Still, Still, Still

Here I am, getting ready to go to work, overcome by the Christmas spirit.  I quite honestly enjoy working holidays. I chose a career that doesn't stop for nights weekends and holidays. And I love it. But I wanted to leave you with a few words from my heart this most holy of holy nights. Please be safe. Love your families, love your babies. Laugh together. Enjoy being together. Wear your seatbelts when you travel to you your loved ones homes. Watch your children around pools. Cut up their food into non-chokeable pieces. Make snowmen and snow angels. Be grateful. Be grateful for your families, and for all that you have. Remember that there are many who are not with their families tonight both at home and abroad so that we can be safe and secure tonight. Remember Christ our Savior. Remember the glory of his birth. Remember all he has done for you. Remember that he loves you. Be still, sleep in heavenly peace, and Merry Christmas to all. Every one.

Over the Hill

Last weekend I made it home to Logan, UT for my mother's 50th birthday. Getting there ended up being quite the adventure. I worked 6 days in a row, then I had given myself Thursday for a day off to clean my apartment, wrap everyone's presents and pack. So I slept in, went to my facial appointment, then slowly started getting everything ready. I went online at 4am (on Friday) to check in to my flight that was leaving at 6:25am. The confirmation code I entered gave me a message that I couldn't check in to my flight unless it was within 24 hours of the scheduled departure time. I thought I had mistakenly taken the confirmation number from my New Year's flight... So I opened my email again and imagine my horror when I realized that I had opened the correct email, but when I booked my flight I had booked it for Thursday the 15th instead of Friday the 16th. Oops. But, after a quick call to the airline and additional payment of $150 I had myself on the flight I thought I had been on all along. So I finished getting ready. I called a cab at 5am. Usually it takes 15-20 minutes from when you call until they get to your house. Today they told me it was going to be 2-5 minutes. Crap. So, I scrambled to get dressed, finish my hair, take the garbage out, and run out the door when he called. I left the living room un-vacuumed --it might not sound like a big deal, but  I operate under a strict policy of having a CLEAN home before leaving on vacation. I'm talking, floors mopped, fresh sheets, laundry done, beds made, surfaces dusted, the whole shabang.

I got to the airport, and as I was putting all my sweaters, shoes, etc in the security bins I realized that I was going to Utah without a coat. I remembered my Utah shoes, and I brought two scarfs with me, but no coat. Oops.  And I had to leave before finishing the rest of my brother-in-laws present. Oops. And I had left all of my diet food at home. I get sick when I eat real food after sticking to the diet plan. Oops. And I had left my mother's birthday present at home. Oops again. The whole confusion of the morning totally threw me off!!

But I made it home, and I spent Friday with my sister, then Friday night with former college roommates Jill and Kristin. Once I got off the plane, all the stress involved in getting there was instantly forgotten.  We had a great time laughing and catching up. Kristin drove me back to Logan the next morning. As we drove into the valley I noticed that I had patches of goopy blurred vision.  When I blinked they cleared and there were green goobers on my eyelids. Lots of them. And as we got closer to Logan, my eyes were fire-engine red, itchy, burning, and oozing green gunk. I had pink eye. Awesome. I've never had pink eye before, but there's no mistaking it when you've seen it at work countless times. So, Kristin drove me to my parents' house and we walked in. My mother was shocked and the look on her face was priceless. She didn't know I was coming home at all, and there was no way she could know about the bigger surprise that was to come!  But after the hellos and the hugs, I had my father drive me to the insta-care for some anitibiotic drops.  We were lucky that it was a slow day, and we were home with my prescription filled in 45 minutes. From there it was smooth sailing.  My eyes were better in about 36 hours, I no longer looked like a vampire.  And thank goodness for infection prevention skills I managed to love my nephew and the rest of the family without spreading my germies.  I had the most amazing time with my family. They are honestly the greatest people I know. The surprise party and preparation went of beautifully and it was wonderful to see people make a fuss over my mother like she deserves. She is truly one of the greatest women in history. She's amazing. Not even the pictures can do it justice, but they're better than words. So, I've described the bad, and here's the photos of what made me forget all of that as soon as I stepped off the plane:

 Boston loves his football :)

 Boston's new trick --the kissey face :)

 All of mom's favorite snacks

 The house was PACKED with peoplem it was great!

For the record, this was not my idea, but it was pretty funny... :)

Justification

Today I went on a marathon 6 hour shopping trip to a single mall (Bellevue Square) with one of my best friends.  While driving home, we saw a pretty black car with black tinted windows. I said to my friend, "I really need to get my windows tinted. ...I really need to stop spending money so I can get my windows tinted"  She wisely pointed out that I didn't need to feel bad about the exorbitant amount of money spent at Sephora and Victoria's Secret today, because --what good does it do you to have a hot car if you get out of it and don't look amazing?  "Excellent point," I replied, "It's what's on the inside that counts."  And that, my friends, is how I justified nearly $600 spent at a makeup store with the excuse that it's what's on the inside that counts.

And, in case you're wondering... this is what that much money in makeup, brushes, bubble baths, and nail polish looks like: