Petite Jean

The mountains are calling and I must go.

Enduring a serious case of the wanderlusts.

One, Nine, Twenty-Four, More

I checked off 3 more from my 25 before 25 list! 

1. Go to Canton, Texas. 

Canton, Texas, is the site of the largest flea market in Texas. The place is massive! And interesting. I have NEVER seen so many people on motorized scooters. If I learned one thing from the experience, it was that I should never miss a day at the gym again. 

I wish I had more pictures, but this was the only time I remembered to pull out my phone:

What did I get? A ladder and an apple pie from an Amish man that looked like George Clooney. Success!

9. Tip a waiter an outrageous amount.

When I got back from New York, Breck was fiercely undernourished. As he was unable to comprehend any food outside pizza for four straight days, I needed to get some veggies in him STAT. We sat down at a restaurant near our house and as as soon as our waiter greeted us I knew he was going to be the one that got our tip.

We were so giddy and spent the entire meal conspiring on how to do it. We slipped him a 300% tip and HIGH TAILED it out of there. We didn't stop to see his reaction but I'm really hoping it was something like:

24. Buy a freaking dresser. 

Have I mentioned I'm a craigslist guru? I caught this baby for $300. 

Two years of marriage and we finally have a place to put our clothes! 

What else? 

BUNCHES!

Our First Rangers game:

Laser Tag at Work:

Exploring Dallas:

Visits Home:

And, as always, pizza:

#pizzaforever

Gym Time

Sometimes I go to the gym.

I work out in an all women's gym, and while you THINK that girls would cool it without guys to impress, we still have plenty of girls who put on make-up to work out.

So a normal day. You walk in to so many decisions. Should you take a class?? 

Aerobic Dance always seemed fun!

Hmmmm. Maybe not. Kickboxing?

What about the weight machines? Those have directions right?

Wait. What IS that?

Yeah, better stick with the treadmill. 

Start jogging and plug into that workout mix. 

Sometimes you can have a pleasant run, devoid of distractions. 

Sometimes you've got a "peeker" next to you.  You know the type I'm taking about. You see them glancing over at your speed and insist on going .1 mph faster than you are.

If your a rational person, you ignore it and keep the pace you're comfortable with. If you're me...

Okay we're doing this now? You thought 6mph that was my pace? HA! Let it begin!

Competition:

That's right b. Treadmill level: WIZARD. 

(Once they leave)

Now you have a few choices on how to finish up. Maybe some weights?

I hear the sauna is a great way to end your workout. But who is going to voluntarily enter an life sized microwave?

Lesssbe honest. Usually after a few miles:

When it's time to go... it's time to go. 

ONE HUNDRED POSTS

Wow!

When Breck and I moved into a mortuary 2 years ago, I started this blog as an outlet for what promised to be an interesting year! In just 2 years we've moved 3 more times, had 4 new jobs, 9 more trips, 1 new car, and 99 more blog posts!

This blog has been a great experience for me. THANK YOU for encouraging me to keep writing! Seriously, when someone tells me they like my blog, my whole world lights on fire!

In honor of my HUNDREDTH post, I have a invitation to you all...

I love to doodle.

If you've every sat next to me in class/church/at all, you've probably seen me covering every inch of any scrap of paper I can find. But don't doodle FOR anything, and more often than not, they just end up in the trash. Sad emoticon.

I also spend a lot of time thinking about the people I've met over the years and ways to stay connected with them. You can ask anyone in my family, I am TERRIBLE when if comes to staying in touch!

SO. I would really like to start writing letters. Letters to anyone and everyone I've ever known! I want to send a little love you're way.

However there is a small cost! If I send you a letter, I want one back! I love collecting handwriting, and there is something magical about having something tangible from another person. Plus I have a little project in mind that I'll show you once each of my letters is returned!

***UPDATE: Due to the unexpected amount of interest, be prepared to wait a few months for your letter! ***

So here are the rules:
1. I send you a kick a$$ letter. It will be so awesome you will consider framing it. It will say nice things about you and maybe make you shed a tear, who knows.
2. You will write me back.
     a. Your return letter should be handwritten.
     b. Your return letter should be on a 8.5x11 sheet of paper (printer paper!)
     c. Your return letter should be in black ink.
     d. Please aim to return a letter within a month of receiving mine.

ARE YOU DOWN LIKE A FROWN!??
If so, please click on the link below and add your address (secretly)! I am hoping beyond hope to get 16 people to exchange with!

>>> www.postable.com/briellestory <<<<

Other things to consider:
You do not have to have talked to me in the last year to participate.
You do not have to be a girl to participate.
You to not have to be my mother to participate.
If you are feeling slightly sheepish about this whole thing but secretly want to sign up you should definitely participate. 


Please. I'm like a cat, begging you.

Chicken Scratch

I LOVE BIRTHDAYS.

This year I had a birthday dinner at Chicken Scratch, an awesome little venue on the outskirts of Dallas. Okay, so maybe it's in the ghetto... still cool! We were #blessed with beautiful, 80 degree weather.

It may of been my party, but these ADORABLE kids stole the show! Emery's giving me the stank face, but trust me, we are in love. 

Judging by how cute all our friend's kids are, odds are that Breck and I are going to have one scary looking child. 

The food was SPECTACULAR. I want to eat my Chicken and Coconut Waffles everyday for the rest of my life. 

Why yes that IS a stage made of wood pallets! Pinterest who?

Per usual, I got super distracted by food and chatting and food that I completely forgot to get pictures of everyone that came! I snapped a few as we were picking up to go, but thanks so much to all my wonderful friends for making me feel so special and loved!

Something I wanted to start up this year was to do a questionnaire of goals/favorites/self reflection at each birthday. There will be no GIF's, so you have my permission to stop here.  

What's your favorite show?

This year I've got to saw that this award goes to a podcast instead of a TV show!  RADIOLAB. If you haven't listened to it yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? 

What's your favorite band/song?

Gah this changes everyday. I'm currently on a Birdy Binge. I can also listen to Shake, Shake, Shake by Bronze Radio Return on repeat for a straight hour. 

What's your favorite book?

This year I've been totally obsessed with The Song of Ice and Fire Series and The Kingkiller Chronicles! Can the next books come out already?

What was your favorite gift?

Breck hit it right on the head with this beautiful watch! Picked it out himself! 

What's the best thing that happened today?

Winning the best slipper competition at work. Granted my only competition was a guy who taped a stuffed animal to his shoe... the victory was still sweet! The PB&J cupcake gets an honorable mention! 

What's you favorite memory from the past year?

Just a small thing. I was in Chicago with Breck on a work trip and I was supposed to meet him on the steps of the The Art Institute after one of my sessions. Just the split moment I first saw him on the steps before he saw me, that was my favorite moment. I am SO in love with the man I married!

What are you most looking forward to this year?

Saving money! Haha I sound like a nerd saying this, but I get a serious high every time I put money into our savings account. And if I'm being honest... I'm MOSTLY excited about what we want to do with that money! (cough cough Euro2015) 

What's one goal you have for this year?

Start writing people! I want to start collecting addresses and send gifts, notes, and artifacts to loved one's, acquaintances, and strangers! I want people to know how they have positively affected me. 

I lied!!! GIF!

Fourteen

This past weekend, Breck was a doll and sacrificed Valentine's Day so that I could go visit my best friend Kirstin in New York. What a guy!

This means I got to cross off another item from my 25 before 25 list! Woot!

Side Note! Traveling on holiday's is great. Everyone is in a good mood... perhaps because airlines offer free alcohol during the flight. I saw a proposal every time the plane touched down! 

I didn't get in until about 2 AM the night before, so after a bit of a late start, we grabbed some bagels and headed over to the Brooklyn Flea Market. Fair warning... if you ever go, it does look like a building where people are murdered. No worries.

Guys. Guys. This place is Pinterest in real life. Amazing food, cute clothes, antiques, crafts... it was overwhelming. Definitely my favorite shopping experience of the trip! Perhaps ever.

We started off with a Ramen Burger. I guess this is the new craze in the city: It's a regular burger but the bun is made of ramen noodles and a soy sauce. Inventive right? Breck was grossed out when I showed him but I was pleasantly surprised! Definitely give it a try if you get the chance.

We spent the next few hours perusing booths. It was excruciating trying to decide what to buy! Or more accurately what NOT to buy. I ended up settling with this awesome lion mug for Breck and an old fashioned camera for our mantle.

 Kirstin knew about this awesome view of the city (always travel with a local!) around the corner from the Flea, so we trudged over for a peek!

We were walking around Brooklyn when the snow really started to come down, so we retreated back to Kirstin friends Matt's place. He had a great view from his roof, and was nice enough to treat us to some Trinidadian while we waited out the flurries.

We ran back into the city to try for The Book of Mormon Musical lottery tickets, but didn't make the cut. While we were in Times Square I remembered one of my favorite travelers tips... a Sephora stop! Seriously, the next time you're traveling and feeling exhausted and gross, a fresh coat of mascara is all you need to feel 100% better!

 Sunday morning meant Sunday brunch with this babe!

  
After breakfast we headed to the Met. I am a novice when I comes to fine art... but I can still tell my Vermeer and Rubens apart! Thanks for the Art Smart lessons Ma!

 Spotted. K sitting on the Met steps, do I spy a tourist daring to sit above her?  XOXO Gossip Girl

Did I mention that 60% of my New York experience was centered around food? Next stop Laduree from authentic French macarons. Yes that is a line out the door, yes it was worth it.

I made Kirstin stop in Grand Central with the hope we might spot Brandon from Humans of New York... no luck. ONE DAY BRANDON. ONE DAY.

Kirstin won Lottery tickets for Newsies on Sunday Night! Great seats from only 30 bucks! I only caught myself singing along one time, so I'm counting it as a success!

Monday was BEAUTIFUL! We headed straight for Central Park in the morning. No clue who this guy is.

We found a defrosted spot and sat down for breakfast... and THE BEST chocolate chip cookies I've ever had! And yes cookies are a part of any balanced breakfast.

 Central Park. Is my boyfriend.

After the park, we took some time to go pay our respect at the 911 memorial. A truly surreal and sobering experience.

Of course I needed Shake Shack before I left, so we took a walk up the through the Financial District so we could take a peek at Lady Liberty as we ate.

After a quick trip China Town, we went to warm up at Strand Bookstore. LOVE! Miles of books! And how cute is this? The book recommendations are handwritten by kids, employees, and customers. I ended up finding a Humans of New York book signed by the Photographer and couldn't pass it up!

Kirstin sat down to let me explore... and ended up taking a nap with her little buddy. 

That night we went to the New Work Premiere of Saratov Approach. It's the story of two LDS missionaries that were kidnapped in Russia and held for ransom. The director, actors, and the two missionaries were actually present at the opening and held a Q&A session after the film.

And what else would I do on my last night in New York than spend it devouring an extra large tub of bread pudding from Magnolia's?

A huge thank you to KIRSTIN FREAKING GUNN for being the best friend and tour guide a girl can ask for! She started a new job 4 days before I came, carted me around the city all weekend, and then had two more visitors the day after I left. The girl is a machine.