Rocky vs. Rocky

Brandon and I have been on a Rocky Road ice cream trend lately. It is SO good. We realized there are some conflicting opinions however. I think that the best Rocky Road is BY FAR Breyers all natural. He likes Dreyers. Breyers has a smooth marshmallow creme instead of chunky stale marshmallows. And there are a lot more nuts in Breyers than your average rocky road (my favorite part), not only that, but they are chocolate covered. Brandon doesn't like the creme though and calls it goop. And he wishes it didn't have nuts in it at all. For something that we seemed to agree so well on, we are definitely at opposite sides of the rocky road fence.

Why every artist needs a studio friend... or at least a husband

Yesterday I was finishing up one of my last few grasshopper paintings for Brady Flies a Kite and Brandon asked me why one of the grasshoppers was missing one of his big legs. I looked at it trying to figure out if it was just on the other side of him and you couldn't see it, but no. It was just missing. I looked at the sketch and realized it had been there originally and then it didn't make it from the sketch to the inked version that got painted. Such a little detail. Luckily, there was space where it should've been and the paint was light enough I just added it on. Good eye Brandon. Conflict with employer averted.

Another Smell

All day long today I have been wondering why I smell like men's cologne. I thought Brandon borrowed my jacket, or some of his cologne just got sprayed on it by accident. Neither of these made sense. Then after I took my jacket off and still smelled the cologne I realized it wasn't coming from the jacket- it was coming from my wrist! This hasn't been confirmed, but Brandon must have sprayed my watch with cologne because I sprayed his with cologne. (although, I had a good reason to spray his) So the Sponge Bob watch that I have had for almost 3 years and won out of a cereal box, now smells really good. Maybe it's not the ideal smell for my wrist, but it could be worse.
And by the way, Brandon has a new watch. I gave him one for his first day of work at his new job. It came with 3 bands.

Not the Granddaughter

I work for this sweet old lady a few days a week and help her go shopping or go to the doctor, etc. It pays great and it sure helps keep some consistency to my ever fluctuating paychecks. Hazel is 91, so I wrap her arm around mine while we walk around to help her keep her balance. Everyone tells me how sweet it is that I am helping her and ask if I am her granddaughter. I say, no, just a friend. I never mention that I get paid to help her. It seems like it would take away from how cute and sweet of an old lady Hazel is. I feel a little guilty letting everyone think that I am just a kind girl that likes to help the elderly. But at the same time, maybe I am inspiring other people to go help the elderly around them.

Saturday Night Movie Pick

Last night Brandon and I watched Miss Potter. Even though she did some odd things, like talk to her paintings that would come to life. It was definitely a kids movie, but not as bad as Bridge to Terabithia. Although Bridge to Terabethia had that music video on the dvd that was really fun to listen to Brandon sing along with.
I enjoyed watching a movie about an illustrator. It was inspiring how she became so successful and her books are still in print today. Since she never had any kids I wonder who receives all those royalties now? Brandon thought it was way too dull though and said, "this movie should be rated R- for boredom. Kids should not have to watch something like this."

Video games move up in the world

Last night I was at Barnes & Noble and I read a chunk out of this book about the brain. There was a section all about how the brain handles pain and different techniques to deal with it. One recent study was done with video games. It said one of the most painful medical procedures is changing the dressing on a burn victim, so they took some burn victims and put those virtual reality games that cover your eyes and had them play while going through this painful process. The game actually helped people to have less pain because they were so focused on throwing snowballs the brain didn't think as much about the pain and therefore, you don't feel it as much if it's not thought about. And all this time I thought video games were such a waste of time, but now I know they actually have a useful purpose. Someday when I have kids and have to take them to get shots I think I will pick up a gameboy or something.

Fresh breath

Brandon bought some new toothpaste. Usually we get mint or lately we've used a lot of cinnamon, but this time he got Vanilla mint. It tastes like you're brushing your teeth with cake batter. It's kind of good, and still minty just a little ...different.

Everywhere you go

I don't if you're familiar with NBC's slogan, but we always hear it when we watch their nightly news podcast on itunes: Everywhere you go, there we are. I think they sound like they're stalkers.

Surprise

I was trying to help my sister rent Hamlet so when she reads it for her class it will be easier to follow. I called every video store I could find in Provo, Orem and Springville and they either didn't have it or it was checked out. (apparently everyone else in her class has the same idea) I was at the BYU bookstore picking up some art supplies when I noticed some people renting videos so I checked to see if they have Hamlet, and they had 2 copies! Who would've guessed?

So Smelly

Brandon's watch has been well used. Wearing it everyday, in the hot sun, while he's at work and everyplace else, it started to smell. It probably started awhile ago but we didn't really notice until Brandon would be sitting in class wondering what that smell was and lean towards his wrist to realize it was his watch. And then he came home and forced me to smell it too. It was bad.
He tried washing it several times and then my sister Heather suggested vinegar, like they do with stuff that gets sprayed by a skunk. We're not sure if it got rid of the smell or not, it's hard to tell because the watch now has an over powering vinegar smell. (eulgh!) We tried washing it with soap more and more, but it still didn't work. Then I tried thinking of other things that smell, but not as bad as vinegar. I saw Listerine, so I poured that on and scrubbed it in, trying to get rid of the vinegar smell. After that I tried spraying it with cologne. Now the watch has a compilation of smells that just don't mix. And I think the original smell is still lingering as well. As Brandon put it, his watch smells worse than a skunk.
I told him he should just wear one of my watches, but for some reason that wasn't a good solution either. I think we might have to do some shopping in the near future.

iMiracle

I was picking up my new ipod shuffle when the ear phones got caught under a board, which jerked the ipod out of my hand and flipped it straight into my brush cleaning water. I instantly snatched it out and dried it off. And it still works! Lucky me.

Not the brightest idea

On the way to the gym I ate 300 calories of a snickers ice cream bar. It was really good, but I did not need to do that.

Phone List

Somehow my phone number got put onto some Spanish telemarketing list. Every now and then I get a call from a number I don't know and when I answer it I hear a recording of someone speaking Spanish, then I listen just to see if I can understand them. I think they are offering me free gifts. Does anyone else gets calls like that?

Roller Blades in or out

I love roller blading. I especially loved at my old apartment complex many years ago where we would play laser tag on roller blades in the huge parking garage. Or in high school when we used to play tag at the elementary school by my friend's house. So I commented to Brandon that the parking garage by our apartment would be a great place to play tag on roller blades with a bunch of people. Brandon said that no one has roller blades anymore because it was a fad, like slap bracelets or leg warmers. I'm sure! Maybe people don't own roller blades as much anymore, but that doesn't make it a fad. It's not like it's uncool to roller blade.

Best Day Ever

This morning I woke up and knew it was going to be another busy day, and after a couple phone calls from art directors it was even busier. I have 4 art directors all wanting to see their illustrations finished asap. A couple are probably even hoping for it today. (ha!) At first I was letting all this pressure get to me and I was pretty stressed. Then I realized, I have all this work that I enjoy doing and people are paying me for it. This is exactly what I want to happen, if only every day could be like today! Suddenly, my day started going so much better. And I've had a lot of sugar, I enjoyed that too.

Lemonade

For the most basic lemonade, add 3T sugar & 1T lemon juice to a tall glass of water with ice. simple & refreshing.

Blog Mimicker

My friend Katy just wrote a blog about being able to walk to places instead of driving and she mentioned this cool site: walkscore.com where you can find out how walkable your neighborhood is. Provo did pretty good. One of the commenters mentioned another site: livingto100.com and this site has you answer a bunch of simple questions and then predicts how old you will live to be. I'm suppose to live to 101. I hope I can still paint at that point, otherwise I better retire with a lot of savings.

The Phone Call

About a month ago Brandon & I met a really nice couple while we were chaperoning a youth dance. We spent awhile chatting and at the end of the dance they said we should get together sometime and we swapped phone numbers. Well, we went on vacation and came back and thought it would be fun to invite them over for dinner. I asked Brandon to call them, thinking the number we had was the husband's cell and that would be more comfortable. However, the wife answered the phone, but luckily Brandon remembered her name because he had just looked it up in his phone. He said who he was, but it was clear she couldn't remember him, which made it really awkward of course. He told her we met at the singles dance, which I'm sure confused her even more and I whispered to him it was the youth dance. Then she remembered and was happy to talk to him.
Meeting new couples is too much like asking people to do stuff when you're single, getting phone numbers, hoping they'll want to hang out with you, hoping they won't forget who you are when you call, etc. You think all of that is over when you get married, but it's not. At least you have someone next to you to laugh with when you get off the phone.

Seattle & Rain

When I was at the grocery store it was pouring rain (again) the cashier was commenting on the rain and the girl behind me said how she loves it, it smells so great. And she added it was because she is from Seattle. Being from Seattle also, I don't think that makes me like rain more, actually less. I get so tired of gray skies and blurry car windows. I don't like how the rain smells either. How often it rains is one of the few reasons I wouldn't like to live in the Seattle area. (it's the rain & the traffic, otherwise it's perfect) I enjoy rain in Utah because we don't get it here very often. Sometimes I feel like Seattleites feel obligated to stand up for the rain to say they like where they are from. I love Seattle. I don't love the rain. Anyone else with me on this?

Obligated running

Today I was meeting my sister at the gym and I got all dressed, locked the front door, walked out, and realized I didn't have my keys. So there I was standing outside my apartment thinking about when Brandon would be home next. Since I was already in my gym gear I thought, oh well, I guess I have to go running. It was nice until the clouds pulled away and I suffered in that glorious afternoon heat. But at least my experience was better than the last time I was locked out of my apartment.