Road trippin'

I love to pack. I love putting everything in a suitcase/duffel bag/box/whatever. It's like playing real live Tetris. Everything fits in with everything else and there are little spaces that things can go in and perfect fits for books and movies... ahhh it's so satisfying! The other side of it is that I love to unpack. Taking everything out of the boxes/suitcases etc. and put it all in a certain place. Every trinket, book, picture, piece of clothing, whatever has a specific place that it belongs. Every time I come home I put all my stuff in the exact same place it was in the last time I was here, and the time before that. It really makes all the difference. I can't stand having boxes and clothes and just stuff around. I like it clean and organized with everything in its place. I am a pack rat, so it does make things a bit more interesting, haha. I have so much STUFF that I can't bring myself to get rid of so I just keep accumulating random little things that I feel like I can't live without. What if I need it?! You never know. 

Also, on this 11hr trip from Provo, UT to Concord, CA I was able to drive it all  with my daddy. And yeah, I call him daddy still even though I'm 20yrs old. Not all the time, but I do. I don't care. Anyway, we were driving and chillin' and talkin' and havin' a good time. A couple hours into it I started realizing how alike we are. I mean, I always knew I was a daddy's girl. I have been forever. I was the little sister that would dig up worms and throw them at Blake because he would freak out. It was awesome. He's such a neat/clean freak and I like to get dirty and do crazy things. I changed my car battery by myself and I loved it. (In case you hadn't heard... hahaha.) Anyway. On the drive it was just a lot more apparent how much I take after his mannerisms. Here's a short list of the things I can remember...

-We finger tap. To any beat at all. The weather stripping around my windshield came off and was tapping against the driver side window and both of us just started nodding with the beat. Any song that came on the radio/ipod we both finger tapped the drum and/or guitar parts. It was kind weird actually.

-We both have song ADD. Can't listen to the same song for more than about 30 seconds. Unless it's a really good one then we have to sing along. Loudly and off-key.

-We both are incredibly inclined to road rage. We definitely get irritated easily while on the road. Everyone else is stupid and we're the only ones who know how to drive well. Hahaha...

-We both drive with our knees sometimes.

-We both love duct tape and sincerely believe that good quality duct tape can be used to fix anything. 

-We mock people for the same things. At the same time. And then laugh.

-Neither of us like nail polish. I think this is just something I learned from him directly. Never wore it growing up and now I can't have it on for more than 12 hours before I feel icky and have to remove it.

That's about it for now. All I can remember at this moment at least. But still. It's awesome. We both also laugh at ridiculous things a lot. Things that aren't funny. But ARE funny. To us. Needless to say, my dad is basically a 21yr old boy. And it love it. I love my dad so much.

Quotes from Mom

My mom would print out quotes periodically and tape them to my mirror at home. I loved it. These are my favorites...

They might not need me;... but they might.

I'll let my head be just in sight:

A smile as small as mine might be,

Precisely their necessity.

-Emily Dickinson

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness; there may be jealousy;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway. 

-Mother Theresa 

Pencil and Paper

Sooo... While I was in London a year ago I started drawing for real, instead of just doodles and scrapbooking. And this is what came of it. 

This is one of the first pictures I actually drew with intent. We went to Paris for the day and I just really liked this statue. Look familiar? I hope so... Hahaha.

I'm just a big fan of graffiti. I dunno why. This doesn't even say anything. It's just neat. 

Can you read it? This one actually does say something. Haha

Self-portrait. :)

Inspired by Salvador Dali's Rose

Dannielle's favorite flower

Princesess <3

Anastasia

I'm actually kinda mad about this one. The hand was hard to draw. And I'm irritated that I used any colors. On the bright side, you can tell that I made the princess look like ME.. heh heh.. 

Oh, and I know the face-less-ness is a bit creepy, but I actually really like it like that. I'm not sure why. And faces are just hard to draw perfectly. I think it's better without them. Hahaha. 

Family

I sure love 'em. 

Blake, Dad, Mom, me, Grant and Sarah

Older (better) girl cousins/moms/aunts with Grandma and Grandpa

Little Grant on Big Grant's (Biggie's) shoulders

Meg on mine

<3

Blake and me in Salt Lake 

He still looks like a missionary... haha

Sarah, me, Meg and Grant

in the treehouse.

They love me. :)

Dad and Sarah at Disneyland!!

I like this one a lot.

Little Grant, Blake, me and Sarahhhh

Christmas Card from the year Blake was in Argentina

Whoever doesn't love this picture is stupid. 

Look at Olivia's face!! Bahahahaha..

Meg and Erica.

Meg already has the attitude of a 13yr old.

Spencer!! He loves me so much.

I'm his favorite. :) 

Grant and me at an A's game last summer. 

5 yrs younger and 5 inches taller!

Wayyy old picture. 

Me holding Spencer and Sarah on the boat.

Loooove the boat.

Meg and Sarah playing "Project Runway" 

with Olivia.

Sometimes we get a little bit ridiculous...

Erica, Anna and me at Forever 21 in SF

Kimee and me in her dorm freshman year. 

We were randomly put in the same hall!

We ate a HUGE pizza this night, btw.

Hahahah. Me and Kimee when were little.

We didn't get along very well.

Can you tell by my face?

It's okay, we're friends now. :)

Mom and Sarah! 

Mom, Blake and me on a ferry-ish ride thing at Iguazu Falls right in between Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. We were driven straight up underneath the waterfalls. Drenched. The ponchos did absolutely nothing. (Dad took the picture.)

Pre-waterfall-drenching. So pretty!

Sometimes weird girls take pictures of themselves in my room.

Without me. 

Hahahahaha

Sarah, me, Meg on the golf cart at home.

We like to go fast. 

Heh.

Spencer, Grant, Meg, me

Mac Photobooth ROCKS

Mom and me at Disneyland :)

Bahahaha. We're related. Can you tell?

Home, sweet, home.

<3

Country

Okay, so I've never been the BIGGEST fan of country music. In high school I wouldn't be caught dead listening to it. Freshman year one of my best friends, Sam, was pure country. Radio preset 6 in my car has always been a country station - mostly because of him.  I got to the point where I didn't hate it, and actually liked a couple of very pop-country songs. Because of Alex I've grown to really like Keith Urban, Rascal Flats and Carrie Underwood (and some select others). But lately I can say that I almost enjoy country music. Of course, there is still a whole intense-country genre that I can't even pretend to listen to for more than about 10 seconds, but on the whole I think i like it. A big part of it is because of this one boy that I like... 

Oh, and I really love Taylor Swift. I always have. Everyone

knows I'm big on lyrics - especially ones that I can apply to

my life. Country songs generally have pretty sweet lyrics. 

This song is a good example of that. :)

Theory of Convergence

Comes from one of my favorite movies - Say Anything. 

Diane to Lloyd:  "…I have this theory of convergence, that good things always happen with bad things. But I know you have to deal with them at the same time, but I just, I mean I don’t know why they have to happen at the same time, I mean, I don’t know why, I just wish I could work out… Am I just babbling? Do you know what I mean?"

I think I like this quote because it sounds exactly like something I would say. I understand exactly what she means. And I wholeheartedly agree with it. 

Theory of Convergence : Good things always happen with bad things. 

The order might differ from time to time, but you'll never see one without the other. 

Example: My life. 

Tickle Me Emo

Holy shnikeez. Brightens my day without fail. 

Happiness

Sometimes all it takes is a smile, a glance or a song. But something that always brings happiness is ICE CREAM.

Vanilla is good if you need a fix. Perfect for anytime, anywhere. It's a constant friend. Never lets you down. It's basic, but you can add almost anything to it and make it more flavorful or delicious if you need/want to. 

Chocolate is one of those flavors that is always good, but not always what you need. It's a fixer-upper. Chocolate is like a bandaid. It helps through rough times and when you just need something. You can also add, but it's not necessary.

Coffee ice cream is probably one of the most delicious things in the entire world. No added toppings or anything. Straight from the Haagen Daas pint container. Preferably laying on a lawn chair on my roof discussing life with a bff or two. 

Cookie dough is good if you like surprises. It's good 'ole vanilla with some special surprises thrown in. You're just mindin' your own business, eatin' some ice cream and BAM! Delicious flavor explosion. It's quite satisfying. 

Americone Dream gets a special shout-out. It's vanilla ice cream with fudge covered waffle cone pieces and caramel. Honestly, I've never had it. But it comes highly recommended from someone I trust on the matter of ice cream, Stephen Abdallah. (Who inspired this post, by the way. Thanks Stephen :)

There are many flavors and makers but ice cream is delicious in almost every form. Especially the chocolate/mocha milkshake I had tonight. Mmmmm.... 

Pictures of Stuff

Alex has inspired me to blog with pictures. Look what you've done, Ali. I went through a bunch of pictures I have and pulled out some reeeeeally random favourites.  

Black Mustang meet green Accord. 

Future meet past. 

I like bugs. And snails. 

THIS WAS NOT MY ROOM. 

But it was 5am and I was tired.

Tori and Bianca's room was naaaasty.

Candid hair-twirling shot. 

I twirl when I think.

Bahahahaha. I think this was Halloween '91 or '92.

Sometimes my mom tried to girly-ize me.

Didn't work :)

I don't remember why I did this. 

I think my friend just said, "Hey Caity, get in that ice thing!"

So I did. 

Chrismas '94.

 Looks like Sarah... but it's not! :)

Dannielle, Bianca and I had a full on photoshoot

on the floor in the hall of our dorm. 

This is one shot of at least 30 pictures. 

Weeeeee know how to party.

We devoured the burnt brownies remnants SO fast. 

We're so great.

Glow in the dark stuff is ALWAYS fun. 

Especially while bowling. 

DISCO bowling. 

:)

There is no rhyme nor reason for any of these pictures whatsoever. Just for fun! Weeeeeeeeee