One Year Older and Wiser Too

I remember when I use to not have any candles:


Now it's a mini bonfire:


Here's to another year.

Busted

Every morning I wake up, make my bed and get in the shower, but lately someone has been getting back into my bed. At first I was totally baffled. I'd come home and the pillows would be on the floor or the covers would be all messed up. Then one day I caught him. I came home to this:


There are two mounds in the middle. The first is the pocket Max digs to get under the covers. The second mound is Max...asleep...under my covers.

I've accidentally sat on him a few times, but my favorite thing to do is call his name, listen to him give the most fake little cry and then slowly pull back the covers to watch him squint in agony over the bright lights. I just see it as a little payback for all the times he wakes me up in the middle of the night.

I know. I'm the crazy cat lady, but I like it.

The Moores

Last weekend I headed home to spend time with the Moores. They are so stinking cute!

This little munchkin is talking so well and fun to hangout with. My favorite moment is when he came running downstairs and got about 2 inches from my face and said, "Aunt Izzy, tonight we are going to have your burbday party."


And this little munchkin is my buddy. Really I think we are soul mates. She loves to sing and dance. Jody, Macy and I had a great dance party and I taught her how to "get low" and say "boom, boom, pow."


I mean, how can you not just love them!

I Heart My Brothers

P!nk

We

went to another concert...shocking, I know.

The Ting Tings opened, but my favorite pre-show moment happened in between the two sets. As they were changing out the stage, Michael Jackson's Rock With You started to play and immediately everyone started to cheer, dance and sing along. I love how some songs can bring and entire arena full of people together.

P!nk ROCKED. It's been awhile since I've been to a large arena show and I forgot how entertaining they can be. She had all kinds of energy and had us on our feet from the first song and come to find out she did all of this with a dislocated shoulder.

P!nk does not have an ounce of fat on her body. While parts of her show were a bit raunchy and at one point she wore a pasty, it still was awesome. She even had an acoustic portion and played the guitar. She sounded better live then I was expecting and sang ever song live. I'm impressed with her artistic integrity and true talent that, unfortunately, not many big artists have these days.


My only complaint...the clowns. THEY FREAK ME OUT and have been haunting my dreams ever since.

Bumbershoot 09

Bumbershoot pretty much rocked and I might have to go multiple days next year. Aside from the rain and the same old crappy food vendors I loved it. The Knox were horrible and apparently not happy with the lack of crowd participation and left the sage part way through their set. No one seemed to notice or really care. It was raining and their lack of vocabulary left them to the F word every third word.


As a complete contract, the Black Eyed Peas were great. Lot of energy, lots of people and NO RAIN! The sound kept cutting out, but we still shook our way through Boom Boom Pow and I Gotta Feeling.

Spend hours in the music print shop and wanted to buy one of everything. Instead I walked out with one She & Him purchases and zero regrets. Headed over to the Portland Cello Project before grabbing seats for Franz Ferdinand and Modest Mouse.

Enjoyed Franz and Modest Mouse, but was also freezing. Damp and tired we left ½ through the last set.

Until next year...

Brandi Carlile Concert # 743

No, I’m not sick of seeing Brandi Carlile perform and no she does not know me by name, but yes I went to another one of her concerts. It was a benefit concert and included fun additional elements like a Q&A and auctioned items.


I also loved learning new bits into how some songs were created and why.


Made new friends with the people sitting next to us and left stuffed and on a music high.


Can't wait to do this again in October....twice.

DMB

I have not been to a show at the George in George Washington since high school, but I still love it. It’s a huge venue with the most beautiful backdrop. It rained the entire drive out there and continued to rain when we arrived making us worried about our general admission tickets on the grass. Waited it out and 10 minutes before the opening act, the clouds split and the sun made a guest appearance. Worked on my lesson for Sunday while G-Love and Special Sauced played a few songs to a very unattentive crowd.


Sitting there reminded me of Lilith Fair back in the day and made me excited for it’s revival in 2010. You can be sure I’ll be front and center for that one.

Dave was great as always, the bathrooms were disgusting, and the young college kids around us were discouraging if they are “the future,” but all in all it was a great night.

Nate

My weekend trip to Logan really brought back a lot of great memories. Especially the ones I had with this crazy kid.


My first interaction with Nate was one summer night in my apartment when he called me out of my room so he could give me an “up do.” It was love ever since.


Nate always makes things so fun. He’s the kid that will bust out of the car while you pump gas to dance because he loved the song playing over the PA. I’ll never forget the night I asked him why the windows on the top floor of the Logan Temple were open and he, without hesitation, went into a 20 minute explanation of how they have to let the white bats out. Then there were those Sunday night’s when he would stop by and just happen to have a fountain Diet Coke for me. We both went through some of the hardest events life can throw at you together and we cried a lot, but we made it through thanks to each other.


I will also never forget this day:


Nate graduated and was moving to Las Vegas. I knew we would always be friends, but I also knew things were going to change. I would miss our daily phone calls, text, lunch dates, and nightly adventures. And I do.

Natie Cream Jones….thanks for always making me laugh and for being an amazing friend. Can’t wait to see you in December! I love you.

Buzz Kill

I was really on one at my doctors appointment this week. I've gotten to know the people that work there pretty well and we were laughing and having a great time. Due to a schedule change I went to a new girl. We were still laughing and enjoying ourselves when the conversation took a turn.

Her: How long have you been in Seattle?
Me: About a year and a 1/2. I lived in Utah for 8 years before that, but never really felt like I fit in and I'm even Mormon.
Silence.....and still more silence.
Me: Do you have any questions about Mormons because most people do?
Her: Nope.

We pretty much went on in silence for the remainder of the treatment. Why do I feel like she was judging me. :)

Life is Good

So I've totally slacked on my blogging and I will do my best to not get so far behind, but there just is not enough time.

Cliff Notes version of this post: Life is GREAT!

Work Update:
Last week my boss was in from New York and my awesome client and team came into a meeting we were having to give me a card they all had signed, a huge gift certificate to my favorite spa/salon and a huge thanks for pitching in to help while my client was on vacation for a month. It was so nice. Nice of them to get me something, nice of them to take time out of their very (and I mean VERY) busy schedules to say thanks, and nice of them to do it in front of my boss. It was a great day! Thanks guys.

Friend Update:
I pretty much have the worlds greatest friends and have been extremely grateful for them. I was out struggling on my 11 mile run and the one thing that kept me going was remember that feeling I had running my first 1/2 marathon and seeing Steph around mile 10. Knowing that she was there to cheer me on was the motivation I needed. Or take Pamela who planned and sponsored a great kayaking adventure, re-stocks the fridge with Diet Coke, shares her pool, and keeps me laughing along the way. Or Farah who always seems to know when I need chocolate covered gummy bears, runs with me, forces me to talk about things, plans trips, and makes sure whatever we are doing turns into some kind of funny adventure. Or Sunny who is always leaving me surprises on my desk, inspires me to be a runner, and cares about how I'm doing. And Nissa who has a way to make me feel comfortable with things that I'm self conscious about, is willing to try new adventure, and has a calming nature that makes me feel relaxed and at ease. Or Cara who's amazing and yet realistic outlook on life keeps me thinking of how I can improve, who's wardrobe color selection matches mine, and who's whit keeps me eager for more. And Em who understands, she gets it, she wants the concert details and gets just as excited, and even lets me crash at her place. And this is just a few of the many great friends I have.

Family Update:
I love living close enough to my brothers that we can randomly get together for dinner any night of the week or breakfast Saturday morning. I'm excited for the Clays to have a new little one and can't wait to see the Moore's this weekend. Everyone is healthy and happy.

Church:
I love my ward. Really. I leave church every Sunday in the best mood. I've seen countless acts of service and how it has changed people's lives for the better. I've been able to share in the joy of seeing someone feel the love of their Heavenly Father. I've met the most amazing women that are doing incredible things. I never knew you could genuinely love a group of people so much.


See life is good. It's been an amazing summer. Can't wait to see what winter has in store for me.

Utah

Landed in SLC Thursday and drove up to Logan. I miss that drive. The canyon was beautiful and I have so many great memories from my college days that came rushing back to me. Had the chance to stay with Melissa's family. Such great people. Lucy and I quickly became BFF's.

Mel, keep having babies. They are beautiful and so fun!

Friday morning I was able to meet with with Mel B and it was like old times. It amazes me how you can go 4 years without seeing someone and still have it feel like the good old days when you meet up again. I had one of the best summers of my life with this sweet girl. So many great memories from midnight margaritas, to table dancing and making out with the neighbors. Fun to meet here sweet and lively little girl, but at the same times feels so strange that we are growing up and having kids.

Drove the course of the 1/2 marathon and was feeling much better after seeing it. Spent the rest of Friday catching up with the Spencer family. I love them. They have this amazing way of immediate making you feel a part of their family. Now I just need to get them all out to Seattle.

That night we carb loaded at J.T.O. (missed my sisters at dinner, but ate a caramel brownie in their honer) and off to bed for the big race.


Ran, ran, ran and then ran some more. Mel sprinted through the finish line first.


Followed closely behind by Adria and I. LOVE running with these girls. Wish we all lived closer.


What better way to celebrate the completion of another 1/2 marathon then by eating way to much at Angie's.


I had to make a stop at the Island Market for a Diet Coke before heading out of town. I miss living on the island and all the crazy adventures I had there. Thanks Logan for the good memories.


After a power nap on Em's couch I was good to go. Ran around town with Em and met up with Michelle and Matthew for dinner at Cafe Rio. Ummm....Cafe Rio. Checked out Matthew's sweet new place and was able to spend some great time with Annie catching up on life. Annie is another great friend that I have hilarious memories with. LOVE that girl! Annie - sorry I faded so early Saturday night. Apparently running 13.1 miles will do that to a kid.

Lazy Sunday morning with Em before heading off to see this cute lady for a few. Ang, you know I love you now freaking go to church already. :)


As always, Em was the perfect host. I wish we lived in the same city. I think about her all the time. Concerts are not the same without her and daily adventures also see more funny when she is around. Can't wait to see her in October....IN SEATTLE!!!


Thanks Utah for another great weekend.