paper cuts

Last Sunday I got a paper cut on my left hand thumb.  It was pretty deep and hurt like the dickens.  I was supposed to play at the Grand America today, but I had to get a sub because I can't play with my left hand thumb because it has a paper cut and makes me cringe anytime I put pressure on it.  How pathetic.  One measly little annoying paper cut is keeping me from performing.  The other day someone asked me if my hands were insured haha.  I'm not sure if that would cover a paper cut though!

Paper cuts are seriously so dumb.  Dustin said that we should get rid of all the paper in the world, and just use iPads for everything.  Maybe, but I still like paper.  As much as I love my iPhone, I like to write in pretty journals, send hand-written notes, and feel paper in books.  When we were dating, sometimes I would leave little folded up love notes for him in random places, like under the windshield wipers of his car.  I still like writing him love notes.  Texts are fine, but there's something special about a hand written love note.

a little happy time

Freezing rain.  Nasty inversion air.  Slow day at work.

Anyone else need a little pick-me-up?  Enjoy.  Also - tomorrow is Friday!

nail polish love

Just thought I'd share this!  Zoya is a brand of salon quality nail polish, and right now you can buy three for free!  You just have to pay shipping which is $10.  Normally, each polish is $8 so this is a steal if you're a nail polish lover like me.  Just enter code ZOYA2013 when you check out - going on until January 13th.

I bought these three colors:

Wednesday

Reagan

Melanie
(yes that is the name! basically the only
reason i picked it haha)

do we perceive beauty?

I came across this on my friend Julia's blog and had to share it.  Thinking about all the beauty in this world, that I might just be passing by...

"A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?" By: Josh Nonnenmoc. ART

ten things

1.  This year we had three (yes 3!) Thanksgivings.  We are so blessed to be surrounded by such great family and have so much to be grateful for!  But please no more turkey until next year.  I'm turkey-ed out.

2. Last week I saw Elder Holland at our grocery store!  I said hi and we shook hands.  He is one of my most favorite apostles and that little moment made my week!

3. Christmas is coming!  I've started some shopping and am also working on a special homemade Christmas gift for our loved ones.  We put up our tree last week and I love how cozy and Christmasy our home feels now.

4.  Christmas is coming!  For a harpist, Christmas can be the busiest time of year.  I love it though!  My calendar is filling up with parties, weddings, etc and I've already started rehearsals for different concerts.  Lucky me to have a sweet husband to help me haul the harp around all over the valley. :)

5. Trader Joe's is opening in Salt Lake TODAY.  I think I'll wait a few days until the crowds subside.  On my list: speculoos cookie butter, cocoa drizzled kettle corn, chocolate covered peppermint jojo's, orange chicken...

6. Dustin's last week of the semester is next week, and then he has finals. Crazy!  He is swamped with 18 credits worth of group projects, papers, and studying.  He is doing so well in school though and I'm so proud of him.

7.  Last week we had a little get together with some of my best girl friends.  It was so fun just chatting and getting caught up on each other's lives.  It's amazing to see all the different paths that we have chosen.  I love those girls.  Excited for our upcoming girls night round 2 and Christmas party later in the month...

8. My mom crocheted a pretty red/orange infinity scarf for me.  For no reason.  She is so talented at so many things and I love her.

9. Last night I had a dream that I went on a study abroad to Sweden with a bunch of friends from high school, my husband, and our friends Emily & TJ.  It was a very interesting and very detailed dream.  Maybe I should go to Sweden.  Nah, I'd rather go to Italy or Switzerland first.  The husb and I are planning to take a Europe trip before we have children.  I'll keep you updated.

10. Quote of the day:
God expects you to have enough faith and determination and enough trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing.  In fact, He expects you not simply to face the future (that sounds pretty grim and stoic); He expects you to embrace and shape the future - to love it and rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities. - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

10 reasons why i love october:

1. Our wedding anniversary!  Just a little over a week away!

2. Halloween decorations, candy, parties, etc

3. Breast cancer awareness month (my mom & grandma both survived it) yay for pink!

4. Looking forward to bringing out the scarves, cords, boots, and sweaters

5. Fall break!  Ok so I already graduated but it means Dustin doesn't have to worry about homework at night and we can play.

6. Football games

7. Gorgeous mountains

8. Pumpkin desserts

9. General conference

10. Park Stickney's jazz harp concert - October 14. Let me know if you want free tickets!

back to reality

well we made the looong drive from texas and then jumped back into our normal lives in utah.  dustin is back in school at the university of utah, and i'm back to working at the harp store, teaching, and playing at the grand america.  this was the longest time period i had ever gone without playing the harp so the first time back at the grand left me with a few blisters!  luckily there weren't a lot of people in there so i didn't have to play super loud.

it feels good to be back in utah, back to being busy, back to a normal routine. don't get me wrong, i loved my free time this summer, but i was really excited to go back to work, and likewise - dustin was excited to be done with work.

some things we've done since we've been back include:  my birthday celebrations, a hike, drive-in movie, 5k race, u of u football game, dinner with my best friends, and a few wedding receptions.

also - we moved into a new apartment and so far we are loving it!  it's a two bedroom and it has a hallway!! yes, we were excited about the hallway haha.  it's a major upgrade from our apartment last year.  we've been busy organizing, building ikea furniture (dustin), and decorating.  i'll post pictures soon. :)  it's in a charming neighborhood, we love the ward so far, and we live right next door to a gelato shop.  we're going to have to control ourselves from going every night!

our reality is looking pretty good.