happy valentines to my people.

in honor of this holiday.
& in honor of those with broken hearts. i will make a list of ten everyday things i love on this day of love because for some of us - valentines is a mediocre holiday- and for others it is the holiday. but for all of us there are always a few everyday things we love but sometimes take for granted.
here is my list.

10 everyday things i love.
1. blow drying my hair.
2. color.
3. making a yellow light.
4. socks.
5. God's love.
6. the five senses.
7. smiles.
8. words.
9. a healthy body.
10. cheesy lyrics.

chacos in february.

wore the chacos yesterday.
-cause its the month of love & i love chacos.-
& my neil diamond tee. (wait. i wear that everyday.)
january is over. huzzah. that means spring is coming.

i really hate january.
also. does anybody else have the "baggy knee" problem?
my jeans always, always get baggy in the knees.
probably cause i was given a gracious rump.

yeah. . .

it is almost february.

meaning there are just under three weeks until i get to celebrate valentines. . .
alone.
hollah at me my singles. hollah at me.

this year at christmas.

i went to mexico.
& built houses.
huzzah for builders without borders.

& i learned this:
friendship isn't a connection through lanugage, 
friendship is a connection through the heart.

cannot wait to go back.

happy christmas to you.

from the beach.
xo. xo. xo.
wishes, wishes to you.

movie night under christmas light.

it is finals week.
you should be aware that i've utterly terrible luck with finals week.
last finals week i had mono. & this one is even worse. double time worse.
i've studied my brain to mush. so i lie in bed & watch indie films & cry.
to try & heal the emptiness inside.
if any of you have advice to healing emotional wounds, good movies, good books, good tuneage, please share with me. please.
i'm pleading. i need some inspiration. i'm feeling pretty dull these days.
dull & empty. dull, empty, and alone.

christmas lights.

the family went to the official kick off of the holidays at Temple Square.
& it was so boss.
the holidays are here.
i am pumped, stoked, what have you.
christmas music. huzzah.
i'm in need of some new christmas tunes. any suggestions?

happy, happy, happy holidays.
people are warm, friendly, & caring.
i like it.
want a chirstmas card?
send me one, i'll send you one.

it is halloween.

& my sister makes the cutest nerd.
ever.

(or mini me. . . take your pick.)

concert goers & firework watchers.

yes. i did see foster the people.
yes. i died.
yes. it was so good.
yes. i will see them again.
mayer hawthorne & the county? in love.
kimbra? so sick.
i love good music.

five one & a little bit.

& a concert looks like this.

 handsome concert goers.
so excited.
so stoked.

so good.

foster the people.

we love you.

also.

the fourth of july is my favorite holiday.

naturally i celebrated in style.

i love america.

& the bbq & fireworks.

& potato salad.

mmmm. summer.

three cheers for fireworks, parades, & concerts.
& four cheers for america.

mmhmm.

our valentines was simple.

we made memories & spent time rather than money.

we ate a picnic on the floor of the body odor scented dorms.

& instead of something fancy, boyfriend carved our names in a tree.

a tree of my choice.

our names'll be there. forever. jealous?

as you should be.

& he drew me an owl, and wrote me a love letter. on parchment.

adorable. uh huh. yes.

& then i had a quote i want to share with you.

"take every risk.

drop every fear."

but i'd like to tag to end of that, "& what the hell, love a little."

i have a valentine.

& this is exactly how i feel about him.

he is the best boyfriend, like, ever.
thought you should know.

19 year old boy.

on the day boyfriend turned 19.

we went bowling.

drank dr. pepper.

ate greasy fries.

& kissed a little.

cause i bowled a 41 & he a 134.

hey boyfriend. happy birthday.

new years wish.

i make a wish every new year. & hope they come true.
this year's wish is this:
i hope i never go bald.
cause that'd blow.
make a wish. it makes the year more meaningful.
cause then you'll remember the year along with the wish.
such as...hey remember the year 2010? oh yeah. that was the year i wished my car wouldn't die before highschool ended.
& good news, car is still kickin. & highschool is over.
so there's that.
go wishes.

new year today.

a new year is born.
so raise your glass & give a toast to 2012.
we welcomed it with kisses & smiles & friendship.
here's to something new.
xo 2011. you did good.
i feel as if greeting the new year on a sunday is a very good sign.
a very good sign indeed.
happy new year, kids.

cold fingers typed this.

i'm not entirely sure how to work the heater in my home. so i awoke to a household set to the temperature of 48 degrees. ah. murder. i'm wearing gloves, long underwear, & a sock monkey cap to stay warm. bad news. we're out of hot cocoa. & i don't really want to go outside, so i'll stay in & play scrabble alone by the fire because santa brought me a new board & the webster's official scrabble player dictionary. so please. be jealous. cause it was the second best thing i opened.
i've heard a person pees six times a day. well, i think a person pees six times a day if she's not a frequent fountain drinker at the hart's. its noon & i've been far more than six. its noon & i've been to hart's twice. its an addiction. don't judge.
singing to the radio is, like, the best thing ever. we know we sound terrible, but we pretend we sound absolutely fantastic. that's where the fun is.
i play two songs over & over while i sit next to the fire. a. annabelle: joshua james. & b. i don't mind: defeater.
going to the deseret industries the days after christmas is a good idea. especially if you'd like to dress your man in second hand sweaters & skinny ties that resemble cheap motel bedspreads & worn leather shoes. & yourself in floral & lace.
speaking of my man.
here he is. he's dashing isn't he. (that was a statement. not a question.)
this picture was far too beautiful nor to share. perhaps i'm partial, but honey, he's handsome. so very handsome. we be stealing kisses anywhere we can.


& then a man named winston churchill once said...
success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
ever have those days when you struggle getting out of bed & alls you want to do is read & read & write & read some more? its perfectly okay to go along with those days. because sometime people can be just so overbearing & your own company is what you need.
so grab a book, turn on the fire place, and for heaven's sake. get lost for a few hours. i promise you, you'll come back feeling refreshed. honest.
also. maybe you could jot a few new year's resolutions down. i will. if you do.
happy new year, i guess.
word.

feeling christmas.

that feeling when you take the first sip of peppermint cocoa with extra whipped cream.
that feeling when you open a copy of your favorite novel for the first time.
that feeling when your home is lit with the lights of christmas.
that feeling when you light an evergreen scented candle.
that feeling of finding a new favorite christmas carol.
that feeling when you are cuddled next to the fire with that novel.
that feeling of new christmas themed socks.
that feeling of christmas. it is irreplaceable.

& helen keller once said:
"the only blind person at christmastime
is he who has not christmas in his heart."

its christmas.

we've consumed lots of cocoa. & we've listened to lots of christmas music. we've decorated christmas trees & watched devotionals. we've read story books & eaten chocolate out of the advent calendars.

we've struggled through an entire semester of college. & we're facing finals. we're just stressed is all. very stressed. we've been ill. we've had anxiety. its been tough. but one semester under the belt is a nice relief.

here is a christmas joke:

*what is the best thing to stick in your Christmas Dinner?

...your teeth...

that's all.

also. happy christmas season kids.

check out joshua james' christmas album. (if you're into that.)

xo.