Friday Fav - Home

Happy Friday!!! Today, I'm writing you from the comfort of my mom's home. She bought this house after I moved, but coming here still feels like home. It's where all of my stuff is stored, where the pantry is always stocked, and where my mom is.

Today's Friday Fav is all over the map. I learned some and loved some. I learned time really does fly by fast and the fact that I am finally home feels better than ever. I fell in love with the Chicago airport (of all things) while traveling here. If you ever get a chance to pick a layover anywhere, pick Chicago. I also learned that a big part of my heart needs a slow town kinda city. I have been reminded of the break my mind needs, where quite streets can be found and sirens aren't on constant alarm, where speed cameras don't dominate your rearview mirror, and where seeing cows grazing next to an intersection isn't out of the norm.

Since being home, I've had the best time with my mom, we've pulled our best friend bond even closer, and we're counting down to an exciting weekend/week ahead! My bff, Whitney, will be flying in later today and my brother and his gf will be here by Christmas! My heart is full of so much love right now and it's only going to grow.

Today's Friday Fav is all things Home! 

Whether it sounds like this:

looks like this:

or reads like this:

Home brings a lot to my heart. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! 

3 Months

Today marks 3 months without my dad. While it seems like it's been forever since I've talked to him, it only feels like yesterday that he was giving me one of his biggest hugs. Hearing about the nightmare that took place on Friday in Newtown brought back the strike of pain I felt on September 17th, only this time I had some sense of comfort knowing these children will have my dad to help take care of them.

The places you find comfort and the things you look forward to are much different than ever before. I still have moments where I forget he's gone and I pick up the phone to call him. I still wake up thinking we'll chat on my way to work. I still think this Christmas won't be any different than years past and we'll go for a drive at night, with the snow falling, and we'll toast our cups of hot cocoa to a very Merry Christmas.

I continue to ask myself, "I wonder what I'll feel like at the 6-month mark, the 1-year, and as far away as it sounds ... the 10-year mark?" But then I have to remind myself, like the parents of those children taken too soon on Friday, you might not get 10 more years. You might only have today.

I guess what I'm trying to say on a day where I can only think about my dad is to hold those close who are in your lives and the memories they bring. This Christmas I know I'll shed some tears and shake my head at the year I've had, but I'll also know I'll be looking around at my family and realizing all that still surrounds me.

Newtown, I feel your pain and heartbreak. It hurts and it doesn't get any easier, but just know the days keep coming and new memories can still be made. Sending all my love through this dark time.
 

Friday Fav - Moments

Happy Friday! This week I didn't catch up on the sleep I was craving, didn't make delicious dinners like I had planned, and certainly didn't say hi to the gym like my body needed. This week, I gave some time to myself to just let things happen. If I needed to cry, I knew where I'd find some Kleenex. If I needed a mental break from life, I painted my nails. And if I wanted Qdoba, I went there 2 nights in a row. Oh ya, and if I needed to see someone else smile, I made sure to watch Oprah's Favorite Things episode.

This show made me happy and Mike ill. I felt love inside my heart for the gifts these attendees received, and Mike felt sick that a motorized bike and $10,000 earrings brought joy to one's life.

And then it hit me ... He was right (I never let this happen).

And then I saw this quote:

And then I remembered that while Christmas is around the corner, and the season of gift giving can't be escaped, there really isn't one gift that would make my life complete. As much as I have learned this past year through my dad, friendships, Mike, and the little moments in between, it's truly not about the gifts that make this season so magical - it's the moments we create.

To that, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and remember what really fills up the heart.

Source: piccsy.com via Brittanie on Pinterest

Happy Birthday, Brother!

Today, 30 years ago, the world received one of the best gifts - My Brother! 

Over the past 27 years that I've been fortunate enough to call him my big brother, I've learned so much from him! Chris, in celebration of your birthday, amazing year to come, and all that's ahead of you, I'd like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for some of the best presents you've given me:

• The thought in my mind before I go to bed every night that perhaps I should sleep with a towel over my head. The number of times you sprayed me with a water bottle at 1am has made me appreciate a good night's sleep. 
• My love for animals. Whether you harassed my parakeets, made up a story about that lizard at Lake Powell who went to eat his breakfast, or strapped my dolls shoes to Maggie's paws, you sure played a big part in my love for our furry, slimy and scaly friends.
• Speaking of animals, I can't thank you enough for joining me in the number of voicemail songs we recorded growing up, with our Lion King themed message being my favorite. "Oh we just can't wait to hear your message!"
• Dreaming about the first day of school every year because I would to get hear these magical words, "You're Chris's sister???" That's right I am! Somehow I thought it would add another notch on my belt and inch me higher on the popularity ladder, but instead it just gave me "friends" who wanted to date you.
  
   
• Teaching me how to ride a bike. Yup, the push and run away method worked wonders!
• Watching you perfect your chores. After you moved out, I never was able to sweep the carpet the way you did and make it look like I spent 3 hours vacuuming. 
• My understanding of 4-wheeling. Climbing to the top of the mountain only to slowly inch your way down in a truck that had a rollover warning sign was somehow an afternoon of fun in your book.
  
  
• My constant fear of you escaping every night in high school. Little did I know at the time you were off living it up, but instead I thought it was best to secretly call you and demand that you come home. P.S. Mom was never up when I said she was. 
• Rubber band guns. I really can't say more than it never was a fair match. Your gun was bigger and held more rubber bands. I'll never walk through a county fair with a homemade gun stand without thinking about our wars. 
• The number of scars on my knees. While some love pointing out their battle wounds for their heroic stories, I'm left with nothing but defeat. 
• My ability to hold a cigarette like the pro's do. While I don't smoke, our trips to 7-Eleven as kids to buy candy cigarettes have added a certain skill set to my resume unlike any other. 

• Jet skiing. Somehow grasping my arms around your waist never was enough. Your need to go over 70 mph and then quickly turning to almost a complete stop sunk me in the water every time. These days, I prefer a slow ride on a calm lake. 
• Giving me the two cutest nieces out there!
  
  

• Hiking 6 miles in the middle of the summer. I'll let my complaining voice remind you of this adventure. 
• Your impersonations. I'll never know how many times I thought I was talking to dad, but really was telling you my life story. 
• Knowing what it's like having a brother who is a model. In our family mom had the dance moves, dad had the corny jokes, you got the looks and locks, and I got the ability to ask 500 questions and share my goose laugh.

• Providing me with the insight that a snow fort isn't complete until you've added a wall of support, I mean snowballs, as simple fort building defense. You never know when you're going to need to throw 50+ snowballs at the neighbor aka the trespasser.
• Cleaning up after me. Graduation night + gin + Brittanie = disaster on the front lawn. Thank you x a million for being there.
• And above all other gifts, lessons, and skills you've given or taught me, you been a brother that I've always looked up to. From the tears I've cried and the fights we've had, there hasn't been a day where I haven't been on your side. The past 27 years you have humored me, toughened me up, and made me appreciate the world around us. This last year, which has been a rollercoaster to say the least, you have been my rock! I wouldn't be laughing at the things I am, I wouldn't be strong enough to face the things I have, and I certainly wouldn't be looking at life the way I do now.
  
  
  Thank you for simply being the best brother and my best friend!
  I love you and Happy Birthday!!!