Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Happy Earth Day!


Remember back to elementary school, when on Earth Day the whole day was like a field trip? And your class would clean up the playground and plant new trees and flowers around the school? And the garbage men would come and teach you how to recycle? And farmers would come and show you how to garden and how to tell good soil from bad? And then we would get fun tshirts? And moms would come in and help? (Thanks again, Mom, for always being a class mom!) I thought it was so much fun. My elementary school was the best!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

IAC you say?


For the last few years, I had a favorite building in New York. (I mean, apart from the Chrysler Building, which will always be my classic favorite favorite. My first love.) This building was different, it was new, it shimmered in the day and glistened in the night. It was on the West Side, near the highway. It looked like it was made of sugar-spun milk glass. I had no idea what it was.

Today I have learned what it is. It is the IAC building, the first office building in New York built by the one and only Frank Gehry. (It's a bit embarrassing to me that I didn't know this before, but oh well. Now I know!)

Go here to see and learn about this beautiful building. And if you're in New York, take a stroll on over to the West Side, you'll love it.

Dear Jessica,

I know you will be thrilled by this - the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince trailer just hit the web today (it’s amazing!!) and the release date is JULY 15!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Not November).

Aren’t you just thrilled????!!!!!

Will you please be my date?

I love ya.
Love,

Your Sister and Harry Potter fan extraordinaire

Friday, April 17, 2009

Again {sigh}

The dreaded lurgy is back.

{Blar.}

Jessica is having a weekend away at the beach in Florida.

{Yay! Have so much fun!}

Meaning Tulip is left to be my nursemaid.

{Tulip's recipe for health: we'll go to the dog park - the sun will bake the lurgy out of you. Eat as many filet mignon doggy treats as you want - you need the protein. Then play with me until exhaustion - then you'll sleep really well. xoxo, Tulip}

Here's to a weekend filled with sniffles, coughing, being buried alive under a mountain of kleenex, Tylenol Sinus, Tylenol Cold, Advil, stuffy noses, pajamas and the cutest puppy that ever was.

How could you possibly top that? Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Happy Birthday Mom!!!


Have a wonderful day!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

We're the lucky ones


On the eve of your birth, (which happened before Jessica and I became yours)
The world didn’t know what it was getting.
It was getting a beautiful baby girl
Full of spirit and creativity and LOVE.

This little girl with big brown eyes
Grew up to be a smart and funny and talented young woman
Who got married in the temple
For time and all eternity.

She had first one daughter,
Then another,
And together her family
Traveled the country and the world.

She taught her girls how to read and how to write.
She taught them their colors and how to paint pictures.
She taught them how to love life and love one another.
She taught them to travel far and wide in pursuit of their dreams.

And here we are, your girls, living far away
And pursuing those dreams,
But all the time knowing that you are only
A phone call
A car trip
A plane ride
A heartbeat away.

I love you, Mom!!!

Happy Birthday eve!

Top Chef!


I absolutely love love LOVE Top Chef. Readers of my mother's cute blog may remember that she took me to Top Chef tour show at home last summer. (Thanks again, it was so much fun!!!)

Well, this morning, my mom, who always has the inside on what's happening, texted that the Top Chef tour would be in New Orleans - at the farmer's market! So awesome! I am unfortunately here at work, but Jessica ran over after her class and is right now watching the demo with Radhika and Richard. I am so happy for her! (She gave up her spot to let me go this summer. She is the best, ever.) Jess, I can't wait to hear all about it!!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Easter


What a wonderful Easter weekend. Yesterday at church, we had a special Easter Sacrament meeting. Our branch president was the only speaker and he spoke with such power, eloquence and love for our Savior and His sacrifice. At the end of his glorious talk, he read the First Presidency's message on Easter:

At this Easter season of hope and renewal we testify of the glorious reality of the atonement and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The empty tomb brought comforting assurance and provided the answer to the question of Job, “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14).

Because of the Savior’s resurrection we will overcome death and become the beneficiaries of His mercy and grace. In a world of trouble and uncertainty, His peace fills our hearts and eases our minds. Jesus is in very deed “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

We give our sure witness that Jesus is the Christ. Though He was crucified, He rose triumphant from the tomb to our everlasting blessing and benefit. To each member of the human family He stands as our Advocate, our Savior, and our Friend.

Yesterday was a wonderful reminder of how much I have to be grateful for and of all the blessings in my life. I have truly been filled with love and appreciation for Christ this Easter season.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Happy Easter!!!!


I am all set to leave for a marvelous three day weekend. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday full of sunshine, bunnies, chocolate and happiness. xoxoxoxo!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

A reading


Last night, we went with E & A to hear Joan Didion give a reading from her book, The Year of Magical Thinking. The book is one of my favorites, and is particularly wrapped up in warm memories because it was lent to me by my dear friend, Mimi. I must have read that book at least 12 times before giving it back to her, and I know that the book was a little worse for wear by the time it was returned. But oh, how I cherish that book. Joan Didion writes about the year following her husband's sudden death, and how she dealt with the emotions and circumstances. You would think a subject such as this would be devastatingly sad, and at points it is, but what I really took away from it was that grief affects each of us differently, that grief can do strange things to a person, that, as my mother has always taught us, you never know when that ordinary instant can transform our lives into something unrecognizable and that life and the moments that make up life are best when savored and treasured. She speaks so lovingly of her late husband and the things that made their marriage happy. She speaks of her late daughter with the same love and even as my heart was breaking for her, it swelled with happiness as well. I have always known that I want a life and a family full of love and happiness, and I felt, when I read the book, that I had found a blueprint of sorts. I feel extremely privileged to have heard Joan Didion's voice reading the words that have been seared across my heart. It was, in a word, magical.

March Madness ends with a bang


What a great game and what a great tournament. I love it, year after year. I am very proud that this year, while I didn't finish in the money, I did better than I've ever done, 15th out of 154, AND was the top ranking girl. That makes me happy. Can't wait for next year!

Monday, April 6, 2009

Thanks for having your birthday, it was fantastic!


This weekend was one of the best ever.

Friday night was the neon, 80s roller-skating extravagaaaaanza! It was incredible, and thank you to everyone who came out, decked out in their finest and rocking the most amazing moves ever seen on skates. Taylor, Andrew and Ratchet - you guys are incredible! I rocked out with an outfit that consisted of purple leggings, neon green hot booty shorts, a hot pink tee and a giant side pony. Fantastic. We all enjoyed pizza, daiquiris (flavors ranged from Bellini to Crawgator to Strawberry Banana) and the biggest, Oreo-ist ice cream cake from Dairy Queen.

Saturday we slept in for hours and hours, and then were back at it with a most decadent brunch at one of our new favorites, Restaurant Patois. It was amazing! Ponchatoula Strawberry stuffed french toast with sides of hash brown and bacon. The whole thing was topped off with a cute orange candle for Miss J.

She loved it all, and nothing could make me happier.

Sunday night, we put one of her gifts to use {an ice cream maker!!!!! SO EXCITING!} and whipped up a batch of blackberry sorbet.

Happy Birthday, Jessica!!! It was wonderful, start to finish!

Friday, April 3, 2009

It's time to party!


Tonight we are hitting the roller rink! I hope everyone has their very best neon, spandex, side-ponytailed, acid washed look ready to go celebrate our groovy birthday girl! Be there or be square!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Happy Birthday, Jessica!!!!!!!!!

Today is your birthday!

Shout HOORAY!!!!!



Tulip and I want to sing to you today!!


One year older and wiser too!
Happy Birthday
TO YOU!!!!!!!!
Jessica, Happy birthday and I hope you have had a most wonderful day today! And today is only the beginning! Let the good times roll!!!!!!
XOXO,
Your ever adoring big sister,
Emily

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

We'll root, root, root for the home team!


And if they don't win it's a real shame! Tonight is the highly anticipated game against long-standing rival, LSU. I can't wait!

I can't wait for tomorrow to kick off the festivities


'Twas the night before J’s birthday
and all through the town
People were conspiring
Uptown and down

On how best to celebrate
Our most favorite girl
A dinner, perhaps? Bayona?
With our favorite Ann and Earl?

Or maybe a party
With neon aglow?
We'll whirl ‘round the rink,
(She loves that, you know!)

Or even, at a lovely new favorite,
A decadent brunch,
Followed by the kindest gift of all,
A snausage donated from the munch!

Why not do it all
And shower the one
Who day-in and day-out
Is a constant source of fun

With love and excitement
We’ve plotted and schemed
On how to make this year’s birthday
The stuff of dreams.

{Image by Elsa Mora}

Accidents happen

Last night, Tulip was involved in a bad accident at the dog park. It involved a game of fetch, a log and a pack of dogs. Somehow, our little munchie found herself on the receiving end of the log being launched into the air, and, well….you know the sound of a baseball getting knocked out of the park by a wooden baseball bat? Imagine that sound, against the puppy’s head. It was terrifying.

Even more horrible were her puppy cries; after the hit she cried and ran straight to us and continued to cry in pain for a good three minutes. That is a long time. We could tell that she had been hit on the right side of her face, as it had already swelled up considerably and her skin under her fur was red and broken.

Imagine this:


And this:
On this face:


After we got her calmed down slightly (and ourselves calmed down) we decided we absolutely had to take her to the vet. As we were carrying her off the levy (excuse me, the LEVEE), she sort of lifted her head up, waggled her tail a bit from between her legs and through the swollen, lopsided face gave us her best goofy puppy grin. The grin that says, “I want to play!” She’s a tough one, our Tulip.

Things got really hairy at the vet’s office, when she starting bleeding from her nose. I thought for sure at this point she was dunzo, because on Grey’s Anatomy, when patients start bleeding from noses, eyes, ears, etc, things are looking pretty grim for them. The vet was very concerned about her, but decided that the blunt trauma to her face was causing the bleeding, not brain damage. He gave her medicines and a shot for the pain and instructed us to keep her as quiet as possible, with a follow up scheduled for the next day (today).

Following the vet visit, we made a stop at Petco, to stock up on some soft, yummy treats to spoil her with. (Because, to add insult to injury, Tulip is teething right now and losing teeth left and right. She has several loose teeth in her mouth and she is clearly in pain when chewing things – us, treats, her food, anything.) So we stocked up on Snausages, puppy beef jerky chews and puppy Oreo cookies. (Yes, really.) The rest of the night, all she had to do was give us a wink from that bleeding, pouffy eye (not hard, as it was swollen shut) and we would shower her with kisses and treats.

The little miss is still down but most definitely not out. I love her resilience and how much she just wants to get back out there and run and play – even though something bad happened last time. It’s a good reminder for me to not let the memory of pain or hurt stop me from trying new things or trying failed things again, and most importantly, to never, ever give up.

And that an Oreo every now and then really can make things better.