A Challenge..

A Very Happy Thanksgiving, Part II

1. Diva Princess Skyla and Auntie Andrea
2. Mom made the most beautiful centerpiece!
3. The cool colors (and temp) outside contrasted the warmth in the house
4. Rachelle and Nick
5. Buttery, creamy mashed potatoes. YUM
6. Turkey and creamed onions (my first time liking those!)
7. Jeff and I (affectionately known as the KABLARGE twins)
8. Time to eat (just one more photo!)
9. Dad reading his awesome toast
10. A glimpse of said toast
11. Tina, Lily and I
12. Grinning Levi

*Cast of Characters, in birth order:
Myself, Rachelle, Andrea, Brad, Nick, Jeff, Peter, Jacob
Tina (cousin who is like a sister) and her daughter Lily
Will (Rachelle's husband), Skyla and Levi (Rachelle's children)

{A lot of these pics were taken with my phone, but it's the memories, not so much the photographic quality, that count here, right? ;)

P.S. See the first batch of pictures here.

That Day Jeff and I Went to the Beach, Part III

Delicious streetside Gyros. Sun hats. Kids playing in the surf. Pretty beach flowers.
My tattoos coming out to play. Quality brother-sister time.

I miss the summer! And Jeff.

{Psst.. Parts I and II}

Feminine Thigh Tattoos v.3

Perfect. Just perfect!



So cheeky and nostalgic.



How amazing are these sister tattoos??

I've been planning my thigh tattoos for the sides of my thighs, to pretty up areas I don't enjoy looking at.
But I'm changing my mind, I think.
For one, the tattoos will just draw more attention to those areas I want to disguise if I put them on the sides.
For two, I like how they look on the fronts of the thighs better. A better canvas, if you will.
For three, it's not as if my profile views will be boring. I have my arms, ribs, and calves, after all. ;)

Sources: one two three

Related posts:
Feminine Thigh Tattoos
More Feminine Thigh Tattoos

Thankful Saturday: Happy Cause I Can Be

Oops, did I miss Thankful Thursday again? 

At least you can rest assured I only forgot to blog because I was busy doing things I'm thankful for. :)

Since we can (and why not, it's good for us!) be thankful everyday, here's my Saturday Gratitude list:

~Finding free ways to talk to my dear friend who is currently residing in Scotland
(and planning my visit there very soon!)
~FaceTiming with my brother as he attempts to teach me Chess strategy.
~Remembering how much I love my Yerba Mate
(I've been drinking only black tea for so long, however could I have forgotten my first tea love??)
~Watching the honey melt into my tea as I swirl the spoon around.
~And then watching the milk spread out in a murky cloud across the surface.
~Regular late night Pho and wine dates with one of my oldest friends.
~How satisfied I feel after scrubbing my bathroom floor on my hands and knees the other night
(and how much nicer my house feels after all the cleaning I did).
~My amazing massage therapist/Reiki practitioner friend
(I can't wait for my next session!)
~When I pleasantly ask for what I need from a telephone banker and they help me right away without a stitch of attitude.
~The longer I stay at my company, the more I grow, and the more I love my job.
~The feeling that I have found part of what I want to do with my life-
and I didn't have to search for it, it came to me.
~Feeling like I am on the path I want to be on (this has been a rare occurrence thus far in my life,
I'm hoping it will be a more familiar feeling from here on out!)
~Having so many kindred spirits in my life, both family and friends.
(There are so many levels on which to connect with others, and I'm blessed with a variety pack!)
~Having the money in the bank to order (what will hopefully be) the last of the parts needed for my engine swap.
~My wonderful aunt and uncle who are going to let me borrow their van while my engine is getting changed
so I don't have to waste money on a rental car.
~Knowing that after my engine is done I get to travel, and get tattooed!
(And get tattooed while traveling!)
~My amazing staff in my restaurant. I could not do what I do without their hard work and stellar attitudes.
~Sleep. I never regret staying home for this reason.
~Exercise. I never regret doing it, but always regret not.
~Hot showers after being cold all day- the kind that just wash the day from your shoulders.
~Acai smoothies. So delicious and they make me feel like a million bucks.
(I really should get a blender and start making my own)

How are your Saturdays shaping up, friends?

Recently Bookmarked v.2

Hey, friends.

Wanna see some of the cool stuff I've been looking at lately? Okay.

Ha. A bit of humor for those of you who work from home (and the rest of us who want to know what it's like.) {via So Fawned}

This looks divinely delicious AND nutritious. And how often can we have both?
{via So Fawned}

Baby steps to better health.
{found via So Fawned}

And since we have to have balance, YUM. {via The Littlest Things}

LOVE this quote.

Raddest style blog I've seen since I found Krystal's. {via The Littlest Things}

I know this video has been making the Facebook rounds, but I can't resist.
It makes me so grateful for my parents having survived my own teenagerhood
(I was a beast, let me tell you!)

Sugar Cookie Bake-off! (Emily has the cutest lil blog, I wish I could remember who led me to it to thank them!)

Hilarious! So do I!

Just in case you haven't seen this one yet...

Cannot get over the AWESOMENESS of this.

Bourbon Chocolate Milkshake? Oh yes please. Summer, hurry up and get here!

{image: A cute heart-shaped mushroom and one of my wrists. Quite fitting, as I love both mushrooms and finding random heart-shaped objects!}

Thankful Thursday: All Around Goodness

Gratitude List:

-My own space (I doubt I'll ever get over how much I love it)
-Getting along with my boss
-Being close to knowing what I want to do with my life
-Earth shatteringly good sex (sorry to any family members reading this!)
-Rediscovering old favorite music through Pandora
-How wonderful yoga makes me feel, every time
-My engine hanging on this long, and hopefully for a couple weeks more
-My amazing family
-My solid crew at my restaurant (and all the jokes we share)
-Having a Karl Strauss across the street from work to escape to whenever a beer is needed
-This show (I know, where have I been? Better late than never, it's HILARIOUS)
-Plans for a Scotland visit and several tattoos as soon as my engine is done
-Being blessed with all types of friends, including several bosom friends
-The wonders of Google and the rest of the interwebs

And yours?

Scenes From an Idaho Winter

Missin my family and home away from home right now.

Solution? Look through some of the hundreds of images I've taken, and share them with you!

1. Obsessed with the pretty snowy ground.
2. That would be a Jacob in a tree.
3. My niece and neph snuggling.
4. The valley through the branches.
5. Ceramic painting time with Jeff.
6. Basil chicken for pesto.
7. Pete hangin from a limb.
8. Andrea's art corner (and lots of inspiration through the windows!)
9. Love the backyard wilderness.

Thankful Thursday: Satisfied

Things I'm Thankful For Tonight:

1. The way best friends don't judge you; they sympathize.
2. This song (white people dancing FTW.)
3. Pretty new nail polish colors.
4. People who are too nice for their own good.
5. Having a job that is stable and has opportunities for personal and professional growth.
6. My family's business booming off the charts.
7. Delicious Washington wine.
8. Having a PLP (platonic life partner).
9. Chill nights that start and end early (when it feels like you did something but you can still go to bed at a decent hour!)
10. Being healthy and able to exercise to improve my body.
11. The abundance of delicious takeout available in SD.
12. My upcoming tattoo appointment.
13. The best, fastest engine I will have had so far, about to be put into my Mustang (and the guy who's making it happen for me.)
14. How easy my iPhone makes life.
15. Delectable craft beer.
16. Watching movies.
17. How cool and unique each member of my family is.
18. Being strong while accepting my weaknesses.

How about you?