It's Coming Up (Like a Flower)

Paul McCartney is coming.

On March 28th at 7:30 pm we will be reunited after a painstaking four and a half year separation (girls who have waited for missionaries... please). I was just kidding?

No, I did not get those front row seats I kept promising myself I would as my nearly $1000 "Paul McCartney Fund" that was started in high school went towards a new couch and chair when I got married. The BETTER choice for the record. "We all have to grow up sometime," Elliott told me this morning in a joking way but not really so joking. It's true though, I admit. Still, I got fantastic seats in row A in one of the lower level sections. And still, they were outrageously priced. Elliott was very understanding and let me go back to my crazy high school girl self (again I know that was only 3 years ago) and have my day buying tickets. Also for the record, I love my husband more than anyone and anything, ESPECIALLY Paul McCartney. I'm sure it was good karma/omen/brownie points for me on the fact that it was only recently that I publicly promoted and declared my absolute infatuation for the Love show (3 days away!) as well as mentioned how big of a Beatles fan I am.

Anyway, I'll stop going on and on about this as I know I'm a tad over-obsessive and such but it really has been a life dream of mine to take Elliott to a Paul show.

Just so he knows the experience.

To enjoy an entertaining perspective of my ticket buying adventure yesterday please click on her blog.

Happy February 15th

Tomorrow is the second anniversary of our engagement. I know a lot of people don't make a big fuss out of the day they got engaged but I do simply because of how much I loved it. And the fact that Elliott was wanting to propose to me ON Valentine's day. He had ordered a book from Shutterfly filled with pictures and memories from the past four months--yes four--that we had been dating. The book ended with a poem he wrote me as well as a picture of him holding the ring with the caption, "WILL YOU MARRY ME!?!" I threw the book down and whipped my head around open mouthed at him only to see him holding that same ring that was in the picture. I couldn't believe it. We topped off the night with a trip to Riazzi's in Tempe with his parents.

Now. That whole scenario was supposed to go down the day before (February 14th) but Shutterfly, the darnedest cutesie little photo company it is, LOST his engagement book.

When he realized the book wouldn't be there on time, he called Shutterfly that day and they remade and overnighted a second copy immediately. Proposing the day after Valentine's Day made the moment even more of a surprise, though I really wasn't expecting any sort of proposal on Valentine's anyway. Here's the engagement book (the red one) and the book from last year (the pink one).

Tonight was certainly not forgotten, despite the significance of tomorrow. We celebrated with heart-shaped chocolate chip pancakes made by Elliott AND homemade double-decker tacos because sometimes it's just that hard to go without Taco Bell for a day. Wonder if they'd ever switch to turkey meat. It's becoming one of my favorites.

This is better than playing classical music to your womb.

Elliott and Alisa and Brianne and Trevor are going to Vegas soon, this time all together. I'm beyond excited for many, many reasons. One of which is the outlet malls. Another is to celebrate Brianne's birthday- Vegas Style for the impregnated and Mormon: (Eating amazing food, shopping, and being with some of your favorite people ever) Then there's Love. By Love, I mean the show that made me cry my eyes out like I did when I watched "Seven Pounds." It's the Beatles Cirque du Soleil show that's been playing at the Mirage since 2006. It's incredible. Powerful. Awe inspiring.

But I'm biased.

I've been wanting to by a set of headphones and play Beatles music to the little one inside me. This will be much better. There are speakers built into the seat.

I saw the show three years ago when my mom took my sister and me for our Christmas present. Definitely one of the best presents I've ever been given.

Thank you mom and dad.

A picture of me holding the show program is in my high school yearbook on the "Totally Obsessed Page." On the same page, there's also a picture of me in front of my massive 25 square foot "Beatles Collage" that I put together on a wall in my bedroom. It took me three years to finish. That's right, I was a ridiculous enough fan to be put on the page twice. I was also put on the front page of the "Arizona Living" (funnies) section of the AZ Republic when they did a feature on Beatles fans.

And that's right, I was in high school three years ago. But that's beside the point.

You will never know a bigger Beatles fan than me.

That's a promise.

This reminds me of how badly I need to scan in some of my old pictures from my last trip to see Love. And my AZ Living Article. And the 2005 Paul McCartney show (if we're on the subject).

Girlyfriends.

This just put me in a Valentine's Day mood--and with it being one of my favorite holidays EVER--I wanted to post about my mother-in-law, Pam's, glamorous and "girly" bracelets. She has made a few of them for me and I love them! The PR in me (yes I did a public relations internship and it eventually led me to change my major) just wanted to get the word out about these gorgeous bracelets!

Go here to check them out and here to view her etsy page!

To Those I (and Elliott) love.

Dear Baby,
I'm sorry I said you were going to "ruin" my anniversary for that is not what I meant. What I MEANT was that the birthing process would most definitely "ruin" my anniversary but that it wasn't your fault--or anybody's fault--because we both know we can postpone, put off, or completely not celebrate our anniversary the way we usually do and still feel as though we couldn't have celebrated our second year of marriage any better way. Stay healthy. Loves, your mama. xo

Dear Church,
I'm sorry I said you were going to "ruin" my Valentine's Day. Even though that is what I meant, I know "deep down" it'll still be the best way to celebrate Valentine's Day since that is the place where Elliott and I met. Besides, he proposed to me the day AFTER Valentine's Day so that really is the more special day. It's like two holidays in a row!

Dear Jonny,
We never said you were fat, because you're not. Hope you're getting better. Much love always, Elliott and Alisa

Jimmy John's

[Elliott Post]

My love affair with Jimmy John's started about the same time as my love affair with my wife. In the fall of 2007 I was traveling for dental school interviews. Alisa and I had been on 2 or 3 dates and earlier in the evening she had helped me over the phone to navigate through the Milwaukee ghetto and find my hotel. After getting off the phone I checked in. Being starved, I asked the young African American gentleman behind the counter if anything was still open (10:30PM).

He suggested pizza... said, "maybe Jimmy John's."

I asked, "what is Jimmy John's?"

He gasped, "you aint never had Jimmy John's? Oh, they deliver"

So, I had found it. He gave me a menu, I called, and within 7 minutes I had a hot 'Billy Club' delivered to my hotel room door. I felt so happy to see this delivery boy and my sandwich that I tipped him more than the cost of the sandwich. I think I gave him $15 for like a $6 sandwich. I have rarely been as happy as after that sandwich.

Ever since, I have been hooked. Alisa had already known about JJ's. Alisa and I have been to Jimmy John's in Denver, Las Vegas, and Tucson in the past year. We have greatly lamented that they skipped the valley of the sun in their locations. WELL EVERYONE, GOOD NEWS. JIMMY JOHN'S TEMPE!!!! Maybe this is old news to some but not to us. We will be celebrating. Our suggestions 1. The Billy Club and Alisa's regular 2. Roast Beef Slim (she loves the bread and the beef).

***We do realize this is the second of the last three posts about a sandwich shop. We have a problem, the first step is admitting and we're working on it.

Also, I felt the baby kick last night. True Highlight of my week. He's got his daddy's soccer legs/stumps.

All The Small Things

I've been sick for about 10 days now. Surprise. The worst is most definitely over but I've had lingering throat and nose "issues." My nose decided to get it's act together but my throat won't leave me alone. It's like a snail, but I doubt gargling salt water would even get rid of my "issues."

Because I'm pregnant, I can't really take a lot of (as in any) medicines so I've been doing what I can (as in nothing) to get better. I've tried to keep up on my Vitamin C and Tylenol count but I think my mentality has been to just ignore it, which hasn't helped either. In fact it's made it worse because ignoring it has caused me to forget taking my two allowed medications. Anyway, yesterday I decided to get back on the ball and resolved to at least drink lots and lots of liquids--especially Oj and H2O. This morning I woke up especially hoarse and sore to the point where it was hard to talk. Walking to the fridge, I found this: My favorite part is that it's on a tooth posty note cause it's cute.

In other happenings, the baby room isn't completely finished but definitely getting there. I absolutely love it-- the paint and the look we've decided on. I promise to post picture later! The pregnancy is coming along great but we are dying to figure out some solid names. Suggestions? I'm also dying to figure out how some of these recent mom's I see gained their pre-pregnancy weights BACK. Suggestions? Thannnks.