Dreams Do Come True Ya Know!

A boy once said that to me in Jr High, actually, he shouted it...but that's beside the point. Sometimes dreams DO in fact, come true.

Rewind one year ago today. I was on my couch, drugged, most likely texting something crazy to one of you, and still under the delusion that I would be recovered in 6 to 8 weeks. 

I also thought I'd be flying to NYC to live a lifelong dream of going to Fashion Week. (insert heart breaking sound here) And I thought I'd be healthy enough to run the Ragnar Relay, a race I'd been dying to run, that coming April. (insert you-really-thought-that?! here). ...I was oh so very wrong to believe these things would happen so soon after my surgery.

 BUT...

MY DREAM IS STILL COMING TRUE!!!!

Thanks to the good graces and gosh-darn-good-freaking-lucky-life of my brother Ammon I will be attending Fashion Week in just two short weeks! Will I cry? Possibly...Will I pee my pants because I'm so excited? Wouldn't surprise me...Will I be so cold I will want to die? Definitely.

New York, I love you. I can't wait to be together again. I'm just so excited!!

As for the Ragnar Relay...well, I wouldn't go as far as calling it a dream...more like something I really wanted to do....hmmm, for lack of a better word let's just call it a goal. I have signed up with a team of ladies here in SoCal to run this crazy 180mile relay race this coming April. I am TERRIFIED!! I am excited too. I can barely run a mile, obviously I have got some major work to do.
I am so happy to feel like I'm finally going to DO IT! 

So....Here I am, a year later, in the same place but with a totally different view. 

(and hopefully a totally different outcome!)

Ba-nanas!!

Squeeeee!!!

These ladies arrived on my porch today! Aren't they just lovely? 

And they don't hurt my feet. 

GASP!

I know right?

It was fate.

Worst Blogger...Ever?

Hi, my name is Mari. I'm married to a wonderful man, his name is Chris. 

Have we met?

Oh that's right,  I have this blog, I am supposed to use it as a journal...you know, because keeping a journal is good. (I really wanted to type journaling right there, btw) Keeping a journal is great for so many reasons. We keep a blog because it's easier than whipping out a pen and paper, also because pictures are cool.

So this journal blog it's mostly for us....you're (our friends and family) just icing on the cake.

So, why am I such a slacker? 

"Only the shadow-man knows" (that's what Chris would say, betcha ten bucks)

It's 2011, January in fact, seems to me like a great time to re-commit and repent.

So here it is...my quick, condensed, catch-up-to-date post. 

I sky dived, it was awesome and equally terrifying.  One of the best experiences of my life. We went for Ash's bday, and let me tell you...it was a MEMORABLE experience. The entire time you're asking yourself why in the world you are doing this...and then after you think...oh my gosh, that was awesome, but also very very scary. haha.

 Christmas came & went. We spent this lovely holiday season with the Spiker side. Christmas Eve was filled with Spiker fun at Grandma Rita's. Christmas Day was spent with Peterson fun, we made cookies and everyone gushed over sweet Lucy.

 Apparently living at the beach doesn't mean you shouldn't travel away to a different beach. Which is what we did. Dec 26th came and we were off to the sunshine in Cancun, Mexico. We spent one lovely week there. Chris didn't work (gasp!) and it was relaxing and fun. Chris' parents and Luke were there, and we missed the rest of the bunch :( Luke was hilarious the entire time. Linda & Steve were as sweet and fun as always. Chris and I actually got to hang out. Amazing. It went by far too quickly, we had a ton of fun, and ate way too much food. Do I even need to say that packing up was difficult? We didn't ever want to leave! We celebrated the New Year and came home the 2nd of January to a very rainy CA.  It was a perfect setting for our "back to work & back to reality", boo!

Talking just to Talk

Sometimes I feel like I'm just talking to talk. Like when I don't see Chris for 2 days and I just ramble and ramble when I see him.

My last conversation with my husband consisted of me talking and him reading his blackberry saying "Uh huh" and me saying "You're not listening" ..."Yes I am"....he wasn't. lol. 

So I blog.

You know when you know something to be true, but you don't want it to be, so you just ignore it or avoid it? I've been doing that. It eventually comes to a head ya know....it's true.  Its been happening to me for the past 2 days. You should prepare yourself. It's not very fun.

Remember those little lifesaver Christmas books that came with all of the lifesaver packs/books around Christmas time? Not the candy book, but the little story book on the back of it?  I loved them. Probably because they were mini. I kept mine every year. ( freak flag waving high.)  I still have them, about 12 of them or so...in a box somewhere in guest room closet. I adored them when I was little and kept thinking, "one day these will be collectors items!" haha. Oh man.

So my house is 90% decorated for Christmas. The remaining 10% is my tree. It's up, tree skirt & all. Light? Nope. Ornaments? Hah. 

It's going to be a very Anthro Christmas this year, I hope people don't get sick of their Anthro goodies. If you are just tell me and I'll keep your gifts for myself! Okay, not really....well, actually...

I often call my friend who lives two states away to help me with my homework.

Is that weird?  
(you can be honest with me Jeni...)

I haven't been to the gym in THREE WEEKS and I feel disgusting. Oh and Cancun is in 2 weeks? Awesome time to fall off the wagon. Barf.

Chris keeps asking me what I want for Christmas, I keep telling him the same 3 things:

1. An amazing craft room. 

I have it all planned out in my head. It is going to be fab. Ah, one day.

2. A baby

3. A puppy

He then tells me,   "Think of other things."

I purchased Chris a fly Marc Jacobs suit for Christmas this year. It's so rad. He looks handsome and oh-so-stylish. Don't worry, I've been saving since May for that lol. Why do I feel sad that he doesn't have anything to open on the actual day? 

(he opened it early because he is going to Boston for work next week and wanted to wear it)

Does my sarcasm come through when I type? I always wonder that.

The other day a girl at work told me her biggest pet peeve is when people say the word "like" all of the time. I've been very self-conscious around her since! I'm always talking slow to make sure I don't say it and it's actually REALLY hard for me!

I really wish I could type my French papers while taking a bubble bath...

Anyway, if someone has a chance to come clean my house, do my homework, paint my nails, and decorate my Christmas tree give me a ring. Rates are totally negotiable.

FREEZING THANKSGIVING 2010

Thanksgiving came & went already? Huh? Oh yeah, I forgot I'm 25 now and I should expect the rest of my life to flash before my eyes. Got it.

Highlights (& some lowlights) of the trip back home:

We were able to meet our newest niece Lucy, who is truly adorable!

Chris missed two flights, was stranded in Vegas for 5 hours

Harry Potter

Amazing Thanksgiving Feast with *almost* my entire family (we missed you J & J!!!)

Authentic Texan Fried Turkey!

Chris went to the Laker Game w/ the Spiker men

Arriving in Long Beach with our car in the OC due to Chris' mega-flight-mishap

Betcha can't guess which ones are lowlights! (I'm aware of my total misuse of that word btw) Anyway, the trip was wonderful and went by WAY too fast, as usual. I always have a list of people I am dying to see and usually barely skim the top of it!! Ah, what can ya do?  

It was a WONDERFUL TRIP!!! Even if it was next to Zero degrees the entire time!! I love going home and since I get to only 2-3 times per year it always flies by! Boo!

watching football.. Meeting Lucy!

 Lauren and her youngest, Lily

 Uncle Ammon flew in 2 days early to babysit Lauren's kids while she & Patrick were in Hawaii. Lily formed a very special bond with him!!

 Cooking with my little chef-to-be niece Kailah

 My oldest brother Cim & his beautiful wife Katie

 Patrick's friend, Dustin, from Texas came up for the holiday, he made us an authentic Texan turkey...fried and everything!!

 Lauren and her best friend, Lori

 I love these crazy kids

 Crystal and her youngest, Hailey!

 PJ & Rena...look how big Alex is getting!

 We went to a place called Jump On It....basically a huge place full of a million trampolines...the kids & adults had a blast. The adults got a little crazy...Ammon, Patrick, and Chris all twisted their ankles!

 This picture makes me so happy! Look how hilarious they are!

I wanted to save these for last, because as unflattering as most of them are, they are hilarious. Ammon decided that taking several shots in a row would be the sure way to get at least one great picture of my sisters and I. (blame it on his photo shoot experience lol). These pics pretty much describe the typical interaction between the 3 of us.

Happy Holidays!

In case you were wondering...

Dear Journal, Diary, Blog...

I should be studying right now, but I'm not. I have three finals tomorrow & literally zero motivation. Chris is MIA. My house looks like a Giant came and lifted it up, flipped it over, possibly gave it a good shake or two...then set it back down. It's been one of those weeks if you know what I mean. Where is my motivation? I certainly wish I could find it....tonight!

Aren't you excited it's the holiday season? I can't wait. I've already planned when we are going to buy our Christmas tree (clearly I'm Type-A)...Guess what Chris said when I told him?

Mari "Yay! I can't wait to buy our tree! I want to do an entirely different theme to it this year!"

Chris ...long pause....(watching TV)...."We aren't buying a Christmas tree, we will be in Cancun"

Mari (gasp!....as in dramaaaaatic gasp) "NO!!!We ARE! We don't leave for Mexico until the 26th!! We HAVE TO HAVE A TREE!!! IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!"

Chris (attention now on me...small laugh) "Fine"

Well, at least I'm getting a Christmas tree. Even if Scrooge is anti :) I've been singing him the theme song to the Grinch...I need to memorize all of the words, that song is actually hilarious.  You can read the lyrics here if you so please. Last year I gave him Grinch pajama bottoms...he really is the Grinch! I'm telling you. I don't know how he stands living with me, I'm the polar opposite of that.

(OMG! I just threw my computer because a spider crawled on ME!!!! I am glad it didn't break, that was terrifying!!!)

Wow, sorry 'bout that.

Anyway, see how I'm putting off studying by rambling on and on? I'm actually busier than ever this week and here I am, typing a way.....it's actually therapeutic to think about something other than boutiques, orders, work, school, messy house...

I'm pretty excited to go home for Thanksgiving, I secretly wish it snows while I'm there. I won't have a white Christmas, so I'm hoping to get a taste of it while I'm home. 

Working at Anthro is amazing. Everyone says "Oh I wouldn't be able to work there" "How do you do it? I bet it's so hard" (implying that the discount must be evil)...and I actually couldn't disagree more. Sure it's "probably" a bad thing to have a discount because it encourages shopping...But in my eyes, shipping=good, discount=awesome, discount at your favorite store=super awesome. I do have a budget I must stick to, of course---but I think the discount is a great thing :) 

My grandma (mom's mom) is 96! She just had a bit of a scare last week because she had a pretty severe staff infection...When she went in for her check up this week the Dr took off his glasses and shook his head & said,  "Well Irene..I don't know how you do it, but you've come through! I thought I was going to have to put you in the hospital with a bad ending"...she replied "Well Dr, everything is in the Lords hands!" (said with a big grin of course) How cute is she?!

 I'm so glad she is okay. I admire her more than anyone on this planet. I love her so much.

I want to move to NYC desperately. Just for a year or two. I think it would be such an adventure. Then I want to settle down in a neighborhood and home much like the one Ina has on Barefoot Contessa. (which BTW is one of my favorite shows ever)

I've rented a Christmas movies every week for the past 4 weeks. If you have any suggestions send em my way, I can't seem to get enough! (so far I've watched: Christmas with the Kranks, The Santa Claus, It's a Wonderful Life, Home Alone 1 & 2, that dumb one with Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon.., and The Holiday). 

I'm trying to hunt down Miracle on 34th street...

Some of my holiday must have's courtesy of the lovely & talented people at Anthropologie:

  for the wee ones..

Usually my tree is silver, gold, champagne etc...but this year I want it to be quirky and colorful.

Ok this rambling fest must come to an end, it's time for me to hit the books. 

Someone tell my husband to please come home soon! :(