‘Cause that was the real you

Oh Mat. How does he manage to capture it just right every time?

‘Cause that was the real you running through the fields of gold wide open,
Standing in places no picture contains.
That was the real you, windows down, we could smell the mint fields crying,
Sing with the radio to a song we can’t name.

Goodbye, 2011

2011 was a good year. Lots of new experiences, new people, strengthened friendships, a few necessary and unnecessary tears, and some greater understandings. Here are a few of my favorite moments of the year:

Sundance Film Festival 2011: where I had my almost sighting of James Franco.
I expect better luck for Sundance 2012.

 Battled it out at the Midway Ice Castles

Aubree & Kambri's first dance recital

My very first Festival of Colors. Still trying to get pink off my car seats.

Impromptu trip to the Salt Flats ... resulting in an impromptu night in Wendover

A little Lone Ranger business for Michelle's birthday

Finally got an iPhone -- and had my highest Words With Friends score ... yet

 

Just because it was entertaining

Went from dark back to light in one day. Well, technically I went from dark to "orangeish/strawberry blondeish", but hey - it was a process.

Spent a particularly spectacular week in New York City

With a particularly memorable night moseying across the Brooklyn Bridge

Saw my very first Broadway show - Memphis

Had a little fight with my grill (Still for sale! Anyone?)

Unveiled our winter tans to all the lucky folks in Moab

Protected the capitol (just not the Hunger Games kind)

Airplaned my heart out. I'm shocked it didn't catch on.

Conquered beautiful Bells Canyon a few thousand times

Got everything I've ever wanted in a birthday cake

Finally scored a Bike Shoppe t-shirt

Viva Las Vegas and CELINE for my birthday

Grabbed the bull by the horns at the Utah State Fair ...

... and got a ribbon for our cookies

Decided it was time to have a caricature ... which I'm still skeptical is really me and Anna

 

Made some new friends at our Midway fall get together

 

Embraced my inner geisha

Had ourselves a posh girl's night at Grand America and Temple Square

Soon followed up with an opportunity to showcase our amazing ice skating skills

Throw in some pregnancy announcements, some photography, Five Guys hamburgers with mouth-numbing jalapenos, and some other great trips and then call it a year. Thanks 2011. You were good to me!

Adulthood

 This made me laugh today. True, right? Unfortunately.

 via

Bucket List Item #22:

Enter cookies into the Utah State Fair. CHHHECK! Anna and I worked hard to put together some good cookie recipes and one of them won a ribbon. Sure, an Honorable Mention ribbon doesn't exactly say First Place on it, but hey -- it still looks like a ribbon to me!

Kids these days ....

This ad made me laugh:

I love how she says that she read the majority of an article online. Isn't it sad that our attention spans are shortening so quickly? Maybe I'll join a book club in an effort to combat that. 

Related: I saw online today that some public schools will be permanently replacing cursive writing with keyboard proficiency. As someone who loves a beautifully HANDwritten word, this makes me very sad! When I have children you better believe I'll have them practice penmanship. They may not love it, but they'll at least be able to whip out a lovely handwritten note if they ever wanted to (and I hope they do).

I'm all about the awesome things that the internet and technology can provide us -- I think it's pretty exciting, actually. But can't things like social skills and penmanship still exist in that world? I sure hope so.

I suddenly feel like I'm 95 years old, chewing out the neighbor kids for cutting across my lawn. Whoopsy.

can't.look.away.

This kid is, well, um, I don't know. Seen him all over the internet lately?

Oh my, right? But the few times where I'm not weirded out I kinda love it! Especially when he casually pushes up his glasses. And if you go to YouTube you'll see that there's plenty more that that came from. This internet sure is a strange place sometimes. Oh, and can I tell you just how much I love that song? Not so much Rihanna, but that song makes me run twice as fast.

To offset this I feel the need to post something that makes me happy instead of confused. So please enjoy a little of my latest crush - Bruno Mars!

Do you like the smell of adventure?

I can't tell you how much I LOVE these commercials!

Vamps - Part Deux

Wow! Wasn't MyBoyfriendIanSomerhalder great on tonight's Vampire Diaries season finale? So much better than what's his name Cullen (No offense, Rest of the World. And guess what else? I'm passing up U2 tickets. YES WAY. Disappointed in me? I thought so.)

Oh ... well now what's this picture? How embarrassing that it was leaked onto the internet! Okaay, well this is us at an awards show. I can't remember which one since he asks me to go to so many of them.

He's got quite the bear hug.

Three posts in four days! What's the deal? I suppose the saying is true ... when it rains it pours.

And on that note: I'm pretty excited to see Robin Hood

Ridley Scott Trades Russell Crowe to Tim Burton for Johnny Depp
The Onion - America's Finest News Source

HOLLYWOOD, CA—Directors Ridley Scott and Tim Burton traded their favorite actors Wednesday, closing a deal in which Scott received Johnny Depp and Burton received Russell Crowe plus two guys from Black Hawk Down and a three-pack of watermelon Bubble Yum. "I'm going to cover his face in white powder and make him wear a purple fright wig and a Victorian frock coat with swirls all over it," said Burton, who unsuccessfully attempted to trade away an old Michael Keaton with whom he hardly ever plays anymore. "Russell Crowe's going to be the best misfit undertaker ever!" Scott, meanwhile, told reporters that he was just glad he got rid of a crappy action figure like Crowe and that he and Burton had definitely called no tradebacks.

Trace aka TNT aka Toogers

Just another boring Venable Sunday dinner...

Ohhh .. sparkly!

So what happens when your sprinkling system freaks out in the middle of February? Well I'll tell you.

THIS

turns into THIS overnight

Looking for the silver lining in the situation, I have to say that it's all quite beautiful when the light hits it. See?

That is, beautiful until we get our water bill.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sounds like more of a threat than an expression of love ... but who I am to judge? Happy Valentine's!

Snow day!

10 second rule

via :: minor details

Introducing ... The Beard Cap

I'm gonna learn how to knit for the sole purpose of making these AWESOME winter hats. It'll probably take me awhile. So basically, you all know what you're getting Christmas 2010. And then I'll guilt everyone into actually wearing them because C'MON, THEY TOOK ME AN ENTIRE YEAR TO MAKE.

Like ... a ninja

So this artist is pretty tricky:

Click HERE if you wanna see more.

Does his work remind you of something else? Say .... THIS?

Or maybe THIS?

Yeah, that's pretty much all I could think about.

The Door!

Even if this is fake, consider the inspiration it is for beard growers all around. Jon, I expect you're taking notes?

Just gearing up for the holidays ...

I’ve been out for a bit. Got my Panama post coming up to prove that it was worthwhile. But what better way to jump back in than with this little gem? All I can say is FINALLY! It’s about time someone came up with the merman Christmas ornament series (now there's a sentence I never thought I'd say).


I mean, really – what took so long?

ready to prove your loyalty, iMatt?

"Apple Claims New iPhone Only Visible To Most Loyal Of Customers"

The Onion - America's Finest News Source

"Those who really understand what we do here at Apple are going to love this new product," Schiller continued. "Unless, you know, they happen to be totally lame."

sheesh, talk about outshining your sister.

It's kinda long so skip through if necessary. Favorite part: 0:23. Someone needs to teach this kid the snake. And maybe The Carlton for a little variety.