guess who's back....

100 points to the person who knows what song inspired the title of this post.

I thought to get back into it I would do a little life update courtesy of Instagram.

Summer is such a fun time.  Celebrations, laughter, fun.
July however always seems to be a sad month for me every year.  This year was especially sad.  Our little puppy Pippin was hit by a car and didn't make it.  This was a devastating blow for our family and one that we will not be over any time soon.  Strange the way animals get into our hearts isn't it?  Losing a pet becomes just as tragic as losing a human family member.  Many tears have been shed and I'm ready for a new start come August.
New job, new home...new.  I like starting new.

What new things are you looking forward to?  Leave a comment!
xxx
V

P.S. feel free to follow me on instagram! @vanessanelson
I'm happy to have you :)

California Part Deux

Long over due I know.  I finally have a day off and nothing else going on!!!

The next 2 days were filled with candy and family which are among my very favorite things on earth.  We went to the Jelly Belly factory which was so fun!  I will say I was unimpressed by the tour but the actual factory and ALL THE THINGS YOU CAN BUY were the greatest.

 I was obsessed with the jelly beans hanging everywhere

 Hanging jelly beans AND twinkle lights??? 

Stop.  Is this heaven?

This is the same face I use to get boys

We also got to visit with my Aunt Judi, Uncle Don, cousins, and of course my Oma and Opa.  I've mentioned them before and it was so nice being able to visit with them.  They told some amazing stories and I was constantly amazed by the pure and beautiful love my Opa has for my Oma.  Oh it was so glorious.

Sorry it's taken me so long to update.  I wish I was one of those people who got paid to write my blog but unfortunately I'm not and I have a paying job and friends who need my attention (they're sooo needy) but I have a few things planned coming up......a lot has been on my mind and as I'm sure you're aware....that's always a terrifying thing.  Thanks for reading my little family update!!!

xoxo

V

I Lost My Head and Left My Heart In San Francisco

Hello!
I thought I'd give you an update on the last couple of weeks!  I took a much needed break from life and took a road trip with my family to California.  My Oma and Opa and several of my family members live right outside the San Francisco area and we decided to visit.  It was MARVELOUS.  There's something about the ocean that I could just be lost in forever.  It centers me in some weird way.  My sister was able to come down from Seattle and we had the best time.  I'm so grateful for my family and for the ties that bind me here on this funny place called Earth.

Here's some pictures of all the fun!

Day 1 San Francisco
San Francisco is my favorite city in the world and it did not disappoint! Ok....it kind of did.....I will now present you with the saddest story in the world.
The day was beautiful, sunny, perfect temperatures.  When we went to go see the Golden Gate Bridge it turned cloudy, rainy, and foggy.  You couldn't even see it at all which was so sad.  The End.
We did go to Golden Gate park though and see the Japanese tea garden which was gorgeous!

 Sea Lions on Fisherman's Wharf

 Golden Gate Bridge

 Alcatraz

 Sad Golden Gate Bridge that you can't even see :(

Loved the stairs at the Golden Gate Bridge though.  "Welcome" in all languages.

 Family fun in the Japanese tea garden

I've decided to cut down on how many pictures you have to scroll through at once (I don't want to turn into your grandparents making you watch slides of their vacation) I will separate this trip into 3 different posts.  

That way you have something to look forward too.....you're looking forward to it right?....RIGHT?!

I thought so.

xoxo

V

Family Update

I've been really bad at updating this blog on actual happenings of my life so for the sake of our family members and friends who actually care what we do....here is what's been happening.

March:
My mother threw away an entire unopened box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch while in one of her Ambien hazes....

April:
I FINALLY (after many years of trying) beat my Mom at Bejeweled Blitz.  I took a picture to commemorate the occasion

May:
My severely co-dependent dog laid in the bathroom while I was doing my make up.

June:
My BFF Jenna and I took pictures of ourselves at work missing our other BFF Kathryn

July:
This was a very bad month for me and my friends and I'd rather not talk about it.....

August:
My sister came to visit from Seattle!  And we took family pictures and I looked severely creepy in all of them (which is why I won't be posting any.....)

September:
I'm not sure what happened this month....does anyone remember?  Send me pictures would ya?

October:
Little brother had a birthday!

Little brother also had a few melt downs and night filled with no sleep while our parents were in Italy seeing amazing things....

This is Mt. Etna in Italy...

and finding me a boyfriend....

Bonus!  He tells fortunes and understands the value of a good burlap sack

Little brother and I also had a photo shoot where we were professionally good looking

Little sister had a birthday!

Cake Batter pancakes I made for her in the morning before school

Recipe HERE

Presents!

And I went to the grocery store in my sweatpants....

I had a birthday! (including flowers sent to me at work!)

And I had a cake that had so many candles I thought my cake topper was going to light on fire.

We went to Tooele to visit family....

And I was in none of the pictures so here's one of me looking like I don't comb my hair...but that's only because I don't comb my hair.

And that's pretty much all that's been going on in our lives.
Thankfully Glee is back to fill an obvious void.

xoxo

Sunday Funday

A run down on the weekend...

1. Gift is finally over!!!! Yeah!!!!
I can breathe again.

2. My little brother started throwing Gobstoppers at me today.  When I asked him what he was doing he replied, "Try and catch them in your mouth".

3. We play Monopoly every Sunday night.  Tonight we played Disney Pixar version.  It was pretty fun.  I was Nemo.

4. Last night I went to bed at 10 pm and slept until 12 pm today....refer to #1 before you look at me with your judgy eyes...

5. I walked around like this...

don't be jealous.

6. I'm currently reading this book

It is hysterical.

7. I bought some chapstick shaped like an egg.  So far no regrets.

Now the new week is starting and my little sister is headed to New York!  Concrete jungle where dreams are made of and people mug you and you have to look at a lot of homeless people!

That's a pic from her prom by the way.  She's so pretty.

Also I'll be choosing the winner of the giveaway tomorrow!  Are you excited?  Are you?  But...are you excited?

I decided to play too and post my Top whatever songs of all time too!

sunset lover - josh kelley
don't stop believin - journey
boston - augustana
look after you - the fray
forgiveness - patty griffin
jolene - ray lamontagne
you'll ask for me - tyler hilton
dirty diana - michael jackson
cosmic love - florence + the machine
romeo and juliet - the killers
hallelujah - jeff buckley
poison & wine - the civil wars
hotel california - the eagles
bloodline - matt morris

I don't have to follow the rules because I made them up!  Just call me your parents.

If you haven't entered to win the giveaway do it now!  You still have time..

Just click

here


Hope y'all had a great weekend too!