Jen Russum

THOSE people…

THOSE people…

Only one more day to enter the GIVEAWAY for a free ad spot on my blog...The winner will be announced tomorrow! It's official. We've become "those" people. Micah and I have officially become the couple where we each pick out our own birthday gifts... Here's the thing. Micah hates planning surprises. He doesn't like the pressure of planning something in advance if he is not sure the recipient will like it. I think I really solidified his hatred that one year he surprised me with tickets to a Kellie Pickler concert when he thought he was giving me tickets to Taylor Swift (this is when she was a newbie and Micah had no idea). Needless to say, I didn't know who Kellie Pickler was at the time and I was the biggest birthday brat ever. It was ugly. I was ugly. And that is why I have never been surprised by Micah since. Actually, that's not true. He goes with safe, sweet surprises like that one time I was walking into the house from the gym and caught him driving away in my car - to go wash and vacuum it for me. Or that one time last week when he brought me a completely unexpected flower at the start of date night. But when it comes to birthdays there will be no surprises. I have come to realize that I need to be okay with that... and this year I fully EMBRACED this truth. So.... let me back track almost TWO months. My sister and I are making our annual visit to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. We are perusing the watches and I fall in love....with a watch. Micah and I have already discussed getting me a watch for my birthday and I know I have found "the one." After trying it on, I hand it back to the sales lady and mention that I might bring my husband back to look at it later that week. She tells me their supply is low, so I should bring him in immediately since their stock doesn't get replenished during the sale. I used to work at Nordstrom, so I know she's not lying. That's when I get my brilliant idea... I think, "What if I just buy it now for my birthday in, oh, seven weeks, and I can take it back if Micah doesn't like it?" So I swipe the family debit card and go home with my watch. The more I think about it on the drive home, the more I think Micah is going to LOVE my purchase. I mean, I just made my birthday so painless for him. When he gets home later that day, I start giggling... "I did something funny, but I think you are going to like it." As soon as I tell him about my purchase, he starts laughing too and then looks at me sheepishly and says "I doooo like it." I show him the watch and he is sold. Actually, the watch was sold. And he was the buyer. So we came home and put the little watch box in his sock drawer and there is sat for seven long weeks. I faithfully wore my old watch every day, getting more and more excited for the new one. Well, finally the day arrived. Allow me to introduce you to my new friend!!! Trying it on for the first time at Nord... back in JULY! I love the way this watch ties my ring together with my other jewelry - since I usually wear gold accessories. I used to think mixing silver and gold was ugly and something only old people did, but a few years back I realized that old people have the best fashion sense - and now I TRY to dress like an old person. Hence, my granny chic birthday watch! So I've decided I'm fully on board with the pick-your-own-present thing. You don't have to deal with disappointment or returns and your husband doesn't have to deal with the pressure of gift-buying. It's a win/win if you ask me. I used to think couples who used this method were lame, but then I went shopping last May with my friend, Lisa, to pick out her Mother's Day cheeseboard, which her husband told her to go pick out for herself. I started to see the light... she picked out exactly what she wanted and she loves it. And I love it. This gift-giving method that is. In fact, I love it so much that when Micah told me last week that he also wanted to get me my long-awaited TCU license plate for my birthday, I had no qualms about gratefully accepting his credit card and ordering it online. I even wrote myself a gift message when checking out: Happy Birthday, Jen! I love you, Micah. Done and done. It was a very merry birthday, indeed. And both Micah and I are happy to be "those people." *Oh, and Gussy's readers, my store of choice would have to be Nordstrom, because you can get EVERYTHING there. Great shoes. A variety of clothes. They have trendy, more affordable stuff in their juniors department but as I get older I find myself exploring other departments and finding cute clothing there as well. And they have great swimsuits and work out clothes. And a great cosmetics section. And the BEST return policy ever. And they are sooo nice. I don't even buy most of my clothes there (that would be Banana Republic - because everything at BR fits me so well and matches my granny chic style...and their sales are rockin'!) but if I had to choose one store for the rest of my life it would have to be Nordstrom for its variety and great customer service! ... Read more

29 things about me

29 things about me

Excited to be linking up with The 2012 Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom! I've been meaning to do an updated "about me" post for a while now {and by "a while" I mean for at least six months}, but besides feeling like it's slightly narcissistic, it also takes a long time to compile such a list and extra time is not something I often have. However, I love reading other bloggers' "about me" posts, so I decided that since I've now turned 29 {have you entered the birthday giveaway yet?!}, I could at least offer you 29 tidbits about me. I figure 29 is much easier than 50 or 100. Maybe I'll add one to the list each year. 3-0 here I come! 1 :: I hate the feeling of polyester. You know that wispy yet rough material that never fully goes out of style. Makes me cringe.  2 :: I eat cereal almost every morning, but I don't put milk on it. I hate the idea of pouring liquid all over a dry food staple. Gag. However, I do usually slice a banana on the top and eat it with my fingers like a baby. I also often read my blogs while I eat my cereal, which means I get my keyboard sticky. I realize this is disgusting. 3 :: I also go through random food stages where I eat the same thing every day for weeks. In the past, there's been the Luna Bar for lunch stage, the Fresca stage, the cantaloupe and honey roasted peanuts stage, the strawberry shortcake for breakfast and dinner stage, and last year I went through a major Smashburger stage. Oops... 4 :: My husband and I have a very LENGTHY love story. It started back in 11th grade. And although we've had our ups and downs, our story is a good one because God is good. Then & Now :) 5 :: I love my alma mater Texas Christian University with all my heart, especially that TCU Horned Frog football team. And, yes, I will dress my daughter in one of those baby cheerleader uniforms someday. 6 :: I hated vegetables for most of my life, but then Micah coached me to like them while we were dating so that I would make them after we got married. 7 :: I am currently working on a big research project about MOMMY BLOGGERS for grad school. 8 :: I have always wanted to be a professor - AKA a doctor of books! 9 :: I love Gwen Stefani's legs and I like that she admits how hard she works for them. As much as it would be nice to be a naturally thin person, I always admire people more who work hard to keep their bod in shape. 10 :: Math makes me cry. I'm not joking. I cried my way through almost every high school math class and my one required college course as well. 11 :: I have my real estate license. If you want to buy or sell a house around Phoenix, let me know. 12 :: I have one sister and one brother. We love each other dearly, and we pretty much never fight. Except for that one time Katie kicked me in the shin with her big black boots while walking home from the bus stop in 5th grade... 13 :: I used to hate to cook because I always shared a kitchen with lots of roommates and it always seemed too crowded and disorganized. But now that I am married and have my own kitchen, I love cooking! 14 :: I strongly believe in reading the Bible EVERY SINGLE DAY. I don't understand how people get through the day without starting off by reading God's word. 15 :: I have best friends from college who are like sisters to me. In fact, we call ourselves the seven sisters of soul. I love them with all my heart. 16 :: I've had the same best friend since 4th grade and we've accomplished every childhood goal we made together. Traveling Europe with backpacks. Being roommates after college. We were even engaged at the same time and got married three months apart. Next up...babies! {But give us a few years...} L :: College besties   C :: Best friends since 4th grade   R :: Sister best friend 17 :: I clean my bathroom EVERY Thursday no matter what. Even if I get home at 10pm and have a free day on Friday, I will stay up to clean my bathroom. I love schedules and if you clean on Thursdays, your house will be at its prime for any weekend visitors. 18 :: I call my personal fashion style "granny chic." It involves lots of cardigans, lace, gold buttons, pointy-toe shoes and the occasional animal print. 19 :: I want four children. I think. Unless I get intimidated by the first two. But I think God likes big, godly families... maybe I'll want five kids. Who knows... 20 :: I want some of my children to be adopted. I love adoption. 21 :: I am mildly obsessed with Mariah Carey, Lauren Graham (Lorelai...sometimes I forget her real name because her character is so real to me), and Candace Cameron Bure. I hope I can meet all of them someday, but I'll settle for meeting one of them, because I'm sure my odds of meeting all three are incredibly low. L :: Lauren/Lorelai   C :: Candace   R :: Mariah 22 :: Speaking of Lorelai and DJ, I have only consistently watched two TV shows in my entire life for the duration of the series: Full House and Gilmore Girls. Except my bridesmaids and I discovered last summer that I have never seen the final episode of Full House for some reason... that must go on the goals list ASAP! 23 :: I really want to move to Nashville after I am done with grad school and live in a big house by the river, but Micah wants to move to San Diego and live on the beach. Maybe we'll compromise and stay in Scottsdale, because we both LOVE it here! 24 :: I kind of consider myself a runner. I am not naturally very good at it, but I've been making myself do it for about eight years now. I've run two half marathons, a 10K and a bunch of 5Ks. I even placed 2nd once in a small, local run. 25 :: I love dressing like twins, especially with my sister. I like it when other people dress like twins. I like it when people dress their kids like twins. I don't care if you buy an item that I already own...let's dress like twins! 26 :: I hate yoga. I respect people who are good at yoga and I know it has great health benefits, but I despise it. It makes my wrists hurt and my back ache and I always want to glare at the people next to me who are standing on their head so easily. 27 :: During my first year of marriage, I held to this strange belief that if I used my crock pot more than once a week, I wasn't being a good wife. For some reason I equated the crock pot to laziness and mediocre food. But we all know that's not true. Some of Micah's favorite meals are slow cooker recipes and anything that makes dinner FOR you while you are not home is pretty much awesome! This year my new rule is to use the crock pot no LESS than one day a week. Bring it! {And any recipes you have would be appreciated...} 28 :: I have worn my retainer almost every night since I got it in 8th grade. It is in disgusting condition, and I hope you never have to see it. I truly believe if I don't wear it, my teeth will go BUCK once again and I will have to get braces as an adult. Clearly, I will do anything to avoid this, including wearing my rotting, blue with silver sparkles retainer that was inspired by my love for Juliet's bedroom décor in the Leonardo DiCaprio version of Romeo and Juliet when it first came out in 1996. 29 :: Although this was really fun to write, I want you to know that ultimately it's not really about me... it's ALL about Jesus. My sincere hope is that my blog is a reflection of that truth. ... Read more

Flowers Fade Friday: A Trip to Target

Flowers Fade Friday: A Trip to Target

I used to occasionally read a funny blog called What White Chicks Cherish. The blogger, Mark, makes fun of what "white chicks" do - which is basically just a way to make fun of America's self-indulgent middle class culture. One time Mark wrote a post called "Spending, Like, Over $100 at Target on their lunch hour." Check it out if you want, but I can re-cap it quickly. Imagine this... White Chick (as he calls her) dashes into Target to pick up something on her lunch break. After throwing a few toiletries in her cart, she makes her way to the clothing, because you can't skip the clothes section! There is a super-cute top on sale that she simply can't pass up. She then realizes she might be low on laundry detergent so she heads to the household section as well and decides to restock most of her cleaning products. When she passes the food section, she can't help but grab a new pack of Diet Coke and some Kashi cereal. Somewhere in the midst of this she has to switch from a basket to a cart. She almost makes it to the register, where she is planning to grab some gum and a magazine during checkout, but she realizes her girlfriend's birthday is coming up! After browsing cards and gift wrap for ten minutes, she is now late getting back to work. But you know she stops to grab a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte on her way out the door, because who can resist a festive fall beverage? (Plus she never did get around to eating on her lunch break...) This post is funny, because it's so true. But it's also a little bit sad... because it's so true. I've been that girl. Zigzagging my way around Target, filling my cart with every deal in the world that I don't really need. Home decorations, clearance clothes, socks and underwear, water bottles, gum and candy, nail polish, discounted DVDs... You name it. I've probably bought it. But I don't need most of it. I can't even say I've wanted most of it. There are things I want - a DSLR camera, new white flats, a strapless bikini - little things that are not at all necessary, but that I would probably enjoy and use quite a bit. But when I go to Target {and other "affordable" stores}, "need" and "want" get pushed aside and I find myself buying simply because the product is there. In front of me. And I can. Now I'm not bashing Target. I love that place. It has great prices on toilet paper and cereal and other things that help me manage my household well for a reasonable cost. I'm bashing ME in Target. A few weeks ago I went into Target during my "no shopping" August. I only needed one thing. I can't remember what it was, but something like Q-Tips or shampoo. I told myself I would go in quickly and head directly for that one item. I would not wander. I would not look around. I would get in and out in under five minutes for less than five dollars. And you know what? I succeeded. I got my product and I got the heck out of there. But God taught me a lesson in those five minutes. He showed me the true state of my heart. Because as I walked directly to the bath and beauty section of the store, I felt myself pulled in so many directions. But you always stop in the clothing section... What if there are cute purses on sale?... I wonder if they have a new toothbrush holder for the bathroom... Are you sure we don't need any groceries?... Did you get enough new pens for school? Excuse me while I throw up... because I make myself sick. I am no different than every other American who is drowning in consumer debt or losing a house he or she could never really afford in the first place. No different than every teenager in America who loves to spend ALL their discretionary money on games or candy or going to the movies. I am lost in my own "buy mentality." Now, of course, I don't think it's wrong to buy things. Even fun things that aren't necessities. I mean I REALLY want a DSLR camera even though I don't need one. And I also don't think that every person struggling with debt or a foreclosure is a greedy consumer who brought it upon themselves. But there is definitely something concerning about America's buying habits in general. And the Bible is pretty clear that we need to be careful with what we buy, and how much, and how often. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.I John 2:16-17 Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear--but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.I Peter 3:3-4 And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."Luke 12:18-21 God warns us in these verses {and in many others!} that the "buy mentality" is a dangerous one. It leads us to love the world instead of God. It leads us to love things more than people. It leads us away from our loving Savior and could ultimately lead to our destruction. We are called to be set apart from the world. Now I don't mean set apart as in run and hide from every non-Christian. That's possibly more disgusting than the "buy mentality." What I mean is that we are supposed to be  holy. We are supposed to engage in our culture, but look completely different from everything and everyone around us. As Christians, we should be a contrast culture. A culture that embraces generosity, simplicity and truth. We should be battling consumerism with contentment. Because we have EVERYTHING we need and MORE than we could ever desire in Jesus. So ask God to rescue you from the "buy mentality" that permeates our culture and to show you all that He has given you in Jesus - forgiveness, redemption, hope, freedom and the promise of a perfect future spent with Him. {So when you go to Target, just say "no" to most things. Most of the time. But that TP really is a good price...} ... Read more