When did Jenny grow up?

My  little sister is getting married. How crazy is that?! I've never even met this guy that she is head over heels, crazy in love with. He's just some stranger that came into her life one day and took her to McDonald's, and now in less than a month he'll be my brother.

For that matter, my little sister is seeming more like a stranger as well. I flipped through her engagement pictures with my mouth pulling tight at the corners, searching. I don't recognize this woman with the big soulful eyes, laughing and holding hands with a tall, smiling man or staring into the camera with something almost like wisdom, a hidden secret behind those lips.

I catch flashes of my baby sister in an awkward hand gesture or a crinkled up nose, but those are the rejected photos. They won't be hung on walls or stuffed into envelopes to be sent to family and friends. They'll be left in their digital form, deleted or forgotten before long. The polished Jen, the grown up Jen. That's the Jen that will make its way across the country in a bright white envelope, nestled softly in a tissue paper bed against an embossed invitation to the coming nuptials.

I don't know the Jen that's polished and poised. That makes her fiancé dinner every night in the house they will soon share. That saves her money instead of blowing it on fast food, Dr. Pepper, and anything with an Anthropologie label. A Jen that is in love and doing very real grown up things. It's a Jen that is complete. Who has stretched herself to meet someone else halfway, to sacrifice and love them with all her heart.

I think I'll like this grown up Jen and the man who makes her so happy, so full.

All photos by the very talented Brooke Stapleton. Many thanks!

Wieney Whales

I went to a lot of different elementary schools as a kid. Three to be exact. At one point I went to an elementary school named after this guy, Louis S. Wiener, and guess what our mascot was? A WHALE. Like, how did we not all get beat up? An entire elementary school full of Wiener Whales. Like, I would've understood at least one massive bullying session. 

Anyway, sometimes I feel like a real Wiener Whale. I get real whiney and shrill... It's just a mess. My fiancé,  (YEAH. FIANCE.) comes over to my house everyday after work and asks me about my day. And you know what I realized? I always respond with a bunch of, "woe-is-me," crap. That must really suck for him. I go on and on for like 20 minutes, about how school was so long and boring, I was so sad and lonely cause he was gone all day at work, I didn't even go to Sonic's Happy Hour (!), blah, blah, blah... Wiener Whale. When all that is done and over with, I ask him and he always responds about how positive it was. I love that.

So, in that mood, here are some reasons I should be happy everyday:

1) I get to receive an education. Sure, it's costing me thousands in student loans. I sometimes day-dream about changing my major multiple times within one class period. I have to wake up early to go to classes I don't even want to take. BUT I have to constantly remind myself that people would kill to go to school and receive a higher education. AND getting my Bachelor's degree is a super important step for long-term success. But still, Cs get degrees! Can I get an "AMEN?!"

2) I have a place to live and a really nice car. Okay, it's not the nicest but my mom sacrificed getting my dad's used car, instead of her A/C-less, mismatched door handled, '99 Toyota minivan, so that I could have it and be safe when I drive around. She's the sweetest, honestly. 

3) I have an amazing family. I really truly, honestly, nearly 100% of the time, get along with every member of my family. Sure, we fight. But we always love each other. My parents raised some crazy obnoxious kids but it makes for some fun Sunday dinners. 

4) I'm healthy. Sure, that Hand, Foot, and Mouth over spring break wasn't my finest moment but I'm not dead, or even close to it. *fingers crossed*

5) I'm marrying my best friend. Trevor seems to make all of my "negatives," vanish. He's the best distraction because he makes me happy. Always. Plus, he's got a pretty cute bum. 

I mean, c'mon. He's pretty cute. 

Also, if you want to some good music here are my current favorites:

Howlin' For You- The Black Keys

Young And Beautiful- Lana Del Rey

Only Son Of A Ladiesman- Father John Misty

Yet Again- Grizzly Bear*

Home- Delta Spirit

*Can't wait for them to come to Twilight Concert Series. Gon' be dope!

XOXO- Jenny

Oscar's My Main Squeeze.

So, apparently I'm the fashion police now. 

Bow-chicka-bow-wow, J-Law!

I know everyone was drooling over Jennifer Lawrence's Red Carpet gown but did you guys see her after party gown? 

Holy crap balls- I die. 

Work that pixie-cut, girlfriend! 

I loved how understated and flattering Charlize Theron's gown was.
Plus, ain't no one ever looked bad in a peplum top.
TRUTH.

Shoulder pads to the TJMaxxinista!

Is it bad that I love this dress? I feel torn, like I love it, but I don't, but I DO? Whatever.
"I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!"

There are my top three, I wasn't very thorough in my search but I never said I was a fashion detective or private investigator, heck, I'm not even a hired private consultant! I'm just a girl with a non-existent badge in fashionery. 

XOXO- Jenny

Will you be my Galentine?

I would just like to start out this post by saying I currently have a wonderful, super smart, and handsome boyfriend who took me out and gave me the sweetest gifts this Valentine's. I could go on and on for days but Meghan basically covered all the mushy-gushy romantic stuff in her post. So I won't smother you with any more, but did I mention he's a real "'Class A' Hottie?" Like, a 10? Sorry, that's it. (but seriously- a TEN) Instead, I'm going to talk about the celebration of another holiday that is just as great, Galentine's Day.

Galentine's Day is weirdly on the same day as, or celebrated close to, Valentine's Day. This holiday is great because you can choose whatever and whomever to celebrate with, where to eat, what movie to see. It's basically a date with yourself and some other single ladies. Pretty dope. This year I celebrated with my best friend, Morgan (also a 10), and my widowed grandma, Bonnie Buns. We all love food and eating out so we went to lunch. Also, Bonnie Buns has a not so secret crush on Josh Duhamel (BB+JD= Cougar Love) so we obviously had to go to see Safe Haven. Then we went to Target where Bonnie Buns spoiled Morgan with like, 500 clearanced cotton balls. So yeah, it was a great holiday.

The point of Galentine's Day is to celebrate ourselves and the women in our lives, especially the under-appreciated singles. Guys should appreciate it because it makes it possible to skip out on movies like Safe Haven, which, if you're wondering, wasn't even that sexy but did get real deep. Like, did I cry? No. Did I fight tears? Probably. Next year ladies, enjoy a great Galentine's with your ladies then get some booty from your boo. Too much?

In closing,

XOXO- Jenny

Valentine's for Newlyweds

Being a newlywed is awesome. You get to hang out (and make out!) with your best friend all the time and can totally give up the guise of wanting to hang out with other people or wearing anything other than sweatpants at home. Not that I slip into sweatpants the moment I get home every night or anything. I would never do that. Ever.

Anyway, I love Valentine's. I'm pretty big into the whole "love" thing and can go on about Layne ad nauseam. I apologize to anyone I have talked to in the past three years, but this guy is fantastic and I just have to tell every single person I meet! So, being that I am into Valentine's, Layne really goes all out to indulge me. And that's what is so great about being a newlywed. Right now, it's just the two of us. We're both, as our dear friend Michael puts it, "gainfully employed," and with no kids and no real responsibility, this is pretty much the only time in our lives where we can spoil each other with wild abandon. And Layne is reeeeeal good at it.

No matter your situation, there are great ways to spoil your loved one on Valentine's Day. If you're a little low on cash, make gifts for one another. You can make a playlist full of songs that reflect your relationship. One year, Layne wrote and illustrated a book on me that was our love story, fairytale style. He dotted it with a ton of inside jokes #hesakeeper. Everyone likes breakfast in bed, and cleaning up the house or a cute little coupon book is another great option. If you're fortunate enough to have a little budget for Valentine's, the old standbys always work. Flowers, chocolate, cards and jewelry all go a long way toward saying "I love you." Or, you can go all out. Valentine's is the perfect time to splurge on a trip to the spa to pamper your love, a quick vacation, or the extravagant gift you've been saving for.

The only real rule for Valentine's Day is to make sure the one you love knows that you care. It's a chance to say thank you for being you, to make them realize how special they are, to treat them like the king or queen they truly are. When you're living the everyday, sometimes loving each other gets pushed out of the way for doing the dishes and working full-time and running to the dry cleaner. And that sucks and it's wrong. Valentines is a chance, one day a year, to set it right.

I love you, Layne!

We're Obsessed... JT's "Mirrors"

We have a sister's group text, mostly pertaining to our blog, but sometimes we message random thoughts, jokes, pictures, etc. One day I texted Megh and Lizzie telling them how I was completely, 100%, wholeheartedly obsessed with the new Justin Timberlake single, "Mirrors." After they both looked it up it was a unanimous favorite. We thought we'd share it with you to continue the obsession. We're all really looking forward to the rest of the album!

A few other current faves:

Jenny: Rihanna's Stay, Delta Spirit Yamaha, Ra Ra Riot When I Dream
Lizzie: Taylor Swift We Are Never Getting Back Together & Stay, Stay, Stay
Meghan: WALK THE MOON Tightrope, Lumineers Ho Hey

Moodboard Monday: Cozy

It's winter. It's cold, dreary, and endless, at least it is in Utah and D.C.! We decided to take all the gloominess of the cold and choose items that we believe would cheer us up. We're a family of blanket lovers which is apparent in the fact we all choose a blanket item of our own personal taste. We hope you are enjoying this wintery weather and if you are lucky to have any of these items- we're jealous!

Jen's picks: Knit blanket, Voluspa candle, Nordic sweater, Mittens

Megh's picks: Fuzzy socks, Baby blankets, Coconut Hot Chocolate (recipe here)

Lizzie's picks: Caftan, Hot Chocolate maker, Microfiber blanket