To Dad, a Poem

They say roses are red, and I've heard violets are blue,
People say I look like mom, but I think just like you.

We're two of a kind, you know, you and me
Both super awkward, until we imbibe in a drink or three!

We both like red meat, good wine and games with words
And when it comes down to it, we're both total nerds.

I have your brain and competitive streak, no lie

In fact, while playing Scrabble you once told me, "Girl, eat shit and die!"

I'm daddy's little girl and I'd have it no other way,
Thanks for being my dad, this and every other day.

Happy Father's Day, Daddio!

family food fun!!

Oh my god you guys. I am SO full. I think I'm leaving Thanksgiving week behind me approximately 63 pounds heavier. Instead of going home (other home at least), this year my parents came to our new home in Boston and we literally just ate, drank and played with Penny for four days straight. It was glorious.

And although it was weird not to put up our usual Christmas tree while listening to carols (that is, if you call Celine Dion Christmas, "carols"), it was still a fully holiday-y holiday.

[Sidenote, here is an actual conversation that occurred on Thanksgiving morning as we waited for Nancypants and Russbuckets to arrive and begin the festivities
Me, excited: Babe! Starting at 5:00 today we can start listening to Christmas songs!!
Brian, not as much: No we can't. I'm not listening to Christmas songs until Thanksgiving is officially over.
Me: Babe! Starting at 5 a.m. tomorrow we can start listening to Christmas songs!!!!!
Brian: I hate you.*
*He didn't say this, it just sounds more dramatic. He actually said some nonsense about you can't listen to Christmas tunez until December or some such thing. I called foul and immediately began downloading the Glee Christmas album.
Sidenote over.]

But I have a lot to be thankful for.

I live in an awesome, bustling, cool city with my best friend, who has been known to bring me not only an open beer but also a purring kitten (I know!) while I watch tv on my computer in my pajamas.

I have parents who stock up my cabinet with wine - much more than enough for just Thanksgiving weekend so I can have some after they leave (you guys are the best, Momsy and Popsicle).

I have friendys all over the U.S. who I am lucky to miss so much.

I have some amazing, beautiful sistahs (Bonnie, Anne, Allie and the newbies) who are going to bring me some incredible souvenirs from India (right? RIGHT?!?!?!?!).

I have a tiny tiny kitty who is sleepy and sweet and adorable and playful.

And much more, yadda yadda I am thankful blah blah blah. Let not get too mushy here.

But really. I am.

Costumes of Halloweens Past, part 3

a whole lotta cute

We're going back again, all the way to pre-kindergarten. I was the flower girl in my aunt's wedding earlier that fall and - never one to waste* - I decided to wear the dress again to be a bride for Halloween. Look at how adorable tiny me and all my tiny friends are!

Okay, don't I look different in this picture? Why do I suddenly look approximately two years older? Or am I just crazy?

Anyway, I'm pretty sure I tried to convince my brother to be a groom** so we'd be matching... but he probably scoffed at me and went as a cowboy or something.

One thing I am sure of, thought, is that I had to be really pissed at my mom for making me wear that turtleneck to go trick-or-treating. I didn't CARE that we lived in Salt Lake City and it was October and probably between 30 and 40 degrees, MOM! I wanted to wear that thin satin dress without a dumb turtleneck, dammit! Willing to suffer for fashion at an early age.

Also, check out my stick-on earrings. I was obsessed with stick-on earrings back in the day. I can't even tell you how many of those big sheets with a pair for every day of the month we bought. My childhood best friend maintained throughout our whole friendship that the first words I said to her, in pre-kindergarten, were "I have prettier earrings than you." And yes, I was referring to my stick-on jewels. Now, I personally don't recall this event ever taking place, but she swore by the story.

God, what a Bridezilla.

* This is a lie, particularly when it comes to clothes. I (okay, my mom) bought a lot of fugly shit back in the day that I really wanted at first and then wore once before realizing it was fugly shit. But I'm better now. And I'm sorry, mom and dad, for how much money my poor taste cost over the years.

** I was like four, people! Okay, yeah, it's still kind of weird.

the Littlest Playboy Bunny

On Sunday, as usual, Brian and I curled up to watch Mad Men, where the men took their lunch break at the Playboy Bunny club (you know, like you do). There were a lot of interesting bits of the scene, but what I loved most was seeing the old school Bunny outfits. They recalled fond memories of the time I dressed as a Bunny for Halloween..

When I was two and a half years old.

My parents picked it out.
 
Actually, my mom tells me, "Your dad borrowed the outfit from someone at work I think. He thought it was cute." Nothing cuter than Hef's girls, eh Dad?

Okay, okay, I don't think they were going for a Playboy Bunny exactly. But the combination of a black leotard, sheer tights, ears and a white fluffy tail (sans bunny nose or whiskers or other little kid things) just kind of ended up looking like I should be practicing the Bunny Dip when picking up my juice box.

But damn I was ADORABLE (and Daniel aka Leonardo wasn't too bad either - check out the form on that ninja stance):

I already don't know what to do with my hands.

(Too bad my awkward stage began approximately three weeks after that photo was taken and continued for 75% of my life thus far.)