Since we moved, we have not yet set up our computer. It's really a pain in the neck because all my pictures on there and I have no idea how to use my mom's new Mac computer(s).

Sidenote: David and I recently counted how many computers are currently in use at my parent's house: a total of 7 if you count David's work laptop. Radiation anyone?

Anyway, I have to tell you about some things going on. First, Mother's Day was really sweet. We were going to be out of the house by Sunday, so David gave me my present early so I could enjoy it in our house. He picked me up the most beautiful bouquet of flowers, a delish bar of Godiva dark chocolate and 3 children's books (Flotsam, The Higher Power of Lucky and Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!)

Sidenote: I need to buy The Penderwicks. I am in love with these books and rightly so. They are charming, innocent and down-right lovely. Anything with this delightful of a cover must be good.

I love that David was thoughtful enough to get me a gift for Mother's Day even though I'm not a mother. More than that, I love that he was thoughtful enough to think of getting me a gift that I will use as a mother in the future. He's pretty darn great.

Moving has been quite the process. We were scrambling to get out of the house only to find out that we still haven't sold that darn sofa and we can't afford to move our piano! Drat! Now we are in the middle of figuring out the details but the transition to my parent's house has been great for one solid reason: my parents are awesome.

Our other exciting news is David's upcoming company party. Can I even tell you how excited I am? Is it OK that I'm this excited for a company party? Well, here's why I'm excited.

A) The company is not my company - since David recently switched jobs so we no longer have the same parties to attend.

B) The event is "out of town" (READ: Carefree, Arizona) and they are putting us up for the night at the Carefree Resort and Villas. Do I care how nice it is (or isn't)? No. Do I care that it is only like 40 miles from our house? No. Do I care that it is excessively decorated in the Southwest style? No. In fact, I'm kind of happy that I get to stay at a resort in Arizona. I've never been on the tourist side of things here in the Phoenix valley. Plus, I've never been to the North side of the valley so it should be fun.

C) I get to "gussy" myself up for the formal dinner and awards banquet that night. I'm going to look so hot - just you wait.

Here's the big problem: There's a BIG FAT nothing to do in Arizona in the summer. Maybe we'll get lucky and be blessed with some more of this awesome weather we've been having. I doubt it. Does anyone know of anything remotely fun to do in Carefree or Cave Creek?

Oh, and since I have no recent pictures to share - here's one of my favorite (less well-known) engagement photos. I thought I'd throw this in for good measure. I love California.

Here's David's portion of my little couple's quiz tag.
Segment 2: David
Relationship Status: Married and loving it. My wife's the bomb.

Celebrity Crush: Michelle Pfeiffer (especially on the last scene of One Fine Day. She is one hot mama!) and I have a man-crush on Sam Seaborn from The West Wing.

Favorite Band: The Shins. My wife forced all her music upon me and so now I really like them. I also really love the soundtrack to Spirit and Meatloaf has a special place in my heart. "My Best Friend Kenny" - that's all I have to say.

Favorite Movie: Band of Brothers or Last of the Mohicans

What kind of pet do you own? We have lots of crickets

Where do you live? Somewhere other than San Diego and therefore, lame.

Where do you work? For some construction company.

What do you look like? Not as thin as I once was.

What do you drive? A Pick-Up truck and always will until the day I die.

What is your favorite TV show? Scrubs

How would you describe yourself? Intelligent, handsome, clever, kind, charming, edible and downright sexy.

What is your name? I Am David.

Favorite Candy? Starbursts and Jelly Bellys

{go d-backs!}

On Tuesday night, we went to the Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers game at Chase Ballpark! The best part? Sitting in 2nd row seats and having our own waiter for our section! A guy David goes to school with had 4 season tickets from his work. Oh, four $145 tickets! Luckily, the tickets were free so our $5 hot dogs and $5 Diet Pepsi were in the budget. Who do they think they are? The same hot dog is $1.50 at Costco with a drink! Anyway, it was a great game. We won (D-backs are doing awesome this year!) and had a blast heckeling the Dodgers fans. It was a beautiful night with the roof of the Ballpark open, a nice breeze and about 70 degrees. Lovely. I was real nervous about being hit in the face by one of the fly balls like Drew Barrymore on Fever Pitch. David promised that he would dodge in front of me if one came my way. There were definitely a few times when it could have happened. Lots of "eeek"ing from me.

I take it back though. The best part of the game wasn't the awesome seats or the heckeling or the beautiful weather. It was flirting with David, getting butterflies when he would put his arm around me and kiss my cheek, giving him flirtatious smiles and the long drive home as we listened to good music and laughed about funny things. All in all, it was a fun night and I hope David's friend invites us again!

{a few favorites}

Today . . . meet my husband, if you haven't already. I really love these pictures of him. I have a lot of favorites but I wanted to expound on why these few are special to me.

1. This picture perfectly encapsulates David because a) it was taken at the beach and he lives for the beach b) because he is tan (way, way tan) and it's disgusting how tan he is c) because his hair is blonde, curly and total "surfer" (which he is and always will be) d) because he is wearing a Rip Curl sweatshirt and loves Rip Curl more than any other kind of clothing - except maybe Vineyard Vines or Brooks Brothers. When I met David, he still had this summer tan and I was drawn to his bright blue eyes and charming smile (see picture). Even though I was on a semi-date with his friend, we immediately hit it off. A week later, I politely told his friend "No thanks." and David politely asked his friend "Do you mind?" and the rest is history.
2. Getting engaged is probably on just about everyone's "favorite memories" list but I think mine is the best. I love that I was surprised when he proposed. I love that I was worried that he would never propose. I love that that morning I had cried to my sisters about it. I love that we went on a walk late at night at my dad's ranch and I couldn't see a thing. I love that he kneeled on the hay of my dad's barn while my heart skipped several beats. I love that David cried and I giggled (a lot). I love that his voice cracked when he called his parents. I love that the next morning we burned our names into the wooden post next to where he proposed and I love that I'll always have the memory each time I go to my dad's ranch.
3. We love La Jolla. We love it A LOT. So, of course, we took our engagement pictures there! My amazing brother flew in from Seattle and we took off to the La Jolla coves and Point Loma where he proceeded to take several great shots. This isn't the one that we used for our invitations but I love it just the same. This picture is special to me because I remember thinking how happy I was when my brother was taking the pictures. I didn't have to pretend to smile and that was a great feeling.
4. I love this picture because I have no doubt that David was whispering something funny in my ear and making me laugh. He's really good at that. I also love it because this wasn't our "first dance" - it was just a dance. No one was watching. No one really even cared all that much. It felt so intimate in this group of people around us. Talking, mingling, eating. I love this picture because it reminds me of that night and how I felt so excited about every little thing. My heart didn't beat at a normal rate all evening. Mostly, I love this picture because it was the day that we were sealed together forever and nothing will ever top that.
5. David really wants to own a boat someday. I'm not talking about a cheap fishing boat or even a decent skiing boat. I'm talking a yacht. Like, a several thousand dollar yacht. He wants to retire and sail around the world with me while stopping at fine places like Greece so we can eat delicious food, walk around the city and then sail away on our next adventure. I'm fine with this dream. Maybe someday, Sweetie. I love this picture because it was taken in Hawaii for our 1st anniversary. I love the colorful sails in the background, the serious look on David's face and how his chest is somewhat puffed up with pride. Most of all, I love how when he realized that I was taking the picture, he got somewhat embarrassed and gave me a goofy smile. Secretly though, he loves this picture too.

I married a very, very, very sexy man.

{april fools}

This year, I played the best April Fools joke ever! It may have to do with the fact that I waited ALL day to play the prank (and the anticipation got me all riled up) but it was soooo worth it. It was bedtime and while David finished up his homework before coming in to brush his teeth, I squeezed a little toothpaste out of his tube, pushed in a raisin and covered it back up. Perfect. Then I waited in anticipation with my phone handy and caught his perfect reaction as he came into the bathroom to brush. I don't know why it was so funny to me but I cannot have been more happy with the outcome (read: I laughed until I cried). {Other pranks I played: taped down my boss's phone receiver and then called her and watched her answer a dead phone (hee hee), taped a piece of paper on the bottom of her mouse so that it wouldn't quite move right (heard her mumble, "Da*# my mouse is dirty!")}

{cabin weekend}

There was a lot of snow at the cabin and we had a good time cuddling next to the fire(s), watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy (yes, all three), making s'more brownies (soooo good) and sledding.

Here are our sledding videos:

P.S. My bum is "Larger Than Life".
P.P.S. They sang "Larger Than Life" last night on Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann.
P.P.P.S. I watched Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann.

{adachef's restaurant review}

Look. I love me a good hamburger, especially when it is homemade. Maybe that's because I find gross enjoyment in squishing raw meat between my fingers (especially in the summer when my hands are hot and sweaty).

Post-script: Save your "ewwww" comments for a rainy day. You can't sway me or my love for raw meat touching.

Anywho, David and I went to the cabin for a weekend getaway (more on that tomorrow after I download our crash-and-burn sledding videos off my camera). On our way home, we stopped at The Red Onion in Heber, AZ for dinner. I've been wanting to go to The Red Onion for months and he said, "Yes". And I was pleased. And I was very, very pleased. How often do you order a hamburger at a restaurant and they bring it out to you in such a way that you feel like you're at a summer BBQ at a friend's house sipping Izze's from the bottle and watching the kids do cannonballs and flips off the diving board? That's what I thought. Never.

Delicious, perfectly portioned, hand-formed hamburgers (a leetle disappointingly "unpink") with a generous slice of green leaf lettuce, 2 plump tomato slices, pickles, and of course - 4 slices of red onion. Ba doi. Top that toasted bun with some condiments and you have yourself a summer day, my friends. We will be going back for that bad boy (for $4.75 you better believe it).

{resolutions}

10. Crack open the self-teaching calligraphy book I bought 4 months ago.
9. Train for the half marathon.
8. Look smoking hot at the beach without shorts on (see above as a reference).
7. Save at least $5,000.
6. Grow hair 3 inches or cut 3 inches.
5. Learn to sew more than a straight line.
4. Resist impulse online purchases.
3. Watch less television.
2. Read the Twilight books.
1. Get a little closer to who I want to be.

{hotter than a volcano}

Don't you love it when your husband still uses pick-up lines on you even when you are clearly happily married? To be frank though, I think that's what keeps us clearly happily married. David just e-mailed me this: "You're so hot!! You're so hot, you make deep freezes melt on contact. You're so hot, volcanos melt when you walk by. All I have to say, is beware of Elizabeth Bryant, cause she'll burn ya!!" How awesome is that?

Speaking of hot, it is October 26th and the high temperature is 94. Take that, Fall.

P.S. Starting next week, I'm going to spotlight each of the people on my "checking this" list. I have so many dear friends who have blogs and I want you all to meet them. It could be you!

{oh beautiful day}

Although I just LOVE Autumn, I think these Spring flowers are delightful.

I can see myself now walking through those open gardens in a beautiful, white linen dress. I can smell the grass and the sunshine. I can taste the grapes that I am munching from my hand. And then, I lay down on a soft quilt with a feather pillow and read a delicious book with my head in David's lap.

Sheesh, I feel like the words "bring me the head of a pig" should fit somewhere in that paragraph. Cheeser, I am. However, I do wish that the weather could be lovely all year round.

{the many faces}

When you're trying to take a picture of yourself and your husband, it's really annoying when he'll only make these kinds of fake smiles. However, I love that man.

Life is so good.

We are going to spend the whole weekend in bed . . . cause that man is getting a cold! Sicko.

21 days until Hawai'i means: 21 days until I might get a tan and roll around the sand knowing that I'm not at work, but instead, dipping my toes in the blue ocean. I will eat sushi and other delicious items known as fruit and icy drinks. I will take long, dusky walks with David on the surrounding greens at the 8th hole cliff to watch the sun set over Kona. I will snorkel (even though it scares me half to death) and hopefully sail again. We will celebrate our one-year anniversary by doing lots of romantic things - I'll spare you the details. I will hike in the rainforest to waterfalls and other beautiful scenes. I will sleep in and on a beach towel with a delightful book and fully appreciate "doing nothing".

Here's where you (my wonderful readers) come in: Where can I get a cute swimsuit this time of year? Does anyone have a good book recommendation?

After a wonderful weekend of General Conference, planting my garden of sweet peas and herbs, making cinnamon rolls for Saturday morning conference, enjoying some much needed fall weather, decorating Halloween sugar cookies with my girlfriends, eating dinner at Flancer’s and cuddling while watching Casino Royale (p.s. Daniel Craig is FINE) . . . David and I finished off the weekend by going “house hunting”. We didn't leave the house on Sunday until 5 p.m. and I was getting itchy with the inside air. We thought it would be nice to go for a drive. With the windows down and the cool air blowing through my hair, we drove around for 2 hours looking at houses that we could hypothetically buy. After looking at about 80 brown houses with gravel landscaping and bite-size yards, I proclaimed: “Please don’t make me live here!” The thought of moving 40 minutes outside of town into a suburb of homes with color choices of brown, beige, tan, coffee, russet, auburn, taupe and BUFF! Look up those words . . . they are synonymous and it makes me want to barf.

House hunting can be fun in the following areas: La Jolla, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Canton, Massachusetts; West Linn, Oregon; Denver, Colorado.

We're off to California to visit David's family for the weekend.


Wish me luck!

After almost a year of marriage, my wedding album is finally being made. I had my photographer design it (twice - eek) and now it has been sent to Italy for the printing. I am so excited to for it to arrive. This is what it will kind of look like. This is the color that I chose and the engraving, but since I am kind of ghetto at my computer skills, I don't know how to change the angle of my wording in Microsoft Paint. (Yes, I use Paint to edit pictures.) Here are a few of the pages.

My best friend, M, has seen a lot of my guys come and go in my dating years. She's helped me through a lot of tears, anger, hurt, confusion and insecurity. This one's for you Mitchy.

Today, I was rummaging through Picasa and found a ton of pictures of a few of my old boyfriends. I have dated some funky dudes but a lot of them are nice guys.

1) Jordan Bluth: awesome singer, very fun and exceptionally well-mannered.

Status: single (but not for long ladies!)

















2) Scott (?): I'm horrible for not remembering his name, made me laugh until I thought I was going to wet myself, confident, nice singing voice, hilarious laugh, really nice.

Status: no idea












3) Matthew Warnick: the most hilarious guy I've dated, artistic, sensitive and a little too much like myself.

Status: single in Boston













4) Philip Arias: half Venezuelan, rowing captain at BYU, brilliant, athletic, not much in common.

Status: married to a blonde babe

















5) Drew Dowling: super sweet, easy-going, awesome family, just good ol' fun, still get along great.

Status: married to a cute, little girl












6) Daniel Call: pre-mi, tall, fun when he was happy, not fun when he was sad.

Status: no idea












7) David Bryant: easy-going, fun, makes me laugh, goofy, sweet, athletic, true love of my life.

Status: ALL MINE

air

The day my sister died was the same day our niece, Isabel, was born. My sister gave her new daughter the middle name of "Charity" to remember her. My sister's mother-in-law delivered her grand-daughter that morning and had spent many hours comforting and rubbing the aches and pains that my other sister had dealt with for two years. On this day of life and death, she wrote a poem describing how one took their last breath and one took their first.

Today, I found out that C Jane is expecting a baby. She and her husband have been painfully tried for years with infertility. She has received mountains of happy wishes, praise and loving rejoices from friends, family and strangers after this heartwrenching journey.

Today, about 20 minutes ago, David's grammy died with her two sons next to her. It was quiet and very solemn and there were no smiles or tears of joy. I'm sure there were wishes still, praises of what a wonderful woman she was and rejoices that she could be reunited with her family again with no pain. Although Courtney's little baby has yet to take its first breath, many lives will end and many will begin with air.

Today, I am appreciating each breath I take.

Great news! I married the right guy for me according to BrainFall.com!

Apparently, the "kind of guy I would fall for" is Prince William (wowsa) with this description: You would fall for the gentleman. Keep an eye out for your love at your next formal or field trip to the opera. Watch out for bad boys who walk on the inside of the curb and don't hold the door for you, and you'll end up with the guy who's suave, sophisticated, and classy through-and-through.

Hmmm, dashing Prince William

or

David - who rubs my feet after a long day, who insists on washing the dishes after I make dinner, who opens my door at every opportunity, who helps keep our house clean, who never complains about going to school full time and working, who is ever so confident in every situation?

I'll take the latter.

Last night I had a dream that I bought a dog. I was sitting around with friends trying to think of a name for it and someone suggested Victor. "Great idea!", I said, "Then I can call him 'Vic' for short". What? Perhaps I subliminally want a Russian breed, but then again, I don't. My nieces and nephew's godparent's just got my dream dog. Those ears kill me!

Anyway, also last night, David and I received our ClearPlay USB and watched Little Miss Sunshine. I have been dying to watch it but due to the rating, I was forced to put off the watching for a few months until we purchased this filtering DVD player. It was such a great movie! I loved it. We also rented The Last Kiss, Shooter and The Good Shepherd. If you couldn't tell, the last two are my husband's pick.

Federer Rulz

David and I played tennis for 2 hours last night. That's right. 2 hours of ball hitting in 100+ degree weather. I haven't been that sweaty in a long time.

We have recently begun taking tennis lessons, and by "recently" I mean yesterday. It's actually a pretty sweet deal for these lessons that are twice a week. We start out with an hour lesson at 6:00. After the lesson is over, we go into "cardio tennis". It is pretty hardcore and another hour long session. I was really worn out at the end! The instructor hits balls to you constantly all over the court and you have to run or he will yell at you to "move it. move it. get it." I burned 1,187 calories and I feel really good about it. David rubbed my feet that night while we watched The West Wing DVD and I was in heaven. There's nothing like a great workout, and by "nothing" I mean these.