help!

I have some Christmas money to spend.

I have the whole of Chicagoland at my disposal.

But I have no idea where to shop for myself!  Guess it has been that long since I've 1) lived in a place that has had more than Wal-Mart available and 2) shopped for myself.

Please, please, please tell me where to go shopping (and then come hold my hand and tell me what to buy) before I make a fool out of myself.

help wanted...

So...I managed to erase all of the information on my phone. Nice. 

Will all of you lovelies please Facebook, text, or email me your contact information?  Thank you thank you.

raise your hand if this applies to you.

this top is called the "driggs ex-boyfriend shirt'"

i think this is the official "shanty shirt" for the next reunion.

all in favor?

all in favor, say i.

i propose we make this blog private.

so does lara.

{we just spoke of it over the phone.  so, lara already says i.}

for my own selfish reason: i can tell you all - the people of whom my nighttime dreams still revolve around and who are likely the only ones who really need to know - the hilarious and painful dirty details of the worst date i've ever been on. and that's saying a lot.

since i was set up on this date by a mother/daughter/other daughter trio of blog readers, i can't tell the tale on my blog, for the things i have to say about this boy would make his mother cry.

beyond my own selfish reason: no one else needs to know {or cares to know} the details of our shantirific lives. 

anyone out there want to second our motion?

a birthday wish...

Unlike our friend Aubry, I don't like birthday fuss. In fact, I always try to keep it hush hush and avoid all "happy birthday" phone calls from my family...including my mom...the one person who should be able to wish me well because it was her who gave me a birthday in the first place. I don't even list my birth date on my facebook page because I don't like the fuss. Is that strange? Don't get me wrong, I would never turn down a present (I'm not that strange) nor do I mind getting older. I am happy to celebrate the birthdays of family and friends...just not mine. HOWEVER, since this is a landmark year for me (and Aubry too for that matter) and turning thirty seems like a reason to celebrate...my birthday wish is this:

I want to hang with my Shanty girls for a few days.

I know it is highly unlikely seeing that September 2nd isn't the most opportune day of the year to get together, nor is Kansas City a prime travel destination...but I can dream, right? I would even be willing to postpone my celebrations until October 15th because that is the day of the Kansas City half marathon. All of you could come stay at my home and run the race with me. Doesn't that sound divine??? Kansas City is no NYC, but I am sure I can put together something magical.

Well, that is my wish. No offense will be taken when it can't come true but that is all I want for the big 3 - 0.

shanty love.

i'm wearing my shanty shirt today . . . and have actually been wearing it a lot lately.

i think i miss you all.

xoxo from boise.

we'll get there fast and then we'll take it slow

today at spin i had a vision...

it was all of us shanty girls enjoying a lovely weekend (or week?) in an exotic location like key largo... relaxing by the pool, snorkeling, lying on the beach, drinking delicious virgin drinks, shopping, and eating a lot.

it was a lovely daydream, and it got me through a vicious hill we were climbing. (i love spin.)

anyway...

josh and i like to dream big. we always play the "when we're rich" game. but i always tell him that's why we went into major debt to go to cornell... to get rich! right?!

and i always say, more than anything else, i would love to be able to have enough money to pay for family and friends to be together. to be able to say to my family, "hey, we've got this reunion covered. everyone just show up!" or, "alright shanty girls, your tickets are paid for, bring your bathing suits!"

this would be my ultimate dream.

my love language is quality time. (can i get an amen, aubry?)

so it may take a while, but in a few years if you all get an email from me asking for a weekend when you're all free, be expecting something great...

it will happen!

rebuttal.

robin's the famous one. 
... among the mormon mom bloggers {the core of all blogging}
need i remind you of this post. or this one. {both featured on major, serious mom blogs}
i owe all blogging credit to her.
since she was the one who begged and begged and begged me to blog.

and i bought my friends followers for $30.
i don't know how many times i asked for a roll call.... with just a handful of respondents.
.... but throw the words "giveaway" and "anthropologie" out there and 105 people come running.

although, i DO have some funny stories......

raubry's famous...

It's true. Have you checked out how many blog "Followers" she has? A few days ago she hadn't hit the 100 mark but today she has passed it. In fact, every time I check in she has more "Followers" than she did before. It's impressive...maybe it is because she is practically perfect in every way and everyone wants tips on how to be perfect like her...or maybe it is because she gives away sweet things that people want in on. Whatever the reason...I'm just proud to say I lived with her and she is one of my most favorite people in the world AND she was one of the first people to hold my very first baby. Pretty soon, she will have running advertisements replacing her "peeps" section and people will start sending her all of their sweet Etsy stuff so that she will plug it on her famous blog. And then, before you know it, she will be making all sorts of money because of her blogging skills. You all just watch...it'll happen...it'll happen.

rexburg and fashion?

cruising through the blogs as i do very often (every day) i have come across quite a few fashion blogs from girls at byu-idaho.

can you imagine seeing them on campus, having their husbands taking pictures of them in their daily outfits? don't get me wrong, i don't have a problem with it, i just think it's kind of funny.

seeing that it was often a miracle if i showered in the morning and i oft could be found wearing my default outfit, it's hard to imagine spending that much effort into getting ready, taking pictures of it, and then blogging about it. but bless their hearts, more power to them!

who would have thought that rexburg would be the home of fashion blog celebrities?

(this picture comes from one such blog: the daybook.)

first of all, if i saw someone dressed like that on campus (back in the day) i would have been confused. and the heels? on campus? all day? in the snow? again, i'm not criticizing... just wondering.

some other rexburg fashion blogs here, and here. there are others i have come across but i can't remember them right now.

anyway, it just makes me chuckle a little.

the texting loop revisited...

So yesterday I posted my cell number and later realized...this is not a private blog. Even though I doubt anyone besides Shanty gals check in here, I'm not cool with my digits being out there for the world to see. So, yes I still want to be in the loop, but you will have to email me to get my number...wah.

Aubry...you win the award for making my day yesterday. I had to explain to Morgan who the real slim shady was...funny! Bobin, was that you that also texted? I didn't know who it was and didn't get a chance to respond just yet. See, not only am I a terrible blog updater, I am a terrible quick responder!

Bobin, you asked when I am due...not until the end of March. I don't think my body is going to hold out that long!

Love you all!

the texting loop...

Recently, I read something on Robin's blog (I think) about how she and Lar Lar were texting back and forth. Aubry and Robin text too. And I am guessing that all of you text each other. Well, until recently, I had never sent a text in my life...but guess what?? I have figured out that secret world and I want in. Why? Well, I really like all of you gals and maybe if I text you and you text me...all of your exotic lifestyles will begin to rub off on me. (By the way, my 3 year old son just called out, "Mom I'm all done going poopoo...I sprayed out too." Excuse me while I clean a bum and who knows what else. See, I need exotic-ness.)

Anyway, I don't really do the whole "text speak" and truthfully, I think texting is for the birds...it hurts my thumbs. BUUUTTT...I am willing to sacrifice my thumbs to get a shout out from my favorite people every now and again. Be warned, I don't keep my phone with me all the time so sometimes it takes me a while to respond. So someone send me a text...it will make my day...and considering my pregnant state...I like things that make my day. Thanks.

By the way Bobin...Oliver has become about the coolest kid in the eyes of my Owen Boy. Owen happened to see the food coloring post and thought Ollie was a superhero. When Dan came home from work yesterday, Owen told him all about your boy and his green hands and feet. He also just informed me that he would like to "draw Oliver a picture." So, send me your address...Ollie has an official biggest fan!!

denny's bonanza.

cindy. you weren't here for this. it was your wedding night so you were loooooooooong gone. rah rah rah!

corrina, lara, robin, andi, and aubry went to denny's after your reception to get some tots or something. i have no idea, but we all wished you were there (but in all reality, were really glad you weren't:)). the conversation was hysterical.

ladies, as you recall, some pretty random phrases were said, and i wrote them down. i forgot all about that little list until the other day when i came across it! oh, what a joy that was! i died laughing...but mostly was perplexed, trying to figure out what in the world we were talking about.

here they are:

"if you're happy and you smell it clap your hands." -corrina
"i am the lost sheep of fashion." -lara
"thank you for your business." -corrina
"old faithful or old yeller." -corrina

see if you can figure this one out: "well married a german schnitzle..."

there were a couple others, but this blog isn't private. ask me if you want them:)