Ta da!

Drumroll please...the tree at Rockefeller lit up last night! Just brimming with merry festivity, what a resplendent sight it is. I find, a visit to the tree is also a splendid way to justify an $8 cup of hot cocoa from Maison du Chocolat. And make a stop at H&M. I guess that makes it official...Christmas has arrived!

Thanks - Giving

Ahh, one more fabulous Thanksgiving holiday for the record books. Before I turn the page, I thought it might be appropriate to chronicle the things I'm thankful for right now...


my beloved...oh what a dear, sweet thing he is!
sistazz...(spelling in the grand tradition of utah sports teams, which we are definitely not) they are the light of my life
miss famous...i never thought i could love/miss/obsess so much
the triple threat...you know who you are!
kitchen aid stand mixers...yes, that is plural, and it's also another story
thank you cards...truly the most adorable and thoughtful expression of gratitude
buttkissovichers...a legacy of family-like friendship
travel...most recently made possible by a very generous mark and pam
mild weather, so far...i'm a cold weather wuss

2Fast 2Furious

Tony Stewart, you're my hero! I am the ultimate/all-time favorite/#1 stunner Nascar fan. Our weekends are planned around races. But before I get ahead of myself, let's stop the car and switch into reverse for a minute here, so my passion can be fully understood. It all started 2 1/2 fateful years ago. I was innocently waiting for my beloved to pick me up. I turned on the TV, flipped thru all the infomercials, and settled on a car race. I watched for a good 20 minutes, and decided I really liked the look and feel of the Home Depot car. Always one for a friendly wager, I decided to pick a winner for the race, and of course settled on Tony Stewart and the Home Depot car. My beloved picked me up, and I left not knowing the outcome of my wager with myself. We returned home to find there were 10 laps left in the race (there are up to 500 laps), and Tony was cruising along in first place! Needless to say, he won the race, and it has been true love ever since. I'm hooked/addicted/need my fix of Nascar every Sunday. Tony is far and away my favorite. He never fails to amaze with his skillful/svelte/sweet driving.

It's just that I get such a thrill from the excitement of it all---cars, pits, speed, logos on cars, the cool jumpsuits they get to wear. Oh, the jumpsuits! That is for sure my second favorite part of Nascar. My ideal dream ultimate fantasy job would be a broadcaster...for the Nascar circuit. Not only do those people get to follow Nascar around the country, they also get to wear the cool jumpsuits, headphones, and use the old school orange foam top microphones. Does it get any better than that? I dare say no.

I Heart Jamie Anne

I love this picture of me. Nope, that isn't a typo, I really said it! If there is one thing you should know about me, it's that I love pictures. More specifically, pictures involving me. I love to take them/have them taken/be in them as much as possible. Though some may say otherwise, it's not about vanity, so much as it's just such dumb fun! It's not unusual for me to empty my memory card and find 35 of the same pics of me and my besties making funny faces or portraying different moods. Like I said, dumb fun. I highly recommend you try it before you judge...you just might be amused.

A really talented gal recently took this one of me here in NY. I just like to think that it gives alot about me away. For me, that is a sign of a great picture/great photographer/both...or maybe I'm just a good photographee (hee hee). What I'm really trying to say is a good portrait captures what the photographee (yea, I don't know if that's a word, but just go with it), isn't willing to give to the photographer. Many times it's not so much about the composition or the lighting or even beauty, so much as it is about capturing that crucial moment when the photographee accidentally lets their guard down. No forced poses or pretenses, just raw footage. I like to think this photo portrays me as someone who tries to be sophisticated, with a touch of whimsy and not afraid of being goofy or having a good time...is that me? I don't know, but I love the look on my face. Love love love it. You should too!