Dear Economy

You've been having it rough these days, haven't you? Companies failing, jobs lost, and frugality a must. Recessions can be a beast. They're telling me to save my pennies for a rainy day. Even when everyday seems to be rainy, they say 'keep saving', there's a monsoon on the horizon. Great, I'll save my pretty pennies for the potential disaster that everyone keeps warning me about. But first, allow me to do my part and help you out where I can. I don't mind one bit. In fact, I'd gladly help you out everyday of the week if I could. But I don't want you to become too reliant on me. We would both be in some serious trouble if that happened. For now, you just continue to mark down the prices on all of your goodies, and I'll continue to whisk them right out of your stores and into a better and truly cared for home. You say recession, I say great! If stimulating the economy is my mission for the next few months, consider the mission accepted.

Banana Republic, you've won me over tonight, and for that I say, 'Thank you!'. You're bright orange sign in the window with the letters SALE printed crisp and clear were too much for me to resist.

Green polka dotted blouse regularly $69.99, all mine for a lovely $13.99, yes please!
Blue and white stripped dress regularly $110, ringing up at $38.49, too cute to resist!
Black military sweater regularly $198, only $26.59, ok if I must, I'll have that too!


Georgetown, I fell in love with you all over again tonight. Let's face it, recessions aren't all that bad after all. If struggling stores means dressing great for me, well, we should have thought about this concept a long time ago!


Yours truly,
Stimulus Package

Oh Snuggie

I was at the gym when I saw this for the first time.

I burst out in laughter and instantly thought, wow, I have to buy that! So, that I did. I knew it would make the perfect Christmas present for my dear sister who always claims to be cold. And even better when I visited www.getsnuggie.com and found out I could get two for the price of one? What a deal! Now her husband wouldn't have to feel left out, and they can be matchy matchy, while staying cosy cosy in their new Snuggies. While Brittany was opening her LATE Christmas present (beware, if you order a Snuggie, it may take months to arrive due to "popular demand") I made sure she watched the infomercial. I wanted to make sure she would truly enjoy all that the Snuggie has to offer and then some.

I had to make sure it was suitable for reading before I gave it away.
It is!

I think that slight grin on her face speaks louder than any words of gratitude!
You know she's loving it!


It's true, it really can be worn anywhere, even the presidential inauguration!
There's nothing that says class, quite like wearing a Snuggie at the Capitol.

Thanks Snuggie for keeping me warm!
I owe you one.

The Inauguration's in Town

D.C., a city that I like to think of as always being classy, turned slightly trashy today. But I've attested to the fact that I can handle the craziness, as long as I turn a bit crazy myself. I may or may not have told people to get out of my way, done a little pushing and shoving, and (like Obama) I proved that "Yes, I can" and I did fit onto the metro when I was told there was no more room. And, perhaps I made my way through a crowd of Obama's homeboys, showing them who's boss. Don't think you can push me around a city that's been mine for the last nine months, and only yours for a day or two. Wow, just the mere thought of today is making me flustered all over again, and I just calmed myself down. That's all I'll say about that. I'm totally fit for the FBI or secret service...today boosted my self-esteem in that regard.

Just as I predicted, the tourists did NOT know how to handle today the way they should have. Surprisingly there were no big problems that caught the media's attention. Despite the fact that someone got pushed onto the tracks of the metro just as it was approaching, the police officer's and security guards may not have been as keen on directing people as they should have, or the people who actually had tickets didn't actually get let in to the inauguration...but those are only minor problems, right? I guess with over 2 million people in town, those really were minor problems. No fights broke out, no real hatred swept through people's character, and no one (except my family and a few others) were too sad to see Bush's office be taken away by our first African-American president. To the former President Bush, I'll miss you being in D.C. working a block away from me, but President Obama, I'm happy to call you my new President. Michelle, I'm just around the corner from you if you ever need to go on a shopping spree during your lunch break!

This day of "history" is definitely one I will never forget. Being able to witness the swearing in of our new President and Vice President firsthand was truly remarkable. Being amongst the largest crowd that D.C. has ever seen was unreal. I feel luckily that my family landed seating tickets to the inauguration. To be able to see something that years ago was deemed impossible, to the reality of the change we all witnessed today, was something that will have a lasting effect on me forever. The overall inauguration was well done, the prayers unique, and Obama's speech powerful. The phrase that really struck me on the future we hope to achieve was this, "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." One day world peace will engulf our universe, but I'm afraid it's one day that's not just around the corner.

America is truly a remarkable nation, willing to extend a helping hand to those who will only reach out and grab on. Although there are many Bush haters out there, I feel lucky to be a part of the most successful and powerful initiation in history that was started by George W. Bush, PEPFAR (The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief). If you don't know anything about this initiative, allow me to offer you some educational material. This is a prime example of Americans extending that helping hand to those who are truly in need, and countries accepting that help, and grabbing on with both hands. We're a country of change, we're a country of success, and we're a country that can withstand tough times, while continuing to help those around us. "God bless America, my home sweet home."

It's been fun being a part of this big day. It was fun seeing the entire national mall packed with excited Americans. It's been fun being in a congested District. It was fun to participate in a party held for the Utah delegates in the Senate building. It was entertaining to ride an overly crowded Metro. It was fun to push my way through the city. But it's been fun to be back home in my own house, safe and sound. A friend and I were discussing today's events and I think we came to an unspoken recommendation for the next inauguration...complimentary food would be nice! And next time, remember that we're at an inauguration, not a pep rally, and the constant chanting of "Obama, Obama, Obama..." really wasn't necessary. Like I said, D.C. lost some of it's class today, but it's still "home" for the time being.

Dear Life

Where have you gone? I've been missing you lately. And with each passing day, I long for your return. What happened to us? Did you decide to run away because there's something I must learn, and with you by my side the lesson can't be found? Well, patience and I are becoming quite the pair, but not in the same way that you and were. I'm better with you, I need you by my side. It's like the moment the sun went down, and the air became crisp, you vanished too. The cold breeze isn't doing much to warm my spirits these days, I can barely stand to take in what once used to be your fresh air, it's so cold and hard, and it hurts. But I know you'll return, and with you will come a brighter tomorrow.

My thoughts haven't been clear since you left. It's like we've become two separate worlds, and its left us galaxies apart. One day our worlds will collide again, and our impact will bring me the thing I've been missing. I wish I knew what that thing is, I hate surprises, but I don't. I know you know, and I know you're just teaching me a lesson, one that I must learn. Keeping that in the back of my mind makes things a little more bearable. But I'm getting lonely, and I wish you'd hurry up. Patience and I can only hold on for so long, I'm too weak without you. I never thought I'd confess that, but it's true. I'm stubborn you know? Of course you do. Maybe that's why you left in the first place? But here I am, confessing that things aren't the same with you gone. I'm anxiously awaiting your return. Don't be long. I miss you.

Until we meet again,
Scattered and confused

The Unspoken Rules

The world is full of unspoken rules:
Never trust a man who wears a bow tie.
Don't wear clothes that are too small for you.
Always tell someone if they have food in their teeth.
Always put the toilet seat down when you're finished.
Never begin telling someone something, then quickly reply, "nevermind".
etc. etc. etc.
As I was riding the metro into work this morning my thoughts started running, then those thoughts caused even more thoughts, which then caused me to think to myself (I know, way too much thinking for one morning), is this really what I think about when I have nothing to think about? David O’McKay once said, “What you think about when you don't have to think, shows what you really are.” So, I must be a future philosopher in the making, right?
I'm adding my own unspoken rules to the worlds.
Unspoken rule number 1- No matter how long, short, tedious, or grandiose your week has been, it’s Friday, you must be happy.
Rule number 2- Red-heads should never wear pink, red, or orange. It doesn’t matter how red your hair is or how auburn it is, if you consider yourself a redhead, don’t wear ANY of these colors. You may think it looks fine on you, but I assure you, it does not.
I feel bad for people who don’t understand this concept, really I do. I saw a woman on the metro this morning who clearly had dyed her hair red. Error number one. Then, as a natural brunette, who I’m sure is used to wearing any color she wants, has a red sweater on. Error number two. If you want to dye your hair red, than you must also follow this unspoken rule. Otherwise, stick to being all natural.
Rule number 3- When standing on an escalator, in D.C., at the mall, or in the airport, the right side is always designated as the standing only side, not the left! I sure hope people abide by this rule come this crazy weekend in D.C

That's all for now...future unspoken rules to come.

M.I.A.

I've been M.I.A. for the past month, so naturally I should have a plethora of updates for my betrayed blog and "readers". Rest assured, I have just that, a plethora of updates. Sit back, relax, hot cocoa in hand, and soak in what I like to call, "the good life".

Arriving home on Christmas Eve to a snow covered valley, granted me one of my Christmas wishes, a white Christmas! And with the continuation of snow fall that occurred over the next few days, I couldn't have been happier. I thought the snow on the ground, being in the comfort of my own home, and being surrounded by all my childhood Christmas memorabilia would make me feel like it was actually Christmas, that wasn't quite the feeling the atmosphere left me with. Christmas was quiet with just Andrea and I at home. I felt like we were being spoiled for our birthday's, instead of for Christmas. No complaints there, but I definitely missed having my whole family together for the holidays.

I adventured to the slopes on cross country ski's for the first time, good work out, beautiful weather, and fun to be back on the slopes, but at the end of the day I wish I had a board strapped to my feet instead of two ski's and poles in hand. The Sunday after Christmas my whole family was together at last. My amazing Dad got to speak in church. That was the first time in who knows how many years, that the entire family was together in our home ward and got to hear my Dad speak. He did a great job like always, and it was just another testament that I have the greatest family EVER! I still don't know what I did to get so lucky to have them? That night my dearest Mother decided to throw a Candrian style "Open House" and invited family, friends, and neighbors over for a little, after Christmas party. It's always fun to have a bunch of people come over to your house, especially people you care to see. And in this case, I cared to see everyone that stopped by. My good friends Cath, Steph, her husband Ben, and Liz came over, and I think it's safe to say we were the loudest ones there! No surprise, we're usually the loudest people wherever we go, that's part of what makes us so great! Love those girls!

Another highlight of my trip home were the daily lunch dates with good friends I hadn't seen in awhile. There's nothing better than eating good food, hanging out with good friends, and chatting away like we'd never spent months or years apart. I commented to some of my friends that "going to lunch" seems like such a "grown-up" thing to do. Seeing that one of the friends I said this to is pregnant, I guess it's safe to say we've definitely transitioned into that part of life, or at least the "growing up" stage of it. For New Years I spent the night party hopping with Erin in SLC. I don't know what it is about hanging out at big parties with hundreds of strangers, but I much rather people watch, than engage in meaningless conversations with people I probably won't ever see again. I definitely used the excuse of living on the east coast to my advantage that night, so how I managed to have some stranger help me ring in the new year the right way is still a perplexing thought. I still can't believe 2008 has vanished away, where has Christmas gone, even more, how have the last 12 months already disappeared?

The rest of my week at home was spent relaxing, shopping, and hanging out with even more friends than I originally thought I'd see while I was home. I think that's what made my entire trip so great. Being able to see friends I literally haven't seen in years, reminded me that life isn't half bad on the west side! A friend of mine and I adventured down to Provo to watch the BYU vs. Wake Forest game on Saturday night...let's just say that being back in Provo was definitely better than the final score. It was still fun regardless, and like expected, made me miss being back at BYU. I dreaded the approach of Sunday, and although it was a great day, in the sense that I got to see even more friends again, like Erin, Lauren, and Liz, I didn't want to face the fact that when I woke up the next day, I'd be back in D.C., back at work, and back to the real world. I'll admit it, there were tears that night before I headed to the airport to fly back "home", and not just from my Mom's eyes. I didn't expect my trip to be so rewarding, in more ways than one, but it was, and I loved every minute of being home. Now, if I could only figure out how to get paid to do that all year round, life would be even more blissful than it already is. But, alas, I'll have to settle with having rock star status every time I go home. It makes it that much more enjoyable, right?

Note to self: Get adequate sleep the nights leading up to a red eye. Three Advil P.M. doesn't always ensure you a good night's sleep, especially on a plane. Then coming straight to work from the airport with about 10 total hours of sleep in me over the past three days, makes for a very long work week. But it's Friday, and I've managed to last an entire week! It's a New Years miracle!!! I think this weekend will be spent in hibernation mode.