cursive is hard

so

every time I sign my new name (when I actually remember to write "McDowell"), my hand just keeps going and I always do three L's on the end of my name... um....?

publisher drawing reenactment:

really.  I can't help it. 

perhaps loops are just fun, and since "Strunk" didn't have any loops, I'm making up for lost time.

things I love (3) <- should I number these?

didn't make:

this little bird which I got here after brunch with a couple of my favorite people here (and if you haven't had brunch there and then visted that bookstore after, you should).

I like birds, because my Gram loved birds, and she liked to have little decorative birds around the house.  This little bird sits next to the window which is next to the tree that is filled with birds, so when I see it, I think of her.  

made:

these curtains for the large windows on either side of our fireplace. 

I remember making these while watching basketball, and feeling especially well-rounded that day.

didn't make and made:

Some of you know that I work with PB&J.  J brought me some vegetables from her garden recently

matt made salsa.  yum.  I want more. 

allergic

As it turns out, I was highly allergic to our new addition.  After she was in our home for about 2 days, I noticed that my asthma was out of control, and I had developed a nasty "cold".  I tried to be in denial about what was really causing my symptoms, because it only took me two minutes to fall in love with her.  

Then I went to my doctor to confirm what I already knew was true.  After listening to my lungs, I think his exact words were:

"um.. you have to get rid of that cat"

Luckily, the stars aligned and Matt's boss was in the market for a kitten for his family.  They have a nice home and two little girls to chase her around.  We took Eleanor to her new home last night.  She didn't seem nearly as traumatized as I was.  The little girls love her, and she has a very happy new home.

also, her name is Pickle now. 

I know you're sad that this can no longer be an annoying cat blog. 

sorry. 

happy birthday

September, 2009

Grandma wanted to go to Wendover for her 93rd birthday

(and if you didn’t know her, now you do) 

At one point, we walked through the casino together with our arms linked.  We told stories and giggled.  We saw a couple kissing.

She passed away 5 weeks later. 

and 5 months after that, I was having breakfast with a 

Happy Birthday to the most generous, hilarious, incredible
woman I will ever know.

we miss you every day. 

if there is such a thing as meant to be.

 "Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

   

• in 1983, (when I was born) we lived in Taylorsville, Utah
• in 1988, we moved to Westminster, Colorado
• in 2001, I moved away to college in Greeley, Colorado
• since then, I have moved 13 more times… traveling a total of 3,127 miles in all those moves.

this is significant because...

• today, my desk at work is approximately 2,000 feet from where I slept when I was a baby.
• in 1984, Matt lived exactly 1.2 miles away from me when we were both babies (approximately 4 minutes).
• we live exactly 4 miles from where I lived when I was born.

it took me 27 years, 15 moves,

and 3,127 miles to learn where I belong.

right where I started.

the universe has known all along.

and I’m just beginning again.



another introduction

new addition to the family

meet Eleanor

adopted from the shelter 9-15-11

8 weeks old

so far she's pretty chill

likes to explore

plays a little

and is super adorable

i've never had a cat, so it's a little strange...

but Matt is a pro.

my Dad is very disappointed, and it's breaking my heart. 

it's okay, Dad.  at least I'm not a BYU fan.

things I love

made:

Matt and I have been making our own pizzas a lot recently. 

We love Settebello, and try to re-create the pizza at home.  

Favorite ingredients:

• pizza dough from the Harmons bakery
• fresh mozzerella from Caputo's, but Harmons fresh Mozzerella is a close second
• really any extra virgin olive oil
• and after slaving over our own tomato sauce a couple times, and trying a few store-bought varieties, our favorite is the $0.69 Western Family can.

Matt is 1 million times better at making these than me.  I keep trying and failing, and get worse every time (it's the dumb dough that gets me).  He gets better every time.  I assumed I would be awesome at it, because I love to bake, and I roll a mean pie dough.  This is super frustrating for competivefornoreason me, but I have finally conceded, and will leave pizza-making duties to him.

did not make:
Cherry Blow Pops

love.

 and I love that it looks like a little super hero when you pull down the wrapper. 

bonus! did not make:
new nephew - Maclane

I now have 7 nephews, and 6 nieces.
anyone who knows me, knows how much I love these kids.
it never gets old.

welcome to our big crazy family, little guy. 

matt is going to hate this

I am 100% certain that never never never never never

has there ever

been a mattress salesman as handsome as this guy:

and then we ran out of gas

my birthday was good fun. 

our camera died in the afternoon,

so we were forced to use phone camera for the day.

first was lunch with Matt at Ruth's

then birthday cake courtesy of Matt.

(complete with makeshift "candles")

birthday bowling:

celebratory jersey shore-style dancing

after bowling, we were on our way home when the car turned off and Matt said "yeah.. I think we're out of gas".  I of course panicked, and kept saying things like "stay calm", even though everyone but me was calm.  We managed to coast all the way into a Rent-A-Center parking lot.  I was preparing myself for hours of waiting.  They called their friend Grady, and I think we waited for about 6 minutes total before we were on our way again.

I spent all 6 of those minutes asking things like:

"what if we're here all night?"

"what if we have to walk home?"

"what if a cop comes and asks us what we're doing?"

"what if Grady can't find us?"

I don't know why I insist on being so unreasonable all the time. 

but if I don't worry about these things, who will? 

a few memorable ones

September 8, 1987 – 4!

Last Taylorsville birthday

September 8, 1988 – 5! 

New state, new house, no friends, Barbie and the Rockers “birthday party” with friends of my parents.

September 8, 1989 – 6!

Lots of friends.  Fashion Kitty birthday party to impress the new friends.

September 8, 1993 – 10!

Utah for my birthday because my oldest brother got married the next day.

September 8, 1995 – 12! 

Middle School!  Most awkward 7th grader ever.  Hawaiian Luau party.

September 8, 1997 – 14! 

High School!  Most awkward 9th grader ever.  Got a cell phone, but nobody else had a cell phone, so I asked to exchange it for a pager.  *sigh*

September 8, 1999 – 16!

Driver! Got a cell phone.  Kept it.  Got a job at Michaels – wandered the aisles planning projects.

September 8, 2001 – 18!

College!  3rd week living in the dorms.   

September 8, 2002 – 19!

Parents and brother moved back to Utah.  sad. 

September 8, 2010 – 27! 

Utah! Matthew!  <-  secretly buying my engagement ring this day

September 8, 2011 – 28!

Married!  The 28th year of my life was pretty awesome.  I can’t wait to see what’s next. 

things I love

new series:
things I love (that I/we made)
things I love (that I/we didn't make)

part 1 - In Our House

made:

Trivet that I made here.  I was so nervous about free-drawing pears, because you only get one shot with this paint.  I probably did 10 practice pears on paper, and none of them looked like pears.  Then my mom and sister reminded me that this trivet wasn’t going to be judged, so I needed to stop being so me… and just paint the trivet. 

didn't make:

 Ring holder I got from my favorite antique store during our honeymoon.  I was determined to find an antique ring holder, and I was determined to find it there. 

It couldn’t be more perfect. 

i don't know why.

must keep drawing made up fonts for absolutely no reason. 

things that happen when Matt works nights

you would never know that I can't draw.

I feel especially bad for "A", "G", "K", "Q", and "R"

more oregon things

they do

a good place to get married

nearby wildfires made for interesting sunsets

happy couple and happy cake eating

wedding guests

congratulations, Cori & Jase. 

we wish you all the love in the universe. 

this guy

drove all the way to Oregon and all the way back.  I’m willing to help, but he doesn’t let me.  He probably doesn’t let me because he likes to drive, but also because he knows I don’t.

was voted best-dressed rehearsal dinner guest… while wearing my favorite tie (the purple one).

stayed up late with the groom the night before the wedding to help him memorize his vows. (adorable)

and was super patient while I left him to complete bridesmaid duties.

i love him. 

or

Once upon a time, I worked for a certain Italian restaurant. 

That job eventually asked me to go on the road to help open more certain Italian restaurants.  So for about two years, I traveled around the country to different cities to do just that.  I spent 16 days in each city living in a hotel.  Most of the time was spent working really long days, but some of the time was spent exploring with other trainers. 

I got to go to lots of neat (and some not-so-neat) places:

Miami, FL

Indianapolis, IN

Joplin, MO

Pueblo, CO

Fargo, ND

Brighton, MI

…to name a few.

I have a million fond memories of my restaurant opening days.  I made incredible friends all over the country, I was challenged, I was exposed to new things, and I learned a lot about myself.  Each place has its own reason for being one of my favorites.

However, one opening stood out above the rest:

Bend, Oregon.

I fell in love with Bend, and with Oregon.  From the moment I stepped off the little airplane I was in love with the air, and the smell, and the beauty of the whole place.  I decided it would be lovely to move to Oregon someday, but if that didn’t happen, I would visit that part of Oregon often.

That trip was in October of 2005. 

I haven’t been back since.

L

but… good news!

Our good friends, Cori and Jase

are getting married here this weekend, which means I get to be on bridesmaid duty and have a mini-vacation with Matt in one of my favorite places.