12.24.2009

back


LOVE this picture courtesy of Becca Johnson


Well, we're back from our delightful honeymoon where we cozied up in a cabin in Southern Utah. It was perfect. Pictures of the wedding, honeymoon, and future comments from the peanut gallery will be posted on our "married blog:"

mandmwallace.blogspot.com

Add that to your bookmarks (for those of you that have them) and check back here once in a while for random nothing posts. Thanks to all of you who came to the wedding and made our day perfect!

12.16.2009

top 3


Meaghan Smith, Wish Upon a Star


Sarah McLachlan, Wintersong

Mindy Smith, My Holiday

These lovely ladies are helping me get through the week. I just LOVE their holiday music! Ms. Emily showed me Mindy and Meaghan...I can't thank her enough!

Did I mention I'm getting married the day after tomorrow!? :)

12.11.2009

happy belated birthday!


So, I wasn't going to put one of these up because I was supposed to SEE Natalie on her birthday. But then my car died (battery fried, jumper cables destroyed), and Mike and I ended up staying in Provo. :(

So, I'd like to wish my "little" now-17-year-old sister a late but still very
HaPpY bIrThDaY
for all the world to see! Or, at least, whoever reads this.

I love you Nat!

PS - Does she have longer eyelashes me? We've come to our own conclusions (I'm not actually asking, just pointing out her delicious lashes).
PSS - That boy is not her boyfriend, simply her date to winter dance. And, I must say, that outfit we picked out for her was pretty incredible.

12.08.2009

married blog.

Hey kiddies -
I'm getting married in less than two weeks, and I guess it would be fitting to have a blog that tracks my adventures with my (almost) husband! So, if you're interested, the online home of the future Missy & Mike WALLACE will be:
I don't know what I'm going to do with this one.
Love!

12.02.2009

FOR RENT!

This is the only picture I have of my sweet apartment. It's beautiful, clean inside and out, and my contract NEEDS TO SELL! If you know any girls in the Provo/Orem area looking for a great apartment full of great girls, please tell them I'm selling my contract. It includes:
  • 2 shared bedrooms
  • 3 bathrooms
  • large living room/kitchen area
  • front and back porch
  • private parking underneath
  • local and efficient management
  • 2 blocks from campus
  • in a "Condo Row" ward
  • winter contract ONLY (they can extend if they want, but I'm only selling the winter part which is hard to come by)
Have any girl you know is looking for an apartment contact me: missmelissaj@gmail.com . Thanks!

(And SORRY I have resorted to such desperate measures to sell...)

11.30.2009

Can't stop listening...



...to either of these. They provide a nice contrast, actually.
I'm just glad it's time to officially bring Sarah out.


11.22.2009

I'm gettin' married...

...in less than a month! I can't believe it! And I can't wait!

11.17.2009

Coming next August...


Well, I guess we're actually going next August...

Mike has been working his tail off to get a great job for after graduation. As the semester has gone on, we've been incredibly blessed to have employment options. We finally accepted an offer in San Francisco yesterday! Mike will be working as a consultant, and while we don't yet have an apartment, we're excited to live downtown in a fantastic city.

We're so excited to live by Ty & Becca, Curt & Naomi, (hopefully) Josh & Mame, and some of our dear friends. We hope some of you will come and visit!

11.14.2009

come one, come all...

I have three pieces in this show. It's being put up in the JFSB on Tuesday with an opening reception at the bottom of the spiral staircase Thursday evening from 6-8 pm. Hope to see you there!

11.11.2009

little yellow house

Mike and I found a little yellow house to rent today! We are renting the main floor and we are so excited! The kitchen has a navy blue and white checkered floor. :) Also, ironically, the current tenants are sweet Ali (now Spittler, formerly Close,) and her husband. They're moving to DC in December and we lucked out to snag their contract before they took off!

11.09.2009

just read this...

I recently joined a book club run by the two and only (ha!) Jules Ferreira & Brittany Bland. We read this book for our first...book reading? It was very fun. And somewhat predictable. But still fun and engaging!

11.02.2009

engagement pictures.

Click here to see them. Which one should we use for announcements?
I L-O-V-E Anna Page!

If you're really interested, click this.
pw: johnson

10.23.2009

iheartannapage.


M&M December 2008

Mike and I took engagement pictures today! We went to lunch with Anna and Jonathan (Johnathan?) before the shoot to lessen the potential awkwardness of smiling and kissing for people we had never met. We had a blast! For some reason it made the wedding seem...a lot closer. That's good and bad considering the huge amount of school work I have to have done before it all happens. I can't wait to see how they turned out. Hopefully we'll find one good enough to send out with the invitations...

10.19.2009

Mmmmm...

Due to incredible mango-ness, Luna Berry is better than Spoon Me (which is huge).

10.17.2009

Is it true?

I heard I should wait 'till this goes to the dollar theater...or never see it at all. I'm surprised and disappointed by these reviews.

10.12.2009

Happy Birthday Patten!

My first nephew turns two today! I can't wait for his party later tonight...
Love you Patten!

10.05.2009

wedding registry

I wonder where y'all registered for your weddings (if you happen to be married)? We're trying to figure out where we want to register and don't want to get sucked into traps. I've heard Target is an absolute NO. Is there anywhere else you'd recommend or advise us to avoid?

10.04.2009

Is anyone super blog savvy?

I'm just wondering if anyone knows of a secret way to copy all my links from this blog to the future married blog? I don't want to do it all one by one. Yuck.

9.26.2009

my wedding dress rocks.


So far wedding planning has been very stressful. It's kind of hectic to plan the event, work, go to school, paint for my final show, TA for two classes, and have fun all at the same time. But this week--today especially--wedding planning was fun. I had my second fitting and my dress is actually starting to look like something. We started finalizing flowers, picked out a cake, and got invitation samples. But most of all, I love my dress. It keeps changing bit by bit and becoming more fantastic. Too bad you'll have to wait until December to see it...

9.24.2009

gf lasagna

I've never really been a pasta person, but I have always like lasagna. I think it's because you can't really tell you are eating pasta...the noodles are wide and skinny and drenched in so much goodness that you can hardly tell you're eating it. In fact, I've always preferred the "schlop" part of lasagna, as I called it, which excludes the actual noodles. Go figure.

Well, this week I decided to try to make lasagna. Mike LOVES pasta and I never, ever make it because I dislike it so much. But, it turned out to be a deliciously huge success and I'm glad I tried it out. I must share this recipe because it's that good. You don't have to use gluten free noodles if you don't want to...

2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes

2.5 teaspoons garlic, minced

1/4 cup olive oil

3 Tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

1/2 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped

2 Tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped

black pepper

Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add garlic and cook for about a minute. Then add parsley, basil, and oregano. Stir in the crushed tomatoes. Simmer for 30-45 minutes. Taste the sauce and adjust as needed.

2-2.5 cups freshly chopped spinach

14 oz. ground beef (the recipe called for Italian sausage, but I don't trust sausage to be gluten free)

1 10 oz box Tinkyada brown rice lasagna noodles

1 egg, beaten

15 oz. ricotta cheese

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

2 cups shredded mozzarella

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Prepare the marinara sauce and allow it to simmer while you prepare the rest of the dish. Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Brown the ground beef. Add the ground beef and chopped spinach to the marinara sauce. Mix the ricotta cheese, chopped parsley, and beaten egg in a small bowl.

Spread 1/3 of the sauce mixture in a rectangular baking dish, 13×9x2 inches. Top with 4 noodles. Spread 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture over noodles; spread with 1/3 of the sauce mixture. Sprinkle with 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat with 4 noodles, the remaining cheese mixture, 1/3 of the sauce mixture and 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining noodles and sauce mixture. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake about 15 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Okay so this lasagna was very spicy and delicious. By spicy I mean rich and flavorful, and full of the spices that it is drenched in--not a hot kind of spicy. It's also a great recipe if you are trying to use up old veggies (I think the sauce would be delicious with more vegetables in it. It called for mushrooms but I ignored it. Sick). Anyway, Mike and his roommates have devoured the entire pan in less than three days, so, I'd call it a success (especially since his roommates usually shun gf food). :)

9.22.2009

nerd.

I just wanted to congratulate my nerdy little sister for getting 95% on her grammar test. Anyone who went to East high and took a class from Miss Lake knows that's a big and ridiculous deal!
Love and miss you Nat!

9.20.2009

There is always someone lonely out there.

Tonight I randomly felt that I should share this with someone. Not sure who. This was written by a wise english teacher a few years ago, and shared with me my by my dear friend Cait. I hope it makes someone feel good.

"Never mistake aloneness for loneliness. In order to grow, you need
time away, away from the noises of the world, friends, comfort, and
all distractions to find what is important and fulfilling. These
alone moments build character and show the level of patience you are
willing to endure to find the spirit and wrestle with thoughts that tell
you you aren't worth anything or you can't do it right.

When you are lonely, you are saying, 'I don't have much meaning in my
life. Someone come and make me happy. I am unwilling to give because
I am feeling sorry for myself. You, world and all the people I know,
are responsible for entertaining me and proving to me that I am
worthwhile.'

Change these moments of loneliness into ones of aloneness. Alone, and
all by yourself, do as the Savior taught you to do: serve. This takes
courage and sacrifice of your self-centeredness. Endure being alone
to find that you are loved and have love to give. That decision made
in your heart will bring a glow to you that will attract others to
you. You won't be lonely because you will have yourself, those you
give to, and the Savior guiding you through."


Love.

9.11.2009

I have such a crush on these.

I am a huge fan of gladiators.
I have been since before they were on everyone's feet.
And these ones are hip enough that I would wear them even if everyone else was wearing them, too.
via Anthropologie, of course.


9.05.2009

So proud of this girl.

My sis-in-law Becca passed the {expletive deleted} nursing test yesterday!  I thought this picture adequately showed how excited I am for her--not only to be a real nurse sooner than we know it--but to be back with Tyler sooner than we know it, too.
Love you Becs!

9.03.2009

Ghost of the HFAC.

I realized today that I am an entity.  Entire classes of BYU students have come and gone and I remain on campus, haunting the Harris Fine Arts Center.  I wander the halls, stare at art, and meander over to my studio in the Jesse Knight Building to paint, paint, paint.  I have witnessed the retirement of several professors in my art career, but still I remain.  I have spent countless hours in the same studio space and have watched BFA students come and go.  Final show after final show goes up in the HFAC and comes down from the same walls, yet somehow I still have not completed mine.  As our dear friend John Lennon once told us, "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."  So here's to you, Lenny--from the HFAC ghost.  I always knew you were smart.

8.30.2009

The ASSASSIN.

This bug is the closest representation I could find to what ate a chunk off my shoulder today.  This is not a joke.  I felt a stinging, biting pain and took my sweater off to find this Ambush Bug's cousin CRAWLING UP THE INSIDE OF MY CLOTHING.  It bled and hurt and swelled to 3x its original size in a few minutes.  The wound had to be iced for three hours, and there is still a red sore from the miniature pincers.  

I am a survivor. 

8.27.2009

Love this.

Oddly enough, I feel that earrings might ruin it.

8.25.2009

Payette Lake

Mike and I spent the past week up in McCall, Idaho with his family.  We stayed in a beach cabin and enjoyed a 80*-90* week full of waterskiing, wake boarding, and water football.  As you can tell, it was absolutely torturous and the lake wasn't very pretty.

8.13.2009

the narrows.

I got to hike The Narrows Monday & Tuesday with Dad, Nat, and Mike.  I did this hike with Tyler and Dad in high school but we did it all in one day.  I recommend camping overnight--it was fantastic and helpful to spread the distance over two days.  Pictures to come.

Oh yes and I just took my last final, so I get to take a break for the next few weeks.  Hooray!

8.04.2009

i miss this.

If only I weren't going to school full-time, trying to finish my finals a week early, working 30 hours a week, and planning a wedding.  
Sigh...

PS - I love that I make it look like I'm some form of awesome extreme rock-climber.

8.03.2009

bebe bimbo is here


Well folks, she did it.  My sister-in-law Kristin gave birth to a blubbery baby boy on July 31, 2009.  I was going to say that he was a bouncing baby boy, but he wasn't--he was jiggling.  He weighs 9 1/2 pounds and is a very snuggly and cute.  Oh yeah and his name is Kimball Neal Johnson.  Both he and mom are doing well!

(Future) Uncle Mike and Kimball.

Natalie, Patten, and Bebe Bimbo (as he is referred to by Patten).

7.30.2009

perfectionism.

Hi, I'm Missy, and I'm a perfectionist.

     Ever since I was little (and unable to sleep without a perfectly tidy room), I have known a large part of my personality involves perfectionism.  Sometimes it isn’t as apparent in certain areas (last year I never completely moved into my room and it was often messy), but this trait is always present somewhere in my life.  Whether it’s grades, relationships, appearance, my living space, or not allowing one ounce of gluten to enter my body, I always want everything to be perfect.  I am not controlling of other people but I am literally obsessed with self-control no matter the cost.

     In my religion class yesterday we had a lesson on pride.  We had to read this talk prior to class, and although I had read it before, I hadn’t paid very close attention.  In class we discussed the talk, and it was one of the better lessons I have ever been taught in my BYU career.

     My teacher also added a few sweet afterthoughts—things he think a lot of people suffer from without realizing they are rooted in pride.

  • Perfectionism
  • Self-hatred/self-deprecation
It was one of those cheesy times when I felt like my teacher was talking to me individually…

Then he shared this quote, which I love, from President Samuelson:

     “Often those who struggle the most with perfectionism are among the most talented people. Some, however, become so obsessed or consumed with their every thought, action, and response that they become far too extreme in their perceptions of what is expected of them. Those suffering from perfectionism tend to be wonderful, contributing, and effective people, and yet may feel no matter what they do, it is never enough” (“What Does It Mean to Be Perfect?” New Era, Jan. 2006, 10).

     I'm not saying I'm one of the most talented people out there, I just liked the focus on unrealistic expectations of self.  I think everyone can work on pride and all the unexpected tangents of it.  That’s all. 

7.28.2009

still waiting for nephew #2.

Krisy is 40 weeks pregnant today.  Every morning for the past week I have been sending Dave the same text.  This is how our conversation goes:

Me: Baby?
Dave: Tummy.
Me: Blast.

So yesterday Dave turned the tables.  Around 9 am, the time I typically send the eager text message, I received this:

Dave: Baby?
Me: Tummy.
(No response).

But tomorrow the baby will come (if not naturally, by force).  I am so excited!  I can't wait to see what he looks like, what they'll name him, and how Patten will respond.  And I promise I will still love him (Patten) and pay attention to him even if he has a new brother (though I can't promise I won't want to hold insert name here whenever I can)!

7.25.2009

oldies but goodies.

I'm not sure why, but for some reason I'm feeling very nostalgic today. It could be because I just got back from a simple and wonderful trip to Fairview with my family (and M). It could also be because I'm trying to avoid studying. Perhaps the fact that my life is full of huge (and wonderful) changes is making me antsy and desperate for something sturdy to hold on to. The past doesn't change, so I think that's why it's on my mind today. I was looking through some of the (literally) thousands of pictures on my computer and found a few that made me smile. Ironically enough, most of them are from times when my life was changing dramatically. This makes me content and excited about the changes that are happening now, because these pictures represent some of my fondest memories.
*If you aren't in a picture, it doesn't mean you aren't included in my favorite memories. :)
 PS - Can't wait for nephew number two to get here later this week!  I hope Krisy is comfortable until then...

7.21.2009

vera wang dress.


So, I have a Vera Wang dress. But it's not a wedding dress. It's actually a hand-me-down dress from my current roommate, Miss Emily. It's cotton. And it's from Kohl's. But I think it's funny to claim that I have a Vera Wang dress with the wedding coming up...