c# - Windows Phone ListPicker selectedItem without databinding -

i have listpicker in windows phone 8 app, , wondering i'm doing wrong collect selected item in c#.

here's xaml listpicker.

<toolkit:listpicker x:name="brewmethodlist" horizontalalignment="left" margin="-2,24,0,0" verticalalignment="top" height="127" width="164" borderbrush="#ff162e3e" foreground="black" selectionchanged="brewmethodselectionchange" lostfocus="quantityinputlostfocus" background="#ff5c97bf" >   <toolkit:listpickeritem x:name="manual_list" content="manual" background="#ff5c97bf"/>   <toolkit:listpickeritem x:name="autodrip_list" content="auto drip" background="#ff5c97bf"/> </toolkit:listpicker> 

here's c# trying access selected item.

private void brewmethodselectionchange(object sender, selectionchangedeventargs e)     {         if (brewmethodlist.selecteditem == manual_list)         {             brewmethod = manual;         }         else         {             brewmethod = auto_drip;         }         update();     } 

this simplified version, throws 'system.nullreferenceexception' , if hover mouse on "brewmethodlist" says null, , same goes hovering mouse on "manual_list."

on behalf of being new, i'm not entirely knowledgeable on databinding, , if should doing let me know, thought manage without (plus i'm not solid on capable of). appreciated! i've read every article find.

try

    private void brewmethodselectionchange(object sender, selectionchangedeventargs e)     {         var brewmethodlist = sender listpicker;         if (brewmethodlist.selecteditem == manual_list)         {             brewmethod = manual;         }         else         {             brewmethod = auto_drip;         }         update();     } 

but yes, more better if use mvvm pattern. link should reference, http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/hh852595.aspx

edit: better if don't check through name of controls, once implement mvvm pattern lot cleaner , simpler rather doing behind code. :)