Winnie the Pooh once said,

"Some people care too much, I think it's called love."

(then I must really, really love them)

*and I have to say that I love you all, for your especially sweet comments last time (and the many times before)

And although there's nothing better than seeing old friends again, it's certainly just-as-great to make many new ones!

Until next time, I'm wishing you all a marvelous Summer day!

ps. heaston still loves chickens.

My Best Friend Comes Home Today.

My Very Best Friend 
in the WHOLE wide world comes home today  
and I haven't seen him for two WHOLE years!

This best friend of mine,
(who also falls into the-older-brother-I-never-had category)
is named Heaston Dahl.

*Since I assume that most of you who may be reading this do not know him, I would like to tell you why he is special:
*When there was not a lot to do on a Friday night, Heaston would buy beta fishes and put them in the same tank to see which one would eat the other first.
*He also had a strange liking for chickens, and as a senior in high school, spent his hard earned money on a chicken coop he could put in the backyard so he could have chickens of his own.
*He later became obsessed with kittens, and kept one in hiding who he named Anne Frank, until his mom forced him to get rid of it.
*And Last but certainly not least (because this truly is one of my favorite things about the kid): He is the kind of boy who only makes a girl cry because she is laughing too hard.

And after two WHOLE years, I get to see him in just TWO short hours...

Our plans (after alllll this time)?
Red Robin Bottomless fries & Mud Pie.

oh, happy day.

I've Never Been So In Love With Life.

I just had one of those weeks where every day felt right to fly down the freeway with the windows down, hair flying in the wind, and my radio blasting about as loud as I dare turn the volume without hurting my speakers
(or one of my five senses)
Why?
Fried Chicken & Mashed Potatoes for Sunday dinner.
Fireworks.
Birthday wishes.



Friends.
This song.
Sleepovers with my sister.
Our Secret Fort.


My new Crush on Crush Soda.



Confetti Cookies.
Caramel Cupcakes.
Deep Fried Twinkies.


(just kidding...
"it was definitely not worth wasting one million calories on.")
Naps.
This book.
Life Book.
Life.
And the best day of my summer (that i've waited two whole years for)
will be this Monday!
But until then, I love it all.

Have a happy weekend!

Define: Addicted.

Addicted: compulsively or physiologically dependent on something habit-forming.

1. cookies n' cream kisses.


2. cherry chapstick.



3. sparklers!
{so magical, these are worth making wishes on...five or six times}
And all of these are literally on my list of things to live for.

What about you?
Anything else worth being psychologically dependent on?

20 years young

I turned 20, as of 12 a.m. today (technically, my birthday is at 1:41 in the afternoon) However, I feel like I must confess: I have kind-of been dreading this day. When a Professor explained to a group of freshmen last year that the "sun was setting our our teenage years," I got a bit sad.
Nostalgic, really.
Being 20 just didn't sound as appealing as 13, 16 and 18 had...Sooo, I was in a bit of a predicament. After some thought and brainstorming the past couple of weeks, I have prepared myself for this day, and successfully found a way to realize that "growing up" isn't so hard to do.
Actually it's great. It's greater than great. Even when my grandpa says: "You're 1/4th of the way done." ...
I Just think of it this way:

20 Successful years down. 20 to go.
Your Accomplishments Along the Way:
-Learning to speak the English Language.
-Learning to walk.
-Learned how to read, write, add, subtract...
-Learned how to ride a bicycle.
-Scored the role of Mrs. Washington in the Second Grade
Founding Fathers Play!
(big deal for me at the time)
-Learned how to drive a stick....this was a long and painful journey
at the age of 16 in a WalMart parking lot.
-Got stitches. Twice. Survived: Bee-stings, cuts, and bruises too.
-Also Survived: Elementary school play grounds, junior high hallways,
and high school drama.
-Completed 2 years of College.
-Got my heart broken, 1, 2, 3 or 4 times.
-Learned an infinite amount of lessons along the way.
-I live on my own, I've made the best of friends,
 I've come to appreciate even more how amazing my family is...
and honestly, I couldn't be any happier.

In the next 20 years, I see myself:
-Graduating college, getting a Masters.
-Finding out what I really want to do, then doing it.
-3 words: Boston, Boston, Boston...Here I come, Boston!
-Marriage.
-Kids: 5-7.
-A Home of "our" own: Anywhere life takes us, I'd be happy.
-Remaining friends with the closest friends I have today.
-Getting some Traveling done. New Zealand, Australia, Europe will have been completed.
-My 7Up Girl Series: finished!
-Being as happy to turn 40 as I was to turn 20.
Even with the gray hairs and wrinkles. Eek!


You know, it's a funny thing. "Birthdays" aren't as big of a deal as they were when I was little; but when you get to think about the years behind, and the years ahead, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing how far you've come,
and how far you get to go.
happy birthday.

Then. Brad Paisley.

My gorgeous friend Alissa came to town this week, and I have loved playing with her every second - I have missed her so! She was also married several months ago, and look how fabulous some of her pictures turned out:

Last night we took the long way home so we could spend some time having girl talk. It was great talking about memories and boy problems (on my end) and so on, but what was especially special, was the way she talked about her husband Ryan. They are so perfect for each other.
She also showed me an extremely adorable song, and as as she said, "this song is what marriage means to me..."
Although it is Brad Paisley, and although I am definitely not a country music fan....
I loved the lyrics...And in the end, LOVED the song.

Read them here.
Listen here.

PS. What is with me lately? I'm too in love with love.
I think it's the summer air.

Hey Jude.

Hey Jude = Best Beatles' Song.
I love it even more after seeing this.

Becoming One With Nature.

A goal of mine this summer: Become one with nature.

My first camping trip was at the age of 8, with my Mothers side of the family. However, mother dearest (and wisest too) stayed at the nearest motel down the road.
We (dad, ken and I), we camped.
It was miserable.
My question to all you nature women (and men, I suppose) is HOW do you do it? Better yet, how do you enjoy it at the same time?
I fell asleep to scary sounds in the woods (Blair Witch Project came out years later; but I think she was somewhere around that night)
And thanks to our non-water proof tent, I woke up with frost bite (and it was July).

SO, ladies and gentlemen, because I think I'd like to try something out of the ordinary, it is my goal that this summer IS THE SUMMER, that I am going to make an attempt and become one with mother earth, and maybe, just maybe...go camping.
I think it will make my dad proud.

As Much As I Love...

As much as I "love being single" (or in other words: unmarried), I kind-of sort-of, changed my mind for a half-of-a-second...

The other night was entirely devoted to me. I called off all plans and instead, ordered take out, redboxed a movie, and snuggled up in bed by myself to enjoy some peace and quiet amidst the busy little life I lead.

But to my surprise, as I sat eating my very own box of Mexican rice, watching my very own copy of Meet Joe Black for the one hundred and fiftieth time, while snuggling under my very own blanket...I thought: You know what Kels, I really don't think you will mind the day when you're getting take out for two, arguing over what movie to see, and then snuggling with someone besides yourself.

Yes, I have to say that I think that will kind-of, sort-of, for more than half-of-a-second, be a very, very Happy day.

The Person I've Always Been Alone With.

"you'll find yourself. everyone always does. it takes the right catalyst...perhaps a boy, college opportunity, a friend, a moment. i found myself this year, weirdly. i found myself by spending time with myself, more than i ever have before. i came to know the person i've always been alone with. i don't know who i want to be, but i know who i am."
-alexa kaye johnson

i have wise friends, who happen to be brilliant photographers too.
oh how i wish she'd start a blog.

Summer Affair.

One Year Ago...
I was here.


In one month, I will be here.


Who knows? I might just fall in love this summer.

Happy 4th.

I feel really, really blessed today.
Blessed to live here, and enjoy the freedoms I do,
(especially after reading 1984 this past week)
But before I go, (and try to stalk them - they are in town for the fourth :)
I want to wish you all, no matter where you live,
a VERY Happy 4th of July!