Face to Face

So...


BILLY AND ELTON ARE COMING IN CONCERT!!! Angie, her mom, sister and sister-in-law and me and mom are going! November 20th at the Delta Center! I'm so excited! It will be so much fun!

And, I leave in 4 days, which means right now I should be packing, and finishing preparing for all the things I need to do at work before then. But I'm not. Right now, I'm watching Two Weeks Notice with Ang. I love this movie! And we worked on packing earlier, so really, I'm doing good.

Since I'm procrastinating...

Guess what came last Friday?


Wouldn't it be nice if this were inside?

Not that I have anyone to get it from, but still...
I have looked at the Tiffany website to see what I will use my giftcards on, and am a little disappointed. I think I will save them to see what else I can come up with. Unless they have something else at the store that I love and cannot see online...that I can somehow afford. I guess it will be a surprise.

I am the QUEEN

Of procrastination, that is. Because today is my last day off (besides Sunday, which is super busy) before I leave I should be doing laundry, packing, and I don't know, maybe taking a shower, and in general being productive.

So far what I've completed to leave:
made a list of what to pack
set some of it aside
started laundry
thought about it a lot
watched some episodes of Robin Hood (Thanks Meagan, I promise I'll finish it and give it back to you before I leave!)

So, instead of adding to the actual productive side of this list (you know, action items such as COMPLETED ANYTHING), I have spent the last hour at least reading blogs and watching youtube videos. Megan (otherwise known as the Specialist, since she is the bra specialist at our store) has been telling me about this hilarious video for weeks and trying to get me to watch it. So since I have so much to do today, I decided it was time to finally watch this video. Now, if you don't have 9.5 minutes to watch this video, watch at least the first two minutes (the intro and beginning of the closet) and then minutes 7-9, her makeup application ("I powder very,very good...a line, a black line"). Because quite frankly, if that's ALL you need to make you look good, then I am inspired.

Even though the majority of this video is her different outfits, they are amazing. Her commentary, though, is my favorite. "The neckline of this dress is what really makes it amazing. It looks good on me, and my figure...I swept my hair up on the sides, to accent the dress." Now I know where glamour shots got ALL of their tips.
It's just funny. And I love that the outfits are just what people are wearing now, except, updated...same looks, different fabric.(And, now I know what my mom did to look so great in the 80's!)

The opera was awesome...


As I get access to more pictures, I'll post some. But I have to say, it was hilarious, and so much fun. And it was so fun to go with so many different friends, and I was way happy to finally get Angie to do something with my friends from the ward. I think she's always afraid of hanging out with my church friends because she thinks they'll judge her, or preach to her or something...I don't know. But now she knows their nice, and fun, and cool (like me). But it was so fun, and now she won't be as unlikely to come hang out with me if I'm with them. (yay!!!!)



Apparently, I (love) parentheses...they just add a certain something to a sentence, don't you agree?

FORTNIGHT!

Did you know that a fortnight=two weeks? I didn't know that. I am excited though, because in 1 fortnight, I will be in Paris with my lovely sister, Sarah, having a fantastic time and doing all kinds of delightful, lovely, wonderful things! Like, shipping, and walking, and taking wonderful photo-op photos and meeting attractive french policemen (I hope). YAY!

I have a confession though. I had to start packing today. Some may say it's a little early, but to these few I say "pshaw!" because I am a chronic over-packer and in order to attempt to prevent that Ang is helping me start a list and to coordinate cute outfits that re-use things. So off we go!

Besides some AMAZING purple gloves, Angie also gave me this collection of delightful cupcake recipes for Christmas. So yesterday, when we were making cupcakes, we decided to to try one out.



I didn't think we could do it because it involved the words "stiff peaks" "double boiler" and "baker's chocolate." But we did it! It took a lot of beating, mostly on Angie's part. But it was fantastic. Also, as a side note, I made some amazing buttercream frosting. I look forward to many more baking adventures!

Angelina Lucille DeMarco

AKA my BFF. The Coolest Girl EVER!


This is Angie.
First, you should know that her family is ITALIAN. Which automatically makes us friends. Thus, her super cool name (try saying it out loud).

Next, you should know that we met working at Victoria's Secret, and although we kind of hated each other at first. Probably because I had JUST been promoted to a manager, and since we're both leader types, we butted heads a lot. But we were destined to be friends, because she still remembers the shirt I was wearing when we met, and it was my favorite. Orange and white striped. So cute.


Angie and I also share a few loves: amazing colors and colored tights. An incredible love for shoes and also we are kindred crafty girls. We love to paint and we love things that are just girly enough without being too icky girly. Not to mention our love for Chicago (the band), Neil Diamond and our upcoming adventures to see Elton and Billy together!

Angie was a store manager for Zumiez, and now she works at a bank (boring!) but it's good for her, because she is also going to school to become a counselor for wayward teens.

We have a few problems. For instance, Angie likes cats. She had one when we lived together. And it was fat. But it was okay, because I love Angie, even if I hate cats. She also has a thing for boys who are way too young for her, although we've progressed, and they are now at least legal adults.


She is super bossy. She's making me put how she loves snowboarding and guitar, even though I think it's cool. It's a big part of who she is.

Now, questions.
What is your favorite food to eat?
Really good question. Cheese pizza or grilled cheese. (Ang is a vegetarian)

What is your favorite thing we ever did together?
When we went to california and ate crepes for nearly every meal.

What is your favorite pair of shoes?
my purple blazers: they're beautiful.








If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
I'd go to Europe. for pleasure: Italy.
But if I were going for humanitarian work: Africa.

What is your dream job?
To help troubled teens become more awesome. Everyone needs someone to talk to.


We have a lot of fun together. Today we had a picnic at the park and did cartwheels and handstands, went on a tandem bike ride, went swinging, and right now we're making some really amazing cupcakes.

Pretty much anything we do together is guaranteed to make a good time. Thanks Ang!

One Year Later

Today is my one year anniversary in my job. I've been with the company for almost five years now, but exactly one year ago I took over my little store with all it's struggles. I am happy to say it was a good year, and we made a lot of progress. A year! It went so fast, divided out into weeks, months, quarters and seasons...too many floorsets and events to count. Too many weeks (well, I guess 52) of worrying about payroll and the schedule, and all that it takes to make the store run...the time flew...Here's to another year! (with maybe some changes in the future?)

AAAAHHHH...

Today was inventory.
Thank GOODNESS it is over. Although now I just wait for the results. I love and hate inventory. It is so time consuming. It takes about 10 hours of my time to do inventory, but that's after about 20 hours of prep. It is just tedious! I feel sorry for these people:

because at least I only have to do it twice a year, and it's my product that I care about. So really, I don't have it so bad. And I love the inventory team that comes to my area, the supervisor is great, and at least they have a sense of humor.
That's all.

I do have a crush:

On someone who hardly knows me. Because every time I try to talk to this person, nothing I want to say every seems good enough. It's awkward, I'm hardly ever without words.
We'll see. I'm borderline obsessed(okay, that's a strong word) because everyone knows he is one of the greatest guys. But I really just first want to be great friends with him!

It seems like a have a thing for people in public servant type positions, because I seem to remember the time I had a crush on THE CHP also...



I just have a thing for them. I don't know what it is. But also, more for people who are nice. I like nice people. And people who are fun. I'm a nice person. I think I'm fun. So hello, let's get together nice, fun, humorous boys! I am so very glad I had this idea. See you soon!

In case you didn't know, I have short hair.

Although, I don't know who I'm kidding. I'm pretty sure the only people that read this are pretty close by or cut my hair for me, so it's really no surprise. But I haven't had pictures really. So here are some from facebook (classy, I know).






The top picture is most recent (yesterday) when I gave our enrichment "lesson" for the Birthday of the Relief Society. I am growing out the bangs so I don't want to shave my head while in europe.

And today, I rediscovered two (count them 2!) crushes...hmmm, both still single. (yay!).

Or...

NOT, because mother nature has it in for me...and I can't plant the flowers I bought to plant or enjoy the sunshine like I want to.
My BFF (love that word. Not really. It's just funny.) Angie, and I were going to have a picnic, but of course, it was cold and began to snow, and snowed more, and then snowed again today...simply, mean.



Also, I went country dancing with some (pseudo)friends (okay Heather, that was for you...because they are almost for real friends now) and I have not had so much fun in a long time. It was such a delight to be learning something new and doing lots of twirling. You feel very feminine. It's fun. Next time: boots, hat, and some sort of country outfit...maybe. It might take some warming up to do. If you never have, and you live in the Provo area, you should go. Because it's fun and there are LOTS of super cute guys that ask you to dance :)

Spring is in the air

...even though it's only the beginning of March.

I am so excited! I love spring and summer, because I love the sun, and being outdoors and all the colorful sights, and all the sounds and smells of the spring.

For the past few mornings I've been woken up at around 7:00 because the lovely little birds in the rafters of our house start singing. But I don't even mind. It is a delight to hear them.

This is what my tulips look like RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE (okay, just the pot on the right...but soon like the pot in the middle).


Also, one of my friends and I are going to the Opera on March 20th with a bunch of girlies and I am so excited, that I am wearing this fantastic necklace and am getting all dressed up, because any occassion to make life more memorable...I am on the train!



I love blossoms. My room even looks like a fantastic garden right now...So I know this is a little bit redundant, but just in case you need to know, peonies are my favorite.

And the Winner is...

THE PELICAN RESORT AND SPA AT NEWPORT BEACH

So excited to go and spend some time here being pampered. Looking forward to seeing you sunshine! Love, amy.