k & a

The Princesses had birthdays this month. Of course, pink is all the rage when you're 3 going on 4 -- pink princesses, pink ponies, pink fingernails, pink hair bows, PINK PINK PINK. Since my goal in life is to be the favorite aunt, I went in search of the pinkest gifts I could find. Too bad I wasn't the only one in the family with that genius idea. I think we had pink nearly exploding from the living room both times. Buuut .... you should have seen their excited little faces. Bring on the pink. Sorry, Josh -- but we'll be into blues and greens soon enough (1 more month!)

Oh, and I got to experiment by making a rainbow cake. Heart shaped and eventually frosted PINK. Of course.

the '80s -- broken down.

hey ... mazel tov!

After Virginia/DC in the fall and now recently Connecticut/NYC , I think I've fallen in love with the east coast. Of course, that might be "vacation" love and not necessarily "living" love, which I consider to be a notable difference. But I think I could live out there for a time -- it's beautiful. I'd eventually finding my way back to Utah, though. The combination of family and mountains is a strong motivator.

Anyway -- here is a quick slide show of pictures from our trip. I would add more commentary, but I'm exhausted right now and sleep sounds more appealing than typing. Suffice it to say that the trip was jam packed full of new things. New York was FREEZING COLD, but it was still exciting to see it for the first time, even if it was for only a day. I can't wait to go back when the temperature isn't 2,000 below and wind isn't burning my face raw. But I still need to get a hot dog from a street vendor, take a run in Central Park, and see a Broadway show so I'll definitely be back. The Bar Mitzvah was awesome. It was really interesting to observe and be a small part of the Jewish culture for a couple of days. We ate kosher, went to synagogue, tried some classic Jewish food, and attempted to help out where we could. Overall, definitely time well spent.

Okay really, here's the slide show:

And to top it all off, a little taste of the Bar Mitzvah. This is Ira, Asher's dad:

You're stone cold if that video doesn't make you smile -- even just a little bit. Now if only I could find Shanna's "Carlton" video to share. It's conveniently missing ....

Need a laugh? This worked for me, especially with the commentary. I think we should bring some of these cards back .... just to make things a little more interesting. One of my favorites:

"Ladies, should a pretty young man wearing a bright pink cowboy hat ever tell you that he wants you to be his valentine, he's not only lying to you, he's also lying to himself."

let's go outback tonight

Out of the thousands of millions of jingles out there, I have a favorite: Outback Steakhouse. Hearing it the first time I thought it was a real song, loved it, was ready to write the name down to download it, only to be disappointed when the Aussie guy started jabbering about the restaurant.

Then today happened. Today I discovered that it was an actual song before it was a jingle. How great is that? Except that now I associate it with Outback Steakhouse. And I've never even been there. Anyway, the song is called Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games by Of Montreal.

CT & NYC

We're back. It was a getaway full of new things and funny stories. I have pictures to post, but am also still ridiculously tired so this will have to do for now.

Now you KNOW it was a good time because what else happens when there are Elton John glasses involved? You just wait. I have a picture of a grown man doing the splits.

'Answer me this Richard, what sort of animal would serve a desert with peas in?'

You've probably all read this already, but I can't help but post about it. It's a complaint letter written to Richard Branson, head of Virgin Atlantic airways, from a customer on one of his flights. The guy is hilarious. I'd love to hear his take on waiting in line at the DMV or the dentist. Or the Walmart on 13th south. My favorite part of the letter:

"I’ll try and explain how this felt. Imagine being a twelve year old boy, Richard. Now imagine it’s Christmas morning and you’re sat their with your final present to open. It’s a big one, and you know what it is. It’s that Goodmans stereo you picked out the catalogue and wrote to Santa about.

Only you open the present and it’s not in there. It’s your hamster, Richard. It’s your hamster in the box and it’s not breathing. That’s how I felt when I peeled back the foil and saw this ...."

I love it. Anyway, read the whole thing here if you want.

LACE UP YOUR SHOES, HERE'S HOW WE DO

I reeeally hate running outside during the winter. I applaud those who can, but I can't. The cold air makes the spot right behind my ears ache. Then it starts spreading to the rest of my head. Pretty soon all I can focus on is the notion that my head is going to explode at any moment and I just want to fall in the snow and die. Dramatic? Sure. But still not my ideal run. Not to mention that speeding cars + ice + snow = dangerous. So I spend my winter at 24 Hour where it isn’t 21 degrees. I still haven’t purchased a FM attachment for the pretty new iPod Santa brought me so instead of watching TV I rely solely upon music for entertainment. As I’ve been doing my training I put together a workout playlist which I have to say is probably my favorite ... ever. Yes, EVER. (At least until next month)

So for those of you who are looking for new workout music, I present you with my LACE UP YOUR SHOES, HERE’S HOW WE DO playlist. Get ready to have your socks knocked right off. Or not.

• Check Yes Juliet - We The Kings (proud originator of my playlist name)
• Time to Pretend – MGMT
• Kids - MGMT
• You Are the One - Shiny Toy Guns
• That's What You Get – Paramore
• Misery Business - Paramore
• CrushCrushCrush - Paramore
• Fences – Paramore
• Clearly anything Paramore
• Disturbia – Rihanna
• Cemeteries of London – Coldplay (starts out slow but hold tight -- it livens up a bit)
• Forever – Chris Brown
• Show Me What I'm Looking For - Carolina Liar
• Beautiful World – Carolina Liar
• Pretty Girl (The Way) - Sugarcult
• Just Dance - Lady GaGa (just overlook that it’s Lady GaGa and focus on the fact that is has a good beat)
• Pokerface - Lady GaGa (really -- overlook)
• Big Casino – Jimmy Eat World
  

Oh and don’t worry. It doesn’t end there. Once your cardio is done I’ve got a whole other playlist for your cool down and stretching! Oh, wow! You’re so welcome! Lots of unnecessary exclamations!

• Say (All I Need) - One Republic
• Be Still My Heart - The Postal Service
• One of Those Days – Joshua Radin
• Trouble is a Friend – Lenka
• Porcelain – Moby
• Breathe – Angels & Airwaves
• Say it Right – Nelly Furtado
• Cautioners – Jimmy Eat World
• Penelope – Pinback
• Last of Days – A Fine Frenzy

There. I'm always looking for new additions so if you have anything good let me know because in a month I might not dub this playlist as so great anymore.

And in other news: I’m very proud to say that I have stopped picking at my hair. I honestly don’t know how it happened. The day after I wrote my post I had a hair appointment. Usually after I get my hair done I don’t pick at it, but that’s just guilt-driven and always short lived. After that it’s business as usual. But that didn’t happen this time. I haven’t torn my hair apart for nearly a month now. Well I’ll be. Now onto the other MUST DOs …

fashion forward.

I'm so relieved to find I wasn't the only one extra distracted by Aretha Franklin's hat on Tuesday. Wool felt .... Swarovski crystals ... running around $179 ... WOW.

I suppose if anyone should be allowed to wear such a loud hat it's Aretha Franklin. People really are buying the thing because she wore it. And who I am to say what's stylish? I'm the girl who vowed to never wear capris or pointed-toe shoes and that clearly fell flat on its face. I very well could be sporting this look by next fall. I hope it comes in red.

I think Ellen does it best -- just ignore all the annoying celebtv.com stuff at the beginning and end. Focus on 0:23 to 1:01.

19

Another 19 day come and gone. This one I got to spend with my sweet nieces, or PRINCESSES as they prefer to be called. I can't believe they'll both be 4 next month ...

They each had their turn with the camera to "TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING!" Some of the results:Not bad, huh? I love my little budding photographers.

MAX AXE

This one really makes me laugh for a variety of reasons:

#1 Karlee's face looks like she just rolled out of the muddy pig pen
#2 Apparently I was a floozy who couldn’t keep her shirt up
#3 Karlee’s freakish doll has some form of leprosy
#4 The creepy Cabbage Patch Doll peering over my shoulder

This got me thinking about my Cabbage Patch Doll phase. I was so into them. They smelled like baby powder and you even got to ADOPT them – papers and all. And they had the name Xavier Roberts (the creator) tattooed on their butts. I always thought the butt was an interesting placement choice for that, but whatever.

Anyway. Then I started thinking about Garbage Pail Kids. Anyone else remember them? They were a series of trading cards designed as a play on the Cabbage Patch Kids. Where the dolls were cutesy, these cards were not. The characters were all deformed or part of some horrible scene. Oddly enough, I really liked collecting them. Which I feel is weird considering I was a shy little blonde girl with braids. Then again, I couldn’t keep my shirt up so maybe I had a wild streak in there somewhere.

Turns out there was even a Garbage Pail Kids movie. I don’t ever remember seeing it, but after looking at the screenshots I feel okay about it. It’s like they mated a Cabbage Patch Kid with a Gremlin and made a movie. I am not comfortable with that.

And aren't they supposed to be kids? The one in the front left has sideburns and a butt chin. Again, feeling very uncomfortable with this picture.

Worked like a charm.

snow.

Last week Marme and I found some boxes of pictures from way back when. HILARIOUS. Lots of fanny packs, big bangs, nose pickings, Josh's spandex shorts, missing teeth, Perfect Pose Karlee and Jennie -- all there.

Thankfully there were some normal ones where my finger wasn't shoved up my nose. Just a few. This one seems appropriate considering all the snow as of late. Apparently Karlee wasn't allowed to have snow clothes and play outside and have fun. Sorry, Curlie.

Or there's this real nice one of Josh. Doesn't he kind of remind you of little Ralphie? If you look closely you can seen a glimmer of snot on his upper lip.



I'd venture I'm not alone in saying that sometimes I wanna go back to those times where your biggest concern was how big you could build your snow igloo or if your sled was fast enough. This week's snow was a chance to momentarily tap into that which was much needed. Thankfully (and not thankfully) our street isn't always plowed so yesterday was perfect for sledding and skiing down it. I'm totally buying moon boots and upgrading from my plastic garbage bag to a saucer so I can feel five and so carefree just a little more often.

r-o-w-WHOO-d-y

I saw this commercial the other day and had to look it up. How great are his facial expressions?!

cheers

Everyone say hello to 2009 and your anticipated/dreaded New Years resolutions. In years past I've written up glooorious lists of things that I'd like to work on in the new year. Overwhelmingly unattainable lists that are, as time goes on, guiltily shoved closer to the back of the drawer. Don't act like I'm the only one.

I have a terrible habit of picking at my hair {hold tight ... to a very small degree this does apply and comes full circle}. I used to say "Oh no no, it's fine. I just do that when I'm bored." But it has become very clear that yes, I do pick when I'm bored but also when I'm stressed, happy, sad, excited, anxious, or {insert any emotion here}. And now when I find myself picking all I can hear in my head is Marme scolding YOU'LL BE SORRY WHEN YOU'RE BALD. Marme, I really don't wanna be bald. And I really do need to stop picking at it if my hair is to ever be healthily long again. Which I do, with all my heart.

Which brings me to my point. I feel that in the past my resolution lists have been full of pretty decent things that I wanted to strive for. But it's become clear that a select few of those wants that show up on my list year after year have been upgraded to needs. Not just wants but actions I need to take in order to become the kind of person I hope to be, i.e. needing to not pick at my hair so it can be healthy and grow like I want it to. Otherwise these things are just going to keep showing up on my list every January 1st, only to be shoved to the back of the drawer over the course of the year. And I'm tired of letting that happen. Maybe I'll never quite get there, but it won't be for lack of really trying. So here I am: much smaller list, much bigger motivation. Looks like I'm finally understanding all this "resoluting" everyone keeps talking about.

And if all else fails, let's not forget: nines are really lucky numbers. So '09 can't be all that bad, right? And on a lighter note, if I could somehow advance to the expert level on Guitar Hero that would just be the cherry on top. It's my golden ticket to Cool Aunt Jessi. So here's to a 2009 full of dominating in Guitar Hero and not being bald.

CHEERS