long winter's nap

the holidays are for lounging, resting and relaxing right?

that's what mowgli seems to think.

but, we don't mind one bit, because our exhausted school brains

and sore ballet muscles are accepting every ounce of rest they can get. 

mowgli met so many people at lovebird's family's christmas party-

it took the energy right out of him.

he managed to crash right in front of the christmas tree, 

not minding the big red bow we tied on him.

he was in for a long winter's nap.

it's a tuff life, when you are the center of attention-

having everyone awing over your cuteness,

petting you at every chance and playing with you endlessly.

he is certinaly spoiled.

i'm not sure lovebird and i can give him nearly as much love, 

 as all of his adoring fans, friends and family are giving him, 

when we go back home.

a few things are for certain:

we love mowgli, christmastime and long winter naps. 

oh, and mowgli has decided this is his favorite time of year too-

he can't seem to get enough of the snow.

in between his naps, he joyfully pounces in the snow.

it's like pulling teeth to get him to come back inside. 

obviously, we are all completely satisfied with how this christmas break is going.

hope you enjoy your last day of 2012!

see you in the new year!

xoxo

a vacation to the land of sweets.

.....and this is why i've been on a forced vacation from the blog.

nutcracker season devours every minute of every day.

it's over now; which is always bittersweet.

bitter: because as much work as it is, it is so fun to dance, perform,

and spend loads of time with dear friends cooped up in one small dressing room.

sweet: nutcracker being over, means going home {utah} for christmas,

time with family and friends, and time to relax my sore, sore muscles. 

so, now i'm here today, enjoying time off in the company of loved ones.

what could be better? nothing. 

i hope to be more on top of posting, 

however, now i'm really on vacation- so i can't make any promises. 

i hope you all had a lovely christmas.

we sure did.

this time of year is seriously splendid. 

{photo credit: milano photography}

all you need is love.

merry christmas from us to you.

{and from mowgli too, of course.}

christmas from head to toe.

my nails are decked out with christmas cheer.

there's nothing quite like a good ol' classic red.

are you all ready for christmas to be here?

i can't wait. 

i'm so eager to be home with family and friends.

that being said, i'm certainly way behind schedule.

i have so much to do, in so little time.

wrapping, writing, packing, shopping, and crafting.

it seems as though my list keeps getting longer. yikes!

i'm off to start checking some "to do" things off that list.

happy christmas eve eve.

xoxo

slightly famous.

never in a million years would i have thought my picture would make it onto pinterest.

i'm humbled and happy.

so a big thanks to those who are pinning! 

xoxo

today, i thought i'd share a little piece of advice:

stay alert while driving out there.

the roads are jammed packed with people in a hurry.

i can't believe how may cars are on the roads.

not to mention the challenge of finding a open parking space.

everyone is last minute shopping, which i am completely guilty of.

although, the shopping has come to an end; 

thanks to a good night's rest of 10 hours, {which never happens}

and a big cold fountain diet coke, to keep me going! 

so i urge you all to stay calm out there and drink a diet coke.

it does wonders.

christmas is around the corner. yippee!

{i'm loving that christmas is on a sunday this year.}

i'm hoping you are all gearing up for the big weekend of festivities. 

i can't wait to see your pictures as well as share mine.

happy shopping, happy thursday, and cheers to diet cokes. 

pretend it has postage.

merry christmas.

from: the lovebirds.

i thought i'd share this year's christmas card with you.

we're wishing you all the peace, love and joy out there. 

playing catchup.

is it weird that i feel guilty when i don't post something for a couple of days?

i wish neglecting the blog wasn't a result of life being so busy.

however, being busy for the holidays is something i truly love.

the hustle and the bustle of it all.

running here and there. wrapping this and that. going from party to party.

this weekend {and now week} has been crazy busy.

we spent a beautiful day in san francisco eating seafood, walking, shopping 

and exploring the crazy city with my family.

last night we hosted a little christmas party for my friends from my ballet company.

we did a little {white elephant} gift exchange.

we ate homemade lasagna and yummy goodies all while playing apples to apples.

and lastly, we visited one of our favorite families who just had baby #4.

we are so happy for them. congrats tui's! 

due to the"big event", we lucked out and got to babysit the three other kiddos.

who we try to steal and call them our own.

{i'll post pictures soon amongst getting approval}

after all the business that the holidays bring in,

lovebird and i find ourself cozying up next to our christmas tree and a fire...

sitting for more than five minutes on the couch. it's a miracle, i tell you. 

a proud sister

yesterday was quite eventful.

it started bright and early with two performances of the nutcracker.

onto work, studying for finals and cooking dinner.

then we decided to be festive, and decorate our christmas tree. 

{despite how exhausted we both were.}

on a typical day of the lovebirds, decorating the christmas tree would normally seem 

like the grand event. the big bang. 

but yesterday, something super special and exiting happened.

my little brother

[aka: crewser, my best friend, c-cup and crewber]

received his mission call to.....

mexico city!

awesome, right?

{if you have no clue what i am talking about, click here.}

he is going foriegn, which he wanted desperately.

 he is also learning spanish. which, in my opinion, is such a useful language to learn.

lovebird and i being beyond excited for him quickly did some research to find out

where exactly our brother, who is growing up way too fast, 

would be spending the next two years of his life. 

he is going to an incredible place full of culture, history and people.

fun little fact: the population of just the metropolitan area is a little over 21 million people.

that is a ton of people. holy cow.

 anyway, we couldn't be happier for him.

i'm already trying to imagine life "without" him for two years. it's going to be ruff.

good thing for handwritten letters, and two phone calls home a year.

looks like i'll have another nickname to add to the list... elder carlson.

i promise to post some photos and a video of him opening his call very soon.

we are beyond elated for you, crew. 

xoxo

Christmas is coming....

...the goose is getting fat. 

let the holiday planning begin!

here are some links, helpful tips and ideas.

i'm hoping to use and/or do at least of few of them.

gift giving to men:

we all know that guys are hard to shop for; they don't really need anything, often times don't ask for anything, and getting them the perfect gift (whether big or small) sometimes seems impossible.

click here for a little holiday help. cute stocking stuffers!

christmas crafts:

i want to try this, this and this cute christmas craft from pinterest.

oh, and maybe this one too.

if only i had the time to make a new craft everyday.

{i love far too many wreaths, i can't possible choose just one to post.}

{also- i'm completely in love with putting ornaments, pinecones, treats, etc. in anything glass.}

there are too so many to choose from.  dang pinterest!

onto food:

how about a hot chocolate bar with these marshmellows?

or why not decorate with food. this is classic. 

fun party punch for all ages.

and how about these with all that left over ham. yummy. 

we all know there are limitless options for holiday sweets out there. 

this is just the beginning...

more is to come, i'm sure of it. 

i figured i better start posting now, or i'll run out of time

to post all of the cute ideas out there for this beloved time of year.

i'm hoping i was able start some brainstorming inside that little noggin of yours.

speaking of "noggin"... 

just wait until i post the best family egg nog recipe. 

and believe it or not- it's eggless. and makes enough for the army! yummy!

i hope you are gearing up for the holidays like i am.

tomorrow the advents already begin.

{am i excited and anxious? yes.}

xoxo

naughty or nice?

i did something naughty today. or did i?

i couldn't resist.

i'm not one of those people who decorate for christmas before thanksgiving,

however, i did just go out and buy too many decorations. 

i figured i should get a head start this year.

after all, i have an excuse; lovebird is working all next weekend,

and i plan on decorating and crafting my little heart out.

{while of course rocking out to a little mariah carey and justin beibs.}

besides, it's the only weekend i get off before christmas rolls around.

{nutcracker is a busy time, i tell you.}

needless to say, i think i've come up with enough excuses reasons
to justify my spending.

lovebird is going to think i'm naughty when he finds out.

on the other hand, santa will think i'm nice.

i hear he loves to enter homes that have been decked out with holiday cheer.

cross your fingers lovebird won't make me return anything! 

maybe if i hide everything, he won't know until i whip them out next weekend.

and when he asks, i'll simply say, "i don't know what you are talking about".

is that being naughty too?

let's be honest, lovebird is pretty consistent when it comes 
to checking our accounts online.

i often times give him a hard time about checking it too thoroughly. 

i have a feeling the computer screen will have naughty written all over it. 

santa, please help me!