New Blog

Blog Readers:

Ben and I have joined our blogging efforts and have created our own blogfor our new family!!

You can now find us at:

jbjoslin.blogspot.com

Happy reading!!!

Wedding photos

All the wedding photos are up on facebook. We might put some up here when I feel like it :) Sorry to those of you who don't have facebook. Go find your child and look over their shoulder.

In other news, my horoscope that gets delivered to my phone everyday said I should write a poem for the one I love. Here goes:

My hubby Ben is really hot.
He really cares for me a lot.
Though he teases me so,
His love he does show.
I'm so happy we tied the knot!

I love you Ben!

And, the customer I just helped in the drive-thru couldn't get her car to start. It ended up she had turned it off while it was still in drive!

48 hours from now, Ben and I will be married people, and my single life will come to an end. It's about stinkin' time!

Here are things I'm happy to be leaving behind:

Singles Wards. We can all admit it isn't where we want to hang out forever. After being in family wards/branches on my mission I remembered how much better family wards are. And, while I had a good time in my ward, it just wasn't as exciting as I hoped it would be.
Not having someone to do everything with. I'll have a partner for everything! Since Ben likes to spend so much time with me, I'm sure I can convince him to come with me when I have errands to run, we can go running together, we'll be able to go to church together.
Having to say goodbye every single night (we got tired of it about 6 months ago!). Ben knows this is my least favorite time of the day. He has started telling me I can't pout when we say goodbye. I've never been a fan of goodbyes anyway, so when we can finally say goodnight and turn of the lights, it will be one happy day!
Lonely nights because Ben is studying or doing assignments. Since Ben has a futon, it is our guest bed in Ben's study room. I can go in there and read while he is slaving away at reading and papers. If I get bored and want to do something else, he'll still be in the same apartment as me!
Being the only one in the house getting ready in the morning. I made Ben promise he would get up with me in the morning. I like the quietness of early mornings, but it has been really hard to get up and be excited to go to work when my cousins are all still sleeping and will sleep until I've been at work for an hour or so.
Driving 30 minutes to see each other and then another 30 to go home. It's been quite costly on the old wallet and is a big factor in when we can get together and how much time we can spend together. If Ben comes over he loses an hour of studying time. If I go to Ben's, I lose sleep. So we'll be getting an hour of our day back!

All in all, yay to us getting married. We'll have pictures up as soon as we get settled back after all our fun travels.

PS-Not that this has anything to do with this post, but do you recognize what color that is? I'm pretty sure it is puce, and I was excited when they had it as an option.

Book Review: Mansfield Park

With my extra time in the drive thru, I've started bringing a book to work to read. The first book I decided on was Mansfield Park. I love Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice and was excited to read antoher one of her books. Sadly, though, I noticed a theme developing that I could have predicted.

Mansfield Park was very similar to Pride and Prejudice. I've seen Sense and Sensibility and Emma, and it seems like Austen was very much stuck on the idea of the heroine loving someone, but is saved from a despicable relationship to later fall in love with Mr. Perfect.

If you like this type of book, you'll like Mansfield Park.

Next up on the reading list is Tuesdays with Morrie.

Happy Summer!

Since it is officially summer, here is a list of things I'd like to do before it starts snowing again.

1. Go swimming. I haven't even touched the Clark's pool yet!
2. Eat at least one meal a week that has been cooked on the grill (and not just hamburgers!)
3. Have a good bonfire to roast marshmallows on.
4. Road trip, but I don't know where we'll go. We don't have time or money.
5. Go to a Twins game.
6. Clean my car inside and out.

I know it's not long, but I don't have tons of time to get this all in since I will be:

1. Working during the prime hours for some of the above (like swimming).
2. Getting married.
3. Flying to two more weddings. If only time wasn't an issue we probably would have road-tripped to Sarah and Brian's wedding.
4. Encouraging Ben to study and get his work done. Someone has to do it ;)

Just an update if you were wondering, it is now officially 10 days, 23 hours, and 6 minutes until we get married. And, if you weren't wondering, too bad!

20,131

That is precisely how many more minutes until Ben and I are married.

Yes, I just figured it out:)

My apologies to anyone who has visited the blog lately. Since we finalized our July 3rd wedding day, we've been extra busy trying to put invitations together and finish up last minute details. And, things are only going to get busier. Ben's aunts are visiting next week, Ben starts his first in-class summer school class the following week, I get to cover for several people at work who are taking vacations, and the Ben has one more week long class right before the wedding. Even though we've been busy and will be busy, we had time to attend Studio's graduation, celebrate Ben's birthday and make a trip to Wausau for Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully, when things settle down at the end of July we'll have fun things to put on the blog, and until then...don't be sad there's nothing to read here.

Last Weekend

Ben and I enjoyed being able to actually spend time together last weekend. We went to Ethan and Jessica's wedding and visited with the Allred aunts, uncles, and cousins.

This is about when Emily said, "Would you two stop being so mushy?"

And stopped by Hamline to give Mom and Dad a tour of where Ben spends most of his time.

This upcoming (as in tomorrow!) weekend is the big weekend! Ben's birthday is on Sunday, and he is really excited for it! He enjoyed an early birthday present from Mom and Dad (come visit to see it) and has a pretty cool one waiting for him on Sunday.

Finally!

Today I finally saw a Minneapolis landmark that I have been searching for the entire time I've lived here: the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry. I got really excited when I saw it outside of my car window as I was driving to work. Now, I'll just have to actually see it not from the road and not through the trees.

Other than that excitement, things are pretty low key these days. Ben studies and takes finals, and I go to work. However, there are some exciting things coming up later this month. I'll make sure to share the fun.

Horoscopes

This is my horoscope for tomorrow:

Just how long has it been since you indulged in a big helping of your favorite guilty pleasure, Aquarius? It's time to let the youngster in you come out and play today. Eat that chocolate, read those mindless magazines or skip down the sidewalk. You've been taking life much too seriously lately. Even grownups are entitled to indulge in the pleasures of youth from time to time.

Uh-oh. I guess that means Ben might have to watch some JAG with me....


I don't go by these horoscopes. I read the Star Trib's horoscopes by Holiday Mathis, and boy does she ever know how to read the stars.


And, I don't take them seriously, people. It's just something we can have a good laught at for five minutes at work everyday.

Capisci

We can all thank Uncle Jesse for teaching us all the word 'capisci', but does anyone really know what it means? Ben enlightened me Saturday while we were having a one-sided conversation in Italian. All I can say is that now I understand.

the sofas

This is just the loveseat, but the couch is just as great (and the only difference is it's longer)! And, the pillows came free with it, however, I might be tempted to recover them in the future.

Which one would you hang on your fridge?

Crazy Drivers

Growing up Mom always cautioned us about several things when we left to go somewhere. Things like "watch out for deer," "be safe," and "look out for crazy drivers" were among the most popular. It was her motherly instinct to warn us that we shouldn't ride with people from California because they are notorious for being bad drivers. So, once I left Provo and wasn't around California drivers I thought I was free from crazy drivers.

NOT TRUE!

Friday night, Ben and I were rear ended by a 'crazy driver'. That same night Ben and Shannon encountered a high speed chase as they were coming to our apartment. Saturday night I was almost ran out of my lane by a van who was trying to pass another car.

I guess crazy drivers aren't only from California.


PS. Ben and I are fine. The Friday night accident just gave us one of those awesome life experiences to go through together in preparation for all the others we're going to have.

Can you pass the Super Quiz?

Subject: BODY PARTS: THREE LETTERS

The first letter is given. Name the three-letter body part. (e.g., R. Answer: Rib.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. E

2. E

3. A

GRADUATE LEVEL

4. L

5. L

6. T

PH.D. LEVEL

7. H

8. J

9. G

Yes. This is what I do at work.

Spring Break!

Thanks to Ben's Spring Break being this week, we jumped on the opportunity to go to Mom and Dad's for the weekend. But, before we could leave the cities Friday night, we (meaning I because I'm the one with the job and steady income) filled out an application for our own apartment! We really like the future home and there will be plenty of room for visitors.

While at home we had Leesa take engagement pictures and she did a great job! Her blog has a sneak peek of the outcome.

We also colored Easter eggs! Ben is a lot more crafty than anyone would ever think-he even specially brought out a hairdryer to finish up the details on a couple eggs.

Ben enjoyed some church ball with Ben which gave me the perfect time to try on my dress. Macey really liked playing dress-up and had lots of fun looking at all the fabric and beads.

We also had fun with Miss Macey. Macey and Ben are obviously going to be great friends. Not only did she ride on his shoulders, but he also helped her learn how to play with the blocks she got for her birthday.

We enjoyed our little weekend getaway. It's nice to have somewhere we can go and put everything else on hold for a little while.

ugh

This morning I took a survey. At the end it asked those general questions about gender, race, age. I didn't realize it, but I'm in a new age bracket. How can that be?

While that was disappointing, because of my survey I stopped to take advantage of this deal on my way to work and got the exact same survey! Now, I can ease my sorrows over my age with another awesome deal!

Speaking of awesome deals...

the Girl Scouts stopped by the other day and Ben bought some cookies. They were delivered to the Clark's so I got to sneak a taste of them before I give them to Ben. Hopefully, there will be some left...

boring

I still have 23 minutes left of work and no one has updated their blogs. What am I supposed to do, people?

I can't really complain. I haven't been to up on the blogging. Ben has even blogged more than I have this month! If you want to know what's been going on with me read his blog or Mom's blog. Other than that, I just work.

So not only am I bored at work, I am just boring these days!

27 Dresses

No, I've never seen the movie (it came out while I was on my mission and I haven't gotten round to seeing it yet), but this weekend I think I tried on 27 dresses.

Gayle at Fantasy Bridal put me in about 10. I liked some of them alright.

I tried 3 on at Bridal Expressions. I really liked one of them.

Sweetheart Bridal had, oh 7, that were worthy of trying on. I really really liked one.

Walker's Bridal had 0.

Allyse's Bridal had a consultant who kept pulling dresses and I didn't want to try them on. I didn't like any of the 7 or so she pulled.

The Sister Missionary Mall had 2 dresses I really liked, too, and had an awesome sale too!

So, after trying on almost 30 dresses this weekend, I came back to Minnesota with three more to add to my collection. I'd say it was a successful weekend!

Here's the story y'all have been waiting for.

Let me just preface this by a few things:

1. Ben cannot hide things from me. He may not give me the entire truth all the time, but he can't keep everything a secret. I knew he had the ring, and I knew he had talked to my dad.
2. Lot's of things happened so this could all happen the way it did: the Clark's were out of town for the weekend, Emily and Preston had asked me to babysit weeks earlier, and Dad can keep a secret pretty well.
3. Ben and I never get to spend time together thanks to work and school, so I never turn down an opportunity to be with him.

So, here's the rest of the story.

The week of February 7th, was a fairly busy week for both Ben and I. Ben had meetings on top of classes and getting the first draft of his appellate brief ready to be turned in and I had work, helping out the missionaries, and the usual day to day things. I worked Saturday morning, and was looking forward to a somewhat quiet and long weekend where I could get some things done that I had been putting off for a few weeks. After work, I was "running errands" when Ben texted me asking if I wanted to hang out with him after babysitting or if he could come over then. Of course, I said yes.

When Ben arrived he banished me from my room and and immediate vicinity of my room while he decorated it special for Valentine's Day. I knew, at that very moment, that Ben was going to propose that day. So, I happily let him decorate my room. When he finished, I had to hurry up and leave to make it to Emily and Preston's on time to babysit. Ben said he needed to run by his place to get some books to study, so we took seperate cars.

Babysitting Lauren was a joy.

After Emily and Preston got home and as Ben and I were leaving, he told me to call or text him when I got home. We both left and both headed back to the Clark's. I had forgotten that I knew Ben was going to propose, so I started taking my time driving home. While I was at the gas station I remembered there was a surprise for me waiting at home and that Ben was most likely on his way over, so I booked it the rest of the way home. Luckily, my driving skills surpassed Ben's that night, and I beat him back home.

Once I was home, I went down to my room to find it decorated very Valentine's-y. There on my bed was a little box. In my mind, I thought, Ben better be showing up any minute now. As I opened the box, I found it was empty, so I read the letter that accompanied all the decorations. I called Ben (like the letter said and as he requested before we parted), and HE DIDN'T ANSWER HIS PHONE!!!!! So, I ran upstairs because I knew he had to be outside waiting. When I opened the front door, Ben was down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I told him of course, I'd marry him.

So, that's the story. Yes, we are still trying to figure out WHEN we can finally get married, so we'll keep y'all informed about it.

Work, work, work

The best thing about work is that when you are in the drive through you can surf the net. So, after checking my email, facebook, and fellow blog sites, I have been looking at these:

And also these:

Isn't great that I get paid to do this?

My Valentine

I love Ben muchos!

Last night he asked me to marry him, and now everyone will know how much Ben loves me after seeing this.

Arizona (like I promised)

One month ago today, Ben and I flew to Arizona to spend a little time with his family. Ben's parents picked us up from the airport. Since it was 70 degrees and sunny, Ben and I took the opportunity to enjoy the nice weather since it was -14 degrees when we left. We took his nephew, Asher, to the park twice. Sunday, after church, we had a family dinner with everyone who lived in Phoenix. It was similar to family get togethers with my family: good food, lots of people, funny stories from the past. Monday, Ben and I took off for Tucson to meet his family there. We had fun with his 88 year old neighbor who took us and his brother's family to dinner, went to the Sonoran Desert Museum with his sister's family (it was cool. I liked the hummingbirds the best), and stopped by the University of Arizona. We headed back to Ben's parents' Tuesday afternoon and spent the rest of the time chilling (which was really nice and I'm ready to do it again), playing Heroscape (something I'm going to have to get used to playing at least once in a while), going to the Mesa Temple with his parents and brother and sister-in-law (which is a gorgeous temple and a lot bigger than the St. Paul Temple), and meeting up with my last companion (we took Sister Hartman out for ice cream since it was her birthday). Thursday, Ben and I came back to the frozen tundra land. Neither of us were too excited about that since it also meant a return to work and school and not spending lots of time together, but we were glad that we could go to Arizona. We'll have to do it again soon...

What's in a name?

Names are important. Names are even more important when given to inanimate objects that you spend lots of time with (like Roger). On our first date, I informed Ben of my relationship with Jimmy, my car. Ben was completely impressed with the fact that I love my car so much and had given him an actual name and used it that he practically pleaded with me to name his car for him. I told him it would be hard, since I didn't really have much of a connection with his car, but I would try my best. Over the past couple of months, Ben kept asking me over and over if I had discovered the perfect name for his car, and sadly, the results were not good. Little did Ben understand that the process of naming such an important part of your life was such a tedious process.

Yesterday it happened. Ben's car finally received her proper name of Silvia Diamante. We both agree that it is the perfect name for his car. Now if only he'll let me name his computer......

The Traffic Report

Now that I actually have to drive more than 10 minutes on actual highways, I have taken to following the traffic report. In the morning, I check out the traffic on the mndot.gov website and at night I listen intently for Moon and Stacey (the radio djs) to let me know that my highway is moving along fine and dandy.

I never thought I'd be a commuter.

Happy Birthday week to me!!!

In case you didn't know or forgot, this is my birthday week.

It's an important birthday, too, because I am going to be 25. That's 1/4 of a century.

Legally, I can rent a car.

And, that's about all the exciting-ness of turning 25. I get to work from 7:30-4 and Ben has a meeting at from 6:30-8, so I feel my actual birth day will be quiet.

Related to birthdays...

Dad's birthday is tomorrow. I learned a very important thing from Michael Scott while picking a birthday card for him. You should wish people a birthWHOLEday to not forget the night time and the pre-dawn hours of their special day. Thank you Michael. And happy birthWHOLEday, Dad!

Wanted: 1 Good Husband

Looking through an old journal of mine while I was at home this weekend, I found one of those mandatory lists all teenage girls make about their future husband. I'd have to say that since I made this list most of the things on it are still important to me, but I had a good laugh about some of them. Here is a sampling of what my husband will be like (in no particular order and according to my teenage self):
-Is a member of The Church and will honor the priesthood.
-Makes me laugh.
-Lets me have a kitty.
-Isn't way in debt.
-Taller than me.
-From the eastern United States.
-Buys me all 10 seasons of JAG on DVD.
Obviously I have my priorities in line. Anyone who fits the above description may apply for the position listed, and I am willing to make exceptions.

Snowbirds

The last week was great! Pictures will be coming soon, I PROMISE!! I might become a snowbird.

This morning I woke up to this:

Tomorrow I will go to sleep to this:

Happy New Year!

To start off 2010, Ben and I visited the Como Zoo and Conservatory. It was lots of fun! The conservatory houses lots of tropical plants even ones I frequently saw in Florida and Alabama. Being in the warm and humid greenhouses was nice, especially since it was so cold outside.

Eventually we ventured outside to get to the animal houses. We started off in the primate house and met this cute little guy. He came up to the window and wanted to be our friend.


The sea lions and seals put on a show for us while we were there.


Our outing was a fun little adventure for the afternoon. It was especially nice to have Ben back and to be able to spend time with him again.