For the Love of Changing Seasons

The other day I went for a beautiful run and all of a sudden I spotted these little beauties off in a field behind a house (see #1 below). The owner probably thought I was crazy. The longer I ran, and every run since then, I have noticed more and more that Spring is upon us! 

Oh how I love the change in seasons!!

However, being a Utah-an, I am fully aware that we really don't have Spring. We have Sprinter.

Sprinter = Spring + Winter

Sprinter, Summer, Fall, Winter. Sprinter, Summer, Fall, Winter.

That's how the seasons roll in Utah.

Welcome Sprinter. (My theory is adequately proved by the soft snow that was falling on my way to work this morning.)

As Sprinter as it may be, I will still fully enjoy the beauty of a coming spring.

1. See above.
2. Dark early morning runs have been beautifully emerging into daylight the last few days... Love sunrises.
3. The first flowers I saw this Spring! (At the Provo Temple last week.)
4. This cute little duck has been hanging out at a creek that I frequently run past. Every time I pass him, I fear that he will peck away my feet. He is actually scared of me--found that out while trying to snap a picture this morning.
5. This beauty popped up in our flower bed yesterday! I swear it happened in one day! It greets me every time I come home.

Spring also brings the beloved Color Festival.

Our beautiful, chalky, "tan" lines.

This caught my eye on Facebook this morning. So true. ha ha

Welcome Spring!

Two J's in a Pod

Today I scrapbooked. Oh yes. Some of us still do it the old fashioned way. And LOVE it!

Today I scrapbooked about a very special girl--Jenna. Yep.

We were Two J's in a Pod last summer and I miss her so so much!!

The day I left Cedar City last summer to begin my new chapter in life, was a sad day indeed for the  

Two J's in a Pod. 

That day, Jenna tore up an old piece of paper and wrote little notes to me and stuck them in all my stuff that I was packing. I was finding little notes from her for weeks after! I still come across notes every now and then. I'm sure I will still have more to add to the pile in the future.

Today I put all the cute little notes that I've found, to date, in my scrapbook. 

Cause I'm ridiculously sentimental like that.

The hardest part about that simple little task was removing my most favoritest note 

and adding it to the page.

I have looked at this baby every single day on the dash of my car for 8 1/2 months. 

It's almost totally sun faded, but the love and friendship has not.

So Jenna, my dear, I promise, no matter where our lives take us, I could NEVER forget you!

Don't you forget me either! Love you and miss you!!

We're still Two J's in a Pod.

Jenna and Jena

For the Love of Peanut Butter

There is nothing quite like a newly opened jar of peanut butter:

2 Weeks Ago

And nothing sadder than scraping the last bit out of the jar. Every. Last. Bit.

Today...

Yep. 2 weeks. That's as long as an entire jar lasts in my cupboard.

Peanut Butter is one of those mostest delicious foods that can go with anything.
And when recipes like the following are discovered, it's difficult not to go out and buy a whole case of peanut butter.

Because, ya know, the most tempting isle in the grocery store is the peanut butter isle. It's a good thing (sort of) that peanut butter is so expensive and I have to try and limit my peanut butter intake.

• Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
• Peanut Butter Cupcakes
• Peanut Butter Frosting
• Triple Peanut Butter Cookies
• Peanut Butter Crepes
• Peanut Butter Oatmeal
• Peanut Butter Doughnuts
• Chocolate and Peanut Butter Parfaits
• Peanut Butter Pancakes
• Peanut Butter Cheese Ball
• Peanut Butter Meatballs
• Peanut Butter Soup
• Peanut Butter Pork Kabobs
• Peanut Butter Noodles

Yes yes it all sounds delicious. Well, peanut butter meatballs might be pushing it. But my favoritest ways to eat peanut butter are:

• PB&J
• Peanut Butter and Pretzels
• Peanut Butter and Apples
• Peanut Butter and Celery
• But best of all, Peanut Butter by the spoonfuls.

Peanut Butter should be enjoyed by it's full flavor--sometimes with nothing else added.

You know you're craving it right now.
Be my guest.
Peanut Butter is healthy.
(Within balance of course...)

FYI: Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter is my most favoritest. But don't be fooled. They might have taken out a whole 25% of the fat, but they added about that much sugar to it. Thus, the deliciousness of eating it by the spoonful.

Oh and for the record:
Dear Future Husband: the way to my heart is through peanut butter. However, I still expect flowers every once in a while.

P.S. I want to start doing some "consistent updates." Lots of bloggers out there are doing things such as Top Things Happening This Week, Pinterest (of course), TV Show Updates and Comments, etc. I needed something original. Be on the lookout for more "For the Love of..." posts--featuring my particular "loves" in my life!

A Man Like My Dad

Today as I drove home from work, Brad Paisely's I'm Still A Guy came on the radio. 

I got to thinkin, "Yep. That's my Dad for sure."

These days there's dudes getting facials
Manicured, waxed and botoxed
With deep spray-on tans and creamy lotiony hands
You can't grip a tacklebox...

Oh my eyebrows ain't plucked
There's a gun in my truck
Oh thank God, I'm still a guy.

Granted, this may be a bit exaggerated, but the part about lotiony hands made me laugh. 

That's my Dad to a T. 

Growing up and even now, I feel as if there isn't a thing in the world that my Dad can't do. 

He can fix a broken down car, he can carry zillion pound suitcases up stairs. He can yank a snow-buried snowmobile out of the side of a mountain, he can help me submit my taxes, he can build me a Barbie house. He can study the scriptures every single day even though he dislikes reading, he can give me a blessing anytime I need it, he can advise on life decisions. He can patiently listen to me vent and then talk me through many a "boy trouble." He can be patient through the tears of teaching a girl how to mow the lawn, mind her mother, water ski, build a fire, fix a car, and be on time. He can gently brush my long, wet, tangled hair, he can pick a large knot in a necklace. He can put a little girls hair in pig tails, and sit through a daughters recital. He can silently smile as we giggle through family prayers, he can shed a tear as his daughters grow up. 

But always always, there isn't a thing in this world that my Dad can't do.

Yes, my Dad is a man of many talents. He has set the standard high to be sure, it'll be hard to beat, but one of these days I'll find a man, a manly man, who is just like my wonderful Dad.