Hi friends!
How were your holidays? Did you eat lots of good food and spend time with those you love?

I did. Probably a little too much in the food arena. My holidays were hustly, bustly, fun, tender, and overall just great. I stayed here in Oregon (oh, that work thing) so I missed out on physical time with my family but was taken in by Pat's family, so graciously.

I got to talk to Braden in Nicaragua on Sunday which was so wonderful! He's so tan and happy and just greatly missed. My family and I managed to Skype for about 5 hours and it greatly helped me stave off my holiday homesickness.

Santa was SUPER generous this year, endowing me with a Kindle Fire and a couple other things, and Pat got me much needed cases for my techy goods and the coolest gift -- a giant cereal bowl (normal bowls aren't big enough for my cereal addiction). And my sister got me something awesome that sadly has been delayed in the mail for a few days.

This year it was better to give than to receive. I know it sounds cheesy, but I took much more pleasure in finding the perfect gifts for my loved ones than I did opening my own gifts (not to say they aren't AWESOME). It was such a good feeling, reminding me of lessons I've long known that charity is much better than Scrooge-y-ness.

How are all of you?

Papa means Dad, Pappa means mushy food

This guy just had a birthday!
And it was a milestone! (He's double my age at this point.)

Braden and Dad, Omaha, NE

Check out that 'stache...he was STYLIN.
Seriously, check out the wedding day ensemble.


My Mom and Dad's wedding and engagement pictures

I've been lucky enough throughout life to count my family as my best friends and my parents are at the root of that. My dad is an incredible man and has taught me much in life; some by discussion, some by letting me figure it out, but most just by how he lives his life. No matter the success, the failure, the fear, the plan just-not-knowing -- he's been there for me, and is still there for me through everything.


Me and Dad, Salt Lake City, UT

Every year in school, actually nearly every semester I was in college, he would come visit on the way back home from whatever business trip he was on. He always made sure we went and did fun things like trips to Park City, movies, football games, soccer games, dinners out, or pizza parties with my roommates. My dad was always eager to embrace the wonderful people in my life. He asks how Pat is and how my friends are, but the clincher is he genuinely cares about the answer and about their welfare.


My graduation day, Aug. 08, Provo, UT

My dad always pushed me to achieve anything and everything that I can. I was never supposed to settle for less than I could do or for someone making me feel less than I am. I remember in high school not making Central District choir my sophomore year by TWO POINTS. I sat in my room sullen, angry, and very disappointed in myself. My dad came and knocked on the door and recounted to me his first set of job interviews when he was about to graduate from grad school. I remember him looking me in the eye and saying, "Does this mean you can't sing? No. Does this mean that you'll never be able to sing after today? No. So prove them wrong. Make them sorry they turned you down." And I did. I still use this lesson, this characteristic my dad and I share. When the world knocks me down and tells me I'm not enough, I pick myself back up (often with some help) and try my darndest to prove it wrong.


My Dad near Oakridge, OR.

When I first moved to Oregon I was terribly lonely. I had no friends here, worked weird hours and had just gone through a rough break up. I was alone. Within two months of me being here my dad took time off work to come visit me and show me what a wonderful, fun and beautiful place Oregon really is. And it REALLY IS. It still means so much to me that my happiness is worth more to him than the money he spent, the money he would've made that day at work, and enough to make him fly 3,500 miles just to put a smile on my face.


Mom and Dad, Rhode Island

I love you Dad. I am grateful for your example, your kindness, your faith in the Lord and in me, your compassion, your tenacity, your humor, and your friendship. I hope I can live up to the last name you gave me.

Love always,

like a boss

Okay, so we've already discussed the fact that I need an attitude adjustment sometimes. Well, I'm noticing more and more that it's a lot of times.

My mom is a woman of many mottos. Two of her favorites while I was growing up (and even now) were: "be your best self" and "try a little harder to be a little better than you were yesterday."

The best part of learning these things growing up is that my mom practiced what she preached. She was never one believe or propagate that she's anywhere near perfection (even though she totally is perfect). She constantly made goals, even little ones, to make her into the best version of herself. As her kid it was expected that you would follow suit, not because she ever forced it but because she invited you to see what she saw you were capable of, challenge yourself, and become your best self. When you failed she was there to tell you how awesome you already were and that everyone experiences setbacks, failures, and heartbreak and that it's what you do afterward which really counts. It's because of this that I've accomplished everything I have in my life.

(Actually, thinking about it, both my parents are definitely this way. My dad is a man of challenge. Tell him he can't do something and he'll prove you wrong. And if he can't? He'll prove you mostly wrong.)

And because I'm my mom's daughter, I am still often so amazed by the accomplishments of others who challenge me even further. Tonight that was my little brother.

 

Braden in Nicaragua

Braden and I are 5 years apart in age, but growing up it sometimes seemed much further and sometimes much too close. When I moved to BYU Braden was 13, just out of middle school, and a teenage know-it-all (also a family trait). We had our fights, our friction, our problems, but we're family and that means everything. The older I get the more I realize just how true that really is.

While I was at BYU Braden grew up, we started to become friends as well as siblings. We'd email and have long phone calls where he'd tell me about all the annoying kids in high school. I edited his papers, his college essays, and even helped him pick out his first classes at BYU. During his Freshman year we'd have Skype night nearly once a week where we'd catch up, even though we texted and talked all throughout the week anyway.

Then it came time for Braden to go on his mission. I knew he'd be a great missionary, and he is. He's superb. Reading his letters is a constant testament to how awesome of a person he is. He's always challenging us to do, be, and love our very best.

And then tonight happened.

We got Braden's weekly email. I was ready to read it and read about how amazing he is and feel inadequate about how normal I am. Was I in for a shocker.

HE IS THE BEST PERSON EVER.
That's the gist of the email.

Really here's kinda what it was like, "Life is just the best thing in the whole world guys, isn't it?! I love everyone. Oh by the way I have Dengue fever. But I'm so happy to be in Nicaragua and be car-less and in monsoon season and hungry! It's awesome."

No joke. He's sincerely that positive when he was suuuuuuper duper sick. Seriously, click this link to read about Dengue. He is such an inspiration to me. Ridiculously ill and still -- a boss. (This makes me feel super weenie-tastic for my pneumonia whining.)

So that's my goal for the week. When work is tough, when life sucks butt, when I want to just crawl into my bed with intravenous Ben and Jerry's and a snugglebear, I'm going to think of Braden being a boss.

Care to join me?

xoxo.

oh yeah, i forgot...

We're gonna start today with a little quiz:

what's black and white and red all over...just kidding.

Anyone know this gorgeous skyline?

via

My friends, this is the lovely city of Boston, MA.

The place my family has lived not too far away from for the last 13 years.This is where I spent my high school years, much of middle school, and where I gained a good chunk of knowledge about life, people, and the pursuit of sports happiness (GO SOX!).

Now, does anyone know this also stunning skyline?

via

This is the lovely city of Dallas, TX.

My family is moving to Dallas within the next few months!This is a very big new adventure for our awesome family (Well, Mom, Dad and Mikaela...since the rest of us are out of the house)! And while I won't actually live in Dallas (at least not yet), I couldn't be more excited for them!! I never talked about it on here but my dad was laid off in January and this new job offers him the chance to do something he loves in a place he's excited to be.

(I found out he got the job on my birthday -- so one of my biggest birthday wishes was granted!)

via

I can't wait to go visit them! And eat as much BBQ as I possibly can.

Weirdest part(s) for me? When I go "home" it'll be to a house I've never seen before. hah. And the next time I visit Boston I'll have to stay in a hotel or something. Totally worth it.

Dad! I'm so proud of you!

And Mom, Dad and Mik (as well as Ben and Braden) I'm crazy excited for this new adventure. I love you!

in honor of my little brother... shaquille bro neal

Hey there everybody!

So I'm avoiding sleeping, milking the last part of my birthday (imported lemonade? yesplease.), and waiting to talk to Pat when he's off work ... so I thought, as thus, I'd grace your lovely selves with my lovely self.

Ya dig?

Anywhoo...

My little brother Benjamin, Ben ya min, Ben Jammin  ... or Benny boo boo boo boo boo (if you'd like) is getting old.

(Like me.)

He graduates high school (I just wrote college three times...but it's definitely high school) this weekend.

I'm so sad I'm missing it, but I'm so proud of him. He's headed off to BYU and he's gonna rock the socks off of CougarTown. If any freshman was ever gonna give good ole Provo a run for its money, that frosh would be my little brother. He's go go go all the time (and sleep sleep sleep the rest).

To honor this momentous moment (and because I can't tell these stories to his friends at his graduation party) I'll tell you some of my favorite Ben moments.

When Ben was little he went through a chicken phase. Not like nuggets (although there was one of those, too), not like the daredevil game ... but as in inserting it in all manner of phrases. Ben, Ben chicken hen. Brado, Brado chicken faydo. Siovhan, Siovhan chicken non. And it wasn't just family names. It was EVERYTHING. Aladdin, Aladdin chicken fadden. School, school chicken pool. So funny to hear him walking around saying that.

Tiny Ben (like 3 or 4) would.not.wear.pants. That little kid walked around in Star Wars and Power Ranger themed tighty whiteys more than any little kid I've ever seen. Mom would get him dressed in the morning and then like 20 minutes later -- yep, there's Ben -- pantsless.

Speaking of Star Wars, Ben was an addict. He knew everyone's name, rank, role, etc. He had a model Death Star, Alliance war craft, X fighters all of it. He wanted to be Han Solo so bad.

Ben and Braden have always been the best of friends and the worst of enemies. But as we got older their bonds became so much stronger. It's been so fun to watch the dynamic change from one of competition to one of friendship. (Okay, so that one's not funny...but it's still true.) I know Braden would love to be there to see Ben graduate.

Ben and I have always had a really buddy-buddy relationship. When I'd come home from college Ben would ask to run every errand with me and ask for some specific Siovhan time. We'd talk about music, girls, high school, friends, etc. He'd ask to sit by me on car trips (it sometimes became a battle between him and Mikaela), buy me stuff, and always sent me a ridiculous birthday, valentine, christmas, etc. card.

Ben's the only one of us to spend our entire education (minus 2.5 months) in our small town. As such he's the only one that even remotely resembles a townie. This makes me laugh so hard because Ben has always been fiercely independent -- verging, at times, on anti-establishment. But our little Ben has fallen in love with [insert small town name here]. I also think he'll be the only one to consciously miss the town itself, and not just miss our family.

Ben is quite the little instigator. A couple of years ago when we went to Quebec for family vacation we spent some of our time camping. One night laying there I could hear a little creaky noise, Braden snort snore, and then Ben snicker. I still don't know what was going on in that tent, but all of a sudden I heard Braden suddenly awake and go "what is that?!" and Ben laugh hysterically. This is so very Ben.

Ben and his friends are the epitome of bromance. They rival Barney, Marshall and Ted on How I Met Your Mother or Chandler and Joey on Friends. They have mandates. Really.

Ben had such a sarcastic and dry sense of humor (very akin to my dad). He also loves good TV. Once, Ben and I were actually banned from quoting the Office because my Dad got so fed up with how funny we thought it was. He made us pay a dollar if either of us quoted it -- and I think we shelled out a pretty penny that time. At one point Ben even walked over to my dad, handed him two dollars, and looked at me and went, "bleh bleh bleh, little comment." I laughed so hard as he pulled one of the dollars from Dad's hand and said, "She only needed one to nearly pee her pants. I'm good."

Ben was sometimes a lot like my pet. That poor kid let me do everything to him. From mess with his hair, to show him how cool guys really dress, to recommending new music and books ... I would show Ben all kinds of weird stuff. Eventually he formed a lot of his own opinions, and our tastes became a  little different, but we still share recommendations for books, movies, tv, music, all of it.

I love you, Ben and I'm really proud of all you've been able to accomplish.

As a token of your new found smarts I have two things to say:

"Why, anybody can have a brain. That's a very mediocre commodity. Every pusillanimous creature that crawls on the Earth or slinks through slimy seas has a brain. Back where I come from, we have universities, seats of great learning, where men go to become great thinkers. And when they come out, they think deep thoughts and with no more brains than you have. But they have one thing you haven't got: a diploma."
--The Wizard of Oz

AND NOW:

via etsy

Happy Graduation!

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

my stylin sister

My little sister is the cutest.

Seriously. It's no contest.

See? 'Aint she adorable?!!

Well this cute little girl lives 3,000 miles away from me.

And she has for a little more than 6 years now.

Still, we talk to each other every night before she goes to bed. 

And in a real display of sweetness -- she babysat for a whole day, saved her money and bought me this shirt:
 

because she knows how much I love Diet coke. 

Cutest little sister EVER.

xoxox.

new york part uno

Okay my friends, here's the first post about my vacation. 

I still haven't downloaded my pictures off my camera (I've been kinda preoccupied with car searching)...but these are from my momma's camera. 

So the first couple of days we headed down to New York to take in some of the tourist attractions and spend some time in the city. 

Here's a tiny view of the upper side of Manhattan from on top of the Empire State Building. 

I'm really glad we spent the moolah and went (virtually) to to the top. You can seriously see the whole city from the top of it. And we splurged for the nerdy little audio tour devices--which were so interesting. They described all the different views and things you were seeing from each point. It was fascinating.

Mikaela, me and Ben with Lady Liberty. 

We lined up super early (okay so it was like 10 am...but I was jet lagged still) to catch the ferry out to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty. It's truly a spectacular sight. There are so many portions and pieces to the statue. And I love what it stands for. That people were so desperate to come and have a better life and when they saw this--they knew America was right there and they were being welcomed into the country. 

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Sen these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

Mikaela, me, Dad and Mom on the ferry to Ellis Island. 

And dude it was 95+ degrees that day....I was DYIN. SO HOT.

After mom and I toured the facility and discovered all the things immigrants had to do, endure, and be to get into the US...we headed back downstairs because in the basement of Ellis Island they had a "Barbies of the World" exhibit -- and I HAD to participate.

Me at 30 Rock! 

This was one of the simplest yet most interesting points I saw. Rockefeller Plaza is pretty cool. It's where they put the big tree at Christmas, where NBC's studios are -- and I loved seeing where the Today show is filmed. Plus -- "I want to go to there."

and there's plenty more to come...

ruler for a day: litte brosef

This is the older of my two little brothers. Braden has a heart of gold, and a wit of pure AWESOMENESS. He's headed out on a mission soon to help the people in Nicaragua and I'm gonna miss him so much but no one in the world could help those people like my little brother. He is AMAZING.

Braden said:

1. I love people, i mean i tend to get along and fall in love with people's personalities.

2. I love me, i love how i act and who i am (even if people make fun of me for being effeminate).

3. I lost almost 70 lbs. in one year!

4. I love spanish.

5. I'm going on a mission (that pretty much means i rock)!

6. I'm pretty smart. I do well in my classes and got a BOMB SAT score.

7. I love pretty much all music, and I don't hate just because it's new.

8. I serve others. I try my hardest to help people as much as possible.

9. I love my fam. That pretty much makes me fantastic too.

10. I just gave blood. Saved 3 lives (potentially). That rocks.

If you wanna tell me why YOU RULE, I'll do it til everyone realizes how awesome they are. Just click on the cute little bear!

xoxo.

att should pay ME for how much i use my phone.

My phone is named Maurice.

He's cute, slidy, easy to use

AND TEMPERAMENTAL AS ALL HECK.

{hence being named after a Frenchman}

Sometimes we are the best of friends and he performs at optimal level. 

Sometimes he wants to ruin my life, my plans, and/or relationships. 

See, my little Propel, well he's talented, I'll give him that. He pulls tricks I've never had a phone pull.

He tells the future.
No seriously.
He's supposed to be linked to some big major clock ... and so sometimes when my clock says 8:35 (for instance), I'll receive a text message saying it was sent at 8:36 or 8:37.
He apparently just knows what people texting me are going to say -- and says it for them, labeling the message from them.

Maurice throws his voice.
Sometimes just before getting a text (I'm a recovering textaholic) it'll make a phantom noise that sounds like it's coming from the other side of the room ... and then he'll ding the message in wherever he actually is. 

Sometimes he gets just way too tired to be used, even though he was operating just moments before -- and decides to cease service, or delay my messages for hours. Yeah, hours. 

I've never been super lucky with phones ... and for the most part I really do like this one.
And I LOVE that I have the ability to talk to my family and friends at any given time -- I just wish my phone wasn't full of dark magic ... or so much attitude.

But! My sister did send me a message earlier and all it said was: 

"my sister is a noodle. 1:50pm"

And that is one of the many reasons I'm so grateful for modern communication and the chance I have to keep in touch so easily.

I hope you're having a GREAT day.
xoxo.

not that one, this one!

My grandparents are hysterical people. 

{I don't tell them often enough just how great they are.}

As I was looking through design blogs today, I was reminded of this fact.

My grandpa is a retired school teacher/administrator -- who just can't settle down. He's retired multiple times and now spends most of his time STILL WORKING. He is not one able to sit still. But is the most tender hearted man I've ever met.

My grandma, still writes for the local newspaper (let's be honest -- she IS the local newspaper). She watches, manages, and generally entertains SO many of the grandkids on a daily basis. She's a spitfire, that one.

Well a couple of years ago, after all the kids had moved out, they decided it was time for a revamp on the house. So they figured out what they were going to do with each room and started moving forward. When it came time to choose paint, that's where the shenanigans began. 

You see, my grandma is an extremely chipper person, the only one I know with an actual sing-song voice. And as a factor in her sunny personality -- her favorite color is yellow. She loves it. There is so much yellow in her house, it makes you instantly feel happier upon entrance.

Well, Grammy decided she wanted her kitchen {her domain} to be yellow. In her mind, the thought a pale yellow, maybe sunflower at most -- something to accent the light counter tops and just bring some pep into the room. Grandpa would have NONE of this. He said if you want yellow, you're getting yellow. So he ventured to the hardware store, picked out yellow paint, and covered the entire kitchen in this color:

Well, Grammy got her yellow kitchen.

And Grandpa proved his point. 

And that my friends, is how my Grammy ended up with a highlighter yellow kitchen.

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!!