secrets sleep in winter clothes

Is this the most boring blog post I've ever written? Perhaps. 

Little known fact- I am obsessed with those "What's in her purse?" articles/snippets usually found within the pages of USWeekly and Seventeen magazine. I know it's 1000x more interesting to know what is in Elizabeth Olsen's purse, but since I recently got this bag, I thought I'd enlighten you with what I always carry with me.

1. I keep my things in a J.Crew Sophie crossbody bag. I love the crossbody cuz it's functional, nonfussy and hands-free, but still very chic. 

2. One of my most favorite presents I've ever received is my Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Slim Zip Wallet. It is my first grown-up wallet and I define grown-up wallet by one that keeps your bills flat and has multiple credit card holders. Everyone should invest in a quality wallet because you will die with that thing. 

3. I'm addicted to chapstick especially when it's in the form of a little egg i.e. the EOS chapstick egg in sweet mint. 

4. I always have my keys with me because duh. 

5. I take the train to work a couple times a week so I always keep a book in my bag and right now it's the fascinating but frustrating Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. I have been reading a lot of mediocre fiction lately, so I switched to my nonfiction to-read list and it has been significantly better. But I am still desperate for another book hangover so please throw me your suggestions! 

6. Finally my hands are always dry so I hydrate with Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream.

As a reward for reading this snoozer, here's a song I stumbled upon today. It's a cover of Neutral Milk Hotel's "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea," one of my favorite songs of all time. It takes me back to high school and leaving early to hang out with my boyfriend. RIP dude. But really this cover is precious.

Also you should know it has been snowing on and off all day in Dallas :-O

2013

2013 deserves this annoyingly long blog post because it was the best year of my life so far. I started it as a newly engaged little girl in sunny Arizona with Preston's family. Then back to school to complete my final semester at BYU. 

My BFF Kylie Cox now Orme got engaged to Danny!!!!!! This was super exciting because we could be engaged and annoying together. Also because Danny and Kylie are wonderful together and we like hanging out with them. I miss these babies.

Macy Baker took our engagements on freezing cold Utah Lake but I'm still obsessed with how they look. So white and clean and almost like we're on the moon. It was hard staying focused on school when I was trying to plan a wedding. JK, not about staying focused, but let's be honest, my mom planned my whole wedding, which is why it was perfect.

My sweet angel friends threw me the prettiest bridal shower in the land. I couldn't have asked for a happier, cuter, Ynna-er shower. They included all my favorite things and colors and I will forever be grateful for their kindness.

I graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders. This was a sad and happy day because I LOVE BYU. Seriously. Go Cougars. But now that school was over I could obsessively work out and plan my wedding for real.

May-August was the best summer of my life. I stayed in Provo for a month after graduation to work and play with my friends. Many sailing and lake trips occurred. If you've never spent a summer in Provo, then idk. It's the happiest time.

Mona Lake forever. These are some great summer pals. It was around this time we found out that Preston got a job in Dallas, Texas and finalized our post-wedding plans after months of uncertainty. We were very thankful for that blessing.

BABY KYLIE GOT MARRIED JUNE 8. It was such a gorgeous and glamorous day and I felt so privileged to be a part of it. Kylie was a vision and my heart was full for her and Danny.

I went home after Kylie's wedding to help with my own wedding preparations and went through the temple June 15!! The Washington, D.C. temple is my favorite and holds such a special place in my heart. I was so happy I got to take out my endowments at that temple 6 days before the best day.

I married my sweetheart on June 21. The day was perfect and I was surrounded with the people I love most. I'll never be able to adequately express how wonderful it is to be sealed to your spouse for time and all eternity. Happiest, happiest day of 2013.

We went to Bermuda for our honeymoon and it was a glorious time. Bermie is beautiful and I highly recommend it as a vacation spot to anyone.

Came back to Provo to move our stuff and celebrate the 4th in the best place to do it. This was the happiest and saddest 4th of July because it was so fun to be reunited with our besties but seriously heartbreaking to say goodbye to everyone. Provo will forever be one of my favorite towns because of the memories it holds for me.

We drove to Dallas, Texas on July 5 and arrived on the 6th. This is us opening the door to our new apartment for the first time.

Right after moving, we unpacked everything we owned, bought a mattress, and flew to Vancouver, British Columbia for reception #2. It was also my first time seeing Preston's hometown. BC is incredibly beautiful and pleasant in the summer. If we could have a summer home there, I would be ok. 

After a week in Vancouver, we came back and started our lives in Dallas. I was unemployed for a few weeks and spent those weeks looking for jobs and arranging our little home. Many trips to Target and Ikea were made and our wedding gifts all came to good use. Thank you again for everyone who gave us anything for our wedding. It made me realize how generous and sweet the people in our lives are. 

We spent weekends exploring our new city and trying not to melt in the heat. In August I attended one of the last shows the Jonas Brothers ever performed. It was very sad and nostalgic, but also so much fun because it brought back memories of high school and my unhealthy obsession with those three. RIP JB.

I found two jobs working at a nearby cupcake shop and J.Crew. It keeps me busy, but I'm thankful for both of them. Hopefully I'll be in grad school this fall but we shall see. October was a super eventful month because I became a United States citizen!! What a great day it was for me. I truly love America. We also went to the State Fair of Texas, dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Fox for Halloween and I went to the hospital after getting a concussion! 

Our friends came to visit us at the beginning of November. Oh how we miss you guys. These couple of days were fun and I look forward to our next reunion.

I turned 22 on the 27th and then we cooked our first Thanksgiving meal together. It turned out beautifully and I am still so proud and impressed with us.

We went to Austin for the remainder of Thanksgiving break and ate our way through that weird city. I wouldn't mind living there because it is super hip and cool.

We just got back from a lovely Christmas break spent in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. While we were home we visited Philadelphia, New York City and tried to soak up as much of Lancaster's charm. I always love coming home and being with my family and it was especially hard to leave them this year, but I'm thankful we got to spend the holidays together.

New Year's Eve was spent in Dallas going hard at 3LAU. I think we had to prove to ourselves that we are still cool enough to go to EDM shows and stay up past midnight. I never caught the EDM bug as much as Preston did, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself this night. We said goodbye to 2013 with a bunch of sweaty, drunk Texans and greeted 2014 with many fist pumps.

So this is the new year and I don't feel any different. 

good morning upper eastsiders

Last night we journeyed back to Dallas, but only after a truly wonderful Christmas break. We tried to make the most of being on the east coast, so on Thursday we went to New York City for the day. Despite the arctic chill, I love being in New York in December because it feels so magical to me. We left very early Thursday morning and our first stop was High Line Park. If you've never been, you should check it out. I bet it's even better when it's warm outside.

After High Line, we ate at a way too crowded Shake Shack but I will have dreams of my peanut butter shake until my next visit. Then I lost Preston in Japan aka Uniqlo where I bought a ultra lightweight down vest, pictured below. Then we went to the Museum of Modern Art. Wow! Everytime I go to an art museum, I have a newfound appreciation for the pieces because I took Art History my last semester at BYU. It's honestly really fun to recognize and pick out different artists when you're in a world famous museum. If you have room in your schedule or need the arts (or letters?) GE, I recommend Art History. We also ventured to Central Park and ate fabulous halal food in the cold. Luxe.

We made lists of where we wanted to go prior to trip and obviously mine was mostly food. It's truly a shame there are only 3 substantial meals in a day. Unfortunately, 3 of my 4 food requests were a disappointment, but I came home with Laduree which I tried to consume as delicately and slowly as possible. And my mom made masterpieces every night. BTW did you guys know you can take prepared food you brought from home through airport security?? I did not! We feasted like kings on the way back to Dallas thanks to my mom's farewell dinner.

On Friday we went to Longwood Gardens in PA. It belonged to the du Pont family and is basically a beautiful plot of land with greenhouses, fountains and gardens. Above is us in the largest greenhouse. I also got to see some of my best friends Emilee and Kaile who were also home on the east coast.

Leaving home was sad, but I had such a perfect week with my family. I'm so thankful I got to spend my favorite time of the year with my favorite people in the world.

preston's top 20 songs of 2013

Here is my list of favorite songs from 2013.  Since Ynna is my wife, we listen to a lot of the same music.  So for every song on my list that Ynna already posted, I have not included a link - you can just look at Ynna’s list.  

20. St. Lucia - Too Close

Sounds like the 80s. And I like it.

19. Jhene Aiko Ft. Childish Gambino - Bed Peace

The cover of the single captures the song perfectly:

18. Avicii - All You Need Is Love

The only true EDM song on my list.  I guess I lost the dance bug this year.  But I think this song captures the joyous, elevated feeling that you get from a good house song.  (Note: There is another version of this song that I don’t like as much. I think this one is called the “spotify bonus” version)

17. Washed Out - It All Feels Right

So dreamy. Makes me feel like I’m either a) underwater b) in a jungle or c) in an underwater jungle.  

16. Kanye West - Blood on the Leaves

Ugh that trombone bass line.

15. RAC ft Kele & MNDR - Let Go

A summer JAM.

14. Vampire Weekend - Step

I love how this sounds like a song from a Wes Anderson film.

13. The Weeknd - Wanderlust (Pharrell Remix)

Pretty groovy.  Abel doing his best MJ.

12. Mariah Carey Ft. Miguel - #Beautiful

11. Active Child Ft Ellie Goulding - Silhouette

A beautiful, almost translucent, duet.

10. Little May - Hide

A folk indie gem with that Fleetwood Mac/bohemian cowgirl/Neko Case vibe.

9. Frank Ocean - Eyes Like Sky

This is Frank Ocean doing a song for the O.C. soundtrack for his cameo episode.  This is from the scene where Marissa falls for Frank and they sit on the lifeguard tower and watch the sun set over the Pacific.

8. Cody ChestnuTT - Till I Met Thee

Oh lawdy, lawdy! A gospel choir sounding jam that makes me want to stand up and sing in church.

7. Arcade Fire - Here Comes the Night Time  

If you haven’t seen it, Roman Coppolla’s 22 minute Arcade Fire music video featuring Michael Cera, Zach Galifianakis, Bill Hader and others is hilarious.  It opens with this song and ever since I saw it, I was hooked.  I dug AF’s caribbean voodoo rhythms.  This song makes me want to move and groove, and it often inspires some pretty tribal dance moves.

6. Lorde - Love Club

I don’t know why, but I like this one a little more than Royals.

5. Dive In - Let Go

This has that Cults/Tennis, lo-fi, carefree early-summer sound.  I can imagine listening to this song in the springtime, hanging out at the park.

4. Lady Gaga - Gypsy

I really liked “Applause” and “Sexx Dreams” from this album, but “Gypsy” was my favorite.  This is Lady Gaga’s best impression of a Journey rock ballad, and it is sing-a-long winner.

3. Daft Punk - Get Lucky

Probably my most anticipated song of the year.  it didn’t disappoint.  

2. Sam Smith - Nirvana

This one sounds like a hazy intoxicated dream where you did something you weren’t supposed to but loved every minute of it.  The slow heavy drum beats do a strangely perfect job of complementing Smith’s R&B falsetto.  The acoustic version of this song (which is posted here on my list) is also quality.  

1. MS MR - Hurricane (CHVRCHES Remix)

Every summer I end up choosing a song or two to be my main jams.  This year, “Hurricane” was the song that will live in my memory as the song of summer 2013, which happened to be one of the best of my life.  

my top 20 songs of 2013

Merry Christmas everyone. Here are my favorite songs of 2013:


20. Fall Down- Will.i.am feat. Miley Cyrus
Everyone said this is a rip-off of Ke$ha's "Crazy Kids" and it kind of is, but I listened to this song all during my last finals week at BYU. It's a nice pick-me-up and how could you not include Miley Cyrus in a 2013 music list?

19. Timber- Pitbull feat. Ke$ha
Super hesitant to include the Pitbull, the Nickelback of hip hop (?) in my top 20 but I was very into the country house thing this year and this was my favorite take on it.

18. XO- Beyonce
It would be disrespectful not to mention Queen B because in case you forgot about her January through November, she made sure you ended the year thinking of no one but her, and she deserves every second of that limelight. This is just a feel-good, sweet, happy love song with a nice gospel feel.

17. Pusher Love Girl- Justin Timberlake
One of my favorite albums of 2013 and probably my favorite performer this year. A sexy, soulful tune from my favorite former N*SYNC member and now pop superstar. Favorite reaction I've ever read regarding the 20/20 Experience: I just didn't know he loved Jessica Biel that much.

16. Hard Out Here- Lily Allen
I always giggle during this song, but after the first time I heard it, I had it on repeat the entire day. This song is just super sassy and funny. ~*GiRL PoW3R*~

15. Bed Peace- Jhene Aiko feat. Childish Gambino
Sexy and chill vibes.

14. Hide- Little May
Preston showed this to me just two weeks ago and I'm in love. I really want to go on a run to this song because I think I would feel like I was on a spiritual journey through the wilderness.

13. Team- Lorde
Good Lorde. Another favorite album of 2013. This chick is insane and so young and talented. I'm kind of over getting told to throw my hands up in the air, so there.

12. #Beautiful- Mariah Carey feat. Miguel
Ok this music video is hilarious, but when this song came out it was the perfect summer jam.

11. Grammy- Purity Ring
Was convinced this song came out in 2012, but alas, early February 2013 this made its debut. I loooove Purity Ring and want a new album so this was fun to hold me over. But I'm getting impatient and think it's time for some new stuff, so if you're reading this PR, let's go.

10. Burn- Ellie Goulding
When this came out I was obsessed with the original and every remix that followed. Ellie's always coming out with hits and I love her for it.

9. Applause- Lady Gaga
Another great album from 2013 and this was the perfect debut single for it. Gaga's such a queen and an incredible talent.

8. Nirvana- Sam Smith
One of Preston's favorites and he would always play it in the car and now I love it too. This guy has such a gorgeous voice. He showed me this fantastic acoustic version. Just try and ignore the giant diamond stud in his ear.

7. Saturday Night- Natalia Kills
Very obsessed with this song when it came out this summer. Still love it. I get Lady Gaga/Marina + the Diamonds vibes from Natalia, and I'm a huge fan of both.

6. Holy Grail- Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake
JT makes the most appearances on this list and I feel like he sweetens this song and makes it less hard, but I thoroughly enjoy Jay-Z's part. This was a great collab of two very talented musicians.

5. Sight of the Sun- Fun.
Sooo many feelings for this song. I first heard it on the season finale of GIRLS and might have cried during the scene it played. I got into a terrible fight with Preston one week and it was my fault and listened to it on repeat. I would also go through phases of just putting it on repeat walking to and from school. Finally, I played this song walking home from the testing center after my last final ever at BYU and shed some tears. I truly love this song and have so many different feelings associated with it and it is my emotional anthem of 2013.

4. Get Lucky- Daft Punk feat. Pharrell
Another excellent and favorite album of 2013. I remember when they would release 30 second previews of this album/song and Preston and I were like "Omgggg this will be so good," and it was.

3. Mirrors- Justin Timberlake
A song must be fantastic if you can listen to all 8 minutes and love it. I'll say it again, but Justin Timberlake had an incredible year and this song was my favorite of his 20/20 album. It is so good. All 8 minutes of it. I think it's very classic JT and I still get excited when it randomly comes on a station.

2. Royals- Lorde
Every time this song comes on I'm like "YES." I have a four-way tie for favorite album of 2013, but I think Pure Heroine is a teensy bit more my favorite than the other albums. "Royals" has such original, genius lyrics and I like her whole "I'm-cooler-than-this-industry" thing going. It's been done but not this well in a while. You can't ignore that bumpin bass. This song is just so cool and Lorde is such a cool little weirdo and I'm obsessed with everything sings.

1. Everlasting Arms- Vampire Weekend
I know what you're thinking. How random. Vampy Weeks, #1 song of 2013? I can honestly say that this has been my most played song of 2013. It's been on every playlist I've made since the album came out, I love singing along and I get so happy when it comes on. I'm not sure what it is about this song that I love so much. I'll be the first to admit that the lyrics are nothing special, along with vocals and instrumentals. JK those strings are cool. I dunno but if you haven't heard this song it's not too late to become obsessed with it. I still have to play it at least two more times after I hear it once.

Thanks for reading and hopefully listening. I have a lot of fun making these lists and would love to hear your favorites from the year. I hope everyone had a lovely holiday and wish y'all a joyous new year!