Oh, Mishka

Our Weekend So Far

2012-05-27T22:08:00.000-06:00

Remember that time I stopped carrying my camera around with me for a while because I'd rather get caught up in the amazing little moments of my life? And so instead I instagrammed a million photos to document my days? Oh yeah, that time is right now. But really, the thought of lugging around, pulling out, and adjusting the settings on my camera every time I want to capture one of the happy little moments of my day just isn't too appealing recently. I'm sure I'll get back to doing the photography that I love soon enough, but for now I'm enjoying the miracle of camera phones. (Can you imagine reading this in 2003? And thinking, "Sure lady, a camera and a phone are the same thing? This isn't a sci-fi movie.")

To celebrate the long weekend, we took Jordan's brand new truck for it's inaugural drive through some muddy mountain roads. We saw a field full of adorable sheep and one very protective sheepdog that did not appreciate my picture-taking! It's been raining here nonstop for the past few days, which makes the greens greener and all the hiking we planned nonexistent. Thankfully (and I mean this with the greatest amount of sarcasm), Jordan and I bought rain jackets today so we can go hiking tomorrow, no matter how terribly cold and miserable the weather is. But mine is pink, so I'm not complaining too much. It'll go really well with my purple Camelbak that should be here in a few days!

Driving with Dad

2012-05-25T23:13:00.001-06:00

Being in Vegas with my dad and brother for Dad's 60th birthday was amazing! I try to never take for granted my close relationships with my family, which are such a huge blessing in my life. I'll tell you more stories about the trip soon, but these are a few of the instagram highlights from the drive home. Dad and I decided to drive down together, which meant 9 hours in the car each way. We talked about everything: life, my wedding, books, music, and stories about when my brother and I were younger. It was one of my favorite vacations ever and I'll always treasure the time I got to spend with my dad.

Back in Town

2012-05-18T19:39:00.001-06:00

Guess what! I'm back in Las Vegas! This time I'm with my dad, staying with my brother. My dad's 60th birthday is on Monday (hooray!), so Dad and I drove down to celebrate. I'm having the time of my life. Yesterday and today we took dancing lessons in preparation for my wedding. Just the fact that my dad and brother would willingly learn to dance for my wedding melts my heart. I adore them so much.

This morning we drove out of town about an hour to Valley of Fire state park and went hiking. On one trail, we decided to start climbing around on the rocks until we got almost to the top. I ended up exhausted, hot, and sunburned, which is how you know we were having fun. We're going out to dinner and then to explore the Strip tonight!

Weekend

2012-05-16T06:30:00.000-06:00

I love productive weekends. I mean, I love lazy weekends too, but productive ones always feel great. We spent Saturday doing some wedding planning things and looking at a truck that Jordan wants to buy. The picture of us in front of the mirror was after we got a little restless while Jordan was trying on vests, so he decided to pose as a t-rex in every picture I took. Then I took us on a little detour to look at the adoptable animals at Petco, because really, who can skip that? Naturally, I found the sweetest little cat that I wanted, but Jordan said no. Apparently two longhaired cats is enough for him.

After what felt like the millionth trip to Home Depot, we headed home. Then we spent Sunday working in our new yard, digging up weeds and getting the spot where we're going to plant our vegetable garden all ready. This translates to: I spent all of Sunday afternoon picking rocks out of a big patch of dirt. Clearly we already had a very successful rock garden left by the previous owners. Then we had dinner outside, even though we were sunburned, because it was just too nice out to be anywhere else.

Settebello

2012-05-11T22:17:00.000-06:00

Oh, hey blog! I haven't blogged in over a week and the weird thing is that I don't even feel weird about it. I spent a week in Las Vegas, spending every second of it with my family, and then enjoyed my time with Jordan when I got home. I love this blog, but I definitely have priorities and my real life comes first. I sort of felt like I should apologize for my absence, but then realized how crazy that is. It's my blog that I write for myself. I use this space to keep our families up-to-date with our lives now that we live so far from everyone and I know they don't mind when I'm too preoccupied to write. Every other amazing opportunity that comes from blogging is appreciated, but it's just a bonus on top of doing what I already love. So thanks to everyone for being so wonderfully patient while I took my little break.

In the meanwhile, this is what I was doing while I was in Vegas. Family time 24/7 is just how I like it! My brother and I went out to dinner one night to enjoy one of the last times we'd be together and still share a last name. That's a super bittersweet idea.

Dinner was wonderful. We went to one of my favorite restaurants in Vegas, Settebello. Their pizza is to die for. If you ever get the chance to go, definitely order the quattro formaggi. I'm still dreaming about it. Sorry you won't have as handsome a dinner date though! :)

Bagel Breakfast

2012-05-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

This week is going by way too quickly. Lazy mornings, bagels with my mama, mani/pedis, massages, pool time, margaritas, and shopping is pretty much heaven for me. If only every week could be like this.

Roma Camera Insert / Bag Organizer Review

2012-05-02T13:57:00.001-06:00

Ona, a company that makes beautiful camera bags and accessories, recently sent me their Roma camera insert/bag organizer. It's absolutely perfect because I love carrying my DSLR with me so I don't miss anything, but I don't love the look of most camera bags. I have a navy blue and leather tote that I carry most of the time, which holds the Roma organizer perfectly.

My trip to Las Vegas was the perfect time to test out the Roma insert. It's fantastic. As you can see, my bag (which was my carry on bag) is stuffed with my planner, a book, cords, and my camera (which I obviously used to take these photos, so it's not pictured). Instead of having my camera and all my cables bumping around with everything else in my bag, they're securely stored in my Roma organizer. I can't even imagine traveling without this now. In fact, I'm already excited about having this while we travel for our honeymoon.

If you're looking for a new camera bag or accessories, definitely check out Ona. I can't tell you how much I love my Roma bag organizer. It's incredibly well made too, which is a huge plus for camera storage and traveling for me. You can follow them on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest, too!

Life Lately Pt. 2

2012-04-30T16:02:00.000-06:00

I'm currently sitting in the airport bar, waiting for my flight to Las Vegas. I'm off to visit my mama and brother this week! Unfortunately, my awful fear of flying is making me super anxious right now, so I'm drinking by myself before my flight. (Hi family! Don't judge me!)

The fun thing about flying to Las Vegas from a small airport is it's easy to spot the other people on my flight. They always travel in groups, they're always drinking before and on the flight, and they're always rowdy and friendly. Thankfully, they're a great distraction from thinking about every bump of turbulence!

These are the rest of my Instagram photos from lately. If you're not on Instagram, but you want to follow mine, I post all of my photos to my tumblr (along with other fun photos and gifs I find).

1. this was made with no help from Teddy
2. how I found Teddy when I got home from class one day
3. fresh green juice
4. Portneuf Valley Brewery
5. driving from class
6. a fantastic evening run
7. waiting in line at the car wash = bored Michelle
8. our backyard is the perfect place to spend my evenings
9. sunset in the yard
10. more "help" from Theodore Roosevelt
11. next day in the backyard
12. my handsome little man
13. enjoying the view of the sky from my bed while I was sick
14. hot cocoa that Jordan brought me in bed

Life Lately Pt. 1

2012-04-28T20:54:00.003-06:00

Finals start this week, so I've been busy finishing up papers and final projects. I haven't had a chance to use my camera hardly at all lately, but I've been taking a bunch of instagram photos.

1. working on papers at my favorite bagelry
2. florals + chambray
3. wispy clouds in the mountains
4. Jordan got me Sonic after a rough day
5. snow in the mountains, green in the valley
6. colorful frozen yogurt
7. Cubby keeping me company
8. I really need to trim my bangs!
9. cookies + coffee = breakfast of champions
10. carrot, apple, and ginger juice
11. iced soy latte in the afternoon
12. Cubby's little tongue was sticking out and it was too funny
13. Teddy Roosevelt was "helping" me make the bed
14. the floral print of my favorite scarf

I'm in bed sick this weekend, so I'll post Part 2 of my instagram photos tomorrow. (Because I'm too lazy to do anything else!) Want to follow along? My instagram username is ohmishka.

Portneuf Valley Brewing

2012-04-24T21:57:00.000-06:00

Some of my first memories from dating Jordan involve breweries. We started dating right after we'd both turned 21, so we and our friends spent some great evenings enjoying locally brewed beers in Bozeman.

So when we found the Portneuf Brewery in Pocatello, that was the first place on our list of restaurants to try. Sadly, the food isn't my favorite. We've been there a couple times and were never very impressed. But their beers are fantastic! I usually order a hefeweisen and Jordan prefers darker beers. We've both enjoyed every drink we've ordered at the Portneuf Brewery. And, even better, we have a fun new town to start enjoying local food and drink.

Shopbop Giveaway Winner

2012-04-23T16:46:00.000-06:00

I seriously love announcing giveaway winners. I love it even more when random.org selects one of my blog friends as the winner! Congrats Kelly Ann, you won the $200 Shopbop giveaway!

If you don't already read Kelly Ann's blog, The Flowerchild Dwelling, go check it out immediately. It's dreamy.

I'm So Blessed

2012-04-22T20:49:00.001-06:00

I really adore the quiet little moments during the day when I get to take a minute to appreciate my life. In the middle of this wonderfully hectic year, it's nice to remember how blessed I am to get to worry about the stresses I have. School, wedding planning, planning a garden...these are all amazing things that I get to think about every day.

Kiwi Loco

2012-04-21T11:06:00.000-06:00

Oh my gosh, I missed frozen yogurt when I gave up sugar during Lent! Naturally, one of the first things I wanted to do after Easter was get some froyo. So Jordan and I headed to Kiwi Loco in Pocatello, where I obviously loaded up mine with all sorts of amazing toppings. It was great, but next time I'm sticking to my favorite: only gummy bears on top. I sort of love when they get all frozen from the coldness.

Or should I try something new? What are your favorite frozen yogurt toppings?

Our Week So Far

2012-04-19T18:06:00.001-06:00

Jordan has been out of town for work all week, so I've been hanging out at home with these two fluffballs. I've been working on final projects for this semester, while the cats alternate between sleeping and sprinting circles around the house. The house has seemed really empty with Jordan gone, but the kitties have been extra cuddly, as if they can sense that I'm getting lonely. Waking up to two cats cuddling next to me on the bed is kind of the cutest thing ever.

My obsession with chambray tops is also getting really out of hand. That's normal, right?

Soba Noodles and Vegetable Stir Fry Recipe

2012-04-16T16:47:00.000-06:00

People have been asking me to share the recipe for this soba noodle + vegetable stir fry I've been making at least once at week recently. I'm a little embarrassed to even call this a recipe because it's so simple, but here it is.

I bought a pack of soba noodles and a pack of pre-shredded carrots and broccoli. I can't remember what brand the noodles were, but they were in the refrigerated section of Fred Meyer and came in a 3-pack with seasoning included. And the carrots and broccoli? They were actually labeled as "coleslaw mix," but they weren't seasoned, so I used them for stir fry.

Then I just followed the cooking instructions on the noodle package (stir fry the veggies in olive oil for a couple minutes, then add the noodles, water, and seasoning, and then cook for another 2 minutes). I topped mine off with some Sriracha sauce and called it a meal!

See why this is hardly a recipe? :) But seriously, it's amazing and I'm already craving it again.

Shopbop $200 Giftcard Giveaway

2012-04-13T23:12:00.002-06:00

Shopbop has posted some gorgeous lookbooks from designers they carry. I got invited to go through and pick out some of my favorites with you. There are also fun widgets below each picture so you can browse other pieces from the designers.

One of you lucky ladies will win a $200 giftcard to Shopbop! Check out my favorite picks, then read the giveaway details at the end of the post.

These denim and leather-pieced J Brand jeans add the perfect touch of edgy to a classic cut. One of my big struggles with fashion is to break out of my comfort zone, because once I find something I like, I don't like to change. I wear skinny jeans more days than not, so these would be a great addition to my wardrobe to mix things up a bit.

The casual t-shirt paired with a feminine skirt, like this one from Marc by Marc Jacobs, is my new favorite look. As someone who owns countless cotton v-necks (just ask my fiancé), I'm always looking for a great skirt to pair them with

Colorful handbags are my weakness. My only problem is that they don't always go with every outfit, which is a great excuse to buy one of each color, right ladies? :) This bright striped Rebecca Minkoff dress pairs perfectly with just about any of them.

Can we please talk about my sunglasses addiction? Classic shapes are my favorites, and the bigger the better. Big, dark sunglasses add glamour to just about any outfit. These Textile by Elizabeth and James sunnies are perfect for summer.

I am obsessed with this Yigal Azrouel dress. I love the prim and proper sleeve length and hemline, and then the surprise of a little peek of leg that shows through.

A summer dress that works for day or evening is ideal. Most busy days, I don't have time to go home and change because we're out with friends in the afternoon straight through the night. So anything that is versatile enough to wear for any occasion, like this Diane von Furstenberg lilac beauty, is a "yes!" in my book.

Want to win the $200 Shopbop giveaway? Pick your favorite designer out of the ones I featured and click the Google +1 button above the widget (just below the lookbook photo). Then just leave a comment on this post letting me know which brand you chose to +1. Please include your email address in your comment.

I'll announce a winner next Friday, April 20th.

Random Thoughts

2012-04-13T14:00:00.000-06:00

Some random thoughts today:

1. I have two pairs of sunglasses in my purse, which is normal. I also have 2 sets of headphones, which is a little overboard. But kind of necessary, in case I lose one and get stuck doing work in a coffee shop, waiting for my car, and the only music playing is Fergie on repeat... also known as my current situation. We won't even get into the number of tubes of lipstick and chapstick I carry at all times.

2. We booked our honeymoon to a resort outside of Cancun and all of a sudden, I'm ready to go like, yesterday. Sunshine, drinks, and a beach? Yes, please!

3. One thing I will miss this summer is hot chocolate. Why do we drink iced lattes but not iced hot chocolate? And don't say chocolate milk is the same thing, because it's somehow very different to me. I hate chocolate milk.

4. Every once in a long while, I'll decide that I need another pet. This happened last September...and we got Cubby. Then again in January...and we got Teddy. Now I pretty much need a dog or I will just implode. When we went to Montana a couple weeks ago, our friend Alice has a corgi puppy that we got to meet, and Jordan's dad has a fluffy little kelpie puppy that I just wanted to steal. This means I should get a puppy and avoid implosion, right? Particularly this one?

5. My dad and I are driving to Las Vegas in May to spend the weekend with my brother for my dad's 60th birthday. We're also taking dancing lessons to prepare for my wedding! I'm so thrilled that they're both willing to spend their time doing that for me.

6. That picture up there? Oh, that's just me on Easter morning, finding my Easter eggs in the backyard. Jordan set up an Easter egg hunt for me before I woke up! Is that not the sweetest thing ever?

Book Review: Ender's Game

2012-04-12T16:45:00.001-06:00

It's book review time! I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I was planning to start blogging about the books I've been reading, and there's no time like the present. (It also helps that I had car problems so I'm stuck waiting in a coffee shop for 2 hours while Jordan drives in from work to pick me up.) So yeah, I've got plenty of time right now.

As a disclaimer, I'm not a literary snob. I read books that I like, whether or not they're considered great literature. I like fiction, and I really like young adult fiction. I love Wuthering Heights and I love The Hunger Games. I especially love books about vampires, thanks to Anne Rice (and no thanks at all to Stephenie Meyer). If the books I like aren't up to your standards, that's okay. But let's keep book discussions polite, please.

I feel like there's a lot of pressure on this first post. Do I pick a book (or series) that I really adore, like Harry Potter, or do I pick something I've recently read? Let's go with neither. Let's talk about a book I read last year, that I'm still gushing about because I love it so much.

Ender's Game

This is a sci-fi book about Earth's society 20 or so years after an alien attack. The humans won the first battle, but they know the aliens will return. So they spend their time picking out and training promising human children to eventually lead them into the second battle against the aliens, called the Bugs. Enter Ender Wiggin. Through a series of events, he ends up being taken to space and training with the other cadets. Ender shows promise, so naturally the other boys hate him. The book follows Ender in his adventures in training and learning more about his world.

I love books that make me feel strongly about the characters, no matter if I love or hate them. This book makes me feel both, sometimes about the same character at once. I honestly couldn't wait to turn each page and find out what would happen next. Since I read this last spring, I've been trying to convince my brother to read it because I'm convinced he'll love it as much as I did. (Too bad he's as stubborn as me!)

A couple warnings: This book contains some violence and crude language.

Do I recommend this book? YES

Have any of you read this? Did you love it as much as I did?

a little peek into my life

2012-04-11T18:00:00.000-06:00

I could not be more excited that Instagram is finally available for Android phones. If you want to follow me, my username is ohmishka. Leave me a comment with your Instagram name so I can follow you, too!

These are some Instagram photos from my life lately.
1. enjoying summer weather
2. setting the table for Easter dinner
3. my beautiful drive to Pocatello
4. Jordan "helping" me with my to-do list
5. afternoon coffee
6. enjoying a foggy afternoon
7. gorgeous wispy clouds
8. juicing
9. Easter morning cinnamon rolls
10. blue flats with gold accents
11. one of our (hopefully) last wintery days
12. a little spring in the creek by our house

My Boys

2012-04-10T14:30:00.000-06:00

Can we please just take a minute to appreciate the handsome men in my life?

Thanks.

Easter Dinner

2012-04-08T20:10:00.000-06:00

Happy Easter! We had a wonderful Easter at our house. This was our first Easter that we spent just the two of us, because we spent last year with some friends in Gillette. (We miss you, Erica, Dave, and Madalyn!) My family has always had a big Easter dinner, so I wanted to keep that tradition alive this year.

We went to church this morning, then came home for a nice afternoon in the kitchen. Jordan raked leaves in our huge yard while I roasted a chicken and made some sides. Obviously I made more than enough food for two people, but holiday leftovers are pretty much the greatest thing ever, amiright? We watched Captain America for the rest of the afternoon, but it was pretty disappointing. Now we're spending the rest of the night relaxing before the week starts up and some busy wedding planning happens.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter with your loved ones!

What Giving Up Sugar for Lent Has Helped Me Realize

2012-04-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

The recipe for this gorgeous pink juice: 10 strawberries, one pear, one apple.

Yup, I really haven't had sugar for almost 40 days now. You might remember that I did the same thing last year. While both years' Lent season has been trying, for some reason this one hasn't been nearly as bad. I think that my body was actually pretty happy that I'm not putting tons of processed junk into it all the time. Jordan gave up fast food for Lent this year, so naturally I haven't really had any either.

Honestly, it was about time. This semester has been really hard on me, what with having just moved to a new state, planning a wedding, and transferring to a much larger university than I was used to. I also have a 60 minute drive each way to campus and back, which gives me a big opportunity to grab unhealthy food on the go. Dealing with all of that stress, I've found myself relying on comfort food more than I ever should. And of course, it turns into a cycle of feeling down, eating unhealthy food as a coping attempt, then feeling even worse. I'm not saying that I think that comfort foods are always bad, but everything in moderation. And moderation hasn't been my strong suit these past few months. Having the chance to reevaluate what I'm eating every day has been such a blessing and a wake-up call.

To clarify, I focus on what I eat from a healthy-living viewpoint, not because I'm concerned about my weight. In fact, I never weigh myself. I think it's unhealthy to put any value on a number on a scale. My worry has been that I haven't been coping with stress and depression in a healthy way recently.

While I'm not sure if I think that whole foods really can cure depression or anxiety, I certainly believe that processed foods contribute to unhealthiness. Even more than that, I just want to find a way to deal with these problems that isn't going to end up making things worse. The healthy eating I've been doing the past month has given me more energy, which I'm thankful for. I've also taken the time to thing about why I'm craving unhealthy food. If it's for an emotional reason, I'm trying to deal with that emotion on my own, instead of depending on some outside form of temporary relief.

So overall, I'm almost sad that Lent is coming to an end. I hope that I can keep this kind of perspective throughout the rest of the year. I also hope that I continue to take the time to enjoy whole foods, instead of relying on quick, processed foods on busy nights. More than anything, I pray that God gives me the strength to keep dealing with depression and anxiety. I'm more than ready to get back to being the cheerful, optimistic person that I normally am.

To keep myself hopeful, I always adore listening to this song. These verses from the end of the song always strengthen me:

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
-Isaiah 40: 28-31

Green Juice Recipe

2012-04-04T18:30:00.000-06:00

I warned you, my juicing obsession was unavoidable. This afternoon was spent picking out my favorite fruits and veggies and then juicing them in some fantastic combinations. I'm so excited share them with you. This is also a great use for greens that are a little too wilted for salad, but not worth tossing yet. I'll share the green juice recipe right now and the pink one (hint: it has strawberries) tomorrow!

Green Juice Recipe
four stalks of romaine
one apple
four stalks of celery
1/2 cucumber
1/2 lemon
1" ginger, peeled

Let me know if you try this! And if you have recommendations for juices, let me know. I'm so thrilled to try new ones all the time.

P.S. I'm finally on Instagram! My username is ohmishka if you want to follow me.

I Bought a Juicer

2012-04-03T18:59:00.001-06:00

I bought a juicer! I've been seeing so many bloggers making great looking juice lately that I finally caved and got my own. Mine is the GE Juice Extractor from Walmart, it was only $50 and it works great so far. Naturally, I pulled it out of the box and made a big mason jar full of juice the second I got home. Some ginger/carrot/apple juice was the perfect side to a dinner of black bean veggie burgers and red potatoes.

Expect to see a ton of pictures of juice on my blog and Twitter soon; I have a feeling I'm going to get obsessed pretty darn quick.

This Happened in March!

2012-04-02T18:40:00.000-06:00

Sometimes you plan on having grilled salmon for dinner, but then you're really hungry while you're grocery shopping at 4:45 on a Friday. So when you see a package of cheddar bratwursts, dinner plans just might change. Instead of grilled salmon and asparagus, we had brats (and asparagus) with chips and beer.

And those of you who live in northern states, please appreciate with me that it's warm enough to grill at the end of March. Not only that, but there wasn't even any snow, so Jordan raked leaves from the yard while we were waiting for the bratwursts to grill. And I wore a fleece! And sandals! And I wasn't even cold!