Family Christmas Card

http://www.jenniferdial.blogspot.com/

Family Matters

My mom urged each of her children to write a paragraph about ourselves and send it to her so she could compile the Christmas Newsletter. I know, seems like a dream right? You get 350 words to write about yourself? But.. No thanks, I don't like writing about myself...

The deadline for entering our Autobiography came and went with none of us turning it in. Now, she has the liberty to say whatever she wants about me to the 3,000 people who consider us their "best friends". For my mother's tender eyes, I have maintained the image of a very kind, well spoken, successful woman. This is my warning that your Christmas Newsletter may not be the whole truth.

Merry Christmas from the Dials!

if you'll let me- i'll take care of you

Guys, my emotional side is peep-toeing. Maybe it's the holiday or maybe it's the weather but I just want to love everybody. I'm not easily upset and sometimes I find myself smiling because my life is such a special thing. It's a wonderful feeling.

Realization

My entire life is like that episode of sex and city where Aidan takes Carrie to the country and she makes it work.

Relationship Advice

"maintain control as long as you can... because we both know once you relinquish control it will just become a s*** show"

words of wisdom from carly a williams

#firstworldpains

On Sunday, Kyria and I were having a conversation with Matt who was saying that for Thanksgiving his grandma made Turkey AND Ham. He asked whether we preferred Turkey or Ham for Thanksgiving and Christmas.Kyria and I just looked at eachother and exchanged knowing glances because we haven't had "traditional" holiday meals in years.

Matt: "I feel spoiled because I got both. And for Christmas she will probably make both."

Kyria: "I feel spoiled because Christmas I was in Mexico and Thanksgiving I was in Belize."

That girl really knows how to shut people up.

Resolutions

Guys, I have some big plans for 2012. First, let's recap. I had one big plan for 2011; get my emotions figured out. Turns out, getting my emotions figured out really means giving myself permission to feel everything at the right time and not just all at once.

In 2012 I would like MORE:
Sleep
Temple Attendance
Quality time with my friends
Homemade Sunday Dinners
Service
Trips: (NYC, Chicago, and Boston)

Live Music.

I would like LESS:
Mirrors

Breakouts
Late Friday nights
Fast food
Driving.

I would like NO:

Ex boyfriends

Fights with my sisters

Sleepless nights

Harm to my body.

Also, I would like:

The same amount of self acceptance

The same amount of yoga

The same amount of laughter.

Spotlight

In April 2011 I lived alone in a beautiful apartment in downtown Austin. I slept in a bed made for three and my dog saw me naked on the daily. I was so used to being alone that I hated when someone would get in the car with me and I loved it.

Then something happened. Like, the reality of paying 2 grand a month on rent, and the fact that I slept in my closet because my bed was too big, and the ability for me to invite over whoever I wanted whenever I wanted and not have any consequences, and then there were the times when I did inevitably get lonely and I had to deal with the worst of all human emotions.

I did what I thought I would never do once Lauren, the best roommate ever, got married and was off the living market. I got a roommate.

ENTER: Carly. A transplant to Austin from New York City and before that San Diego.
Glamorous, right!?!

She met my family after 1 week. We bore our souls after 2 weeks. By 3 weeks I let her in on some of my weird eating habits. She introduced me to the Kardashians and TEVO. She thought I was smart except when I was acting stupid. She encouraged me to evaluate my relationship, my job, my happiness, etc. We talked at length about our friends and family. By 1 month in she was sleeping in my bed periodically and picking out my nail polish colors.
She's funny and girly and a carries a normal amount of insecurities. She is more socially and emotionally aware of other people than anyone I've ever met. She's my friend because she's patient and a little crazy. She listens like a champ and laughs hard. She motivated and pretty and sleeps through alarms just like me. She drives a yellow convertible and thinks it's funny when I offend people. She likes twitter, fast food, the mall, working, talking about Jesus, taking care of people, and swearing.

Guys, I've got some big plans with this one.

Self Awareness

I am a full fledged, voter registered card carrying member of the clan of people over the drinking age who consider themselves adults. I have a collection of furniture, I have a Coke addiction, my opinion is valued at my job, I have a reoccurring alarm, I have friends all over the country, I travel for holidays, I am insured, I drive a fuel effecient car, my sheets are over 500 thread count, I don't bite my nails. I can't go to a social setting without having an intellectually stimulating conversation. I don't enjoy mediocre relationships.

...And, I've always wanted to profess Self Actualization and I would say I'm getting there.

Thinking

"When I go out of town, I have to call it a trip because my whole life is like is a vacation"

A quote from the hardest working man I know. He slept a little, worked a lot, and enjoyed every second of it.