Sbux Summer Treat!

It's officially Summer! One of my favorite brands ~ Starbucks, has started the Summerly Treat Receipt! See all details of  "Use your Treat Receipt for an afternoon chill" here.

Dear Starbucks Treat Receipt,

You're like a ringing bell that announces Summer is here. From July through October, I make sure to save my receipt each morning in the event that craving sneaks up on me around 2pm...and let's be honest, it usually does. During these hot afternoons, an ice cold Skinny Latte or Frappy~Frapp is one of my favorite things. $2 after 2pm, why wouldn't I visit Starbucks for a second time in a day?

Love,
Elizabeth


Added perk ~ Additional Stars on my Gold Rewards Card!

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Dear Mom,

Happy (49th) Birthday!  I know, I know ~ but you're growing wiser so beautifully...and more importantly, so is your eldest daughter! :) 

You have always been an inspiration to me ~ you are the most selfless and giving woman I have ever known.  Jennifer and I like to reminisce over the time you took with us throughout the years, and the levels of patience you have always held.  We were quite a handful (although perfect) at times, and you never wanted to turn away.  You taught us love, patience, and loyalty; you are a fundamental reason why we have the relationship that we do today.  I only hope I will make you proud and become half the Mommy that you have been to Jennifer and me.

Love,
Elizabeth

A Day @ The Bay...Aquarium

Joshua and I had a rare Saturday together and we took a spur of the moment trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium...

Dear MBA,

Our faces lit up as soon as we stepped through the doors and that child like feeling overcame us (I compared the feeling to Disneyland, which I rarely do).  We haven't been in years, and were looking forward to the new exhibits and some familar friends.  All of the seahorses were jaw~dropping beautiful (and the fact that the males carry the babies made me appreciate them that much more).  The sea otters were simply as playful and adorable as I remember them, and the jelly fishies were amazingly surreal.  The sharks and stingrays didn't seem quite as scary (could be because I faced them head on in Turks), but the eels were just as creepy.  Of course, my love for sand dollars took over as we approached their live exhibit (see sheer joy on my face in this picture from our honeymoon after we dove for our own).  We enjoyed watching the little ones ooh and ahh throughout the aquarium, and couldn't wait to put Finding Nemo in when we got home. 

Love,

Elizabeth

Another great perk ~ We bought our tickets through AAA so we skipped the line and got a discount!

iHeart iPhone

In the spirit of the iPhone 4 release (I'm waiting for the white one), I thought I'd shout~out to what I love most about my iPhone: The Auto~Correct!

Dear Auto~Correct,

Thank you for the numerous lols I encounter while texting my seester, my husband, and my BFFs.  You have the capability of turning any text into hilariousness by auto~correcting my horrible thumbs into words that have nothing to do with the subject matter.  My friends & family have learned to decode my texts for what they truly mean, and I certainly let you take control for all the fun of it.  A few of the best:

Seester: "I think the game is rigged...Mom does too..."
Me: "Gagged"
Seester: "?"
Me: "That was supposed to be "hahaha"


Seester: "Khakis:
Me: "?"
Seester: "That was supposed to be "haha"...that wasn't even close."


Brookelyn:  "I'll try to come up, but I don't know if I can"
Me: "The night neorealism we can stay in..." ~ Supposed to read "the night before we can stay in..."



Others...
"Give" becomes "Hive"
"The" is most always "tje"
My sister Jen is usually referred to as "Ken"


...Additional smiles put into our days by the latest "smart" technology.


Love,
Elizabeth


Feel free to share some of your favs below!

Dear Dad(dy Stud)

Dear Dad,

Since I can remember, you have always been my go~to~guy for advice.  From math homework checks to college preparations, the first car co-signing to the first home buying tips, tether ball & swimming & basketball & volleyball coaching, good worth ethic suggestions to career path guidance, the history of the world to any sports statistic.  Any of life's experiences ~ you continually have the answers/recommendations/suggestions for me, and more importantly, you have always supported me.  I look to you and lean on you...and I have found that you only become wiser as I grow older.  I love you ~ hope you enjoyed the 100^th anniversary of Father’s Day (your 26^th!) yesterday.

Love,

Elizabeth

Thursday, Thursday

Dear Thursday,

Back in the youthful and care~free days of college, you trained me to think of you fondly as the beginning of the weekend.  Now, in this real world of adulthood and responsibilities, you give off a false sense of Friday.  Even so, I am grateful for the little reminder that the weekend is within reach...and will never forget those Thursday Night college memories.

Love,
Elizabeth

Love LOST and Gone Forever

Dear Brian,

I read your blog for the last couple seasons of LOST, and I only regret that I didn't find you sooner.  My love (obsession?) for the series took a late start as I watched the first few seasons on DVD in bed after an injury.  I was immediately attached.  My friends and family will easily tell you how my week revolved around the new LOST episode on Tuesdays and your blog on Wednesday mornings (and the weekend after, and the Monday before...).  I so looked forward to discussing your theories and analysis with those that shared the same passion for the show.  The series was so fascinating to me on so many levels ~ unlike any other TV show.  I was astonishingly emotional at the Finale (I honestly don't think I ever sobbed like that before); that night and many days after.  My Tuesdays now feel empty and I find myself going to your Blog only to find your Finale analysis still up as your last entry.  I miss you.

Love,
Elizabeth

Miss Olivia TruBrown

Dear Olivia,

When we first brought you home, I had no idea how tremendously lovable you would become! You make my heart hurt in so many enjoyable ways ~ my adorable little puppy!

 Here are some of the countless reasons I couldn’t possibly adore you more…

~ The way you turn ‘round and ‘round to fall asleep and so cutely deeply sigh when you’ve found the perfect spot.

~ How you carry Ducky in your mouth wherever you go as your security blanket and pick him up to greet the door so that he can meet everyone with you.

~ The way you relentlessly paw at everyone and anyone who won’t provide you enough attention that you, oh so deservingly, require.

~ When you press your forehead against mine for a lil’ Mommy Only time.

~ When you wake up with me to say goodbye each morning and then curl right back up with your Daddy.

~ When you run downstairs bright n’ early at Grandma and Grandpa’s to read the paper with Grandpa.

~ How you follow Grandma around for her little treats that she “drops" for you.

  

~ How you and Auntie insistently squabble yet the two of you love to cuddle at night.

~ The way you bark to “protect us” from dangerous things like people coming into the house, other puppies, the wind...sirens…shadows…

~ When you purposely bat your food under the couch and never fail to get us to “fetch it” for you.

~ How you only eat when we eat ~ and bring your food to wherever we are.

~ Your puppy eyes ~ which you use so well!

~ How you are perfectly happy sitting/laying/cuddling all day and everyday.

~ That you and Daddy can wrestle so vigorously and cuddle so gently in the same five minutes.

~ That you truly know when I’m upset ~ and do the forehead thing to make me feel better.

 XOXO

 

Love,

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Barrett Browning ~ Sonnets from the Portuguese

Dear Love'rs,

 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was one of the most prominent poets from the Victorian Era.  Some of her most acclaimed work was included in the collection of forty~four love sonnets, named Sonnets from the Portuguese.  This collection of poems was secretly written throughout her courtship with Robert Browning (a fellow Victorian poet), leading up to their marriage in 1846.  She initially didn’t want to publish the poems for she thought they were too personal.  However, with the encouragement from her husband she published them under a title that would disguise them as being translations of foreign poems.  They settled on Portuguese because that was Robert’s nickname for her (“my little Portuguese”).  

I found it an awe~inspiring irony that as I was searching for Historic Love Letters I fell upon some of the greatest; written by a woman with whom I now share most of her name.  I will be sharing the collection throughout my blog, but let’s start with Number 43, as it holds one of the most well~known opening lines of the English language…

Number 43

    How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

    I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

    My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

    For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

    I love thee to the level of everyday's

    Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

    I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

    I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

    I love thee with the passion put to use

    In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

    I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

    With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,

    Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,

    I shall but love thee better after death.

Love,

Elizabeth

Sources: Wikipedia, picture ~ http://fran.sneeknet.nl/homepage/show/pagina.php?paginaid=216358

The 7:00am Turnaround

Dear Starbucks Barista,

I walk into the Embarcadero Starbucks half asleep and cranky each and every morning.  The fact that you remember me and my exact (and okay I'll admit it, annoying) drink perfectly, simply brightens the 7:00am start to the work day.  You truly outdid yourself this morning by not only recalling that I've been away on my Honeymoon for some time, but for remembering my drink and covering it as a welcome back.  It's because of you that I always walk back out of that Embarcadero Starbucks wide awake and with a smile.

Love,
Elizabeth

The Beauty of Turks & Caicos

Dear Provo,

We parted ways about two weeks ago, and sigh, how I now think of you.  The crystal blue waters, the baby powder sand beneath my feet, the magnificent atmosphere, and how could one forget the feeling of discovery at every turn and dive.

We couldn't have dreamed of a more perfect Honeymoon.  I hope we can be together again soon.

Love,
Elizabeth

Another Sunday Sets

Dear Sunday,

Waking up in the morning and having that moment of "Oh thank God ~ it's still the weekend." is pure bliss.  Although, dishearteningly, you quickly go by and that illusion of freedom sets with the sun.  I want to let you know that I am grateful for the 24 hours your bring, even though Monday morning never fails to arrive.

Love,
Elizabeth

Marvelous Summer~Morning Maker

Dear Pineapple Easy Slicer,

You may have made our morning ~ and changed our summer for that matter.  We were told how wonderful you could be ~ but until we twisted you into that Pineapple, we really had no idea.  We actually giggled and I'm pretty sure I saw a lil' jig.  Thanks to you, we can easily enjoy the tastiest fruit of the summer without the dread of cutting and dicing and messing.  Oh the little things.

Trust Me ~ Williams~Sonoma Pineapple Easy Slicer

Love,
Elizabeth

A Lost & Found Love Letter

Dear Love'rs,

We moved into our new house last Fall, and we are still getting setlled.  I was organizing the office recently and came across a forgotten love letter.  I have no idea when or who it's from (the writing seems to be around the early days of school, and the outside was addressed to Lizzy ~ a name I haven't been called in over a decade). Nonetheless, it put a smile on face.  Enjoy the puppy love note:

Dear Liz,

Who do you like? Well, I like you.  I can't tell you who I am.  There is a hint on this paper somewhere of who I am.  You will know when you find it.  When you find out, I want to know if you'll go out with me, if you like me too.

Signed,
????? ????????

BTW ~ The hint was "Hi Bob", which I can not recall to be of any significance!  Now what 14ish year old girl wouldn't blush at that? :)

Love,
Elizabeth

Saturday

Dear Saturday,

Oh how I miss you on Mondays, and long for you on Wednesdays.  You are always worth the wait.  Thank you for the extra hours you share in the morning.

Love,
Elizabeth

My First Tru~Love Letter

Dear Joshua,

Our one month wedding anniversary is fast approaching...what a whirlwind of life we have had over the past two years of wedding planning and buying a home!  I adore you for not laughing at me when I fearfully proclaimed "What am I going to do with all my free time!?", and for instead supporting and encouraging me to do something that I would have fun with and love.

Well, here we go!

Love,
Elizabeth