High Rollin' in C-Rad/My Dad is the best!

Last night I attended my first ever cocktail/fundraiser party! I won a ticket in a raffle at work to go to the "Phamaly Circle of Stars Gala" (everything inside the quotes can be read pretentiously).  When I got the information about the ticket, surprise surprise, it was cocktail attire.

I thanked my lucky stars that my sweet mother had thought to buy me a little black dress as a college graduation present - and then I headed off to the stores to find myself a shrug and a clutch. After searching at all the right stores - read JC Penney and Ross's - my sister suggested I give Target a try. So I typed Target into my GPS and showed up at the LARGEST Super Target I have every beheld. It was huge.  I got everything I needed there -- and I was ready to look the part:

Cocktail Ready

Then I showed up at the Gala -- I was offered champagne when I walked through the door (which I declined), I mingled - met some very nice people - ate my hors d'oeuvres - and then watched some live theatre performances, and participated (by watching only) in a live charity auction where they raised thousands and thousands of dollars (although not with one of my tightly squeezed pennies).  My very favorite part of all of it though was get all ready to go! Dressing up is just tooooo much fun! :)

Since it IS Father's Day -- this blurb would not be complete without this portion dedicated to the man that raised me:

I graduated from college this year - thanks to many people, but especially these two:

Therapeutic Recreation is one of those majors that people scoff at -- "she's getting a major in what?!" The word recreation is just a little too 'fun' to be a real job, and I understand where people are coming from, but thankfully I was given two very practical parents who make all kinds of smart decisions say to me "Go for it!"  They have supported my decision even when I doubted it was the right one -- always, always, always saying "Kelli this is perfect for you."  Which really has given me the confidence to move forward to do something that I love! What my dad doesn't know is that he's the one that got me started down this impractical career. 

My dad's a little crazy sometimes and he has a lot of crazy, but really good, ideas. Like the time he decided at the age of 45(ish) to take up back-packing.

He's the leader of his own band!

He and his enthusiasm, and my ever supportive mother, got us to hike with heavy back-packs on, NOT ONCE BUT TWICE, up a giant mountain to this old piece of wreckage.

So happy we've found it after two years and a lot of tears later!

Those trips were horrible, but I came away feeling so extremely empowered and ready to take on the world that I knew there was a power possible in recreation, which led me to therapeutic rec and just so happened to change the entire course of my whole life thus far.... I wonder if he's regretting his crazy back-packing scheme yet?

My dad has also taught soooo much in the course of my 22-years! While looking for these pictures, I found some pictures that represent the pattern for just about all the things my dad has taught me.   It goes something like this:

My sweet dad teaches me all about skill/task/behavior/etc. by standing right next me and guiding me step-by-step through the process.

Then he steps back and gives me a chance to succeed on my own: 

He steps back in to help me through the hard times:

In this case.. touching the fish... blech.

 And then lets me take all the credit:

Proudly disgusted.

 I'm really one lucky girl! :)

Especially since my dad is good for a selfie every once in a while!

That One Time: Todd Goes to Botswana!

I'm realizing that the last year I missed a bunch of huge awesome life events while I was busy being a senior in college, so now I'm playing catch-up!

My sweet, sweet, sweet, studly little brother got his mission call!

I made a cake. It was an abstract globe, and Africa was definitely an after-thought. No joke-- I was seriously ... okay my globe is done.. something's missing... oh Africa! Which is why it's not exactly the correct proportions.

Which is why it's even better that - - HE GOT CALLED TO BOTSWANA GABORONE! English speaking of course, because our Heavenly Father knows my sweet brother very well.  So in exactly two months from yesterday -- that great brother of mine will be in (or flying to maybe) Africa learning how to teach people the Gospel and change people's lives forever!

Kelli's Day

Kelli's Day was an interesting one this year in that I haven't made any friends down here yet, except those required to be my friends -- like Maria my land-lady/roommate and those lovely ladies and gentlemen at work.... So I did the best I could, but I would have to say this was probably one of the worst Kelli's Days I've had in a while. This is fine because the good thing about Kelli's Day is that I could try again later this summer if I really wanted to -- the beauty of making up your own holiday! 

I had a lazy day for most of it. I tried to go a ward activity, but I left pretty early after talking to just about .... no one. My own fault that I lack social skills.  The activity was supposed to take three hours so I suddenly had about three hours to kill! 

First, I found a used bookstore.  It was fantastic.  The book places around here are fantastic! I went to the Littleton Library just to check it out, and it was PACKED with books.  Every tiny nook and cranny had more and more books! Can't wait to get a card!!!  The used bookstore was the same way -- I walked in and there were tons of books on the floor at the entrance that they were trying to sort through.  The store itself had tiny walkways in a maze-like fashion between stacks and stacks and stacks of books.  I finally found my place in the back and sat down on a tiny rocking chair to look through all my favorite books! I decided on a book I'd read before that's pretty good! (Front and Center - pictured below!)

I then went to the lake at Ketring park to get tan and read! It was very relaxing, and it was a beautiful view on a beautiful day! Super fun.

Before I went back home I stopped at Goodwill to grab myself a movie and found, after much scouring, the movie Signs -- what a classic right?!

I got home and checked the mail to find two letters -- one from Toni and one from my mom! They are fantastic people! And soooo sweet to remember my fake holiday! Toni made me the cutest banner pictured above and sweet Aubrey sent me two pictures! They are the best. My mom sent me the sweetest note and 20 dollars to add to my Kelli's Day fund.  Now that I'm basically un-employed 20's in the mall really feel like manna from heaven! I was so excited to get mail!!! :) 

I made the cake and heated up my left-over Thai food and had a delightful evening!  

I really hesitate to put this last picture up, but because I trust you, I'll put it up anyway.  This is my friend Maria who shared my day with me! She's so great! :)  Before you ask questions like "Has Kelli been eating at an all-you-can-eat buffet for the last three weeks?" The answer is no I have not been gaining weight like crazy, but I somehow managed to put together the perfect combination of factors (bubbling shirt, awkward head turn AND tilt, and strange angle of the arm) to create the most un-flattering picture ever.  What a talent, am-I-right?

Happy Kelli's Day to you and yours!!!!