Los Angeles, I'm Yours.

We escaped from Gloom Mountain for a little trip to LA because:

1) 45 consecutive days of overcast skies are not acceptable
when it's supposedly this season called "summer"

2) To celebrate two years of Bliss!!!

3) Summer vacation is mandatory. Even when you're not students.
Especially when you're not students.

It was a bit of a sacrifice on Dan's part to humor me and return to a land that I love, and he kinda hates. In all fairness, I'd probably have PTSD too if I spent two years knocking doors in Compton and trying to save the non-existent souls of the people of the ghetto. LA is a crazy place, the first day we were there, while driving down the 405 at 70 mph, the wheel of the rice rocket car in the lane next to us came flying off. The wheel flies in the air - missing maiming us by a few feet - while the car shoot sparks everywhere and careens of the road. Sweet. Oh Los Angeles, the excitement you bring....

Lo's Choice

morning run in the sun on hermosa beach - laying out and reading salacious magazines (while dan remains fully clothed, five fingers and all - walking venice beach to see all the crazies (including the nazi  pictured here) - eating a giant waffle bowl cold stone ice cream, for lunch. 

Dan's Choice

visiting the skirball jewish cultural museum - going in the skirball's awesome noah's ark exhibit (even though we're not 3 years old like the other patrons there) - not going to the beach where you have to wear SPF 100 to avoid an green oozing sunburn reminiscent of our honeymoon- eating dinner at Dan's all time favorite place: Red Robin (where we went EVERY date night we lived in provo)

Catalina Island

We took a ferry boat from san pedro harbor (where I was fascinated with the giant cargo ships and took a million pics of shipping containers haha) to catalina island. It was a fun 1.5 hour ride and the island was pretty sweet too.

zipline eco tour

While on the island we splurged and did a zipline eco tour. It consisted of 5 ziplines, that were long, and really really high up. I was soooo close to chickening out once I got on the first platform. But my fear of people making fun of me overcame my fear of heights and I did it! It turned out to be fun. But I'd never do it again. My palms still sweat just looking at the pictures. 

The one place Dan loves there? The temple. So we ended the trip with a session at the one thing keeping this iniquitous city from sliding into the sea. I hope that Temple keeps counterbalancing west hollywood for at least a few more years... Dan has a class break in the future, and I already know where I want to go...

Los Angeles I'm Yours 

(cue the Decemberist's song)

Two Years Of BLISS (sometimes)

( anniversary cupcakes at sprinkles in beverly hills)
 "Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." — Gordon B. Hinckley

I love this quote. One thing I've gathered in my 24 months of matrimony is that it isn't all peaches. They are really hard times, really freaking awesome times, but mostly just moving along- not bad, not super good - times. 

Our first year of marriage I found somewhat challenging. Especially when I was sitting in an awful BYU married ward listening to another testimony/brag-imony of how someone's husband was the best in the world!!! He made dinner, cleaned the house, arranged floral boquets, was perfect in every way blah blah blah. I sat alone a pew listening to this, while I hadn't even seen my brand new husband in a couple months, let alone had him decoupage all our lamps. I felt a bit gypped. But everyone's life/marriage is different. They is no use comparing. Or if you do, in the words of the wise President Hinkley: you'll run around thinking you've been robbed. 

So if I could give advice to newly married Lauren, it would be something like this:

"Really enjoy the "bliss times", but don't stress that every moment isn't awesome and think that everyone else has marriages filled with nothing but sublime days. They don't. And don't stress that sometimes things are tough, and think that everyone else's lives flow so much more smoothly than yours. They don't. You're normal. And that's okay. Go with the flow, sometimes (a lot of times!) things don't go according to that master plan in your head. But it still works out how its supposed to.

You may think that its totally obvious to Dan that you're super angry if you give him the silent treatment. It's not. Just use your words. You know, communicate. Tell him when somethings wrong. Also, don't worry - You win the fight about having a top sheet on the bed." 

Our second year of Marriage was way better than the first. We lived together and learned more about each other- which always helps. 

I think that our relationship will just keep getting better, year after year.

I love Dan. He's a great husband who always makes me laugh, works hard, and tries to make me happy. I'm glad that we're bound together. Forever.

Here's to TWO YEARS. And hoping that we celebrate our 3rd anniversary not in freaking Monterey.

Amen. 

Jesus Wants Me for a...

 Sunbeam!

I love them, seriously. I was pretty skeptical when the bishop pulled me out of the friend making world that is relief society and put me in charge of giving 3 year olds the word of God. But, the Bishop was right. I love my calling. Every Sunday for almost the last year I'm so happy I get to hang out with, have my arm rubbed by, and hear the awesome things my little friends say.

Last week was my  co-teacher's last Sunday before moving. I made some very sunbeamy delights - whoopie pies rolled in sprinkles - as a goodbye treat. Except Sis. Graff made her own goodbye treats, haha. So the sunbeams didn't end up eating the whoopie pies. But I did. Many of them. 

The End of An Adventure

(carmel beach. self portrait w/ slr = tricky.)

I sadly bid my Kiersty Kat goodbye on Friday. I may have cried. Or maybe it was just raining on my face? (flight of the conchords reference). I really enjoyed having my sister/BFF here to hang out with, bake with, go to yoga with... She's just plain cool. We had some adventures, as is customary with MMA...

Point Lobos

We took kat out to Point Lobos, promising seals and otters galore! We always see bounteous wildlife here. Except, even the effing sea mammals think its too cold here, we saw nothing. 

I think they're in San Diego. Where we should be. 

the "world famous" monterey bay aquarium

went "ording"

Ording: Covertly exploring the abandoned Fort Ord. Taking Pictures. Stepping on glass. Etc. 

See how awesome Monterey is (said with sarcastic tone)? The sun hasn't shone here since May.

 But don't let that stop you. Come have your own MMA Today!

Today marks the 25th year my parents have been married! 

Whoa, thats a long time. I know that though its the most rewarding relationship in life, marriage isn't always easy. I appreciate the sacrifices, lack of selfishness, and hard work my parents have put into staying together and creating a happy family for me and my sisters.  

They have set a wonderful example of love. So basically, 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM & DAD!

Sweat and Sweet Success

(one of the hard core ladies in our class, pic taken from the studios website)
Bikram Yoga 

I heard about it a while ago and I've been wanting to try it. But I'm a big fat chicken. So I waited and drug Kiersten along for moral support. Basically its 1.5 hours of yoga in 105 degree room with humidifiers going. You sweat. So much so, that you think you're going to die.

And basically, we died. Don't know if Bikram Yoga will be added to be ever growing myriad of half hearted hobbies...
(p.s., the guy next to me in class was a 200 lb beer bellied old guy, hairy chested with a huge gold necklace, wearing nothing but a speedo. Proudly. He is my body self confidence hero. And he wasn't half bad at yoga.)

A Baking Date
Katty and I both love to bake. So we busted out good old Martha's cupcake book and selected something that looked very difficult. We totally expected it to be a mass fail.

 But it wasn't!

Granted Kiersten handled the hard part of making the Sugar Spun Crowns.

Kitchen = trashed. But worth it for some sisterly baking bonding time.

I also got a package in the mail yesterday, always exciting. It contained a Blondie mix and a note:
"Hopefully you won't trip in your kitchen making these, haha. Just Trying to keep you safe.
Enjoy! Love, Denise"
(thats in reference to this incident) I had a good laugh at this one. Thank you Denise!
My mother in law is rad. I love her.
Now back to MMA-ing with the Kiersty Kat!

Frisco Revisited

We kicked off the Kiersty Kat MMA this weekend with a little jaunt to Frisco. We, the directors of MMA, were pretty alcatrazed out, so we tried to mix it up a bit.

Tartine

It is obligatory to start out the day with a trip to my all time favorite bakery. Where you wait in a line, out the door, for 20 mins, and are rewarded with pastry heaven.

SFMOMA

What is this? A pile of garbage? A really creepy statue of Michael Jackson and a monkey? A pile of badly hung Christmas lights? Why no! Its MODERN ART OF COURSE!

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art was actually pretty cool. With the exception of some crazy stuff. Really crazy stuff.... If that hour long video of a man putting his feet on a wall is art, then dude, I should be a modern artist.

The Haight

The ultimate in hipster San Francisconess, we always enjoy a trip to Haight and Ashbury street. Its filled with crazy people, crazy stores (entire stores of apparel to wear to Burning Man), and some cool stuff (I really wanted to buy dresses at a Rock-a-Billy store) mixed in. Kat bought a fetching Russian Fur hat.

Little Star Pizza

Last time we were in Frisco, I really wanted to go to this pizza place I had read about. It was late and Dan and I were both kinda grouchy after a long day of sight seeing. We got to the pizza place and were told it would be a 2.5 hour wait (its pretty hip and popular)! Dan said there was no way in H-E- double hockey sticks he was waiting for pizza for that long. I really wanted it. And began to cry. Which really helped the situation. NOT! Needless to say, didn't get Little Star that night. But finally, today, my pizza dreams came true. It was pretty darn good. But my search for the world's best pizza will continue on...

"Welcome to Gloom Mountain!"

That's what Dan said yesterday as we were driving back into Monterey, as the fog descended on us.
I thought it was pretty funny...

Friday marked Dan's last day of math class! 
In a move totally uncharacteristic of army, they allowed him to to actually use his time productively to take a class at the local college. I was pretty proud of Dan for doing well in his class, we are both pretty sucky at math. We're going to have to adopt an Asian baby so someone in our house can do calculus.

I went for my first long five finger run!
They feel SOOO good. Its like being Pocahantas, running free in the forest to really inspiring background music. You know what doesn't feel good? What happens when you eat a steak quesadilla an hour before running..... Wouldn't recommend that.
Vomiting on  a public running trail = embarrassing.

Saturday we struck out for Oakland with a NEW GPS...

With a quick detour to Red's for some donuts....

Dan were talking and realized it had been way too long since we'd been to the temple. 

Then we realized our recommends were about to expire in August. We made it. On July 31st. It counts.

When I got out my beautiful temple dress that I love, I discovered Monterey had destroyed that too. It molded. Before you think ill of me, everything in Monterey molds, its so damp here! Its not like I'm an unclean person... Most the time. Add mold to the ever growing (haha) list of things about Monterey that displease me.

After our session we went to Berkley, as part of my never ending search for the world's best pizza. Zachary's Chicago Deep Dish was pretty good. Also, Berkley is fun to walk around and see overpriced shops and smart hippies.

I am excited for this coming friday as one KIERSTY KAT is coming to have an MMA. She's the sapphire eyed, creative, well dressed sister I always wanted to be.

See her. Admire her. Envy her beauty. I do....