robbers can steal my purse but they can't steal my mother-in-law's thoughtfulness

Lookee see what my mother-in-law bought for me (a rhyme!). 

It smells like new car leather. Mmmmm...fancy.
I love everything about this bag. The color. The robin's egg blue lining. The size. My mother-in-law.

I never realized how many bad, bad bags there are out in the world until mine got stolen and I was on the hunt for a replacement. I was getting rather discouraged. But never fear! When you've got Khaliel Kelly on your side, even robbers and the ensuing ugly purse crisis can have a happy ending.

Once again,
in yo face, robbers!

Giveaway WINNER!

Emma said...

um hello, best giveaway ever. i reaaaaally hope i win. did you know i had seen your work and loved it before i even started reading your blog? yeah. legit.

   

You won, Emma! Email me at cuposammyjo [at] aol [dot] com and tell me what print you'd like and where to send it!

Thank you so much for commenting! My goodness, I never thought so many people would want to play.

And to the other 100 entries (say whhhaaaa??!), don't cry. Here's a tissue. 

I've got another giveaway in mind coming up and it might be even better than this one.

The Love Basement: living room

It's a snowy, snowy day and Chas is out snowboarding. I'm left without a car, stranded here in the love basement. After doing some Saturday house cleaning and watching BYU stomp on San Diego State (yesss!), what's left to do? Oh wait, I know! Take more pictures of our apartment and blog 'em! (Dork alert.)

Welcome to our living room/study:

So many colors make my little artsy heart go pitter-patter.

 

 I fell in love with Chas in NYC...when I was 13 years old. I had a graphic designer friend make this print for Chas' bday last year.

 One thing we're running short on in the Love Basement is natural lighting so plenty of cute lamps are a must.

And remember baby Chas' original painting from the 3rd grade? Love it.

My dad is also an artist. A few years ago, he did a whole series of still life paintings like this and me and my sisters each pick one to have. This one's mine. I'm very attached.

Those four prints on the back wall are our favorite places: Italy, Oregon, Utah, and New York. Get our own favorite places from QA Designs.

 I still can't believe we own this huge T.V. Weird.

I also can't believe I'm married to an award-winning filmmaker. On either side of ginormica hang Chas' 3rd place and audience choice awards from the LDS Film Festival last year. 

Chas served his LDS mission in Italy for 2 years. This book is a lovely wedding present from a lovely lady. Who knew the cover color scheme would go so well with everything we own? Def. an inspired purchase.  

Ok, ok. Last shot and we're moving on...

...to...our study area!

I love that the living room can easily be divided into two separate areas. It's the perfect little nook for our computer desk.

Just framed and hung this this morning. It's making me very, very happy.

And there you have it, friends.

It may be a basement, but we love it's guts. 

Thanks for visiting!

And if you haven't entered the giveaway, today is your last chance! So get on that. :)

we're still happy. eat it, robbers.

Today was a good day. 

It felt satisfying and happy from start to finish. I had some free time to myself in the morning/early afternoon. Then I went into work and it ended up being one of those days where I really, really love being an art therapist. It's great when it feels like that. For dindins, Chas made us pizza. He looooves making pizza. Calls himself "the pizza man." Basically, he loves playing with the pizza dough. He had it in a big ball and was tossing it back and forth between his hands for probably five minutes straight. Probably. Love that silly pizza man.

Ever since Valentine's Day, we've made it a point to have any old dinner by eaten by candle light. Two nights ago, we had candle lit sloppy joes. Hamburger meat and tomato sauce has never been so romantic.

Sometimes we kiss when we eat pizza in the candle light. 

And what's the best thing to do when life (the robbers) got ya down? Watch a goofy movie. Literally. (And yes, I did want to write this post if only for that genius line.)

Is anyone else's childhoods partially defined by A Goofy Movie? I still know every word to every song.

The night was also filled with squeezing each other to death while basically screaming, "I love you!," dancing in the living room, and drinking chocolate milkshakes.

Hey robbers- better luck next time! Suckas!

spread the love!

Look what I made this morning! 

Cute blog buttons, huh? {thanks again, Hue!}

Just grab the code from my sidebar over there -->

and viola! 

Now you're officially representing young love.

P.S. It's wonderful to see so many comments for the giveaway! If you haven't already done so, come join in the fun. We'd love to have you!

Giveaway! (CLOSED)

Yesterday (day 2 of post-robbery) was hard. So today, I'm feeling like a need a little more happiness in my life. I've been wanting to do a giveaway for a while but have felt nervous about it. What if no one comments? That would be embarrassing. But today, I don't really care so much about that. Mostly, I just need the satisfaction that always come from giving my art away to someone I care about

That's where you all come in. I am truly so appreciative of the support, kind words, and love that's been given to me over the last few days. Really. Thank you. 

So now it's my turn to give something to you! How does a free print of your choice sound? 

There's lots more options available in my shop as well.

You can enter up to 4 times {separate comments, please}! 

Here's how: 

-Leave a comment

-Follow my blog {and tell me about it}
-Already a follower? Great! {Let me know in a separate comment for an extra entry!}

-Blog about this giveaway {and tell me about it}

The giveaway will be open until Sunday night.

Ready...steady...go!

they can steal our keys, money, and identity but they can NEVER steal our love!

So this is what happened. 

We went to church. Chas took his super nice, super awesome coat inside, hung it up in the Primary kid's coat room, and left our car keys and his iPhone in the pocket. I mean seriously, it's the Primary's coat room. What could happen?! Well, plenty, as we found out. 

Someone shady came in, took Chas' coat, used the key fob to locate our car, and steal my purse from the front seat. These guys hit the jackpot because inside my cute, one-of-a-kind homemade purse was my wallet full of my credit/debit cards, social security card (yup, believe it), gift cards (leftovers from Christmas and wedding presents), cash, apartment keys, my flash drive, schedule book, etc. etc. etc. 

Of all the things we lost, my identity included, I think we're both most sad about Chas' coat. And my bag (I made it!). And my Gap, Forever21, and Market Street gift cards. Ok, ok. So we're most sad about a lot of things. 

Buuuuut there were a few little miracles that happened in the wake of so much loss. I'll tell you about those, too. 

We had actually just gotten back from a little weekend trip to my family's cabin. We had brought up our Mac desktop computer so we could watch movies. This computer would have been in the back seat of our car but my parents needed us to bring my family's dog, Archie, back home with us. So while a big, fluffy labradoodle filled our backseat, everything else we brought on our mini cabin-vaca, including a very nice, very expensive computer, was stuffed in the trunk and out of plain sight. Amazingly, the dorks never opened the trunk. Fewf. 

It gets better. If the trunk had been opened and if our computer had been taken, along with the flash drive in my purse (which was taken), my whole book would have been gone. (Some of you may not know this but I'm in the process of writing a book.) Credit cards, cash, and lipstick can all be replaced. Months of writing cannot. And actually, just three days earlier, I had randomly decided to start working on the book again (after a three-month hiatus) and transfer the newest draft from my flash drive onto the computer. Once again, fewf. 

Also, our car wasn't taken. Another miracle. Seriously, what's their problem? 

So I guess you could say that Archie saved our computer and my book. We love that pup.

Basically all of today was spent getting new car and apartment keys. Can you believe that a new car key remote clicker costs $150 to replace?! Also, once you've had an iPhone, you'll be basically paralyzed and crippled without one. Just so you know.

Next up for me tomorrow? Getting a new social security card, driver's license, purse, schedule book, work ID badge, and flash drive. 

Fun.

We still love each other.
♥

Yesterday, we were robbed.

While at church. Serving in the nursery. 

Dang. Jiggity. 

Our heads are still spinning. 

I'll tell you more later.

Like it? It's new!

 Check out the new blog header made by miss Hue herself. Me and this header fell in love at first sight. I get happy little butterflies all up in my tummy every time I see it. Seriously, it's so cute I'm gonna die!

Also, one of my favorite co-workers, a recreational therapist, saw this scarf and was sweet enough to buy it for me.

Basically everyone at work now automatically associates mustard yellow with Sam Kelly. And not only is it the best color in all the land, it's also super soffy. This scarf eels like a snuggly blanket wrapped around my neck. All that plus look how pretty the color looks with my Tiffany's blue coat and homemade bag. Yesssss.

Don't you just love people who are examples of never suppressing a generous thought or deed? Me too. Makes me wanna be more like that. 

So let's get out there and do something thoughtful for someone this weekend!

Huzzah!

The Love Basement: kitchen

We've been in our new not-as-little apartment for almost three months now so I thought it was high time I let our friends (that means you!) have a look around. 

Welcome to our kitchen/dining area.

That Ikea stripey rug has been one of my most favorite purchases. It's had a perfect place in both apartments.

Now this is a glorious sight. A dishwasher and beautiful front loader washer/dryer set. I can hear the Hallelujah chorus, can't you? The online ad for this apartment didn't mention the washer/dryer so when I went to see the place and turned this corner for the first time, a very audible, very happy gasp quickly followed.

A few nights ago, we had all three of these guys going and I thought to myself, "I am so, so happy right now."

Again, another one of our best purchases. I found this dining set for $100 on Craigslist right before we got married. A few of you have asked where it's from and I think it's originally Target. (I think?) All I know is that it looks pretty dang legit and has fit just right in both apartments. Also, the benches lift up for hidden storage. We love this table.

One of my best grad school buds made this linoleum blackbird print for me. Now it's hanging right above the stove. The gas stove, might I add.

My first full-size stove/oven in...over 4 years? Yes, sir. :)

Just some little details...

Our old kitchen was itsy bitsy spider. This kitchen is one of the most awesome parts about the love basement- mainly because we can both be standing in it and open the refrigerator door all at the same time! Genius.

We're lucky ducks.

patient. just be patient.

This is my sister Sarah and her husband Michael. How could you not love these two? 

Sarah will be having a baby boy this summer. The first baby for my side of the family. I love this belly to pieces and can't wait to meet my first blood nephew (sorry, that sounded unnecessarily vampire-esque. Gross.)

Soooo...back to me. jk. But seriously, I've been wanting to write my thoughts on the subject of me and babies for a while now. 

Basically, I want one. Really badly. Like I yearn-for-it-deep-deep-down-inside-of-me badly. Like every-time-I-look-into-Chas'-eyes-I-can't-help-but-think-how-much-I-want-to-see-a-baby's-face-with-his-eyes badly. You may be thinking that I need to just calm the bones because didn't I just write our 1-year anniversary post like yesterday? Jeeze louise. But actually, as some of you may know, I was once married to someone else. It's a part of my life that now feels more like a weird dream than reality. Still, it's the truth. So technically, I've been a wife for over three years total. (But please don't think that I actually count my time being married like that. We all know my life with Chas this last year is everything to me.) When I was a wife to someone else, I never felt the baby urge. Maybe because I was so focused on grad school. Maybe because it just wasn't meant to be. Either way, I'm so, so glad I didn't have the desire to become pregnant back then. Probably one of the biggest blessings of my life.

But now it's me and Chas. And as I'm sure you all know, I love everything about our life together. It's peaceful. It's calm. It's full of sleeping in and little responsibility outside of work and snugging. But there's still that part of me. That part deep down that sinks a little every time I learn of yet another one of my friends getting pregnant. Basically every person I know is either currently pregnant, gave birth within the last three months, and/or has a new puppy. No fair. That's what that is.

So what's holding us back, you ask? Well, even though Chas has been working full-time hours as an on-call freelance film editor for a year now, he doesn't have a full-time position with benefits. I'm also working only as an on-call/part-time art therapist and adjunct professor. So no benefits there either. (We're both kinda worthless. jk.) We've looked into every possible way for us to provide our own health insurance. No luck. So we're left with playing the full-time job waiting game, something we've been doing for months and months now. My prayers have recently changed from asking for a full-time job to asking for the faith and patience I really don't have sometimes. I can begin to feel those prayers being answered. I'm trying to make a real, conscious effort to love and appreciate every single aspect of our Sam-and-Chas only life which, honestly, is pretty dang easy to do. Patience and faith are coming easier. But then I watch a little film/photo montage of my friend's baby's birth set to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and I'm not only in total shambles but am also frantically searching "film editor" jobs on Craigslist. 

I remind myself it's ok to feel sad and it's ok to want good, righteous things. I also remind myself that no feeling is forever and maybe tomorrow will feel a little easier. Until then, and until there's a baby on the scene, our life together is exactly as it should be right now, even though I want it to be different sometimes. I know it's just right because if it were meant to be any other way, it would be. I can have faith in my Heavenly Father's timing and my ability to accept His plan and His timing. 

But that doesn't mean I'm not mentally decorating our baby's room at least once a day. 

So there.  :)

Valentine's double feature!

Chas and I take turns being in charge of Valentine's Day each year. That way, one person gets to sit back and just enjoy the holiday without having to worry about anything. Chas was in charge last year. This year, it was my turn. We both took the whole day off yesterday because #1. it was the first day being back together after almost a week apart and, #2. it was Valentine's Day. Duh. 

We slept in and then, while I got up to start working on the Vday surprises, I handed Chas this card I bought and told him to write me a nice love note. Which he did very well.

Chas came out from the bedroom to this:

Check out the ginormous starfish love card I found. Awesome and creepy, all at the same time. (My fave is the broken heart at the bottom with black all around.)

I think Chas' face here does a nice job of expressing our feelings about this card. (Happy/nervous/confused)

For breakfast, we had cinnamon roll hearts. I'm pretty proud of myself for this one.

Seriously, though. How darling is!?

And then, for a little present, I ordered this print. It should arrive any day now.

I don't know if I can think of a better phrase to describe me and Chas' past and as a couple. It's perfect.

The rest of the day's activities went a little something like this: 

• Saw Tangled (Not as good as I'd heard it was.)
• Bought a new frying pan (Get it?? Perfect after-Tangled activity, right??)
• Shared a panini and tomato basil soup at The Corner Bakery Cafe for lunch
• Had some nice snuggled-up couch nap time back at home
• Did laundry and dishes (we're both fun-loving and productive at the same time!)
• Saw Megamind at the Dolla Holla theater. Yup- two movies in one day! Only the best for my filmmaker. (And, btw, this was the second time I'd seen Megamind in three day's time. I love that movie.)
• Made Chas a romantic candle light dinner, complete with Dr. Pepper. 
• And, because it was Monday, we had a little 11pm FHE action. Chas gave the lesson about listening to promptings from the Holy Ghost.
• Ended our Vday with some snugs and back tickles to me from Chas. 

I loved everything about today and everything about my Valentine. So many little moments that I wanted to soak, soak, soak all up.  

how good it is to see you

Early Tuesday morning, Chas left for a shoot in NYC. Now, before we get into what's really important, let's just take a moment to remember that Chas is getting paid to shoot film footage in his hometown. We're talking blessing city and Chas is the mayor. Jeeze louise. 

He'll be gone until late Sunday night. 

Our longest separation.

I'm actually doing alright, if you don't count sleeping. Getting a good night's rest all by yourself in a queen bed meant for two is like Jimmer missing a 3-pointer. Not gonna happen. (Did I just make a sport's reference? Woah. Weird.) 

So guess what I did today? I took the day off and hung out with my mom. Just because. Who says Chas gets to have all the fun? We didn't do anything fancy. Just window shopping and a Costco run which probably was the most exciting part of the day thanks to the free samples around every corner. Felt like I had eaten dinner by the time we left and was super tired. Maybe it's just me but what is it about Costco that totally wipes you out? Maybe it's the free samples food coma. Yeah, that's probably it. 

With Chas gone, I have way too much free time after work. I keep promising myself that I'll do some painting but have still managed to put it off. Painting is like exercising: hard to find the motivation but always so glad when I do. I'm forcing myself to get started tomorrow night. In the meantime, I made this little movie starring Archie pup.

How good it is to see you from Chas Kelly on Vimeo.

Now it's time for some leftover German chocolate Bday cake which I have most definitely eaten at least one slice a day of for about 10 days in a row now. I regret nothing.

for goodness' sake, Kailey & Janssen!

These two are the last of the 'for goodness' sake' posts. But don't cry for me, Argentina, because there will always be plenty o' goodness on this here blog or my name isn't Sam. 

 Kailey: 

 My owl. 

 Vintage books on our bookshelf. 

And bring it home, Janssen.  

 

 A community chalk drawing event in the fall. That beautiful weather is why I live in Texas.

And of course, I can't help but include an image of my baby. Heaven help me, I'm that mom. Also, I love the vibrant colors of the bookshelf behind her.

I think ending with this sweet little pup face is perfect, don't you? 

Thanks to everyone for sending in their goodness! 

Wasn't that the most fun you've ever had in your life??? 

jk. 

I got a new haircut and a new necklace

Ta-da!

The end.

for goodness' sake, Candace & Lissa!

I decided to put these two ladies' pictures together in one post all about the goodness of good, good food! Is there anything better?

First is dear, sweet Candace.

These food pictures are very special because I got to bake with sunlight!  I hardly get to be in my kitchen during the day so it's a special treat when I pull something out of the oven with the rays of sunshine on my kitchen table!

And here's some more foodie goody from Lissa. 

And, just because it's my blog and I'm in charge, here are some shots of some of the most glorious food I've ever eaten. 

From our family luncheon at Communal in Provo. The morning of our wedding.

What is it about good food that so magically (and quickly) makes the world a better place?

What's your favorite go-to feel-good food?
(Let's be honest, sometimes emotional eating is the best.)

Cheers.