junio.

The month of June came faster than what I had anticipated, and I had been dreading its arrival for quite some time. Probably about since December or so. But it came and is going, and it's almost gone. And you know what? I survived. I definitely shed too many tears to count leading up to it, but that's just how I roll. 


First order of business: Jeff. 
I love this guy, I do. He's my oldest brother. He just got married in March. June 4th was the day we said goodbye to him. He's currently at Camp Atterbury in Indiana. He leaves for Iraq/Afghanistan/We don't really know where in about a month. He's been gone a lot lately because he's been working in SLC. But when he's home I love spending time with him. I miss him so much and I can't wait to have him back here. Supposedly we won't have communication with him for the first three months he'll be over there. That will be hard, but I know he'll be safe. I love how much our family supports him. We all love him so so so much. I appreciate all that he has, is doing, and is going to do for our country. I really couldn't be blessed with better brothers. Jeff is the quiet one, but is always willing to help you with anything. He makes us all smile and we love him. I'm crying right now typing this.. because I just want him back home. I don't think you truly appreciate or realize how much you love somebody until the chance to show them your gratitude may be gone. I know he'll be home before we know it, and when that day arrives, I know I won't stop smiling. That day will be filled with happy tears. He's in our prayers, and I ask you to do the same. 

Second order of business: Scott.
Oh my, how much I miss this boy. Despite our dramatic fall out that should have never happened and lasted much longer than I think either of us had hoped for, all is well. He left June 15th. He's been gone for thirteen days. ..Can you tell that I'm waiting for the day he comes home? I cannot wait. I love this boy so much. He's one of my best friends. On my worst days he knows how to make me smile. He gives the best hugs, and is such a great listener. For how much talking I do, I believe we make a great pair. Given the complicated and dramatic story that I'm not going to delve into, we have fixed things and we're both happy. Our friendship was restored, and that's all we needed. That's what we're focusing on, and I couldn't be happier. 




June came, and June is going. I'm content with how things are, and I know everything is going to be fine. Everything happens for a reason, right? I'm just excited to see where my life ends up. These next few years I'm going to learn a lot about myself. I'll get these two back in my life around the same time. Jeff will be home, and then six months later Scott will be. And holy moly, I cannot wait for those two days. Love those around you. Life is too short to fight over petty things. 

Much love, Al.

Thank you, Emilee Crowder..

..for your undying love of things girly and pretty and oh-so-easy to make. 

I met Emilee through my lovely friend Rachel. Together they have a blog, called WeMake. {You should follow all three of those blogs. They're great.}

Anyway, back to the point of this post. Emilee posted on their craft blog some bows she made, and I immediately fell in love. If you knew Melissa and me in high school, then you know we were constantly making head bands and hair clips and everything in between. I have a plethora of head bands and hair accessories. The last I counted it was at the 60 mark or so.. and it's grown since then. When Emilee posted her how-to on her bows I knew that I had to try it. I kind of took my own spin on what she made, and I must say I'm pretty happy with it. 

The last few months my love for everything lace, girly, and vintage has been growing and growing. I dug through my heaping pile of scraps of material and stumbled across the lace that I inherited from my great grandma Selma when she passed away. Ever since I received it I knew I wanted to do something with it, I just wasn't sure what. I knew that this was the perfect opportunity. 

I took a 15x5 piece of lace and ironed it down and then sewed the two short ends together. {I know, I know. I used blue thread. I didn't feel like rethreading the machine.}

I turned it inside out, and centered the seam so it would be on the back side.

 Next I pinched it to look the way I liked, and then ran two stitches through it with a needle and thread.

 After I got it stitched I cut out another piece of lace, and wrapped it around it, hot gluing in the back.

Cut out a piece of felt, glue on a clip, and that's it! 

Super easy.

I know it's a bit large. But I like big hair accessories. 

 Bow overload? Yeah. Told you I love them.

So, thanks again Emilee. You're the greatest.

Durnkin Donuts.

To start things off, here's a playlist. But not just any playlist. It's what we listened to all weekend. It was on Melski's pod, and I fell in love. <3 It's basically the playlist of both of our love lives. We just need to stick to being each other's bfs, because it seems that the real men who are supposed to hold our hands are too lame to do so. Listen to the whole thing. You'll fall in love. I guarantee it.

Here it is.

Day dos. Surnday.


We had plans of awaking early and making our way into the city. We didn't wake up early, but we did venture to the main land. Once we finally got going we hopped on into the minski and traveled to the Bronx. Yep. When she told me that that was where we were going to get onto the subway at I almost peed my pants. 

After having my pants scared off by a drunk man who didn't have enough money to get on the subway, I felt my subway adventure had officially started. 


Our first stop was China Town where we did some shopping and gandering and fake bartering. I don't really what happened between China Town and Trinity church because I hadn't been taking pictures. When we got out of the subway Melissa scolded me for not having taken any pictures, so I whipped out the cam. She wanted to take a picture of me to show I was in NY. What did we result to? A hotdog stand. 

Anywho. After Trinity Church we hit up a subway (the restaurant) by Battery Park where I conveniently asked for "ticken cheriyake." Yeah. Imma fool. We hung out in Battery Park for a wee bit. Went and gandered at the Statue of Liberty for some time. Bartered with a sketchy sunglass seller. Hit up Time Square {twice}. Grand Central. Empire State Building. Roxy's. Max Brenner's. It was a solid day. That's all I'm gonna say. I'll let my pics do the talking. kbye.

One last thing. Since it was Memorial Day Weekend there were sailors walking around in their white all over time square. It was cool.

 ^We walked for twelve years to get to this Jamba Juice, only to discover it was closed. We cried.

Pause.

I'm wishing I could press pause on my tears,

because everything is happening how I'd hoped it wouldn't.

We don't even talk and it breaks my heart.

And now you're leaving, and I'm left wondering.

I came home from your farewell and slept.

I dreamt of us, and we were happy.

When I woke up I realized it may never be that way again.

My heart is heavy and my mind is confused.

I had hoped we would have fixed things before this.

But the closer it gets, the less I believe it will happen.

baby kitty.

This little miss needs a name.

here's our options:

tuttle

peg

pearl

priscilla

iretta

nonna

phyllis

agnes

aicha

bianca

gilly

judith

ames

gilla

dellou

ella

willa

rowna

kappa

Now. I know that's quite the list. But that's what it got narrowed down to.. slash grew to. But I would like suggestions/votes. Here's my favorites:

tuttle

iretta

willa

agnes

nonna

Your help is greatly appreciated. (:

It's official.

Mark your calendars. 

Thanks, Mel.

When life becomes a bit too much for me to handle, I run. Not the strap on my running shoes and hit the gym type of run. More like.. book a flight and escape from St. George and everything that I feel is crashing down on me type of run. The first time it happened was here. Not that I'm complaining. Vacations are much needed. And now that I'm beginning to realize the convenience of having flight benefits from the mama, this might turn into a new habit. I think I'll be alright with it. 

About two weeks ago I had a Skype date with Mel. Before she could even get out a "hello" I believe I started crying and asked if I could come visit. Of course she obliged, confessing that she had missed my humor and good looks. I booked my flights a day or two later. Best decision I've made in a long time. 

I suppose I shall share what we did over the all too fast weekend. I'll probably break it up into two or tres posts, because this one is much too long already.

I took a red eye Friday night and arrived early Saturday morning, where I was greeted by her chunchine face. {Can you believe I flew to New York all by myself? This is the girl who stressed flying out of the STG airport to SLC.. yeah. I know. I surprised myself.} She came giving hugs, baby muffins, and yogurt. Isn't she the greatest? Anyway. We traveled to her home, ate some toast and eggs, and then I went to sleep. I woke up a few hours later and she was swimming with Phoebe and her little friend Danielle. They were having a play date. So I shimmied into my bikinki and joined them.


Later that night we ate dinner with her family {...nanny family. Just so you don't get all confused}. And then the two of us went to cheese cake factory and got some lovely dessert. Then we went to this gigantor movie theater and watched a movie about some guys who got lost in Bangkok with a drug dealing monkey and a crazy asian. {10 points for you if you know which one it is.} We laughed our buns off. Then we went home and slept slash cuddled slash scratched each other's backs. If you know us, then you know we're always scratching each other's backs. It had been missed.

Anywho. That's all I'm gonna say for now. Because this is super long and I doubt anybody read this far. Isn't it depressing I only took like.. 5 pictures the first day? Yeah. I know.

...to be continued...