today i'm thankful for...

nice, nice people!

we were in the car, i was driving, in northern phoenix during rush hour traffic this afternoon. we were behind a big truck. a few cars ahead of us slammed on their brakes, the driver of the truck slammed his, and i slammed mine as hard as i could. but my brakes locked and i hit the truck. oh no! so we pulled over, and i was about to cry. luckily, taylor being there helped me keep it together. taylor got out of the car, and the man got out of his truck. i took a couple deep breaths and got out. the guys were looking at the damage to my car, then walked over to the truck so i walked over there. the man turned to me and said,

you know, i had this happen to me once. i was in a fender bender and the damage to the other guy's car wasn't too bad. he told me not to worry about it and let's go on our way. my truck's fine, so let's just go our own ways. i just hope some day you can do this for someone else.

then he got in his truck and left! there's some minor cosmetic damage to the bumper and hood of my car, but nothing major. i'm so grateful that this stranger was so kind and understanding, and that no one was hurt, and also that my car's okay.

time to pay it forward.

a post about red meat.

tonight, my soul was born and i can finally start to live my life.

what brought on this renaissance? you ask.

TEXAS ROADHOUSE.

how is it that i been living for 20 years and never have partaken until this night?

all i know is, i.love.sirloin.

mmmsteak.

oh, and here i am riding a ceramic bull.

[please excuse my awkwardness and thigh chub.]

cohens and cowboys

i just finished re-watching season one of the OC.

and i wept for the last fifteen minutes straight.

i adore ryan atwood and the cohens.

today, taylor and i did some manly things.

we went to two gun shops searching for some special ammo, ate at cheba hut (MMM!), and played at bass pro shop. taylor taught me about different types of fish, and different types of guns.

we also browsed around shepler's (the cowboy store) where i rode (sat on) a ceramic bull. there are steps leading up to a platform so you can climb onto the bull, and as i was walking up there, this old cowboy man said to me, "well now, is that the auction block?" i sure do have a way with the elderly men. gross. also while at shepler's, i got a much needed dream catcher for my rear-view mirror.. did you know that i'm 1/16 cherokee?

we went to sportsman's warehouse, and later ended up at taylor's house shooting a bottle of saline solution in the backyard. then we ate hot dogs and did some wikipedia research on skinwalkers and watched youtube videos of sasquatch.

i'm pretty sure my life can't get any better.

spit like a man!

i was over at busybeelauren's blog and was reminded of a funny story about myself. one of those stories that you never tell anyone, because it's not really even a story. more of an anecdote. if that.

when i was in the third grade, my teacher mrs. thuftedal (who was amazing, by the way) gave us an assignment to write an essay on a historical figure or other inspirational famous person. while most kids chose george washington, amelia earheart, martin luther king, etc... i chose leonardo dicaprio.

he was so hot. i even had a video (yes, a video!) called leo mania which was a biography all about him. i watched it several times a week. i also read a biography on him (possibly my first chapter book) and was really upset when i couldn't count it for my a.r. reading.

i was a smitten eight year old.

can you blame me?

leo's done some great work over the years. romeo and juliet, growing pains (he even gave kirk cameron a run for his money), the aviator, man in the iron mask, what's eating gilbert grape (less hot, more talent) and this little indie film no one saw called titanic... he's basically the bee's knees.

so, leo, i raise my glass to you. huzzah, baby.

i'll never let go.

apron? yo necessito

SECRET:

sometimes, i can be domestic.

it's true.

look at what i made today!

i don't bake very often, but oh boy do i like it when i do.

i got this recipe for smores stuffed brownies from picky palate

they look a little freaky when they're done, but they are delicious, gooey goodness.

nom noms!!

i also made these cowboy cookies, from everybodylikessandwiches.com

(i left out some of the nuts and stuff that i didn't want)

i highly recommend!

some day i will bake my kiddies lots of treats so they will like me. and my hubs will have a satisfied sweet tooth. and all the neighborhood kids will be like, "ava and sawyer's* mommy makes the best treats." and i'll be a milfm (mother i'd like to feed me). i crack myself up.

i think about weird things.

*possible future baby names? don't steal.

i can't express myself...

LIFELIFELIFELIFELIFE!

madewell

madewell is jcrew's little sister shop. and they are fabulous.

i'm aching for these jean shorts.

and these sweatshorts would be perfect to live in all summer.

and i've fallen pretty hard for this silky shirt.

i'm a sucker for all these simple, airy, styles.

chippy

this is me today

(i had my wisdom teeth removed about eight hours ago)

to make myself feel better, i purchased this pretty little thing off etsy.

i want some real food, and cotton out of my mouth.

i guess i told my mom that i saw a shark while i was in surgery. i probably did. there are a lot of them roaming around gilbert this time of year.

all the things she said running through my head

life is so good!

i bought my mom's car. i'm really enjoying work. i've got a new.. friend!

pretzel m&m's are the best things ever. but they're gonna be the death of me.