the letter A

B and I found a totally rad typewriter at our latest adventure to Savers. We almost bought it....but something was missing....

the letter A

I've fallen madly in love with the "click, click, ping!" sound typewriters make!

(yes...that paper is the backside of my pay stub.)

**B loves typewriters. He has one he uses to write me love letters. He even used one on his mission to write letters to home! yeah....

he's pretty much just a cool cat like that.

The Atkin Family

These people, are some of the best of the best people I know. We've been family friends for what feels like forever, and I can honestly say I don't know a more generous people. It was so much fun photographing them on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It felt especially patriotic because Evan (far left, and new hubby to Angie, second to left) devotes his life to serving our country. He's is Washington State and was lucky to come home for a few days before he gets shipped to Afghanistan.

Mark and Roma

The stunning Atkin sisters

{I used to babysit these two, now they are all grown up!}

Evan & Angie

Evan and Angie were married last fall. I can't imagine the patience both of them must have, especially as newlyweds, to be so far apart at the beginning of their life together. But I'm so deeply grateful for Evan, for making that sacrifice and for Angie, for supporting him 110% so that I can enjoy freedoms everyday.

Kayla

Shalanna

***

"Dear Lord, when he's in a foreign land,

keep him safe in your loving hand.

And Lord, when duty is in the field,

please protect him and be his shield.

And Lord, when deployment is so long,

please stay with me and keep me strong.

Amen."

(I stole this from Angie's Facebook, It is so beautiful)

Happy Birthday Big Brother!

Dear Brother,

I can't believe how old you are! 22 is like...way old. remember when we were little and wore ninja turtle underwear on our heads? Or when we would go streaking in our backyard in seattle with nothing but our saltwater sandals on? Those were the days huh? Gosh I've basically always wanted to be like you. I remember being jealous that you could pee standing up. I tried it once, sitting suits me just fine now :) I also remember when you'd tease me and I'd cry and tattle on you. I've grown up some since then. Remember how we used to build the coolest forts in the basement. Remember how you took me on my first date? Or how you let me feel cool and hang out with the older kids in high school?! (I was so proud to be your sister). Remember how you played football all through high school and I wouldn't miss a game for the life of me? Remember how you always tickle me to death? Remember all those late night talks, or how you'd sing me yo sleep with your guitar? Remember when you left for an LDS mission in South Korea for two years? Remember how much I missed you?! And how happy I was when you came home? Remember how we both found love for the first time?! And how much fun that still is!

Brother, I love you to the moon.

Happy Birthday

Love,

little sis

Negative Nelly

Wow!?

Was that post really me the other day?!

Sometimes I'm embarrassed to admit how girly-moody I can be.

up up

down down

It is exhausting.

Life always has it's ups and downs. It's only natural. But if we {we meaning I} let our {my} moods follow the currents of life, we'd {I'd} be seasick ALL THE TIME.

And really, that little tiny weeny insignificant thing that I let bring me down, wasn't worth it.

But I was being stubborn.

I wanted to hurt. {I sadly remind myself of Hamlet sometimes, (yes I'm still reading it)}.

Anyway just wanted to say sorry for being a Negative Nelly. Broken Kitty is now Fixed.

B fixed me.

He came over to my apartment way late at night and gave me the best pep talk i'll ever have. He reminded me exactly who it is that I am. He reminded me that I'm not small, or even normal, but rather that I'm big! And that little downfalls only make me stronger. He kissed my teary-eyed and runny-nosed face.

And told me not that things will be better, but that things already are.

And they were.

he's amazing.

and i love him.

terribly.

madly.

unconditionally.

i feel so small right now.

but not small enough to disappear.

i kinda wish i could disappear.

not for ever.

just for a little while.

and then come back and feel normal sized again.

I was runnin...

So I really wish I were more tech savvy cause I'm dying to post a video from youtube right now.{tips anyone on how I do this? i'm sure i'm missing something totally obvious}

Which video you ask?

Well let me tell you, although it won't do it justice just talking about....

One of my all time favorite movies happens to be Forrest Gump.

It's just simply the best. I thought everyone knew this. Nay, not so. My two besties {lala and kaitydid} haven't seen it. It's un-American, it's inhumane, it's just plain wrong, seriously what kind of deprived life have you been living? {hurry go watch it right now before I offend you further!}

It's necessary for social competence.

Ever had one of those moments where you must have "missed" something from the conversation? You were following along quite well when all of a sudden, you are lost, confused, wondering what part of the english language you never learned?!

I'll tell you what part: the Forest Gump part.

As far as quotables go it's up there with Seinfeld, Monty Python,

and the latest Pixar.

Stop reading my blog.

rent it, better yet, BUY it right now. Sit your family, friends, and anyone you truly care about down and watch this blessed movie!

"I was ruunnninn...."

{for all of you who know what part I'm talking about, pat yourself on the back. I watched the clip before my run today, to ya know, motivate me to run cross country or something.}

{I made it a couple blocks}

I couldn't stop looking at my feet.

They looked so large. The pros at Runners Corner told me to go 2 sizes up....2 sizes UP!? The combo of my spandex skinnys and size 10 shoes paint a picture of some crazed clown rather than some hot runner.

{and I was going for the hot runner look}

"You have to do the best, with what God gave you"

-Mrs. Gump.

I guess that includes big feet....

Studio

My friend, Sabrina, invited me over to her apartment the other day. She was doing a studio photoshoot and needed some models. As soon as I got there, she made me run back and get *Hank so I could take some photos too! How nice of her right?! I've never shot in a studio before, so please be nice!

Here are a few of my favorites:

I jumped in a few as well!

{photo by Sabrina, but tackily copied from facebook by me. Once I get ahold of the originals she took, I'll post them)

*Hank is my camera, and happens to be one of my best friends.

Belles and Whistles

Funny story about the name of my blog:

back in the day, when I was not the avid blogger you witness now, I had no blog at all. I had recently been introduced to a few blogs blogs that still to this day are some of my favorites {Rockstar Diaries and No Sex In The City, just to name a few}.

I was inspired by the idea of a blog, and thought to myself, "if I were to have a blog, what would I call it?" It suddenly hit me "all the bells and whistles" like it was meant to be. But there was something about this little phrase that needed to become more me. I took french in jr. high andfell in love with the language. Put two and two together and voila! I hurried and opened an account and felt ever so lucky that it hadn't been taken yet. And so there is the story of the birth and naming of my blog. I let my blog sit dormant for about 5 months. Now, blogging is one of my favorite things to do. But, it's not something that defines all of me. I don't introduce myself as "Claire, the blogger" nor do I tell many people about it. If they chance upon this little blog of mine I hope they take something good with them when they leave. Anyway, I'm sure you were totally interested in the history of my blog right!? The real purpose of me even talking about it was to share with you the most heart felt gift I received this Christmas.

So you know Brandon, more commonly referred to as "B" in my posts, and even more commonly referred to as the love of my life. Well, he's so sweet to me. He happens to know I really like blogging, but noticed my banner was lacking. So for Christmas he painted for me the banner you see now! Isn't that just too sweet. I can't get over it, every time I log in, I see that painting and am reminded of how much he loves me, and how much I love him back.

His gift totally beat mine. I got him a vintage candy machine and filled it with good & plenty. {he sorta likes those} {I sorta don't, but always find myself eating them when he does...it's like candy corns. Are they even good? No one knows. But we eat them anyway} a good read, and mustache mug. Which is a mug, with mustaches all over it (duh.).

But nothing NOTHING beats homemade gifts.

So, something cool he did was photograph the process of his painting, which results in me having lots of options to choose from, SO I NEED YOUR HELP!

post your vote in a comment below, the one with the most votes will be my new banner!

woot woot!

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Vote Now!

*The finished product is hanging up in my garage at home. Drying. {oil paints apparently take ages to dry...and I'm always so tempted to touch them! So we put it up real high.}