loved it.

Saw THIS movie tonight.

With this girl.

Loved it... Love her.

Seriously, I really enjoyed this movie. I will not ruin it. All in all, a great experience. Ah, so good.

Tom's

I finally got my Tom's in the MAIL today!

I picked grey for multiple reasons.
Mostly because they are neutral and I can wear them with just about anything... maybe even possibly my grey jeans. YES.
I LOVE THEM.
They are comfy AND casual.AND for every pair purchased, Tom's donates a pair of shoes to a child in developing countries.
So not only am I getting a pair of shoes, but so is someone else. Who needs them.
What a concept.

But, now that I am thinking about this... I kind of want THESE gold ones too! They are a little bit pricier (and by a little bit, I mean, WHAT??!!) than the plain grey canvas shoes however, I think gold is coming back into style this spring/summer and so, what better way to accessorize than on your feetsies. Right?

I like...

thoughts.

So tomorrow is the first day in a long time that I don't work until 3pm!

This only means I get to sleep in until 2pm :)

KIDDING... noon.

This also means I can go to 7-11 right night and get me some Diet Coke.

Anyway, I have been thinking a lot lately. Being really introspective. There has been a lot going on in my life lately. Some good, some not so good and I am slowly - but surely - learning new things about myself. I tend to block out the not so good things from my daily thoughts. I don't like to dwell and be sad. This I heard, is bad... According to Dr. Drew. If he was here, he would ask me "how does that make you FEEL?" And I would simply say, it makes me FEEL nothing. Nothing except WHY ME?! And then... then, I came across this quote:

"We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, 'Why did this happen to me?' unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way."

-Unknown

Humbling. I should be grateful for the positive things in life. And remember how lucky I am and say "why ME!?" as in, why would someone like me deserve such great moments? Let's look on the bright side here. However, I am realizing that it is pretty difficult to understand and fully appreciate the good without a dose of the bad. This is where Dr. Drew comes back into play. If I am choosing not to feel the bad, then I am choosing not to feel the good. So, not only am I going to be grateful for the good, but also for the bad. Because you can't have one, without the other.

it's about time.

Hello friends.

We are friends right?

Good.

I ran today for the first time in like... forever.

Seriously, I can't remember the last time I ran.

I can't remember the last time I worked out!

At any rate, seriously, at any rate (the rate of a one-legged turtle. They fast.), I am proud of my accomplishment of getting up off my BUTT and doing something good for myself.

I would like to thank Shea for that. She has been asking me to work out with her and has even had 24 Hour Fitness calling me telling me Shea has left me a pass to come work out.

What a gem.

Finally, after several times I said no, I said ok, I WILL.

So I went.

I ran for 2 miles. Walked for a half mile. All within 25 minutes. I have absolutely NO idea if that is good, bad, average... I just know it's more than I thought I could do. Mostly because I get tired from walking from the parking lot to the gym. Seriously.

I think I could have gone further but my poor little weak leggies were turning into jell-o. I am totally going to be paying for it tomorrow.

NONETHELESS, I shall be back tomorrow. Running.

And it feels good.

Friday Night

Last night, Kirk and I decided to have a fun date night.

We had originally planned to go to Salt Lake for a fun dinner, followed by a game or two of bowling and end the night with a movie.

Kirk said I could choose any restaurant in Utah besides Chef's Table. (I have never been, but would like to go.) I chose a pizza place in Salt Lake that neither of us have ever been to, Setebellos.

After learning there was a Jazz game, we quickly changed our plans and decided to stay in the Provo/Orem area.

We went to Pizzeria 712 which I absolutely LOVE. Seriously. So delicious. We have been a few times before but, it was particularly delicious last night. I thoroughly enjoy the close quarters and charming atmosphere of this little pizza place. I almost feel like it belongs in either the movie The Holiday or New York City. Two favorites. So, I like it.

After we were sufficiently satiated with salad and pizza, we did what we usually do after a satisfying meal. Laid down. We stopped at a bowling alley, just to see what a wait would be for a lane. We were not willing to wait an hour so laid down we did.

I had been wanting to see a movie for a while and thought it would be fun to see The Lovely Bones. I have not read the book but heard it was good so I thought, what the hey, I'll take my chances.

Um, I probably had one of the worst movie theater experiences I have ever had.

I don't want to ruin the movie for any of you who still plan on seeing it, but between the couple next to me who decided to comment to each other after ever single scene, and the guy behind me who kept hitting my seat with his feet and then decided to just keep his knees against my seat making me sit at a 90 degree angle the entire movie, and the actual movie itself, NO BUENO.

So now I am going to proceed to hate on this movie.

Sorry for all you who want to see it or actually liked it.

I would say save yourself the $9.

First of all, you could TOTALLY tell this was a book made into a movie sort of movie. There was no flow. I am no movie critic. But I am pretty sure it is my biggest pet peeve if movies don't have any fluidity. I mean, isn't that the point of a movie? To make it all work and come together to serve a purpose of a MOVIE? That's why I do not like any of the Twilight movies. They don't make any sense to me. I believe all books made into movies should make sense to all people who have not read the books so a more wide audience can enjoy.

Secondly, who decided to write/make a movie about a serial killer who preys on children?

Not only was it completely and utterly disturbing to me, but it angered me. I did not understand the point. To me, this movie just showed me how happy and innocent people can have horrible things happen to them. Now, what part of that is uplifting? None of it.

And lastly, the guy next to me smelled like a creepy pedophile so every time I would get a whiff of his cologne, I would think that's what the murderer would smell like and instantly HATE the guy next to me. He doesn't deserve that. Look how this movie makes me hate innocent people.

And that, my friends, is why that movie is on my top-hated movies of my life.

Sincerely,

Alix.

on the hunt

I AM ON THE HUNT!

For a new purse/handbag/satchel/hobo bag...

I am totally drooling over these kate spade bags.

I wish I could have one.

Minus the price tag please.

So I am on the search for a similar bag. Mostly like the white leather with navy trim and/or navy and white striped with the two fold-over pockets in front. GAH! I want them! I'm so vain.

la musica

Anyone who knows me well, or who has lived with me should know my obsession with music.

LOUD music.

Pretty much any and all music.

I seriously listen to the most random music sometimes.

I'll never forget the time bff Heather came into my room whilst I was blaring Sheryl Crow's, "IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY!"

and she goes, "WHAT? Who blares Sheryl Crow?!"

Yeah, I'm awesome like that.

I love country. I especially love twangy country. Even though I am from Seattle and like, NO ONE listens to country there. In fact, I remember hating country growing up. And getting annoyed with other bff Brandi when she would play it. And then, one day, I woke up and I said to myself, "Vivian, (yes, that's what I call myself) YOU like country music!"

So now I like it. A lot. I'm persuasive like that.

I like rap.

Like gangster, runnin' around with my blue/red (I don't choose sides. Plus, I don't want to get shot) do-rag hanging out of my back pocket - rap.

I like new songs. I usually like those songs that everyone says, "I HATE this song."

Sometimes it's reversed and people say, "I LOVE this song." I tend to hate it.

I like girly love songs.

I mean Mariah Carey and Celine Dion - eat your heart out.

I like depressing Dashboard Confessional songs.

I like Frank Sinatra. I probably would like it more if I could dance to it.

I don't like African Tribal music. Well, maybe I do. Just not played while I am trying to sleep. Yes, that has happened to me before.

SO many great memories made with music.

I am in such a weird mood right now.

Which brings me to my next point.

I am currently digging and listening to 70's Disco. I don't even know if that is a genre. Maybe I made it up. Regardless, I am seriously jammin' out to a little Earth, Wind and Fire, some Stevie Wonder, sprinkled with Kacie & The Sunshine Band... I LOVE it. If you saw me right now, you would see me swaying and rocking to the beat and possibly singing. Even though I don't know the words!

Anyway, all this is to say that I am severely in love with music. And my favorite part is whenever I borrow Kirky Lirky's car, he leaves it on my current favorite station - 94.1 fm which I believe is a get out your dancing shoes, 70's disco station.

Alright, so maybe Kirk only leaves it on that station because he listens to his iPod when he drives. It's ok though. Because part of me believes that he actually DOES leave it on that station just for me. Because he loves me. And that's allllllll that matters.

Bananas

Alright alright alright.

I know I do a lot of product reviews on this here blog. And I don't even get any sort of compensation from it! Nonetheless, I will admit I am somewhat of a "product junkie" and when I find something that I LOVE, I just want to share it with the whole world!

Currently, I am hooked on these little shake mixers from Herbalife. (Cuzzo Rachel sells them. Inquire if you would like some!)

I am currently using the Wild Berry flavor and mixing it with some Tropicana 50 and some Yoplait frozen smoothie mix into the magic bullet and VIOLA! A healthy and DELICIOUS meal!

I have been making them for breakfast for about a month now and I enjoy them since I never really ate breakfast before.

Then I came across an article on BANANAS and I learned how amazingly good bananas are for you! I actually am not a banana person myself and I kind of get grossed out by them. I think it's their shape and texture which I do not enjoy and I can remember at a young age, my sister chewing bananas in my ear and I would gag at the sound.

WEIRD, right?

Well, I am trying a whole new different approach.

Bananas in my smoothie.
While not super noticeable, I am still maintaining my healthy breakfast AND adding a few more benefits to my meal. Oh yeah, killing two birds with one stone. LOVELY.

Well, I tried it and I still couldn't eat it.

I was a little disgusted by the flavor and texture of my smoothie and it was hard to eat it all.

But alas, I finished my breakfast without one gag.

I am training myself to eat healthier and so even though I have an aversion to bananas (no jokes please) I am learning to incorporate them.

And that, my friends, is my spiel on BANANAS.

THE END.

Helping Haiti

My lovely friend, Brittany Barnes and her husband, Grant are leaving for Haiti on Friday.

To help.

Brittany's mother-in-law has organized Children's Hope and they will be working in coalition with them.

I admire their courage and their strength.

But we can help.

They are collecting donations until Thursday.

They need:

powdered baby formula

costco (bulk) advil (ibuprofen)

costco (bulk) tylenol (acetaminophen)

children's vitamins

prenatal vitamins

You may also visit their blog to receive more information and to help.

nordstrom: my hero

Let me tell you reason #783 why I LOVE Nordstrom.

I bought a pair of Hudson Jeans. An investment, let me tell ya.

A few months later, a HOLE was ripped in my jeans and you could see my BUTT! Not as attractive as one may think.

I was nervous about bringing the jeans back because I had heard some horror stories about t.b.d. not returning Hudsons with ripped holes because they are just thinner and it comes with the wear of the jeans and I hate to be confrontational. I don't want a fight. I just want a new pair of jeans.

I decided to try anyway. I simply explained to the saleswoman that my jeans ripped with only a few months of wear and that I was so sad about it.

She quickly looked up my transaction and told me she would return the jeans and asked if I would like to order a new pair.

WHY YES! I replied.

I was ecstatic about her inquiry and her swiftness to solve the problem. I mean, what was I so worried about.

Then the woman informed me that the jeans are now on sale and that I will be receiving $80 back!

AWESOME!

I win.

Seriously, made my day.