Thankful

Below are just a small number of people I am thankful for
My family.
My sisters.
My bestie.
The Parker's.
My beautiful friends.
My drinking book club.
 
 
My everything
&
Last and most certainly NOT least
My Finnley.
 
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!
 
4

Nine

Today marks the 9th year of dating David.
And while this date has now taken a backseat to October 6, 2012
it still is nice to acknowledge it.
David & I have grown up a lot over the years and being in a relationship from such a young age (21!) you have your share of difficulties. In addition to being in a long distance relationship for two years (he was in Kansas City, MO and I was in San Diego, CA). However we survived college and we were excited for the future.

Sadly, in 2008 we broke up and were on and off the whole year.

It was the hardest year of my life.

But it also allowed me to figure things out about myself and we soon realized that we loved each other.

That break was the best thing we ever did for our relationship. 

Especially when four years later he got down on one knee and said

"It has always been you"
20

Scenes from Tahoe

A delayed photo dump is what I have in store for today! If you have never been to Lake Tahoe it needs to go on your list of must see's! Its beauty never disappoints! 

Kerri made us a cute gift basket to kick off the weekend. 
So glad I had my long range lens!
It was our seventh annual year of our tradition and we were all there which is quite a feat! I'm so thankful for amazing girlfriends!


Hope you all had a great weekend and happy week of Thanksgiving!
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Five on Friday

one

I have a ton of good books in my reading cue right now

two

I really need to sit down with my camera and start getting to know Manual mode. I mostly shoot in Av mode - but would like to depend on it less. It's one of my resolutions for 2014!

three

David and I are a little lot behind the times on this one but we just started watching Lost on Netflix. We don't watch any television shows together so it's fun to watch this as a couple. Seeing that there are 121 episodes in the series I think we will have a lot of time to catch up!
And really...I don't mind having to stare at Matthew Fox for hours on end.


four

Our Christmas list is pretty huge -I still have 15 people to buy gifts for!
And NO "Baby Parker" is not our baby - it's our newest niece or nephew on the way!

 five

My Christmas list won't stop growing...

Also another reminder you have until Wednesday to win
don't forget to enter here!

Linking up with:


17

Kat Von Don't

I have a confession...

I have a tramp stamp

eww

I wish I could tell my 18 year old self 
STOOOOOP
DON'T DO IT!
but alas I cannot.

So this is the story of how I hid my tattoo for 11 years.

When I was 18 I thought it was awesome not having to obey my parents. I was a freshman at San Diego State University and I had a rather large tax return - to the tune of $186.
 Since I had no bills to pay I decided the best way to spend that money was to go get myself tatted.

I had my friend draw up an image of "bird wings" because I liked this quote from Forrest Gump
"Dear God, make me a bird, so I can fly, far, far away from here"
Which is funny because I don't really ever talk to God (sorry God!) and I am not so sure what I was trying to fly away from. 

So off I went with my perfect back dimples - I only know this because the man who tattooed me told me they were sexy. Did I mention his full throat tattoo? I digress...and decided to get permanent ink.
(Apparently I cut this photo in case my mother ever found it)

He placed the stencil on me and I actually wanted it a bit lower so you couldn't see it in a bathing suit. But then he told me it would take another 45 minutes to draw it again.

So I said, "okay, that works".
Because apparently waiting 45 more minutes was out of the question for me.

My tattoo actually looks more like idk
angel wings
a mustache
the Motorola symbol

So for years I hid it from my parents because I thought they would disown me. One time I even covered it up with a bandage and said I scraped my back on the faucet getting out of the bathtub...again wtf.

When we went on family vacations where I was in a bathing suit. I made sure to always be behind them or swimming backwards in front of them.. No joke it was always on my mind.

Even when the day came zipping up my wedding dress I had my sisters do it to spare my mother the horror that my skin was perma inked.
And then one day last November I was leaning over the computer desk helping my dad oblivious to the fact that my lower back was exposed. My mom walked in

"Is that a tattoo?"
"Umm, what? Haha don't be silly" nervously yanking down my sweatshirt

"No, you have a tattoo. Let me see it"
SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT
I'm 29 and my father is going to kill me!

 and you know what?
Neither of them cared
ONE.FREAKING.BIT!

So as I sat there in disbelief that they didn't care I was in shock.

I then walked into the kitchen pulled up the sleeve on my wrist and said

"Do you care if I have two?"




Linking up with Erin & Rebecca
26

All I Want For Christmas

Is you
and you
and you

and you
 and you

and if you really want to give me something totally overpriced
then you too

or you
Pretending is fun :)
13

Thank You (+giveaway!)

As a big

THANK YOU

to all my Happily Ever Friends
thank you for reading along!


Win this banner by CMhandmade!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway


9

Five on Friday

It's been a while since I linked up to the lovely ladies of five on Friday!

one
Our annual girls trip to Tahoe commences today. Seven years strong in tradition!

two
I love a good coffee table book and this is one of them
Before it was published I submitted our story here.
Sadly it didn't make publication - however they are now writing "A Letter to My Cat"
you can submit stories for a chance to be in the book here.

three
If you have read my about me you know I volunteer as a Wish Granter for the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation. It's an incredible organization to be a part of and this weekend for Miles' wish they are turning San Francisco into Gotham City! Miles' wishes to be a superhero. If I was in town today I would so be cheering him on!
 You can read all about this incredible wish here.

 four
 Someone quickly managed to turn the new ottoman into his new bed.
What can I say I don't like the word no!

five
I started this little blog almost seven months ago and was okay if only I read it. As a thank you to everyone that reads, offers advice & kind words. I will be hosting my first giveaway!
 My talented friend Heather did all the banners for my wedding and home and I couldn't love her stuff more!  Starting Monday I will be raffling this gorgeous JOY banner!

Hope you have a great weekend as always!

Linking up with
 
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