I belong to dreams and stories in my mind

[disclaimer: I have dropped off the face of the earth, I know it. It started with frequent adventures at 1 in the morning, then finals, now home... where I eat tacos and ice cream and lay out with my family instead of blog. judge me, but it's secretly so fun. not secretly if i share it on the internet like this, but whatever. and I started this post about a month ago, and just finished. how people EVER write books is beyond me- i can't finish a dang blog post]

This post is dedicated to Brooke. 
Homegirl is this feisty ball of wonderful,
and that is really a pretty solid overall description.

I remember when I left for college, my mom asked,
"what am I gonna do without you?"
you would think oh... so sweet! but ehhhh mostly it was kind of like a cry for help
The question had nothing to do with my relationship with my mom, we made it just fine when I left.
[or better.. did any of you get closer to your mom when you left for college? I think maybe it's universal...]
It was about my relationship with Brooke.
You see, with lots of personality and sense of humor comes a little...feisty.
I somehow was just the right amount of ridiculous
to get littleone out of those funks that came with the fiesty.
And thus we bonded- me and all my ridiculousness, and Brooke and her sass.

When I was about to leave for college, [and by about... I mean months and months in advance]
and babygirl realized I would not live at home anymore, she moved in.
And by moved in, she slept in my bed every single night for probably 8 months.
When I was out for the night, she would leave notes on my pillow...
and often try to spoon me upon my arrival home.
When I was in for the night,
she would never complain about the lights being on when I needed to be up,
she just cuddled up and went to bed there anyways.

So that's about us. Pretty simply put- we love each other. She's dang cool.
When I came home a few times back, both Jess and I were shocked.
Brooke, who is our baby, was no longer a baby.
She had rounded some kind of invisible corner from little girl to young woman.
Ahhhhghghh. what?!
Little did I know there was more where that came from.
I got asked if she was my little sister the other day
[what?! I have 8 years on her! now I know how it feels, jess...]
aka she is lookin' old these days.
Which I guess kind of makes sense, because she graduated from 8th grade a few weeks back!
Which is the point of this post..... which I haven't gotten to until now.

So, without further ado, I will let you look at pictures...
which will subsequently prove my point about her looking so old.






[lookin like a babe these days, right?]

To my baby girl,
high school is wonderful.
It's a time in life when you honestly can do anything and everything...
and all at the same time.
As with most things in life, it will be what you make it.
And you will get out of it what you put in.
Be kind and be genuine....people will love you as they always have.
If girls pretend like they don't, just be a little sad for them.
For they have sorely missed out on having a friend like you.
But mostly, know there is a big sister in Utah who loves you more than most.
Thanks for being my friend, and loving me unconditionally, sweet girl.
You're gonna be great.

-Tay

apparently my blog is all about sisters. regardless...

Sisters are some of the best things that ever happened to the world.

I know that. 

Lauren knows that. 

Just thought you should know too. 

What are your weekend plans?

Mine include going dancing,

Throwing a party, 

Baking, 

and taking a test.

Can't wait.

Love Always, 

Taylor Ann

Birthdays are the best thing. ever.

Yesterday was such an exciting day!

You see, we had the chance to celebrate my sister's birthday.

ALL DAY LONG.

But.. I mean.. she is sooo incredibly cute,

and thus celebrating her being on this earth for 23 years is nearly as fabulous as she is!

So, for her 23rd birthday I feel like a list would be appropriate.

23 Things for my Best Friend's 23rd Birthday:

1-We eat cupcakes together. [only Sweet Tooth Fairy though...]

2- She makes me Sunday dinners at her house.

3- She has the ability to make me feel beautiful when nothing else can.

4- She loves to cook, and experiment with said cooking.

5-She has quite the silly side.

6- She has a love for anything vintage.

7-She also has great taste for expensive things, and knows how to work a budget.

8- She has quite the sense of honesty. [is blunt the word?]

9- She somehow pulls off whatever the heck she wants.

10- She wears heels with socks.

11- She is a kindred spirit to Audrey Hepburn.

12- She has the cutest marriage ever with her hubby.

13-She rocks the orange lipstick-- who else does that? [or rather does it well?]

14- We share a love for old movies.

15- We share passion for food. all food.

16-She has great freckles.

17- Her fashion confidence is ever growing.

18- She is quite mischievous.

19- She has my back.... no matter what. [to the point of assassination]

20- She is often compared to Mary Poppins.

21-...cutest kindergarten teacher. ever.

22-She is crafty.

23- She is my bestest bestest friend. yep.

I can't wait until I tell you about her surprise party :)

Love Always,

Taylor Ann

Fall Favorites thus far.

Fall is this beautiful time of year, especially the first few weeks of school.

Every conversation, every class, every person: it's all new.

I walk around in awe . 

Because, after the more static nature of summer, 

my world is suddenly more alive than I remembered it being before.

And of course, the repeat places and friendly faces are more than welcome too.

My current Fall Favorites are these:

(a) the Ferris Wheel in the middle of the square.

[yes, I go to school in a magical place. comparable to Hogwarts]

 (b) fhe movie dates with the sister.

[every window was down and both voices were turned all the way up.]

(c) dates always include cupcakes. 

[we just can't seem to get away from "vaniella". and a new location? score]

(d) girls night out splitting pizza and salad.

[with lots of boy talk, mind you]

(e) windows down while the weather is just right.

(f) riding my bike to and from school-- always.

(g) and mud masks and old movies with the sister.

[this week's choice? North and South. highly recommend it]

What's your favorite thing about fall and the start of a new school year?

The birthday of my little Miss....

Today is Brooke's birthday.
Let me tell you, Brooke is one of the best people I know, and I love her. a lot.
She is fun and silly and has confidence for days.
In many ways, I wish I could be more like her.
We love to make plans to get up early and make breakfast or curl her hair.
[We're getting better at making sure we don't sleep through those plans. give us time]

We love to sing loud in the car.
She buys songs that remind her of me,
And I sing songs that remind me of her.
We puddle jump and giggle when it rains.
And I just love her more than a lot of things.

Happy 13th, Little Miss.

I sure do love you.

Summer Adventure: Wicked take 2

Last summer I went to see Wicked in San Fransisco. 

It. was. so. good.

Then in New York last week we wanted to see a show. 

And Jess hadn't seen Wicked. 

So naturally, I was ok to see it twice!

It rained ALL the way there, and even though the metro is available...

you still have to do enough walking that you can get fully soaked to the bone.

Herein lies the proof.

I'm dripping.

But we all had a great time regardless of our wet toes.

And drank green sprite from green cups,

And bought sweatshirts as souvenirs to help us warm up

and remembered that first impressions aren't always correct,

 you never know the full story

and it doesn't matter how different you are,

you could still be the best of friends.

lessons I seem to keep learning over and over
funny how often we have to relearn, isn't it?

If you haven't ever heard the soundtrack, you should go ahead and give it a listen. 

To my cute sisters:

"Who can say if I've been changed for the better

But, because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

Summer Adventure: Part 1

Last weekend my parents left for date night. 

and Zane was out of town. 

That left Brooke. 

And I.

Yes please. I love datenight with Brooke.

I was headed out on an adventure to get some sticks [for a project I will be judged for and consequently tell you about at a later date] at the ranch, and Brooke came along. 

It was a lovely night, and the sun was casting that perfect kind of late-evening glow on everything. 

That's where the magic is.

After our adventure took the long way home by the lake, which happens to be our favorite way.

I mean, it looks like this....can you blame us for loving it?
Or sticking our heads out the window to take pictures?

This particular trip, though, the enticement was more than we could bear. 

We left the country music blasting in the truck for a minute while we went down to the lake side.

Needless to say, the fun of it all....

baby frogs, pretty leaves, shimmering water...

drew us a little too close to the water. 

Then it turned in to accidental mud up to our ankles,

and lots of skid marks.

and very dirty shoes.

and muddy feet.

but lots of "I love yous"

and fun memories.

It was worth every moment and speck of mud.

Jess and I decided we should give up the front about our blogs being based on our lives individually..... because let's face it. It's more like the adventures of us, together. Literally, I see her probably every day. Yesterday, for example:

we ate JDawgs on the grass.

 and watched Tangled in 3D.

and took a picture with a flash in the dark theater. 

They all hated us. But I felt great about it :)

 

 Mostly we have to get in every sister adventure possible before she leaves for New York. 

I love her. Way to be the best person I know Jess.

Also, watch this. Greatest thing I've ever seen.

And in case you haven't seen it.....do.

why flowers and learning are great.

One time there was a man at the grocery store and the first time I saw him....

He was very blatantly telling his girlfriend she was wrong.

Then a minute or two later I could hear that same man explaining...

Why he does not buy her flowers. "I'm just not that kind of guy"

 

Dear future husband, be that kind of guy.

The sweet kind.

The kind that gives me flowers... even just wildflowers.

The kind who gives me kisses.

The kind that builds me up.

The good kind.

But regardless,

I spent some time with my sister this weekend.

[[mostly my entire Sunday]]

and I love being over there.

I love her.

She's great.

Any of you that follow her already know.

But we talked about things that matter.

And things that don't.

And moderation.

And love.

And loving yourself.

And husbands.

And I left feeling more balanced... and stable about my life than when I came.

I still have so much to learn in this short little lifetime.

But I'm loving to learn everyday .

I feel like new worlds are constantly being opened to me. 

I hope it never stops.

giving the best gifts.

gifts are hard sometimes.

but really, the "best" ones aren't always the best ones. 

this little puppy [found below] was one of my very favorite birthday gifts this year. 

and the corny reason I love it? because it's filled with love and care :) really though. it is.

some more of my favorite gifts of late:

1. flowers. they never get old and they make you feel great just having them in your hand. 

how? not sure. just trust me there. 

2. a bike! but not just because it's a bike, because my mom knew that's what I really wanted :)

[t-minus approx a week until it is here. in my loving arms]

3. cupcakes! ok, so my lovely Aspen had cupcakes from my favorite cupcake place [sweet tooth fairy]

sent to my house. could I make cupcakes? sure could. but that doesn't matter. i loved the thought. so much.

so....
flowers die, 
our "sisters" book is of no value to the outside world, 
cupcakes aren't a necessary food group, 
and i could walk instead of ride a bike... 
but that's not the point.
In the wise words of Pierre Corneille...  
"The manner of giving is worth more than the gift."

So give a gift today :)