coming out of my closet

I should be embarrassed, but I'm not. I came straight home from Thanksgiving dinner last week and cuddled up in my very favorite Christmas sweater because it IS that time of year, ya know? And obviously, I was way excited about it.

Judge away. I bet you don't own a sweater as warm and fuzzy as this one.

Besides, this bad boy's won me an award or two, so if anyone knows of any Ugly (or in my case, Lovely) Christmas Sweater parties this season, gimme a ring.

friday night lights

I am so totally slacking on my, Thirty Days and Thirty Thanks, and it's not because I have a shortage of things I'm thankful for, it's just that I'm a slacker. Working on that.


This weekend was one of those weekends you can't help but feel so lucky to have had. Beginning with the obvious, Thanksgiving Day, the weekend opened with the year's feast of all feasts. There's really not much better than that.
And then came Friday night which was just so bright. And so awesome.

Some of the cousins and their cute families came over for hot cocoa, apple cider and vegan-unfriendly goodies (it's the holidays, gimme a break).

As if we hadn't gorged ourselves enough on Thursday, we continued to stuff our stomachs full of rice krispy ornaments, cookies and brownies, then we took our hot cocoa to-go and bundled up for the trek across the street to admire Temple Square's Christmas lights. I've been watching them string these bad boys since August. That's a long time to be up on a ladder, but obviously so worth it.

As usual, Temple Square put together a magical display, but as far as brightness goes, I'd say our smiles had those lights beat. Haha, I'm such a cheeseball. 

Yes, I seriously left the house still wearing my house slippers. Gasp.
Hehehe...

Let the festivities begin!

Happy Holidays,

Kaits

Flash Mob Fourth!

That's right. I participated in my very first FLASH MOB! What a way to celebrate my freedom!

My very talented cousins flew into Salt Lake City to dance in a flash mob at the Fourth of July Bula Festival at Liberty Park. Having added a flash mob to my life list recently, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to wow a crowd with my "dancing skills". We literally RACED back from Oakley to make it in time, and by raced, I mean we yelled at poor Ryan Conradi to "Go faster!" the entire ride home, even after the car overheated and we required help from a generous farmer.

We made it though, just in time to make Beyonce, and ourselves, shine!

I'm now suffering from a serious case of flash mob fever and have a constant urge to break out into choreographed dance everywhere I go. Watch out Salt Lake City! These dancin' feet are on a roll!

Feel free to practice yourself!

Dancin' my life away,

Kaites

Home Sweet Oakley

I spent the Fourth of July weekend at Nana's home in sweet Oakley, Idaho with my mom, sisters and brother-in-law. We did what we always do in Oakley, wandered around looking for great photo ops, and it was as charming as usual. We even hit up the local pool, and although Lyndsey was the only one there in a bikini (Shelbs and I are smart), we still had fun playing "tea party" and dunking each other amid all the stares from the local families.

Mama got lost in Nana's yard, a task that Nana was always so good at and loved dearly. It was good for her to have time to garden, and great for us too. I worked hard trimming down the hedges and basking in the sun. Sweetie even came along to help!



We've been lucky to be able to spend so much time in Oakley. It truly is one of my very favorite places. The Oakley home was built in 1896 by my Great-Great-Grandfather, Hector Caleb Haight, and it is among many historical sites in Oakley's historical town. Nana did such a beautiful job with this house. She truly turned it into a home. Decorating the walls are pictures of our ancestors and the home really is filled with the sweetest feeling.



It was a wonderful weekend spent together remembering our sweet Nana and feeling close to  she and our ancestors. I reflected on my life and the lives of those who have come before me and I am striving to live a good life spent with the people I love dearly. I'm grateful for such a strong family history and for the great individuals who have made our family so wonderful. Being the Fourth of July weekend, I also had time to feel grateful for the place that I live and the beauty that surrounds me. Lucky me!

Lovingly,

Kaites



Danke schön!

With Thanksgiving already behind us and Christmas fast approaching, I've realized that I've given little thought to some of the things I'm grateful for. Here it goes...


A few things I'm thankful for:


Music. All kinds.
Ipods.
Sunshine.
Warm rain.
The Ocean.
Summertime.
True friends.
Diversity.
Humility.
Honesty.
Electricity.
My sisters and brothers.
Mom and Paul.
Hunter.
Sweetie Pie.
Life lessons.
Jazz.
Hot chocolate.
Broken hearts.
Running shoes.
My BlackBerry.
Chooch/Parlay/Herb etc.
The World Wide Web.
Extended family.
Christmas music.
Big cities.
Good Sleep.
Facebook.
My health.
The United States of America.
Nail polish.
Fresh laundry.
Integrity.
Lots of cousins.
Real fashion.
Makeup.
Fast travel.
Modern technology.
Opportunity.
Talent.
My working body.
A good cry.
Creativity.

10 Reasons I Appreciate Winter

1. I can cry over anything and blame it on seasonal depression.

2. Electric blankets... on high.

3. My razors last longer but it's definitely not because my leg hairs grow slower.

4. No mosquitoes.

5. Snowy conditions make a great excuse for calling into work, school, and/or life.

6. Hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps.  100 proof.

7. Everyone loves a colorful Christmas sweater.

8. The end of one year and beginning of the next.

9. Turkey, cranberry relish, mashed potatoes, yams, stuffing, corn, green beans, homemade rolls, pies, baked alaska, and of course... Martinelli's.

10. Toe socks.

But the greatest thing about winter is that with each passing day I'm one day closer to a more comfortable season.  Hurry your ass up, Summertime.

SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK, RUDOLPH

Looks like Mr. Santa Claus went green and upgraded to a Hybrid.

Ho Ho Ho,

Kaitlyn

HOLIDAY CHEER COMES ONCE A YEAR

Happy Holidays

♥

Kaitlyn

Hardly a Winter Wonderland

Due to personal preference, I live in a house that retains summertime temperatures all year long. I enjoy this about our home especially when I fall asleep under my comforter, all dressed in pajamas, and wake to find myself without either on, as was the case Monday morning. I arose from bed, found my pajamas on the floor and stumbled to the other side of my tiny 10 x 10 bedroom to gaze at myself in the mirror. While rubbing the sleep from my eyes and brushing my hair, my phone vibrated, signaling a disturbing text message from Ashley. The text message simply read, 'The snow is pretty but it's cold.'
Surely she didn't mean to say snow. A quick peek out my window confirmed it. She did.
The shocking reply she received read, 'WHAT THE HELL'. In all caps.


I've now lived through another 'first snowfall of the year'. Sadly, that day was only yesterday and I still have yet to prevail over the next 6 months of having fingers that resemble icicles, a complexion comparable to Edward Scissorhands', and chattering teeth.


I'm not sure I could dislike the cold much more than I already do and if I could I really don't want to. What I'd like to do is try to come up with a list of the benefits of wintertime, if any, rather than my loathing, so I'm going to begin thinking. Hard. It may take a few days. I'm hoping that my efforts to stay cheerful during this arctic season will shield me from the hostile cold that slaps my face every time I walk outside, but that's unlikely. Who knows, perhaps there's a snow bunny hidden somewhere in me just dying to trade in the string bikinis for fleece and the flip-flops for Uggs.


Haa. Yeah right.