100. Parallel Parking on the first try

This website inspired me to create a lovely list I like to call, 100 Delightful Things.  Their list was 1000 Awesome things, but I think I'll dream a little more humbly. 100 Things is a good start.  And "Awesome" is so eighties, hence I shall say "Delightful". 

So we begin:

Ahaha...hem (clearing throat)

The 100th Delightful Thing:  Parallel Parking on the first try.

Heaven knows I am quite the flamboyant driver.  I might have hit a couple cars, a stop sign, a mail box, a tree, several curbs and a pole in my day.  And although the list of things you've hit may not be as lengthy or as prestigious as mine, you have probably had your own driving issues.  So there is nothing more satisfying than parallel parking on the first try.

You're with a couple buddies, and nonchalantly you say, "Oh.  Here's a spot." as you pull up to a small opening on the street. 

Your friends become nervous, they know the hazards involved in parallel parking just as well as you do.  You may hit the curb or the cars you are trying to sandwich in between.  And even worse, you could move your car's hind quarters back and forth a few zillion times while trying to line up properly.  Meanwhile, 20 Joe Schmoes on their way to work are watching your progress and waiting behind you.

But none of this happens...You just slip on in...first try.  Your friends are surprised.  They say something like, "Wow good job, I'm terrible at parallel parking."  And what do you do?  You just shrug your shoulders like its no big deal.  But inside you feel...

Delightful.

I'm in Pagety Page...

Page is more interesting and exciting than I had expected.  It has some incredible things to see like this: 

Isn't that amazing!  And when you see this view you are standing on the edge of this dodgy little cliff.  Apparently, a couple of weeks ago, someone fell from the cliff and died.  Creepy, but it sort of adds to the whole experience.  

One of the times I was in Page Mandi and Ben informed me they would be celebrating "Melan Days."  Don't worry, this is just a celebration for your truly, MELANI.  No big deal...actually it is a big deal...I mean, I'm a big deal.  

So when I arrived in Page I saw these little melons just waiting to be carved into my likeness.  Unfortunately Ben was unable to help, but Mandi and I created some Melons that looked just like me.  See! 

Try not to be too jealous of my beauty.  

Mandi and I may or may not have re-enacted the part in the scriptures when Captain Moroni chops off that guys scalp. 

Whilst in Page Mandi and I had a little fun at the local Walmart.  We found our stuffed animal equivalents. 

Blaik even got a little cuddle time with our stuffed twins.  Well I guess twins of the twins. 

I also got some photos with my favorite peeps.  (I almost wrote poops...oops) 

I'm on my way to Pagety Page

Sometimes I go and visit three of my favorite people cuz "sometimes people miss people."  These people live in a desolate place called Page.  Here they are...

Medium Bob:

Little Bob:

and Tiny Bob (look! He's waving):

On such trips I arm myself with the following essentials.  Semi-healthy snacks.  That beef jerky was potent!

Water and some Sprite for a real kick...and most importantly the NoDoze off to the side. (Without it I fall asleep after 20 minutes in the car.)

My Ipod, my phone and my traveling companion: Tablay.  Pronounced Taw-blay

He's the adorable little lawn gnome with the bashful eyes.

And my other traveling companion Jack.  Sometimes he stares creepily at the person in the passenger seat.  He's not trying to be creepy, just friendly.  

Last thing to do is to check out my face in the mirror (I do this often...don't judge) and I'm on my way. 

I just love this drive for several reasons. 1. I'm alone so I can sing as loud as I want. I almost lost my voice trying to hit that high note in Phantom of the Opera.  All I managed to do was summon all the dogs for miles around with my airy almost inaudible high note.  2.  I'm alone so no one makes fun of my driving.  3.  I'm alone so I can drive as fast as I want.  4. There are all these dodgy, interesting towns along the way.  5.  The roads aren't crowded so you don't have to weave through traffic. And 6. I have six hours all to myself...

My New Favorite Little Guy...

...Blaik Jeb Lotze

Mandi and Blaik

Little guy after he was all cleaned up! (I love the faux-hawk)

Me and the cute little guy.

"...and I said what about..."

Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of my favorite movies of late.  A bit on the dodgy side? Yes.  But it almost brings me to tears every time I watch it.  When "Moon River" comes on at the end, its so beautiful I start smiling without realizing it.

This movie has beautiful people.  Exhibit A: 

Exhibit B: 

It has a beautiful song: Moon River

It also has some super classy outfits:

Some amazing quotes:

Holly Golightly: It's useful being top banana in the shock department. (Sound familiar Mandi?)

Holly Golightly: There are certain shades of limelight that wreck a girls complexion.

OJ: Hey, Fred-baby!!
Paul Varjak: Its Paul-baby.

And lastly and the longest, the speech Paul-baby gives to Holly near the end:
Paul Varjak: I love you.
Holly Golightly: So what.
Paul Varjak: So what? So plenty! I love you, you belong to me!
Holly Golightly: [tearfully] No. People don't belong to people.
Paul Varjak: Of course they do!
Holly Golightly: I'll never let ANYBODY put me in a cage.
Paul Varjak: I don't want to put you in a cage, I want to love you!
...
Paul Varjak: You know what's wrong with you, Miss Whoever-you-are? You're chicken, you've got no guts. You're afraid to stick out your chin and say, "Okay, life's a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness." You call yourself a free spirit, a "wild thing," and you're terrified somebody's gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somali-land. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself.

If your still reading isn't this beautiful? (sigh) I love it.  All you married folks out there, I have a question.  Is real life ever as good as the movies?

And lastly this movie boasts one of the best movie kisses EVER!

T

That is all...this movie rant is officially complete.

Lately I have been...

...drawing, this:

This:

and this:

Which one is your favorite?

Washington Nummer Eins

What a new post?! It's a miracle! (cue Hallelujah chorus).  This summer has been a doozy so far.  Down right delightful.  I went to Washington with my roommates and then California with one of the greatest people in the whole wide world.

So lets focus on the highlights here...and since I love lists, lets pick the top 5 moments of the Washington trip.

1. Taking pictures by all of the state signs (or at least the ones we could find or that weren't in an extremely treacherous location).

So this little gem was by the Idaho sign...obviously.  I think I am having sympathy stomach for Mandi in this picture.  And the others in the picture are Jenny, Danielle, and Sydnee.

Next stop Washington...I look like an over zealous aphid in the top pic but no worries I'm a beauty queen in the bottom one.  These pictures were taken on a bridge with extreme winds.  Sydnee gave a free show to many a passerby when her skirt refused to stay down. 

2.  Leavenworth. So Leavenworth is like a little mini Germany in Washington.  It was quite magical, the mountains even looked like the Alps.  See...

We also visited this amazing hat shop while in Leavenworth.  And of course when you have weird hats and a camera on hand, a photo shoot must follow.

I don't know if you can tell but the crown I'm wearing is about 2 feet high.  And I am making this face because I was channeling an evil queen.

Top Picture: Sydnee the Ewok

Middle Top:  Jenny the bashful flower

Middle Bottom: Danielle the forest nymph

Bottom: Melanlock Holmes 

And just a couple more from Leavenworth:

As soon as someone informs me how...I will make it so Sydnee isn't sliding down this wall.  And you should probably enlarge the middle picture. I look much better when its bigger.

Holly Schmolly! I've only done 2 out of 5.  Looks like this will have to be several posts.  So I'll see you when I get the gumption to continue.

A Place To Call My Own

I bought a house. I got a very good deal. I got it for sale online. Who knew you could buy a house online?! It doesn't have plumbing or electricity which is probably why I could afford to pay cash for it.

It's a little small but it has a kitchen, family room, upstairs bedroom and bathroom. I have to build it myself so that has been adventure.

Anyway here is a picture of it... or at least what it will look like when I'm finished.

I Feel Bad

Dear Vienna-

I'm very sorry I hated you. I'm sorry I called you names and yelled at the TV. I realize now I was jealous that you got to marry Jake, a beautiful man from Texas...lucky girl.

So you don't look like the other girls. Neither do 99 percent of the rest of us. Thank goodness for a little variety.

I felt bad when you tried to apologize and the other girls were rude. I know how hard it is to say sorry.

Good luck...that is all.

How I Know I'm Loved

Everyone always seems to have stories about how their brothers tormented them. How their brothers stole their barbies or would sit on them and dangle spittle over their faces. (Seriously I've heard of this happening). Anyway I've always felt extremely blessed because my brother was never like that. Instead of tearing off my barbies heads he would build forts with me out of Lincoln Logs and then we would have battles with rubber bands. My brother was always there to give me a hug or anything else I needed.

As I've grown up and heard of even more horror stories (see spittle reference above) I've felt even more lucky. While my parents were gone my brother and his wife were like my second parents. They were always there to make me a meal, drive me around, or just listen to me.

My brother in particular is one of the kindest most caring people I know. I have spent many an hour venting my soul to him.

More recently there have been two things that have made me feel loved. So this Christmas I got on a major Xbox kick. More particularly the Indiana Jones Lego and Star Wars Lego Xbox games. Beating a new level of the games became my only purpose in life. And nothing was more frustrating than getting stuck on a level. Whenever I did my brother was there to beat the level for me. (He's got mad Xbox skills courtesy of the Army.)

One morning I awoke to my brother and his children playing Xbox. My brother saw me and asked, "Did you get stuck on the pod level last night?" (I stayed awake until the wee hours of the morning playing...Don't judge. Oh pod as in pod racing from Star Wars). To which I replied, "No". David said, "well I thought you did I wrote a note for you." And this is what I found on the top of the Xbox:


It says, "Melani I bet (he meant beat) this pod racing level for you. David" I don't know why but I just felt SO loved at that moment. My brother thought I was struggling so he took the time to fix it for me and leave this adorable little note. It may seem like a weird thing to blog about but it meant a lot to me. So much so that now I use that note as my scripture marker.

And the second time was the other night. I was at my parents house and fell asleep on the couch. I was half asleep when my brother leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek and said, "I love you Melani." And then he left. It was so cute.

I'm just so glad for the kindest brother in the world.

Dress For Less

So you know in magazines how they show a room or outfit that is very expensive and then show you how to get a similar look for cheaper.....? Well even if you haven't seen that, now you will. I have decided to take this extremely cute outfit of Kate Beckinsale's and show you the affordable version.



First you must know the original prices for comparison's sake.
Gray T-shirt by Alexander Wang: 76 dollars.
A similar white braided belt by some Elise lady: approximately 99 dollars. (oh and that's with 40% off)
Boyfriend jeans by Citizen of Humanity Riley (weird name): $165.90, which I guess is a steal because they used to be $237.00
Similar white shoes by FLY: 142.97 (originally 259.95)

So in total this outfit comes to............ let me pull up the computer calculator........okay the total is a whoppin' $483.87! Yowzahs!

Now for the everyday person version.


Eddie Bauer Easy Fit Gray T shirt: $22.50


Strait City Trading white braided belt: $8.00


American Eagle boyfriend jeans: $29.50


And from Ebay white Mary Jane pumps: $16.99

And that is how to dress for less!

PS Isn't Kate Beckinsale gorgeous! I want her hair.