SATC II

Just saw my first ad. To be honest I think they shoulda left it with the first one. Obviously I'm still excited, and will be going the first night. I just won't be seeing the midnight showing like I did last time.

A few from Christmas.

Christmas Eve dinner at Steve and Rebecca's.  Jason and Elise were with her family having their traditional Christmas Eve.  And, lucky us, my Grandma Marks spent the week with us.

The sibs.

Playing Rock Band and Jason and Elise's.  For more Christmas photos check out Elise's post.

The three best parts of Christmas.

California was great.  Nothing makes the holiday better than grandkids.  Nothing.  Thanks to Dad, Rebecca, and Elise for the photos.  :)  Merry Christmas!

Seriously?

Please note that it feels like 7*. I've never been more excited to go to California. I hear it was 80* today.

Entertaining me

Can't. Get. Enough. Really, so good.

current read

Ella Fitzgerald: A Swinging Christmas

I found Love.

It worked for Louise from St. Louis, and then Carrie; maybe it will work for me. (An Aiden, please. I've already gone the Big route.)

Good to know

Thankful to have good friends who know me so well. :)

Things I learned in Alabama

• Football is life.
• Auburn and the Gators suck.
• I'll never get tired of southern gentlemen, or southern hospitality.
• Chivalry is alive and well.
• Biscuits and gravy is quite possibly my new favorite food.
• Southern women are something else, such characters, bless their hearts.
• It's 'bama.
• ROLL TIDE.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I really feel left out that I wasn't raised to appreciate college sports, and if I had to do it again I'd really consider attending a university in the south. The spirit is just incredible. I watched Mark Ingram receive the Heisman with a room full of U of A fans and it was something else. I felt like I was a part of something. I love the unity and love for football. Don't hate me for saying this, but I've never felt any devotion to BYU football, and after this weekend, I might have to start rooting for Alabama. For sure I'll be cheering for them come the championship game. I really have no choice, seeing as how I now am the proud owner of some 'bama gear. (And don't go off about me being a traitor. It's somewhat understandable when it comes to baseball because I do have a home team that I don't root for, however my college did not have sports, and I've only been to one BYU game, and that was just because it was at USC. Or UCLA. I can't even remember, but I do remember BYU lost. Sorry, but I'm not rooting for them just because I'm Mormon.) I freely admitted that I felt like a poser in the store when my friend insisted on picking me up an outfit to sport, considering I really know hardly anything about college football (but I do know the basics of the game, I'm not that helpless,) so I won't pretend like I'm diehard, but hey, everyone's gotta start somewhere right?
I went to Alabama this weekend to visit a friend and check the state off the list. I had a great time, fell in love with the people, and will upload my one photo I took later.

A girl after my own heart

Lingos

So I think at this point anyone who reads my blog knows how I feel about The Twilight Saga, but this made me crack up multiple times.  Once a year the singles wards in the city holds a "Lingos night" where everyone gets together and watches short movies members of the wards have made.  There's always some pretty good ones.  (Remember this one?)  I didn't go this year because we were up in the Berkshires, but this video is quickly spreading around the internet.  It's hysterical.  I'm so proud of my friends-good job!!

Twilight Years from Tom on Vimeo.

Amazing weekend

I've been a really bad blogger this year, especially towards the end of the year.  This past weekend was so much fun, though, so I have to blog about it.

Wednesday afternoon I was offered a place to stay at up in the Berkshires for the weekend, and it was an offer I couldn't refuse.  My friends and I headed up Friday night, and a few other friends headed down from Boston, and we had such a blast.  It was such a great group of people, such a nice house to stay in, such gorgeous surroundings, and everything was just perfect.  I think the fact that it was so last minute really mad the trip awesome because we had no time to have expectations.  I'm so grateful we could make it up there and have so much fun.

The house.

Saturday it snowed.

I could not get enough of the fireplace.  Thank you Logan and Jamar for always keeping the fire going!

Britt was loving playing the snow.

This is one of about one hundred model shots Jamar took over the weekend.

Love these three.

I love this photo and the one below.  Saturday afternoon we headed into town to go to lunch and the snow was coming down hard.  Ashley and Maria above; Brittany, Rachel, and me below.

Jam was an amazing cook all weekend.  

There was a whole lot of game playing, movie watching, reading, and relaxing.  Not to mention, Saturday morning half of us went to the spa.

Thanks for all the photos Logan!

Homemade pizza?  Yes please.

We got about 3-4 inches of snow.

Jamar was ruthless with the snow.  Poor Maria.

The wine cellar.

Sunday breakfast was DEEEE-VINE!  Pancakes by Britt, and bacon, eggs, and homemade cinnamon rolls by Jam.  Mmmmm.

Jam and Britt braved the snow in their non-snow clothes.

The backyard.

We were sad to come back to the city, but this was a nice welcome home.

• Today I saw a chick wearing a tank top when I was walking to work.  It was that warm.  Okay, it wasn't that warm, but she was wearing it.  I could have grabbed lunch without putting my coat on, and if it was sunny I probably could have eaten outside.  THANK YOU New York for not being totally freezing yet.  I know it's coming, but thanks for holding out.
• I was supposed to be hanging out with my brother and sister-in-law in the city this weekend, but last minute Jason had to have his gall bladder taken out.  :(  Thankfully the surgery(ies) went smoothly.
• In a random swing of events my friends and I are heading up to the Berkshires this weekend and I'm pretty excited about it.
• Two WEEKS til Meg and G come out and I just can't even wait.  So excited for a three musketeers reunion in the big apple.
• I was supposed to go the gym tonight, but I got a mani and pedi instead.  I need to work on that.
• I've lived in the city for almost three years now and I still feel like pretty woman in the fancy restaurants when I'm taken out for work related meals.  Last night the host took us to our table and pulled out my chair and I sat in the other one.  There was an awkward moment.  I can't shake the white trash side of me that just loves Olive Garden.
• Speaking of fancy food, today someone informed me as we mature some of our taste buds die, which is why children like simple bland foods, and grown ups like caviar and Mongolian food.  Maybe I'm not just so picky.  Maybe my taste buds are just so much more superior than everyone else's, and haven't died off!  Ha!
• I got a Kindle, and I was so concerned I'd be sad about not owning the books.  I'm not.  I LOVE it.  It's awesome.  
• Karen was in the city this week and we got to catch up over lunch.  Made me miss Australia.  She's my traveling idol.  She just got back from Brazil.  Jealous.  I just really don't get sick of dreaming of travel.
• My roommates and I concluded it just really doesn't feel like Christmas in these parts.
• The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting  was last night.  I noticed all the barricades on 5th Avenue and was so glad I did that my first year and never have to do it again.  So so so glad I did it, and the Halloween parade, and the balloons in Central Park, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and rang in the New Year in Times Square.  They were all awesome and they were all exhausting.  I highly recommend going once.
• I got an email yesterday from some random email address.  Some stranger decided to email me telling me their nasty thoughts on my religion and my beliefs.  Really nice.  It actually broke my heart.  Why are people so mean?  Why are people such cowards?  Ugh.
• I got my sister's Christmas card today and my niece and nephew were too cute for words.  And so grown up.  I can't handle it.
• Have a happy weekend!

What's your favorite conference talk?

The LDS Radio App has all the past conference talks and I love listening to one or two in the morning while I get ready for work.  I've listened to all the talks from the most recent conference, and now I sort of just randomly pick one to listen to.  If you have a favorite (or a few favorites) please leave a comment and let me know!  I'd love some suggestions.

For the grandparents

We taught Mad how to kick the ball this weekend and seeing her figure it out and then feel SO proud of herself was just too much to handle.  I would do anything to get this reaction out of her.  Why can't we all feel so proud of ourselves every day like her?

The reason I can't get enough of Boston.

Proust Questionnaire

The lovely Janet of Slice of Pink introduced us to the original meme, by Marcel Proust.  It's supposed to reveal your true nature.  Some of these questions are real head scratchers, but I had a good time thinking up my answers (and adding photos, for fun.)

Let me know if you fill out out.  I'd love to read yours!  

What is your idea of perfect happiness? 
Sometimes I feel these moments when I'm walking around the city and it's one of those rare days when the weather is just absolutely perfect, low 70s with no humidity.  Everything is balanced.  I've got a little money in my pocket, everyone I care about is okay, and the forecast is just optimistic.  There's a feeling of complete joy, and I'm just beaming, like I could burst, and I feel perfectly happy. 

What is your greatest fear? 
Being unhappy in life and forgetting that I have control over my own happiness.   
And spiders.  Hate those SOBs. 

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? 
Laziness. 

What is the trait you most deplore in others? 
Unrighteous judging. 

Which living person do you most admire? 
This is a really tough question, because I admire so many people, and I wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.  That being said I have to say one of my best friends, Chelse.  I realized how much I love and respect her on her wedding day.  Never have I felt so much happiness for another person.  I literally could not keep it inside, and was a teary mess most of the day.  She really defines "low maintenance, high yield" in every aspect of life.  I have never had the pleasure of knowing someone so strong, and so optimistic, who can truly keep it together through life's storms.  She has endured some hard times for someone of such a young age, and always comes through with grace and beauty.  Gosh I can hardly even type this without choking up.  Love you Chels. (And it's her birthday today!!)  

via

What is your greatest extravagance? 
Jubilee Marketplace.  Nothing beats picking up the phone and having your groceries delivered in under an hour. 

What is your current state of mind? 
Antsy. 

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? 
Diplomacy.   

On what occasion do you lie? 
When it will save myself, or someone else, from an unnecessary headache.  (That makes it sound like I lie a lot.  I don't.) 

What do you most dislike about your appearance? 
My sausage arms. 

Which living person do you most despise? 
I have to reach to answer this question, so why try?  Don't need to put that in the universe. 

What is the quality you most like in a man? 
Confidence. 

What is the quality you most like in a woman? 
Confidence.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? 
Freaking.  I'd love to quit that one. 

What or who is the greatest love of your life? 
TBD 

When and where were you happiest? 
My first year in New York.  Everything was just so good. 

Which talent would you most like to have? 
I would love to be able to sing. 

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? 
I'd be the kind of person who gets up and goes running every morning. 

What do you consider your greatest achievement? 
Making it totally on my own in the Big Apple. 

If you were to die and come back as as person or a thing, what would it be? 
A bird. 

Where would you most like to live? 
Lately Europe's been calling my name...

What is your most treasured possession? 
My memory. 

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? 
A life alone. 

What is your favorite occupation? 
When I was 19 I worked for a company that scheduled termite inspections and fumigations.  I made appointments and worked up the reports when they came back.  I actually really loved the work.  I did not like my coworkers, however, which has been the opposite situation of every other job I've had.

What is your most marked characteristic? 
People at work would say I'm happy.  My friends and family would say I'm picky. 

What do you most value in your friends? 
Support. 

Who are your favorite writers? 
I love reading anything written by my family. 


Who is your hero of fiction? 
Jack Bauer. 

Which historical figure do you most identify with? 
Don't know much about history.... 

Who are your heroes in real life? 
Parents.  Any parents.  It's got to be the most selfless thing you can do in life.



What are you favorite names? 
Everyone in my family knows this question is off limits... 

What is it that you most dislike? 
Cold, rainy, windy days. 

What is your greatest regret? 
Caring too much about what others thought about me in high school, not pursuing a semester in Hawaii in college, taking my smokin body for granted when I had one, and not asking Sarah Jessica Parker for a photo when she said hi to me. 

How would you like to die? 
An old lady, peacefully in my bed, with my sweetheart. 

What is your motto? 
Take advantage of every opportunity.