A Fond Memory

Hey, you.

Would you consider yourself a nostalgic person?

Nostalgia is what the dictionary would call "a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past."

I get that feeling a lot. It's not that I don't ever look forward, or that I am actually stuck in the past, but I just like to reminisce about the good times, you see.

I am going to share with you one of my favorite memories (Shelby, this one's for you).

This lovely green elephant to me, represents a magical, simpler time of life. It is the representation of a bucket full of good memories. Props to you if you actually know where it's from without me telling you!

For those of you who are not Disneyland aficionados, let me enlighten you.

This here, is the green elephant that once stood in the Gibson Girl ice cream shop on Main Street in Disneyland California. I love it because as a child and teenager, when my best friend Shelby and I were finishing a day at Disneyland (we went to Disneyland together a lot...) we would always stop at the ice cream parlor and sit at the bar next to this green elephant and eat our ice cream cones.

It reminds me of the end of a long day at Disney - our legs tired, our bellies sore from laughter, and our hearts filled to the brim with happiness. The lights would twinkle, and the gentle sound of music would play in the background as we would enjoy our treats and gaze up at this statue.

It's a simple thing, really, but it's burned into my memory with such fervor that I shall never forget it.

They took it out a couple of years ago when they remodeled the ice cream shop to make way for a bigger queue, but while wandering around Disneyland a couple months ago I saw that it had found a new home in Adventureland. Next time you're at Disney see if you can spot it!

(circa 2011)

Lately

Realized it had been a minute since I updated the old blog! Some biggish things to report.

Drum roll....

We're building a house!!! Here's our pile of dirt. I've been dreaming of this moment for a long, long time and I can't believe it's finally here. Originally we weren't even planning on looking for anything until the summertime but Nathan found the cutest little neighborhood and we met with the builder and liked them and felt good about it and two weeks later we'd signed a contract. So it all happened pretty fast, but everything just fell into place so nicely I can't help but feel it was where we were meant to be.

We haven't broke ground quite yet, but I'll take some photos and share as the building progresses.

Also back in January I flew out to New Orleans to hang out with my bestie, Shelby and meet my Godson (God-Son, God Son, however the crap you spell it....), Charlie!

Bought some stylin' Tulane gear.

We rode bikes along the Mississippi.

And enjoyed a beautiful sunset in Aubudon Park.

My cutest little godson, Charles. Isn't he adorable!? He is so perfectly round.

Honestly the best thing about New Orleans (besides visiting my friends of course) is the food!!!! So We ate out at several new restaurants. We tried out Emeril's this time, and it was quite delicious.

I got the chicken and waffles. When we made our reservation you had to pick and 'occasion' so Scott and I said it was someone's birthday in hopes we'd get free dessert or something. Well when they were checking us in they host said "Oh and it's someone's birthday", but Scott and I forgot to clue Shelby in so Shelby was all like....uhhhhh no? So I had to hurry and save us by saying - Yes, yes it is, remember?! My belated birthday celebration?!. Haha anyway the end of the story is that we didn't get anything free despite all that, so I guess lesson learned.

I've taken quite a significant less amount of photos over the last 6 months or so, so not too much picture wise to share. My life is filled with working three nights a week on the tele unit at the hospital and finishing up my last semester of my bachelor's program. One month to go until I have my like, fourth, college graduation haha. I seriously can't wait to be done though! I'm not going back to school for a while after this... maybe like 10 years. I need a break!