hours in pointe shoes- i think i'm due for one.
- a quick trip to L.A. who doesn't want to visit best friends and disneyland? no brainer.
- many afternoons (if i dare brave the heat) at the dog park. mowgli's got to say goodbye to his friends too, i suppose.
- car washes and a big stock up on treats. what's a road trip without clean cars and treats galore?
- simply moments in our little home. before we leave it all behind for awhile.

i can't believe the beginning of may is just around the corner already.
slow down life. you are passing all too quickly. 
this time of year is always a busy time. but, i like it that way.
we are anxious to go home for the summer. yet, slightly sad to say goodbye to life here. 
regardless, salt lake city... here we come!

anything fun on your agenda for the end of april?
let's hear it. i'm hoping it's more excited than our to do list before we head out.

long winter's nap

the holidays are for lounging, resting and relaxing right?

that's what mowgli seems to think.

but, we don't mind one bit, because our exhausted school brains

and sore ballet muscles are accepting every ounce of rest they can get. 

mowgli met so many people at lovebird's family's christmas party-

it took the energy right out of him.

he managed to crash right in front of the christmas tree, 

not minding the big red bow we tied on him.

he was in for a long winter's nap.

it's a tuff life, when you are the center of attention-

having everyone awing over your cuteness,

petting you at every chance and playing with you endlessly.

he is certinaly spoiled.

i'm not sure lovebird and i can give him nearly as much love, 

 as all of his adoring fans, friends and family are giving him, 

when we go back home.

a few things are for certain:

we love mowgli, christmastime and long winter naps. 

oh, and mowgli has decided this is his favorite time of year too-

he can't seem to get enough of the snow.

in between his naps, he joyfully pounces in the snow.

it's like pulling teeth to get him to come back inside. 

obviously, we are all completely satisfied with how this christmas break is going.

hope you enjoy your last day of 2012!

see you in the new year!

xoxo

if only i could do this every day...

 i keep pinching myself.

did i really just fly home in a private jet for a day?

{like i said, i keep pinching myself.}

what a fun, unexpected, blessing and experience.

i say blessing, because a trip home was well needed.

quite literally an answer to my prayers.

i was craving a little family time.

i'm forever thankful to my 'new friend' who so graciously extended the offer.

how could i ever say no to something this great?

but more importantly, how can i ever repay him or say thank you enough?

a batch of cookies just doesn't quite compare to a jet ride home.

{any suggestions? start brainstorming!}

what a flight, what a memory and what a day.

the whole 32 hours went by oh, so fast.

i walked onto the jet expecting to be a passenger... 

but instead of being bumped up to "first class", i got bumped up to copilot. 

hello, awesomeness. 

i spent every minute home with family.

complete bliss, i tell you.

i hoped back on that plane and enjoyed a late night ride

{all alone again- this time lounging in the back}

replaying the laugher, memories and love spent in those hours;

trying not to fly away too fast.

it was a perfect weekend, 

thanks to a trusty little jet.

{oh, and the best family in the world.}

being brave.

happy weekend.

i'm off to take my first test of the semester... wish me luck.

then, i'm hoping on a private jet to fly home{salt lake city}.

bucket list item: check. 

i'm headed home for a grand total of 24 hours;

just enough time to say hello to my family, eat at a favorite restaurant,

possibly get my hair done and spend the rest of those minutes with my mom. 

surprisingly, i'm more nervous for the flight than i am for the test.

so please, wish me more luck for the flight.

i hope you have a lovely weekend!

i'll report back with awesome pictures and a quick tale of 

the adventures that happen in the next 24 hours.

until then, i keep telling myself to be brave.

xoxo

officially over.

being home from italy for less than a week,

life already has picked us up in it's whirlwind of business.
you know that saying, "vacation is over"?
that's truer than true.
the minute you step off the plane from your vacation,
no matter how long or short it may have been, it's back to "real" life.
however, our real life has still felt like vacation...
considering we didn't exactly go straight home; we spent a few days in utah.
 also, a big thanks to holidays, family time, baseball games,
eating out, friends, treats and sleepovers
for helping drag out our vacation as long as possible.

{instagram: eleasejane}

1. jet lag requires early morning starbucks runs.

2. & 3. red, white and blue for the fourth of july. 

4. the gorgeous mountains in utah, which we miss dearly.

5. great harvest and einstein's = carb heaven, as well as my heaven.

6. currently in the market for a little putt putt.

7.  cutest little kids on the block.

8. pedicure, for both of us, was mandatory after walking the streets of italy.

9. nothing better than coming home to california's well earned rep for fresh produce.

10. lovebird being our family's 'grill master' on our new grill.

11. finally got around to changing my last name on my license. 

{never too late, right? ... two years later. ops!}

12. spending time catching up and writing my awesome brother. 

that's a wrap: a wrap to the close of our vacation.

vacation is officially over.

we are home safe and sound and surprisingly ready for "real" life again.

xoxo.

bon voyage!

we've been awfully busy:

attending weddings, catching up with family, playing with friends, 

eating out too much, shopping more than lovebird approves,

and getting ready for our big adventure.

it's been such a delightful vacation already, 

i'm actually in awe we still have another three weeks of vacation ahead of us.

we are counting our blessings, and feel oh-so-lucky.

we leave for italy today!

{or as lovebird calls it, "the country of love"}

we are both so eager to get there, explore the beauty, 

taste the gelato and eat homemade pasta.

but, we are most excited to just be with one another.

just the two of us.

we've been begging for time alone with one another

after such a hectic, crazy and long ballet season and school year.

that time starts in less than 24 hours...

and you better believe that we are both counting down the seconds.

{at this point, even our nine hour layover sounds delightful. i'm slightly joking.}

while we are gone, i thought i would treat you all to a little something.

since, clearly, i can't fit you all in my suitcase and take you with me.

for the next three weeks, i have some lovely bloggers featured on my blog.

i hope they keep you entrained by their beauty, fun ideas, tutorials and so much more.

it's always a treat to discover a new blog....

so enjoy them and send them some love by visiting their blogs!

italy and lovebird will carry my heart for the next little while.

i'm simply elated about that.

i'll miss you dearly while i'm away 

and look forward to catching up on your blogs when i return.

happy summer. 

xoxo

history buff.

{reflection of a beautiful utah sky and valley}

happy tuesday.

life never slows down, does it?

especially, when you visit home;

there are so many things to do, see and catch up on.

yesterday, lovebird and i took a trip up to the

natural history museum of utah

with my brother corey and cute mother. 

holy cow! it was incredible.

we were there for several hours, and i could have spent several more.

thank goodness for my geology and anthropology classes last semester- 

the museum felt like one big fat review.

it was so awesome to relate everything i just learned in school to "real" life.

it was fascinating. 

i slightly feel like a nerd, but i'm completely okay with that.

life is about learning.

if you are in the area {or even somewhat close}

i strongly urge you to go see this specatular museum.

it's free if you're a student, print a coupon here, 

or go on one of the days that admission is free. {next date: july 9th}

it's well worth the time, your money and

of course, exercising that brain of yours.

dear mom:

dear mom: i love you.

a lot.

coming home to utah is always a treat.

but, spending time with my mom is an even a bigger treat.

we are best friends.

being away from her is tuff, but it isn't until i'm with her

that i really realize just how much i miss her while i'm away.

we are the same person.

i love that about us.

we have the same taste, love the same things,

buy the same treats, laugh the same way, do the same things.

we have a unique relationship. 

i'm so lucky to have such a close friendship with her.

certainly, she is my mom;

she provides guidance, advice and motherly love.

but, she is my best friend.

i tell her my deepest secrets, and she tells me hers.

we have a whole week of just us.

{lovebird is still home working and taking his finals.}

we can finally go to lunch together, run errands together,

shop until we drop {which we already have done}, sit on the couch and chitchat,

read our books together, and drink our diet cokes.

all without having miles between wishing we were closer.

it will be a week free of texting and phone calls because we'll be face to face. 

it's going to be a good week. 

however, any week is a good week when your with your mom.

fly me home.

i felt like i was shot out of a cannon this weekend.

i jumped on a plane {way too early in the morning},

finally landed in the beautiful city of salt. {aka: salt lake city},

raced to special events, such as ballet performances and baby blessings.

then finished the weekend off with my lovely parents on the couch.

sundays are the best, especially at home. 

i hope you had a lovely weekend,

minus the feeling of being shot out of a cannon. 

xoxo

goodbye, elder.

goodbye to you.

this goodbye was a hard one.

by far the hardest one i've experienced in life so far. 

it's not forever, but two years is forever to me.

you are my best friend.

you mean the world to me.

i am happy for you.

i am praying for your strength, courage, and safety.

i miss you already and it's only been five days.

{725 more to go.}

you'll be an incredible missionary.

the people of mexico will just adore you.

you'll be missed at home, dearly.

but, you are in the right place doing the right thing.

we all love you.

thank goodness for your cute friends waiting at the curb to embrace you.

they helped my goodbye end with a smile and 

gave me the comfort to know you'd be perfectly alright in this new chapter of your life.

p.s. i miss our little texting convo's, but i'm looking forward to exchanging letters. 

i know from experience, letters helps your love grow.

surprise!

{before......and.......after}

i'm officially a brunette. 

kind of crazy, right?

i have never been anything but blonde.

but, now i can check something off my bucket list.

i am still getting used to seeing myself in the mirror.
it's kind of shocking every time.

it's weird finding brown hair on my clothes rather than blonde.

touching my hair feels like i'm playing with someone else's' hair. crazy, right?

all and all, i like the change.

change is good.

a drastic change is a good thing too.

i didn't tell lovebird i was doing it... so he was in for a surprise last night

when he picked me up at the airport.

{i tried filming his reaction, but i wasn't close enough to him when he realized.} 

it took him a few minutes to realize it was actually me. 

and when he did, his eyes grew ten time larger

and his head did the biggest double take i've ever seen.

thank goodness, he likes it. actually, loves it.

he's now in love with a brunette.

thanks goodness for change in life.

what's the biggest drastic change you've "experienced"?

p.s. if you live in utah and want a rockin' new do, 

i have just the gal for you!

michelle is simply gorgeous, has an adorable personality and is a dear friend. 

{she'll make you jealous of her eyelashes. just wait and see}

she is also looking to add to her cliental- so help her out! 

check her out at:

tangles salon 

7076 s. highland dr. 84121

salt lake city, ut.

801.424.2724

*email me if you want more details. also, mention my name when you call

to make an appointment and you may get a friendly discount.

xoxo

airport post.

what a weekend.

it started off with performances of rat pack. 

 i then hopped on a plane to fly home, 

"hosted"a party, 

made a drastic change,

{you'll see after i show lovebird tonight.}

said a big goodbye to my best friend in life,

and am now waiting patiently to get back home to my lover.

i can't wait to get home.

but, i'm certainly sad to leave my family and home.

i have lots of pictures and events to catch you up on.

please be patient with me

because i also have lots of homework and studying to catch up on.

{which, unfortunately has to take priority.}

until then, enjoy the little tidbits of my trip from the pictures above.

i promise to be a "good" little blogger and post the details soon.

i hope you are having a happy wednesday!

it's snowing {more like 'dumping'} here. 

i'm so happy i got to experience a little snow storm 

before i head back to sunny california. 

xoxo

just yesterday, you were 4 years old.

oh, wait! how dare i forget to blog about this.

it's awfully important, after all.

crew went through the temple while we were visiting in utah.

{december.twenty.eight.two.thousand.eleven}

what a beautiful day and remarkable thing.

we are both so happy for him. and extremely proud of him.

it was a day spent in love, laughter and spirituality. 

the support of extended family was unreal.

we headed back to aunt carol's for a delicious dinner.

the day could have lasted forever.

it was a perfect day.

cheers to a new year!

{last pictures taken of us in 2011.}

i am not the biggest fan of new years eve.

you can call me scrooge. i don't mind.

the two best things about the holiday are:

1. wearing all things that glitter and sparkle.

2. eating delicious food.

don't get me wrong...

 the countdown to midnight, the kiss triggered by the strike of a clock,

 the fireworks and the lovely friends and family 

we find celebrating with are oh so great. 

but..... there is something that just doesn't click for me.

i sometimes think ordering in chinese food, snuggling on the couch

while just the two of us countdown and ring in the new year would 

make me fall in love with the holiday.

that being said, we did have a fun time last night.

it was spent with family up in park city and midway.

we ate lots of yummy {and expensive} food.

we laughed until we were blue in the face.

we cheered on the utes in the bowl game.

we raced down to celebrate midnight with dear friends.

and we came home to fall asleep talking about things in 2012.

two.thousand.and.twelve.

it's here already. 

we've quickly said goodbye to 2011.

funny how that happens.

it was a year full of all good things.

{staring school for me. new job for lovebird. house guest for a month. trips home to utah. friends tied the knot. more friends engaged. contract with cwb. holidays. visits from family. our one year anniversary. romantic getaway to monterey. got a piano. moved apartments. straight a's. lovebird's quarter of a century birthday. made new, and now close, friends. lovebird tore his cal and got surgery. crew going through the temple; crew getting his mission call. many day trips to our city: san francisco. new church callings. and the list goes on.}

we fell in love all over again in 2011.

and plan on doing just that in 2012.

365 days: so much to do, see, explore and feel.

we are anxiously awaiting everything that comes our way

whether by choice or by fate. 

happy 2012.

cheers to the new year! 

santa claus

santa was a genius this year.

he was efficient, thoughtful, creative and generous.

his little idea was awfully awesome:

"something you want."

"something you need."

"something to wear."

 "something to read."

want: vintage rayband sunglasses.

{can't go wrong with a pair of sunglasses}

need: new scriptures.

 {bigger size upon request. and with my married name}

wear: a few items i've had my eyes on.

{leggings and colored jeans}

read: to kill a mocking bird. 

{50th anniversary this year}

it has been a lovely christmas here in utah.

we have been busily visiting family and places in our "old" city.

i'm sorry for the hiatus in blog posting.

i guess that's what happens when you are distracted by family and friends. 

we are here for a few more days,

so i'm not making any promises on posting until i get back to california.

i will do my best.

i hope you all had a magical christmas.

xoxo

dracula

what a joy it is to be with family.

i went on a lovely date last night;

with my parents of course.

we hit up one of our favorite restaurants... vinto's.

as always, the pizza was delicious.

we ordered the sampler of gelato for dessert...and yum!

after dinner we headed to the ballet,

dracula.

it was spooky, the music was beautiful {liszt} and

i was in good company.

the weekend has been lovely.

i can't wait for my hair appointment today and visiting with friends tonight.

life in utah is beautiful:

because of the people, the adventures and the fall scenery.

{you should see the colors of the trees right now- they take my breath away}

bottom line: i'm so grateful to be home. 

flying solo

on my way home, as we speak.

{home as in utah.}

flying solo this time.

which is a new adventure in and of itself.

considering that for the year and 2 months lovebird and i have been 

married, i have spent all but 2 days with him.

i hated leaving lovebird this morning.

especially because i left him with a swollen mouth feeling sick.

{some crazy food allergy or stress perhaps.} 

i'm excited to spend a weekend at home with the family.

and that's just what i intend on doing.

nothing but family time.

i haven't flown solo for quite some time.

it's crazy to think i did it so frequently when i was a single girl.

i'm happy to be headed home.
it's just what i needed.