Day 5: Your Dreams

To Whom it May Concern,
I'm not exactly sure how one goes about writing a letter to their dreams, or if it is even a possibility, so I will just leave it at this:

Hello, dreams, nice to meet you. I hope we continue to get to know each other in the future.

Sincerely,
Me

Day 4: Your Sibling(s)

Dear Maddie, Zach, and McKay,
You guys freaking rock my world. I seriously have the best siblings of anyone I know. We always have so much fun together, and I consider you guys my friends as well as my siblings.
Maddie, you are, beyond a doubt, my favorite sister. I am so glad that we have grown up to be the kind of women that can be best friends on top of being sisters. I know that I can tell you anything and you won't judge me for it. You are one of the strongest, smartest, kindest, funniest, beautiful-est (sorry, had to keep the pattern going) women that I know. Even though you are my little sister, both in stature and in age, I look up to you so much. You are driven and determined, and not afraid to go after what you want in life. You are going to make a fantastic wife and mother someday, and I look forward to watching you take on new adventures in your life.
Zach, you are, and always have been, such a good kid. You are kind and helpful, always putting others before yourself. You are honest, hard working, and loyal. I know that if I ever have a problem with something you will be first in line to help me fix it. It has been a pleasure to watch you grow from a boy to the man you have become. I anticipate watching you achieve the goals you have set for yourself.
McKay, what can I say, dude, you are the life of the party! Our family just wasn't complete until you came along. You are such a good kid, smart, funny, well-read, and kind. You are truly a friend to everyone you meet. You are my book-buddy, my field trip buddy, and just my buddy. I love watching you play with the Sharkbaby, and I know he is going to love doing cool stuff with his Uncle Mac. You always know how to make me laugh, and can cheer me up when I'm having a bad day. I am so excited to watch you mature and turn into as awesome of a grown up as you are a kid.
There you have it, guys, the reasons I love you so much. I might be your big sister, but you all give me an example of how to strive to be a better person each day. I look forward to many more happy times together and to seeing our bonds grow stroner.
I love you guys!
Love,
Me

Day 3: Your Parents

Dearest Darlingest Mumsy and Popsicle (yeah, I stole that from Wicked),
Where do I begin? Did you know that I love you guys? It's true, I do. You're the best parents I could ask for. You've given me a great example of how to raise my own children, and I'm a better mom to the Sharkbaby because of you.
Even when I went through rough patches in my life, you never gave up on me. You stood by me, you gave me some tough love, and you were always there when I needed you.
Mom, the older I get the more I realize just how alike we are. You know what it feels like to be a new wife and mother, and I appreciate your willingness to listen to me. You are such a fantastic nana to the Sharkbaby, and I know he loves you very, very much. I mean, come on, he sleeps better for you, he's happier for you, and you spoil him. How could he not love you?
Dad, you just sort of "get" me, and you always have. We have a lot more in common than how we look, that's for sure. You taught me what sort of man I needed to marry, and you are a great example to Curious George about how to be a good husband and father. Sharkbaby loves his Pops, too, but you always have been a bit of "baby whisperer".
Even though I'm grown up, I still love coming home. I know that it will always be someplace I'll be welcome, loved, and happy. I hope that I can provide that sort of environment for my own family someday.
Anyway, that's enough mushy stuff for one day. I love you guys, and I always will.
Love you,
Me

Day 2: Your Crush

Hm, could be interesting, considering I'm married, and all.

Dear Ryan Reynolds,
Hi, you have no idea who I am... but I know who you are. Not in like a weird, stalker-y way, but still. I've been a fan of yours for a long time. I used to watch you on Two Guys, A Girl, and a Pizza Place. When I was in high school I had a picture of you hanging on my bedroom wall, I think I'd cut it out of Seventeen magazine. That's also where I learned that your middle name is Rodney. Strange, that I've hung onto that little nugget of information all these years.

Anyway, I really like that you're Canadian. I think that's pretty rad. I have a soft spot in my heart for Canada, seeing as how I grew up watching hockey. Personally, my team is the Canadiennes. My whole family cheers for the 'Wings, though.

So, I think I first fell a little bit in love with you when I saw you shirtless in Blade. Can I just say: Yum. And then there was The Proposal. You were just so damn likable in that movie. Plus, again, the shirtless scene (so, so naked).

Anyway, I'm married with a little boy, which makes this whole "letter to your crush" thing extra awkward. Pretty sure my husband would be ok with you stopping by for both of us to gaze at, though. Cause that wouldn't be weird, right?

Well, Ryan, I hope you have a lovely day. And I'll just keep crushing on you from mormon-mommy-land.

Best Wishes,
Me

Day 1: Best Friend

Dearest Ally,

It's no secret that you are my best friend, and really, you've earned the title! Can you believe we've known each other for as long as we have? 14 years is a long time. Mind blowing moment of my day: we've known each other longer than we'd been alive when we met.

While we don't see each other as often as I'd like, I truly can't picture my life without you. Anytime I have good news you are the first person I want to call. When I got engaged I called you right after I told my family. When I found out I was pregnant, again, I called you right after I talked to my family. Because, honestly, you are my family.

I completely believe that, in life, we have the family we are born into, and the family you choose for yourself. In you, I have made a good choice. You are my second sister.

You have taught me so much about life. You are a strong and beautiful woman who is not afraid to chase after her dreams. I am so proud of all that you have accomplished in your life. I know that you are a wonderful wife to Shad, and will someday make a fantastic mother. And when that day comes, I will be right there to celebrate with you, cry with you, and laugh with you, the way you did with me.

You have been there for me through everything. Through the good things, the bad things, the beautiful, the ugly, the laughter, and the tears. When I made dumb choices, you didn't desert me. You always know just what I need to hear, even if I don't want to hear it.

I apologize if this is beginning to sound a bit like a love letter, but, it's bound to, because I DO love you. Not in the romantic way, we're both old married ladies, but with a deep love, nonetheless.

No matter what comes between us, be it time, distance, careers, or other obligations, you will always be my best friend. In the wise words of ee cummings:

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

I love you, Ally, always!

Love, Me

P.S.- I'm kind of a big, hormonal baby and cried while I wrote this.

Daily inspiration list found here.

Inspired

So, I stumbled upon (literally, from stumbleupon) a writing inspiration list called 30 Letters in 30 Days. Since my world has been a tad bit ho-hum lately I figured I'd give it a try. So, starting later today (after I've gone to bed, and really start my day) I will begin number one. Stay tuned for a letter-writing extravaganza!

Day 01 - Your best friend
Day 02 - Your crush
Day 03 - Your parents
Day 04 - Your sibling
Day 05 - Your dreams
Day 06 - A stranger
Day 07 - Your ex boyfriend/girlfriend/love/crush
Day 08 - Your favorite internet friend
Day 09 - Someone you wish you could meet
Day 10 - Someone you don’t talk to as often as you’d like
Day 11 - A deceased person you wish you could talk to
Day 12 - The person you hate the most/caused you a lot of pain
Day 13 - Someone you wish could forgive you
Day 14 - Someone you’ve drifted away from
Day 15 - The person you miss the most
Day 16 - Someone that’s not in your state/country
Day 17 - Someone from your childhood
Day 18 - The person you wish you could be
Day 19 - Someone that pesters your mind - good or bad
Day 20 - Someone that broke your heart the hardest
Day 21 - Someone you judged by their first impression
Day 22 - Someone you want to give a second chance
Day 23 - The last person you kissed
Day 24 - The person who gave you your favorite memory
Day 25 - The person you know is going through the worst of times
Day 26 - The last person you made a pinky promise to
Day 27 - The friendliest person you knew for only a day
Day 28 - Someone that changed your life
Day 29 - The person that you want to tell everything to, but are too afraid
Day 30 - Your reflection in the mirror

Scented goodness

So, my family has the Sharkbaby in St. George for the weekend. I feel a little bit lost, but I'm coping ok. How? Let me show you!First I went to the liquor store for some vodka (no, I wasn't going to get wasted with the baby gone). Then I picked up some home fragrance oils, and some spray bottles. What for? Glad you asked:

Homemade Febreze (Green-style)

I ended up with three different scents: vanilla-lime blossom, satsuma clementine orange, and aloe-fresh linen. They are delicious smelling!

So, if you want to make some for yourself, here is the how-to:

1/2 cup vodka or rubbing alcohol (vodka doesn't smell as strong as the rubbing alcohol, but the rubbing alcohol smell fades pretty quickly after spraying it on)
1 cup of water
30-40 drops of scented oils, depending on how strong you want the fragrance to be (I used 32)

That's it. Super-easy, won't harm the environment, and if you buy a big enough bottle of vodka you can make your own for years. Enjoy!