So, I was looking on Pinterest this morning for a "how-to" on something for my wedding (I LOVE being able to say those two words 'my wedding'), and I found this beautiful blog post someone had linked to. It is advice for moms to their daughters.

While I was reading it, I started to get teary. It's not sad or anything, it just reminded me of how much my mom has done for me and how she has successfully done all of the things on this list. I needed her more than ever as a little kid, she was the only parent I had for a few years. Even as an adult, she's always been there for me, and I'm so grateful to know that while life always gets crazy and takes you to places away from home, she'll always be my mom.

The points that remind me most about my mom from the blog are below, but the original post is here. I recommend checking it out.

2. Let her put on your makeup, even if it means bright-red-smudged lips and streaked-blue eyes. Let her experiment in her attempts to be like you…then let her be herself.

I wore green and red eye shadow with blue mascara when I was 12. I tried so hard to be like older girls but couldn't figure their makeup out. I also wore boys clothes, or weird things, and she'd suggest prettier girly things but always let me do what I wanted with my clothes and figure out how I wanted to look. I shape shifted all through high school, and ultimately became the girl I am now because I tried what I wanted to try.

3. Let her be wild. She may want to stay home and read books on the couch, or she may want to hop on the back of a motorcycle-gasp. She may be a homebody or a traveler. She may fall in love with the wrong boy, or meet mr. right at age 5. Try to remember that you were her age once. Everyone makes mistakes, let her make her own.

Been there, and am never judged negatively by her. Other friends have moms that would yell at them all the time for their mistakes or deviations from their parents' idea of where they should go. I have never felt like I was disappointing my mom with my life. 

6. Teach her to be independent. Show her by example that woman can be strong. Find and follow your own passions. Search for outlets of expression and enjoyment for yourself- not just your husband or children.  Define yourself by your own attributes, not by what others expect you to be. Know who you are as a person, and help your daughter find out who she is.

If you know my mother, you know this one is obvious. That woman gets involved in anything and everything. She's a busy-body and always tries things and masters them with practice.

8. Let her get messy. Get messy with her, no matter how much it makes you cringe inside. Splash in the puddles, throw snowballs, make mud pies, finger paint the walls: just let it happen. The most wonderful of memories are often the messy ones.

Look at my mom in this picture, need I explain more about how awesome she is?

My mom let me live outside in the summers basically. I made "stews" and "potions" from whatever I could find outside, I swung through mud puddles at the park covering myself head to toe with muddy water. I played in gutters when it rained so hard that it created little geysers in our driveway, and we always went camping and got dirty. I always had dirty, cut, bruised legs as a kid because I got to play and explore and experience childhood the way it should be.

12. Believe in her. It is the moments that she does not believe in herself that she will need you to believe enough for both of you. Whether it is a spelling test in the first grade, a big game or recital, a first date, or the first day of college…remind her of the independent and capable woman you have taught her to be.

She's never done anything but. And she celebrates my achievements. We went on a girl's trip to San Francisco for my college graduation. Just us two. One of my favorite vacations I've ever had.

16. Read to her. Read her Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle. But also remember the power of Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost. Show her the beauty of words on a page and let her see you enjoy them. Words can be simply written and simply spoken, yet can harvest so much meaning. Help her to find their meaning.

This is one of her greatest talents. All of us kids read extremely well because we spent a big chunk of our childhoods with our noses in books and stories, and loving every minute of it. I had a library card when I was about 5 and would checkout a big bag of books, and we couldn't go back to the library until we read them all. We are good learners, quick thinkers, and somewhat artistic because our brains would come alive when reading stories as children. It's one of the best things you can do for a child. It will benefit their life forever.

18. Encourage her to dance and sing. Dance and sing with her- even if it sounds or looks horrible.  Let her wiggle to nursery rhymes. Let her dance on her daddy's feet and spin in your arms. Then later, let her blast noise and headbang in her bedroom with her door shut if she wants. Or karaoke to Tom Petty in the living room if she would rather. Introduce her to the classics- like The Beatles- and listen to her latest favorite- like Taylor Swift. Share the magic of music together, it will bring you closer- or at least create a soundtrack to your life together.

If you know my mother, you know her greatest talent. And that is anything with music. Because of her, I love music and theater of all kinds. I love instrumental music and exceptional singers, and performers. I love music that gets your blood pumping and makes you want to run for hours. She encouraged me to sing in groups in church growing up, and I know I can carry a tune. If only her confidence on stage had rubbed off on me. I do not perform like she does. :)

22. Let her choose who she loves. Even when you see through the charming boy she thinks he is, let her love him without your disapproving words: she will anyway. When he breaks her heart, be there for her with words of support rather than I told-you-so. Let her mess up again and again until she finds the one. And when she finds the one, tell her.

Story of my life. I never have felt like I couldn't run my life. She allows me to live and learn, especially when it comes to dating. Now that I'm getting married, I feel so happy to know how respectful and happy she is toward Justin. She let me fall for idiots, so I'd recognize a good one when he showed up. I don't know if she knew what she was doing when this happened, but it worked. People generally know how to do things if you show them they are capable of handling things themselves.

25. Be home. When she is sick with a cold or broken heart, she will come to you: welcome her. When she is engaged or pregnant, she will run to you to share her news: embrace her. When she is lost or confused, she will search for you: find her. When she needs advice on boys, schools, friends or an outfit: tell her. She is your daughter and will always need a safe harbor- where she can turn a key to see comforting eyes and a familiar smile: be home. 

My mom is totally this for me. When I was at my very worst a few years ago, I came home and she took care of me for a few days. It gave me the energy I needed to start over and become better and stronger and healthier. She is always there when I need her. 

What about you? Are you lucky enough to have such a mother? Please tell me about your favorite parts of the post that apply to your mom... or even someone in your life that took/takes care of you in this way.

Also, this Taylor Swift song always reminds me of her when I hear it. Such a sweet dedication to her mother.

I got bored and someone had this on their Facebook page and I decided to copy them, because I am a little out of sorts (in a fantastic way) lately.

-1* Where was your profile pic taken?

Pensacola Beach, FL. We snagged a random hotel's umbrella and lounger.

-2* Your relationship status?
Engaged!!!!! as of Friday the 13th!

-3* Have you ever lost a close friend?
Yep... some people just have to be cut loose. But I always care about people even afterward.

-4* What is your current mood?
Currently... content. Woke up too early and now I'm counting down until the last possible minute before I have to get out of bed for work.

-5* How old is your youngest sibling?
Why do you want to know? Are you going to hunt my family down for ransom?

-6* Where do you wish you were right now?
A lovely cabin in the Redwood National Forest.

-7* Have a crazy side?
I'm female. Need I say more?

-8* Ever had a near death experience?
A few, actually. For one of them, let's just say, when someone spills an oily substance all over your new car's interior while you're driving near a cliff... it's best not to try to find paper towels or napkins until you're NOT near the cliff. Someone was watching out for me and the passengers of my car that day. I looked up with just enough time to keep us on the road instead of in a ravine.

-9* Something you do a lot?
Work and sleep. I do 8 hours of each one every day.

10* Angry at anyone?
Nope. I don't hold grudges for too long. I don't want to end up like people in horror films coming back to kill happy people after I die.

-11* What’s stopping you from going for the person you like?
2 months and then we'll be married... so nothing but 2 months at the moment!

-12* When was the last time you cried?
Yesterday. Being engaged is bringing out the crazy in me already.

-13* What are you really good at?
Dad-style jokes. Cooking. Sewing. Sight reading sheet music for the piano. My job. Watching horribly cheesy shows on Hulu.

-14* What do you think about when you are falling asleep?
For the most part? Nothing.

-15* What were you doing yesterday at 10:00 am?
Sitting at my desk at work, reading event contracts, trying not to go cross-eyed.

-16* Do you prefer light or dark hair on the opposite sex?
I just prefer a good head of hair. No color preference.

-17* Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Justino Bandito

-18* anyone you like?

I tend to get along well with most people. So I like a lot of people. If you mean the 7th grade version of Like... then the answer is obvious. JUSTIN... since I'm gonna marry the crap out of him.

-19* What are you doing right now?
Gee, I don't know. Maybe FILLING OUT A QUIZ!!! Durrrr....

-20* Who do you trust 100% right now?
Facebook, Google, Any Wikipedia page out there. Also anyone who says, "So I heard somewhere that..." or they quote statistics.

-21* Where did you get the shirt you are wearing?
At the store, where did you get yours?

-22* Heavy metal music?
Is heavy, and metal.

23* Who Was the last person you hugged?
Grandma P., several nieces, and my  nephew.

-24* Is there anything you’re hiding from someone?
This is a retarded question. Everyone hides things from everyone, because certain people we only allow into certain levels of knowing us. We're only what we let people think we are.

-25* Who are you thinking of right now?
A contract that I need to read.

-26* What should you be doing right now?
Nothing, I'm on my lunch break now (I took a 5 hour break from this survey to go to work)

-27* What are you listening to?
Office Chatter

-28* You need new jeans. Quick where do you go?
F21. I like 'em cheap and skinny.

-29* Who was the last person who yelled at you?
My dad? I don't know. I don't get yelled at often. It was more of a lecture than a yell, I also rarely get lectures. Being engaged makes people think they can tell you what you need to do.

-30* Do you act differently around the person you like?
Only at first... I'm a little nervous when I start dating people.

31* What is your eye color?
I'll never tell.

-32* Who was the last person to make you laugh?
A coworker. Who told me about her armpits. Won't say who though. Privacy is important people!

-33* Who was the last person to make you angry?
Something work related. I have been stressed lately.

-34* Hello Kitty or Dora?
If you want your kid to be smart and bilingual, Dora. If you want your kid to be into weird stuff, Hello Kitty. (How on earth does this question have a real answer?)

-35* Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
Blah. Why am I still doing this quiz?

-36* Hug anyone of opposite sex in past 24 hours?
See question 35.

37* One thing you want right now?
A sweet apartment for me and Justino.

-38* Will you fall in love in the next few months?
Can I fall MORE in love instead? And the answer is YES!

-39* What time is it right now?
11:52am. I took an early lunch.

-40* Are you worried about the future?
Nope. Excited!

-41* Are you happy with life right now?
Yes indeed.

-42* Are you currently jealous?
I'm rarely jealous. But a friend on facebook told the world about her awesome Italy trip and I envy her. I miss Italy.

43* Who's your best guy friend?
Justin.

-44* Do you forgive or forget?
Both

-45* What do you miss the most about elementary school?
RECESS! And art time, and kick ball, and my bike.

-46* Favorite Disney Channel show?
I used to love Gummy Bears. Is that ever on anymore? Was that even a DC show? HOW ABOUT KIDS INCORPORATED!?

-47* Stripes or polka dots?
See question 35.

-48* What are you looking forward to?
September and Friday. Both have cool things happening like a wedding, and a wedding dress.

-49* Does anyone like you?
TONS OF PEOPLE. I AM SO POPULAR.

-50* how much money is in your wallet right now?
$100k of Monopoly money. I'm a high roller, what can I say?

I want to write on here regularly, and get a million followers and become famous for my blog. But the truth is... I don't have much to say to this webpage lately. Things are going really well, and I am happy. For the first time in a long time, I'm content, and don't need to talk much about anything. Here is a new song I love. I've been listening to it for a few weeks now, and it's just really good when it's loud. I recommend listening to everything loud to decide if you like it.



Also, the only house you better burn down next week with your dumb fireworks had better be yours. It's WAY too dry for fireworks to be legal in Utah. I'd like to see a blue sky soon, but I have a feeling all we're going to get are more and more wildfires. Thanks idiots who shoot them off in dry grass.

Oh, also... this week I discovered what happens when you piss off some yellow jackets. They chase you and sting you a bunch. Thank goodness I only got a few. I found out I'm a little bit allergic to them. Yay! I'm all better now though. You can rest easy.

Monday is  coming too fast. I love long Summer weekends. It has been a long time since I had one. All I want to do lately is go here and do this.