christmas.

(with the exception of my birthday, of course) christmas is probably definitely the best day of the year.

here's the deal.
i will shamelessly admit:
i probably love presents more than anything. ever.

hi, my name is kailey, and i'm a present-aholic.

the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem, right?

...who am i kidding? i don't want to recover.

anyway.

i have some christmas confessions to get off my chest.
here goes nothing-

confession # 1:
i still can't fall asleep for the life of me on christmas eve.
[pre-present adrenaline.] [duh]

confession # 2:
i really want to believe in santa.
like, so bad.
seriously. hear me out:

one time, i went to the mall with my daddy.

we saw a mall santa there. 

he had a real beard and everything.

and my dad said to him: "if you're really santa, what's my middle name?" 

and mall santa said: "that's easy! it's claude!"

you guys. my dad's middle name is claude.

i can logically accept that: santa is impossible. creepy, even. (seriously, a grown man sneaking into peoples houses and watching you always?)

but guys. i can't just ignore mall santas unexplainable knowledge. 

either:

1- creepy santa look alike is stalking my dad,

or

2- santa is real.

just. saying.

confession # 3:
i still sneak upstairs multiple times on christmas eve to check out my presents.
honestly: there's nothing better than seeing a bunch of presents under a lit up christmas tree at unspeakable times of the night....morning.

confession #4:
i'm probably the reason my family opens presents so early. (6 am isn't that early, right?)

confession # 5:
i strongly believe that christmas should happen much more frequently.

confession # 6:
i like presents better when they come with big, red bows. 
fo' real, yo.
it could be the tiniest, lamest gift in the history of ever, but if it has a big red bow on it?
you've basically just proven yourself as a life long friend. a real keeper. a solid, respectable human being, in kaileys mind. 

confession # 7:
my mom and i are so freakishly alike, we unknowingly bought each other the same christmas eve pajamas. 
i was so proud of us. 
word to my mother.  

today was indubitably my best christmas yet.
here's a picture to sum it up: 

[i got some so. many. presents, ate some so. much. food. my brother got moccasins (and i couldn't be more proud!), i read almost a whole book (still a work in progress), took a nap, ate some christmas cookies (that i'd decorated with one direction names of course.), watched some tv con mi familia...]

i. love. christmas.

and i really hope you love christmas too.

hopefully someone spoiled you.

i was certainly spoiled.  

merry christmas to all, and to all a good night. 

...and may all your christmases be white.

'tis the season.

'tis the season; finals are finished.
hallelujah, praise the heavens, the angels rejoiced and so on, and so forth. seriously: i did wanted to do a celebratory happy dance when i finished my last final.
my grades even turned out pretty respectably. (although i guess 'respectable' is fairly relative.) whatevs. no regrets.

'tis the season; quit your job?
the barely over minimum wage job, that is. not the flexible hours, actually do something you're good at job.
wait, kailey. didn't you just get that job like, 2 months ago?
yes. but- guess what? i didn't actually need that job, it was mostly for fun,  and i really didn't want to work over christmas break.
also: the food industry is and always will be the most suck, awful thing on the planet. 
so bam!
i quit.

if you don't like your fate, change it. you are your own master, there are no shackles on you. 

^^^ 25 points if you caught the reference.

'tis the season; i'll be home for christmas.

correction: i'm already home for christmas. 

i've been wrapping presents and baking christmas cookies and jamming to christmas music with my momma. (our own versions)

 

'tis the season; "where much is given..."
my family went down to salt lake today. we brought with us:

• 75$ worth of (5 dollars each) gift cards. 
• 4 jackets
• 4 pairs of shoes

maybe it wasn't much.
but hey: the homeless people we gave them to didn't care.
and how blessed is my family to be able to 

1. celebrate christmas with presents, a christmas feast, a warm house...
2. give out a couple coats and boots to keep some less fortunate people warm.
3. give a few gift cards. 5 bucks  is a big deal when you have nothing.

you should have seen the look on one womans face when we gave her those boots.
they fit perfectly.
she almost cried and so did we.
goodness,  how many pairs of boots do i have!?
to give one pair away, and make someones whole day?
so worth it.

so.

'tis the season; and keeping in mind the spirit of the season (the spirit of christ)

i dare you to...

do something.

it doesn't have to be big.

just; think about it.

what can you do?

5 dollars?

a shoulder to cry on?

volunteer a bit of time?

smile at someone?

give someone a call?

write a quick letter?

pray for someone?

 

i promise it wont only help the receiving party,

but you will surely benefit as well.

in other news:

maria sabias que by david archuleta is basically life changingly beautiful.

christmaschristmaschristmasmybirthdaynewyearseveohmygoshpresenttttsssss

i dont know why people complain about present wrapping. i quite enjoy it.

oh my gosh. also.

***sorry dad, i have to tell this story***

my sweet daddy was going to the bathroom the other day, when in walked a special needs student. this student proceeded to peer through the crack in the stall that my dad happened to be in.

obviously he was excited to see brother boucher!

said student decided a christmas song serenade would be the best way to express his excitement.

my daddy got a 'christmas song peering through the bathroom stall as he did his business' serenade.

love. it.

this kid obviously gets what christmas is about.

the best way to spread christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.

in the bathroom.

whilst peeking into an occupied stall.

what a stinking cutie pie. <3

(although i could see how it would have made my dad feel a bit awkward.)

what. ever.

so worth the story.

gem-moments like that keep life interesting... i'm just glad i wasn't the one receiving the bathroom stall stare-down.

anyyywayyy.

happy holidays, everyone!

and may all your christmases be white.

<3  

 

want to know a secret?

want to know a secret?
i've recently discovered this great new method that basically guarantees successful test taking.
not even joking.
they call it...

studying.

whaaaat?

no, for real!

last night i decided, hey, maybe i should like...prepare for my book of mormon final.

(not that i didnt want another 64 percent...but...)

so i:

looked up david archuleta youtube videos (david+christmas music+spanish=yes.)

watched some netflix

pinteressssttttt

oh look, one direction music videos

hellooooo bookshelf.

studied.

i hopped onto learning suite,

  checked my inbox for the review sheet

      oh hey! someone made a class google doc and shared a bunch of notes!

i'm not going to lie; the whole process was severely unpleasant. arduous, if you will.

but.

then.

i took my test.

81 percent, amigos.

hallelujah, praise the heavens, joy to the world and all that jazz!

a small tear of immense relief escaped my eye, 

and the feelings of pride ensued.

random life advice from kailey:

• do not drink a strawberry lemonade at cafe rio and a whole water bottle, if you will not be near a bathroom for the next 2 hours.
• just don't.
• (you will regret it.)

in other news:

i was thinking about a movie that is.. for lack of better wording, dear to my heart (in a twisted sort of way.)
it's called mist.
i'm pretty sure this is what went down:

a lowly farmer decided: hey, that 20 year old camcorder in my closet? i should make a movie with it.
so he filmed his animals, and had his family provide questionable  voice overs. 
***if you're in to self-inflicted misery, i'd totally suggest it.

anyway.
since mist was on the mind, 
my mother and i decided: let's make our own talking animal movie! (mostly as a joke. mostly.)
oh. baby.
the brilliance that came of that idea..
extraodinary actors. glorious sound effects. majestic visual effects. stellar voice overs.
thatsjustwhathappenswhenmymotherandigetbored.
#coolmom

random thoughts of the week:

• people who read make the world a better place. seriously. i respect people who read so much more than those who don't. no offense if you don't, but...fo' real. check out your local barnes and noble.
• please.
• its almost christmas holiday break my birthday.
• presents.
• 2. more. finals. breatheinbreatheoutbreatheinbreatheout.
• ^^^but really? finals week hasn't been as bad as people make it out to be.  

now.

everyone pray for kailey, and her finals and if any of my readers happen to be weather men: please forecast good stuff. warm stuff. not snowy, icy road stuff.  i'd so appreciate it.

  

ending blog posts is not a talent of mine (but! touching my tongue to my nose is!)

soooo.. goodbye until next time, cutie pies.

<3

little things.

why

does society aim to make us feel 

1. ashamed
2. mediocre
3. like a disappointment

when we fail to meet ridiculous unattainable standards?
i caught myself putting myself down this week because: i might not get all a's. 
all. freaking. a's.
guys.
i have two jobs, it's my first semester ever of college, i'm trying to figure out life.
who isn't?

i'm not necessarily saying i'll be proud if i get a b or a c...
but freaking i will own that grade.
because guess what.
it's okay to mess up. to not perform perfectly every time.
it's okay to have too much on your plate.
it's okay if someone is better  than you.
it's okay.

it's okay. it's okay. it. is. okay. 

don't ever feel ashamed of your best; even if someone else's best is better.
i understand better than anyone else that: not being perfect can cause severe anxiety...but, trust me. 
i'm right on this one.

anyway!

moving on to my next stray thought.

little things.
not that i'm looking for any little reason to reference one direction...
(that would be silly)
but.
i do love their lyric:

it's you they add up to
I'm in love with you
And all these little things

how lovely is that?

don't the little things in life, make like great? i feel like they just add a necessary sparkle that keeps life interesting.

for example:

• the mexicano(s) selling tamales in the walmart parking lot.
• spending an extra couple of dollars on a random extra christmas gift for someone.
• craving a cake and then making one.
• the smell of books. <3
• chocolate. brownies. pudding.
• impromptu lunch dates with momma.
• song/tv/book/movie quotes and references.
• shoes. moccasins. boots.
• when someone wearing great cologne walks past you.
• quirks.
• unexpected compliments.
• free samples at costco.
• the adorable baby staring at you while you shop.
• random, synchronized sarcasm.
• meaningful discussions.
• that are not about the weather.
• par exemple: talking about favorite books, tv show plots.
• effortless social comfort is hard to come by when you're a kailey.

• picking up on under the breath comments that people didn't expect you to hear.
• writing blog posts, of course. 
• great minds think alike.
• sleeping with 5 blankets because it's cold, and you can.
• when your dog shoves his head in front of your book while you are trying to read, simply because: he loves you.
• unnecessary smiles. received and given.
• the lights on christmas trees.
• handwritten letters.
• discovering beauty in what others would deem imperfect. 

i could go on, and on and on.
i dare you:

look for the little things.

make a list.

or perhaps;

be. the. little. things.

guys. 11 days until christmassssss.

joy to the world.

hallelujah!

presents!

stay warm, my dears. 

<3

     

baby, it's cold outside.

calice, il fait trop froid!
it's freaking cold.

the weather outside is frightful...
but netflix is so delightful...

what?
yes. i watched a good 10 tv episodes on netflix today.
i also ate a brownie, which was half price at the creamery! 40 cents, baby.
i guess today wasn't entirely unproductive though; i cleaned all of my dirty dishes! (that just goes to show how freaking bored i was.)
and.
i did some nice one direction fangirling with my roommates.
(whyisharrystylessobeautiful?)

speaking of one direction:
my daddy agreed to take me to california next year to see one direction in concert and we already bought tickets and everything!
best dad ever.
that's what makes him beautiful.
i just said "c'mon, c'mon, dad! pleassseeee"
and he happily agreed.  
nothing could change my mind;
little things and moments like that make my dad better than words. 
i could not ask for more than this.
i can't wait to stay up all night at that concert and make some midnight memories.

i hope some of you readers are well acquainted with one direction songs, because those references were stellar.

speaking of song references: my mom and i like to play this game.
it's the "text each other using song lyrics and titles"
it's such a fantastic game. (this, coming from someone who usually loathes games!)
seriously. i legitimately stare anxiously at my phone screen for minutes at a time, waiting for her replies when we play this game.
please enjoy this sample:

 

my mom is cooler than your mom. not open for discussion.

also.

i've recently found my idea of heaven on earth.
it's this glorious little imported chocolate shop.
i went twice today.
they have almost all of my favorites.

american chocolate sucks.

weirdest moments of the week:

• someone told me"you are so interesting"
• while that may be true, i did absolutely nothing to bring on that comment, it basically came out of nowhere.

• i did dishes...because i wanted to....
• i refused to forgot to go grocery shopping, and therefore had to eat half a cookie for breakfast..sorry mom.
• i...went on a...date.
• don't be excited. it was a forced date. not a real one - we chose random ties at church in relief society...we had to go on a date with the owner of the tie we picked - it was a lot little awkward.
• apparently i'm incapable of small talk.
• poor guy. i'm pretty sure he hated me...

• someone tried to tell me that "liking justin beiber is so much more acceptable than liking one direction. seriously. what's so great about 5 british guys?"
• 1- they're british
• 2- they're beautiful
• 3- justin beiber will never be anywhere close to the perfection that is one direction.
• she also told me she went to paris and hated it.
• uncultured swine.

anyway.
it's past my bed time.
yes. college student kailey gives herself a bedtime.
she also still checks with her parents before she makes plans.
living life on the edge, as they say.

stay warm amigos.
and don't forget:
18 days til christmas
and!
22 days til my birthday.
<3  

freaking be merry.

i was recently assigned a group project yuck for my writing class.
my teacher put everyone into groups.
she also told us to "have fun with it!"
sweetie. i'm quite certain that: no one in the history of ever has had fun working on a group project barf.

maybe you've assumed that the project disgusting (rather than the group)  will be this posts primary complaint?

wrong.

(keep reading.)

i'm in college, projects gross are inevitable. fine. i get it. 

anyway.

for this project, still gross we had to come up with a problem that was relevant to byu students in some way. it also had to be timely.

"whats more timely than christmas!?" we thought.

i liked the way this was going.

kailey is a big christmas fan.

maybe for once i've been assigned a not so awful group?

oh, naive little kailey.

suddenly. 

"our problem should be that people listen to christmas music before december." said zach, from kaileys group.

oh, zach.

you just crossed a line, buddy.   

i gave him the most seething, poisonous, hate filled glare i could muster (which is a lot of hate. it's a look i've practically perfected.) and proceeded to explain to him that he is so wrong.

look, punks.

the minute halloween is over, christmas season begins.

it just does. 

from that point on christmas music is a more than valid option.

(once december hits, it's no longer optional, it's freaking necessary.)

i passionately raged  calmly explained to zach that:

you are wrong and i am right.

there is nothing better than christmas and christmas music should be enjoyed for as long as possible.

thats why my roommates and i started listening to christmas music, and putting up chrismas decorations a month ago.

the little weenies in my group still refused to join the celestial side of christmas cheer.

scroodges. 

freaking. be. merry. already.

and so now i'm stuck in a group that basically hates all things good and wonderful.

(i'm usually not a huge supporter of happiness, i know, but whatcanisay? christmas brings out the worst best in me!)

i also told my group that fun stresses me out. gives me full on panic attacks.

they giggled.

...not a joke, guys.

(that was a little irrelevant, but i felt the need to mention it, because it only strengthened my anger towards them)

anyway.

i'm sufficiently annoyed.

here's the plan:

tomorrow i'm changing my ringtone to a christmas song.

so, please if you have my number: call me tomorrow any time after 6:15.

(that's when we are scheduled to get together and ew socialization! work on this monster of a project. kill me.)

then my christmas ringtone will go off.

hopefully repeatedly.

i will blast that joyous christmas music and feel no regret.

i will let the phone ring for the entirety of the song.

i will savor every moment of that lovely christmas tune. 

and i hope it makes those humbug losers regret messing with me and my christmas spirit.

don't mess, yo.

keep reading my blog, cutie pies.

that's all for now.

and a partridge in a pear treeeeeeee. <3