Merry & Bright

Christmas time is my absolute favorite.
There's a different scent in the air.
There are more smiles on people's faces.
Shopping malls, grocery stores, even gas stations seem a bit more happy.
It's an amazing time of the year, when things seem hopeful, cheerful and full of life and light.

I've gathered a few of my favorite Christmas decor items for 2014. Enjoy!
all from Terrain

Milk glass ornaments! Tons of colors

Glass beehive ornament

Wool Gnome

Isn't this the greatest? I love the colorful bulbs!

You can make a cute little town on your mantle! 

There's plenty of more holiday trim on Terrain's website for you to enjoy!

Happy Holiday's!

Reflecting on a tragedy

I seriously can't seem to shake off my feelings and thoughts of the recent tragedy over at Marysville Pilchuck High School. Everyday I've had feelings of sadness and heartbreak over what took place just last week. I don't have children, so it's hard for me to relate to the pain the victim's parents may be feeling. But this event has made me think about the future - about my future children. This event has made me think about the nieces and nephews I have. It's made me think that life is a gamble. Everyday and every moment isn't guaranteed and we can't always live life thinking, "there is always another day." It's made me think that there is trouble in our world, and no matter how much we try to keep what we have safe - things aren't always guaranteed.
...Which also brings me to - it's made me think about loving the people around me a little harder. Calling my family more often than once a week. Hugging my fiance a bit more than I do already. Telling my nieces and nephews they have an aunty that loves them and is always here for them - for whatever they're going through. It's made me think that my kids will know I'm on their side, I'm here to listen to them, I'm here to be sad about what they're sad about, happy about what they're happy about and to encourage them in this crazy thing called life. I want the people in my life to know that without a doubt - I'm present and here for them.
I don't know about the suspect's personal life, other than what social media has put out there but I can't help but think someone wasn't present enough in his life. There was a missing link somewhere, and because of that - a tragic thing has happened. What if we as aunts, parents, siblings spent a little more time with the young people in our lives? In a day and age where everyone, ranging from elementary school and nursing homes, has some sort of social media account - I feel like there needs to be more monitoring of our younger one's accounts. Again - I cannot say why J Fryberg did these things or what his home situation was like - but what if there had been more adult guidance and supervision? Maybe this thing could've been intercepted. Maybe. We will never know, but this made me promise myself that I will be there more.
It hurts my heart to know that now 3 very young people have passed away. And 3 more in critical condition. All very young kids who had their lives ahead of them. Who will never get to know what it feels like to accomplish high school, to graduate from college, to find true love, to start a lifelong career, etc. They'll never know that because at some point there wasn't enough guidance. That's a risky thing to write about a situation I don't know much about, but we see it all too often. Kids falling through the cracks of life because adults aren't playing their part to guide them, to nurture them, to give them quality advice about life. The Marysville Pilchuck High School shooting needs to be a call up for my generation, your generation and the generations to come, that life is short, encouragement and guidance is needed, and that as a member of a fast-paced, internet ruled society - we actually need to be present a little bit more.
My prayers and thoughts are with the victim's families. May God's peace always be with you and may you know His love and comfort.

Mind Your Business

It's my day off. I'm drinking a glass of wine before 5 pm and the only thing on my mind is how people can't mind their own business.

Okay, I confess.. I can't get a little "ohhh.. what happened?" .. and "wow.. she really said that?" . Yeah. I do that from time to time. But there is something about someone who likes to put their opinion where its not needed that really bothers me.

I'm engaged to my best friend. He is seriously the best thing and whenever I see him, think of him, hear about him - I get all happy and googily eyed. It's sickening, in the best way possible. And yes, I'm only 24. A baby some would say. And recently, I've been hearing a lot of -

"Wow girl, you're way too young to get married."

"Don't do it! You're such a baby." 

"You have your whole twenties in front of you to experience. Why would you want to get married?"

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

What. The. F. 

Talk about putting a damper on a super exciting time in my life. 

These are real questions people have asked me in the two months I've been engaged.

I get it - marriage is work. You have to put time, effort, everything you've got to make it work. I get that. But the constant questioning of my decision to get married to the man I love has got to stop.

Don't put your marriage hardships on me. Please.

And if you're one of those people to ask those questions up there - please think before you talk. You could very well be discouraging a really good thing.

Thank you.

"If it's who ya love, than it's who ya love. You can't make yourself stop dreamin who you're dreamin of" - John Mayer

The Most Incredible Feeling..

The love of my life asked me to marry him.

Yes. MARRY HIM.

4th of July, fireworks were going off, a couple of our close friends around us... and there I was thinking we were just taking a fun picture under the fireworks.

 Little did I know... Pj wanted more than a picture. 

{He planned this engagement awhile ago. He got my ring awhile ago. He got my family's blessing awhile ago. He had this all thought out. And I knew nothing...} 

So back to the photo... As we are standing there, hugging and smiling at each other, I remember Pj talking to me and saying how much he loves me. Then something crazy happened..

He stepped back, with my hands in his, and looked at me with this look that I've never seen before. It made my heart beat fast, and my stomach turn (in a good way)..

then it happened. He got down on his knee and asked if I would spend the rest of my life with him.

Tears, tears and more tears. 

I said, "Of course!" and continued to cry. 

It was so beautiful. It was perfect.

He was so handsome when he asked... so sweet, and so in love. 

My heart has been nothing but happy. 

Engaged. So crazy. So fun. And I'm soaking it all in! 

Life Changes.

I spent the majority of my life in Seattle. A little more than majority, I guess.

In the recent months, my parents have been making some serious plans to move to Arizona. Yep. Replacing our beautiful NW weather, for the dry-retirement aged friendly weather. 

And it's making me super sad. 

Maybe it's because my family is super close and I've never imagined anyone moving away.. permanently. I've never imagined my childhood home going for sale, soon to end up in a stranger's possession. Never in my life have I dreamt that. 

This past week I spent some time in the Phoenix area with my family - my parents were scoping out different cities they might want to move to... and they fell in love. (that's what i didn't want to happen) They haven't made any major plans to move down... they haven't gone crazy and sold our house yet.. but the chance that it could all happen in the near future scares me. I'm not gonna lie though - I would be one happy camper if I could get away from the Seattle cold come winter, and hang out with the parents in Arizona. But still... this is all so... new, sad, unnerving, scary, exciting, etc. .. for me. So many different feelings are going into this big life change that may be happening in my family. 

I just had to put that out there.

My Career Has Made Me An Alcoholic.

Ok. Not really. But I can't tell you how many times I've gotten home after a long day & poured myself a drink.

... So wait, does that make me an alcoholic? 

A lot of you already know what I do, but to put it plainly - I sugar (another form of hair removal) vaginas... all...day...long. About 18 of them. Some of them are my regular clients, and some of them are new clients to the spa, and some of them are brazilian virgins. 

With this being said, I come across a lot of different people from all walks of life, from all shapes, and all sizes - and some people more difficult than others. Nothing, and I mean nothing, surprises me anymore. I've seen it all. I've heard it all. I've smelled it all. 

I've learned a lot about how I should be as a customer/client. As I am with clients all day long, I pick up on certain habits people have grown to embrace.

There's the "You're here for me" client.

The "I'm always 10 minutes late but it doesn't matter because everyone runs on my schedule" client.

The "I don't want to engage in conversation with you because after all, you just wax vaginas" client.

The "You've had to be all up in my stinky vagina for 30 mins but I'm going to tip you $2 off a $68 service" client.

...Needless to say, there are a lot of different client and customer types. Some more stressful than others. And most days, I have a good mix of all types. 

Hence, where the drinking comes in.

A glass of wine, a margarita, a hard lemonade ... and time spent with my man, help me relax from a day full of people with different personalities. 

Most days, by 4 pm - I feel crazy. 

By 730, when I'm home - I feel less crazy, and more... wine filled. 

It's nice.

Being an Aunty is the best

My siblings have given me some pretty cute nieces and nephews. So grateful to be their Aunty! 

Travel Bug

I am currently suffering from the "I need to get on a plane & go somewhere exotic" bug. 

....Wait... I always suffer from that. 

I guess what I'm saying is, it's time for a big trip. I've been doing my research and I stumbled across Puglia, Italy. It's the boot of Italy's heel & from what I have read, it's tourist-free. Yes! 

I don't know about you, but I hate feeling like a tourist when I travel. When I'm somewhere, I want to eat what the people eat, do what the people do and live where they live. 

Here are some pictures I stole:

Take me there!!!

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY

Being that it's #ThrowbackThursday .. I thought I would throw it back to when I went to Nicaragua. One of my friends posted a this video on her Facebook page. It's a video introducing a kickstarter that will make a documentary showing that there is hope for hurting children in third world countries. You can check out more about it here, and please if you could - donate a dollar or two to their campaign. I would love to see this documentary come to life. 

So because she posted that video, it reminded me about all the lovely people I met during my trip. 

It was life changing. My trip and these faces you'll see, reminded me that there is way more to life than things. It reminded me that laughter, love and friendship is what matters. 

Here's some of my trip.

I miss these faces & that place. 

Xo.

My Dreams Scare Me.

Dreams are scary. Especially dreams that you have absolutely no idea how they are ever supposed to come about. But when that happens, I think of all the dreamers I know that made their dreams reality. And then I find a little peace... right before I get scared out of my mind all over again.

Lately I've been dreaming about what's to come. I enjoy where I'm at in life right now, but I know there's way more for me than what I'm doing now. I'm at a point in my life right now where I can feel a shift coming, but don't know what it is, or when it is. I hate not knowing. 

So, yeah, most times I'm scared out of my mind with the possibilities my life could bring me. But its good... it's a good scare. And I can put up with that.

dream big folks. let it scare the shit out of you. 

thoughts;

+I know I'm not the only one that feels this way. I live for the weekend. I liiiiiiiiiive for them. 

And then once the weekend is over, I'm sad again. So, could we possibly add another day to the week please? Smack dab in between Saturday and Sunday. 

+My parents are talking about moving to Arizona... and though that seems so crazy and sad, I'm looking towards the bright side of things - a place to escape these cold, winter nights!!!

+I've got the best boyfriend.. we can laugh for hours, talk about deep things for hours or just sit in silence and read. Perfect right?

+I think I may end my babysitting career. I can't keep doing this! 

All very random thoughts.

Vacay REcap.

California was such a nice break. 

Seriously... such a break.

Sometimes I'm a bit dramatic about how crazy my life is, but these past couple months have been driving me nuts. Busy with work + dark and damp and dull Seattle weather... yeah, all of that drove me to have a suncation in LA. 

It was so peaceful & I loved every moment of it! 

Thanks Sydney & Jason for being the hostesses with the mostesses. 

(This is Circus Animal Cookie flavored Thrifty Ice Cream!!!!!!!!)

Coke + Salted Karamel Vodka. Yes.

Cheers to LA.