Thank freakin goodness it's friday.

1. A cup of tea is definitely not my favorite thing.
2. Adding your own sense of charm makes a place feel like home.
3. Everything has its beauty, we just need to take time to recognize it.
4. I occasionally enjoy the taste of strawberries.
5. Art makes me feel fulfilled.
6. LOL I just noticed I forgot to write laugh out loud instead of LOL.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to cleaning my room, tomorrow my plans include antique shopping and the manfriend's show in Provo and Sunday, I want to have Kristie Karl time!

Thankful Thursday

It's that time of the week again. Here are some of the things I'm thankful for:
-My Nike Shox. So worth the money I spent on them.
-My skin clearing up. Yay!
-The sun just came out as I started writing this post.
-I have Tuesday off and it's supposed to be the warmest day of the week (52 degrees).
-I get to spend Friday night at my sister's and spend Saturday with her and the manfriend.
-Sunday I get Kristie Karl time all day.
-It's Thursday. Thurday's almost Friday. Friday's almost Saturday.
-My nail strengthener is working! No nail chipping here.
-I'm feeling a lot better about myself since I've started working out.
-Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and therefore good for you.

I love these ladies.

What are you thankful for today?

Trolley Square tonight at 7. Wiseguys. Be there.

Check it. I'm loving this post. Something I think we all need to hear, especially me.

So that harsh diet didn't exactly pan out. The manfriend and I talked it over and it's just too expensive, too time consuming and too much food. I couldn't handle it. We know how to eat healthy and we're going to incorporate a lot of the diet into our new diet. We're going to be healthy, but not eat the same exact thing every day for a month. We're still going to work out for an hour and a half a day however. So there's that. Haha. We went swimming for our cardio last night. It was so fun. I love it (even though I'm not good at it).

Just a reminder, the manfriend's show is tonight at 7 at the Wiseguys in Trolley Square. It's going to be an awesome show! The manfriend, Dave Ackerman, Ricky Hacking, Kasey Austin, and Troy Taylor are most of the comedians. Such a good line up! It's one you won't want to miss.

Keepin it freashhh

The manfriend and I are on Day 1 of our work out/nutrition challenge. It requires about 20 min. of various exercises in the morning when we wake up, another 23-30 min. of weights/pilates/whatever at the gym and about 45 min. of cardio at night. This is every day. It also involves a super strict diet of the same meals every day for a month (then it will change up a little bit). In addition to all this, I have to drink a gallon of water a day. It's expensive and the food takes a while to prepare, but it'll be worth it. I feel more refreshed and energetic already. Our personal trainer told me that I remind her of herself and she's going to make me look amazing by July. Yay!

On a sidenote, I feel pretty today. For the first time in a long time. It feels nice. Maybe the pretty and the working out/eating right things go hand in hand.

It's also me and the manfriend's 4 month anniversary! Yay! It feels like so much longer (in a good way). I love you manfriend!

Poetry. This took courage.

Mmm. We're cute, aren't we? :) I don't mean to gloat, but I'm happy. And for once in my life, I can say that I deserve it.


a poem for stump hand

despite the aggrandized visions

i had when i was young

love doesn't fix everything


just because i am loved

and i love in return

it doesn't mean life is bliss


i'm not cured of my

insecurities

fear

and history


i still hate my body

i still question my worth

i still have breakdowns


he loves me

so obviously there's something admirable here

something only he can see


the thing about being loved is

that he tells me i'm beautiful

and curvy

and how my body feels right

under his hands

and when i'm curled up beside him


he tells me i'm artistic

intelligent

incredible

and resilient


he tells me it'll all be okay

when i break down

when i cry

and when i withdraw into myself


sometimes i roll my eyes

sometimes i try to believe


love is just love


love doesn't fix everything


but as it turns out

it's a process

that slowly pounds the dents out

there will always be residual damage

from life beating the hell out of me

but slowly it will churn out a new being

a being that is not a sole person

but two halves that


together are perfect in each other


-kristie forzese

My favorite things

Wanna know some of my favorite things? Well, they were posted here! Yay! One of my favorite blogs for sure.

So last night the manfriend and I went on a double date with a couple of his friends. The manfriend told me somewhat last minute that we were going ice skating. For those of you that don't know me, I'm horribly uncoordinated. Like, tripping over myself, falling down stairs, hitting myself in the face uncoordinated. That, combined with my lack of normal childhood experiences equals "Kristie on Ice: The Disaster." I had been ice skating a whole one time on my old best friend's pond in her back yard in her mom's skates, so I'm obviously not the most dexterous skater. I thought I was going to fall on my face on more than one occasion, but having the manfriend right next to me, ready to catch me, boosted my confidence a ton. Before you knew it I was in the groove of it and doing pretty well. I'm no Christy Yamaguchi, but I'd say I picked it up pretty well. So there I am, skating somewhat smoothly when some high schoolers race past me. I began to stumble, my skates were shifting under me uncontrollably, and before the manfriend knew it, I was on all fours on the ice. After picking me up, he told me that despite falling down, I did it super gracefully (Aw, he's so sweet!). Ya, you learn how to be graceful when you've had lots of practice falling. Turns out clumsiness is a double edged sword. Haha. We skated a few more laps and overall, I had a really good time. I'm sure with a lot more practice I could get pretty decent. The moral of the story: Trying new things is fun! What about you? Have any of you tried anything new and adventurous recently?

Viernes! Finalmente!

(The bold is my contribution)
1. Pickles from The Old Country Store are AMAZING.
2. I wish I were at home.
3. The snow is completely absent and I'm loving it .
4. I can't wait until I have to learn how to pee in nature. (sarcasm)
5. It's 5:16 PM; that means I get to balance and leave work!
6. A good pair of jeans is hard to find.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to trying on this one dress I love and showing my sister, tomorrow my plans include a double date with the (soon to be) Eatchels and Sunday, I want to have Kristie Karl time!

Hmmm. It's Friday. I still have to work tomorrow, so I guess that makes it more Thursday for me. Lameness. I don't have to close tonight! There's that silver lining!

The manfriend and I got gym memberships and a personal trainer. We're going to look so hot come that special day! :)

Mo Bettah

So guess what I did with the other 2/3 of the Three Musketeers yesterday? We went dress shopping! Ya... The kind of dress you're thinking of in all it's lacy, beaded, flouncy goodness. :) And yes, dress shopping for me. Yay! I'm so happy! Also, I'm loving this:

(Click here to see it on Etsy)
I'm loving the idea of a nice rubber, self-inking stamp. Bring on the snail mail.

Karl David Bringhurst

Today is Valentine's day. So be warned, this post may make you want to throw up a little bit, but this is my blog and Karl is who I love. Karl Bringhurst is an amazing man. I love him for so many reasons. He's the reason I get up in the morning and the reason I don't want to go to sleep alone at night. It's impossible to put into words all the feelings I have for him and the way he makes me feel. I have written so much in my journal about all of the little things I love about him and all the things he does that make me melt. Here's just a small sample of these things:

<3 I love the hair on the back of his head that sticks straight up at the end of the night.
<3 His mischievous smile.
<3 The way he looks at me when we're together, like I'm the only person in the whole world that matters.
<3 When we dance around the kitchen while dinner is cooking.
<3 How we make stupid, silly faces at each other almost constantly.
<3 "Would you still love me if I had a mole face?"
"Of course. Would you still love me if I had stump hands?"
"Definitely."
<3 He encourages me to try new things and hobbies.
<3 He tells me how beautiful I am every day, even if I don't believe it.

"A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous. "
-Ingrid Bergman

"Soul meets soul on lovers' lips."
-Percy Bysshe Shelley

"T'was not my lips you kissed, but my soul."
-Judy Garland

"Ancient lovers believed a kiss would literally unite their souls because the spirit was said to be carried in one's breath."
-Eve Glicksman

"Sometimes your nearness takes my breath away; and all the things I want to say can find no voice. Then, in silence, I can only hope my eyes will speak my heart."
-Robert Sexton

"Love is friendship set on fire."
-Jeremy Taylor

And now my favorite:

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

ee cummings

Love Love Love

With Valentine's Day approaching tomorrow, I figured I'd just talk about a few things/people I'm loving right now.

<3 Karl. My manfriend. My love. He's there for me whenever I need him. He tolerates me when I'm being ridiculous and treats me like a queen always. Thanks love!

<3 Lara. She's going to be the best sister in-law ever. I already feel like we're sisters. She knows me so well! (And she's got a rockin style of her own)

<3 My family. Whether it's my parents and sister in MA, or my brother and sister (and their amazing families) out here in UT, they always support and love me. Especially when Derek and Amanda schlep me half way across Utah to be able to spend some time with them because my car is a piece.

<3 Chocolate chip cookies. My weakness and my comfort food. Yumm. Just barely baked with a super gooey center. So amazing.

<3 Tulips and Daisies. My happy flowers. They just make me so elated when I look at them, especially when it's yellow tulips and white and yellow daisies.

<3 Endless possibilities. I have so many opportunites ahead of me. There are new hobbies that I want to develop, new careers I want to persue. Yay for the future!

<3 Rainy days. I love the rain. One of my favorite songs says, "Soon the rain will wash away the sickness you feel." It couldn't be truer. Rain is renewing.

What are you loving right now?

El Doctor.

Dear Dr. Pepper,

So I gave you up last Sunday. I made it til Thursday. Oh Dr. Pepper, why can't I resist you? Your fizzy goodness weakens my will power and your boost of caffeine helps me make it through the day. I'm not strong enough. I can't live without you. I'm sorry I tried to cut you out of my life. I now realise my efforts were futile. I do think I need some space however. It's not you, it's me. I can't spend everyday wishing I had had you, craving you. I may not spend every day with you, but just know, you will always be my one and only soft drink of choice.

I'll be seeing you,
Kristie

Yearly Review.

First off, the other night Dixie, Dan, the manfriend and I all got together for a little family home evening. We had some lovely spaghetti made by the hosting couple and a fresh salad brought by the manfriend and I. We ate, we chatted, and we assembled a package for our friend Natalie in Poland. We made a bunch of Valentines for her and took quite a few silly pictures of us all dressed up in fun accessories. Despite the fact that the manfriend had met her approximately one time before, he made her this amazing Valentine.

And ya, that's a Ninja Turtle on the far left. My man's so creative. This package is going to be awesome. I mean look at these pictures. They say it all:




Okay, now on to the meat and potatoes. Today at work was my yearly review. I've been stressing so hard core about it and I about had a heart attack when my branch manager and assistant branch manager pulled me into the office. Overall what they had to say wasn't super horrible, but the main criticism they had for me is that I'm pretty much a bitch (pardon my french). At first I took this badly. I'm not that girl! I'm Kristie, the sweet, eager to please, walk all over me employee. That's when it hit me. I used to let everyone walk all over me. I don't anymore. Them recognizing more confidence and more resistance from me isn't necesarily the best thing for me to be doing at work, but at least I'm sticking up for myself! There's been a pretty significant change here! So the rest of the criticism I got I took in stride. They did have some valid points. I've decided to make some new work resolutions:

1. Don't let angry customers put me in a bad mood and ruin my day
2. Try harder to be a great employee. Listen for cues to know when to run transactions for the bankers, jump on the teller line more, etc.

So there they are. I realised I've been hating my job, and what I really need to do is just change my attitude. My job isn't that bad. I have security here (they assured me they'd never lay me off) and I got a generous bonus and a raise. So despite all my stress and freaking out, I have to say that overall, this review was effective and constructive. Wow. I feel so grown up! Haha.

Button

I've decided I'm going to start collecting buttons. Check out these gems.



Vintage Soviet Union pieces. Oh Etsy. I love you.

Infinite.

"The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter."
— Unknown

Read this. It makes me happy.

This weekend was really hard. I was struggling a lot and questioning a lot. In the end though, I made it through. It's Monday. I got up to do some yoga and was late for work. None of that matters. I think of Saturday night and how in that moment we were infinite. That's what sustains me.

What a post!

1. I know the manfriend is going to rock it at his comedy show tonight.
2. I'm getting ready for March, the longest month.
3. You can't help but wish it was Spring already.
4. Six months is a long time; bring it on!
5. Where have you looked for the answers to all those questions?
6. Zombieland is now available. Yay!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the manfriend's show, tomorrow my plans include cleaning my room and reading, and Sunday, I want to make a meal plan for the week!

So the other day I was just thinking about how for a while I was having supremely vivid dreams, but I haven't really had any for a while. Turns out some more were just around the corner:

2 nights ago I had a dream that I was on the beach with my friend Cami. We were sifting through all of my old pictures reminiscing about the old days. All of a sudden the sky got dark and the tide rose up and started taking my pictures out to sea. I panicked and kept trying to grab all of these pictures that were spreading out everywhere. Cami tried to help, but it was a lost cause. It was like trying to hold water in your cupped hand.

Last night I had a dream that I don't remember as well, but Dan (my best friend's husband) had a twin who was a serial killer and he was on a killing rampage. I went to a boardwalk on the beach to go tell my friend Luis about it. He wouldn't listen to be but just stood really close to me. A grocery store isle lined with Pop Tarts appeared and all he could do was analyze the Pop Tarts. I went around the corner and sat next to my roommate, Julie who I proceeded to tell the whole story to, including Luis' reaction. She told me not to worry and pulled some Pop Tarts out of her pocket for us. I woke up. Hahah. So random.

And FYI, a guy just came into the bank who was in the original Little Rascals(1934). He was Spike. Haha, who knew we've been helping a celebrity all this time? He's so full of life and busting at the seams with happiness, even at 80. I want to be like him when I'm that age. Here's some free advice he gave us:
"I gave up being old when I was six."
"Be concerned about things, but don't worry. Because what you worry about is never as bad as what you imagine it to be."
"It takes more energy to frown than to smile.Don't use all your energy frowning."
-Wise words from Robert Lentz

Thankful Thurdays

I've decided to start doing Thankful Thursdays, a weekly post similar to the one featured here. You can also see my new button for it on the left. Because who doesn't need a reminder every now and then about the things in life we are thankful for?

This Thursday I'm thankful for:
-The glorious weather. Pure heaven in the sunshine.
-My bangs are at the ultimate perfect stage right now. I can wear them straight across or swept to the side.
-Girls night with the manfriend's sister, Lara. I love her, in case you didn't know already. Haha.
-The fact that Lara will come see French movies with me. Coco before Chanel=Amazing.
-The manfriend wants to go running with me tonight! Yay!
-I feel semi-cute today.
-My dad has started eating healthy and working out! No more hospital visits hopefully. Fingers crossed.
-I wrote one of my new favorite poems ever this week and my sister wants to use it as her wedding vows in October.

Mmm, this weather makes me wish I was with Natalie working in her greenhouse. I really want to be outside all day working with the earth. Those were some nice days.

And yet another...

Obviously work is really slow today, so here comes another list for you all:
-The Count of Monte Cristo (the book) is fantastic. I'm part way through, but highly satisfied thus far.
-My nieces and nephews are the cutest kids in the world, as was evident when Drew pretended his french fry was a sword and tried to chop my arm off last night. I love that kid.
-Managers who take 4 weeks of vaction in a row really throw a hitch in things.
-The bank does not, in fact, slow down when a bicyclist gets hit by a car in the entrance to the bank parking lot.
-I can see the mountains here in Salt Lake again! Yay for the absence of smog!
-I'm obsessed with late night walks and talks and swinging on swings with the manfriend.
-Randy noticing subtle differences in my appearance and asking about my life is awesome. Now that Christina's gone, he's my favorite co-worker.
-I just bought a new cell phone cover. I love you Amazon.
-Blogging has become my favorite thing. If I could do it professionally, I would.
-I'm so impressed with the manfriend's memory of the things I love and want to fine tune. We're going to make a dark room together. So clever.
-I really like that I have business cards. It makes me feel all grown up.
-I love to sit with a pile of warm laundry on top of me.
-I never put said laundry away, so my room is a giant mess...Again.
-Motion City Soundtrack. You are amazing. You never cease to satiate my musical appetite.
-Veggie pizza is the best ever (especially with loads of mushrooms).
-Sometimes, after I shower, I just like to stay in my towel and lounge around for a while. It keeps me sane.
-Dr. Pepper is my life blood.
-My nails keep peeling on me and I really want to chop my fingers off out of frustration (okay, not really).
-I really enjoy the institute class I'm in.
-I've never won any blog give aways, despite how many I enter. One day my luck will change.
-I need some Girl Scout cookies. Mmmm.
-High five for tax returns! Yay!
-The end.

"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

"When the Japanese mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold. They believe that when something’s suffered damage and has a history, it becomes more beautiful."
— Barbara Bloom

.

Superciliousness

So there's this mirror in this bathroom. You all know the one I'm talking about. The one that no matter how perfectly placed your hair is, no matter how flawless your makeup looks, you always look like crap as soon as you chance a look in it. Is it the lighting? Is it the mirror placement? Who knows. All you do know is that you always look dreadful in it. I have one of these in my work bathroom. I try not to look when i'm washing my hands, but if by chance I sneak a peak, I always regret it. My skin is blotchy and breakout-riddled and my hair is brassy and dull. In reality, I don't look nearly as bad as this mirror insinuates, but I guess it goes to show that sometimes mirrors do lie. Do any of you have an ego-check mirror?

Peace out January.

Man, I really needed this.

Events from this past week(ish):
-Thursday was my birthday
-Went to lunch with Leah, Rachael, and Brooke
-Went to dinner with the manfriend
-The manfriend bought me photo paper so we can make a dark room together(!)
-Watched Bright Star, Paris Je T'aime, Public Enemies, the Motorcycle Diaries, Two Weeks Notice, Traitor, Knowing (which was horrific), etc. It was a big movie weekend.
-Best friend time
-Sister time
-Dad got surgery
-Lots of cuddling
-First Papa John's experience. Amazing!
-Church with the manfriend
-Made plans with Lara to go see Coco Before Chanel at the dollar theater

I'm 21 now. Hooray.

Bright Star

So on my birthday, I decided to watch "Bright Star," a period piece I'd been wanting to see super bad. The movie was hopelessly tragic, which didn't so much bother me as how much it dragged on. Don't get me wrong, it was a great movie, but it could have easily been compressed. The one thing that stuck with me more than anything else was the scenery. The lush green England spring in thick wooded forests was stunning. I'm dreaming of it. I can't get it out of my head. It makes me miss New England.