Jen Russum

Talking and Laughing

May 24, 2011

Two of my favorite things in the world are talking and laughing. I'm a pretty simple gal really. I like shopping and movies and playing sports and watching sports and going the museum and dressing up and dressing down and cooking and reading. But really my favorite nights in the world are when you just A) talk a lot with people you love and B) laugh with those same people. These nights are even better when combined with dessert. And this exactly the kind of night I had last weekend. Micah was out of town at a friend's wedding, so I hung out with two of my favorite ladies. First, I met Anne for a pedicure. Glorious. My feet were in desperate need. Afterward, we picked up Lisa and headed up to north Scottsdale for some shopping. Really it was more of window shopping at West Elm, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and Anthro, but there was one purchase made. Lisa would like everyone to know that she got a cheese board! And it is a pretty great cheese board... I can't wait for her to serve me snacks on it sometime. But anyway, this night ended in the best possible way. Sitting at Grand Lux Cafe with these two awesome women with FOUR desserts in front of us (yes, four) and just talking and laughing the night away. Lisa kept pointing out that we had enough dessert to feed EIGHT people, but at least we burned off one serving each by laughing our guts out while we were there! I don't know where the other one and a half servings we each consumed went to to.... mental note: I should probably do more lunges soon. The line up: red velvet cake, key lime pie, cupcake collision, and strawberry shortcake. Definitely a good night. ... Read more

Boys = Toys?

May 20, 2011

Something Micah and I have discussed this past year is how cute it is when we see each other's inner child. Okay, Micah probably didn't use the term "cute." I'm sure I did, because I was the one who initiated this conversation. I am not talking inner child like a two year old throwing a tantrum (although I am sure Micah has caught me in that moment once or twice since being married). I'm talking about when you catch your spouse doing something they completely enjoy or delighting in something simple, and you feel like you are getting a tiny glimpse at them when they were five or ten years old, long before you knew them. A little vision of what they were like as a child with their innocent natural passions and without the stress of adult life. And it's just so precious. Recently though I have been a getting a glimpse of Micah's inner child everywhere I look. In our bedroom, in our living room, even in our bathroom, because my man is obsessed with TOYS! Yes, toys of all shapes, sizes, costs and varieties. I mentioned yesterday that Micah is working on buying the items on his wish list, and now we can't go a week without accumulating another toy in our small apartment. I am starting to wonder if we got a guest bedroom, not for visitors, but to function as a giant toy box. And if you know me, you know I hate THINGS. I don't like clutter filling up my house. For me, it's a very fine line between clutter and Micah's toy collection... Look at what we have accumulated since moving to Arizona... This is the dart board my parents bought Micah for Christmas. Thankfully, Micah came up with this plan to hang it behind our mirror, so that we can easily hide it when it's not being used. Brilliant husband! New golf clubs. They get crammed into my laundry closet next to the OLD golf clubs. This is Micah's sports closet. I honestly only opened the door to take a picture. I try to avoid this closet at all costs because it is crowded and disorganized and scares me greatly. This is the music equipment Micah has insisted on keeping all year, even though he has not used it once. Craigslist, I hear you calling... Micah's little putt putt thang and all our weights. The green and pink ones are mine. I tried to take the pink ones back after I bought them, but Micah wouldn't let me. I think he wanted me to have toys too... Recently found this little guy in my kitchen. The $80 guitar sits next to our bed. This guy flies in our bedroom. Micah brought this home from his recent work trip. I hide the ball behind his nightstand. I also recently discovered a rubber duck in my shower.... ... Read more

The Wish List

May 19, 2011

A few months ago, Micah told me I should make a "wish list" of items I would like to buy in the near future. Micah was in the process of making his own, and it was very organized. He had it divided into four categories by estimated cost: under $50, under $100, $100-$300, and over $300. I wish I could remember everything on his list. I know he had an electric guitar in the $100-$300 range. I am pretty sure he had a skateboard in the under $100 category. But there were so many other things too - things like windsurfers and kite boards and surfboards and stuff like that. There must have been AT LEAST ten things on this list. At least. Basically, if there is a piece of sports equipment that ends with the word "board" it's probably on his list. Then Micah told me his overall plan is to get the things on the list, but to try to get them in a lower price range than what he has estimated. For example, he bought an electric guitar a few months ago (and has used it about twice I might add...) and he was expecting to spend between $150-200 on it. Then he met a guy who sells random stuff at wholesale prices and he got a brand new guitar and an amp for $80. So he succeeded in getting one of his $100-300 items in the under $100 category. You get the idea. Then Micah told me I should make my own wish list and organize it the same way. I thought about it for a little while and I couldn't really think of ANYTHING I want right now. It's not that I am anti-material possessions or something. In fact, I wish I desired the material less than I do. It's just that I am not as organized about my spending as Micah is and I don't plan, dream, and scheme about toys I want to buy. I just figure I will spend my extra money on cute clothes or something... I mean I've been looking for new white flats for a few years now. I guess I can put that on my wish list - if only some designer would FINALLY make some attractive white flats for me to purchase this season because the selection since 2005 has been pretty dismal! Yes, that's how long I've been wearing the same white shoes. Thankfully, I still live by the no white after labor day rule (even though I know this rule doesn't really exist), so I've been able to stretch their life span. But, really, it's time. They are on their death bed. Anyway, so I couldn't think of anything I really wanted and Micah was disappointed. Then finally a few days later, I thought of one thing that I really want to add to my wish list...a new camera. A big, fancy digital camera with a big, fancy lens to replace my horrible point and shoot. That's what I want. Like a Canon Rebel or something similar. This would definitely be in the (far above!) $300 category, but it's the only thing on my list, so I figure it's okay. So I excitedly told Micah I finally thought of something to add to my wishlist - a camera - and he told me he didn't believe me! What?! He said he thought I was just making it up to have something on my list and I don't really want a camera and I won't really use it, etc. etc. I made the point that I have run out of room on my hard drive because I have too many pictures on my computer, but he still refused to accept that I want a camera. It's not like I'm asking him to buy it for me. I am just asking for him to acknowledge that I want one. But he won't. Oh, and I've been asking for a turntable for probably the last bajillion Christmases and birthdays (or like five or six) and he refuses to acknowledge that I want one of those too. I guess I've been asking for a turntable for so long and been so blatantly denied that it's not even wish list-worthy anymore. Apparently, only boys who like toys that end with the word "board" get to have wish lists... ... Read more