Things that make me SMILE

My beautiful and oh so talented friend, Carolina, inspired this post today. I really need to focus more on what makes me happy and smile in life NOW.

Here is a list of some things that are currently making me smile =)

1. Sushi/Movie/Girl's Nights

2. GLITTER TOES--Thanks ASH!

3. Pretzel Time Lemonade

4. Pandora Iphone App

5. Reading Old Journal Entries and Laughing at Myself

6. Reconnecting with Old Friends

7. Planning My Next Trip/Adventure

8. Holding and Loving and Kissing Babies

9. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

10. Watching Reality TV show with my Cousins, who are also MyUpstairs Neighbors

What a sweet blessing it has been living with them...but I'll save that for another post! =)

11. Dallas Cowboys Season Tickets

12. IKEA

13. Netflix

14. DIET DR PEPPER with Cherry

15. My Mom's Cute Texts

oK OK. That'll do for now. =)

My Brother the Hero

My little brother (not so little anymore) Randal, is a United States Marine currently serving our country in Iraq.  I sure do miss him and pray for his safety every single day.  

He is MY Hero.

I love you Randal.

My Sister the Snake Charmer

I am deathly afraid of snakes...Even just looking at this picture of my sister Lindsay holding a Python gives me the creeps!  Lindsay is currently serving a mission for our 

Church in Belem, Brazil and is constantly running into all sorts

of crazy things!!

I've included, in her words, her run in with the Python. 

"Funny story. Last week we had our district meeting in Abaetetuba, which is a 1 1/2 hour bus ride and when we arrived, the member who lives next to the chapel earlier that week found a python on top of the chapel! He captured it and kept it in a barrell for the fireman to come and take it away. When we arrived the Elders were joking that we would be having snake for lunch. The member pulled the python out of the barell and onto the ground as each of us took pictures. I then asked if I could hold the snake and take a picture. He laughed because not even the Elders, all Brasilian by the way, were courageous enough to hold the snake. But I was serious. So he handed me the snake, I took a picture and then.... the snake peed on me. And hollllly balogne... I stunk big time. Good times.. =p"

My Sister the Photographer

My beautiful and very talented sister Krissy knows how to take good pictures!

She is one of my favorite travel buddies and has captured a lot

of our world wide adventures together HERE

Scales

I can't believe I was doing it wrong all these years!!!

Moscow Pictures

These great pictures are courtesy of my 

ever so talented sister Krissy

who was the photographer on the trip.  I forgot to bring my camera!  

St Basil's Cathedral at night.  

No photoshop...I promise.

It was gorgeous!

The Mall all lit up.

St. Basil's during the day.

We had the opportunity to see the Bolshoi Ballet Company

perform the ballet The Golden Age.  It was amazing.

Christ the Saviour Cathedral

One of my favorite views in the city.  

Sweet Olesya...A new friend and one of the

 sweetest people I've ever met! 

  Here she is making me proud with the classic Fishy Face. 

Another view of the Cathedral.  We happened to be there during

the Russian Easter so while inside this church we saw

many people going in and out having 

their eggs and special sweet bread blessed.

We did a lot of walking these 3 days.  Sometimes I'd stop

to rest and look up and it would hit me again that we

were in Moscow.  So fun!

It would randomly start snowing.  Here we are

outside of Lenin's Tomb.  We saw his ACTUAL body

laying there.  CREEEEEEPY!

Fake Cherry Blossoms inside the GUM Mall

The days went by to fast.  I really want to go back.  Maybe I'll wait until 

the weather warms up though.

Thank you Moscow for a lovely adventure and an unforgettable

experience.  See you again someday. 

Moscow

-I love this city.
-The Metro is so clean, super reliable and BEAUTIFUL.
-In MOscow it snows while the Sun is shining bright...so the snow is PRETTY and not COLD.
-Apparantly, Purple is the new black here. Everything from tights to shoes, hats and purses! Purple is everywhere! It's a good thing I brought my purple Puma's, my purple scarf, and my purple blanket!! =)
-What is it about finding a Hard Rock Cafe in a foreign country that makes you feel so at home? Good times and yummy food were had tonight at the HARD ROCK CAFE MOSCOW.
Disclaimer: I always seem to forget how expensive they are though.
- Lenin's actual body displayed for all to see is very creepy. And! Don't get caught with your hands in your pockets while you are in there...the russian guards will yell at you.
- You can put a scarf over your head and blend right in...you'll look just like a little russian old lady.
- Potatos just taste better here.
- Being in Moscow with my sister Krissy is the best. She makes me laugh and the random, crazy adventures we are experiencing together are so much more fun!
- We met a new friend. Her name is Oleyesa and she looks like a little porcelin doll. She has been our tour guide in exchange for a big jar of Peanut Butter.

More pictures and stories to come...just a little sampling of the 2 out of 4 days we will be experiencing in this magnificent city!