dear mr. chipotle

last night i sent an email to "mr. chipotle:"

dear mr. chipotle,

a little over 4 years ago, my taste buds were TRANSFORMED the second Chipotle's chicken taco landed on my tongue. ask anyone who knows me, i've not been the same since. before moving from indiana to florida to be near my sister, my VERY FIRST inquiry to help with the decision process was "where is the nearest Chipotle?" what can i say? i know where my priorities lie.

in florida, my nearest Chipotle is a half hour away and while the food and experience that Chipotle offers is TOTALLY worth the drive, i'd be able to eat a whole lot MORE Chipotle if i didn't have to spend so much money on gas. PLUS, i'd be able to introduce MORE closet fanatics to the delicious flavors that i have come to love so much.

since you've already stated that my backyard is out of the question, though i'd duel to the death any neighbor who would DREAM of complaining, i suggest the following two locations: here OR here.

both locations are near a hospital, offices, residential communities, a community college, and other unsuspecting restaurants who need a healthy dose of competition.

your (presumed) biggest fan,
stephanie watson

i will notify you as SOON as i get a response back. =)

five things

41. once i forgot how to spell the word "of." i tried the letters "uv" but i knew they were wrong and i couldn't for the life of me remember HOW to spell it!

42. i think eric from the little mermaid is HOT.

43. i hate the sound of skin being pulled off leather.

44. i met my best friend in 8th grade.

45. from the ages of 7 - 13, i was the neighborhood's notorious "lightning bug killer." dun. dun. dun.

all things physical

this terd REFUSES to be held.

how is it that i, of ALL people, have a cat that staunchly protests ANY FORM of physical affection. ME! one who is all things physical!

...and yet i love him so dearly. (shaking head)

who's YOUR inner toon?

have you ever found yourself identifying with a cartoon? or at least wanting to be JUST LIKE one? well, with as many cartoons as i have watched myself, i'm surprised it's taken me THIS LONG to find my "inner toon."

i'd like you to meet mine, ASTRID, from how to train your dragon:

she's a fabulous viking who is strong but feminine, fierce yet gentle, and the best DRAGON fighter in the training class. chello, who WOULDN'T want to be her?

needless to say,
'how to train your dragon'
is my newest addition to my dvd collection. =)

happy v-day

"it started out as a feeling, which then grew into a hope,

which then turned into a quiet thought, which

then turned into a quiet word..."

(whispering) ...i love you.

"happy valentines day!"

slumber party

why are slumber parties called "slumber parties?" no one ever ACTUALLY sleeps at one. and how do i know this? well, i was PRIVILEGED enough to experience a true, bonafide SLUMBER PARTY once again. last night, my 8 year old friend emma and i...

snuggled,

ate GOODIES,
watched movies,
took silly pictures,
made wacky movies,
giggled until midnight,
put our hairs into pigtails,
had a CRAZY long pillow fight,
shared some TOP SECRET secrets,
and LAUGHED our heads off till our stomachs HURT!
it was SO MUCH fun!

here are some snapshots from the evening:

(noah didn't understand that he had to change his faces with each shot. hahaha.)

(we tried on our "hard core" faces.)

(what good is a photo booth for if you don't make silly faces..?)

(noah and emma thought i looked like a NERD! ...they were right. hahaha.)

(aww... me and emma. =))

c-h-i-p-o-t-l-e

i'm thinking of getting a tattoo... what do you think?
(grinning like a fool)

i've been robbed

once you've tasted of chipotle, the morning after is the longest you'll have to wait in order to know just how strongly your body will react to such delicious foods. it's no mystery. even south park has taken notice. but if you feel as strongly about chipotle's menu as i do, those effects are inconsequential and not even worth a second thought. after a few trips to the place that has single handedly ripped your PRIOR favorite restaurant from it's cozy #1 spot, you start to realize that an immunity can be had and you REJOICE by treating yourself to yet another delicious burrito.

case in point: i've been robbed. i've been eating chipotle for over 4 blissful years now and have built up quite the resistance to it's spicy flavors. i've been to chipotle ONLY three times this week and every time i've been burned. the first time i thought it was a fluke. but THREE times? not a chance. someone has stolen my immunity and i want it BACK!

"the heavens declare..."

psalm 19 (NIV, ©2010)
"1 the heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 they have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world."

this photo was taken a few days ago when i stepped out of work at the end of the day. when the conditions are right, like that evening, i get to see the most beautiful display of nature in the sky. it's incredible. after a LONG hard day at work, looking up at THIS reminds me of Who is truly in control and i can't help but smile. =)

"that envelope thingy"

this clip from the big bang theory has a special place in my heart:

fireside moment

i downloaded a new app today. i now have a cozy, crackling fire at my fingertips. and YOU are cordially invited to enjoy a 25 second fireside moment with me:

...the only down side is that we can't have any s'mores. =(

falling up

last night after work, i made my way to my sister’s house, as my routine has been for the last, oh... year and a HALF. it’s funny; i pay rent on a house that has lately become my personal (and very large) storage unit. i don’t mind. i enjoy every minute with my sisters, franklin, and eva. =)

natalie and i spent the entire evening reading shel silverstein's book "falling up" to eva. the WHOLE book. if you've never heard of mr. silverstein before you are certainly missing out on some very hilarious and very witty poems. his books are for EVERYONE to enjoy. and that’s just what we did.

one of my favorite poems from his book falling up:

Long-Leg Lou and Short-Leg Sue
Went for a walk down the avenue,
Laughin’ and jokin’ like good friends do,
Long-Leg Lou and Short-Leg Sue

Says Long-Leg Lou to Short-Leg Sue,
“Can’t you walk faster than you do?
It really drives me out of my mind
That I’m always in front, and you’re always behind.”

Says Short-Leg Sue to Long-Leg Lou,
“I walk as fast as I’m meant to do.”
“Then I’ll go walkin’ with someone new,”
Says Long-Leg Lou to Short-Leg Sue.

Now Long-Leg Lou, he walks alone,
Looking for someone with legs like his own,
And sometimes he thinks of those warm afternoons
Back when he went walkin’ with Short-Leg Sue.

And Short-Leg Sue strolls down the street
Hand in hand with Slow-Foot Pete,
And they take small steps and they do just fine,
And no one’s in front and no one’s behind.

never too young for chipotle

dear mr. chipotle,

i think i found my youngest best friend today. i took my three month old niece to chipotle and she LOVED it. well... she didn't exactly say those words but i knew how she felt. (whispering: i have unagi.) unfortunately, she wasn't able to eat or drink anything while there (pause for a moment of silence) BUT! once those teefers of hers start growing in, it'll be the FIRST thing she gets to eat.

love,

your biggest fan

its really simple

i think we've found ourselves a future subscriber to real simple magazine. she couldn't take her eyes off it!

give me an "A!"

every wednesday evening since last october, i have found myself in the middle of about 40 kids, screaming my head off in complete and total excitement as our high commander (our one and only, mike eisenman) calls for order to begin our AWANA club meeting. for those who are unfamiliar with the club like i was, AWANA is an acronym that stands for "approved workmen are not ashamed" which is taken from second timothy 2:15. the main emphasis of the program is to encourage, teach, and inspire our young people to memorize God's Word. our AWANA night is an outreach for kids from 1st through 5th grade and each night contains a few basic essentials: opening prayer/announcements, song time, bible time, handbook time (where the kids work on memorizing verses), and GAME TIME. that’s where julie and i come in.

game time and the AWANA game circle is my domain. i was BORN for it. sure when i first started i was TOTALLY nervous about getting in front of kids (yes kids) and directing the games but THANKFULLY julie and cobie were there to make everything go smoothly. we play lots of games; beanbag games, balloon games, and even the classic AWANA relay games. i try to put emphasis on competing hard, while keeping a good attitude. and i encourage good sportsmanship and the importance of both winning and losing with graciousness. these are not easy lessons for those who are competitive (like myself), but slowly some of these character traits are sinking in. i thoroughly enjoy the perks of being the game director: wearing and using a whistle, utilizing the "5 count" to keep the kids on point, pretending to view an instant replay of controversial calls, and being entertained by the kids as they compete along with their leaders.

i have truly been blessed to be part of the AWANA mission and i can’t wait for tomorrow night when julie gets to unleash her relentless whistle blowing skills on the unsuspecting saplings. okay, okay, she’s not that bad.

i am. muahahaha...!

happy birthday papa bear!

he can fix anything with just a rubber band and paperclip.
he doesn’t give high fives; only high sixes.
when people pay attention to him, he keeps the change.
the contents of his taco never fall out.
a bird in his hand is worth three in the bush.
mosquitoes don’t bite him.

who is he, you ask? he's the most amazingly wonderful papa

in the whole wide world. =)

happy birthday papa bear.