Wild One

It's been almost a month since my last blog post...where does the time go??! As my virtual "journal" of sorts, let's see if I can catch up on the latest happenings with an all new TOP 10.

The Top 10 Things that have happened since my last blog post...

1. I turned 25 (I can now rent a car all by myself)

2. I earned my "Sons of Powder" sticker...getting DOMINATED by my 50-year old dad who led me down sheer cliffs through the trees and was nice enough to: show me his secret powder spots, wait for me at the bottom, and advise me on the best way to put my ski back on (rogue branches: 2, Lauren: 0)

3. PETE CAME HOME!!! I'm happy to say, he's still as humorous as ever, and bonus, I can now text him anyyyyytime I want. Also, reading his letters on Christmas Day will be something I cherish forever.

4. Out with the red and in with... animal prints, fur and sequins. Somehow I've ended up with an extremely loud cheetah dress, leopard jeans, leopard pajamas (top AND bottom), leopard slippers, leopard blanket, velvet cheetah top and a leopard dress. I won't even go there with the sequin section of my wardrobe. I haven't decided what this says about my style (or lack thereof)

5. I had an epic night of dancing at a cougar club (completely unrelated to my animal print/sequin theme), because it had great music...ok ok, it was more about the great people watching in the form of men that looked like wolverine and spandex that did nothing to disguise "aged beauty" and "spare tires"

6. We took a family ER trip to get tested for strep throat the day after Christmas. (honestly I feel like this could be a blog post in and of itself!) Mom said her throat felt like there were knives back there, or something akin to a blow torch effect, along with shortness of breath, similar to an elephant sitting on her chest. By comparison, her cough sounded like she was two feet in the grave. (since I am the designated illness drama queen/hypochondriac, it's a blessing/miracle for Everyone that I escaped this virus). Chloe was dragged along to be tested for bronchitis (apparently coughs are one of those things she can turn on/off at will...and now we know), and dad managed to get some great hospital feedback on everything from heat lamps to ICU plans

7. I got a chocolate fountain...

8. ... and I'm beginning the "Healthy Habits" Challenge Monday (actually SUPER excited about this, join me if you think you can BEAT me haha)

9. In the brief absence of the Mentalist and Scandal, I began watching Suits. It's changed my life ever since...Harvey is the man

10. I spent some much needed quality time with my family...including an epic lego building competition (congrats to Bryan who came out on top)

2013 is a lot of things for a lot of people. It's a chance to start over again, a chance to make greater goals and push yourself harder, and a chance to discover new and wonderful things. I thought about goals this week, and things I want to accomplish. I'm not sold on making a big change, but hey, you never know until it's right in front of you.

Then I looked at my "goals" or New Year's resolutions from last year...oh YIKES. I'm not sure I accomplished even one!! I'm going to have to do a lot better this year.

On our way to Philly last week, we played 20 questions. We asked a two-part question: When describing you, what would you want someone to say? And part 2: What personality trait would you most want to have?" Part 2 is a somewhat easy question, I've been thinking about this personality trait for a long time now.

A while ago, I went to a bridal shower for a friend. We began by going around the room, introducing ourselves, and what we love most about the bride-to-be. With slight variations, every person said they had never heard this bride utter a single negative thing about Anyone or Anything, the entire time they'd known her. I said the exact same thing about her. I was sitting there, racking my brain trying to remember any time that I'd ever heard her say something negative. There wasn't one. How is that POSSIBLE?! Clearly it IS possible.

I'm not sure what someone would say about me (pretty sure enthusiastic would be in the top 3 words to come out), but I do know what personality trait I Most want to develop this year: kindness. Mother Teresa said it best:

“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 true enemies; succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway…
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.”

For Christmas this year I was most excited about two gifts I gave. One was to my dad, a picture of us in Florence from this Summer, and next to it was a list of the top 5 pieces of advice he's given me  over the past 25 years. I'm so grateful to have a dad that works hard, makes his own success, but has Never compromised on putting his family first. I remember Hamish once said to me in the car, "You know who your true friends are when they are willing to die next to you." Although I can imagine Aubrey or Kim bravely stepping up beside me, I know without a doubt that my dad wouldn't be beside me, he'd step in Front of me. His love knows no bounds (infiniteless, I remember).

The second thing I was excited about, was a group book the grandchildren made for Splash and Granddad. It's often hard to adequately express just how much someone means to you, but while compiling everyone's submission for this book I was amazed at how each and every grandchild had a different story or memory to share about Splash and Granddad. Put together, each memory, story and observation added up to a lifetime of incredible memories built on so much love and generosity.

Finally, (last but never least), let's be honest: Christmas, while wonderful, filled with family and presents, can be one giant month of stress and chaos. Too often, Santa's helpers go unnoticed. I don't know how my mom does it, but every year she goes above and beyond to orchestrate, plan and execute chaos into order, stress into love, and two weeks of what could be boredom, into nonstop entertainment and hilarious memories. It's one thing to give gifts You like yourself, but it's another thing to know your family so well, that you pick out and give the gifts you Know they'll want to receive the most. That takes an immense amount of time, love, and dedication. To top it off, she did it while carrying the bubonic plague and still looking hot. I have so much to work up to.

May 2013 be filled with love, laughter, and lots of kindness!

Love,
Lo