REConnectedicut

There are some friends that no matter how much time has passed, no matter how much you've all changed...when you see each other again you immediately act like three old ladies, chewing the fat, gossiping about men, and talking about "the good old days."

And then there are friends, those rare few, that when you see them again you can't help but run all over town dressed in a ta-da cape and a viking helmet, while carrying light sabers.

To some, it might seem silly...or embarrassing...or downright ridonkulous...but to us, these three items are like discovering the eternal fountain of joy.

Back when we were all roommates, each item gave us many magical memories and to this day they still hold a certain power over us.

On our drive up to Connecticut, Adrienne and I talked about the ta-da cape and we knew we'd ask first thing if Monica still had it and if she did we knew everything would be all right.  (Monica told us later that her and Ammon had discussed the same thing, except her judgement bar was to ask us if we liked Twilight, and if we didn't she knew everything would be all right.)

Lucky for all of us, both requirements were met and everything was all right.

For those of you who do not have a ta-da cape, I would highly recommend investing in one.  Monica's aunt made her this cape after hearing a story about a woman who would wear a cape around the house every time she was accomplishing a chore that she was not excited about - then when she was finished she would exclaim, "Ta-da!"  Like magic.

This cape is magic.  It feels like magic, it looks like magic, and you are magically happy the second you put it on.

I would try to describe the magic to you, but I think these pictures speak for themselves.

(We stormed a castle.)

(Ammon made a fatal mistake of trying to do his Luke Skywalker impersonation in the middle of a battle.)

And here they are, casually walking through a parking lot like it's no big deal that they are the best-looking weird people within a fifty mile radius.

Just look at how that cape flows.  It's magic, I tell you.

I was looking at the picture below the morning we were going to pack up and leave Connecticut.  I started to tear up, being with Monica and Ammon was like being at home and we just didn't get to spend enough time with them.

So I did something drastic, I stole Monica and took her home with me.

And I took the cape as well.  Naturally.

Bad has never looked so good.

Happy Halloween.

And remember to never underestimate the power of body language.

Confessions

Confession:  I am addicted to Mentos.

A few months ago, I was sitting next to my East Coast soulmate, Buffy, during institute and she offered me a mento.  I got so excited by such an old school treat that she (as the incredibly thoughtful person she is) started giving me packs of mentos every time she saw me.

(This is  Buffy's paparazzi shot)

She gives me mentos when she comes over to study....during church...during Lucky Unders...before dances...

And I never say no, and I just seem to enjoy them more and more.

The other day I saw her, and my mouth started salivating for mentos. 

 Buff, you have turned me into Pavlov's dog.

But I still love you.  And mentos.  And I must say, my life has never been more fresh nor more full of life.

Break Down of Two Jiggles

Is it liquid? Flame? Fabric? No, it's mesmerizing jello.

via copperandlace

Is it a gymnast? A human worm? A contortionist? No, it's me climbing out of a statue.

via Kelli Urry

PS Don't you think Kelli's voice belongs in the Kitchen family?

Pumpkin Masterpiece

I carved a pumpkin masterpiece last weekend:

If you are thinking this, you are wrong:

If you are thinking this, you are right:

Look again:

See it?

My other pumpkin was a little easier to identify.  I teamed up with the beautiful April to make this masterpiece:

We called him Goldie.

Sadly, neither pumpkin won the contest.  But this one (carved by the talented Jayci) deserved it:

Here are some other cool creations:

Happy Halloween!

Bloggity Blogs

I talked to a friend last night who said that in order to make her life happier, she was going to stop reading blogs so much...

Then I read Cameo's post (Hi, Cameo!) about loving/hating blogs...

And I remembered how one of my favorite bloggers had just written about jumping ship on blogs...

I'm not going to lie, there have been phases in my life where I have grumpily thought we can't all marry cowboys...we can't all be fashion trendsetters...we can't all make fun of the way people spell alot...we can't all have cute husbands to write daily love letters to...we can't all be so clever with the use of a classic American song...and so from time to time I might get a little jealous when I read all these blogs.

But do you know what I love about blogs?  I feel like they all have something to say about the human experience, and I am fascinated by the human experience.  I love to see how other people live their lives (or the lives they let you see into by what they choose to share), I love to see how we're alike and how we're different.

And don't even get me started on family blogs - those are my absolute favorites.  I love seeing pictures,  hearing sad times and happy times, learning what they do for fun, seeing their talents, hearing their insights, and seeing overall how much love is shared.  When I see these things I feel better about myself, because their blood is my blood and when they are talented and lovely it must mean that I am talented and lovely too.

Blogs, for the most part, make me want to share all the good and pretty and hopeful things I come into contact with because I see so many good and pretty and hopeful things that inspire me, I want to join in and give back.  It's kind of like the name of this blog...I'm no Shakespeare or Michelangelo or Beethoven or Pioneer Woman or NieNie or Caty or Naomi.  I'm just a common street sweeper, who's trying to do the best she can with a somewhat mundane life and average talents.

So I hope no one ever feels depressed by reading my blog - there's nothing really to be jealous of.  Sometimes I post pretty pictures, but sometimes I post not so pretty pictures like this:

I mean, look at that gut.  This picture should make you nothing but happy, that's why I posted it the other day.

Sometimes I'm kind of funny, but sometimes I'm really weird.

Sometimes I go on cool trips, but sometimes I don't leave the apartment for a month straight and just stare at the wall and go crazy.

Sometimes, I am really nerdy.  Okay most of the time I'm nerdy.  Okay fine, I am a nerd.

Sometimes I read a lot of books.  Sometimes I'm a slob.

All of the time I love my family.

Sometimes my dreams are crushed.

Sometimes my dreams are really weird.

Sometimes I'm tacky.

Sometimes I'm long-winded.

Sometimes I post about fashion (but not because I'm trying to set a trend, but because I'm trying to share the human experience of the ridiculous joy of velvet).

Basically, what I'm trying to say is I totally understand the negative effects blogs can have.  But I just want to make sure I'm not adding to that negative effect.  And if that means I have to post more pictures of my gut in order to keep it real, I will.

Aqua Velvet

I have been told that I have a, ahem, unique sense of fashion.

One of Kelly's favorite memories is the day she ran into me on campus when I was wearing a bright purple plaid button up shirt and a bright red Canadian hoodie.  I still don't see what's so wrong with that.

Often when I go shopping with friends, I pull stuff off the rack and they choke out the words "That's...nice."  But then when I try it on for them, they say, "Wow, that actually looks really good."

I don't know why my body prefers weird things, but I've grown accustomed to it.

However, the other day I surprised even myself when I pulled this item off the rack:  Aqua Velvet

It wasn't just hints of velvet...it wasn't just even a velvet skirt...

It was an entire dress

At first I was like, "Do I secretly want to be a medieval princess?"  

And then I was like, "Maybe."

I did decide to tone it down a little with a cardigan so that it wasn't like "Whoa, that girl is wearing a velvet dress!" but was more like "Whoa, wait a second, I think that girl is wearing a velvet dress."

Please don't judge me.  I couldn't help myself - look at the way it falls and shimmers and shines...

And check this out: a velvet dress on a velvet armchair.  Can I get a what what!

And check this out: a velvet shoulder next to a bookshelf!  Can I get a...what?

In the end, I guess I just really like shiny things.  

That, or I'm planning on working at the medieval festival this summer.

Do you want to see the dress in it's full velvet glory?  I don't know, I'm not sure you can handle the velvet...

 Boom!  That's a lot of velvet!

And kind of dramatic looking...

Speaking of dramatic shots...Do you know when you put the flash of a camera angled behind your head in hopes of not flushing yourself out with the full flash you get this cool, dramatic effect?

I do like how that velvet shimmers in dramatic lighting...

I guess one thing we've learned today: don't leave Ashley home alone with a velvet dress and a camera.

Oh, and also don't leave her alone with chocolate covered potato chips.

Have you ever had one of these?  They are incredible. And the enemy of velvet dress owners.  I think they have a warning on the back that says: if you ever hope to look good in an all velvet dress, stay away from these.

Oh well.