6 Months In

6 months being married and I haven't left screaming yet ;)
We have been traveling a lot during these past few months: Florida, Idaho, California, Georgia, Arizona, Idaho again and now New York.

After our honeymoon to Walt Disney World,  I travelled to Idaho to visit my BFF Lauren. The week after that I travelled to California for a girl's Disneyland/LA trip with my friend Megan (a birthday treat to myself!). We visited the new Topshop which opened a few days before in LA and went to Santa Monica. Immediately after I came home from CA, Adam received an opportunity to work with some clients in Georgia and I was able to go with him! I was even able to visit my cousin Brittany who lives south of Atlanta- the cherry on top! I love traveling to new places because then I get to cross them off of my list. I want to visit every state in the US before I die. Surprisingly I have never been to Hawaii but we are planning a trip next year to solve that! I also have never been to Oregon and it's where one of my dearest friend lives. I have to go! I believe I have been to about 30 states so I am not too far off from my goal.
Now Adam is in New York consulting again. It's not ideal having Adam gone, but it's something I am ok with. I am very proud of my husband and what he accomplishes professionally and personally. We are each working on "secret" projects right now that we hope to share with the world soon. They are projects which are unique to each of us and totally separate. FYI, mine is not art related, although I need to continue painting! Ever since completing two wood canvas paintings, the same enthusiasm with which those two flowed from me wasn't existent in the next set. I do however have 8 blank wood canvases sitting in my front room. They call to me whenever I exit and enter my home. Someday soon.
The other piece of big news is that with interest rates so low, Adam and I have been looking at purchasing a house. We'll keep you updated on what happens there.
And then there is that whole France trip we are taking in September. I have never been to Europe. I shall be instantly in love, I know it. I am traveling with three males and am determined to bring less stuff than them. I have been stocking up on what I have named "Paris pants". Pictures will be posted I am sure. 
For now, here are some of us during these past 6 months.

This one is cheating because it was taken more than 6 months ago, in December of 2012. I just love it because it was a fun party with great friends and taken right before we were married. And I am wearing vintage fur.

On the beach in Santa Monica

Cruella didn't like my wolf shirt. Maybe she prefers puppies?

With Megan. We had a blast in CA!

Lamp our friend Tyler helped me make for Adam's birthday. To remember our Georgia trip (and we are big fans of Coke) I purchased a vintage Coke jug on Etsy as the lamp base. Adam loved it!

My handsome husband with his Red Bandit haircut from the movie "The Fall".

Rainy wedding day for Heather and David made for some pretty pictures.

Love my little family. 

Amy xoxo

What's For Dinner?

With the new year, Adam and I made a commitment to easy mostly vegan at home. I say mostly because we aren't 100% yet. So far we've made the transition to soy/almond/coconut milk instead of cow's milk. We like constant variety. And did you know, Oreos are vegan? Scary with all of the additives, but nice to be able to grab a 50 calorie vegan cookie when you want it. I've been eating a lot of nuts and drinking shakes to obtain my daily protein. I am starting to add more beans into my diet as well.

After Monday's disastrous fish tacos, I wanted to share a cooking success! I found this recipe I made tonight on the Choose Veg website. I hope you enjoy!

Choose Veg Recipes <<<<<<<<< Click for instant yummyness!
I am hoping others turn out as good a this one did tonight.

Tofu and vegetable stir fry with peanut sauce

INGREDIENTS:
 1 cup brown rice, cooked or 1 cup quinoa
cooked 1 pound firm tofu, cut into cubes
2 teaspoons of olive oil 1 yellow onion
sliced thinly 1 carrot
chopped 1+ cup green beans, with ends cut
1 clove garlic
minced or crushed ½-inch piece fresh ginger
minced 3 or 4 TBSP peanut butter
5 TBSP water
2 tsp. lemon juice
2 TBSP soy sauce or tamari
2 TBSP soymilk

INSTRUCTIONS:
 1. Pan-fry the tofu in a non-stick skillet pan until the tofu is lightly browned. You may add a teaspoon of oil, or you can just pan fry with no oil in a nonstick pan. Remove from wok/pan.
 2. Heat 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil in the wok and stir-fry the onion, carrots, and beans for 4 minutes or so – until the beans start turning a bright green and the onions become translucent.
 3. While this is cooking (or even beforehand), add a small amount of oil in a separate pan and add the ginger and garlic. Cook for a minute or two, then stir in the peanut butter and then the water. Stir until smooth. Add the lemon juice, tamari/soy sauce, soymilk, and stir well.
 4. Return the tofu to the wok, and stir in the peanut butter sauce. Mix well and serve on top of the rice.

Adam and I both enjoyed dinner tonight because it tasted delicious and it was so filling! If you make it too, let me know what you think!

Amy xoxo

The Wedding

We had a ninja wedding in early January. We didn't have a reception or we would have told and invited more people. It was a joyous day filled with love in the company of friends.

Amy xoxo

 Adam and me

 Tracy and me

 My mom, me and my sister

 Adam, my dad, and my brother-in-law



 Our centerpieces that Megan arranged



 Our bishopric 

 Gpa and Gma Talbot

Adam's family (which is now mine!)



Neon Hope

As I was turning the pages of my sketchbook with my Mother this weekend, I noticed a quote I had written in a curious manner. It was written parallel with the spine of my book as to call attention to it because it is one of my favorite quotes ever:

 "...I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces -- my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful..."

Elizabeth Edwards December 6, 2010
Died December 7, 2010

I love being close to my family. I appreciate their wisdom, but mostly I appreciate their love.

What do you hope for? Do you believe it's silly to hope or do you feel it's an important aspect of everyday life?

I always hope that my family is happy and safe.
I hope for happiness in my own life.
I think about all of my friends who may be struggling and I hope that their desires may be fulfilled.
And then I do something about it.

It is not enough for me to simply hope.
To me, hope is tied directly to faith and I have learned that faith is an action.
Hope coupled with an action leads to miracles and blessings.
And I love me some blessings.

I hope your desires may be fulfilled. Do not wait for your life to get better. No matter the task, we are all capable of hoping and improving our own lives to some degree. Do not be too hard on yourself but do challenge yourself. We all have room to grow.

What will you hope for?

Amy xoxo

Be Brave She Said

Naivety. Indulgence in thoughts that he would come for me. It didn't matter who I was with, he would be the one to pull me away. He always had that affect on me. For years the thought of what we could be because we never truly were, haunted me. I wanted our constantly diverging paths to become one. Our itineraries would sometimes include the same destinations yet in those moments I never felt more distance between us. What created this gap? Certainly it was my ignorance which perpetuated it. Letters written but never sent, phone numbers dialed but never followed by the complete call button. Cowardly nonactions allowing my life to be acted upon.
On Sunday, I spoke with Nancy Gleue for those of you who know her. Bravery was the topic. She is half a century now and said that is one piece of advice she would recommend to us younger ones- be brave.
Taking risks relies heavily on the release of fear. I used to take many risks, just not in productive ways. My productivity has gone up in the past couple of years. I no longer run in circles afraid of the unknown. There is fear in letting go. Sometimes the braver option is to relinquish. That action used to make me feel anxious and even like I was doing something wrong. But the truth is, I moved on a long time ago. It may have taken some time to recognize the shift, but I arrived at one of the correct conclusions. There were many paths I could have chosen and the one I chose wasn't him.  I decided to save myself and stop waiting. I decided to stop delaying my happiness based on past memories. I live in the now.
Amy xoxo
"Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” ― William Jennings Bryan

Peaceful Hand

March 2011
"I know that for me, Adam brings me a sense of peace..."
This Sunday, Adam and I drove by the Iceburg in South Salt Lake. He said, do you remember  last time we were here? We sat in the parking lot talking about our relationship. I asked if you had to describe our relationship in one word what would you say? You answered peaceful.
I am grateful for the peace and the assurance that I will receive that peace in my life daily. There have been times I wasn't sure I would wake up to see the next day. Chaotic.
I specifically remember my Father saying to me beginning of 2010, watch the hand of the Lord withdraw from you as you make decisions which are contrary to his plan.
I don't worry about the Lord's hand withdrawing from my life anymore. It is my daily choice to hold it which strengthens and enables me.

Amy xoxo

I Must Create It

Written Friday, October 26, 2012

My last day at work. It was a weird day. I am glad to be my own boss now and pursue my own interests. I came home and started moving my room around and going through my closet. I moved my bed (it's on wheels) and one of the wheels snapped and now it's broken. I stood there in the middle of my torn up room, looked at my broken 3 wheeled bed and wanted so deeply to cry. I wanted to cry tears of sadness and tears of joy.  I stood there, tears welling in my eyes and none would fall. I still haven't given myself permission to cry. In moments of surprise and despair I do give myself the courtesy of a few tears but I feel absolutely weak in those subtle breakdowns. I need to give myself permission to feel again. It's only human to feel something- ANYTHING. And I know I do feel but it would be a sweet release to cry again because that would mean I am free from what is really holding me back there.
For now, I am glad to start on another one of my great adventures. Change is a good thing and I am determined to put my talents to good use.
Back sometime around February of 2010, I met with my friends Lance and Dagen at Cannella's. Fitting because that's where my sister and I would spend some of our summer nights eating out with Cindy and John. Lance and Dagen didn't know then how much their words impacted me. I listened to everything they had to say and I knew then that I would make a position for myself. I mean that in so many ways. Now is my time to create my dream position for myself. I can do whatever I want with my time. I feel like I've been waiting for this moment for so long! And it finally feels good to taste it in such length.

Amy xoxo