hey, i'm still here

HELLO. Yes, I still exist. You know, crazy life. Christmas was wonderful, lots of family time, zoo lights, snow and even a trip to Wyoming.

'tis the season because i say it 'tis

i am so abnormally excited for Christmas. yesterday we were driving to my parents for dinner and i said to bryan "i'm ready to start listening to Christmas music" he then said if he heard Christmas music before thanksgiving he would break all my Christmas cd's. what a scrooge. so we get to my  parents and sure enough, walk through the door and mother is listening to TSO's carol of the bell's. :)

as of this moment, i'm secretly making mixed Christmas music cd's before bryan gets home so he doesn't break them. i was thinking i needed something fresh among my listening so i'm sharing a few gems.

plus it's my first Christmas season home in two years. so that's great:)

i guess i just feel like writing

i really want to write something but i feel like i have nothing of worth to say. my life is very repetitive. i work all week and play on the weekends... when i'm not working.

i have 66 days left out here. and bryan has 93 days left out there.

my free time these days consists of online car shopping and watching the office

i really wish i liked to read like i used to. in high school, i would stay up for hours to finish just one more chapter. then just one more. then i PROMISE just one more.

i also wish i liked to write in my journal like i used to. like i said before, my life is so repetitive that i feel there is no point in writing everyday because it would be the same thing over and over again.

i would love to be a photographer. but not like the type that every other girl claims to be, i REALLY want to do it and be good at it.

one day, i will achieve my dream body. i want to be strong. not skinny. i like my thick build. i've got a few (more than a few) curves and it makes me feel like a woman, not a lurpy teenage boy

i really want to go to greece. and i will one day

my thoughts today in the shower were this: "what if mankind never progressed? what if we were still living in caves, hunting and gathering?" well, if that were the case, you wouldn't be reading this, that's for sure

i love my job SO MUCH. i couldn't have asked for a better experience. it couldn't have been more positively life changing and perfect even if i'd planned it out myself (God really knows what he's doing up there)

i do love my job, but i'm also ready to be back home. i miss utah (never thought i'd say that). i miss my family and my friends and i miss my boyfriend

i can't decide if i want to do another childcare job when i do get home. cause child care is what i know and i'm good at it but i would like to become a mother in the next few years (after marriage of course) and i sometimes wonder if i maybe need a break from it all. try something new maybe? (if you're reading this and know if any jobs for me starting april 28, you go right ahead and let me know)

people exhaust me. i don't mean that rudely, i just get really exhausted when i'm around a lot of people for a long period of time (see THIS list. this is seriously me to a t. also THIS. #introvertsunite)

it's wedding/ engagement season. and i can't wait for it to be my turn.

i can't get off my civil wars kick. they are literally all i listen to.

is it christmas yet?

happy Christmas

from the stevens family

sittin, waitin, wishin

this is me waiting to go home (i know i look orange, my web cam is horrendous)

t- 6 hours 19 minutes and 6... 5....4....3 seconds

it's truly the most wonderful time of the year

we went skating at union square

we drew on a chalkboard painted car

we took mel's bathroom selfies

tis the season

i'm back from palm springs. the decorations are up and abc family's 25 days of christmas is on in the background. always. and if i keep my curtains closed, i can pretend there are big fluffy snowflakes falling onto my patio. 

let the Christmas season begin!

(i will post about palm springs later, i'm just feeling too lazy to download pics right now)

116 days, 1 hour, 40 minutes, 51 seconds

until christmas that is. i don't think i have ever been so excited for the holidays, like, can it just be halloween yet so we can get the ball rollin?! i've already been listening to christmas music for weeks now.(i'm not even ashamed of that.) now for a throwback from christmas' past:

^2012^

(please notice frank, she looks like a freaking mop. i love her)

(yes, our female dog's name is frank)

^2011^

^2010^

(hahahahHAHAHAHAHhahahahaha LOOK AT US!)

christmas

here is my week home in a nutshell:

beautiful airplane views

my puppy | drinking from my present from bryan

christmas jammies

pinterest attempts

your surrender's last performance | reunited with baby girl

also reunited with shaley | and, again, reunited with my high school besties

mckay | megan

a "welcome home cheech" sign | another beautiful airplane view

this, along with food, hellos, goodbyes, skyping with bryan and pitch perfect

was a wonderful christmas

happy new year ya'll

i'll be home for christmas

merry christmas from the stevens clan!

christmas tunes

i know i already posted my #1 played christmas song this year. BUT i just thought i'd share some of my other favorites:

(i know.. weird vid. but it's the only one i could find^^^)

wah wah wah weekend

friday: union square, macy's, cheesecake factory

saturday: ghiradelli square, pier 39, fisherman's wharf and best friend

sunday: bake cupcakes, church, dinner groups

note to dev- i'm sorry i almost got you run over by a bus... twice.