We miss you, Mackenzie!

My friend, Mackenzie, is spending a month in Bulgaria learning ... Bulgarian. She is so brave! Even though she is having fun across the miles, we miss her here!

Check out her blog!

Her husband, Ivan, is back in the States, so we thought we would take him out for some quality food at Buca's!

soooo...i lied.

i guess i lied. i have something else to post.

i had the craziest experience the other day, and i know you all have had something like this happen to you ... and i want to hear about it!

i was at a target while visiting my family in wisconsin. i had to go to target to return a bunch of junk that was purchased the same day. blah. as i was walking into target, someone stopped and yelled, "talia!"

i couldn't believe it! here was my friend, jamie, who i never see in indy (where we LIVE), in the parking lot of target in WISCONSIN! her mom happens to live about 5 minutes from my parents. cRaZy!

it's a small world after all.
it's a small world after all.
it's a small world after all.
it's a small, small world.

now, i know that you all have a story or two like this. i want to hear it! these stories never cease to make me grin. :-)

Blogging ... who is it for, anyway?

i started this blog as a way of throwing thoughts, funny stories, quirky videos, and fun pictures out into ... wherever. i am realizing that i have less and less to say to "the world." so, if things slow down a bit, don't be alarmed. ;-) i think blogs are meant more for communication across the miles, and ALWAYS for showing off pictures!

i will certainly keep my blog up, even if just to be able to get to my other favorite blogs; those of my friends with babies, new spouses, have moved far away, are buying a house, etc. or, my sister, who actually blogs about interesting topics and lets her readers offer their thoughts!

although i will not write a ton more, i will look forward to checking out my friends' blogs for fun pictures, thoughts, etc. happy holidays!

Belgium Holiday House

So, if you find yourself in Southeastern Wisconsin over the holidays (I know that I will!), stop by Belgium and see Alan's handy-work. If nothing else, go and check out Bublitz's Restaurant!

Career Explorations

what's the statistic? adults will change their careers four or five times throughout their lives? hmmmm ... well, it looks like i'm on my way to #2 ... whatever that is!

i resigned from teaching to pursue other career options. it's a little scary, and i certainly wouldn't suggest resigning from one job without another one - or, at least, a plan! i'm working on all of those silly details, but i'm blessed to have a new roommate! i am looking forward to sharing my lovely little apartment with a great friend! i'm sure that we'll paint the town red, and (for whoever reads this silly blog), you'll be able to hear allllll about it.

Christmas Challenge

i have heard about a great challenge from friends, a youtube video ... and even a priest!

what if we took some/all of the money we were going to spend on a christmas gift and gave it to charity? i can think of several charities that are in much more need than me of a gift. do we really need a gift this year?

this year is the first one where i actually feel sick to my stomach when i see commercials and the news reports about black friday and cyber monday. i hear stories about people being trampled and fights breaking out in stores. really? has your child been taught that they need that toy or video game system that badly.

Here's the challenge: give a gift to charity in someone's name as part of their present, ask for the same to be done for you this Christmas.

Weddings, Houses, Babies ... Oh, my!

it is definitely that time of life when i am excited to find out that friends are engaged, having their weddings, pregnant, buying a first home, or already playing with their first child.

it's amazing to see friends that i have grown up with - whether that's from wisconsin, btown, or butler - getting married and becoming moms and dads. (doesn't it seem like those were such "grown-up" things to do?) i am really proud of all of my friends who are growing up so happily with their new spouses, big bellies, new children, and beautiful homes! (all of your children are ridiculously cute, by the way!)

it is funny that almost everytime i catch up with a friend, there is some big news to hear, such as an engagement, baby, or house. what fun conversations to have! so, this is a big CONGRATS to all of my friends who are doing such grown-up things, and doing a darn good job, too!