Belated Holiday Sleepover

Over the holidays, a group of my USU gals always gets together.
Kjersten lives in DC and didn't visit Utah over Christmas...
...so naturally we postponed our holiday celebrations til mid January.
This year we went to dinner and then took over the Arnoldus' home.
We made treats.
Celebrated Tracy's Dirty Flirty 30th bday.
Had some virgin mixed drinks.
Danced our hearts out.
And crashed all over their house...well I did at least.
I fell asleep in 3-4 spots in their house (Talk about a party pooper!)

We're a crazy mix of gals but always have such a great time together.
It's kind of amazing that we're ALL able to find the time to get together with all of our different schedules, busy lives, etc.
And frankly, I love it. I'm obsessed with us!
Thanks for the laughs, til next time.

***P.S. Linds--let's sign up for the SLC Marathon today so I'll start training tomorrow!!?

GotDandruff. Some-of-it-itches.

Resolutions/Addictions

My new years 'resolutions' are a month long and usually only last til April.
Each Month entails a Do (or two) and a Do Not.
Without getting too personal, I decided my 'do not' for January:
----deactivate facebook----

Simply in an effort to focus on other things.
the good news: I don't miss facebook.
the bad news: one bad habit replaces another.
And yes I found this quote on Pinterest.

Pinterest is like the equivalent of World of Warcraft/Fantasy Football for girls.
It's getting really bad--I pinterest** morning noon and night.
Please don't challenge me to cut out pinterest for February.
I would fail miserably.

**notice how it became not only a website and a noun, but it's also a verb now. Much like Google!

For Tawn-Tawn

Do you love this song as much as I do?!

Happy Birthday Mama Ruthie!

We made dinner for my mom's birthday.
I found this recipe for crock pot ribs on Pinterest.
I don't cook much these days but they turned out alright.

The best subtle compliment though was when my dad went back three times....
...and stood by the ribs to pick and eat..and pick some more.
That was all the validation I needed for cooking a new recipe.

The dinner was going so smooth...until...
there was a incident with the smoke detector/turkey bacon.

These cute girls are so good with their little cousin...

I think they're getting excited to be big sisters once again this Spring!

And then Tawna got us all to play Airplanes.
Dress or no dress, we love this game.
My dad about to spank my little mom, mid flight :(

These pictures make me so happy.

Tawna's friend Bryce helped us wrap our gift to Mom.
He even topped it with an aluminum plane, 'Airhawk Ruth 2000'.
Thanks for all your help and for being a good sport Bryce!

The Birthday Girl making a wish....

This was one of the highlights from the night:
Abbie shoveling the snow from the desolate grass back onto the sidewalk.
What a precious little bugger.

Thanks Perkins Clan for helping with dinner and for always finding the time to get together.
xoxo
TABS

Two Videos for your viewing pleasure...

Me Myself and I

Living alone is the best thing ever.
I love the freedom of not answering to anyone.
Last night I was inspired to clean, do laundry, vacuum and hang pictures until 2 a.m.
...................
But there is one glaring problem.
This is my new mindset....

****side note:
I skimmed through my entire blog the other day and it was painful.
I hate the format, the pictures, the stuff I write.
It reminded me of my old high school scrapbooks--outdated, irrelevant, not interesting.
I started a WordPress account awhile back.
Now might be the time to start using it.
Either way--
Changes Are Coming Soon!!

Holidays Part Two

The Perkins got together a few days before Christmas.
We decided this year to do a white elephant gift exchange.
The best ones:
-'marijuana' brownies
-lice treatment
-20+ gift bags

The 'bag' gift took the cake.
My dad opened it. It was presented like Russian dolls--
one within the other..after another. after another.
Once he got to the littlest bag and realized there was nothing in it, he immediately grabbed the remote and went back to watching TV. He was so over it, we were all dying.

And then the nieces/nephews put on a puppet show of the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes.
They missed a few of their cues and curtain calls, but this was darling.
Can we make it a tradition please?

The best part was when Grandpa blurted out, "Where's Jesus?!?"
"Dad. pay attention...and shhhhh!"

When my Grandma Perkins passed away, we picked through her closet. All of us granddaughters took a few things that we liked I mean, she was 90+ when she passed so as much as I love my mumu, they're not everyday (or ever) kind of items.
However, when I found this bedazzled cardigan in Gussie's things...
I told Tawna "I'm going to find a reason to wear this....every Christmas!"
Lo and behold, every Christmas Eve I wear it.


The newest addition to our fold, Brendan Michael Perkins.
This binky had Tawna laughing so hard, she probably cried down her legs.
Thanks Cody and Bre for the Enchilada Dinner Christmas Eve!

I spent Christmas Eve in Logan with my siblings.
Sugar plums were dancing in my nieces heads ALL day long.
"I want a panda bear and Rapunzel this or that..."

Aspen reading the traditional, 'Twas the Night before Christmas.

Then my nieces each opened one gift.
Abbie was pretty stoked about the newest addition to her collection of dress ups!

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, what happened to your hair!!

Thanks again Mick & Jen for always letting me crash your family time.
I love spending Christmas with your girls, it reminds me how magical Christmas really is.
Little elves making etch-a-sketches...and Santa leaving notes for the little ones.
And your 'gifts to Jesus', that's the cutest tradition ever.
P.S. it always makes me smile cuz it reminds me of Kala's "cheers to Jesus..."

Anyway, that's a wrap.
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Holidays-part one

The holidays just flew by.
Here's a recap--

I had Thanksgiving this year with the Crouch's.
I hadn't seen my Uncle Keith in ages, so I paid him a visit...
His new house is fantastic...
as was the food...
and the company!

Crazy Cousin Liz!
After the feast, naps and football games...
we drove to the Target in SLC for the midnight sales.
The line went all the way around the entire building.
Let it be known: I will never do that again!

I ended up hiding my stash in the store and coming back the next day to buy:)

My sister Tawna and I went to the Festival of Trees.
I LOVE this event. Small detour---
I like to envision myself running this event someday.
This is the epitome of what I want to do for a career:
It ties together the community with a purpose...
which in turn raises money for an incredible cause and organization.
It's a perfect example of win/win/win/win/win.
Could there be a cooler job!? I think not...

My favorite portion: the gingerbread houses.

That chimney 'rocks'. haha...

The 'Annual' Rose Christmas Party.
As it turns out my mom's family throws this party every year.
Potluck. Santa. mingling. fun. laughter...etc.
We loved it!

HOWEVER, until this year...
my family didn't know this was an annual shindig.
Let the speculations begin...
but they can plan on us showing up every year.
From here on out.

My cute sister Tawna and I at the party!
Do we even look like sisters? If so, I don't see it.
But I do WISH I had those big blue eyes...and luscious lips...and that beautiful hair!
Some girls have all the luck:)
And a 'German' Santa made an appearance at my ward party.
Did you know they switched up the singles wards in SLC this year?
Best thing that could have happened. My ward's solid and my bishop's amazing.
He might even be changing my life...slowly but surely.

Kristen Marie Perkins

I met Kristen a few years into college.
She was the perfect combination of gentle/silly/fun/loving.
She always helped me when I needed her.
Especially the night I had a formal event I was attending--
She found me a formal dress and even did my hair/makeup.
Talk about a doll, because I am no girly-girl.
And she was so loyal. I knew that no matter what, she always had my back.
We definitely had our differences...I even started dating her ex-boyfriend at one point.
We all lived in the same apartment complex...Yikes!
But somehow we all got along.
She was so easy to be around and fun to spend time with.
I loved that girl..and that time of my life.
Those were the golden years for me.

The last 5 years since she passed away have flown by.
I miss her and think about her often.
I think about her family too..
Her young husband, her darling parents, her sweet nieces and siblings.
Oh my heart still aches for them. And it longs for her.

I've had a lot of dreams about Kristen lately---
we're always hanging out, hiking, swimming, chatting....they feel like summertime.
We seem to have all the time in the world, it leaves me feeling at peace.

I had one of these peaceful dreams 2 nights ago...
I woke up and sent her sis a Facebook message asking when Kristen's bday was.
(sorry about the 2am inquiry Michelle!)

December 14th is her birthday, she would've been 28 today.
I feel like she places herself into my dreams somehow.
Maybe she doesn't want to be forgotten....or maybe she's my guardian angel.
Who even knows, but I'm grateful for it.
I need to figure out a way to celebrate her birthday.
hmmm...well this post is a start!


Happy Birthday Kristen!
I sure do love you!

xoxo
TABS