If this blog has proved anything, it's that I don't need much of a reason to validate celebrating.
But my best friend is getting married.
I think that's a pretty solid reason to go all out.
Especially when she's marrying the guy you knew would be perfect for her even before they met each other.
(My journal about a week before they met. Please note the "I've already made plans for him and Erin to be in love" part.)
Anyways, who needs a stale bridal shower when you can do exactly what you want to do and have it be fabulous?! So we bridal bonfired it up!
I may or may not have gone a little crazy.
I baked:
chocolate chip cookies
chocolate cookies
pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
And then I bought any chocolate that caught my eye.
Chocolate chip cookie + caramel gharadeli chocolate + roasted marshmellow = amazing
*This recipe brought to you by Erin*
Bridal Bonfire Game:
Everyone wrote down a memory she had with Erin.
We each pulled someone else's out of the jar and read it out loud.
Then Erin had to guess whose memory it was.
Let's just say we had a pretty hilarious time of it.
Also. Sister pic!
I love you Erin! (lots and lots and lots)
I don't think it's fair that there is a socially imposed age on who is allowed to Trick-or-Treat. It gives Halloween a bad taste in my mouth (or maybe that is the lack of candy in my mouth...). I mean, what's left for all us oldies to do?
This is what I did instead of a. get glares from adults who resentfully hand me fun size candy bars so I won't egg their homes b. kidnap children or c. nonchalantly follow groups of children from house:
Ate pumpkin soup and carved pumpkins
HP5ked
(Harry Potter 5ked - or walk around a really great park)
I'm wearing a Weird Sisters T-shirt and a Time Turner (curtesy of my grandfather who is cool enough to not need grandchildren to go to Harry Potter World with him).
Went to a 20s Mystery Dinner
Here in lies where I underestimate Halloween every. single. year. Halloween is one of the only times grown-ups are socially allowed to dress up and play pretend.
I love that.
I fully embraced that opportunity.
Also, it seems like everyone spoke in exaggerated British accents in the 20s. Who knew!
Tried to refrain from making fun of a really awful Dracula movie
But really, what kid embraces his father after he sees him eat a bunch of people? Apparently this one.
Buy a Donut Day did not go quite as planned. I got up early and all so I could leave my home before 8:00 and have enough time to walk to what many call "Salt Lake City's best donuts" and then walk to the Grand American Hotel in time for Stephanie Nielson's speech at The World Congress of Families. But after my half hour walk on the brisk fall morning during which I repeatedly forgot that it was the day before Halloween so the lady in a long robe and headdress was not of another religion or culture but probably just paying homage to Cleopatra, I discovered a tiny donut shop packed with people (and donuts). The line wound as best it could through the tiny store and I waited in it. I figured these must be some dang good donuts. Turns out, they were just donuts. (This is based on the analysis of one cake donut with chocolate frosting and Halloween sprinkles.) So after that whole event of waiting in line for 20 minutes, I had to rush myself over to The Grand America and was about 5 minutes late for the session. It's okay though.
On the other hand, Sugar Addiction Awareness Day (also October 30th) went very well. That is to say that I was very aware of my sugar addiction.
I mean it when I say that making every day a holiday is a great way to live life. Not celebrating every day has made that especially clear. Yesterday, I got an email at work saying that the office would be providing pizza, cupcakes, and a peek at a decked out DeLorean in honor of the day Marty McFly arrives in the future (October 21, 2015). I didn't plan on getting so attached to this day. I mean, it's not like the day Harry Potter arrived in the future or something but, it was a holiday and I was all about that.
When my boss walked in to work, she said, "I was so happy to wake up this morning because it felt like a holiday." She got that absolutely right. I mean, even riding the bus felt special today with random smiles from people who were in on the joke. And there was pizza and cupcakes with little paper DoLoreans stuck in them and caffeine free Pepsi and the movie playing in the meeting room.
I mean, none of that is much but it made today something else than hump day. So I'm going to try and live the holidays better. I think I've relaxed into my new life a little more so I'm ready for it. The writing about it may be more of a challenge though. I spend 8 hours a day writing and it's different than this. I write this for fun and a little something something to put on my resume. It is zero percent about getting lots of viewers and making viral articles. But that's what I do at work so it's hard to come home after writing all that and write... not that (obviously my ability to articulate things is improved after a day of working...not).
Anyways, let us renew and we'll see where this goes.
Is there a better way to celebrate such a day than starting your real life internship? Probably not.
There were some really interesting options to celebrate today but I chose It's My Party Day because I am all about that life. I intended to celebrate it by enjoying a whole candy bar while listening to Christmas music by myself. This sounded like the perfect way for my introvert self to recover from the hours of socialization I would have by attending a new congregation for the first time. But change of plans! (Which is totally allowed because it's my party.) These new plans resulted in my rediscovery of my Sunday night social scene (it sure has been a while). A small gospel discussion, the name game, and a round of Clue is where it's at.
