When I was watching this week's 30 Rock, I started thinking a lot about friendship. Then as I was re-reading parts of Mindy Kaling's book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me I started thinking about people I was friends with in High School (prompted somewhat by her discussion of Monty Python).

My freshman year a group of mean girls turned their back on me due to extensive jealousy on their part. It hurt really bad. It shaped a lot of who I am today, actually.

But my sophomore year I fell in with a group of great friends, people who just got me. We were a mixed bunch and I think if you saw us from the outside you'd wonder what the heck we were doing with each other. There was Holly my beautiful, intelligent, amazing best friend; Alison our resident athlete, cynic, and all around straight-man; Laura our smart, excitable, band geek; and then there was me (I don't really know how to categorize myself, probably a nerdy socialite, which sounds like a contradiction, but I made it work).

Looking at our group there didn't seem to be much to hold us together besides our statuses on the Honor Roll and what we sometimes were caught reading. But from the inside we knew. We all had the same sense of humor and taste in comedy that soldered us together as friends and comrades. There were endless nights spent in Alison's basement or my living room watching things like Monty Python and The Mummy. We could make any mundane or b-list movie into something hilarious and quotable to our little group.

I have such fond memories of this time in my life. We went to such simple, but rewarding lengths to make ourselves laugh and keep ourselves happy. Often we also enlisted the help of our friend Jon to sweeten the deal some. (Like the time we sneaked the picture into one of our favorite teacher's lab room, or the time we narrated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in spanish using sock puppets...which then became permanent fixtures in our lockers, the many times we created 'blow darts' after seeing the Mummy 2, even down to our ridiculous Apple Brown Betty recipe homework--in which we employed a sledgehammer.)

I believe true friendship is rare, and I am grateful I had these people in my life for the time they were there. Even though we're not still close and now are scattered across the globe, I'm grateful that each of us has been able to achieve our respective dreams...and continue dreaming more. I'll always consider them true friends.

I'm grateful for this reminder, that humor is something that can bond souls, and that it helps make life really happy -- even in the simplest of ways. Thanks for teaching me that lesson, guys.

"Remember, true friends are always together in spirit." -- Anne of Green Gables

xoxo.

i'll be home for christmas. literally.

So I've had a half written post stuck in my drafts for days. 

This is still not it. 

But this IS my I'm-so-excited-to-go-home-and-see-my-family-for-the-first-Christmas-in-two-years post. 

See this house? 

This is gonna be what it looks like when I get in tomorrow night.

Isn't it adorable?

I love this place. I can't wait to play my piano, sit on the couch in a blanket with my sister, talk about books with my baby brother, sit on the floor of the kitchen and talk to my mom as she cooks (-- or maybe help her cook :P), and to watch football with my dad, and to talk to my little brother on the phone in Nicaragua!

Also, to see New England snow again. I haven't seen real snow in nearly two years! That's crazy business!

But I will say, I'm going to miss Pat an awful lot. I know it sounds silly, but we spend very few days apart and this is the time you're supposed to be with your loved ones -- and he's for sure my loved one. I wish he was coming with me. But I know it's just a few days and we'll soon be together again. I love that guy. 

(And hopefully I can teach him how to Skype so we can talk face to face on Christmas Day!) 

Plus, I bought him Nerf guns (among some other things) and I cannot wait to play with them. They have glow i the dark suction darts!

Also--check this out: 

tiny me opening presents.

Or I really should say: tiny me playing with wrapping paper. 

That's still what my hair looks like when I wake up on Christmas day.

I hope your days leading up to Christmas are treating you well. 

I love you all lots. Sincerely. 

warmest christmas wishes,

To be honest, I've had a hard time blogging these past few months because all the fun exciting things I'd like to tell you about -- I'm afraid to.

Mostly because of all the stories about professional and educational troubles due to facebook and blogs.

So, once again, I'm thinking about going private -- so I can tell you all about my life! 

(Because that's the fun part, right?!)

Thoughts?

Anyway. 

I'm going to lay something on y'all. And it's going to be mushy. But this is my space, my rules, my game. Holla.

I am so grateful for the wonderful people in my life. 

family picture, 2006

I have the best family a girl could ask for.
My mom is the most amazing woman. She knows when something is wrong, or when you need her -- even when you haven't said a word. She supports me in, through, and with everything. And she'll let me call late, no matter how early she has to be up. And she makes me laugh simply when she laughs.

My dad calls all the time just to make sure I'm alive, to make sure I'm doing alright, and to make sure I haven't driven myself crazy. Plus he tells me awesomely pun-tastic jokes, which slay me. And he still calls every time Bleeding Love is on the radio.

My little brother Braden is so sweet and works to maintain our bond even though he's so far away. This week he and I got a chance to chat via email, and he reminded me how great he thinks I am. We talked about the future, about our great family, about being homesick. Growing up and moving away (even from each other) has really solidified our bond. Plus, the kid has the wackiest sense of humor and the greatest laugh.

My littlest (ha. he's actually the tallest) brother Ben and I are pretty close. In fact, out of everyone in our family, I'm the only one he confides in. I think that's incredible. He's a 17 year old boy who loves to chat with his sister. He's so funny and sarcastic, he makes me chuckle even through his texts.

And lastly, but never least in my life, my baby sister. She's such a blessing in my life. Every night (EVERY) night she texts me goodnight as she goes to bed just to make sure she knows I'm thinking about her. And she is more than gung-ho about boyfriend ... embracing him even though they've never met. Plus she's HILARIOUS. And we have nearly the same laugh at this point, which really makes me happy.

 (we found mustaches in the vending machine on 2009's vacation...so naturally we made her look like a creeper. This picture makes me laugh nonstop EVERY.TIME.)
Actually, thinking about it, my family is hysterical. I said they make me laugh, about each of them.
I LOVE you guys.

I'm grateful for my wonderful friends.
You know who you are (hint, you, hint). I'm so grateful I have you in my life.
For my Megans new and old.
Miss Holly, my long-time, permanent bestie.
For el producero del manana. For my blockbuster co-hort. And the amazon, pink-shoed lady.
And so many more of you.
I am blessed to have you in my life. Love, xoxo.



And also, I feel crazy about blogging because, honestly, I am desperately, hopelessly, ridiculously in love.
And the mush can only go so far before I become sickening.

I am the luckiest girl.
I have a man who treats me so well, tells me I'm beautiful, calls me just to say hi, comes over all the time (no matter how tired) just so we can spend time together. He makes me laugh (seriously non-stop. funniest person i know.), tickles me til I almost pee, snuggles me, cooks for me, holds me, listens to me babble (all.the.time), kisses me on the forehead, and loves me.

We've had some fantastic times. {And lately those times just keep getting even better.} I can't stop smiling about when I think about our memories (for example: eating chinese food in my room while listening to music and watching netflix).
Honestly, he was the one who saw me when I was invisible. But he never treated me like I wasn't the msot important, beautiful or wonderful person in the world.
He's so special.
I never thought I'd be so lucky to find someone who just gets me.
Thanks for being my puzzle piece. I love you.

Anyway. 

Love you all. 

Fur. Rills.

xoxo

make you say my name...

So, seeing this is MY part of the interwebs {despite what some people think} I probably should let y'all in on a little stuff that's going on in my life.

I lost someone very important to me last week.

And I haven't been taking it well.

A man that was much like a second father to me during my growing up years passed away from that nasty disease called cancer.

He cared about me {and most everyone else he knew} like they were his own family.

He and his wife are some of the most charitable, amazing, genuine, accepting, and hysterical people I know.

All throughout this whole ordeal {and it was an ORDEAL} he had such optimism and cared more about other people worrying about him, than he did about whether or not he'd get better.

I'm coping, but not great.

Anyway...onto happier topics.

So my hair needed a change.

And I didn't know what to do. Cut? Dye? Continue to freak out??

Well, on a whim I decided I was sick of my highlights grow-out and that my bleached and highlighted blonde was too much to try and maintain right now...

 {that second picture is for dad...he hates when i make faces.}

So I dyed it. It's just dark blonde (kinda red-ish because my hair = naturally strawberry blonde). I'm still mildly undecided whether or not I love it ... but I like it more than I did initially.

There's a wonderful guy in my life right now.

But he's mine all mine and I'm not ready to share him.

(Or subject him to further inquiry about anything I would write here.)

Plus...he's pretty much the definition of diggity ... so I'm reveling in that by myself for now.

Let's see ... what else? 

I have LONG been a hater of Uggs as I think they're weird looking (but I don't hate them as much as I hate Crocs -- those are UGG-LEEEE) anyway... I bought a pair of sweater boots (i.e. knockoff sweater uggs {look kinda like this}) and I am IN LOVE. I want them in 5 colors and with warm socks forever more. Especially considering my office is pretty much a frozen tundra.
Edit:  I was getting all your comments and realized I forgot (in my sleepiness) that I was going to write:
I, Siovhan, am now willing to Give Uggs A Chance. Seriously. They're warm and cuddly and I might just be a little in love with them.

Speaking of the cold--I never thought I'd move from Utah to Oregon (where there IS humidity) and suddenly have my skin be the driest it has in years. What is up with that?!

OH! So last week -- during one of the days I was really struggling... some of my coworkers were also having rough days ... so (with my love of the 'stache) I decided to be sneaky so I drew up some mustaches on post it notes and wore one when they all came off set. Then I made one for Kerstin and Heather and we had a little mustache party and proceeded to laugh until we almost peed our pants. Well, after the fact, I decided Megan and I needed to go incognito...so here we are, all stealth like:

{love it. love it!}

Anyway ... I'm headed off to sleep!
Night!!

gonna knock you down

If Gwyneth can rock them, I can too...right?

So Krysten over at After 'I Do' decided to do Way Back Wednesday... which I think is a great idea. So today, I think I might induldge...on a Thursday.

Especially because I think some people may really enjoy this story.

So I, Little Miss Coordination, was on crutches three separate times during high school. Yes, that's right my friend. A good chunk of my adolescent experience was spent hobbling around on these painful metal sticks of death.

"Why," you may ask.
Well...each was for a separate injury.
Each was a spectacular display of ...awesomeness.

The 3rd (and final, thus far) time I was on them was during my senior year because I sprained my back (yes, apparently you can do that) playing basketball.

The 2nd round of death was junior year after I had fallen into a set of metal choir risers ... (that one was spectacular. i cut tendons, muscle tissue, all of it. 22 stitches. awww yeah.) and destroyed my knee.

But the first time I was ever on crutches, I had broken my foot. I tore all the ligaments in the top of my foot (even today it's still smaller than the other one), broke a piece of bone under my ankle, tore a tendon on the side, and managed to sprain the top of my ankle. All during the middle of my sophomore year. Yay me.

But, how did you manage this amazing feat?
By tripping over my other foot.

Now, I know you're probably ready to pee your pants with the raucous laughter currently flowing from your lungs...but I'm being serious.

I was chasing a friend of mine down the hallway... running to catch up so we could walk to class together (awww, presh.) managed to somehow get all tangled up and catch my foot on my other one. I then stumble and one foot (el broken-o) stays while the rest of my body keeps moving. I hear/feel this big pop and was immediately like, 'Dang. That hurt!' (Yes, I've always been this astute.) But no matter how much it hurt, I still had 4 hours of school left (yay dedication). So me, being the idiot that I am, proceed to just deal with it until the end of the day. Honestly. I walked around on it 'til my mom came to pick me up...at which time I dramatically limped to her car insisting something was sincerely wrong with my foot.

Now let me say something about my mother...she is a wonderful, charitable, happy woman. But not always the most sympathetic. She's of the "rub some dirt in it" school. She is NOT a wuss. (She's hardcore. Serious.)

Well, my mother tells me to "stop faking it and get in the car." I obey (I'm not stupid.). But the longer I sit in the car ... and the more I try to move...the more pain I'm in. Finally I convince her to take me to the doctor -- just in case. The doctor informs us both that there is DEFINITELY something wrong with it. (And like an angel I totally don't make a face at my mom and mock her ...uhhh. Sure.)

Well, several hours of X-rays, paperwork, and that awful hospital smell later ... I'm the proud recipient of a really pretty ace bandage to wear until the swelling goes down and they can cast it (for 6 weeks) AND we get to go get crutches. Let me tell you...if I never have to use them again, I will be one happy girl. (I swear I had bruised sides and armpits til I was 20.)

But even this wasn't the end of it. See, I'm miniature at a good 5'1 and 7/8" (I lie and say 5'2") so getting the full hang of crutches that are technically a little too tall for you ... was quite the feat. And not one I mastered with grace or poise. Instead it was mastered after I fell down in front of my entire homeroom the first day ... AND NO ONE HELPED ME UP. Serious. It wasn't til my friend Diane walked in and screamed, "No one helped her up?! You guys are so dumb!" That anyone even flinched. So, needless to say, I picked up how to use those suckers real quick.

The end. Now you know far too much about one tiny weird aspect of my life. I understand if you never read again. Hahahahaha. (but seriously...please come back.)

XOXO.

Today I miss...

It was really funny that I was totally planning on doing this today...and my friend Alex beat me to it. Hers is about her awesome world traveler adventures, though. Mine's just about little twinges of homesickiosity.

The beautiful city of Boston. Honestly, in my opinion, one of the most glorious cities in the world. There's so much history and heritage mixed in with the "new world" charm of sky scrapers and freeways. It's a big enough city to be exciting, but has a hometown charm most others don't.


Dunkin Donuts. Oregon cable taunts me with the idea that my favorite hot chocolate in the world is somewhere within attainable proximity. That is a lie. I've searched it. I miss morning cocoa runs with my mom before Early Morning Seminary.


My Narragansett beach. Mmmm. Sand and sun and happy laughter with people I love. It's so pretty.



And 2,450 miles away from that glorious place, I also miss BYU. I miss being a student. I miss walking to class. Heck, I miss hikin my tush up the RB stairs. I loved BYU.


I miss BYU Football. I miss the Haka. And sushiney days with lots and lots of yelling and laughter and fun. I miss BYU sports...I miss being at most of those games as a student, fan, employee, etc.


I miss Cafe-freakin-Rio. mmmmm. Sweet Pork Salad.
The funny thing is when I think about Provo...a lot of what I think about is food. Dang Africa.

I like that boulder. That is a NICE boulder.

THE TIME: 12:39
THE SOUND: ksl 5 news at noon.
THE PLACE: sitting on the couch smashing my head into the couch....
THE MOMENT: shock, shock and more shock. [various reasons]

it has been a good weekend. one of those weekends you write home about. or, in my case, call your mother and chat for hours and hours about. ...that will happen later this afternoon.

THE RED SOX ARE THE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!


i love my friends. i absolutely love them. oh my gosh. it's one of those times where i just sit and think of all the reasons they're so great. i've had so much fun this weekend. from lunch on friday...to dinner that same night. sitting and talking at the car...to one tree hill marathon. from game day 1, 2, 3 and 4!!!!!!!!!!!! to dancin' around like an idiot with 3 of my favorite girls. from threatening the yankees fan to smashing the rockies to smithereens. from falling asleep for the 9,473,635,736th time during a movie to the fact that lyndsi stayed. from vaguely remembering the clacking of keys in my sleep to the 3 hour conversation that followed. papelon dancing and world trade center on the projector. the cops coming over last night to steph and my new earrings. walking around macey's taste testing everything to consistent drinking of cherry limeades. to melissa admitting she wants to buy a red sox hat to her suggesting we do a red sox pumpkin tonight at fhe. from my construction worker costume to the boys dancing around singing newsies. to developments last night to....even more developments later.

i want to papelbon dance with steph for forever. i want to sit and laugh and eat ice cream with lyndsi. i want to watch brooklyn and stephy j. down an entire carton of ice cream. i want to talk about movies, and art, and stupid things with baird. i want to laugh at matty strutting his stuff. i want to watch ty dance. i want to laugh and smile and cuddle and sudoku with david. i want to nightly chat with myles. i want to cuddle in the same bed watching movie after movie after movie with melissa and molly. i want to "superbed" with my roommates. i want to run and scream and jump in puddles and dance and catch snow on my tongue and laugh and live and love these people FOREVER.

Remember tonight, for it is the beginning of always.
--Dante--