bridesmaid round 11

because stopping at round 10 wasn't enough, was it?

one step closer to my own hollywood movie!

look out katherine heigl!

this wedding is particularly fun for me

because i've been sharing a room w/ the bride

for app. 1 yr, 2 months and 4 days

[you know, give or take a couple hours]

[and those 3 wks we were flooded out...]

[photo credit to the lovely ashtyn. highly recommended. tell her i sent you.]

i got to see this wedding go down from the first party they flirted at

to the night they ran away to get otter pops

to the night she sat on her bed and said "i think i like him..."

to the morning after their 4th or 5th date, when i jumped on her bed to wake her up yelling "DID HE KISS YOU??"

[you sooo want to be my roomie.]

and then there was the first "i love you"

and that phase they went thru where they ate chicken nuggets every night off the same plate

[i swear this happened more than once]

all the late nights of hearing them giggle on the couch until 3am

[totally PG, kids]

looking at engagement rings and wedding dresses online

planning the reception and whatnot

picking out outfits for engagement photos

oh bother, i'm getting all teary eyed.

[only the beginning of today's waterworks, i guarantee it!]

i'm seriously really stoked for these kids

it's obvious how much they are in love

i've loved watching all the small moments

like when she says she's hungry and goes to the kitchen

and he follows and offers to make her scrambled eggs

even though he's not even hungry

i sure do like them.

[ashtyn again. gee she's good.]

so today i'm rocking a really great outfit [pics to follow]

attending their sealing at this place

[we believe in the forever kind of wedding]

taking a lot of pics outside in arizona in august

[can you edit out sweaty armpits? i believe in you, photographer!]

then heading up to prescott [her hometown]

to dance my little hindparts off at their reception

because...what's a bridesmaid for?

oh, and don't you worry that we kicked off the festivities right...

[sparkling cider, kids...] 

[the goods to go w/ a pile of crepes. mmmm.] 

[doing what i do best at parties.] 

[totally got his elbow. yesssss.]

the green pantalones of destiny

[you are my density. anyone? like i could pass up that quote opp.]

soooo...

remember when i went to the frisco bay a few months ago?

well, when this girl and i were doing some rainy-day V-day shopping

i happened across this store

selling these pants:

gasp!

sigh!

drool!

covet!

fact: i have a passion for green

and a passion for skinnies

but ... not a passion for spending 60 smackeroos

so i left those beautiful, beautiful trousers in SF

[along with a serious crush on a bearded boy i met at church.]

[wait, remind me why i don't live there?]

but you see ... the pants are on sale!

like, only-cost-16-bucks-now on sale!

[bearded boy...are you on sale?]

fact: Zara doesn't let you shop online

other fact: there isn't a Zara within a billion miles of Scottsdale

boo.

weep.

wail.

gnash teeth.

sooo...

anyone live near one?
[cough. california. dallas. cough.]

wanna buy me some pants?

i can totally pay you back........

yes yes?

[i'm totally serious right now.]

music: yours truly, my dears

well...

this singer oughta be a little familiar to you

*cough*

i figure i'm allowed to cover a sappy song now and again, right?
besides, if the a*teens can cover it, so can i.

right.

enjoy!

[p.s. there was some guy wandering around outside my window, if you're wondering why i distractedly glanced that way a couple times. next time i'll shut the curtains, eh?]

dear shark week: i hate you ▲

[taken by the meggles. i don't even like looking at this picture.]
[except for the boots and the jacket. those parts make me happy.]

fact: once a year, the Discovery Channel scars me for life. it's important to get this out there: i, katie elizabeth hawkes, am terrified of sharks, and whales, and overly large fish.

oh. oh.

i'm losing feeling in my arms just thinking about it. who knows where this fear stems from? i've met exactly two other people who truly understand

but surriously. being around aquariums makes me feel like i can't breathe. even thinking about shamu gives me the willies. [did you catch my pun? free willy? yes? bahaha.]

so once a year, when shark week happens [arms...losing feeling...], people start talking about it on facebook, posting pictures of sharks, blogging about it [google reader, you are a dangerous friend these days] ...and every time i wander into someone's living room, and they are watching a certain offensive channel... sheer. terror. on. the. screen.

...any other weird phobias out there?

[i.e. validate me now, please]

back up off me, shark week,
katilda

book of mormon: week 7

ah, hello sunday!

how i've missed you all week.

ok, so this week's chapters are brimming with goodness

[did i say that last week?]

[...do i say that every week?]

it is really difficult to choose just one thing.

but i've narrowed it down to two...

(1)

Alma 17: 2

this is when Alma is reunited with his buddies, the sons of Mosiah

they were all converted together

and have all since been out preaching the Gospel

and they just happen to run into each other

[and in a world without cell phones, that's saying something eh?]

but i love the pure joy that Alma expresses at seeing them again

i've been thinking a lot this week about friends

and the experiences that have made me closer to people

and often, we've been thru something hard together

and seen each other learn & grow

and there is an inexpressible joy at that kind of relationship

i feel deeply grateful for each of the people in my life that i have that kind of deep, indescribable love for

it makes me feel like shouting from the rooftops!

(2)

speaking of shouting from the rooftops.

Alma 26 is so beautiful

it's a man named Ammon,  bearing testimony & glorying in the Lord

he's just so full of gladness and gratitude that he can't contain himself

this week i have felt like Ammon

i feel like i can see the hand of God so clearly in my life

and i want everyone to feel the same way!

if you're having trouble seeing God in your life...

or need a little joy and & Gospel enthusiasm...

i would recommend reading this chapter.

["courage", via willowtreeshop.com]

and that's all for today...

i'll bite my tongue so this doesn't turn into an essay

your turn...

thoughts on these chapters?

thoughts on anything else...?

[i feel like this is an open call for group therapy.]

[blog therapy?]

[....blogerapy?]

biggie smalls & make-outs

that title makes it sound like i have some kind of sordid story to tell.

well....this is almost as good.

this is my buddy hugo:

isn't he cheerful on his bicycle?

you may call him hugart winston polanco.

[actually, no you can't. because i didn't ask his permission.]

in any case,

next week, it is his birthday.

first, i will share the following conversation, which will endear your heart to mr. polanco.

then, i will share his birthday wish.

ready, go...

[context: discussing his dating life]

he:

i am not a player. i just crush a lot. (biggie.)

me:

sooo you're saying i can call you biggie smalls from now on?

he:

yes. call me biggie smalls. i like that.

[a few minutes later]

me:

i googled this quote for you:

"Excellence is my presence. Never tense, never hesitant." Biggie Smalls

he:

Um, new facebook status! TY

me:

wait, here's another good one:
"I'm a soldier, ready for whatever."

he:

First one is better!

me:

only if you're not a soldier.

he:

I am *not* Make love, not war!

me:

"make out, not war!" (that's my Mormon version)

he:

Make love *when married* not war! (Mormon version)

me:

this convo needs to go on my blog.

bahaha.

ok now that you like Hugo, here's his birthday wish:

to celebrate his 23rd anniversary of entrance into the world,

he's trying to collect $529 in donations

[that's $23 each from 23 people. see how that makes sense? yes.]

for st vincent de paul

so, if you feel so inclined,
donate here

let's make this kid's wish come true!

[i mean, he could have asked for a pony. this is easy.]

[the real question is, would he name the pony Tu Pac?]



outsourcing my indecision

sometimes i lay awake at night

and i think

like really,

i think

and think and think and think and think

so,

the other night i decided

why not get something useful out of this blog

and start having you make my decisions for me!

so, here's a few that i've decided i'm ok farming out:

what color should i dye my hair?

here's what we've got now...
long. hidden feathers [still want those]. faded brown blah-ness. a tad fuzzy & unruly, most days.

(bonus pic of the niece, aka little cootiebug)

next,

if you were me,

what would you get a master's degree in?

options:

family & human development

writing/English

guidance/school counseling

(keep in mind this is all hypothetical. how motivated am i to take the GRE and/or go into debt for another degree? answer: not highly motivated at the moment. i mostly just want to write a book. but, school is always an option. someday.)

also,

what career should i ultimately end up in?

ummm and
should i get an iphone?
or
a gym membership?
or...stop pretending i have money for either of those things...?

and while we're at it,

what kind of cereal should i buy next?

(raisin bran crunch is running low, which means i'll need a replacement soon...)

ready, set, advise!

ah, i feel less stressed already...

this is fun.