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)

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. =)

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

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.

thanksgiving = nesting?

what is it about the thanksgiving holiday that makes my nesting instinct kick in to overdrive? i think it’s my procrastination, that’s what. i’m not a fan of being in the kitchen, so when i needed a serving platter, i all of a sudden had an overwhelming urge to haul everything out of the cabinet and reorganize it. i’m SUPPOSED to be making stuffing, but instead, i now have an organized cupboard to gaze upon. not to worry, i’ll leave the cupboard door open and perhaps that will distract everyone from the fact that THERE IS NO STUFFING! i really don't think that's gonna work though.

alright, back to the kitchen i go to ACTUALLY make some food, like my fabulous mashed potatoes. but not without first saying "happy thanksgiving to everyone!"

my little elf

i would like you to meet my niece, eva lynne fernandez, aka e.l.f. =) she was born in clearwater on october 19th at 10:38pm after 21 HOURS of (grueling) labor. so incredible. she was 8 lbs, 14 oz and all 20 inches of ADORABLE baby. i still can't believe she's real. sometimes, when i'm not with her, i open her photo on my phone and i just STARE at her. she's completely mesmerizing! i've seen and held TONS of babies, but her? she's.... REAL. i don't know how to explain it. it's just one of the COOLEST things ever.

whenever i get to hold her, i whisper in her ear that i'm her favorite aunt and the one (besides her parents) who loves her the most. how's THAT for subliminal messaging. =D

(she's not even a day old and she's already throwing up gang signs. she is SO the daughter of franklin. hahaha.)

...is it possible to love someone THIS much

even when that someone

has no clue you exist?

(i LOVE you eva!)

cherry red speakers

my little sister and i have an... understanding of sorts. we both LOVE getting stuff in the mail: letters from loved ones, just-because-cards, and now... GIFTS! it all started out small; i mailed her sweet little nothings scribbled onto pieces of paper, she bought me a hat. i bought her a sock coin purse and so on. we NEVER had any intention of making it a "big deal" until she decided to amp up on me. and boy was i GLAD! she mailed me a package and inside was a wicked-SWEET pair of bright red head phones! ...for me to wear at the GYM she says. (gulp.) since she was sweet enough to see them, think of me, AND purchase them, its the least i can do. so that's just what i'm gonna do. i'm gonna wear those FABULOUSLY vibrant red (and large) head phones with PRIDE. i even told her i'd even buy a pair of rainbow leg warmers to make the "look" complete. i think.... =)

a gentile feline

i've got myself a "gentleman" living with me. =)

konnichiha!

remember when i said that i've never eaten japanese food? well NOW i can say that i have! i went to kazu's sushi the other night and tried my hand at a BUNCH of foods i never knew existed. i had a bento (a japanese word for a boxed lunch with individual portions of food), some deep fried vegetables, and white rice, of course. i ate ALL of it with chopsticks. i was SO proud of myself. i EVEN ate the sushi! (also never had that before.)

(my bento.)
(sushi packed with some FABULOUSLY hot wasabe.)
(saki... that sorta, kinda, maybe affected me. hahaha.)
(all done! and boy was i STUFFED!)

"flying animal metropolis"

this isn't news to any i'm sure but I LOVE OWL CITY. i first stumbled across them on my pandora account and my irrisitable draw to them took off. their music is light and fluffy and no matter how bad a mood i may be in, their music always manages to get me to smile as i sing along and i find my shoulders hopping to the beat. its infectious! i love it. =D

my favorite song...?
fireflies.
hands down.

here's the music video:

i even got to see them in CONCERT! franklin and natalie went to a jack johnson concert in tampa and they were selling john mayer and OWL CITY tickets for TWENTY BUCKS! an opportunity made in heaven. =)

ode to burt reynolds

chelsey and i went to pf changs last night. we got a LITTLE carried away. i was mooing like an english COW and she was sticking lemon SEEDS up her NOSE. and somewhere along the way, we thought we'd make an ode to burt reynolds with NOODLES. hahaha.

and somehow i'm still single...
how can that be! i might
as well have fun while
i still am. hahaha.

25

by now, you all know about my SICK HABBIT that i'm TOTALLY obsessed over. well..... i've added several mugs and i'm now up to TWENTY FIVE MUGS! (screaming wildly)

two of my most recent additions:

portland, oregon (thank you jason & galilee!)

and one of my FAVORITES from a city i CAN'T wait to visit, new york! (thank you mr. f!!)

going home

there's nothing quite like being home. walking into your parent's house after not living there for years and yet knowing you still belong; entering the kitchen, seeing your mama cooking like a maniac because her babies are home; the love, the excitement... its really something else. THAT'S what i get to experience EVERY time i come home. i pray that i never have to live without it. i love my home and i wouldn't trade it for the world. =)

this past weekend, my family went to my baby brother's COLLEGE graduation. he FINALLY did it! we are SO VERY PROUD of him! my mom, dad, and grandma pilled into one car (the BORING car) while jeffrey, allyson, and i went in our own car (the SUPER COOL car with LOUD music) and drove three hours to see jonathan.

after the graduation ceremony (which surprisingly WASN'T unbearable), we all headed to texas road house where we proceeded to stuff ourselves in a way only AMERICANS know how:

i got to spend time with galilee and jonna... i have missed them BOTH so dearly. jordan tries to act like an adult but don't let him fool you with his "serious menu-reading face". two seconds into eating, he NEVER FAILS to break out a fart machine and entertain the family for HOURS. yeah... we're like that. =D

while home, i got to visit with my girls, amy and ruth. as SOON as i got off the plane, we headed STRAIGHT for the pool. they know me SO WELL! hahaha. my girl ruth truly has a heart of gold. she’s such a great listener and has always been there for me. i'm so grateful to have BOTH of them in my life. =)

she's back!

my sister galilee is THEE MOST AWESOMEST stylist EVER. she does SUCH an AMAZING job every time. she's GENTLE and STEADY and COMPLETELY capable of fixing any blunder i create for myself.

and... being the LOVING sister that i am, i called up natalie and bethany, who have been SORELY missing galilee's skills, and proceeded to GLOAT over the fact that my hair was back in the hands of a TRUE beautician. muahahahaha... =D