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.

{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!")}

{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).

{rainy days are love}

It's a cold and rainy day today and I am wishing I could be wrapped up in a goose feather duvet in bed with this guy.

We woke up to the annoying sound of the "whirlybird" on top of our house because the wind was blowing so strong. I dressed warmly, ate my shredded wheat for breakfast and have been hugging my space warmer all day.

Hopefully, we'll get up to the mountains this weekend like we planned. Some snow might do us good . . .

{christmas 2007 summary}

I love Christmas! Oh, it was such a grand time! We went to California this year to spend it with David's family and it was wonderful. We had so much fun with them and they spoiled us rotten. So much good food, so many wonderful presents, so much laughter.

I especially love my new phone. I've had the stupid Razr for 2 years now and I hated it. If you like your Razr, then please don't take offense (see my comment on the previous post) but it just wasn't working out for me after breaking 3 times. That insurance I had sure came in handy. So, I begged and pleaded with David to get me the new LG Venus with our renewal discount and he did! Yea! I feel so modern and cool now.

It was such fun to spend time with my in-laws. I really feel like we've moved to a new level in our relationship. We played their Wii for hours and busted up at the sound the cow makes when it jumps on the racing Wii Play game. We talked as we made orange rolls, enchiladas and set the table. We shared Christmas traditions around the dinner table and we laughed until we cried as we played games after Christmas breakfast. David's sister and I sang together at the Christmas program and I felt so good when someone at church took David's mom aside and said, "David's wife is lovely. He did very well. You must be so happy." Yep, still smiling.

Overall, I'm so glad that we had loved ones to be with for Christmas. I'm so grateful that we were safe, that we have people who love us and that we could celebrate our belief in Christ's birth and Divinity. It was a lovely Christmas and I hope yours was wonderful too! Thank you all for being my friends and for your wonderful influence on my life.

{christmas on mill avenue}

I love my family. We went to a Christmas concert last weekend in Tempe and then headed over to Mill Avenue for a little gelato after. Only in Arizona can you eat gelato outside in December.

Jay and Alice (sister), David and me, Christian (brother) and NieNie, Madalyn (niece) and my dad.

P.S. David insisted on carrying me around that minute resulting in a rather ugly face.

{david's dance}

I really love this video of David in Hawaii. I wish I knew how to flip it but just turn your head a bit to see the joy of how funny it is. I just love that boy!

{favorite faces from hawaii}

Well, I’m back from our wonderful trip to Hawaii! We got back early Saturday morning and spent the whole rest of the weekend, just trying to catch up on some sleep. We took a lot of pictures, so I’ll try to do these in segments. Of course, some of our pictures turned out really ugly/funny so here are a few of my favorite faces from Hawaii.

First, David got really excited about the dragon fruit that he cut in half. It tastes a lot like kiwi.

















Then, somebody took a really beautiful picture of this valley along with a really ugly picture of me. {Please enlarge the photo to get the full effect}
















Then, David made for a dashing sailor pose on the Catamaran while sailing around the coves. {He secretly looooves this picture}

















Then, I made a "spooky cave face" while my veins exploded out of my neck in the lava tube at the volcano.














Then, David made a “happy-I'm-so cute-cave face” while he was supposed to be making a "spooky cave face" in the lava tube at the volcano. I was really disappointed.

















Then, we took this cute picture of us at Akaka Falls.












Then, we took my favorite picture of all! The beach was the best part and bodysurfing was a blast, but nothing compares to our facial expressions in this picture as the waves crashed us upon the shore. {Once again, click on the picture to enlarge. You won't regret it. I probably will though.}







Then, we took this other cute picture of us in downtown Kona that I think we will use for our Christmas card photo. What do you think? It's either this one or the one above. Feel free to vote for your favorite in my comments.

{aloha - hello and goodbye}

Well friends, we're off to Hawaii this afternoon for our anniversary tomorrow! Can you believe that we've been married for a whole year now? I really, really, really love my husband.

{the many faces of my links} will continue when we return. My brother, Strawbs, is next!

I leave you with this picture so that when you are missing me, you can remember that I am sitting on the beach like this. I am going to have such a good time!

Aloha!

{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!

{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?

crushes

I have a major thing for red-heads. Not red-headed men, generally speaking, but red-headed women.

I've mentioned David's man crush on Rob Lowe but I think I have a girl crush on this J.Crew model. Isn't her hair lucscious?

I also have a mad crush on Cate Blanchett in general, but when she was a red-head in Bandits . . . wowsa . . . especially in this teal coat.

Who are your crushes? and yes, you can be totally hetero and have a "crush" on someone.

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.

I need to tell you how cool I feel right now. I got 12 (TWELVE) comments on my blog yesterday. It is a record for moi and I feel fabulous about it. My 23rd birthday brought me --

Birthday Loot:

- one painting easel for my Etsy work (husband)
- 6 canvases for my Etsy work (husband)
- 2 Anthropologie skirts (husband)
- 1 Anthropologie and 1 Nordstrom shirts (husband)
- 1 Nordstrom dress (husband)
- 1 pair of pajamas (sister-in-law)
- 6 colorful Crate and Barrel bowls (mother-in-law)
- 1 gift card to Bath and Body Works
- 1 Peony scented body cream (sister)
- 1 birthday card with other loot (mother and father)
- 1 awesome butterfly balloon (mother and father)
- 1 birthday dinner of salmon tacos with mango salsa at Tia Rosa's (mother and father)
- 1 Bosch mixer (mother)
- 1 unknown present still to be received in mail (best friend)

Seriously, I got a LOT of loot this year! Like, too much, maybe. I feel so spoiled! But thank you everyone for the rad presents, birthday wishes, phone calls, thoughtful cards, support and love. I have the best family and friends. Plus, David picked out all the clothes himself without any help. What a stud.

After dinner, my parents were going to the church to do Humanitarian service (i.e. quilting) so since David was at school until 10 p.m. I decided to go along. After an hour or so, David called to say that he was on his way home early! Hurrah! So, he picked me up early (I'm a bad person) and we went to the store to pick up a piece of German chocolate cake so I could blow out a candle (see picture of David in his skivvies) after which I fell asleep while we watched The West Wing . . . again.

David likes to pretend that he is Sam and talk about how awesome and smart and clever and good looking he is. David has a man crush. Heh heh.

Overall, it was a good birthday and I feel really good about finally having a year to be my favorite number, 23.

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.

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.

I'm tagging myself on this one for fun:

Basics

1. Who is your man?

David Robert Bryant

2. How long have you been together?

2004 (break), 2005 - 2007: 2ish years

3. Dating/Engaged/Married?

Started dating my first week at BYU-I. He dumped me after a month. Awful. We were "friends" (if you know what I mean) for about a year and then got back together in December of 2005. We dated until we got engaged on August 4, 2006 and got married on November 3, 2006.

4. How old is your man?

25

You or your man?

1. Who eats more?

Probably him but it's different. He likes "real food" and I like treats. I will only eat a few bites of dinner if I have to stay my appetite for dessert. He doesn't care for dessert so he'll eat food to his heart's content.

2. Who said "I love you" first?

Him, the second time we dated. I told him that I didn't want to kiss another guy until I knew that it was going to be pretty serious (a.k.a. when we said "I love you"). We were constantly telling each other that we "like" each other and then one day we were cuddling and I said, "I like you a lot" and he looked at me and said, "I love you".

3. Who weighs more?

Him. He's pretty huge-like (height and muscle) and if I ever weigh more than him, I will kill myself.

4. Who sings better?

Um, me. But I love it when he sings. He just needs to practice. P.S. He is begging me to try out for American Idol but there is no way I will do so if even Emily didn't make it. (How did this happen?)

5. Who's Older?

Him. Almost exactly 2 years.

6. Who's smarter?

Math and Logic: Him
English and Reading: Me

7. Who's temper is worse?

TOTALLY mine. I've never seen him lose his temper. I doubt he knows how.

8. Who does the laundry?

Me. He swears he "doesn't know how". I don't mind though.

9. Who does the dishes?

Him. I know that we'll never go to bed with a sink of dirty dishes because of him.

10. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
I don't know. Which side is the right side? I sleep by the side not next to the wall. I can't handle it.

11. Who's feet are bigger?

His! Ew!

2. Who's hair is longer?

Mine (snicker). He's a little bald, bless his heart.

13. Who's better with the computer?

Definitely me.

14. Who pays the bills?

Usually me since he's going to school and only works part time. We use my bank account for bill paying anyway.

15. Who cooks dinner?
Me.

17. Who drives when you are together?

Him.

18. Who pays when you go out to dinner?

It depends on who has the money. We have separate bank accounts. Weird?

19. Who's the most stubborn?

Me.

20. Who is the first one to admit when they're wrong?

Me, but a lot of times it's really sarcastic and I do it just to bug him. I'm a bad wife.

21. Who's parents do you see more?

This summer it was his all the way in California, but now that my parents are home from their mission, mine.

22. Who kissed who first?

Neither of us remember our "first kiss" the "first time" we dated but it was before our first date. Our first kiss the "second time" we dated was right after he said "I love you". It was pretty funny actually because he told me later that he mostly just said "I love you" because he knew I wouldn't kiss him unless he said it. Trixy.

23. Who asked who out?

Him, I think.

24. What did you do?

We went to Idaho Falls and walked along the water by the Temple and talked. Then we went to dinner and I had Calamari for the first time. Afterward, we took a blanket to a beautiful spot by the Falls and made out. Awesome.

25. Who's more sensitive?

TOTALLY me. I cannot stress the "TOTALLY" enough. He has cried twice since I've known him.

1) When he proposed, he cried like a baby. I just giggled.

2) When we got married, he was crying pretty hard too. I didn't shed a tear.

26. Who's taller?

Him: 6'4"
Me: 5'6"
You do the math.

27. Who is more indecisive?

Me, unless we're deciding where to go or what to eat because he is always saying, "Whatever you want, baby".

28. Who has more siblings?

Me, by a long shot, at 10. Him, 2.

29. Who wears the pants in the relationship?

I think it's probably kind of even. He says that I "try" to wear the pants but that he's actually the one who does. I secretly agree.

30. Who has the best husband ever?

How (and why) would I say anyone else??? Are you crazy? My husband is the bomb!