Young People Style: hard core stripes

This is our stripey gang. You can be in it, if you want. 

No pressure or anything. 

There are just a few rules you should know about our gang: 

1. Stripes are a must, as are hand gestures. Obvi. 

2. If you don't know/are too scared to make real gang signs, you can throw your high school's sign. We're flexible that way. 

3. It's important to stand in front of walls with graffiti. Then everyone will know you're not just a poser. 

Joining a gang is kinda a big decision and ours is pretty hard to get out of once you're in. 

So think it over and get back to us. 

there is beauty all around

when there's love at home. 

Last night, I ended up not having to go into work. 

As I sat at home on our comfy red couch, I looked around and started thinking about how much I adore our little love basement. (I also thought about how much I love my camo skirt but perhaps we'll save that topic for another time.)

So back to me loving our home.

There was a time, not too long ago, that I was sick and tired of having ample free time at home alone. I felt restless, stir crazy, and unproductive. 

I don't feel that way any more. 

I love being home. I love the time I have to myself. I'm finally starting to appreciate the blessing that all this sam-alone-at-home time really is in my life. 

It's funny how sometimes we take things for granted and want things to be different than they are.

We see the best in every other person's situation.  

I'm learning that each and every single snapshot moment in my life is special, is important.

I like liking my life- as is. I like being content while also being excited about new adventures in the future. 

It feels relieving and peaceful.

This time is our time. Just Sam, Chas, and our apartment. 

It's a beautiful thing. 

You know what else is a beautiful thing? 

Naming your price for original artwork. It's first come, first serve for the remaining paintings! Just shoot me an email with your price and I'll get some artwork on it's way to you!

new look!

{photo by Lissa}

I gave my blog a makeover. 

And by "I," I mean I had a designer do everything. 

I loved my old design but I've also been wanting to do some rearranging for a while. 

This look is here to stay. I promise. 

It's clean. It's simple. It's exactly what I wanted. 

Christa did the design work. 

Basically, this is how it went down: 

I fell in love with Christa's own blog design so I asked her to do mine. 

All I told her was that I wanted something basic and fresh. 

Then she jumped into my brain (gross) and saw exactly how I had envisioned the design in my mind. 

Then she whipped it all up so, so fast. We're talking just hours from start to finish. 

And she installed it all in a blink of an eye. 

I think that was one of the best parts about working with Christa: almost no patience required. 

Yesssss!

If you've been wanting to get a bloggy makeover but haven't known who to turn to, GO TO CHRISTA RIGHT NOW. She will give you exactly what you want and is super inexpensive!

loving right now

{photo by Lissa}

(Oh hi, static in the hair.)

Just a few little things that I'm loving: 

♥ Being the teacher in front of a new class of college kids.

♥ Being reminded that I'm actually a college professor. A realization that makes me feel ever so proud of myself. A realization that will never grow old.

♥ Making belgian waffles tonight for dins with Chas. 

♥ Wanting to make belgian waffles last night after midnight but restraining. Again, I'm proud of myself. 

♥ Working with a great designer to give this blog a new look. Get excited.

♥ Being friends with TSwift on twitter. I'm friends with her, not just a follower, ok?

♥ My sister's due date is in less than 1 week. Words cannot express how excited I am to meet baby Banks.

♥ Attempting to thrift with Chas. We lasted 6 minutes before deciding we were outta our league and had no idea what we were doing. Can someone teach us?

♥ Putting a bunch of moola towards grad school loans. (Actually, that's happy and sad at the same time.)

♥ Summertime backyard BBQs with new friends who I adore. 

♥ New friends. (Just felt like that one deserved it's own, separate mention.)

Giveaway! {custom blog header}

I have a super rad giveaway for you all!

No, no, no, it's not my own artwork. (Shocking, I know.)

It's even better!

(Whhhhaa??!)

Kenzie from Camera & Cupcakes is giving the winner a custom blog header!

Now's your chance to upgrade your blog from ho-hum to super legit awesome FO FREE! 

Must be a follower of Young People in Love to enter. 

Don't take it personally. It's just the way the cupcake crumbles. 

For extra entries: 

(separate comment for each)

- Follow Cameras & Cupcakes

- Follow me on Twitter

- Follow Kenzie on Twitter

Good luck!

the frozen yogurt dilemma

A new frozen yogurt place just opened up in our neighborhood. 

Yesterday, after spending the day riding around SLC on Scoots, we stopped by my parents, borrowed Archie, and the three of us walked down to Top It. 

Archie pup and I waited outside while Chas went in and got the goods. We shared a bowl of red velvet, peach, pink lemonade, and cookies & cream. We should've each had our own bowl but apparently Top It is dang expensive. 

It's as daaaaaang delicious as it is expensive, though. 

Hmmmm...

Over $4 for not even that much frozen yogurt? The best frozen yogurt of your life?

Probably the hardest decision you'll ever make?

Yes.

my kind of camping

I'm not what you would call a happy camper. 

But, Friday night, was ideal Sam camping. 

(That's my husband.)

First we drove up the canyon and saw a moose.

We didn't see that deer but apparently our friend with the camera did.

When we got to the cabin (re: couches and running water), we walked (a hike!) to a nearby cabin's zip line. 

Then, back at the cabin, another friend made the yummiest pasta dinner I've ever had and another friend made peach and blueberry cobbler with ice cream. 

(We have lots of friends.) 

After we ate, we drove back home and slept in our bed. 

And then we woke up in our bed. And showered in the morning. In our house. 

I love camping. 

Be a July sponsor!

Sponsoring YPIL is super fun, and cool, and cheap. 

You should do it. 

Besides, just look at this face. 

How could you not wanna sponsor that? 

Email cuposammyjo@aol.com for stats and rates!

Katrina B Photography Sale!

Click here for Katrina B Photography on Facebook!

youngest of five

Meet Liz, my littlest sister. 

She's 14 years old and basically amazing. 

Liz is that girl who is good at everything. She kills at sports, is an awesome artist, a natural-born dancer, and brilliant actress. Liz was the class Valedictorian and spoke at her graduation. She's popular because she's genuinely nice to everyone and probably also because she stole the show as Liesl in the school's musical.  

Oh yeah. And I want to steal all her clothes. When she tells me she likes my outfit, I feel like I just found out that the super cool kid at school actually knows my name. 

But here's the greatest thing about Liz. 

Ten days before she was about to start her last year of 6th grade and rule the elementary school with her friends, her biggest sister decided to get a divorce. My parents felt it would be best for me to have family support in Oregon while I went through the divorce process and started my last year of grad school. That meant Liz would be asked to pack her bags, get in the car with my mom, and move to Oregon. She suddenly found herself the new kid, enrolled in middle school for the first time. She was so brave, so willing to sacrifice everything she knew to be familiar in order to serve her sister. 

I will always love Liz in a very special, unique way for what she did for me during that time in my life. I didn't know it at the time, but I needed her there. I needed her love and support. I needed her witty humor. I needed her optimism. I needed her willingness to sing at the top of her lungs with me to the High School Musical soundtrack. 

So thanks for being the greatest littlest sistie ever, Liz. 

And feel free to return that flower cardi whenever. 

(Actually, it's neither of ours. Apparently we both just like shopping in sister Hailey's closet. Ahhh...sisters...)

Young People Style: what's not to love?

Sometimes, I hate having to dress up nice for church on Sundays. 

Sometimes, I love it. 

Chas, on the other hand, always loves it. 

Side notes: 

I totally made that skirt. Yeahhh boi. 

You like that skinny tie on my skinny guy? Yeah, me too. 

I have a little story to tell you about something that happened in church this week. 

Every Sunday, we serve in the Nursery. This means that, for two hours, we're in a room taking care of kids who are 18 months to 3 years old. We play, have a 4-minute lesson, eat snacks, sing songs, cry, color, cry, and play. 

It's insane...but in a good way...mostly. 

I have a good friend named Heather who has the cutest, most precocious little girl, Nora. Nora is one of our favorite Nursery kids. 

Sunday evening, Heather had this convo with Nora: 

Heather: Nora, what did you learn about in Nursery today?

Nora: Coloring. 

Heather: Oh, nice. Who did you play with? 

Nora: (giggling) Chas. 

...brief pause...

Nora: I love him!

(Please note: this is the same little girl who also told her mom recently that her baby's name was "Nora and Chas baby.")

Even though I can't blame the girl, I'm a little confused. I'm the one who carries her around, distracts her with the doll, and reads her books when she starts crying for her parents. Me. Not Chas. Chas actually has almost no interaction with Nora. 

But, like I said, I can't blame her. I guess he just has that effect. 

Good thing I'm not scared off by a little competition. 

That's right. I'm talking to you, Nora. 

And one more thing. 

I'm giving away another print over at Across the Pond. 

(I know what you're thinking. Another giveaway? Jeeze louise.)

Name your price!

Wanna play a super fun game that Hue made up? 

It's called Pay What You Want for Original Paintings! 

Dead serious. 

Click here to get all the glorious details and grab your very own Sam original!

Simply pay whatever your heart desires! 

Young People Style: take it or leave it

You may be thinking to yourself, 

"Ummm...I'm pretty sure you're just wearing t-shirts and pants/shorts. Speaking of which, do you even own a pair of pants other than those green ones, Sam? And where the heck are the cute vintage dresses?!" 

Don't worry. I had similar thoughts while writing this post. 

Yes we are wearing basic, normal clothes. 

Yes my hair hasn't been washed and so is flatty mcflatts.

And yes I am dressed like a boy from The Sandlot.

...What's your point?  

This is us. 

♥ ♥ ♥

(Taken at the Salt Lake City Chalk Arts Festival yesterday.)

I love my dad. More than I could ever say.

{photos by Duston Todd}

 Our family always says he's the perfect man to have raised five girls. And, at the end of the day, he's still got a sense of humor about it all.

A few days ago, he interjected this little gem while we were all together, talking about how expensive diapers are: 

"Yup. I used to be buying tons and tons of diapers for all you girls. And then we went straight from diapers to pantiliners. No one told me about the pantiliners." 

Classic Mike Card. 

Happy Father's Day, Dad! 

shopping with Chas

is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do! 

Check out this cutie hipster. 

Can I just tell you how much I love being married to a man who actually semi-enjoys going shopping and picking out cool clothes for himself. It's the bestest. 

Wanna know what else is pretty great? 

Some of our recent convos. 

Take, for example, my query on human pregnancy and birth: 

"Isn't it weird that it's an egg...and then it turns into a person...instead of coming out as an egg with a person in it?" 

Seriously, though. What the heck. 

Then, the other night, Chas made this proposal:

"If you go see "Source Code" with me, I'll watch the Beiber with you."

...Tempting. 

Well, we're off to see "Source Code!" 

A hard day's night

Last night, I was grumpy at Chas. This has happened probably three times ever.

Anyways, it's hard to sleep when you're too grumpy to snug. (Being grumpy is hard work.)

But never fear!

We discovered a sure-fire cure for the night time grumps and subsequent bad sleeps! 

Step 1. 

Sleep in until noon. 

Step 2. 

Wake up and realize you've slept away all the sads/mads. 

Step 3. 

Snug. 

Step 4. 

Eat waffles with fruit. 

Step 5. 

Love each other. 

Bonus Step:

Ride Scoots to the mall and probably buy Chas some cute summer clothes. 

we have a winner!

Remember the print giveaway? 

Well if your name is Bethany G., then you're a winner! 

And if your name isn't Bethany G., you're still a winner. But just in my heart. 

Thanks so much to everyone who entered. It was basically the greatest thing ever to read all your sweet thoughts on what keeps you comin' back to our little spot on the interweb. 

Thank you! 

Dear baby Chas,

Your blonde hair turned dark but your eyes stayed the same. 

Just look at this little pup!

Have you ever seen a cuter concerned face in your life? 

No. 

new prints!

This morning, I posted two new prints in the shop. 

But if you follow me on twitter, you already knew that. 

See? Major benefits come with being my twitt friend.

Also. A couple of times today, I got urges to tweet Chas.

He's not on twitter. 

Totally lame. 

Reason #7430 why I want a little cryings

So I can have a cute striped-belly sneech tummy like my little sister, Sarah. 

Sarah recently started blogging and has a real-life camera. I'm obsessed. And it's not just because I designed her blog layout like a pro, basically. 

She's got only a handful of followers so, if ya want, give her some blog following love! 

But no pressure. I understand us free spirits gosta do what we like.