Wretched Snow

My body is already sore from digging my car out of the snow this morning. I'm all for snow, but freezing + snow + ice is awful.

Also, I totally slept over at Whitney's last night after editing and making picture magnets until 2 am. Ryan is still not here and I was scared to drive home.

Also, because of the snow, I'm sitting here at the office wearing the exact same clothes that I wore yesterday...

Don't judge.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I'm always late in posting something on the day of the holiday, but better late than never, right?

Ok, so these pictures are from this summer, but thanks to some fabulous cousin-in-laws we now own an awesome cookbook from our fave restaurant in DC. Love it.

Speaking of love, here are a few of my favorite things (along with link overloads) that Ryan and I were able to see, do, eat, and receive while in AZ:

Sunday: An amazing roast made by Cherie

Monday: Bowling at Lucky Strike, using their sweet lunch and bowl special, and getting smoked by Ry and his dad

Tuesday: We saw the Nutcracker for my birthday (my husband is amazing, and a post soon to come about that)

Wednesday: Hanging with the Dille's, taking pictures (which I can edit now with this baby) and eating amazing food at the cutest little neighborhood ever

Thursday: Seeing Kartchner Caverns with Ken, touring U of A's law school and eating amazing food in Tuscon

Friday: Catching up with Grant and eating his mom's fabulous cookies

Saturday: Opening up way too many presents and eating loads of food thanks to Cherie and Jen

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RY!

Ryan and I are officially not the same age anymore. For a whole week we get to be the same age, but not any more. So sad! Also, he's in Phx and I'm in Utah, back for work. It's a bummer, but it makes for a whole birthday week since we're celebrating the second he gets back. Also, he's 24 now--so old! haha

Here's to you, my cutie of a husband!

my first shoot

First off, I'm back in Provo and since Ry is still in AZ I will be pre-occupying myself with an overload of GRE, photography, and especially blogging. I miss Ry so much already. I'm a wimp, I know.

On a way happier note...

I scheduled a shoot with Ry's cousin and her family while we were in AZ for the week and posted a picture on my photography blog but just had to put one here as well! Also, my family is AMAZING and I received Lightroom3 (an editing program) for Christmas so I'm excited to play with the pictures more. I love their family so it was a blast to take their pictures and then go out to dinner with them later that night.

Also, we took their pictures in a neighborhood in Gilbert called Agritopia and I can't wait to go back and take more pictures of the quaint neighborhood!

Kid History

Has anyone else seen this video? We were at Ryan's cousin's last night and I watched it and thought it was so cute! The "rawr"-ing when the guy is on the ground is possibly the funniest/coolest thing ever.

I'm Dreaming Of A...

FALL Christmas? There are LEAVES on the ground! Like it's October! Ry's dad think's it's cold since today the high was 65. I think he's been in AZ a little too long….

Merry Christmas ADAM (you know, tomorrow is Christmas Eve, today is Christmas ADAM--thanks Dille fam for the fantastic inside joke that I will continue to use for the rest of my life.)

Kid in a toy store

Ryan and his dad set up their train after we got to Phoenix and seriously, he was like a little kid the whole time, setting it up, making sure they could use all the switches and the railroad too, making sure it could go both directions around all the loops. What a cutie.

As of now, the train is staying at Ry's dad's house, since the train is mostly Ken's (he didn't get one as a kid, so he's re-living his dreams as well), but I'm betting that when we have a cute little boy, he won't be able to say no and give it to him. I'm really looking forward to that.

Isn't Ry just the cutest?!?!

Our Christmas Wreath!

I know I mentioned my wreath a while ago, and even though I finished it last week I completely forgot to post a blog about it! Don't worry though, I definitely did not forget to take a billion and one before and after pictures. I really loved getting in the zone at night at having craft time and even though there were a couple of pretty hurtful gluegun burns, it was totally worth it. 

Greetings from Arizona! ((It's my birthday!))

Yes, I'm not above telling everyone that today's my birthday.

Birthday Bowling 2 from Emily Mangum on Vimeo.

my life would suck without you (part three)

Heat.

Let me just tell you, I really don't like being cold. Especially in a house. I know it totally helps on cutting costs, but since we're currently lucky enough to live someplace where we don't have to pay our heating bill, our home will always be at 72, thankyouverymuch.

68 when we go to sleep.

And 75 when I really want to be selfish and mean to the environment.

My life would suck without you (part two)

My parents.

They've raised 5 kids and they're so good to me. They keep me level-headed and trust me so much. I'm so grateful for their love and support, for their advice, kind/honest words, and their faith. I look up to them so much and wish I could be next-door neighbors with them. I'm pretty sure I didn't think that I wanted that when I was growing up, but now I realize just how amazing they are and cross my fingers all the time that it just might work out to live close to them from here on out.

My life would suck without you (part one)

In listening to the amazing cd that my brother made for each of his sibs before he got married Labor Day weekend, glee's version of kc's hit came on and all I could think of was the billion and one people that make me smile and that really, make my life amazing and totally un-sucky.

So I thought I'd dedicate a few posts to the people in my life who I am especially grateful for.

First, my fabulous husband.

He's carrying my purse for me (which he did grudgingly the few times he did it this summer, since he said it was way to colorful for him to be carrying it… wait, this is a grateful post...), what a cutie. I won't get too sappy, but let's put it this way: he makes me laugh all the time, hates to see me cry, and scratches my back whenever I ask him to. Definitely un-sucky qualities.

What a keeper.

A simple vinaigrette

We went over to the Doxey's on Friday night and I brought a salad and made some homemade dressing. I actually got the recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe, and usually they're hits, but this one was not. Maybe I just added too much olive oil. No good.

Since we had leftover salad but no other salad dressings (seriously, I love homemade dressing, out with the bottled, I say) so I searched and searched the internet (actually, I just looked up two recipes and since the first included an ingredient I didn't have, I went for the next best thing, the next recipe listed) and found a vinaigrette from Ina Garten and the Food Network.

This recipe may be mostly for my own records, but if you're looking for a solid vinaigrette, I suggest this. Also, the only thing I changed was adding a few more drops of evoo.


Vinaigrette for Green Salad
1 t. Dijon mustard
1t. minced garlic
3 T. vinegar (I used red wine vinegar)
salt and pepper
1/2 c. evoo

In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard, garlic, vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. While whisking, slowly add the olive oil until the vinaigrette is emulsified.

Weekend Review: A wonderful Christmas weekend.

This weekend, including today, was super Christmas-y, which I loved. On Saturday I went shopping for my parents and in-laws, and shopped for some crafty things so that I could be a reindeer for the murder mystery party the girls at work had. Then on Sunday we had our ward Christmas Program and then I went to the murder mystery, which was all about Santa, elves, and reindeer (coolest murder mystery ever…but I can't really say that since it was my first). I didn't win best dressed, Nikki took the cake on that one, however, I did win best performance, so that was super-exciting. I didn't take any pictures since Terra took plenty, so once I get them I'll definitely post them.

Then, tonight, Christina, a girl in my ward (WOAH that's a lot of commas!), held her senior recital at the church building and called it an FHE performance. We went for FHE and listened to her and it was so beautiful. All her songs were about Christ and his birth and they were so pretty!

Even though I'm having HUGE second-guesses about going to AZ for Christmas (I'm such a baby and a slight Debby Downer and just want to go home to my family) this weekend has definitely gotten me in the mood and even more excited about the holidays.

[[Disclaimer: I'm totally not ok with all the holiday traffic. University Pkwy is always swamped these days! Hate it.]]

Christmas is coming!

This weekend I officially ordered (and it's been shipped too!) my little sister, Kaylea's, Christmas present. It's very exciting. However, since she's a reader of this blog, I can't tell you what I got her until after Christmas.

HOWEVER

I thought I'd use this space today to inform Kaylea of what to do when a certain package from Anthropologie comes to her this week. DON'T open it. The gift couldn't be gift-wrapped and since no one wraps better than you and mom anyway, feel free to wrap the box (Remember: DON'T open) in Christmas attire and place under the tree or by the fireplace to remember to open on Christmas Eve.

And seriously, I'm really excited about this present.


ps: Kaylea, please comment so I know you've read this. It's super critical. For real.

 where dreams come true...

One day I'll be crafty

 is for Mangum. I've recently been drawn to craft blogs and all things DIY and homemade. I found this cool letter on here, and I initially found it the link to it at How About Orange. Amanda also has a cute printable that she framed to make her weekly menu and she found it at How About Orange. I love it so much and I definitely plan to print one out and pretty much copy her step for step (It definitely adds a little spice to our simple Wymount kitchens). She's my copy-center employee friend and now that she's graduating, I'm thinking I should have taken more advantage of that! Oh well, seeing as we still haven't printed out any wedding pictures (it's been a year and a half), I guess it's expected that I'd be a slacker at printing out other cool things as well.

Anyway, enjoy my ramblings and enjoy the holiday season!

our first present

For those of you who read my Facebook stati (the plural of status, of course), you'll know that we got another fabulous prize tonight (but don't look it up now, that's totally cheating) but last week we got our first Christmas present of 2010 from one of my super amazing co-workers at work, Kjirsten. I was pretty excited. I also had just come home from my yoga workout, so don't judge.

It was an advent calendar! Also, this was our first Christmas decoration to go up in our house (we're festive, we promise. we're also trying to be light packers for our move to law school in the fall (i know, we may or may not think a little too far in the future for our own good…)) since we hadn't really bought anything before then. Since then we've got some other odds and ends popping up though, I'll be sure to post them. Also, I'm totally going on a clearance shopping spree to buy a few things for next winter. But I digress...

Hurray for the holidays!!

Uggs.

Laugh all you want, they keep my feet warm. Oh, so warm. And they're the only boots that my calves and fit in (I wish I was lyin...). And that can be tucked into my jeans. They've gotten me through 3 winter seasons and I have a feeling they'll take me through many more (unless of course we move to AZ this upcoming year, in which I'll get them out when I visit my parents in Indy and when I just want to surround my feet with amazingness).

There are many things I can live without. But with the cold Utah winters, these babies have been wonderful.

an adventure in slc

A few weeks ago we were invited to go see Savior of the World, a musical drama the Church has put on since 2001 about the Savior's birth/resurrection. The play was pretty good, but I was a little disappointed. Maybe I just had my hopes up. I was, however, totally impressed with the stage. It was simple, but the floor went up and down and was super-cool, I thought.

On a side note though, I was totally late. I had to drive up separately since I was interning earlier in the day, and didn't leave Lehi until 6:50. Then went south on 1-15 instead of north (since that's how I always get home) and then had to take 215 to get downtown since the exit downtown was closed. So bad. I didn't get there until 30 minutes after the play had started. Fortunately, Jesus still hadn't been born yet, so I don't feel like I missed too much :)

We saw the play with the Harlos' and I made sure to take some pictures afterwards. I haven't taken that many lately, which is definitely not me, so I'm makin sure to make a comeback.

Sick

Ryan and I are both sick with colds right now and it is totally not cool. I'm getting over mine, slowly but surely, but his just started. And he's got to take the LSAT next Saturday and then finals the week after that.

It's going to be a rough couple of weeks here...

On a side note, I'm making these for our ward's Christmas party this Saturday and I'm super excited. I'm really in the mood to bake up a storm this winter, any especially good recipes I should know of?