Parable of the NeuroGasm

Nathan and I are reading a wonderful book right now called The 5 Languages of Love by Gary Chapman... thanks Katie for the recommendation! I'm sure lots of you have heard about it- Dr. Chapman's philosophy is that every person "speaks" love in one of 5 languages- words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts, quality time, or physical touch. As we were reading the chapter on gifts, I couldn't help but think about how horrible I am at speaking this language. Also, the more we read, the more I was pretty positive that gifts are Nathan's primary love language. And I knew I had to start doing better if I want Nathan to feel loved.

Which brings me to the parable of the NeuroGasm.

A man and his wife had been married for nearly 3 months. They were happy and in love. One night, on the way home from a long day of work and school, the wife had a fun idea. She would stop by the 7-11 and grab a NeuroGasm for her husband. She knew that NeroGasms were his new favorite treat- definitely a gift to be craved. As she approached the 7-11, many doubts crossed her mind. She thought about how she just wanted to get home quickly to spend time with her husband. She thought about how this gift would probably have to come out of the small food budget for the month. She selfishly thought about buying them BOTH a treat, and also about how that would negate the specialness of the gift. With all of these silly thoughts in her head, she passed the 7-11 and drove home without the NeuroGasm at all. She beat her husband home, and patiently waited for him, reading a book. When he came through the door, he excitedly said "I got you a gift!" He pulled from his backpack a nice cold NeuroGasm and presented it to his wife. With astonishment, and sheepish gratitude, she took it, and they shared it together. But how great would have been their joy if they each had their own NeroGasm, gifted from the other? And I ask you, who loves the other more?

I'm a lucky girl, huh? Next time I won't let my silly doubts get in the way of gifting my lover. Cause two NeruoGasms are better than one.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things!

A few of my blog friends have posted recently about some of their favorite things... and now I'm being challenged to do the same! I'm not going to talk about raindrops on roses, but here is a small list of my favorite brands and products- some are old favorites, and some are new discoveries. Maybe there's something in here that you'll love too!

IN THE BATHROOM:

1. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

I am a girl with dry and sensitive skin. Especially dry face skin. Almost every moisturizer I have tried has left my face feeling either greasy or rashy. This stuff really is dramatically different! I wish it were more affordable...

2. Yes To Carrots C the Difference Mud Mask

This stuff is awesome! And all natural! Every once in a while, I still get annoying breakouts- you'd think that being 25 would make that stop already, but the zits persist. Then I smear on some mud mask- my zits dry up- and my face is left soft and glowy. Plus it smells really good ... now I feel like I'm doing a commercial for them or something. Ha. Try this out though. You'll love it.
3. Johnson's Vanilla Oatmeal Baby Lotion

Smells amazing. Sinks into my skin fast. Gets rid of my cracky dry elbows. Love it. Someday my soft little babies will smell like this. :)
4. Dove Ultimate Solid in Cucumber Green Tea

I'm all about smells, and this stuff smells great. And it really works. Plus I really love the Dove campaign about real beauty- I'll support that.
5. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

Since I have been a cello player for the last 12 years of my life, I'm not super concerned with the appearance of my nails. They are always about as short as I can get them. BUT, as a cello player with dry skin, I AM concerned about my fingertips! And in the winter, they get dry and cracky and horribly chewed up looking. This stuff is my only salvation. And it's great for cuticles too.
6. Batherapy

This stuff is strange, and I promise you I was apprehensive the first time I opened the jar and it looked like dried up mulch. But then I poured a scoop of it into a hot bath and got into the green and grimy water, and after soaking for 20 minutes or so, I was hooked. If you ever get sore, achy, tired muscles, give this a try. It really is unlike any other bubble bath- it really works.

IN THE KITCHEN:

1. Ivory Family Favorites Cookbook

I just got this as a wedding present from the wonderful Winegar Family, and I am loving it so far! Perfect collection of delicious tried-and-true family recipes. Favorites so far include homemade brownies, Italian Crockpot Chicken, and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.
2. Classico Spicy Tomato Pesto Sauce

This stuff is YUMMY! It was on sale last month, so I picked up a few jars. It's great as pizza sauce, delicious in lasagna, and great on plain old spaghetti noodles.
3. Method Kitchen Soap in Lemongrass Citronelle

I love all Method Soaps and cleaners, but this is my new favorite. It's designed to specifically remove strong kitchen odors like onions and garlic from your hands. And it does a great job- leaving behind a pleasant scent of fresh lemongrass!
4. Almond Breeze milk in original almond flavor

Best milk alternative yet! Peace out, soy milk and rice milk! Almond milk is here to stay. Also tastes great in chocolate.
5. Talenti Gelato- Tahitian Vanilla Bean

YUM! This stuff is delicious. I wish I could say it was more healthy than ice cream, but then it probably wouldn't taste so good, right?
6. Blueberries

Michigan made me fall in love with this darling little fruit. And I've been craving them lately. Utah just doesn't grow them like the midwest!
7. Cracklin Oat Bran

I know it looks kind of like cat food, but it is so so so good! And so so so good in bran muffins. And despite the fat content, so so so good for you!
IN THE CLOSET

1. Banana Republic

If I look at all the stuff in my closet, most of my favorite things have come from Banana republic. And most of THOSE things, I have gotten off of the clearance rack. It's dangerous for me to go into this store unless I am really serious about buying something, because I am guaranteed to find something I want.
2. Toms Shoes

Nathan bought me these darling Toms as a surprise for my birthday this year, and I love them! I love how simple they are, and how much Tom gives back to people who really need it.
3. Real Simple Magazine

If you are into tips on how to cook and clean and decorate and dress and declutter and simplify and be a more awesome person, I recommend REAL SIMPLE magazine. I always feel like a more capable and empowered adult woman after reading through an issue of this.

And there you have it. Just a few of my favorite things. If you have anything to add, or any comments, please feel free to chime in. :)

Bang!

This is my new favorite game. It's called Bang!

It's all about killing the Sherif. Or the Outlaws. Or the Renegade. And you get to say things like "I'm going to bang Nathan!" I know card games are often lame, but this one truly is creative and intense and fun!

Also. Easter candy is already making it's 2011 appearance. YUM!

Thanks early Easter Bunny! Last weekend was great. Also Thanks Thomas fam. We always have a blast hanging out with your gang. It was fun to finally host the party! And thanks new pals Valerie and Marko- I don't think I've ever been beaten so miserably in bowling. And Thanks Nateorade, The 'Tig and Samewise for letting me "bang" with you on your boys night. And Thanks Lincoln and Washington for being such stellar presidents to honor. I really needed the day off!

Wanna play Bang! with the Morris's? Let us know! I'm serious.

Reflection

Do you ever go back and read old blog posts? I don't know what inspired me to do this tonight... well, actually I do. With it being Valentines Day yesterday, and all, I have been thinking a lot about past Valentines Days, particularly the last two. It's strange sometimes to remember that Nathan was gone for an entire two years. You'd think the memory would still be fresh in my mind, but sometimes it really feels unreal that he was ever gone. So I wanted to go back and remember how I was feeling on/ around Valentines Day 2009 and 2010. And then I got caught reading my old thoughts- for about an hour and a half. What kind of DMA student has that kind of time? The kind who's husband works until 11:00 pm. The kind who needs night relaxation time. The kind who needs something to do while she listens to 5 CDs worth of Bach Suite #5 to subconsciously glean artistic interpretation. The kind who seriously needed a break from responsibility for a little while.

So I read about myself. And I was inspired. I think it is very good to look back like this, because although time marches persistently forward, often we don't. What I mean is that it would be awesome if we could always be consistently progressing forward toward being exactly the kind of people we want to be, but as human beings, I think we tend to ebb and flow. It was very interesting to read myself at some seriously low points. I remember exactly how I felt, and the decisions and circumstances that put me there. In contrast, it was also good for me to read myself being brave and strong. I read myself bearing testimony of what I know is true. I read about wonderful memories and favorite friends.

I know this probably sounds weird, but I felt like I was reacquainting me with myself. I think I have probably only posted wonderful things about being married- and being married is a huge chunk of wonderful. But it has also been a big life change!! And change is always hard, even if it is welcome. Really though, looking back over the past year, life is QUITE different now than it was at this time 2010. And it's funny to admit it, because I have been very happy, but I feel like I needed a good reminding of who I really am- who I have been- and who I like being. I hope this is making sense. Reading my past helped me realize that maybe I have been suffering (I don't know if that's the right word...) from a mild marriage identity crisis.

But let me tell you what I learned. Or what stood out to me most this time around. I am strong and brave, and good at being independent. I can do hard things. Making smart decisions makes me happy. But when I'm not happy, I can usually dust off and move on. I'm pretty good at that. I remembered that I have wonderful friends and a support network that reaches farther than I remember sometimes. I am often silly and dramatic. I procrastinate, and I am scared of the unknown. I love Nathan Morris with all of my heart.

The last two years were definitely full of ups and downs. Looking back, I can tell that I was in quite a transitionary phase of life. But now that the future is less up in the air, I need to remember to still be my brave, strong, determined, happy, silly, dramatic, audacious self.

This is who I am, and who I have been for years. Things like this don't change with a new last name. And I needed a good post-Valentines Day reflecting to remember.

Umbrella-ella-ella

Look who's featured this month on the Bella Umbrella blog!

Fun.

Home

Here is a little blog tour of our little apartment. I finally took the time to take pictures of our first home. Imagine yourself in the "Mexican Market District" of South Salt Lake on a sunny end-of-winter kind of day.

This is our little kitchen. It really is tiny. When we open the oven door, it goes all the way to the other side, blocking the way. Same with the dishwasher door on the other side. But who ever bakes and does dishes at the same time?

This is the other wall. I feel particularly blessed to have a garbage disposal. It's a luxury that I've never had in an apartment before!

This is Nathan's gigantic Texas flag that lives above our desk. He got it signed by all of his mission companions. I told him that I'm ready to take it down when ever he is, and I think he got really offended. I guess I'm ok with it. It reminds him of a really important time in his life... well, both of our lives. A mission is a pretty cool thing to remember daily.

Not only do we have the Texas flag, but also the huge longhorns above our window. They are definitely a conversation piece. Do we look like hicks?
This is our front room. It doubles as my cello studio right now. We love our little fireplace. It makes things feel cozy.

This is where we eat. It's all part of the same big room that includes our desk and our couches and the fireplace. And that hall goes straight back to the bathroom. When I was taking this picture, I was standing in the kitchen. Does that help put the layout into perspective?

This is the view from our bedroom door. Nathan installed a Perfect Pull-up bar in the doorway, but the picture doesn't show it. We still need to print pictures from our wedding and put them into those frames that still have generic "we just bought this picture frame" art work in them. Thanks A2 for gifting us your lovesac. I didn't think we'd have room for it, but it looks pretty good in this space, don't ya think? On the wall behind the lovesac, we have our two awesome double door closets. It's one of my favorite things about living here- lots of closet space!

This is another view of the bedroom. Over the years, Nathan has given me three teddy bears, and I have given him two. One of them he took with him on his mission and slept with it every night. I'm a little embarrassed to be a married woman with five teddy bears in my room. But I can't part with them. Not yet.

Our bathroom is just normal. Like the rest of the place, it's small. I'm glad we have a bathtub- except for that it makes the tub at Mom and Dad's house feel like a swimming pool in comparison.
Did you want another view? Here ya go. :)

And that's about all there is to see. It's not much- and it's definitely a decorating work-in-progress (on a budget.) But it's home. It's slowly filling up with sweet memories. And I love living here.

We're Online

A little more than a month of public internet was just about enough for this Morris fam.

WE GOT INTERNET YESTERDAY!

And it's pretty exciting.

Now Nathan can do Spanish homework at home. He can take math tests at home. I can do endless reading about medieval music theorists at home. And I can blog again! We can skype and facebook and budget while eating breakfast. In our undies. If we want to.

Newlywed life is rolling happily along. I teach, and play cello, and read a lot... Nathan speaks spanish, and studies, and sterilizes surgical instruments. Sometimes we do some dishes. Sometimes we fall asleep watching movies. Sometimes we eat 79 cent mac and cheese at 11:00 pm.

I like how things are.