Thanksgiving with my Dad was great. Eisling, Dan and I all met with him near Bellevue Square to go watch the Christmas Parade, but by the time we arrived it was already over. Still, we walked around and said hello to the exiting characters. Took a few pictures, enjoyed the holiday crowds and the Christmas music.

After we went to my Dad's and had chicken and vegetables, and jello. We chatted and watched I am Legend, which Eisling now calls 'half -dog, half thingy - zombie movie'. Got home late and went to bed. I love having family.

My weekend in pictures...




A nice relaxing evening away from home, spent with friends. Yes, that was most necessary. Next weekend, Eisling's 6th birthday party!!! So excited!

• November 26th, Thanksgiving. Sadly Dan will be over the mountains again this year and I'll be working, but the good news is there is a chance my Dad will be having a small get together at his place and after I get off work, I'll be headed down there. It's so nice to have family again.
• November 29th, Eisling's party. She turns 6 on the 2nd of December but we're celebrating early, given that its a Wednesday. Still not sure what to do, but I'll figure out something. She's getting a blue camera.
• December 2nd, Eisling is 6 years old! Can you believe it? It's all happened so fast.
• December 3rd, Julie's birthday. She's also getting a camera, and dinner at Taster's Wok is planned that evening.
• December 19th, Tulalip Casino with master gambler, my grandma Helen.
• December 20th, my party. Dinner (location still not decided) and then a bar for some birthday drinks.
• December 21st, my actual birthday. I'll be 24 this year. Is it me, or has this year gone by fast?
• December 25th, Christmas, and the night I go to pick up Eisling for the weekend. Cross our fingers the weather allows this. Dan will be over the mountains again. I wish we could go with him. =(
• December 27th, Tanya's birthday!
• December 28th, Ryan (sister's husband)'s birthday!
• December 31st, New Years. And here we go again.

Listening to the amazing, Alexi Murdoch. Enjoy.

$500 later, I've got the majority of my shopping done for the holidays. This time of year always kills me. I have SO many things to buy and people to buy for. There's Thanksgiving November 26th, (which, when I don't buy a ton of food, Dan's family likes to exchange gifts), Eisling's Birthday December 2nd, my birthday December 21st, Christmas December 25th, and its all followed by Dan and mine's anniversary February 2nd, and then Dan's birthday February 17th!
Brutal.

What are you getting, giving, making this holiday season?

PS. For myself, I bought a tripod for my Canon, and three new scarves. I am so ashamed. -_-'

The idea of my own place is consuming me. I feel like a caged bird. I have so many plans and ideas that I have wanted to go through with, but have never had the space. So many things patiently waiting in my brain for a chance at release. What was once a quiet urge is now a full blown thunderstorm. For now, all I can do is search the internet for more inspiration. It doesn't particularly help the situation (more like adding fuel to the fire) but it keeps me occupied.

I love the fall, but I hate being sick. Yet here I am sick. House sitting for Katie too. So the peace and quiet I could have enjoyed is all gone now, and refilled with sounds of me sneezing and blowing my nose. Been watching lots of movies and cuddling with her cat Oliver.

As promised here are some of the photos from my sister's wedding. Amazing, right? She's so gorgeous. Eisling and the ring boy, Garret

My sister and me.

My new favorite photo of Eisling and I.


In other news, I found my apartment! I know I don't move until May, but I have to plan or I will go crazy. So I found this cozy little place right in between Eisling/Dan and work. 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 3rd story with a view of the Puyallup river off of my deck, gated community, and I get to paint! So while I've been sick, Dan and I have discussed colors and decided on greys and browns. Here's all my inspiration I gathered while I couldn't sleep last night.

I can't wait!

The month of October was one of the busiest I have ever seen in my life. It was worst than the holiday season, but in a very good way. Get ready, this is the MAJOR update. Now that it’s November 1st, I think I can finally take a breather and get it all on one post.



So, my baby sister got married. Mariah, 18 years old, just married her high school sweet heart of a little over a year now. I know what you’re probably thinking, but really, I am very happy for her. And she is glowing. As most 18-year-old brides do.


On the 10th, I held her bachelorette party. Her, Dannika, Chelsea and I all went to Ballard, high on raging chick rock and wearing our ‘team bride’ shirts. We visited Lunchbox Laboratory for dinner, which was amazing. The burgers there are delicious but huge. Then we went to Jet City Improv, the best improv comedy show in Seattle. Mariah got to be part of the show too! She had so much fun. The skit was them acting out photo stills of her honeymoon for an off-stage narrator to caption.


On the 17th, Katie’s (a friend from my work) 30th birthday bash. Which meant getting (or trying) to get trashed and go dancing. All of the girls went out thanks to Julie’s amazing planning and had a great time at The War Room on Capitol Hill in Seattle. The week before this event was me being dragged around the mall looking for props to make me look a bit girlier than I normally appear. Katie ended up buying ME the most awesome boots. She was really happy though and we had a wonderful time. Turns out, I like hanging out with chicks. Odd right?



On the 18th, Dan’s car broke down after he was our loving designated driver. The water heater exploded out of the bottom of the engine leaving his baby stranded 60 miles north of where he lives. So … I let him take my baby. I gave up my car for 2 days. (If you knew me personally, this is a huge deal, I normally don’t let people drive my car, let alone –borrow it- ). Julie was kind enough to drive me back and forth to work though, but of course on the night she brought me home at midnight, I realized I had given Dan my ENTIRE set of keys and so I was out on the porch for nearly 30 minutes banging on the door and calling Will to let me in the apartment.



On the 23rd, I drove Dan around to his final days of class and picked up Eisling in Tacoma and then drove all the way north to my house (60 miles) and then on the 24th drove another 60 miles farther north to Mariah’s wedding in Anacortes. Somehow, somehow, my sister gets married on the one day in October that the rain isn’t pouring, it’s actually slightly warm and there is sun for the better part of the day. This is how lucky this girl is.

The wedding was amazing. We showed up early to help and rehearse and take lots of photos (she should have them in a few days so I’ll be sharing!). Eisling was the flower girl, and I was the made of honor, everyone traipsing about in matching ‘crimson apple’. The best part was when we getting shots down on the beach, a large set of rocks with crashing waves, all of us girls in heels (right?) and trying to stay warm and keep Mariah’s white dress as clean as possible.

But my Dad made it, and Dan was there and my Uncle Dave and Grandma Helen and it was wonderful to have them all in the same room. My sister is off now, decorating her new 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2-car garage, house (can you sense my crazy jealousy?). I will likely be driving up next weekend to check it all out. I am soooo happy for her. Love you Mariah!


On the 30th, Dan and I helped out Steph with her Haunted Hallway at her work again. I was the witch, Dan the mad scientist. Lots more kids showed up this time and the hallway was lots bigger with more volunteers. It was fun. I have to say, I think I’d have enjoyed a career as a make up and special affects artist.

And finally on the 31st, we ALL went trick or treating. Eisling, Moira, Will, Dan, Steph and I. It was just a short stint in the rain and then we bought our own candy and created a lounge in the living room, eating straight sugar and watching Farscape. Not a horrible way to end a month at all.

What have I been doing in between it all? Enjoying the small things.

1. Puddle hunting.
2. Spending time with Savannah at Value Village and Halloween stores.
3. Drinking lots of tea.
4. Listening to the rain.
5. Watching The Darjeeling Limited.
6. Reading How to Breathe Underwater, The Littlest Hitler, and now Lullabies for Little Criminals.
7. Sending letters back and forth with Eisling.
8. Searching for apartments.
9. Painting.
10. Spending lots and lots of time with Dan.
11. Falling in love with Ben Browder all over again.
12. Having long conversation with Eis on the phone.


Hello November. What do you got?

Date night at Delancey! Yes the Delancey. Brandon and Molly's baby from Orangette. When I found this blog I was immediately in love and when Delancey opened in Seattle I was really excited I'd get to go there. Finally, I asked Dan out on a date (it's been forever!) and out we went. It was easy to find, but also easy to miss considering it was a dark street and there was no sign, but it was packed! Over an hour wait, but I still kept to my goal of sitting down to try some of the food I'd been reading about for forever.

It was worth the wait.

The pizza (I had the Brooklyn and Dan the Pepperoni) was simple yet extremely delicious. Nothing overly fancy or experimental, perfect foldable slightly burnt slices. I sipped a white wine, we talked over candle light. It was fantastic. I love Delancey. And I am taking my sister there for her bachelorette party this weekend. (Hope she's not reading this....) I did see Molly and Brandon too, but Brandon looked so busy cooking, and Molly was already being bombarded by what looked like big fans so I decided it wasn't the best time to say hello.

Not only do I love Delancey, but I really really REALLY love Dan. It's been nearly 2 years and this man is still the only one who can make me smile just by looking at me. We can be alone for hours and still have plenty to talk about. We make eachother laugh constantly. I love him. Did I say that already?

Okay, the break is over. I'm sorry. *shuffles back to her computer*

I think my main reason for not writing is, I felt I didn't really have any material. What do I share? I'm going to work, I'm coming home, I'm sleeping? Eh. Not so entertaining. But lately, a few things have been rather nice.

The only real father figure in my life, a man named Jim, disappeared from my world about 6 years ago. We just got stupid and lost touch. I moved, lost his number, couldn't remember the brand new house he had just moved to's address. I looked for him, he looked for me. Well, finally Dan and I were out driving around in the area I remembered his house to be, and after a while of searching, driving 20 miles an hour in a 45 speed zone, I found it. And when I pulled up to the house, his car was in the drive way. And when I knocked on the door, he answered.

Since then, I have felt a little bit of my being complete itself. Like a part of me just wasn't really attached and now it's a solid appendage. The last time I saw him Eisling was 2 weeks old. She's nearly 6 years old now, so you can imagine the time gap here and how much we've missed of eachother. I recently had the chance to reintroduce them and they were adorable together. My dad has always really loved kids and the zoo was the perfect place to really let them have fun together.