Birthdays are for celebrating...

This past week has been a tough one for me.
I have had a lot going on with my family, car problems, finances, wishing I had a new job ... ya know, just everything.
In the mist of one of the worst days I have had in awhile, I was able to find real joy in it.
Life is hard. There are constant ups and downs, but if we seek joy, we will find it.
& I did.


One of my baby sisters turned 17 this past Tuesday.
Gah. They grow up so fast, right? Craziness, I tell ya.
We had my brother, sister-in-law, and all my nephews over. We ate burgers, sang happy birthday, ate some cake, and then headed outside for a long afternoon of slip-in-slide and laughs!

That last one is the only photo I took of myself that day.

I looked like bum. Seriously.

Also, I would like to mention that I adore those boys above.

They are the sweetest, funniest, cutest, and most lovable kiddos I've ever known.

I may be biased, but I speak truth people. :)

I truly hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

I have been packing and will be moving out of my parents house by Monday.

I will share more next week.

Until then...

much love, friends.

xoxo

Guest Post: Funny Lady.

I'm stoked about this guest post.

I know you are all going to love, Heidi.

She is so funny! Seriously.

& I am pretty sure I tell her that EVERY time I talk to her.

She is probably sick of it, but it's true.

Plus, she and her husband are the cutest. 

Oh, and she gets to travel A LOT, which makes me jealous!

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First off I want to say thank you to Colie for having me. I have loved our email/text exchanges over the past few weeks, she is truly a breath of fresh air. And she has fun Instagram pics, you should follow her. Bonus, her birthday is my wedding anniversary! Happy May 29^th to us!

Hey! My name is Heidi and I blog over at Heidi of the Future. What a strange name you might be thinking... yes, yes it is. I started my blog when I moved to China in 2009 to teach English to university students. My family and friends needed to stay up to date with all the weird food I was eating, so my blog was created. At the time I was in the future, aka 14 hours ahead of America, but now that I'm back stateside it sounds like I'm into science or time travel or something...

Life didn't become normal just because I was back home in Oklahoma (love you Oklahoma!). It actually might have gotten crazier, and China is crazy. Ten months after returning from China I was married to my super long distance out-of-the-country boyfriend who stuck with me when I said, "I'm going to China, date me if you want, I'll be back in a year". He is also from Oklahoma (miss you Oklahoma!) but moved to Philadelphia to start optometry school.

So, I found myself married and moving the next day to Philadelphia where he was the only person I knew. China prepared me for this... my independence (I also was living in the city where independence happened… or something like that). I lived there for 8 months before starting out on the next journey of our life... optometry rotations. We move every 3 months to a new state, and there is never a dull moment.

So I write about our day-to-day (or week-to-week, not a lot happens sometimes, that's when I just post youtube videos) crazy adventures. We have no money, no friends or family around us usually (we do right now in Denver!), so it's just us... being gypsies... loving life, trusting God, and seeing the country in a really unique way. I wouldn't have it any other way. Well, okay, maybe getting paid, but that's all. Okay, and having my people to travel along. That would be cool.

So come stop on by, say hi. Who knows, maybe I am moving to a city near you, and I need friends... Like, really, I need friends. Anyone? Also we need a place to live in Miami... anyone?

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So, now go do yourself a favor and pop on over to her blog.

Say hello and stay awhile.

It will make her day! :)

Happy Wednesday, friends.

much love,

xoxo.

Front page news!

This evening I was so sad to hear the news that Richard Dawson, host of Family Fued, had passed away on June 2. :( 

He will be missed.

Also, do you remember him on the 70's game show, "Match Game"?
Probably not.

Listen people: Let me just say that if I were growing up during the 70's, then this is the show I would watch all the freakin' time. I'm serious.

It is the most hilarious show EVER!!

To prove it, I suggest you take a moment after reading this post, hop on over to YouTube, watch snippets of the show and then laugh until it hurts. 

(PS. You are welcome.)

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Now, onto Miley Cyrus. 

I am pretty sure most of you are about to judge me right now.

I don't care.

I was happy to hear the news about her engagement to Hunger Games star, Liam Hemsworth.

I am going to be quite honest with you guys.

I kind of want to dislike Miley.

I know that sounds horrible. 

I really do.

BUT!

I think I feel that way mostly because everyone seems to have a reason that they don't care for her.

However, I think that may be the reason I like her more.

She isn't perfect, truly not the best actress, and the singing could improve a bit.

However,

I feel like she would be someone I'd love to hang out with, someone who despite how many people tear her down she is always talking about loving/caring for others, and I also love most of her outfits.
Plus, have you seen Liam?
That is definitely a hottie with a body. Just sayin'.

{She is also a big supporter of TWLOHA (To Write Love on Her Arms), which is a very important organization to me.} 

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In other news, a girl walked into the store the other day.

She looked straight at me and said, "You look just like Amy Winehouse. It is definitely the eyes."

I didn't know what to say.

So, I responded with, "Well, thank you ... if you meant that as a compliment."

She did and I was glad.

Amy Winehouse was a genius.

Have you heard her voice?

Phenomenal.

It is a shame that she was taken from us so soon.

I believe she is someone who was truly beautiful inside and out, but that she couldn't escape her demons. 

People can say whatever they like about her tragic life, but I must say that I have a spot in my heart for those that are most often judged. 

I'm always the one rooting in the corner for them.

[I also know I look nothing like Amy Winehouse, but it was a sweet compliment.]

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This next photo melted my heart:

Gahh!!

So. stinkin'. cute!

I must mention that it took me some time to warm up to Jared's (Padalecki) hair, but I don't mind it being long anymore. Though, he could trim it up a bit. 

But, hey .. the photo is still adorbs, right?? 

& one more thing.

Can we please talk about how cute he and his wife, Geneieve, are together? :)

Aww. :)

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You go girl!

Congrats to Kelly for losing 30 pounds. 

Either way, she is GORGEOUS! :)

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Ok, that is all the news I have for now.

Not because I don't have more to share, but mostly because it is late and I'm sleepy. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Monday.

much love, 

xoxo.

Lovelies.

This photo is from back in '07 when I went to Florida to visit my family. 

My grandma had her birthday the other day. I obviously couldn't be there. :(

So, I thought I'd post this photo of us because I miss her.

Plus, it makes me happy seeing us together.

You can definitely see the cuban in me now, eh? 

Alright, now onto the favorites:

I absolutely adored the video Mandi and her husband did for their baby gender reveal! So cute.

I could sit at look at this lady, with her red hair, ALL day. :)

Can I please just go to New Jersey ... and hit up some boardwalks ... or something?

I really liked reading Erin's 'About Me' page. 

When I continue to do posts on my trip to NY, you WILL see photos and talk of musicals. Why? Because I LOVEE them. Seriously. Love. I never thought I would until I saw one on Broadway...and  then there was no going back.

So imagine my excitement when Lauren posted all about her favorite musicals here!! :D

The photos from Stef's special day are gorgeous!!

I love me some polk-a-dots.

Can I please have a blogger meet up soon? It looks like so much fun.

I liked reading about Kyla's summer intentions.

Maybe I should make a list? I dunno. I might ... I probably won't. :/

 I love everything in this post: from the dress, to Beca's tattoos, to her cute iPhone cover!!

This week I am loving this blog and this one. :)

Happy Friday (almost Saturday), friends!

much love,

xoxo.

Today.

[instagram: theplaidsparrow]

Today was filled with sleeping in (until 8:10am), not cleaning my room, crazy hair, eating sushi with a friend, book store shopping, fun nails, relaxing, soaking up the sun, falling asleep on the swing in the backyard, and spending the evening with great friends. 

How was your day?

PS. Feel free to follow me on Facebook, if you don't already. :)

xoxo

I wish I could be a character in each of my favorite novels.

Thank you, Mr. Fitzgerald.

It's nice to belong.

New York City, yo. (Part 1)

I'm not sure if you all know this, but I LOVE to travel.

I wish at least once every three months or so, I could just pack up and go.

If finances weren't an issue, then I would.

Traveling is the best thing for the soul.

So, with that being said, I stumbled upon old photos this evening of my last minute trip up to NYC for a week. My dear friend, Patrick, is a lawyer up there and I got to spend a few days hanging out with him. 

Please head back to 2007, right before my sophomore year of college, and live it up in Manhattan with me. :) 

It was a great adventure. 

I hope to have many more...

**WARNING**

Photo. OVERLOAD. 

I took over 500, so really it's not that bad. ;)

Can we please talk about that giant monster truck to the left? What is that doing in the middle of Queens, people??! 

Gah. Really?! So, just to warn you: I think I look ridiculous in every photo I have of myself from this trip. I'm sure you can tell I had very little sleep in this photo. It didn't help to have a pounding headache, while sitting on the subway. 

I loved walking out and seeing this little cafe.

Afterwards, I remember seeing it a bunch of times in movies that were filmed in New York. 

Patrick. 

Tall, Irish, and an all around a nice guy. 

I miss him.

I loveeeed all the buildings! Pretty, right??

If only I could have ran into the ladies of 'Sex and the City'...

1. I do love this photo because it is so bright, surrounded by people and trees. Plus, the Empire State building is behind me (which I got to go to the top of the night before!!) 

2. Why am I holding my hands down awkwardly to my side?? Srsly. Why, people? 

3. My hair was longer. I miss it. :(

I would be one happy lady if I could experience this view everyday.

I adored this sweet, little Italian restaurant we found.

Though, if my memory serves me correctly, they didn't have the best rolls. :/ 

There is nothing quite like walking down the streets of Manhattan, turning the corner, and looking up to see that. No words. I have seen Time Square on TV a million times, but nothing compared to seeing it with my own eyes. Amazing!

There were so many taxi's... and a ton of crazy drivers. ;)

How funny is this photo? It is almost like I'm not even in it. 

I really am miniature compared to the buildings, right?

This isn't even Time Square at it's best. 

The nighttime is when it comes alive. 

Until Part 2...