the middle east - blood

Been listening to this song again lately. On repeat. Seriously -- there's never a time where I am able to play it just once. Once isn't enough. Doesn't exactly fit the whole Christmas vibe, I know, but I can't seem to help myself!

resolve.

there are other people out there

that do like what i like

and do love what i love.

and i think now it’s time to accept

that maybe i don’t need a reason

or an explanation

to feel what i feel 

and be as i am.

it is time to simply go do.

time to do exactly what i love.

for once in my life,

acceptance trumps explanation.

because at this very moment

i just know.

(image found here)

happy birthday, little brother

You're 22 today! While I don't doubt your newly scholarly self would normally spend his birthday studying, you lucked out this year and got a Friday. I hope you take advantage of this gift from the universe and CELEBRATE. And I mean really.

Wish I had pictures of us as kids to post, but since those are in bins and boxes at Mom and Dad's, I suppose this will have to do:

(You're welcome.) 

Looking forward to seeing you at Christmas in a few weeks; in the meantime, I put together a sort of would-if-I-could birthday present -- a few things that made me think of you. Enjoy!

1| A t-shirt that reminded me of your rock collections.

2| The chemist's coffee pot.

3| Special edition notebooks (plus temporary tats) for your bright ideas/hustling self.

Love you, brother!

you should be on a christmas card!

Hooray, it's here! The first of December and the official start of the holiday season!

We'll be heading home to Chicago in a couple of weeks, and I seriously could not be more stoked. Christmas movies on repeat, eggnog and gingerbread houses, the German market downtown, bundled up light tours, snowshoeing at the Arboretum....my head is spinning with excitement! Planning on making a paper chain to count down the days until we leave -- not quite a chocolate advent calendar, but it'll do!

This will be our first Christmas as a married couple, though tomorrow actually marks the eighth anniversary of our relationship. Crazy! Cards seemed necessary.

We chose something a little quirkier, one of our favorite shots from the reception this past June. The reverse has another favorite, slightly more traditional photo and space to write a personal note. 

I ordered the cards here, which was mostly painless (just beware any personal modifications -- we definitely needed more than one round of proofs). I had them delivered to the States, and I can't wait to see them in person. Just one more thing to look forward to at home :)

I LOVE YOU, CHRISTMAS!