That ugly plant in the corner.

Today I woke up especially happy. Which, if you know me well, isn't the case.

Unless it's a holiday or I'm around guests, where I wake up energized and ready to go, most days I grumble at my alarm, hit snooze a few too many times, do my zombie walk straight from bed into the kitchen for a bowl of cereal and soy, and de-anger as I take bite after bite. Poor Jeremy, as he is leaving for work I try to stay as pleasant as possible, sometimes without success.

Anywho, today I woke up chipper. It probably helped I had lots of dreams about babies. And then one scary one about a shark... but anyways, I was happy. And as I went to the gym, got ready, and ate I was keenly aware of all of the little things in our home that bring me joy every day.

I really love most of the objects in our home. We have Rosa, or now M.J. (name change- long story) the Kitchen Aid Mixer, and Essie the espresso maker, the bedroom set which I love, etc. which make me really happy to have and use. But there is something about the little things, the ones bought at Marshalls or made by a friend, that go beyond happiness and give me a little bit of joy every time I pass them.

These things have a story.

First, is a cluster found in our bedroom. The purple roses make me me smile. And the frames (found in Marshalls) filled with 10 cent pictures remind me while I'm getting ready for the day of the man I'm so, so in love with.

This picture was taken on Halloween 2008 when Jeremy and I had been dating for 3 weeks. We had a hilarious time with his family and Bowman, a friend. Once again, a 10 cent picture in a 5 dollar frame.

I don't know what it is specifically about this concoction of decor in our bathroom that I love so much... but I do. Maybe it helps because these candles are scented? Who knows. I love them.

On the shelf of our key hook/mirror thingy is this tiny vase with tiny flowers. I was going to buy something to put on here and Jeremy thought we could use something we already had. Together we made this little piece, and every time I look at it I think of my Momma who would love it. And then I smile :)

I made "Jeremy's Man Mug" right when we started dating, because his roommates and him always tried to get the biggest mug in their kitchen. It's ginormous and front and center in our kitchen. And yes, he had the biggest mug in his house.

A picture Evie sent me on our fridge. She's my pen pall :) And can I say- she's THREE and already writing! Genius.

Corinne occupies a shelf in our home, displaying one of the most thoughtful gifts I've ever received. She not only sneakily organized a photoshoot for us, but scrapbooked our friendship throughout the years. And she doesn't do anything half-heartedly. This must have taken hours of love.

Another extremely thoughtful gift is the Miller Family Cookbook Mary ordered for us, with family recipes up the wazoo! We use it at least three times a week!! It's always on our counter.

And this last item in our house makes me laugh. This ugly plant I have a fancy for, that Jeremy doesn't love, is proudly displayed. It's gotten a little bent throughout my moves and probably costs me $5, but he puts up with it because he knows I love it. And that makes me smile. :)

So today as you meander through life and wherever you live, instead of thinking of what you'd change, think about those little things that bring you joy. You know, the ones you bought at Marshalls or those 10 cent pictures in a discount frame.

It will make you happy- the joyful kind of happy. :)

With love from Starbucks in El Centro,

Paige

Palm Trees & Pause

Currently the old guy in the apartment above me is doing jumping jacks. I swear he rose from the dead. We don't hear him for 7 weeks and then bam! He's literally doing jumping jacks. Hammering. Running?

I'd have to say in most cases I'd be a little annoyed by the thud thud thud above me but I'm just happy he's alive.

In other news, I'm thinking of making myself a smoothie. Strawberry banana to be exact. Throw in some yogurt and orange juice and we're golden.

I feel like these are the facts I have to share recently. In college my life was on fast forward. My head was spinning with lists and deadlines and wedding planning and meeting up with friends and work and and and and and and....

Now, the days are a little longer. Choices of things to fill them. I work. I do laundry and dishes. I daydream and dream and pray. I look at my to-do list with literally 5 things on it and wonder how long I'm going to stretch it out. I read only a chapter or two of a book because I don't want it to pass too quickly. I play frisbee in the park with Jeremy.

I used to be scared of this. Scared of slow and boring. But actually, I'm a huge fan. Because instead of slow and boring, I have found peace and tranquility. I have had long, rambling conversations with friends. I have slept. Taken showers. Worked out.

I know life won't be like this for long. It's almost the calm before the storm. Before living in a lively city. Before babies. Before a stressful job.

But for now I'm going to enjoy the sound of the wind in the palm trees behind me and the thud thud thud of an old man above me. It's the little things in life that fast forward misses. And I don't mind being on pause for a while.

With love from sunny El Centro,

Paige

Skype. Business. Happiness.

Some actual life updates (no rants, I promise) for you all:

Since I'm far from Sacramento I've had frequent and fantastic Skype dates with the fam.

They mostly include an introduction from an adult family member, the entrance and entertainment of Evie and/or Chet, and an exit/apology from a different adult family member who has taken over the Skype while the original adult tends to a boo boo, make believe game, or dance-a-thon, hosted by Evie.

And I honestly couldn't love it more :) :) :)

Here are some pictures to chronicle this past month:

Showing off their dance moves!

Scene of a hilarious Skype with my entire family who lives in Sacramento at my parent's house! With a million cousins! :)

Mom trying to maintain quiet...

And loosing terribly to a grandbaby dog pile!

So much joy these conversations bring me! Feels like I'm right in the room :)

On another note, I have been making some progress on the establishment of my small business (huge thanks to Bill, Jeremy, Josh, Mom and Dad for their help!) and I currently have pending/processing the name of "Aaron Consultants and Planners, LLC" and my legal documents!

The main reason for this right now is so that I can continue contracting out Marketing/PR jobs, like I'm currently doing. Later the business could evolve to do wedding planning as mentioned before, but for now that's not my focus as I'm enjoying my current work.

It's fun to feel so official and get the wheels turning on making this idea legitimate!

Life is going good down here in El Centro! We are certainly enjoying the beautiful weather and keep our windows open as much as possible to get a good breeze! We know in a few months the heat kicks in and have to brag while we can ;)

Something I've been reminded of lately is the value of good friends and community. I've been so blessed with quality, giving friendships and lately I've been having such good, real conversations. I learn so much from the wise women that give so much to me, and I appreciate them so much. There's nothing like a girlfriend who can empathize with the craziness of life as a girl, right? :) I'm so at peace with where the Lord has me now, what is to come later, and everything in between. And much of that is due to the wisdom of you women in my life. Thank you for that.

Two of my good friends, Elli and Becca, gave me a copy of "The Girls of Ames" that follows a group of women who grew up together in Ames, Iowa to their present day in their 40s as they go through highs and lows, joys and losses, and still maintain a bond of friendship. If you're looking for a good read, I'd suggest it. If it has a bad ending, I'm sorry, I'm only 1/2 way through ;)

With love and joy from El Centro,

Paige

The Positive Re-Writing of Actually Bad Memories

Do you ever feel, like a plastic bag, drifting throughout the wind... wait, I'm not Katy Perry.

Do you ever feel like you're the only sane person in this world?

HOLLA!

Now, to be fair I often times feel like I'm the craziest person in this world. But those moments when you KNOW, when you KNOW you are right and everyone else is wrong...

(Mental Picture: Michael in Arrested Development)

That's what I'm talking about.

The Positive Re-Writing of Actually Bad Memories is a rant I've had deep seeded from the second/sixth grade. You see, in the second grade for a few months I had the WORST teacher in the world. No one in my class liked her and I don't believe she liked anyone in my class.

For years we all spoke of her name with a hiss on our tongue and one only could recall a bad thought.

But a funny thing happened in 6th grade when she was retiring and everyone who was in her 2nd grade class got an invitation to attend her goodbye luncheon. I scoffed, tossed that paper aside and said to a fellow classmate, "Go see her? She was SO mean! I'm not saying goodbye to that lady!"

And that classmate's reply:

"She wasn't mean. What are you talking about? I think I'm going to go to it."

That classmate had suffered the trenches with me, bore the burdens of that awful class and FORGOT? How is this possible? I told story after story to my classmate of times when this teacher was horrendous and in return I got a shrug and an, "I just don't remember her being mean."

Now, I know The Positive Re-Writing of Actually Bad Memories is probably a good thing. Why remember the crappy stuff if you can just re-write some good? Like my previous post, I will remember the good of the longest light in El Centro and not the bad because it's just a better, happier way to live my life.

But sometimes it's the most annoying thing. (Even if it's the best thing.)

So today, for a limited time only, I charge you to reply to a friend with The Actual Empathy of Actually Bad Memory to those who would like to sulk, vent, rant and rave in the drama of their second grade classroom... or whatever their memory is. And thank you for listening to mine. (Insert bow and applause here.)

For more insanity, watch Arrested Development. This is the main character Michael's life. Luckily, it's a rare instance in mine.

With love from El Sanetro,

Paige

Testing

Testing my patience, that is!

You know in Gilmore girls when Taylor puts the first stoplight in Stars Hollow and Lorelai and Rory are leaving on a spontaneous road trip before Lorelai and Luke's wedding and sit. at. the. stop. light. for.evvvvvver????

It's the ridiculous stoplight that doesn't turn green, even in the wee small hours of the morning when the sun is fast asleep. (Sleepless in Seattle reference for you fanatics- aka Mom). They tilt their heads and just stair at this nuisance.

Well, folks, Stars Hollow has met it's match!

El Centro possibly has the LONGEST wait at a stoplight! And what's hilarious is it's the one right by my house. (When I say house I mean apartment, but to me it's the same, k?) (And I don't actually think it's funny, at all.)

Back to my saga...

So daily I sit, head titled at a stop light with very little traffic and try to say something Christian like, "Well isn't this a good exercise in patience!" or "I guess I can take some time to pray!" but really in my heart, hatred is growing for the man who made the timer this horrifically long! I think he perches himself in the Subway parking lot with binoculars and giggles at the faces getting more and more red...

Dr. Evil, I'll call him.

So me and Dr. Evil don't have a good relationship, but I can tell you when I leave El Centro one day I will actually grow fond of that light where I learned to get a little more patience and prayed for a few people, or that's what I'll tell myself at least. (The Positive Re-Writing of Actually Bad Memories will be a rant for later, which is deep seeded with annoyance back to the 2nd grade.)

With love from Wake and 4th Street,

Tilted-Head-Paige

10 Things

10 Things you don't hear in your house,

that I hear in mine:

1. "It went great, but she had a HUGE uterus."
2. "Hey Babe! Do you need these scrubs washed for tomorrow or are you wearing your suit?"
3. "Let's develop a good talk track for this doctor."
4. "Do you want cherry grenadine in your Diet Sprite? Or just orange juice?"
5. "Quick! Shut the door! The feathers are coming in!"
6. "Should we do Chili's or Burgers & Beer?"
7. "Feeling another Harry Potter tonight?"
8. "Will turning on Psych disrupt your work?" "No, just pause it if a Doctor calls, I'm doing computer work anyway."
9. "IT'S SOOO HOT IN HERE!!!!!!" (Perks of El Centro in February)
10. "Do you want some breakfast?" "Yeah, I'll take some Buster Bar (aka ice cream/fudge!)"

Now, Jeremy doesn't just eat any ice cream for breakfast. No, he eats ROYAL ice cream for breakfast because Buster Bar, an Aaron recipe, is beyond what your taste buds might deem as "delicious" and moves into a whole other category of utopia!

And because many have asked and now you are dying to make this pretty easy and extremely delicious dessert, I'll pass the recipe on to you as well:

Buster Bar - An Aaron Favorite Request for Birthdays (& Bfast!)!

Ingredients:

First & Second Layer:

1 pound oreo cookies

1/2 cup melted butter

1/2 gallon ice cream

1 1/2 cup peanuts

Chocolate Topping:

2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 cups evaporated milk

2/3 cups chocolate chips

1/2 cups butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

First and Second Layer:

1. Crush 1 pound oreo cookies, mix with 1/2 cup melted butter, press into a 9x13 pan
2. Soften 1/2 gallon ice-cream, spread over cookie mixture
3. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups peanuts over the top

Chocolate Topping:

Mix and boil for 8 minutes:

1. 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk, 2/3 cups chocolate chips and 1/2 cup butter. Add 1 teaspoon valilla.
2. Cool before pouring over bottom layers.

Freeze dish. (I froze mine for a night). Get a good strong knife to cut it!

Oh, this is love!

This video made my LIFE!

My nephew, Chet, and my momma just saying hello:

Happy Valentines day all :) And thanks for the video, mom :)

With love from La Casa de Amor,

Paige