I just watched Letters to Juliet and absolutely loved it.  Try as I may to deny it, I really am a hopeless romantic.  I want my very own fairytale ending just like every other girl.  I want to fall in love with some amazingly wonderful, ruggedly handsome man who sweeps me off my feet and makes all my dreams come true.  The kind of love that keeps you walking in the clouds, that makes you smile for no reason at all.  I don't want to be grounded anymore.

I love Ben Harper's "Forever".
"Not talkin' 'bout a year no not three or four
I don't want that kind of forever in my life anymore
forever always seems to be around when it begins
but forever never seems to be around when it ends
so give me your forever please your forever
not a day less will do from you..."

CarCar's New Car!

Well, I guess I'm officially an adult now, but that doesn't mean I'm grown-up! ;) 

I bought my very own brand new car 2 weeks ago.  It was pretty exciting, especially since I didn't need a co-signer or anything. It was also bittersweet. As much I wanted a new car, and I love it, I hate the fact that I now have a financial responsibility and commitment for 5 years. It's different from paying rent and utilities and all those other "little" bills. Honestly, it kind of scares me. The other thing that had/has me a little down is that the entire down payment was EVERYTHING I had been saving to go volunteer abroad and travel.  However, I'm grateful I was and am in a position to support myself. Kinda. haha.

Grandpa Bob

Nana and Bob Nov 2001

 My grandpa Bob was the best grandpa in the world!  I wish I knew how to upload the video of Katie, Laurel and Tadd singing, "Grandpa Bob is great! Ya! Ya! Ya!".  That pretty much sums it up.  He was the one who coined the nickname "Sugar Lips" for me. I'll never forget his sloppy, wet kisses! haha. When I said goodbye to him he kept asking for one more.  I think I gave him 3 or 4!  I'd give him all the kisses he wants!  He was a wonderful, loving man.  He was the most friendly person I've ever met or known.  He could have a conversation with anyone and everyone knew who he was! I am so grateful to know that I'll get to see him again someday.  I'll be able to hug him and dance with him.  I loved the way he danced, especially with Nana.  I love that I have so many wonderful memories with him.  His memory makes my heart smile.  I love you Grandpa Bob! Forever and always!  I'll be seeing you!

Boise

I normally love spontaneous last minute trips, but this is one I'm not too excited for.  My dad called me last night at 9 and told me that we were going to get in the car in the morning (on Saturday) and drive to Boise to see my grandparents and then drive back on Monday.  So, I called in to work, let them know what was going on, and now I'm packed and just about ready to go.  My parents were planning on bringing the dogs along but luckily I was able to talk them out of that.  I'm grateful to be able to go see my grandparents, even if it is just for a day, but I sure wish we were flying!  I wish the circumstances were different, but, like I said, I'm grateful to be able to go see them despite everything else.  My grandpa hasn't been doing very well and he's back in intensive care. I love him so much, and it makes me really sad that he's in such bad health.  I'm nervous to go see him in the hospital because I don't want it to be like when I saw Lillian for the last time.  I pretend to be numb, but I'm really sad. 

I've never planned out the details of my someday wedding.  I mean, like most girls I've looked at dresses and cakes and dreamed, but never set my heart on any of it. The only thing I've known I really wanted was to dance with Bob.  It breaks my heart to know he probably won't be there, physically at least.  I want to dance with him like my sisters did and see how happy it made him.  Life just isn't fair.  Perhaps he's lucky.  I'm almost excited for him, but really sad for me and my family.  We all love him so much.  I love him.

Julie & Julia

I just watched Julie and Julia and absolutely LOVED it!  That one may have to become a purchase.  I love to cook and especially bake, so I of course loved watching a movie all about that!  It makes me want to do the same thing as Julie and work my way through an entire cookbook.  I think I may have to dig up my lemon dessert recipe book and start going through that one!  I've made a number of recipes from it and have yet to be disappointed!  The ones I have tried include lemon pound cake, lemon granata, lemon madeleines, and, the all-time favorite, perfect lemon tart.  Ask anyone who has tried it, it's killer!  And there are so many more!!  Perhaps I should wait until I can use the lemons off our tree to tackle that book.  I could always start with my Ghirardelli cookbook! Yumm!!!  I've only made one cake from that one, but it was really good!  Or, my grandma and grandpa gave me a Philadelphia Cream Cheese recipe book for Christmas, which upon opening I immediately let out an audible "uh-oh" because I knew how much trouble it could cause.  Hmmm.....that could be a lot of cheesecake, but I could always give it away.  Who would be willing to partake of the sweets if I bake them?  Heaven knows I can't keep them around the house!

 

Lemon pound cake

Thoughts I'm Thinking

I feel like I have a million thoughts bouncing around in my head and I never know which one is going to pop up next. Some of them are nice to dwell on and others I wish I could just delete.  I was just talking to a friend about someone and something that happened in the past and she was all, "Don't you wish you could Eternal-Sunshine-of-the-Spotless-Mind him?"  I really wish I could!  That is such a great movie!  If you haven't seen it I highly recommend it!  It's one of my favorites! Then again, I like somewhat off-beat movies.

Saying goodbye to Trevor the night before he moved to Utah

Trevor just got engaged and is getting married on August 14th!  It's going to be in Salt Lake City and I can't wait!!!  I'm so excited for him!  Even more excited for all the fun his reception will entail with a reunion of my favorite people from LA!  I'm going to try and take at least a week off of work and spend the whole time in Utah.  Which means, time with my sis, bro-in-law and nephew, reunions with Utah friends, and a whole lot of partying!  I'm soo excited!!  Especially to just have something to look forward to and be excited for!  It's been a while.  It's going to rock!!!

 Trevor & Jeniffer. Don't they make the cutest couple?!

So happy for him!!! =D

WICKED!!!

We're going to see Wicked! tonight!!  I'm so excited!!!!

My mom bought me the soundtrack four years ago for my birthday and I instantly fell in love with it!  Then, my boyfriend at the time and I decided to try our luck with the Wicked lottery, and we won!!!!!!!!!  I couldn't believe it when they called my name.  I was so surprised!  I never win things like that.  Never say never!  It was AWESOME!  I loved every second of it!

Well, my parents and Luke still have not seen it, and that just is not acceptable!  So, for Christmas I decided to get us tickets to go see it!   I was so excited to tell them!  I wrapped up different PEZ characters from The Wizard of Oz for each of them and a note that said, "Get ready for a fantabulous night of fun! We're going to see Wicked!"  It was so fun to see the surprise on their faces!  Christmas really is my favorite!  My mom's reaction was the best.  She's so excited which makes me really happy.