Christmas

This guy makes me smile... ( I think I make him smile too)

Maxx (We like to call him maxi pad)

Christmas decor in the living room

Alexis driving me around!

I got home the 22nd and surprised my family. I had two full days at home, and while I was there I really started to feel the holiday bug creep up on me. I was really sad when Christmas break started and I had to work and stay in an empty house. Christmas is my favorite time of the year, and I felt as though it was passing by me so fast, that I couldn't grab ahold of any memory-making, holiday moments.

It is the famous tradition of our home to ask for money for Christmas, skip the presents, head to Seattle, and shop till we drop.

I wanted to save my money, so Seattle for a day (because I had to return back to work) did not seem like that much fun this year... I was going to skip out on the tradition this year, but found out my unexpected Christmas present was arriving in Seattle on Christmas Eve.

My mom bought Drew a ticket to come spend Christmas with me. If anyone has ever done long distance, I praise you! It is difficult and pretty depressing...But spending this Christmas with Drew was the best gift I could have ever received. It's hard being away from the people I love, especially during the holidays.

But having Drew and my family in one room, sharing smiles back and forth, was the most beautiful place I could have ever been. I am a lucky girl. I have some amazing people in my life, and this not so Christmas break ended up being better than I could have imagined. It might not be a full three weeks of relaxing and having fun, but I got two really special days that make this year come to a blessed end.

our form of entertainment

Home Finally!

Working in retail really makes vacations short and lonely. I am tired of being in school or working all the time and am ready to be home! I got a short little vacation with Drew and his family and I miss them already! Drew, you are the greatest and I miss you tons! Thanks for always putting a smile on my face.

I got home this morning and am totally stoked! I have already hot tubbed with my big sis, watched a movie with my little sis, and have been laughing tons. Check out these funny photos and vid. Alexis and I have too much fun on my mom's new mac desktop.

there are so many reasons to dance today

This song is so stinkin fun.

I have too many clothes. I want more everyday.

I buy expensive things sometimes.

I have more than I need.

I complain about being poor, when in reality, I don't know what it means to be poor.

Here is what it means to be poor:

80% of the world live off $10/day or less.

20% of the world (1.5 billion people) live off $1.25/day

22,000 children die each day due to poverty

1.4 million children die each year because they lack clean water and sanitation.

Consumption of Resources:

The richest 20% of the world consume more than 80% of the world's resources

The next 60% consume about 18% of the world's resources

The poorest 20% consume about 2%.

Costs:

For basic education for everyone- 6 billion dollars

Safe water and sanitation for everyone- 9 billion dollars

Reproductive health for all women- 12 billion dollars

Basic nutrition and health for everyone- 13 billion dollars

Total cost= approx. 40 billion dollars

It would cost 40 billion dollars to solve the world's greatest problems and yet...

61.6 billion dollars is spent on US diets

69 billion dollars is spent on TV ads

148 billion dollars is pent on fast food

This overwhelms me.