ROOIN' UP

This morning I took work off so that we could go to the temple with the Picketts, as this was the only time we could go before we leave the country. I got to wear one of my new outfits from shopping (it was like getting new school clothes all over again; looking at them sitting pretty and new next to all of your old clothes, just begging to be worn) and Tyler wore his kangaroo pin. We are both so giddy with delight that we are leaving for Australia in just a couple of days. We are only semi-ready, with very little packing or planning under our belt, but we do have some things taken care of. (Did you know you could have the post office hold your mail for you up to 30 days and then have them deliver it all on a date of your choice? My husbandry is so smart for getting that taken care of.) Good-bye July, you flew by quickly; hello August, we can't wait to meet you! Also, I should note here that my oldest nephew turns eight today; I can't believe I have an eight-year-old nephew, can you?

FASHION FAIRY

This is Zach, one of my very good graphic design friends from when I lived in Provo (one of the five good things that came from living in that town). He is quite the fashionable specimen and was willing to lend a helping hand in giving me a bit of a wardrobe update for our upcoming Australia trip. He met me after work at the City Creek shopping center and we got right down to business. We scoured the racks for comfy clothes that were still chic enough to be in a billion photographs and meet loads of people in a country I've never been to. We went to both H&M and Forever 21 and I ended up with 3 maxi skirts in navy, olive, and black; 1 set of black leggings (yes I jumped on that bandwagon); 3 tops: one pocket tee and two striped; 1 black jacket with gold zippers; and to top it all off, the perfect bag to end all bags for my DSLR (shhh don't tell the handbag company where I work). Tyler met up with us after he finished up some homework and we shopped a bit for him as well, walking out with two hoodies that fit him like a glove (thank you H&M). Once all was said and done we treated Zachary to a meal at the Blue Lemon and it was delightful. Thanks Zach, you're so kind to take me under your fashion-forward wings.

TREAT YO' SELF

How amazingly amazing are my co-workers? Last week they took me to lunch and decorated my desk to oblivion, and today they gifted me with this necklace that I have been coveting. It was all wrapped up in a brown paper box and completed with string tied in a bow (they know me so well, in more ways than one). Let me list the ways that this necklace is perfect for me: a. it's gold, 2. it's a triangle, and d. it has one of my very favorite catch phrases from one of my very favorite television shows. Parks and Recreation always has a special place in my heart because it is the show that brought Tyler and I together, and now I get to wear it around my neck. Now, go 'treat yo' self'!

BUBBLE BOY

It's no secret that we love to home make birthday cards around here, and while I usually take the lead on them, I am proud to say that Tyler does a tremendous job to boot. Today we made our way to Duncanville for a combined birthday celebration for our new brother-in-law and I (yes our birthdays were two weeks ago, but hey, why not celebrate all month long?), complete with cards and dinner. Speaking of cards, my mom mentioned to us that she was going to be sending out an envelope to Cody, my nephew, for his birthday. Tyler created this card for him showcasing Cody doing his two most recent loves: bike-riding and swimming. I always love Tyler's stick figures—my oh so very favorite.

BIRTHDAY READING

Tyler had to go into work extra extra (read-all-about-it) early this morning, but I slept in. Once I was awake I decided to read these two coffee table books: I Feel Relatively Neutral About New York and K is for Knifeball. Both of these lovely books are brought to you by my thoughtful little sister, Aubrey. She got them for me way back on Pioneer Day in honor of my belated birthday. Speaking of Utah holidays centered around fireworks, our neighbors came over and invited us out to enjoy the mound of explosives they got at the firework stand they worked at this summer. They really were amazing; tons of aerials that were loud and colorful to boot. Now the firework shows are really over, as it is the last week in July, but at least we got three instead of only two. Hooray!

SERIOUSLY

A somewhat random and funny thing happened to me this morning. I was driving to work and decelerating down the off ramp near the office. When turning right, the end of the ramp merges with the flow of traffic without a stop light or sign. Before reaching the end of the ramp, there was a small SUV completely stopped in the middle of the road. There weren't any obstacles in front of the car, that I could tell, and soon the rear lights of the car kept shifting from brake lights to reverse lights to normal lights. I sat there quite confused and then noticed the driver's door opening and a petite lady motioned me to come forward. I drove forward and rolled down my window—it was clear she didn't know how to roll down hers, hence the opening of the door to talk to me while she was still buckled in. In a very thick European accent she exclaimed that she only knew how to drive a manual and had no idea how to get her rental (from Washington), an automatic, out of neutral. I told her she needed to put it into drive… the big D. The graciously thanked me and we both went on our way. I'm still trying to figure out how she managed to get to the middle of the off ramp without this crucial piece of information.

OUR HOUSE

(I hope I successfully got this song stuck in your head with the title of this post.) Tyler didn't have work today and I forgot lunch… what does that equal? Tyler coming to whisk me away from work to buy Chick-Fil-A sandwiches with a coupon that's been in my desk since I started working there. We took a late lunch, and I was extra excited because I have been dying for Tyler to see where I work. It has also hit me a little bit more that we are going to be leaving for Australia in ten days. I shall miss our house and our families, but I still can't believe this is happening to me, to us! We both managed to wear yellow, and we both ate so much that we needed to wait until the late afternoon to finish our sandwiches on our couch together.