wishful wednesday

our good friend beth came over last night for dinner, so lucky to have her company. she also asked for seconds, i didn't even have to offer. she's a winner of a friend i tell ya. i made sweet potato lasagna. interesting combo i know but i had something similar at the wonderful red rock restaurant and tried to make my own. no recipe so i was really going out on a limb. 

husband came up for thirds and kept telling me it was "mmm mmm good." he loved it and thats good enough for me. 

score: happy proud husband, i'm feeling pretty good. 

my list of wish's because its a wednesday:

i wish i wouldn't have began the 30 for 30 day challenge. i didn't realize what this may take for me to actually plan out my outfits for 30 days. 

luckily husband is going to make me stick with it. 

i wish we didn't have construction workers pounding on our house at 7 am and not letting our puppy go outside.

i'm thankful our house will be much warmer in the future. 

i wish that money grew on trees. 

i'm thankful i have a job and get the satisfaction of working hard for the necessities of life. 

i wish i could've left my christmas decorations up a little longer. i really don't like the bare look of our humble abode. 

i'm thankful i don't have pine needles and glitter all over my floors.  

i wish that husband didn't have so many stinkin years of school left. but i'm so proud of you for never complaining. i know you hate the first week of school, i hate it more. 

luckily that means we have a few years left to be by our families and friends even if we are in small lake city. 

i wish that it could be warm and sunny again like it was last week. 60 degrees and sunny in january folks.

luckily we have a mexican cruise coming up in just a few months to look forward to. yes, months but i'm still excited. 

i wish that it were already friday. gosh dangit hurry up already weekend. 

luckily it's wednesday and we are halfway there.

happy hump day! 

new challenge

according to my iphone, here are some pictures of what we've been up to lately. 

yesterday i was having big problems, big. you see normally i'm full of lots of energy and i love to stay up late. but last night while watching tv with husband i fell asleep at 8:30, 8:30 people! could be due to that fact that we were watching THE most boring football game in history and it was even the ncs game. for those of you who don't know football that means: national championship game. anyways, you see in the past i would consider myself a night owl but lately not so much.

problem. i hadn't even taken the christmas tree down, and the tree clean up was in the morning. oh the woes of a seasoned procrastinator! i hustled upstairs and began to happily (no no i lied, i was not excited) take down the christmas tree. i was wishing we had a fake tree reallllly badly...but then husband became a rockstar and walked up BEFORE the game was even over to help me (i don't care how boring the game was that is a big sacrifice) ohhh i love him. and he even did the most hated part for me-the lights! and man did i string those babies well this year. to top it off he carried the tree out, vacuumed the mess up, and vacuumed the rest of the rooms and he is not a night owl people.  how did i get so lucky?

well i don't know the answer to that but somehow i did. thanks husband you are the bestest in the westest.
on another really quick but really exciting ramble i have a new challenge for myself. see, me and a good challenge aren't always the best match up but this time i have a good feeling. a friend of mine told me about this challenge last week and i've decided to see if i can do it.

i'm calling the challenge 30 for 30. i'm almost positive it's been done before unless she made it up but this is my official coined name. do it with me i dare you. i'd love it if you join so i can see your pictures.

rules of the game: the day before the challenge (that would be today smarty pants) you pick out 30 items and only thirty items, don't be a cheater. that includes: shoes, tights, pants, skirts, dresses, tops, etc. you get the picture. da da da....then you have to wear only those 30 items for the next 30 days, so pick things you like! i'm going to do it. even if i hate myself for doing it in the end.

10 pathetic but perfect from the weekend

1. Little brother and sister left for college. Wait what did i just say? Babies going off to college, my parents are way to young to be empty nesters. Too pathetic, not so perfect. If you see my mother, don't mention it to her because she will turn into water works. Bless her heart. 

2. Is it pathetic that while husband was away skiing for the day I stayed in bed until 11:20 (I promise I wasn’t asleep until then but I may have stayed in my jammies and taken little naps in between stalking some of my favorite bloggers)

3. Our Christmas decorations are still up. Don’t worry its only January 9^th, not a big deal right? I mean aren’t we supposed to stay in the Christmas spirit all year round? We are just trying to give ourselves a constant visual reminder! Okay okay I’ll take them down tonight, I swear.

4. I wanted to feel very healthy and fit on Saturday after sleeping through not one workout class but THREE. Instead I put on cute work out clothes and decided to go shopping instead. Whats a girl to do when her partner in crimes off for the day on the slopes?

5. I’ve turning into a fair weather skier. Insert gasp here. I know it’s a tragedy. There were those days where I would do anything just to be on the slopes-I lived for it (ok i could have been just trying to impress husband while we were dating. hey, girls gotta do what a girls gotta do right?) so today it was snowy-and the mountains looked cold-and even though I know husband would have love love loved me to go (right jake?) I decided to give him a day with the boys. Such a good wife I am.

6. Lately I’ve been having a lot of pathetic emotional brookie moments, husband lives for them. Haha no he doesn’t. The i’m tired-need attention--give me a nap-i need a treat-moody-emotional-need a diet coke- and a treat-give me a moment to complain- tell me what I want to hear comfort moments. And I’ve been saving them all for husband, lame. Silly how he gets the worst of me even when he deserves the best. But he’s a rockstar and talks me through it every time, even when I have to tell him to do so. Husband I love you more then I love anything in the whole wide world. Thanks for loving me always.

7. The fact that I asked husband on Friday night if we could re-celebrate new years eve this saturday (hehe he got a kick out of that ) because, I- Sara Brooke Cook have failed miserably at new years resolutions. Not only did I not complete them, but I also didn’t put one, yes you heard me not one into action. Holy moly pathetic. Not even ones as simple as drink more water. So we rang in the new year at ten pm with martinelli's and a midnight (ten pm) kiss all over again. I swear I didn’t plan it for that reason, ok maybe a little bit I did. I told you I love nye. And husband is an excellent kisser. Fun fact- he was my first kiss! Ladies and gents he taught me everything I know.

8. 30 day photochallenge on instagram (follow me! Sarabc)  Ok just because I’m saying it’s pathetic doesn’t mean I don’t love it. Here is the deal: every night I remember that I forgot to post a picture. So I resort to taking a silly picture of something that really doesn’t work or make sense. The end. 

9. watching the sunday night fireside with jay e. jensen in our basement on the laptop after we searched for the building for 25 minutes. it was lovely. you can watch it here. 

10. staying up wayyy past bedtime so that we could watch funny youtube videos together in bed. oh man i love afv. gives me and husband a good belly laugh every time. and i loveee that laugh, hands down most contagious laugh in the world. 

10 1/2. Husband has been home for 2 years now. Where does the time fly? One of the best days of my life. So happy he is home and here every day of my life. 

a little letter

dear blog:

goodness gracious you are looking a little empty. 2011 was an improvement from last, but i'm working on making you lovely for 2012. hopefully you will not get neglected for months on end and that this can become a daily routine in documenting husband and i's daily lives. working on figuring out a new layout and more. get excited it's gonna be good! well the best it's been so that is good. it may take me the entire weekend, i'm a beginner. hopefully this year you will see much more creativity.

new years resolution number 1: be more creative each and every day. use a blog as a way to document and keep track of new ideas and a creative outlet. and a place to journal about all things beautiful, tasteful, and worthwhile. and possibly a few things that don't quite fit in but that's ok too.

it's going to be the best thing that i ever did for myself, my creative mind that was feeling ignored. if you are looking for ideas on setting your new years resolutions take this as a template. mind, body, spirit, relationships, creativity, and passion. make sure you have set goals to fulfill each important area in your life.

 see you soon friends!

goodbye 2011

there is something so exciting about a new year. maybe it's waiting for the clock to strike midnight. 

the anticipation of a new years kiss. setting new goals and a clean slate. i am a resolute. 

the hope that new things can happen and change. getting glamoured up to ring in the new year fresh. 

the parties and the people we will see. whatever it may be for you hope you have a happy new year!

2011

rang in the new year on the freedom of the seas cruise

i began final semester at the u of u. 21 credit hours. almost died of insanity

prssa director or chapter developments. new friends/fun events

cut finger open to the bone trying to make a special valentines day dinner for husband. $350 stitches

became doggie parents to lucy

puppy school with lucy. she graduated

hawaii with in laws. celebrated our one year engagement anniversary at kimo's

husband played spring football at the u. moved to safety position

painted the bathroom together

sold the audi

bought first car together. subaru, best decision.

drove a brand new car off the lot. checked off an item from my bucket list

made halloween costumes together. madd hatter and alice in wonderland

set goals for our life together

husband quit football in the spring to focus on school

lake powell a few times

laguna beach

two cousins married to join the club. along with lots of friends

graduated from the u of u bachelor in mass communication. strategic comm

deans list

sun valley

hiked in the beautiful utah mountains

quick trip to st. g for a football game

lots of football pick up games on saturdays

spent second christmas together

husband spoiled me the whole year long

new traditions started

celebrated our one year anniversary

created a "dreams" journal together

first real job at an advertising agency

husband began his dental pre-requisites 

he also played on three inter-mural football teams 

utah state fair year two 

husband takes me back to his mission to meet the people he loved and served for two years 

took me to palmyra 

i took husband to nyc for his first time. fun to see the shock on his face of the crazy place 

lots of flow rider  dates and family nights 

jake got his first gun 

sweet husband became a wonderful chef, maid, and laundromat 

we skied. and watched jake get lots of injuries

ate out and tried new restaurants

spent lots of days on the lake with friends

went camping together for the first time. we were pros

turned twenty two and twenty three 

i made lots of holiday crafts

many failed cooking experiments

some successful dinner attempts 

decorated our second christmas tree together 

bought a new camera 

found out we will be aunt brookie and uncle jake 

played at nickel mania. spent lots of silly money 

melted my hair 

made lots of late night treats together

took a class together during my last semester 

cut the apricot tree down in the backyard 

became primary teachers to three and four year olds 

went to wicked and jersey boys on broadway 

accidentally ordered $100 lobster on our anniversary. oops 

met oprah winfrey 

(summer recap here)

saw taylor swift in concert 

watched our brothers senior year football at ehs. region champs and state finals

golfed and swam at the cc in summertime 

got a mustang convertible. summer rides 

decided to be healthier eaters 

discovered our love for chipotle 

rediscovered our old love nielsens frozen custard 

played sorry!

took lucy to the dog wash and dog park lots

went to denver for a weekend 

rockin bear ranch in bear lake. jake decided he liked horses 

went to many utah games. go utes

park city date night escapes 

spent 48 hours without power

lucy turns one 

made lots of memories. 

learned lots of ourselves. 

loved each other through it all. 

hello 2012!

santa surprises and a new year

(temple square lights 2011) 

(christmas eve 2011)

did you all have yourself a merry little christmas?

santa spoiled us from head to toe.

we both will be burning some extra cals while playing with the kinect. 

husband will be looking handsome as ever in his ski gear and new clothes galore.

and i will be snapping photos left and right of him with our new camera.

can’t even tell you how thrilled we both are, it was a fun surprise for both of us. 

(anxious to learn how to use it, classes in the next few weeks)

anyways, blogging hiatus because of the holidays.

we are having too much fun with a break from both school and work.

much to catch up on from our christmas festivities. it was a busy one this year!

we will be venturing off to sun valley this weekend after ringing in the new year.

2012 can you believe it?

i've got a good feeling about this year. 

what are your new years resolutions?

i’ll share some of mine as well as another recap like last year when i get the time!

enjoy your last friday of 2011. 

be merry

this and that

ladies and gentlemen we've just about hit christmas chaos around our little home. 

our week will be filled with a little bit of this:

last minute christmas gifts to be purchased, wrapped, and placed under the tree.

round two of our little traditions we started last year. 

(our first christmas as mr. and mrs.) 

prepping for parties to be done.

friends around the country coming home for visits. 

family party here, family party there. 

(we really have the best families, they make the holidays all the merrier.)

christmas gift exchanges.

zoo lights. 

temple square lights.

gingerbread houses and the annual grinch viewing.

breakfast with grandy. 

 

when in reality should be doing a little bit of: 

cleaning and organizing my home. 

purchasing my final items for the mr. 

delivering our final christmas cards.

wrapping neighbor gifts. 

and fitting in a little work here and there. 

to better sum it up: that.

but it's the holidays and somehow extra time is found for that.   

oh and i have a little secret to share. 

shhh.

we went on a little visit to a favorite camera store of mine tonight. 

did a little hunting and found a winner. 

hopefully santa is reading this because i would be oh so happy to see that little something under the christmas tree. 

and just in case he's checkin it twice...

i've been awfully nice this year. 

with a wink and a smile. 

happy birthday

to jake.

better late then never.

photos from the celebrations. 

(lots of them, because we all love pictures)