Internet Diet Update [or] "On Writing"

SO. I'm having a hard time because a lot of the people I care about are on facebook and I want to know what they're doing with their lives and I wanted to show all of them this:

My most lovely Mother-in-Law made this BY HAND for me! Her body and button-joints and hair and face and clothes and shoes and dinosaur are all hand stitched. How IMPRESSIVE is that?? She is so sweet and I love how much this little doll that I've named Karen resembles me. She has my same eyebrow shape I love her little hat and her fun sock monkey overalls (that really work as overalls, you can unbutton them and everything!) and her Dinosaur named Deeno...
What a great Mother-in-law I have.

I've been to facebook a few times but it hasn't been as excessive and I feel like I'm making strides here. I haven't been to any of the waste time sites I usually went to. I've found a few things on pinterest that I like. I've made dinner the past couple nights (besides tonight because Sean wanted to grill) and I sort of rearranged our living room and I've been feeling better about myself. I learned some new make-up tricks and my hair has been looking exceptional...  It's all been better.

Right now, Sean is writing his latest work which he is really excited about and I'm really excited for him. I think it's really important that he writes because I know that it's something he loves and I like seeing him write. He types a bunch and then reads me a chunk that he's proud of and I love it. Plus that gives me an opportunity to pull out my editing skills and give him a few pointers and stuff. We both can do what we love and it's excellent.

There's a little book exchange that opened up a block or so from our house and the ladies that own it are super sweet and fun to talk to. Sean and I have been there twice and both times we've stayed for about an hour just talking about everything. Sean gave them one of his books (which you can access here and here and here or just google "sean donner unlucky" and you'll have all the websites) and they're all excited to read it and host open-houses or things for his future books. Which is one of the reasons he's so excited about writing this new one.

Yay! What a great time.
love, Ellen

Valen-Times 2014

Wow. I've been really bad at writing on here. I don't really have any excuses... Sean was a little sick this week (and wrote this), we're still on our way to buying a house, our apartment is particularly moldy, it's been raining, the Olympics are on... Really just stuff you'd expect.

A week ago tomorrow was our 2 year dating anniversary and we went to Red Lobster. It's a lot easier to celebrate that than to fight the hoards of people on Valentine's day itself. Plus it's a little more special for us. We are still going to do Valentine's gifts. I painted Sean a picture and he got me something from the internet. I think we might go to Five Guys or Rubio's or something just because. Other than that, Valentine's is a pretty normal day.

Our first Valentine's day... Whoo, it's a good story. I guess I was soooooooooo blinded by Sean's adorable-ness that I didn't realize it was a hilarious story and should've written it down here but I didn't.

It started out pretty great. I walked over to his apartment because I didn't have time/wrapping paper enough to wrap his Build-a-Bear which I cutely named Sean the Jedi and dressed as a Jedi. Plus he had to finish a few things with dinner. I got there, rang the bell, and then straight away gave him the bear when he opened the door. He handed me a cute bag with 3 awesome Beatles Mugs and a Batman magnet inside.

He pulled the steaks out of the oven and they were heart-shaped. AW. He also had potatoes in a casserole dish ready for eating. He dished it all up for us as I sat at the counter and admired the roses and candles he'd put out. The steak was super delicious, I remember because my first bite was much too big so I was chewing it forever while trying not to choke because Sean was laughing at me and I was laughing (as much as I could) too.

We finished eating and then went on a drive and ended up at Blickenstaff's Toy Store in Provo. We wandered around and then... Actually... I don't really remember what happened after that. I think we probably.. OH YEAH. We went back to our neighborhood and went to our friend Jayme's house to pick up my copy of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World she'd borrowed. Then we went back to Sean's and watched it.

It was really sweet. Like he always is. The funniest part of all of this, though, was that he spent about $200 on the whole night. "What?" you ask. Yes, he had to buy household items to have Valentine's day at home. He was offered reservations at a nice restaurant but turned them down because he didn't want to spend a ton of money on a girl he'd just started dating. HAH. Joke was on him. He bought plates and stools and food and flowers... What a guy.

Anyway, I still love him just as much as then and I'm so happy he's my forever Valentine.
I gotta go check if our bed is still wet from me stupidly putting the humidifier on it while vacuuming... bad idea.
I'll post a picture of my painting once I give it to him tomorrow. Squee!
love, Ellen

Hi Hi Hi

Remember how I've been sick a bunch lately? It eased up just in time for our anniversary get-away. It was such a nice weekend of shopping and relaxing and just hanging out. I bought my first pair of yoga pants (ohhhh, yeah.) and some new bathroom digs (i.e. bath towels, a rug, and a new shower curtain), a hat, Sean got a bowtie, a potato masher, and some yummy tea. It was just a really good weekend all around. 

However, the night we got home, I threw up again. Ahh, my life. So what I'm doing is I'm going off my birth control pill. I think my hormones have just changed and all of the side effects are showing. I'm hoping this takes care of the problem though... If it doesn't, I'm going to go to the doctor and get it all figured out. 

Sean's in the kitchen (with Dinah... jk) making chicken noodle soup and it's so yummy smelling/looking. He's such a good cook and I love when he makes me dinner. 

So anyway, I'm gonna go eat. 

love, Ellen

Sicky

Just so you know, EXPLICIT FEMININE CONTENT TO FOLLOW.

So I'm on my period and it has been one of the most gnarly periods I've ever had - cramps, moodiness, headaches and bodyaches... the works. I couldn't sleep last night hardly at all. I was so sick and uncomfortable... it was a nightmare. I got up at least 3 times before Sean just got up from bed and came and gave me a good hug. I started crying, of course. We sat on the couch for a minute and then decided some Midol would be nice so we threw on some clothes and ran to walmart and grabbed some meds and a 2 lb bag of redvines (for Sean because he deserved it).

We got home and put on Return of the King and tried to sleep. We tried so hard to fall asleep and then I went and threw up and then Sean had to go to bed or else today would be a disaster for him. I turned off the movie and followed him in. I was so uncomfortable and I had the feeling that I needed a blessing. We both got up again (at this point, it was about 3:30 in the morning) and Sean gave me a blessing and then I gave him the biggest hug I could ever give him and I cried (again) and told him how much I appreciated him.

Guys, I seriously have the BEST husband. I love the bajeebers out of him. He's so dang handsome and nice and sweet and goofy and my best friend.

I'm so excited for this weekend because it's going to be SO fun and I love being able to get away with Sean. We're going to just relax and explore Salt Lake and it's going to be great. I just hope I don't feel gross... at least Aunt Flo won't be in town that weekend. phew.

Anyway, Happy Almost October!
love, Ellen

Saturdays

YAY! A few days ago, my work friends and I figured out a better schedule for us and now I have Saturdays free! Hooray! Now I have a night that I can go to a movie or stay up a little later with Sean and then enjoy a morning together besides Sundays (which are okay, but will soon end in January) and have some Mickey-D's breakfast. Mmm... breakfast burrito's.

Speaking of Saturdays, only 2 more until Sean and I have been married a whole year! Some people say the first year of marriage is the one where you learn the most about your partner by fighting and stuff. Not to say that Sean and I never fight, but we've definitely learned more about each other sans bickering (mostly). I think it's just that we feel so comfortable with each other that it doesn't matter that I don't squeeze the toothpaste a certain way or that Sean never picks what we have for dinner, we just know each other's love languages and have learned how to work our problems out without much strife. It's really nice.

In any way, I love him and I'm just really glad he's in my life to take care of me and entertain me.

love, Ellen

Day 30: Family

I am the oldest of 2 girls. My little sister is named Abby and she's a Senior in high school. We have a mom and a dad who are pretty cool and they take us to cool places like Oregon. 

For my senior trip, we went to the coast of Oregon and had an excellent time relaxing, seeing the sites, eating incredible food. You can read all about it HERE. I was having some boy troubles then, but it didn't stop me from enjoying a vacation with my family.

Since then, I've added so many more people to my family just by falling in love with one guy (who, btw, isn't the one from the troubles). Now I have a husband, 4 brothers-in-law, 5 sisters-in-law, and a new parents-in-law that I love spending some time with. My family tripled in size over night. I don't get to see them all at once because they all live in different places, but I get to travel around and see them, which makes it double fun. 

I love my family and I'm so grateful for all of them. Yay! 

love, Ellen

p.s. Since Sean got some new movies yesterday, I got new pencils and canvases to draw with! So I'm working on a project and I hope it turns out. It's looking pretty good, so I think it's going to work. 

Day 9: Date

My dream date goes hand in hand with my dream vacation, essentially.

Sean and I would start out riding our bikes on the pier and lock them up near a fair. We'll eat funnel cakes and play fair games for a while as the sunsets and then we'll walk along the shore at dusk back to our bikes and ride back to our town house just down the pier.

Either that or...

We go to a park and play baseball for a while and then grab some food (sushi or pizza or burgers... whatever) and have a floor picnic in the living room and cuddle while watching a great movie surrounded in soft pillows and blankets in a nest.

I love spending time with my incredible husband and I'm so glad he's the one I get to spend forever with.

It's so stormy outside and I love it! I've still gotta do the dishes and clean the floors but It's still great weather and I get to see my fabulous mother-in-law today!

mmm... thunder rumble...
okay, I'm out.

love, Ellen

Property Brothers

If you know anything about me (or have looked to the right of any post on here and read the "about me" snippet), you should know that I watch HGTV all too often. I love House Hunters and Love It or List It, but my absolute most favorite show on the whole channel is Property Brothers. Sean could tell you that I say the sentence "I wish I had Property Brothers" all too often. 

For those of you unfortunate enough to not have HGTV or uncool enough to not watch it (I forgive you, but you really should), the PB's are Drew - the Real Estate expert, and Jonathan - the Contractor. They take people out of their apartments and into a fixer-upper which they then fix and make look INCREDIBLE. Seriously, I wish I had PB's. 

Of course, the people they're working with never believe they can pull it off at first because it's too crazy but they do! And, even if they run into problems or added costs of other types, they do it at your budget! It's so cool. 

Sean and I have been looking into moving a lot lately. We've been looking at houses and apartments and considering all the options. Of course, it would be a lot harder for us to get into a house than an apartment, but if I get a full time job somewhere, it would be a whole lot easier. 

For now, though, we're thinking about painting a few of the walls in our apartment to brighten it up and personalize it just a little. We haven't passed it by the landlady yet... but she's pretty great and seems to like us a lot, so it's possible. I can't wait to get started! (If we can, of course.)

I'm going to end this here and get back to watching PB's. (Seriously, I recommend watching it.)

love, Ellen

May 31: Vivid

I remember nearly a year and a half ago, I had a HUGE crush on this guy. The night before, I had driven him to the local Subway to have dinner with a few of our friends. When I dropped him off outside his apartment, I casually asked him if he was going to our friend Jayme's to watch Land Before Time the next night. He said "Sure".

The next night, I showed up early with a backpack full of homework and high hopes. A couple people trickled in and then Sean knocked on the door. I opened it and let him in and freaked out a little (just in my head. On the outside, I was as cool as a cuke).

Eventually, we had the movie in and the popcorn ready. I had to kick this tall, awkward guy from the seat that was too wide to be a 1-person chair and too small to be a love-seat and then I sat down. Sean sauntered over and then he said something and sat down right next to me. SWOON. The movie started and not 3 minutes in, he had my hand in his and I was on the brink of peeing my pants from excitement (but still, on the outside, cool as a cuke).

We watched the movie (that, to be honest, I'd only seen at my granny's house while playing with Chevron cars) and chatted a bit afterwards. Everyone left and it was just me, Sean, and Jayme (and maybe Jayme's roommate Jamie, who I think had gone to bed by that point). Sean wondered what we were going to do next and I suggested we went back to his place and I'll finish up some homework while he worked on his book. My ploy to get him to fall for me was a success!

We wandered across the complex and up to his apartment and we went in. We sat down on his demon couch and I pulled out Walden by Henry David Thoreau and he pulled out his baby-sized laptop. After an awkward choke-hold-esque situation, we finally found a comfy position and went to work. That obviously didn't last long and we ended the night making out.

He walked me home and kissed me on my doorstep. SWOON. 5 months of dating, 3 months of engagement, and 8 months of marriage later, I swoon just as often. And tonight, we're probably going to buy groceries and I'll tell him I tried making kool-aid taffy but didn't have a candy thermometer, ran to get one, it broke when I pulled it out of the package, I still used what I could, and it still didn't turn out.

I hope the last day of your month turns out better than my kool-aid taffy.
love, Ellen

May 21: High 5

My 5 favorite blog posts of mine:

1. http://elleohellen.blogspot.com/2012/06/hbd-mom-also-music.html - I like this post because it's a birthday shout-out to my mom, it's got some of my favorite bands, and I predict my future.
2. http://elleohellen.blogspot.com/2012/09/on-crying.html - I don't particularly know why I love this one. I just do.
3. http://elleohellen.blogspot.com/2012/02/one-big-step.html - I like this one because I announce that Sean and I are dating. You can sense my nervous-but-excitedness. 
4. http://elleohellen.blogspot.com/2012/07/seans-got-new-carr.html - This one's kind of obvious because it's my engagement story. So sweet!
5. http://elleohellen.blogspot.com/2012/12/things-that-will-forever-have-happened.html - This is my most favorite post because it's where I dish all the weird-o stuff that happened at my wedding and I really get a kick out of it every time I read it.

2 and a half more weeks until we go to Minnesota! I seriously can't wait. I've already created a packing list and we've got a cat-sitter lined up and some snacks picked out. So excited. Okay. I'm going to go watch more Arrested Development in preparation for Sunday. Yay! 

Happy May 21!

love, Ellen

May 20: Struggle

So I skipped Sunday and Monday is late... Anyway.

To be honest, I'm not really struggling much with anything particularly right now. Except maybe thinking up something for this post... hah. nevermind.

Well, there's going to be a lot of transitions in my life soon. This summer alone, Sean and I are going on a trip to MN, we're moving 30 minutes north, I'm quitting my job and finding a new job (hopefully)... it's a lot. I think maybe part of the struggle with all this is money. It's not that we're broke, but moving, losing a job, and a vacation can really soak up a lot of cash. We're eating in more and not going places as much, but it's still rough.

and that's what i'm struggling with.
love, ellen

May 18: Childhood

I feel bad for posting this so late but it's been quite a day. Sean and I took a box of junk to the DI and then got a bunch of records for cheap and then ate breakfast at The Park Cafe in SLC. Seriously, guys. If you are ever in the mood for breakfast foods and you're in the SLC area, go there. Everything is so delicious and quick and it's worth the wait. It's just across the street from the Tracy Aviary so you can make a day of it. Then we went to Sean's brother Jeremiah and his girlfriend Kayla's house and ate tons of junk food and watched Star Wars and just hung out. So much fun.

Anyway... Today's topic is on a story from my childhood. How about the time I kicked my sister in the mouth and her teeth fell out.

One day, Abby and I were at our neighbor's house playing games. A common game we would play with these particular neighbors was gymnastics. We set aside an area to practice our hand-stands and marked it off with barbies. Everyone was supposed to stand behind the barbie while the person in front of them did a handstand.

I stood in line right in front of Abby and, eventually, it was my turn to hand-stand. I stepped forward and did the lunge and went for it. As my back foot went up, my heel whacked Abby right in the mouth. I came back down and turned around and noticed that Abby had stepped in front of the barbie (or so my innocent mind believed... as far as I know, I might not have been far enough past the barbie). With eyes welling up with tears, Abby put her hand up to her mouth and caught 2 baby-sized teeth as they fell out as a result of the kick. I grabbed Abby around her shoulders and walked her home where my mom could calm her down and teach her the wonders of the tooth fairy.

And that wasn't even the first time I had ever whacked Abby in the face... there was another time where I ran into her with a gate we would swing on and caused her to need to get her forehead glued.
Oh, my life as the older sibling. I'm sure other older siblings have similar experiences right? Probably. And here is my public apology to Abby: I am sorry for all the times I whacked you in the face.

love, Ellen

aww... isn't she pretty? also, her birthday is at the end of this month! 

May 17: Selfie

I think this is my favorite picture of myself. It was the night before July 4th when Sean and I were waiting for a fireworks show. Sean instagrammed this and wrote "I love this girl!" and then 4 days later, after me turning 19 and him buying a car, we were engaged. A crazy week! Also I love how good my teeth look and how absolutely happy I am. It really shows off how happy Sean makes me, I think.

love, Ellen

May 16: Lots

I don't know if I would say I have a very difficult life. I found a husband young, I did well in school, I have some friends, I don't go hungry, I have nice things... However, if I were to say I had a 'lot in my life' I would say that I'm almost always either sick or injured.

Let me explain. I have allergies and just tend to be sick often. I either have tummy troubles or girl problems or a cold or any number of things. They usually don't last all that long, maybe a couple of days but then while I'm not feeling 100%, I hurt myself. It's not always a bad injury, mostly just small cuts and bruises from being klutzy or my demon cat scratching me or being an idiot with my razor or paper cuts or head bonks from walking into doors... any number of things.

For example, last Saturday I had a run-in with the concrete when the skateboard got frustrated with my inexperience and I incurred a baseball-sized bruise on my left hip. Then on Sunday night, I spent a lot of the time I should have been sleeping either throwing up or enduring nausea with a stomach bug I probably got from someone at work or something.

Similarly, a couple months ago I had a similar stomach bug and then stupidly got my foot squished in the la-z-boy. Ironic, right?

And that's my lot. I'll be fine, it's nothin' I can't handle.

"I'm a tough girl... I lace my own sandals and everything." - Megara (Hercules)

love, Ellen

This is me when I was sick sometime last year and then fell asleep on Sean's lap while he watched Transformers. 

May 15: Day in My Life

Well, my day started out like any other. I woke up...

and then I hopped in the shower...

and put some clothes on. 

Then I went to work and made drinks, organized stuff, like I do.

Photo courtesy of Jason Davis

And then came home to a tree that was snowing buds all over the place and making a mess of my car.

Then I made my bed...

and did the dishes like a good wife should.

I took a picture of the cat...

and then we waited for dad to come home.

sorry for this crappy picture... eh.

Soon, Sean will come home, we'll have dinner and then probably play scrabble. 

And that is a day in my life.

Welcome to it.

love, ellen

May 14: 10 Things

10 Things... that make me HAPPY!

1. Sean. He's the number 1 thing in my life that makes me the happiest. He makes me laugh, he cooks for me, he taught me how to play catch, he watches my dumb shows with me. He just makes me incredibly happy every day.
2. My family. I love my family and every time I hang out with them, they make me laugh and we have a great time. Also, they send cute cat pictures that make me happy too.
3. Sun. I love looking out my windows in the morning and see the sun peaking through the trees and brightening my day.
4. Driving with the windows down and the music up. I love the wind blowing through my hair and rocking out to my jamzz. 
5. A clean house. I feel like I can only truly relax once the dishes are done and put away, the bed is made, the laundry is put away, etc. 
6. Showers. There comes a point every day where I feel so incredibly gross that I need to take a shower, even if I took a night one. Showers take care of my body and my brain. 
7. New things. I love having a new shirt to wear or new shampoo to use or new food to eat or new gadgets to show off. 
8. My friends. When I'm bored and they're not busy, I love hanging out with my friends. 
9. Organizing. I know, I'm crazy. I love taking everything out of the closet and rearranging it to make it fit best and getting rid of unnecessary junk that we keep around. It makes me happy.
10. Dancing. I love getting my wiggles out and letting my worries go free through my fingers and toes.  

I hope you can be happy today too!
love, ellen

May 8: Advised

One of my best friends from high school once gave me some great advice and it's stuck with me for quite a while. She wrote me a letter and gave it to me on the last day of school and I still read it often.
Here's a quote from it:

"1. THE OPPORTUNITY TRAIN IS VERY IMPORTANT. Always jump on that train my dear. I know, a lot of times the train can be very scary and intimidating. In all actuality, the train is the least intimidating thing in existence."

I remember when I was first interested in Sean, I jumped on so many opportunity trains to get to know him better. There was one train that just stopped and waited for me to get on for so long and I finally just did it. I walked across the room after a ward activity and talked to the guy I had a huge crush on and then I invited him to go play a game at a friend's house. That train has been the best one of my whole life and I am thankful every day that I boarded and never have to get off.
Thank you, Lexi. Your advice has propelled me right into my future.

Right now, in my life, I'm looking for a new job and Sean and I are looking for a new home closer to my parents. There are so many opportunity trains just waiting for me to board and it really is scary. It's been 2 years since I've had a job interview and the jobs I'm looking at most likely aren't looking for someone as young and inexperienced as I am, but I've got to start somewhere and if I don't apply and try, how am I supposed to start?

Anyway, if you're having a hard time jumping on that train, just do it. What have you got to lose? When those opportunity trains arrive, get on. They might kick you back off, but another train that might be going in the direction you need could be right behind it. Just do it.

love, Ellen.

May 3: Discomfort

I don't get uncomfortable very easily. Whenever awkward situations happen, I can shrug it off pretty well but there is one thing that will get my goat every time no matter what. Feet. I can't stand them. They are just ugly and smelly and weird-shaped and toes and... I just don't like them. I hate when guys wear flip flops. Girls' feet aren't as bad, but mens' feet are gross. I hate even more when they wear flip flops and long pants. One or the other, guys. Seriously.

There are a couple other things that unsettle me, too: heights, chalkboards, and hoarders, to name a few. But I think the worst is when someone takes their shoes and socks off and touch me with their feet. Even if they're too near food I get grossed out.

That's enough feet talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GUESS WHAT. I get my hair cut tomorrow morning. I'm so excited! I'm also a little nervous and so is Sean because I haven't had short hair for so long. Good thing he's stuck with me forever! hah. love. 

I made a date night jar. It's going to be fun. Most of the things in there are things we'd do anyway but sometimes Sean pulls out the "It's your day" card and I want to punch a wall. Not really... but this jar will hopefully fix all the things! 

That's all. 

love, Ellen

May 1: life in a paragraph

I'm doing this. It's a real goal and I really will do it.

I started off living in Ogden, UT. From there, my family moved approximately 7 times and then I turned 9 and we settled down in a real house. It was hard for me to find friends but I got along by hanging out with my mom a lot and asking people if I could sit by them at lunch.  I graduated from high school with honors and went to college an hour south of home and quickly met and fell in love with an incredible guy from Minnesota. We dated exactly 5 months, were engaged in a dinosaur museum, and married in a little temple just outside the Twin Cities. Now I'm graduated with my associates, still working as a barista, and learning how to play catch.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Isn't that fun! I like blogging and this is great because it has prompts that are solid! awesome. 

But it is true, Sean bought me a new mitt and we've been playing catch. I'm proud to say that he's impressed with my ability to throw a baseball and i'm still working on my catching... haha. It's actually a whole lot of fun being able to spend time with my husband doing things we like. 

okay, have a great day! see you tomorrow!

love, ellen

Duh Duh Doughnuts.

Hey, everyone! So this morning I was totally craving doughnuts. It might have been because I used to eat at least one doughnut at work every other day or so or because I watched an episode of "Unwrapped" on Food Network all about doughnuts this morning. So I did what any girl that didn't want to leave home would do, Pinterest! I found a few recipes but none of them seemed that great and I don't have a thermometer for oil... so I continued searching until I found a great recipe for a baked doughnut. Luckily, Sean likes making bread, so we had some yeast around the house. Here's the recipe, if you wanna try it out.

First came the dough:

First, I had to whip up the dough and then let it rise for an hour. Easy peasy. While I waited, I watched Clueless. Great movie!

Then the dough was cut and let to rise again. like it does.

Then some time in the oven and BLAM! awesomeness.

 I don't have powdered sugar so I had to find another way to make a glaze. I found this recipe and then got to work whipping it all together. turns out, these puppies are SO GOOD.  Then just a dash of cute sprinkles and then gobble them all up! 

YUM! oh, and kitty just loves the smell of fresh homemade donuts and the cool breeze of the fan. What a cute kitty! 

Hope everyone has a sunny spring week!

love, Ellen