savoring every moment. <3

Today was a good day. No, an excellent day!

I woke up to a phone call from my sister who lives millions of miles away.

I had the honor of depositing a cheque into my savings account. Hooray for donations to the penniless freshman!

The sun was shining.

I got my roots done. (!!!) Man, I'm just wishing I could pack my hairdresser in my suitcase and get my hair done EVERYDAY at university. That would be excellent. :)

And preceding this hair appointment, I got two different compliments on my hair from two complete strangers! I find it weird how a compliment from a total stranger can mean so much more to you than when one of your closest friends compliments you. But I guess it does make sense, since that whole, "awe shucks, you're only saying that because you're my friend" accusation doesn't work on a stranger. Heh.

I had a Subway melt for lunch. Mmm, I love not having to pick tomatoes off sandwiches.

I was told by a cute little old lady that I look just like her granddaughter, blonde hair and all. "You are just so beautiful!" She said.

I got another phone call from that same sister who lives millions of miles away.

I got SO many green lights in the city, that it wasn't even funny.

I bought 10 items at the dollar store for a total of $12. What a STEAL! And when I walked into Dollarama, I remember thinking to myself, whyyyy do half of these items not even have price tags? Talk about inconvenient! And then I realized...-sigh-. And if you don't know what I realized then you are just as foolish as I am. Shows how often I shop at dollar stores...

My Mom made waffles with white sauce for supper, without even being begged by yours truly! Incredible.

After doing some serious digging around on the shoe rack, I realized that I have alot more shoes than I thought I did. (This is a good thing.)

My sister bought home a bag of chips for me. Oh how I love her.

I watched the movie, Footloose, for the first time in my life. Hahaha, enough said.

My Dad told us the funniest story at the supper table today. It was SO funny that it's SO not even worth repeating.

I completed almost a 1/4 of my packing to-do list. PATHETIC, since I leave in a little over 24 hours. It's pathetic, yet it's "typical jenni". So really, what can I say?

This is me portraying my lack of rooted hair, and my super cluttered room. Life is good.

love letters on wet papers.

1. What time did you get up this morning?
8:30 AM, unintentionally of course!

2. How do you like your steak?
Non-existent, please.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
The Ugly Truth.

4. What is your favorite TV show?
Lately I'm hooked on The View, and Laguna Beach.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Hmm...New York City for its culture and being the city that never sleeps, or L.A for its hot sun and sandy beaches.

6. What did you have for breakfast?
I only eat breakfast's on Sundays, which today was two pieces of toast.

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
Lately I've really been into salads of all sorts.

8. What foods do you dislike?
Tomatoes. I can't handle them. Yuck. Other than that I'm pretty easy when it comes to food.

9. Favorite Place to Eat?
Earls, Moxies, and of course, McDonalds.

10. Favorite dressing?
Italian.

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
A boat. Enough said.

12. What are your favorite clothes?
My jeans from Buffalo, a fancy tanktop, and my cowboy boots. :)

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
Seriously, I'd visit everywhere; Australia, all of Europe, Nashville, New York City, the list goes on and on.

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
Definitely 1/2 full.

15. Where would you want to retire?

Somewhere hot and tropical.

16. Favorite time of day?
Morning.

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Soccer.

22. Bird watcher?
Not exactly.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
Both.

24. Do you have any pets?
Yes, I have a dog. But I'm not at all a "dog person".

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
Yes...I'M MOVING TO BC IN 1 DAY!! :D

26. What did you want to be when you were little?
I looooved animals as a kid, and I wanted to be a zoologist or something of the sort.

27. What is your best childhood memory?

Family gatherings at the Holiday Inn.

28. Are you a cat or dog person?
Cat.

29. Are you married?
Definitely not.

30. Always wear your seat belt?
Usually, but today I didn't...whoops!

31. Been in a car accident?
Never ever. It's weird, cause I could've been in SO many, but I just seem to get..."lucky", one might say.

32. Any pet peeves?
Liars. Pessimism. Tools.

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?
Deluxe; green peppers, mushrooms, you know the deal.

34. Favorite Flower?
I like lilies, tulips, and daisies. Roses are always nice too.

35. Favorite ice cream?
Vanilla with chocolate chips. <3

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?

Hollister or Buffalo. They are such hott stores.

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
I actually finished a book! I am thoroughly impressed with myself right now!

41. Like your job?
I do not have a job.

42. Broccoli?
Mmm...delicious! I had some today actually.

43. What was your favorite vacation?
Disneyland.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
Kristina and Andre.

45. What are you listening to right now?
Miranda Lambert. She is so right about everything.

46. What is your favorite color?
Reds, purples, pinks, whites, blacks... I love every color.

47. How many tattoos do you have?
None yet, but I'm hoping to get one on my wrist one day soon.

50. Coffee Drinker?
Heck no. Yuck. Haha.

Pack Pack Packing!

Ah yes, the above picture is an image of what my room currently looks like right now, at 12:20 AM.

Apparently when I pack, I like to assemble a pile of "fun-ness" in the corner of my room, at a very gradual pace.

And it's not so bad. It really could be worse. Worse as in, just wait until I add ALLLL OF MY CLOTHES.

Hehehe... ;)

Unexpected.

Today something happened, and it was the last thing I'd ever imagine happening.

It was like any other normal summer day. You know, waking up to the sun shining through your bedroom window (actually these days it's pretty rare to see the sun come out from hiding), warming your insides with a cup of green tea, and then finishing off your morning with a cold shower after an intense workout.

And since I'm leaving town soon, it only makes sense that I'd try to see as many people as I can before making the big move. A lunch date with two wonderful friends was the plan. So, one of my friends picked me up at my house, no big deal or anything...until...we're driving north down the highway. In the distance we see an abnormal number of cars all gathered around this one, typically popular intersection. We both don't think much of it, and continue talking about who knows what. As we approach this intersection we're starting to think,

OK...what is going on....?,

The foot gently steps on the brake, and as our speed slows, our speech also become sluggish, with our words obliviously hanging in the air. We are crawling and weaving our way through the parked cars in the middle of the intersection, and our heads turn to the right facing all of the commotion.

I see a motorcycle lying on the road, on its side. And it wasn't like it was just resting on its kickstand and the wind just decided to push it over. It was lying on its side like it wasn't supposed to even be there, lying on its side. Like something wasn't right. My eyes frantically search the area.

I see people randomly scattered, standing with their arms folded tightly in front of them, and others with their hands to their faces. No, something definitely wasn't right. My eyes are frantically searching again.

I see a man in a brown t-shirt doing the motions of CPR. My eyes follow from this mans head, all the way down to his hands being pressed against someone else's body.

Wait...a body?!

My hand launched to cover my mouth. My eyes widened.

Blood. That's all I remember. Blood drenching the body, and blood being streaked across the hot pavement.

I tried so desperately to divert my eyes...but I couldn't. If I hadn't had been in the passenger seat of a moving vehicle, I don't think I could've ever looked away. I know it sounds bad, and you're probably thinking, how could you not look away from such a gory scene? But it's hard and definitely not easy to explain, because it's not something you ever think you're ever going to see, so your brain just has a hard time processing every slow and painful second of it.

It was so. so. so. scary. And even though it's not the first time I've seen something like this before, I was still in total shock after.

As we drove on, and saw the flashing lights of the ambulances, police cars, and fire-trucks rushing to the scene, the worst thoughts just come to mind.

Who died? Whose blood did I just see? Do I know this person? What if it's "so and so" ? Or this person? I know "this person" and they own a motorcycle...what if...?

Like, all of these agonizing thoughts just cross your mind and they just torture you.

Later on in today I found out who it was. He lived just outside of my town. I'd never known him, I'd just heard of him. It was a motorcycle and pick-up truck collision.

It's crazy to think how often these things happen, all around the world, every second of the day. And even though this man in the accident today didn't make it, it still really makes me appreciate every police officer, paramedic, and fire-fighter out there. It feels good to know that there's people out there who are just so brave and strong at heart.

So yeah, all you can really do right about now is pray. Just pray for anything and everything.

Living.

I was once confronted by one of my best friends. She said:

It's kind of funny how you want to be a writer, and write books one day, when you yourself are NEVER caught reading books. Weird, wouldn't you say?

Yes, I agree, it IS weird that I want to be a writer even though I never read books, and when I do read books, I have an awful habit of never finishing them! For instance, two summers ago I bought the book Twilight, (before there was that huge annoying Hollywood hype about it), and I only got halfway through it, as life's busy schedule got the best of me. Then there's The Other Boleyn Girl...I definitely didn't get to the end of that one... Oh, and I can't forget about Harry Potter, and how I only read 5 out of the 7 books. There's also the Bible. Is it bad that I'm already eighteen years old and I've never read through the whole entire Bible?

Now don't get me wrong, I loved all of these books. Each and everyone one of them is written so well. Twilight, for Bella's intense and captivating thoughts written across every page, The Other Boleyn Girl for making it so easy for your brain to concoct the most beautiful imagery possible, Harry Potter for its suspense that's able to keep you up 'till late hours of the night , and last but not least, the Bible for being the truest of all true stories. Clearly, there should be no reason as to why I haven't finished any of these books. Right?

Wrong. The simple truth is that I'm too busy living! How can you write songs, journals, poetry, articles, and blogs if you have zero life experience? Wouldn't a love story sound like a sham if you've never been in love? Wouldn't a period of grief feel like a desert if you've never had a reason to ever shed a tear? A real, full-fledged backpacking trip through Europe would sound like a cheap Wikipedia article if you've never actually done it yourself!

Even now, being so young, I feel like I've already lived through so much. From the grief and struggles of losing a brother, to every crazy exciting traveling experience, and to meeting so many fascinating people, you could say that I've been riding on this roller coaster of emotions for quite some time now. I can't even imagine how much going to live during my next 18 years of life! Wow...

But right now, feeling like you actually have a purpose and a reason to use your God-given talents, it truly makes you want to wake up in the morning and jump out of bed. Yes, jump out of bed! And when the moon is high in the sky, you're way too excited and anxious to even let your eyelids get heavy, but once they do put on some weight, your sleep is ever so peaceful.

So in conclusion, instead of spending most of my time reading books, I'd rather be out there living life with the hopes that one day, I may be able to create something beautiful with my experiences to change and influence someone's life for the better. Except for tonight... (haha) , since I just got a brand new book that I will finish before the summer's end. This I promise you! :P

Feet.

I have the feet of an 80-year-old man. Just sayin'...

Just Thinkin'

My left eye has been twitching for about a month now. Seriously, a WHOLE month. And all I can do is ask myself in a sad, and hopeless manner, “Why...why me?”

I have now come to realize that after your friends throw you a surprise party, you are in total shock for about an entire hour. It’s the weirdest thing. I mean, you’d think that you’d get over the whole surprise part right after everyone has finished screaming and flashing their cameras in your face, but that’s just not the way it works. I sat through that fine dinner with a painted on smile, pinching myself and silently asking, “Am I dreaming? Is this really happening to me? These things never happen to me!” I love my friends, so very much! :)

I could watch the movies, “When Harry Met Sally” and “You’ve Got Mail” over and over again. The reason is most likely because Meg Ryan always has the most incredible chemistry with any male actor out there.

My new favorite pastime? Horsebacking riding, in the rain. <3

Have you ever had a short, casual conversation with someone, then after you’re only left wishing that you could’ve talked more? Wishing you could’ve gotten to know them better? You wanna know those simple, yet life-changing moments; when they had their first kiss, where they went to University, how they earned their money when they were your age, and when they finally fell in love. I’ve been having a lot of these moments lately. Getting to know someone who has many, many, years on you, is like having the privilege of reading a great book, an autobiography. There’s so much wisdom gained and lessons learned behind each word said. And let me tell you, it makes you want to really live, hoping that someday someone will askyou for your autobiography.

Ryan Reynolds is sexy, and I think the following picture says it all:

"Boy in the Striped Pajamas" has to be thee saddest movie of all time. I was left there, alone on my couch, sobbing.

Going clothes shopping with guys is so easy. Anything, and everything looks good on them! I'm jealous.

My favorite thing about a song isn’t the gentle voice behind it, the melodious guitar that makes your heart melt every time, the rhythmic beat keeping the tempo, or the climax after the second chorus…it’s the lyrics. Lyrics are beautiful, vulnerable, and mean so much more than just words. Lyrics are an equalizer in a world that tries too hard to prove that everyone’s different. They’re like a journal entry put to music. They’re the only part of a song that can truly make you feel like you’re not the only person in the world who has ever felt loved, free, ecstatic, broken, angry, scared, faithful, or any other possible state of being. They make you feel not so alone.

I love storm-chasing with my Dad. It really is no wonder where I got my adventurous side from… ;)

These past few weeks I’ve suddenly become hooked on the television show “The View”. There’s just something whimsical about four old women bickering about the latest hot worldly topics on live television.

I love the smell of rain.

How the packing for University going, you may ask? Let's just say I have sheets, scrapbooks made by best friends, pillows, mirrors, mascara wands, full bottles of Herbal Essences Shampoo & Conditioner, picture frames, and electric kettles all piled into one corner of my room. Ah yes, the life of a procrastinator is a good one.

And last but not least, you can never eat too many unbaked cookies. Ever.

Expectations.

This is perfect: sipping on a steaming cup of green tea, sportin’ the comfiest pajama pants on the planet, blogging with Marley & Me playing silently in the background, and the rain falling outside my window. What could be better?

I’ve been thinking, and I think that it’s pretty neat to finally find myself in that stage of life where the number one question I’m asked at least twice a day is, “What are you doing in the fall?” I seriously thought this day would never come, because it always seemed to good to be true. Like time was always at a stand-still. It was never me who got asked that question, it was everyone else but me! It was my cousins, my sisters, my brother, and my friends. But now, it’s me! It’s my time. And I always reply with, “I’m going to University in BC, and I am so excited.”

I can't think of a more perfect place to begin the rest of my independent and responsibility-filled life. I mean, the Rocky mountains are practically in my backyard, the ocean is just down the road, the big city is 45 minutes away (when the traffic cooperates), the winters are MILD, and most of all, I have friends and family who are just a phone call away from an invitation to social-fulfillment.

I am nothing short of THRILLED to be starting University in a little over two weeks. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those people who only sees secondary education as another walk in the park, sleep during classes by day, and partying by night. I'm a very optimistic person, ask anyone, but…by preparing myself with a slightly negative outlook on this upcoming experience, I’ll know exactly what I’m getting myself into. Therefore, I'm forcing myself to expect the worst. I'm expecting to feel homesick, lonely, stressed, and like I'm literally stuck under a rainy cloud. I’m expecting to lose my tan, and to seriously be lacking in my Vitamin D count. I'm expecting to feel lost, to wonder what I'm actually doing here, and to be second-guessing my dreams and goals in life. I'm expecting to lose friends, and maybe even have my heart broken. I'm expecting sleepless nights, and to feel disappointed when I don't find any messages from my friends back home. I’m expecting to make some pretty bad decisions once in awhile. I'm expecting that I'm actually going to miss my parents, no matter how much I say I won't. I’m expecting to land a few bad grades here and there. And I'm expecting to miss my solitude, my morning cups of green tea and my daily romantic comedy movie dosage. I’m expecting to be missing some people so bad that it’ll hurt.

Everything I just wrote is true, and I'm not going to lie when I say that this next chapter in my life is extremely scary and without a doubt, nerve-wracking. But despite all of these fears, I have so many good, no…make that, GREAT feelings about going to university; I know that I'm going to have the best roommate ever. I know that my social-life will be outta this world, and maybe even too out of this world. I know that I'm going to write some pretty great essays. I know I'm going to thrive in the big city. I know that I'm finally going to become addicted to working out…(hopefully? maybe?). I know I'm gonna take some really good pictures, with a really good camera. I know that I'm going to meet some pretty fantastic and memorable people. I know that I’m going to get all of my assignments done on time. I know that I’m going to grow tremendously in my faith. I know I will finally be able to prove my point that High School is so very overrated. I know that I’m going to improve my writing skills more than I ever thought possible. I know that I’m going to catch someone’s eye, and maybe they’ll even catch mine. I know that I’ll learn to do my own laundry…one day. I know that the word “Christmas Break” will never sound so good. I know that I’m going to gain some serious life experience points. I know that my hair is going to grow to incredible lengths. I know that I’ll be one step closer to reaching my ultimate goal in life. I know that finding a letter or postcard in my mailbox will bring a huge smile to my face. I know that I’ll finally be able to move on from the few of the toughest months of my life. And I know that I’m going to make the best memories, I just know it.

All of these wonderful, beautiful, and magical hopes overrule every shoddy expectation I’ve ever had. This leaves me feeling confident in knowing that whichever mishap decides to throw a punch at me, I’ll be ready for it, and I’ll always know that things will turn around and get better.

I am comfortable.

You Are An Intro-Extrovert!

Sometimes you're social - sometimes you're shy. You've got a bit of an Introvert / Extrovert split going on. You enjoy all sorts of situations. Parties, small groups, and alone time. Too much of one, and you'll long for the other. You need variety! Chances are, you've got both serious and fun friends - and they don't get along. Are You An Extroverted or Introverted Girl?

When I read the question, "Are You An Introvert or an Extrovert?" I thought to myself, introvert, hands down! But as I was going through the quiz an answering all of the simple and uncomplicated questions, it definitely got me thinking...I'm not as introverted as I thought I was...

For instance, somedays, nothing sounds better than being wrapped up in big blanket and watching a movie, alone. In my solitude. And the thought of leaving the house and seeing people makes me cringe.

But other days, there's nothing I want more than to get out of the house and go do the craziest things with the craziest of people.

I remember in high school, I absolutely loathed working in groups. I always felt like working with several other people just brought me down, and that none of my ideas would ever be considered because everyone was too focused on socializing rather than simply just getting down to business. If you're a hardcore extrovert reading this, it's probably a difficult thing for you to picture. I mean, YOU try explaining to a hardcore introvert that public speaking is the highest of highs. It's all just unexplainable. Your comfort zone is your comfort zone. It's who you are. It's truly amazing how different the gears can turn in our brains.

About 2 years ago I took my first "Are you an introvert or an extrovert?" quiz on the internet, and I was angry with my result; introvert. I didn't want to be an introvert, because high school had created an introverted person as someone who never talks, always has their hair in their face, whose only hobby is being locked up in their bedroom reading science fiction books day after day, and their only friend is their pet cat named Seymour. In some EXTREMELY RARE cases, this could be true. But I all in all, I didn't want to be associated with a group like that. Because the only way to make it to the next level of the teenage "popularity game", was to be a talker, partier, social butterfly, talker, dare-devil, talker, frequent party host, and oh, did I mention a talker? To be honest, I seem to attract these extroverts. I'm a magnet, and I'm not exactly sure as to why...maybe it's because I love to listen, and I could possibly be the only person who ever truly listens to them. Hmm...

But now, as a grown 18-year-old, I am nothing but ashamed to have ever thought that introverts were somehow lower than everyone else. Now, as a grown 18-year-old I have opened my eyes, become as open-minded as an open-minded woman can be, and have fallen in love with personalities of all types. And now, as a grown eighteen-year-old, I have embraced my introverted qualities, and am somehow balancing it perfectly with my newly gained extroverted qualities. I have never loved myself more than I do right now! I am truly happy.

Wake Up and Smell The Break-Up.

I used to think people were crazy when after they'd break up with their boyfriend/girlfriend they’d burn every picture, every letter, and throw every t-shirt in the trash. All I could think was, why on earth would you want to erase every memory you two made together? Think about all of the good times you had!

And when people would tell me that it’s IMPOSSIBLE to still be friends with your ex, I would also think they were crazy. Who cares if the “relationship” part didn’t work out, you still have your friendship to hold onto. You just have to put the past behind you, and be there for each other like normal friends.

But now, after being lead-on by a guy for six whole months only to be left broken-hearted…I know that all of that isn’t crazy, it’s common sense. After being told me he liked a different girl now, he swore that things between us would never change, and that “having a girlfriend is supposed to be a good thing, and not something that makes you lose friends.” I bought into that, and at the time, I honestly did agree with him. We could still be friends! Why not? Things would turn out just fine…right?

Wrong. I had never felt worse. In fact, I hit an all-time low. I had never felt so used, lead on, or lied to in my whole life. I had never known it was possible to cry so much. I felt like dirt under his shoe. As much as I hated him for everything he ever put me through, I knew that he still had me, and that with one word from his lips, I would forget everything he did and come running back to him. I felt like I would NEVER be able to free myself from him. I felt like I’d be stuck under a rain cloud forever. I’m trying so hard to make this writing do justice to how sick I felt inside, but I just...can’t.

After alot of tears and sleepless nights, something happened. It’s like I had opened my eyes for the very first time, and it all eventually hit me: I’m only 18. I have a life out there waiting for me to live it. I deserve to be treated like a princess. I have friends and family who love me. I am beautiful. I am talented. I have so much to give. I’m going to UNIVERSITY hundreds of miles away! I’m going to see the world. I’m going to live out my dreams. And most importantly, I’m going to love and be loved.

And so what I thought would be impossible to do (move on), was something I DID find myself doing. I deleted him every voicemail message, every MSN conversation, every picture, every song he wrote for me, his facebook, and his phone number. EVERYTHING. I did everything that I had once been so against doing, and erased him from my life.

By pressing the delete button, I was not only respecting myself, but I was loving myself. No one deserves to be stuck in memories that mean absolutely nothing to the other person. The more you live in the past, the more you dig through every little thought and every single word that was ever said, making it actually possible to SOMEHOW blame yourself for something that CLEARLY isn’t your fault. All I know right now is that I didn’t lose, I won. I took his twisted little plan, turned it around on him, and kicked him to the curb. I became the bigger person and took everything back that was taken, and leaving him to wallow in his mistakes. Now he’s the one who can’t let go of me. I guess you don’t know what you have until it’s gone, hey? Ha.

I still don’t know what God had in mind when he let me spend half a year adoring someone who didn’t deserve to be adored. Maybe it’s to show me all of the consequences of ignoring every red flag, and lowering every standard. Maybe it’s to show me that this isn’t what life is about, at all. Maybe it’s about the experience. Maybe half the fun is getting there. And where am I going? I’m on the road to living my life, and believing that one day, I will find my love story.

So here's your one last look at your t-shirt, 'cause I'm keepin' it!

I'm Home Sweet Home.

On a 7-day road trip to Virginia and back, there are a few things I've come to realize:

Journaling on a Macbook is 10x more efficient than journaling with pen and paper. No scribbles and no mess included!

My brother is the funniest guy in the world, and we get along better than any brother & sister duo that I’ve ever seen!

A quick dip in the pool, a hot shower, and crawling into bed with a bucket of ice while watching Family Guy after Bill O’Reily on Fox News = the best way to spend your evening in a hotel.

I will always remember the Perkins in Virginia for having the hottest waiter in North America.

I now know that the White House and the State Capital are two completely different buildings. (how embarrassing!!)

When your suitcase is sitting in the truck box, always cover it with a plastic bag. You never know when you’ll be innocently driving through Chicago and dark thundercloud will be more than willing to drench it.

Air-Conditioning is WAY overrated, and some people should learn to enjoy the +34 weather that Washington D.C has to offer.

My hair loves the East Coast (perfect blonde curls). My hair hates Manitoba (Frizz.)

It’s actually possible to go to the United States and not do any shopping at all…unfortunately.

Motor-Inns are proved to be creepy when at midnight and pitch black, you bump into a man standing RIGHT outside your door.

Ron and Elena’s new home is a strange resemblance of my Oma’s old house. Basement cellar, doorknobs, and everything!

Yes, it’s very possible to leave your bikini hanging in the hotel shower in Wisconsin. Whoops.

“Alright, OK” by Ashley Tisdale is my life story at this very moment. "I Got A Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas is the best pump-up song ever. And I feel like they need to make more songs like "Miami Trick" by LMFAO. Just saying...

You can never eat at Perkins too often. Is five times enough? Apparently not.

Chex Mix, Green Tea, the book “Emily Ever After”, and your own pillow that smells like home, are excellent travel companions.

After staying in 7 different hotels over the past 7 days, I am now officially what you call, a hotel expert.

Minneapolis is the same old, same old and a just a step-up from Manitoba. Wisconsin is a beautiful, and green dairy land; silos and red barns around every bend. I’m pretty sure that the entire city of Chicago is made up of bricks. And then there’s the Virginia countryside, it has to be the most beautiful place in the world; rolling green hills, long winding driveways lined with tall, lush trees, and stone hedges surrounding every property. And when I say property, I'm talking huge hill-top mansions, decked out with orchids around it. Beautiful!

Tollbooths are annoying, and end up being rather expensive with a truck and trailer hauling through twice in one month.

You know those cereal dispensers they have at those dreaded hotel continental breakfasts? Well, I want one. And If I had one, I’d fill it with Froot Loops…or maybe even Lucky Charms!

I LOVE American accents.

No matter how many jeans, shirts, shorts, and sweats you pack, which equal the potential to create over 20 different outfits, you'll always end up wearing the same thing more times than necessary. It never fails!

Apparently I can’t manage to stay awake past midnight anymore…sad.

Alora loves swimming pools, hot tubs, and bathtubs. She’s a ldolphin, just like her Auntie Jenni. :)

And last but not least, this family vacation was exactly what I needed, for reasons I won't explain. But talk about great timing, all in all. <3