happy birthday shout out

Today is my sister's birthday, I posted on her birthday last year (here) and everything I said then is even more true now! If you knew her you'd agree that she is the most thoughtful, caring, patient, all-around-amazing person ever :) I'm so lucky to have such a great older (and only sister).

Happy 28th birthday, Abbie!
You deserve a wonderful day!

Growing Up

Steve did a very grown up thing yesterday...

He applied for his first real job in Washington, D.C. with the Democratic National Committee. It would be the perfect place to network and meet so many people....

And I couldn't be more proud of him :)

Monday Getaway?

For the last week I've been DYING to go to San Francisco. Steve & I went there on our honeymoon and I think it's time we make a return trip to the amazing city. Shopping at Union Square, breakfast at Boudin's is a must, so many great restaurants to eat at, of course a trip to the mecca of record stores, just relaxing and walking around the city is perfect!.... I can't stop thinking about the place!

What are your SF favorites?

"Jimmered"

Last night was the BYU vs. SDSU basketball game. It was unreal! It's all we've been talking about for the last 24 hours. After the game we went to In-and-Out where the whole basketball team (except Jimmer, who was making press calls) was eating. As each player showed up everyone in the place (which was packed)would cheer and go crazy. We are so excited for BYU basketball this March! Can't wait to see how they do in the tournament.

So if you are wondering what the topic of conversation is in the Pierce household these days, it's Jimmer Fredette and the rest of the BYU basketball team.

"Baby when the lights go out, every single word cannot express the love and tenderness..." -name that 90's band

My husband is a trooper, he didn't complain once during our 7-hour excursion to Salt Lake so I could learn how to bind my quilt with my mom today. He watched a lot of football with my dad and downloaded lots of awesome music from the 90's to reminisce our younger years. He also redesigned this blog. Isn't he just the best? I told him I'd make it up to him by taking him on a fun date tomorrow night...
Any great ideas?

Recap/New Years Resolution

I haven't blogged in a very long while.

Here's a little recap (no particular order):
1. Steve finished the campaign. Did an awesome job. We still feel so blessed to have that opportunity.
2. I finished my first piece quilt thanks to my mom's help (one day I hope to be 1/2 the quilter she is). I'm sure I'll blog about it soon. It's beautiful, far from perfect, but I'm learning.
3. Steve took the GRE and killed it! So happy for him and I know he was relieved to get scores that far surpass what he needed to get into George Washington.
4. We went to Sara Bareille's concert. She's my favorite artist. Check her out here and here.
5. We spend most nights at the gym. Now that intramural basketball has started up the boys are taking their pick up games at 24 hour fitness much more serious.
6. I am loving a much more relaxed work schedule. Only one more hurdle (Valentines Day) to jump before I'm done at the end of April!
7. I went/am currently on a decorating streak, re-organizing and re-decorating parts of our apartment. I keep telling Steve I want a bigger place, just so I have more space to decorate :)
8. Steve applied for graduation! It's official, we are both walking on April 22nd.
9. We cherish our nights with our closest friends in here Provo. I'm already dreading moving away from Lindsay, I don't know what I'm going to do in D.C. without her.
10. We spent Christmas in Texas!
11. Steve is tolerating his last 4 classes at BYU. I think he's ready to move on to a school where he will actually enjoy more of his classes.
12. We are stressing out about moving, selling/buying a new car, future jobs, etc. so we prefer not to think about it more than we have to.
13. We anticipate Friday Night Lights, Conan and the Bachelor each week.
14. I have discovered a new love for cooking and baking now that our schedules have calmed down and we actually eat dinner at home most nights.
15. We recognize the Lord's hand and blessings in our lives each day, and couldn't be more grateful!
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Each year I set a new years resolution, some years are more short-term and others are character changes I hope to make over the year. I normally start thinking about and developing my resolution after Christmas, and it usually takes a few weeks to come full circle and decide specifically what I want to do. This year I had various ideas, but one that has seemed extremely necessary and constantly relevant is the idea of loving more.

Loving more involves loving Steve more, it involves loving those I work with more, loving family more, including my boss who can be a little crazy sometimes, loving the friends I have now more, and the friends we are going to make in a few short months more, loving the people driving on the road the same time I do to work each day, loving the girls I teach in Relief Society more, loving the strangers on the street more, loving the regulars that come into my restaurant more. It's all encompassing. It's a lofty goal, but so far, I think I've been successful, certainly not perfect, but I've notice the change in my attitude and outlook by constantly trying to remember to look beyond myself and show love for others. I know Steve would agree.

I thought of this idea a day or two before New Year's Eve then didn't think about it much more until we had a lesson in Relief Society that referenced Elder Wirthlin's talk entitled The Great Commandment. Although the entire talk is remarkable and worth a frequent read, there is one line that can't be repeated enough. Elder Wirthlin states, "sometimes the greatest love is not found in the dramatic scenes that poets and writers immortalize. Often, the greatest manifestations of love are the simple acts of kindness and caring we extend to those we meet along the path of life."

It is my resolution to love more in 2011. Although that sounds simple and too generic I think it's all-encompassing and will keep me busy all year long :)

She/He learned that...

The election has been over for a week now. It has been amazing! We have slept in, cooked meals at home, gone to the gym, watched movies and spent time together at home! Although it was a long road starting over a year ago, the last five months have been especially busy. As crazy as it was we both have learned so much about ourselves, each other and our relationship. It was definitely a good experience to prepare us both for our move to washington d.c. in the spring!

1. She learned that media never sleeps.... literally.
2. She learned that her husband is extremely talented and skilled in his career choice.
3. She learned that her husband is very ambitious and after this experience, will go to washington d.c. with a resume line unlike anything else.
4. She learned that she will survive being the wife of a politico.
5. She learned that traveling to and from Salt Lake with someone is much more fun.
6. She learned that she is very good at taking care of a perma-stressed husband, even on those days that he says, "I don't want to talk about my day."
7. She learned that ironing 3-5 dress shirts a week isn't all that bad.
8. She learned that her husband does not like to lose, especially in politics.
9. She learned that her husband, no matter how busy he is, always puts her first.
10. She learned that her husband is the hardest worker in the world:)

1. He learned that sometimes campaign offices aren't the most luxurious spaces.
2. He learned that politics and stress make you gain weight.
3. He learned that freshly painted lawn signs smell like a baby's dirty diaper.
4. He learned that it is possible for man and laptop to fuse into one sentient being.
5. He learned that there are more adverbs than any single person could ever possibly use to describe anything.
6. He learned that sleep is for suckers.
7. He learned the value of copying and pasting when answering constituent emails.
8. He learned that most people do not know how to write very well.
9. He learned that being a professional isn't that bad after all.
10. He learned that he has a very patient and loving wife.

Steve & I in the elevator on our way to the election party!

Most of the Granato for U.S. Senate Staff.