The One with the Weird Hairs (and the Wednesday in WA)

Why are some of my hairs super curly and others super straight? I mean, they're all coming from the same head, it's only natural that they'd all have the same texture and form, right? Am I so wrong to assume such things? Am I? AM I?

Alas, underneath this lion mane of mine, I have a chunk of almost perfectly straight hair, and a chunk of the curliest hair I possess. And these chunks are right next to each other. How does that happen?

In other news...today we went to Bellevue Square to dink around, browse, peruse, and enjoy the throng of last-minute Christmas shoppers. I saw a super cute card in a stamp shop called Impress that's been around since I can remember which makes me so happy to see cuz most stores like this have gone out of business around here (and everywhere else for that matter). They've got a lot more scrapbooking stuff than they used to, yay!

I even bought some scrappy tools! First, a super neato scoring board by Martha Stewart Crafts.

I have a Scor-pal, but I LOVE that I can score every 1/8" with this one. Pros/cons of each can be found by clicking here; this "Crafting with Sue" lady has it documented better than I ever could. Aaand, I bought the most lovely punch I've ever seen in my life, also by Martha Stewart Crafts.

(photo courtesy of Pink Petticoat)

I could have shopped for HOURS in Fireworks. In the back they've got an assortment of baby stuff, which normally I would have walked right on by, but I saw these uber cute bags by Petunia Pickle Bottom and stopped dead in my tracks.

I've actually heard of Petunia Pickle Bottom before because once upon a time while blog-surfing I stumbled across their baby bedding, thought it was suuuuper cute, so I printed out my favorite findings and stored the pictures in my "for future reference" binder. The first thing I did when we got home from the mall was look up their website. Two seconds into looking through their fall 2009 catalog and I was in love all over again. Trust me, if you're a mother or mother-to-be, this stuff is for YOU. (I should get paid or something for promoting them like this, ha!)

It's Christmas Eve Eve! I'm so excited to go up to Lake Wenatchee/Leavenworth tomorrow and have a white Christmas!

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The One with the Monday & Tuesday in WA

We went to five grocery stores yesterday. I didn't even know there were five different grocery stores in Redmond. But there are (and then some!). And they're all within a two mile radius. We went to Whole Foods, Albertsons, Safeway, Trader Joes, and QFC. Why? To get cookie fixings. Mmmm.

These two do NOT get along. Sad.

But these two DO get along. Happy!

This one's for Tanya: Eric giving Jadis the "stink eye."

Here's Allie, happy as a clam in her P.O.S. Pooper Trooper. This car has been around since I was in diapers 22 years ago.

It smells and drives funny, but she loves it.

The broken dashboard filled with all-things Allie.

Proof that we were indeed in the Pooper.

We went to Google for lunch yesterday to say hi to my dad. Google is da bomb.

This morning we went to the 7am session at the Seattle temple (my first time at this one, chalk another one up on the temple hopping list!). It was pitch black outside when we went in.

Then it was light and rainy when we left. Just the way I like it.

The sun does exist! It came out for a brief moment just as it was setting at 4:20pm.

Technically yesterday was winter solstice so the days will be getting longer from here on out.

We're off to Yummy Teriyaki for dinner then a family viewing of Four Christmases.

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The One with the Sunday in WA

Did a little of this: relaxing.

Went to some (and when I say some I mean all three hours) of this: church.

Witnessed a li'l of this: a blossoming relationship.

And found this gem: a picture of us kiddos and Malm on Santa's lap circa 1995.

Wish I still had that sweater for future ugly Christmas sweater parties!

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The One with the Drive to WA

Small change of plans. We didn't leave on Friday night as anticipated. Instead, we woke up at 3am (omg), packed the rest of our stuff and headed out. At around 7am the sun started peaking over the horizon and I took some pics of our crew. Here's Snowy Joey. He slept the entire drive. And stayed awake all night to make up for it :)

Here's Jadis. He likes to play by Chris' feet while he's driving. Not good. We have to tempt him back up with candy.

I feel ya Chris.

'Sup!

We had a pretty good set up to keep us entertained:

Were we driving through central California or the grassy knolls of Europe? It was hard to tell. I loved it. Brings back good memories.

Gilroy! San Jose! San Francisco! I'm baaaaaack!

I didn't recognize anything until we turned down Winchester Drive and drove by the weird dome shaped movie theaters and the Winchester Mystery House. No time to stop and take a tour, we had places to go and people to see!

We drove by the Toys'R'Us where we used to ride our bikes and get toys on special occasions.

We drove by the 7-11 where we walked to many-a-time and got candy. This is where my candy obsession began I presume.

And finally we arrived at my old house.

The place where my dad cut up and installed a tether ball pole in the driveway was still there.

The winding pebble driveway that my dad installed was still there.

The house was in pretty bad shape though. It looks like they're remodeling it or something. Much much different than how it looked in the snazzy YouTube video I posted last month of it in The One with Childhood Memories.

Tess showed up a few minutes after we got there and we had fun recounting stories. I bet somewhere I have a photo of us sitting just like this on the porch from 14 years ago.

We ate a yummy breakfast at Carrows then continued on our journey.

We crossed a bridge in NorCal and I tried to take snap some pics of the water and boats. 'Twas scenic.

Here's Mt. Shasta. It's a big mountain. In fact, it's the second biggest in the Cascades and fifth biggest in California.

We left at 3:30am and arrived at home sweet home at 11:30pm. That's 20 hours folks. I don't know how we did it. I don't wanna think about it. The point is we're home, happy, healthy, and ready to roll.

Let the good times begin!

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The One with "Come Drive with Me, Let's Drive, Let's Drive Away!"

We're driving to Washington tonight. That's 19+ hours in the car baby! Bring it on. We've got all ten seasons of Friends and a dog and a bird to entertain us. We're making a pit stop in San Jose, my original stomping grounds, to see my old house, my old neighborhood, and my childhood bestie Tess.

I CAN'T WAIT TO BE HOME!!!!!!!

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The One with Art/Scrapbooking/Photography

I believe art/photography/scrapbooking are all related and have similarities. You can use photos in art and they're a must in scrapbooking. Scrapbooking combines art and photography. You can photograph art and photography is art. Get it? Got it? Good. When I saw these pieces by Mati Rose McDonough I immediately thought "what a lovely combination of my favorite things in life = art, photography & scrapbooking!" I love the branches and pieced birds and the hand cut leaves and I love the patterned backgrounds and everything else about them.

I can't wait to go make something cuz I'm feeling major mojo vibes from these.

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