Yep. Mhmm.

It was two weeks ago today that I posted about my "Tuesday Blues." Tuesday Blues must be like...a real thing, 'cause I'm feelin' them again today. Waking up Monday morning is usually painful for me but after the initial shock of "Holy-shit-it's-6am-and-I'm-awake-amd yesterday at this time I was in a deep sleep" I feel energized and ready for a fresh new week. Tuesday mornings are when it hits me that there are still four more full days of school before I get another break. Is it bad that I count down the days before each weekend? I have a feeling I'm not the only one who's not totally enjoying school right now.

It's been snowing quite a bit lately (a foot last week, resulting in a snow day on Wednesday) and I think I am already suffering from a little cabin fever. Life seems to be moving slowly...but I guess now is the time that I should enjoy this slow pace because (if what everyone says is true) before I know it, I'll be graduating from high school and eventually college.

There's so much more I wish that I could go into tonight but I have textbooks sitting in front of me just yelling "STUDY ME, STUDY ME!"

Oh yeah and tomorrow? Tomorrow I'll be making this delicious thing to celebrate a life and a few other things with some friends. Something to look forward to as I head into Hump Day!

Tuesday Blues

I would say "Monday Blues" but it's not Monday, it's Tuesday, as I'm sure you know. But, it feels like Monday. And it feels blah. I feel blah. I'm tired. I need a little pick-me-up. I'm about to go babysit. Hopefully my girlies smiling faces will cheer me up (and not do the opposite...because sometimes young children have that wonderful effect of turning you into a grumpy grouch.)

I forgot how tiring school days are. Maybe it will snow sometime in the next few days. A lot. Like, enough for a snow day. But it's highly unlikely. Oh well.

I can't wait to make it over the hump tomorrow. (And freeze my @$$ off skiing tomorrow evening.) Yes, I just used "@$$" for "ass". Hahahah.

A Happy Start to the Week.

VIA

Last Friday was a snow day. I love snow days. They make me so happy. Jess came over for some ramen, tater tots, pizza and chocolate milk. (We eat sooo healthily.) We watched The Notebook. Then we napped. Then we chatted. Then we went to bed. Ideal snow day activities? I think so.

VIA

Saturday, my mom and I did some spring, wait, no...winter cleaning. Felt good. Then we forced ourselves to go to the gym. I got an hour or so of much needed exercise in. Also felt good. Saturday night I was at my dad's. We watched The Kids Are All Right which was a great movie, IF YOU'RE NOT WATCHING IT WITH YOUR FATHER AND STEP MOM. I'm telling you, these movies really need a warning on the cover that goes something like this: "This movie contains multiple sex scenes, including some lesbian sex and quite a bit of foul language. Don't watch with parents." The story was cute though and the acting was good.

Sunday was relaxing. I cleaned my room at my dad's. My room there never really gets messy since I don't have many of my belongings there but it does get DUSTY which is just nasty. A little of this did the trick. In the afternoon, Jess and our friend Helena and I went to see No Strings Attached.



Quite honestly, the trailed doesn't do the movie justice. The only reason I wanted to see it was because I realized (after seeing Black Swan) just how great of an actress Natalie Portman is and I was curious to see how things would go with Ashton Kutcher who, despite his hotness, is not someone you would expect to see acting right alongside Portman. It turned out to be one of the best chick flicks I've seen in a long time! It's funny, flirty and cute! It was interesting to see Portman play such a light role after Black Swan, but she definitely rocked it. Kutcher was just adorable. Go see it. You'll agree.

Today I didn't have to be at school until 9:30 to take my last exam which, lucky for me, was just my art final. It is SO incredibly cold here. We're talkin' negatives. Made for a numbing walk home from school. Luckily I had four amigos to join me on the journey. Then I got to cook lunch for them. Then we had a tea party. Then they all left for track practice and since skiing was canceled (see the second and third sentence of this paragraph), I'm in for the night. Something about this cold weather makes me want to never leave the house and I'm okay with that.

I'm ready for things to get back to normal. Now that Henry and Lucy are gone, my mom and I feel like empty nesters but at the same time, we're realizing that it's time return to our usual routines. Plus, exams are over and a new semester is beginning. This will be good.

[Regarding my original fun weekend plans: Things changed. (They always seem to!) But, on the bright side, that little get-together will be rescheduled. And, I've already made plans for this coming weekend. I'm suddenly planning things in advance...oh my! What fun!]

Have a happy week. And don't freeze your tush off...because then that would make two frozen tushes, mine being the first.

It's midterm week, yo.

Good:
-I'm halfway through my sophomore year!
-I got out of school at 9:30am today, 11am yesterday and tomorrow and Friday I'll get out at 11am as well.
-I only have three more midterms.
-I have fun weekend plans {Skating, burritos and a movie marathon with the best friends in the world}.

Bad:
-I went to bed at 2:30am yesterday morning AND this morning.
-I managed to turn my alarm off in my sleep and I woke to a text at 7:29 this morning--I had to be at school by 7:40. I didn't even get my morning pee in (TMI?).
-The chem midterm that I took today totally kicked my ass.
-Pandora won't let me listen to music for the rest of the month--they have a 40 hour limit each month.
-Tonight is Lucy's last night here. This is the baddest.

Wanna see something really cute?

Lex & Loren - Engagement/Save the date! from Loren Brinton Films on Vimeo.

Oh yeah, and, Happy Hump Day.

Goodbye and Hello.

2010 is over. Gone forever. There's no turning back now. However, 2010 deserves a proper goodbye. So, this post is dedicated to you, 2010--A big fat "thank you" for everything you've done.

When I look back on the 365 days that made up this past year, so many thoughts race through my head. This year was full of laughter, transformation, changes, realizations, revelations, soul-searching and joy. There sure were some trials--some moments where all I wanted to do was give up. (Quite a few actually…but that’s only human, right?) But, 2010 taught me to take each day at a time and appreciate every little moment I have in this Life. Want a little review of my year? Yeah? Okay here it is.

I honestly don't have much recollection of the first few months. I remember surviving my first set of high school mid-year exams, doing some skiing and getting a new cell phone. Those weren't very exciting months for me. In April I was scheduled to leave for France (with a school group) on the 17th but the trip was postponed to June due to the volcano in Iceland that created ash clouds that covered Europe and created serious havoc in airports. We ended up leaving June 20th, the day after school got out for the summer. It was perfect. Our minds were free of scholarly thoughts, the weather was wonderful, everyone was in good spirits, we packed a LOT into the time we had there and an amazing time was had by all.

On July 1st, I took a huge step out of my comfort zone and ended up having one of the best experiences of my life. I traveled to the beautiful island of Vinalhaven with a happy little family of five--and no, this was not my family. It was Julia and Barney's family which included three beautiful littles; Elsie, Anna and Faye. I knew them quite well. They live in my town and I had babysat for their girls for about two years before they asked me to join them on their island adventures. For a month, I lived in the "Poor Farm" with them. I got a good taste of what 24/7 parenting is like. Julia was almost always with me (which was a blessing!) so together with the girls we explored the beautiful island by going on various adventures and hikes, we went boating, swimming (in the ocean and the quarries), picnicking, walking and we did a heck of a lot of playing/entertaining.

Frankly, the month that I spent with them was one of the most challenging months of my life. However, it was also one of the most rewarding, beautiful and life-changing months. Not only did I learn how to turn a 2, 4 or 6 year old's frown upside down, change a diaper in a matter of seconds, keep in my swear-words, be patient, discipline fairly and cook for five, but I also learned so much about myself and that is a big part of what I took away from all of this.

When you are put in a place without cell service, television and internet (so, basically away from society altogether), you are bound to learn to enjoy the peace and serenity. It was a big change for me--checking Facebook daily to not at all--but it was the best thing for me. Sure, I was away from society, but I was also away from my family and my closest friends. It was a strange feeling. It was a good feeling, though. I had nobody to look over me--I was forced to think on my own, grow up a little. Because I didn't have any of the distractions that modern day technology brought me, I relied on my mind for entertainment. It was early in the morning, as the sun streamed through the windows onto my face, and late at night, when the house was silent (aside from the occasional passing of a ghost), that I was completely alone with my thoughts. I had moments like I've never had before. I had the time to assess so many parts of my life, the people in it and myself as a being. I wrestled with the rougher thoughts and turned them into something beautiful. The stars must have been aligned when I got this wonderful offer because I know that it was meant to be--I was meant to be thrown a reality check and a big wake-up call. I'm grateful. Oh and one last thing about Vinalhaven...I turned fifteen while I was there! I couldn't have been in a better place to turn another year older!

August was filled with lots of field hockey...camp for a week and then pre-season for two weeks. September 1st marked the start of a new school year which is, as of this week, half way over. Thank god. But, the best part of August? Getting my drivers permit! It took me most of the fall to get back into the routine of school and homework and all that jazz but I must say it felt good to be back in the swing of things. December brought a nice trip to Montreal (that deserves it's own post), some snow and my favorite of all, some serious bonding with my sister.

2010 made me a happier person and just thinking about that makes me happy. I learned a lot this year and I have even more to learn...which is why 2011 is here. Hooray for another year! Happy 2011, y'all.

Note: I have no clue why this post took so long...perhaps it was my scattered thoughts that took a long time to compile...or maybe it's that I was just plain old neglecting bloggy.

Merry (late) Christmas and Happy New Year!

My grandparents, Henry, Me and Lucy

Lucy the Leo

Late night creations

Christmas was good this year. Real good. It was laid-back and relaxed and that's just the way I like it. On Christmas Eve, we were at my mom's house with my grandparents, my uncle and my siblings. We ate a lot, laughed a lot and enjoyed life (and the heat which I sneakily jacked up to 67 degrees). Christmas morning was nice as well, despite the fact that it never even felt like Christmas. Once our "hour of greed", as my uncle calls it, was over, Lucy, Henry and I headed to our dad's house. We lounged around the wood stove for a few hours and had some home made mac and cheese--my favorite.

Each year Christmas becomes less and less about who receives the best gifts and more about how lucky we are to be happy and healthy and to have each other. Holidays always force me to think about all the people who are less fortunate than I am and since I can't easily end world hunger and create world peace and all that jazz (although I totally wish I could!), the best thing I can do is just sit here and appreciate what I have. And that's exactly what I'm doing.

Tomorrow morning we are braving this blizzard and driving up to Montreal for some post-Christmas shopping sales and some quality family time. I'm excited.

Here's to a new year filled with love, laughter, friendship, happiness and sunshine. Happy New Year!

Ah, Monday. + A Post Edit.

Monday will be here in approximately one hour. This weekend flew by. It was a happy weekend. I feel like I'm on vacation but nooooooo, I still have three more days of school. Three days that I am REALLY not looking forward to. I wish there was something exciting happening these next few days to get me through but I honestly can't think of anything. I am so ready for Christmas right about now and all I want for Christmas is snow. Will the snow gods grant my wishes? I sure as hell hope so because it's not Christmas if the snow don't fall....

Happy Monday. (Even though my Monday sure won't be happy, I sincerely hope yours is.)

Post Edit:
Monday has come. And with it...it brought snow. SNOW! Monday answered all my wildest dreams. Now, if only it would continue for the next 120 hours, I would be one happy girl. In the meantime, I'd like to live in the moment and celebrate the fact that I am now one day closer to Christmas break and the fact that it's a winter wonderland outside AND Henry is coming home one day early...which means he'll be here tonight! Yippee!

Behind the lens

As the holiday approaches...I decided I would do my best to document everything. So, here it goes. More pictures, less words. (That's what makes a good blog, right?)

The sunset tonight was gorgeous. I managed to get outside right as the sky started transforming into a pool or oranges, pinks and blues. Sunset is my favorite time of day. The light hits the trees right at a perfect angle and illuminates the dull, naked trees.

Just bought these beauties here. They are actually my second pair (the first pair was plain black canvas). They are comfy, cute, support a great cause and would be a perfect Christmas gift. In fact, when I ordered these, I got my sister these.

The recipe for these "Magic Middle Peanut Butter Cookies" comes from here and is simple and absolutely delicious. I may or may not have had about six of them tonight.

Crazy tree decorating assistant #1. (#2 was not feeling photogenic today.)

This darling Crèche was handmade in Guatemala and we've had it since I can remember. I'm not a big fan of nativity scenes but I have a real thing for this one.

The snowmen and the elephant were both done by needle felting, a craft that I learned this summer on the island. It really deserves its own post, but I thought I would at least share a few of my handmade gifties.

As the pictures show, Lucy is home again. Henry will come on Tuesday. I'm psyched. I'm still trying to get in the spirit but it's 1000X harder without snow on the ground. But, we might be in luck. The forecast for this week shows a few flurries. I unfortunately didn't get NEARLY as much crafting done as I had hoped. But...there's still time I suppose. I just better get crackin' NOW. Happy Weekending.

Bittersweet

"What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies." ~Rudolph Giuliani

My sweet grandfather turned 86 this past Sunday. It was a bittersweet day for all of us. I was fortunate enough to see my special man on his special day.

I call him Hoho. All of his grandchildren do...not even sure why...but perhaps it has something to do with the fact that his name is Holden. Anyway, Hoho is the best. He loves us oh so much and we love him right back. He's always been there for my siblings and I and he supports us in anything we do. He's one of the most generous people I know and he has the greatest sense of humor. I could probably go on forever about all of his wonderful qualities that make my heart feel so full when I'm around him. But, what I really mean to write about is why today is so poignant.

86. 86 is old in my book. Each day, Hoho grows older. Each time I see him, he has one more tiny wrinkle on his face, a little more shuffle to each step and a little more stumbling between each word spoken. I fully comprehend that people get old and that we can't make it out of this life alive. I get it. But I guess this is the first time I have seen a loved one age like this, and it's killing me. I just want to see him driving again, walking more swiftly, reading without glasses and speaking without a stutter.

But, since aging is irreversible, I must accept this fact of life and embrace it. I must love him for everything he is today and store the memories that I have of the old him. I'm lucky to have him in my life...to hear his stories, to check on my teeth (he used to be a dentist), to love my sweet grandmother, to teach me life lessons, to give me advice and to give me a huge dose of unconditional love.

Thanks for everything, Ho. Happy happy 86th. May this next year of your life be filled with peace, happiness, reflection and growth. I love you.

Sorry, blog.

I'm sorry for neglecting you, bloggy. Life has been hectic.

So, where did I leave off? Oh yeah, it was Thanksgiving Eve. My siblings were home. And I was happy. Thanksgiving was absolutely wonderful. This year it was small--only my mom, siblings and our grandparents. Just the way I like it. This year I truly realized the meaning of Thanksgiving. Of course, we all realize the original meaning of Thanksgiving...being thankful for the "bountiful harvest" but we don't stop right there. This year I had so much to be grateful--it ranged from a sweet dog who loves to snuggle to the awesome job that I scored this past year to a warm house to finding a million reasons to smile each day. But, as Kelle Hampton so nicely put it, "that's not the heart of it. That's not the meaty core of Thanksgiving...the kind [she wants her] kids to grasp and feel." The thankfulness that I felt this holiday came right around the time that my mother was frantically trying to heat up all the food (that we had already cooked the day before), Henry and my grandfather were talkin' football talk in front of the tv, the fire was blazing, Lucy was working on a puzzle, the dog sprawled out beneath her feet, my grandmother was telling my mom old stories and I was roaming amongst them all, drinking in the happiness and the warmth that I have in my family and in my life. This holiday was everything I had envisioned and more--It was as peaceful as ever, I was surrounded by those I love and we had delicious food.

The family fun came on Saturday night. Henry, Lucy, my mom and I drove to my grandparents, where my mom's brother Bruce and his girlfriend Sherry were. We laughed SO many times that night. I wish I wrote down every word that was said. I absolutely adore the openness of my family and our ability to be sarcastic and funny with each other one minute and then move to a more serious topic when appropriate...and then go right back to laughing after.

See what I mean? Silly to serious in a second.

Sunday was sad. Saying goodbye to my favorite (and only!) siblings in the whole wide world was hard! It was one of the best visits we've ever had...each time we get closer and closer. The distance is suddenly killing me. At first it didn't bother me that Lucy and Henry were a couple hundred miles away from me. When they left after this visit, it really sunk in. My heart felt so full and happy while they were home and now there's a large void.

Anyway, this just means that I'm extra excited for Christmas break. And speaking of Christmas...I'm starting to get in the mood more. At first I couldn't decide if I would like this holiday this year...but I think I've decided that I do. I go through this every year. I love Christmas. No matter what.

I'm aiming towards a hand-made Christmas (aka all hand-made gifts) which I know will not happen, but I'm going to do my best. No time to blog...I gotta get craftin', folks. More to come.