take a moment to soak up the cuteness

i would just like to brag that i have the cutest and sweetest little cousins alive.
the proof is in the pictures.

i'll have to start with the obligatory christmas photos.
on christmas eve the grandparents and i headed over to kara and nate's to decorate COOKIES! for some reason, kara had only purchased cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies. i told her this was not acceptable. in order for it to be an official christmas cookie decorating...thing...the cookies must be sugar and they must be in christmas shapes along with red and green frosting and sprinkles. wow, kara is so lucky that i had been there to guide her. we headed to schnucks and $15 later we were ready to decorate!


it's a very serious process. also, that awesome sweater i am wearing was handed down by my grandmother who is a former teacher. isn't it perfect? it breaks every rule of fashion and is still fabulous. ha.

how nice
as you can see above, our poor cookies that we spent so long cutting out expanded in the oven beyond normal cookie-expansion. a lot of them ended looking like giant blobs. oh well.

moving onto the family christmas party.....
here is a photo of my grandfather looking like he is plotting to murder the entire family at any moment.

prepare for your heart to melt at this next one of michelle and grace. they are so sweet! can you see the family resemblance?





it was a merry christmas. although, i've noticed each year that christmas is less and less exciting. it's more fun when you're a kid. thanksgiving is so much better.

anyways, the next day my cousin grace was having her 6th birthday party. she had a princess party. the girls got dressed up in the many costumes that grace and michelle have. they decorated princess crowns with jewels and ate cupcakes.


prepare yourself for the cuteness of the next photo.

the two on the left are not my cousins. notice on the far left the little girl not wearing a crown or a dress? she was the one at the party who didn't like anything. she didn't like dressing up. she didn't like cupcakes. she didn't want to wear her crown. after my aunt ann took the photos, she said "i didn't smile in the pictures, i just went like this" (she then showed that her mouth was just in a straight line...NOT a smile) it sounds super annoying but she was actually hilarious. it was just so ridiculous it was funny. she told us she liked "boy stuff" like transformers and wii. at least she isn't afraid to be who she is. ha.

after the princess party i took my cousin madison on our long awaited date to starbucks. she couldn't wait to go and get a treat. she asked me if the treats would be shaped like dog treats. haha.

notice the silver purse on the table. that is madison's "big girl" purse, filled with all the essentials: nail polish, lipstick, and other varius makeup that santa brought her. she is the girliest little girl of them all. we get along quite nicely.


i love it. love them all.

speaking of "cute", jon and kate plus 8 are having their marathon of favorite episodes today. YES! being on christmas break means that i can sit around and watch television all day. how wonderful. anyways, i love kate. everyone thinks she is controlling and obnoxious but i think she is great and funny- despite the fact that she always wears capri pants. and how sweet is little aidan with those glasses!! and poor maddie...no one likes her. she is such a snot. and the sad thing is if you were to ask my mom, she would probably say that i was like maddie when i was her age. and i would have to agree with her. sorry mom. us oldest girls just have to be the boss.
jon and kate plus 8 makes me want to marry an asian guy and have like 15 cute little asian babies...and get my own show. leslie said it can be called "jon and katie plus 80". sounds perfcet.

reunion crashers

i came up to the beautiful lake st. louis this week to visit my family for christmas. i also came because my best friend leslie's (is the miley cyrus song in your head?) sister was getting married on the 20th. i had to be there for two reasons:

1. i have known leslie and her family for 11 years. we grew up down the street from each other. i wouldn't miss it for the world.
2. the setchfield family knows how to throw a good wedding. seriously. i know from leslie's wedding last year.

laura had her wedding reception in downtown st. louis at an art gallery. the first half was the cocktail hour complete with a jazz band. loooovely.

being an art gallery, there were plenty of weird, artsy things. like this boars head. (i think it's a boar. who really knows).
then after heading upstairs for dinner, we came back downstairs to a different band and an open dance floor. yes!
leslie's daughter and her uncle moose were bustin' the moves.

leslie's husband and i. i think he hates me.


....or he hates all of leslie's friends. ;)


leslie's mom and i groovin.



so. the wedding was wonderful. it ended at 11pm...well...leslie, katie, krissy, amy, and i were not ready to call it a night. leslie's family and all of us had rooms at the omni hotel and a shuttle back and forth from the art gallery. the omni hotel is fancy shmancy, so leslie and her husband graciously allowed all of us girls to sleep over in their room. ha! poor bryan.
we caught the shuttle to the hotel. mr and mrs setchfield were with us and we headed down to the hotel bar. there was some sort of event happening in there so we asked about it at the door. the doorman told us it was a reunion party for everyone who graduated in the st. louis area. ummm, ok? so are we allowed to come in? the doorman told leslie it would cost us each $15. well, forget that. we told him "thanks but no thanks" and turned to leave. the doorman then said we could come in for free.

we walk in. there is a DJ and a buffet of some sort. this party was...predominantly african american. ok, we were the only white people there. i loved it.
while the setchfields took advantage of the buffet, us girls decided to go dance. why not?! after requesting some beyonce, we had the party going. this was seriously the funniest thing in life. i mean what kind of situation were we in?!
we were actually the youngest people there. most of the people there had graduated high school in like 1998. leslie said she saw one that graduated in 87. are you getting how awesomely funny this was?
mr. setchfield decided to head over to the dance floor. we got in a circle and danced to "whatever you like" by TI and mr. setchfield was impressed we knew all of the words. i told him i was impressed by his awesome dance moves. who knew the "grocery cart" was still cool and hip?
oh, and the best part...there was a king and queen crowned. the queen was pregnant. i kid you not. the king got a ridiculously huge crown and a crystallized bottle of absolut vodka. seriously..they couldn't splurge for some grey goose?! i mean, this is the reunion for all of those who graduted in the st. louis area!!!! COME ON!

really though. i didn't understand the concept behind this party. but it was fun nonetheless.


today there is a marathon of "what not to wear" and "say yes to the dress" on TLC. so, you can find me on my grandma's couch...doing nothing all day.

gossip girl

every monday night between 7 and 8 pm is 'gossip girl' time. it's highly anticipated by laura and i. we text message our opinions and analysis of each episode as it is being aired. tonight was a big cliffhanger/big deal episode and i would like to share with your our text message conversations word for word. it's almost embarassing. actually..it is.

me- are you watching it?

laura- yeah! oh dang! bart died! i'll have to watch it tomorrow (last week's). good for rufus but i'm scared for lilly! and serena and dan better not get back together!

me- i know! it's crazy. ok lilly's mom on the show must be her real mom because they are twins.

laura- i know! i thought the same thing!

laura- did you just see jenny's purse?

me- no, what was it?

laura- it was a black clutch with a massive gold safety pin as its handle.

me- god serena is such a selfish bitch.

laura- i know. i can't stand her. i hope she pulls a mischa barton and gets killed in a car crash off a cliff! they could use the golden gate bridge!

me- hahaha!the golden gate bridge? don't you mean the brooklyn bridge? haha! but i agree. why the HELL does she care that dan is there?! like who does she think she is?! i'm so mad! haha!

laura- you know they are going to play that love triangle up. yeah, i meant that bridge. ha ha!
did rufus and lilly sleep together?

me- yeah i'm sure. they dated. during season one i always thought one of the humphrey kids was lillys. or vice versa. serena a humphrey! and i hate the stupid love triangle. this whole show should revolve around blair.
ok and jenny needs to shutup and dye her roots.

laura- i know! haha! i meant did they sleep together last week?

me- ohh. no they didn't.

laura- haha! roots don't really bother me until they are inches long.

me- omg! lilly! everyone is pissing me off!

laura- they did last season.

me-did they? i don't remember that!

laura- at the end. the night before she married bart.

me- oh i forgot!




me- ok. i'm really sad chuck didn't tell blair he loved her back! but i'm also glad they are building up this relationship so long. i think that means it'll last on the show. i hope! and i really want to see that bride wars movie. ha!

laura- i agree about the chuck and blair thing! and bride wars! ha ha!

me- i love that the bald teacher from clueless is blair's future stepdad. haha! and her outfit! i want. AND serena's new boyfriend looks like a child molester.

laura- i think he's hot! the bald guy is from princess bride which is what i keep thinking!

laura- i'm so scared for lilly and rufus! can't they just be happy for a little bit?!

me- haha he is! i forgot! is lilly really going to go away with another man the day of her husband's funeral? pffft.

me- i know! and dan is about to ruin it for them!


laura- she's going away with the love of her life!


me- still. she could have at least waited a day! it will look bad.

laura- BUT! maybe serena will remember and keep it that way? since she kind of owes her mom?!

me- yeah she owes her mom! and she owes the watchers of the show to make a selfless move! haha! i wish that in high school i had a college boyfriend that took me to buenes aires for christmas. i'm sorry he is just way creepy.

me- dan is so awkward in every scene. blair will never need serena's fashion advice.

laura- i know. he was more hot last year!

me- he was! actually his best days were in john tucker must die!

me- clueless teacher is wearing a yamaka! haha! i really love them.

laura- please make it!!!! please...

me- i know! ok we better know the reason behind the mental institution tonight.

laura- i have a feeling it's rufus. like her mom wouldn't let her be with him or something and she couldn't handle... i don't know. we won't...don't get your hopes up!!!

me- but what would that have to do with bart bass? like why was chuck so mad? there has to be another part.

laura- that's not it. Hmmm...

me- omg. here it comes.

laura- dan is so selfish too! kids these days!

me- hahaha! he is! aw! blair and chuck are spooning!

me- omg! so she had an abortion? what?

laura- what did the end note say? they had a freaking kid!!! I KNEW IT HAD TO DO WITH RUFUS!!!! january fifth?! that's so long!!!

laura- her mom! i'm telling you!

me- ugh. always leaving us hanging! i really think either serena or her brother is rufus' kid. and i know! i can't wait that long! her mom what?

laura-no, dude...they would have stopped them from being together! that's nasty!

laura- it's lilly's mom! that's why she had an abortion!

me- no serena's brother. no one was together with him he is gay! there has to be something more than just an abortion. she went away to france to have the baby and made it look like she was at the mental institution. then the baby was given up for adoption. and rufus is mad since she never told him.

laura- well...we shall see...




now wasn't that fun?

recession hangout

monday afternoon i had the boring task of running some grown-up errands i had been putting off for the longest time.
my first and most important stop was at bank of america. i had to re-open my bank account that i had opened before going to india and never used. but who cares, that's boring.
anyways.
i've never been one of those personable, approachable people who would enjoy talking to a complete stranger in a place as unsociable (is that a word?) as a bank lobby. when someone i've never met feels the need to tell me their life story (or ask me about mine) because we happen to be standing in the same grocery line or sitting near me on an airplane or something, i grin and bear it while secretly grinding my teeth in annoyance.
well, at the bank of america lobby was where i saw him. a cute little old man shuffling through some papers and drinking coffee with a smile. i knew i would be grilled the moment i sat down. i was wrong- he actually started speaking a few moments before my butt hit the chair.
he told me he hoped i had a wonderful thanksgiving and wished me an even merrier christmas. that's nice...so i said the same back. then he started to tell me that he had the greatest thanksgiving. he was with all of his many grandchildren and it was crazy and loud and fantastic.
he then asked me if i had always lived in oklahoma. i said that i hadn't and i actually grew up in st louis before moving here.
as he started to tell me that he lived his whole life here, that was the point in the conversation i was no longer uncomfortable with a stranger. this man reminded me so much of my grandpa i knew what was next- he was going to tell me all that he knew about oklahoma, and if he was even more like my grandpa he would tell the detailed history as well.
i was right.
he started with turner falls. he was shocked i had never been. he explained how in the depression they built some CC cabins down there and they had this place where they hung out with a juke box and he and his friends would go dancing, and that's how he met his wife.
we talked together for about fifteen minutes. he asked about my family and how old i was, and then again brought up more places in oklahoma that i MUST visit. he told me all about the weather differences between the panhandle and the eastern part of oklahoma. apparently this state isn't all dust and ugly flat..who knew?
i was actually very much enjoying talking to this old guy when it was my turn to see the bank lady (that's her job title). i told him goodbye and promised him that i would visit turner falls.
after walking into the bank lady's office, she told me that the sweet old man comes in EVERYDAY for hours and sits in the comfortable lobby just to talk to people.

completely adorable..and smart. this guy has basically created his own starbucks inside of a bank of america lobby with free coffee. i really think it's going to catch on during the recession.

polyvore

i would like to introduce you to my latest obsession: polyvore.com.
what is polyvore, you ask? well, it's a website where you can browse through literally every item for sale in the free world and create outfits. i'm talking shirts, pants, skirts, shoes, belts, accessories, sweaters, coats, EVERYTHING. i love it because i can be as creative as i would like, and create outfits i normally wouldn't be bold enough to wear.
i have a deep and meaningful infatuation with cardigans. if i see a printed cardigan, i have to own it. they aren't just for grandma- they look good on everyone and they can be paired with anything- a belt, brooch, fun shirt underneath, etc. you can dress them up or dress them down. what's not to love?! on polyvore i find myself browsing the cardigans and wishing i owned all of them.
unfortunatly i cannot afford the $950 oscar de la renta...and i probably never will be able to afford one being a future teacher. but i can dream.

anyways, i love winter. i love winter clothing. it's so very classy, yes? i'm super excited to wear a scarf everyday.

i'm aware this blog entry is extremely shallow and ridiculous. mom, if you're reading, i want the entire j.crew store for christmas. thanks!

slutloween

usually on halloween i can guarantee that any halloween party i go to there will be some girls there dressed in some sort of slutty cop/firefighter/maid costume.
i was pleasantly surprised this year when the majority of the costumes i saw were actually creative and non whore-ish.
i seriously hate the tradition of dressing like a skank on halloween. it's the one time you can have fun with what you're wearing and it gets ruined by some costume you bought for $50 that comes in a plastic bag. i think this hatred stems from my mother who never EVER allowed becca and i to wear store-bought costumes. we always had costumes that were home-made and awesome. i hated this when i was younger, but i am thankful now. i recall one year when my aunt ann made becca and i beautiful bride dresses and i was pissed because i wanted some lame costume from the halloween store. mom wouldn't have it and bride it was for me.

i was sarah palin this year and while this isn't original, i didn't see any other palins. and i bought my costume the day of halloween at a thrift store (except my shirt, shoes and tights) for about five dollars.

mom and i swallowed our pride and dignity and went to republican headquarters to get these buttons. i hated it, but they complete the costume.

kenzie and mat were al and that girl from tool time. love it!


me and some guy that dressed like a woman. he looks like stuart from madtv.




aaaaaand for grandma...anniversary pictures from st louis! (PS i don't know why some are cut off. just click on them.)


apple picking with my sweet cousins!

aunt ann and the fanny pack.

the view from the winery..it was my first time going since turning 21 and i forgot my ID. mom wine tasted alone.

missouri is so much better than oklahoma.

happy 50th anniversary to my grandparents!

oct 25th, 1958.

sweet madison.

i don't know what she's gonna DOOOO when she sees the BALLOOONSSSSS!!!!!

cousin kara. i'm finally old and cool enough to hang out with her. ;)


well...go vote tuesday.

cawfee

hello, fall break. you are a welcome addition to my life right now.

i've spent the break at the herbert house in dallas and have thoroughly enjoyed myself. danae is the type of friend that we both have a mutual understanding of things that annoy us, and we each have no problem voicing them. so that means we don't get sick of each other. nice.
the herbert family also has a way of welcoming me with their southern hospitality so that i feel "at home" when i am at their house.
yesterday, danae, will, and i went four-wheeling and then had a bonfire at her house in wills point (aka the small-town, country america.) what is more fun? nothing.

now we're back at the dallas house blasting some ABBA and having a dance party with some excellent blended coffee drink that i made myself. the ingredients are top secret.




coming soon (i promise) : pictures from the big anniversary for my grandparents. stay tuned!

i'm gonna sell it to charity

EDIT:
i'm just going to say that this video is the funniest thing ever. and brooklynn and i made a similar video over this past christmas with the same song. except we're not 11.




after a miserable attempt at making a decent grade on my math test at 9am this morning, i decided i would take the rest of the day off. i went home and did something more productive than going to class- i took a really great nap. then i looked around my room at my clothes completely covering every inch of carpeting (i had forgotten how messy i am when i live without a roomate). i thought i might as well clean up.
as i was hanging up/folding my clean clothes i realized i just don't have anymore room. my cloest is completely stuffed and my dresser drawers couldn't hold one more sock. i actually had so many clothes on my floor because that's the only room i had for some of them! i even have some things in my mom's closet.

it was time to give some of my crap away.

this is something always hard for me because i love to create new outfits with old clothes, but i decided to get rid of anything i haven't worn in a while, anything that was ugly, or anything out of style. the pile on my bed accumulated to a huge heap, and after about only 20 minutes of sorting, here is the result:



pictured above: 2 pairs of capris (WHY did i own capris?! ) 3 pairs of jeans, 1 jacket, 7 shirts, 7 tank tops, 4 dresses, and 3 sweaters. talk about EXCESS. and that isn't even counting the "throw in the garbage" pile.

that's completely ridiculous. but, in my defesnse, i AM an excellent bargain shopper and get most of my stuff on sale. and i have a small closet.

i don't know what she's gonna DOOO when she sees the BALLOONSSSS!!

my favorite thing right now :


kristin wiig is wonderful.
this video is fitting because it seems that all of my friends have had birthdays this week. but, no birthday compares to that of laura's 21st this wednesday in stillwater.


laura made her dress.



in other news, i got asked to write the "left" political opinion column each week for my school's newspaper (they have opinions on a specific topic each week from each side). i said no when i first got asked...i didn't want to make anyone mad... but the second time i decided to go for it. this week's issue is "seperation of church and state". should be a piece of cake...i don't even know what the argument would be for this one. ha.

thank you, at&t.

when i arrived in india it was a pleasant (and unpleasant) surprise that my phone got service while my team mates had none.
"When it comes to staying in touch, you can trust AT&T for fast, easy, and reliable connections worldwide."
^ it's the truth. and you can also trust that when you buy calling cards, that they AREN'T going to work, and you will come home with a $700 phone bill.
so i get on the phone with at&t, and i told the lady that i had bought calling cards and everything, and she puts me on hold. then she comes back and says "well, those charges are for roaming, so they are legitimate.and you still get charged for the minutes. but i can take off $26!"
well whoop de doo! thank you so much! now that you have taken off that $26, i can pay. psh. if i had to pay for roaming when using a calling card no matter what, then WHY would i pay for a calling card? wouldn't i just make a call? it makes no sense. so then my mom comes home and i beg her to call and be mean because i can't, and she makes me do it. but they still tell me they will only take off the $26. so i'm on the verge of tears and i just hand my mom the phone. of course, after about 5 minutes, mom got it "down" to $350. bleck.
ok, another batch of photos!

the cows and i just waiting in line for some ice cream

this is in khopoli:



the market!






this is prapaula, the head of the school in the slums.

some sort of joke.


auntie louisa john isaac! haha. she is so sweet!

we took a ferry ride to elephante islands. this is the gateway to india and the taj mahal hotel

saris! yeah they are pretty..but imagine wearing one in a crowded church for four hours with no air conditioning. i felt like a baby swaddled in a blanket.


here are pictures from the red light district i wrote about. the street going horizontal is where the centre is, and if you take a right by where the lady and the big trash heap are, that's one of the four "lanes" where the prostitutes are living..

you can see it better here..

the centre where the kids (and some of their moms) go during the day since they can't go to school.

these women are practicing and their children are at the centre.

the kids! they stay here all day and sometimes well into the night.

these girls got into a real school!