February

I know I gained some weight in February. Because

1. I ordered myself a box of these:

No one else buys me chocolate. I deserve it. My favorite is the "nuts and chews" box. I'm pretty much convinced See's is the best chocolate in the world. We used to get a box for every person in my family from my great aunt and uncle every Christmas. They'd ship it to us from Cali. They've passed away and I like to remember them in this way.

and

2. Girl Scout Cookie Month. I only buy two boxes - one Thin Mint, one Samoas. It's a yearly tradition I want to uphold.

It was a good month.

Friday Night Lights

I am loving Friday Night Lights right now. I'm kind of addicted. Maybe that's not good. But I love sports and I love all the relationships. And there are just the cutest football players ever -- even if they are in high school.

So, Tim Riggins (see below -- beautiful) goes in to kiss his 30-year-old neighbor after chumming up with her 8-year-old son, and she stops him saying "You're just a kid." He apologizes, saying he's sorry and that he must have misread the situation. And the next day she's waiting for him as he pulls up. She grabs his hand and says "Bo (her son) can never know." So, they hook up. 

Was the only thing holding her back before the fact that she has a son? She was worried about wrecking their relationship? How many 30-year-old women are hooking up with high-school age kids. Seriously if they look like Tim Riggins I might be tempted. Oh boy. 

Bad boy, Tim Riggins:

Matt Saracen (the team's QB) is just about the most adorable thing ever. Could definitely make out with those lips. 

Talbots

I used to think of talbots as a mom store. But it totally isn't any more! It's darling! I think they've totally changed their target, but unfortunately they've also bumped up their price point. I'm loving the double pocket grace fit jacket below.

However, they do have things that go on super sale. I bought three sweaters the other day and spent less than $60. Two of them were less than $20! One I bought is the one below. So cute?

My mom told me 3 things before I went on a date.

keep these in mind girls...

1. Be on time. 


2. Touch him/hold his hand at some point in the night. 


3. Don't wear a scarf around your neck. 


My mom knows what's important. 

Winter Break in Review

My winter break consisted of:

Shopping for jeans for my mom. I bought her 6 pairs and then we had a trying on session at home on Christmas day. She decided to keep the Joe's. Who else's mom can wear Joe's? She looks great for being like 80. I was happy to find Joe's for me too. I don't know how often you find Joe's at TJ Maxx and Nordstorm Rack, but I must have been doing something right that day.

Finding some good deals at the Banana Republic in Old Town Alexandria.

Going to my parent's new house at Deep Creek. There's a beautiful view of the lake from the hot tub (where I sat for like a full hour). We walked on the frozen lake too.

Juliette jumping in the snow before getting back in the hot tub. 

There's snow on her toes. 

Ice skating at the Ballston mall. It's only $1 on Tuesdays at 2:00. I kind of love ice skating. I'm thinking about doing lessons.

Discovering Carraca's in Falls Church. I didn't discover it. Bill just shared it with me. Oh it's just delicious Venezuelan food. Already planning on going back.

Seeing "True Grit" (in the theater) and "A Room with a View" (at home). There's some nudity in "A Room With a View." Whoever thought there would be on a BBC type movie? It's just frontal male nudity and it's not close up and there's a lot of running around, so you really don't see much.

Getting settled in my new place.

I still am trying to find a rug. 

I'm super organized in my closet. Would you expect any less?  It's a small closet, so I have to be. 

Going to the Portrait Gallery to see the Norman Rockwell exhibit and also the train exhibit at the Botanic Gardens with my mom. 

Joining LA Fitness. Hooray! I haven't belonged to a gym in awhile and I'm excited.

Taking a Ballet Class at Ballet Nova. And I can still do a triple pirouette no problem.

Singing "O Holy Night" for my family Christmas Eve program. I wasn't rehearsed. Maybe it sounded okay. 

This is the Yule Log my mom made for Christmas Eve. It was delicious. And isn't it beautiful? 

Reading The Help and starting Life of Pi.

It was a good break. I'm ready to get back into the swing of things though.

Resolutions 2011? 

1. Read a book a month (did it last year).
2. Take ballet/contemporary classes more consistently.
3. Ice skate more.
4. Regular gospel study.
5. Date!

My mom says...

that she knows the guy I'll bring home will be perfect, so she doesn't need to worry.

I don't even know how the guy I'll bring home even came up, but it makes me think about a couple things...

Oh! I remember now! We were talking about how some parents (friends of hers, who have children I'm good friends with) are very vocal about doubts/questions they have about their children's either fiancee or boyfriend/girlfriend, while others are not so vocal. Maybe they just face the fact that they have no say over the matter, or maybe they just voice their concerns to their children and don't talk about them with their friends/my mom. I think my parents would definitely voice concerns to me about any guy I was dating/engaged to.

Back to what it makes me thing about...

My mom is teasing/making fun of me and perhaps this should be insulting, but I didn't really take it as such. Is my mom telling me I'm so picky that the guy I FINALLY bring home would have to be perfect? The problem with this is that there are no perfect guys/people, so does this mean I'm never coming home with anyone? I didn't take it as an insult, because I really think that while I realize there are no perfect people out there, I still believe in falling in love -- like head over heels in love. And I believe I will find someone who I think is perfect while in the dating/courtship period of time. (Of course, after marriage is a different story. You are supposed to keep your eyes wide open during dating and half shut after marriage, right? But that's kind of depressing to think about -- that you think he's amazing before you get married and then you realize he's not?) I go to a marriage prep class at church. I think both last week and this week, we talked about a quote from a talk given by Julie Beck. It addresses the fact that many people go about finding someone to date as a shopping excursion. They are looking for someone with specific attributes, rather than how we should look at it as a blessing from God. So, I KNOW that the person I end up with won't be perfect, and that I'm not looking for a specific person with specific attributes, but rather we are looking for someone you'll share in doing God's plan for both of you.

Spencer's been telling me recently that the characteristics of your spouse before you marry don't matter that much, because really the two of you become one and you shape who you both are going to be for the rest of your lives. I agree and see how this is the case. You change and adjust your lifestyles/personality to work with the person you want to spend the rest of your life/eternity with.

I'm done. Enough. It's exhausting to always be thinking about it, and there's no reason to. Life is good. I'm happy.

Love to you all! XOXO

Thanksgiving

I went to my parent's house for Thanksgiving. The day prior my mom and I made the stuffing, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Steph made the rolls and pies. Hunter spent Thanksgiving in Utah, but he provided that turkey that Foulger/Pratt gives him every year. It was a fairly small group; just mom, dad, Steph, Aaron and family, Naomi and Josh, and me. It was nice though to spend some quality time with everyone. 

The second table with Samuel, Paige, and Juliette:

Me and sweetest baby Daniel:

My cousin, Emily, and I maybe look exactly alike and even dressed exactly alike on Friday evening when I got together with Emily, Tim and baby Corinne, Allison, Tim and newborn Ian, Drew, Jen and family, the Osguthorpes, Naomi and Josh, Cynthia and Glen, and me, my mom and dad.

Naomi, me, and Emily:

 Allison holding 3 week old, Ian:

I'm so grateful for my family. They are such wonderful people and I enjoy spending time with them so much.