Grace In Small Things - Part 12

I've neglected this for far too long, but received some MAJOR blessings the past couple days that have prompted me to revisit my list of things that have graced me today...

1. My sister Amy. She is my best friend, my family and my everything. Recent events have reminded me just how much I love and treasure her and how terribly lost I'd be without her.

2. My brother-in-law David. He loves my sister and takes care of her, for which I am extremely grateful.

3. My nephew William. He's perfect. And he has changed my life forever and in ways he'll probably never know.

4. My husband Nick. His unconditional love and dedication is seen every day and he will always rise to the occasion when friends and family need him. I'm so grateful to wake up next to such a wonderful man every day. He's also incredibly good at surprises and keeping secrets! :)

5. My surprise today. How wonderfully pleasant! I'm very grateful for this presence right now.

After an eventful couple of days, and a rather emotional week, I am breathing much easier and feeling much peace. I am grateful for new friends and new discoveries, family, and for all in my life that is good. Which is much.

On Turning 30

So last weekend I turned 30. 30! Can you believe it? The idea that I've been alive for 30 years is somewhat mind-blowing. 30 years is a long time, even though it really isn't.

I have never been one to put much stock in numerical age. Jack Benny was once quoted as saying "Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." Too right. The truth is, I don't mind. Oddly, I sort of feel younger than ever at this point. Suffice it to say, 30 is not going to be one of those "hard" birthdays for me. Though I felt I'd be wasting a perfectly good excuse if I didn't buy a shitload of booze and get wasted. Hey, the last drink I had was a good four years ago in Las Vegas. I'm fairly certain I was over due.

I'm not big on celebrating my birthday much, mostly because I don't care to be the center of attention. We usually just group my birthday in with the rest of the October birthdays in the family (there are two others) and that's good enough for me. But hey, 30 is a big milestone. I've come a long way in life and made it through some pretty big trials and I figured this year was a good one for celebration. And by celebration, I meant drinking. And eating. And partying it up with my nearest and dearest. Really, over indulgence in every way, shape and form.

On Friday my sister Amy and nephew William treated me to a lovely lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. I love the Cheesecake Factory! Talk about the perfect place to over indulge. If I thought it prudent at 11am, I probably would have started boozing it up right then. Instead, I chose to intoxicate myself with flavorful iced teas, oat-crusted rye bread with far too much creamy butter,

this amazing shepherds pie,

and, of course, cheesecake.

This, my friends, is an orgasmic combination of two of my most loved confections: red velvet cake and cheesecake, covered in a cream cheese frosting and white chocolate shavings. To. Die. For. I almost did, too. Between the delicious food, the dessert and the always wonderful company of two of my favorite people in the entire world, it was one of the most enjoyable birthdays I can remember.

Thanks, Amy! Love ya, sis!

In contrast to my usual tradition, I also decided to throw a party. For once I wanted to gather my closest family and friends together all in one place and celebrate. Since my birthday falls just before Halloween, I opted for a costume party. I can't remember the last time I dressed up for Halloween. Most years I just throw on a witch hat while wearing my pajamas to answer the door to Trick-or-Treaters. I don't mind, but this year I wanted to go the extra mile. Something fun and humorous, yet easily recognizable. I went through countless costume ideas before finally settling on.....

...Amy Winehouse.

She was perfect! Totally outrageous and very distinctive. And it was such a fun costume to wear, from the wig down to my rub-on tattoos.

For me, one of the best parts of Halloween is seeing the fun, humor and creativity that is put into the costumes. It's also what I love about my friends and family. They're an amazing group of fun and creative people and I took enormous pleasure in ringing in my 30th year of life with them.

After a rough few years of distressing issues with my health, it felt indescribably good to let my guard down and let go of inhibition and just have fun. That night, I didn't have a care in the world. Forget my physical limitations, forget work and to hell with MS. We ate too much and drank even more. We sang and danced along to Michael Jackson, Peter Murphy, Oingo Boingo...even Beyonce'!

I caught up with friends old and new, getting a chance to chat with those I don't see as often as I'd like. I received some very lovely cards with some lovely things written inside. I'm a big fan of the greeting card, especially when one takes the time to write something heart-felt inside. I keep all my cards, I have shoe-boxes full of them. The ones I received for this birthday are all still up on my fridge, a daily reminder of what amazing individuals I have in my life. I kinda don't ever want to take them down.

It was a really fantastic birthday this year. Better than I could have expected. I thank all my friends and family (you know who you are) who made a special effort to make this event what it was...terrific! You guys are the best. I love you!


I feel as if a new page has been turned over in the book of my life. I welcome my thirties with open arms and look forward to the adventures this new chapter of my life will bring. Something tells me it's gonna be good....

One Crazy Summer

I've been meaning to write about my Summer...well, all Summer! But it was a hectic Summer indeed and every time I intended to sit down and write, something else came up. So even though we're already well into Fall, let's take a look back at the Summer of 2009...

In March I participated in this years MS Walk, my first time since getting diagnosed with the disease in 2007. My amazing friends and family joined me in fund raising for this worthy cause and together we raised nearly $400! My brother-in-law, who is quite the talented artist, also designed t-shirts for our team. The day of the walk was chilly and brisk, but we all bundled up and had a really great time walking through the streets of downtown Salt Lake. Even the Empire came out to support our cause! The three-mile walk was more of a physical challenge for me than I expected, but I was determined to finish. And I did. But I couldn't have done any of it without the support of my friends and family. Can't thank you guys enough!



July welcomed a new member of our family, Penny! She was an unexpected addition, but her unique spark and pizazz has filled our home with love and laughter, and a bit of chaos....there is never a dull moment with Penny around. But we couldn't picture our lives without her.

July also saw the return of Tori Amos to Salt Lake City to promote her latest album. As passionate devotees of Tori's music, my best friend Willow and I resurrected our tradition of attending the meet and greet as well as the show at Abravanell Hall. It was another one for the scrapbooks! We got to meet Tori again and her performance was nothing short of electrifying. I actually took the time to post some photos and details about this one because, well, it was so damn awesome.

September brought with it mine and Nick's 8th wedding anniversary. Eight years...I have no idea where the time has gone. I love this man more and more each day. He is my soul mate and we are so blessed to be able to share our lives together. We celebrated by having a lovely dinner at Bomby house restaurant. Indian food is amongst our favorite cuisines and the Bombay House is one of the best in Salt Lake. After dinner, we attended a performance by our favorite comedian, Jim Gaffigan, at Kingsbury Hall. He did not disappoint and we were laughing until we could barely breathe. Sharing great food, good conversation and lots of laughter...I can't think of a better way to celebrate our life together.

September also saw the return of the Utah State Fair. I enjoyed amazing luck last year when one of my photos took 4th place in the amateur category of the photography exhibit and was looking forward to another opportunity to submit some of my photos. I was honestly not expecting a win this year, but was looking forward to repeating the experience. As predicted, I didn't place. But I thoroughly enjoyed viewing the work of some amazing local photographers. I also took time this year to view some of the other competitive exhibits, including the culinary and stitching categories, and was quite enamored with what I saw. I plan to submit pieces into these two categories next year, as well as photography.


The last week of September, my dear friend Mindy moved to North Carolina. This is a good move for her, and I can't wait to hear about all her new adventures in this new chapter of her life. I knew I would miss her, but I don't think I realized how much I would miss her until she was gone. We still stay in touch, of course...she is only a phone call away. And honestly, with the goings on of these last few weeks, I probably wouldn't have even seen her anyway. But there is something about knowing that she is not here, and that I can no longer just drive over to her house or meet up for an impromptu coffee that has just left a little bit of a void. I guess 12 years of friendship will do that. Still, I am happy that she is following this path. And now I have an excuse to visit North Carolina!

This Summer also saw a bit of a decline in my health. Some new symptoms appeared as well as the exacerbation of some old ones. Heat is a known aggravator of Multiple Sclerosis, and I am hoping this rough spell was a result of the Summer temperatures and not an indication that I am progressing. I have noticed some improvement with the cooler temperatures, but a few of the new symptoms seem to be lingering and I am still struggling with some day to day activities.

I confess myself disappointed, as this onslaught of symptoms spoiled my plans for all my Summertime baking and crafting and outdoor excursions. I also took significantly fewer photos than I normally do and I am disappointed that I missed out on capturing some moments. But, such is life on the roller coaster ride that is MS...lots of ups and downs.

Overall, it was a decent Summer. I still enjoyed quite a bit of fun and we received a few blessings as well. I am VERY much looking forward to the remainder of Fall and my favorite holiday, Halloween! I see some serious fun on the horizon.

Caution: Massive Cuteness Ahead

Spent a lovely afternoon yesterday with my sister, Amy, and my nephew, William. He's nearly 4-months-old and is getting cuter and chubbier by the day.

OMG, Cute!


Oh boy...the pouty face. I hear ya, bud. Sometimes the world just isn't right.



But then mommy kisses your toes and all is well once more!


*sigh* If only life could stay this simple. Although no one has kissed my toes in a while. Maybe I should give it a try, see if it helps. This could be the hidden answer. Quick, somebody write the President!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, friends!

I had planned to write all about Christmas and New Years like I have done in the past, recapping all the happenings. But I'm just going to say that they were simple and uneventful,
but also nice. And they were.

But I am glad they are over. What with the health issues experienced by both myself and my husband these past several months, the holidays were a bit tricky this year. The hustle and bustle this season brings added some challenges, but we were still able to enjoy some good times spent with family and friends.
Which is the important bit, really.

So here's to a new year full of new possibilities and opportunities. I trust that, if nothing else, 2009 will be an interesting year indeed.

Holiday Fun In The Kitchen

I don't know about you, but nothing says Christmas to me like making festive holiday treats. Creativity, chocolate and making memories with friends...what could be more Christmas Spirit-y? Or messy? I love making a mess.

I was inspired by my new online love, Bakerella, to make these holiday themed cake balls. How fun are these? As far as I'm concerned, the funnest part of making holiday treats is decorating them. We had decorating gel, little candies and sprinkles galore. I even found edible markers. Genius.

And because Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without them, we even had these festive cow-shaped sprinkles! There was a cow in the manger or something, wasn't there?



Anyway, making the cake balls themselves was easy enough. It's basically a mix of crumbled up cake and frosting, rolled into balls. The unforseen challenge came when it was time to dip and decorate. It seemed relatively simple:
melt chocolate,
dip balls into chocolate,
apply decorations.

What could possibly go wrong?

Oh. Uhm.

Ka-blamo!

Obviously, there was a bit more to think about than we initially thought. We made the balls a bit too big, and with the added weight of the melted chocolate they were sliding right off the sticks. But, after some trial and error (and a lot of laughter!) we started getting the hang of it...

My sister Amy made this adorable Christmas mouse!
(Sadly, however, part of his head fell off. So she had to eat him. He was delicious.)

And I made this reindeer.


Remember that childhood game Cootie? This is our chocolate tribute to Cooties.


For a first attempt, I'd say not bad. A for effort, anyways. And we learned some things for next time. But most importantly, we had a complete blast!

Love you ladies!!

Two Words

Pure. Sweet.

Peace Out, Yo.

I can not get enough of this face.

Just over two weeks old, my little nephew William. Man, this kid is packing some serious cute. Those eyes! That delectable little nose! The hat! It's a lethal combination.

Thankful Thoughts

The holidays have once again sneaked up on me. It doesn't feel like Thanksgiving yet, and all the Christmas decorations and music in the shops seem oddly out of place. Perhaps it's the absence of snow. But, here we are. And I have much to be thankful for this year.

Nick came through his surgery alive and well. We still have a long road ahead, but he is still with us and I am most thankful for this.

In these rough economic times, I still have a job. Though some days I want to set the building on fire (I asked for no salt on my margarita!), I am still gainfully employed and have the privilege to work with some pretty awesome people.

I have a warm bed to sleep in, with three warm kitties, food to eat and clothes to wear.

Gas under two bucks a gallon.

I am surrounded by loving friends and family.

I have a new nephew!

Barack Obama is our new president-elect. Fo' shizzle!

And, lastly.....this place. Do yourself a favor and just go.

So....what are you thankful for?

I wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving day, filled with family and friends, good food and conversations and too much pie.

Love,
~Niki

I'm An Aunt!

I'm pleased to welcome into the world, my nephew

William James Burchett

Born November 13th, 2008
5 lbs 10 oz
Approx. 19 inches
Cute as a button

All ten adorable fingers accounted for!


As are all ten little toeses. *nom nom*


Both Mom and baby are doing well and are expected to return home tomorrow.

It's so surreal that my baby sister is a Mama, but it fills me with inexplicable joy. Congratulations, sis! I love you. You and David are going to be awesome parents.

Welcome to the world little William. I can't wait to get to know you and find out what kind of person you will be. As your Aunt, I will always be here to provide love and support to you and your parents and to celebrate all of life's little milestones.

And I will always have gum.

(Not So) Little Sistah

I had a really fun afternoon doing pictures with my sister, Amy, today. She's about to become a new mom (and me an aunt!) in about eight weeks!

Isn't she the cutest little mama??

I can't begin to express my joy and happiness for her and my brother-in-law. I love you both, and your little bundle, so very much! I can't wait to meet him!

P.S. Welcome October! I'm looking forward to all your Fall-ness and the pumpkins and, of course, Halloween! Seriously, though....almost 90 degrees today? Chill out, yo.

Vermont - Day Five: Reflections

We spent our last morning in St. Albans having a wonderful breakfast with Violet, Dan and Marie. Scrambled eggs and ham, fresh apples and berries and something called Breakfast Bread by Pepperidge Farms. I've never seen this bread back home, but it is absolutely delightful. We enjoyed a cinnamon apple variety...toasted with some melted butter. Lovely.

I've been noticing the great care that these folks put into setting the table. The forks, spoons and knives are always out and arranged in the proper manner. There are virtually no cartons or packages on the table...the sugar is in the sugar bowl, the cream in the creamer, the coffee in it's carafe. A place for everything and everything in it's place. For every meal. I think they do this, not to impress, but because this is how it's always been done. The art of setting a welcoming family table is a lost one, going the way of the Dodo along with the family meal. And I have to say, that these small efforts and details really do go a long way in creating a delightful setting to gather around as a family.

After breakfast, Dan shared with us his experience in the military during World War II. He regaled us with tales for at least an hour and we looked through old photo albums. It was a really pleasant way to end our visit.

It was hard to leave today. This trip has turned out to be much more than we ever expected, and I am leaving with a whole new clarity and with a sense of contentment and optimism. I can't wait until the next visit, but until then we will take advantage of technology to keep us in touch.


Dan, Violet, Marie, Jack, Pam, Brian, Kristin, Mike and Chris,

Thank you all for your enormous generosity and hospitality and for making us feel so very loved and welcome.

Vermont - Day Four

Today was a girls day of lunch and shopping in downtown St. Albans. Marie took Amy and I on a tour of the best shops where we found some great clothes, scarves and kitchen items to bring home!

We also enjoyed an in-depth and very illuminating conversation over lunch in which Marie filled us in on a bit more family history, particularly with the women. This was kind of the missing piece to the puzzle that we've been looking for and it answers a lot of questions about our recent family history. Though I've only just met Marie, I've formed a real connection to her over the last few days. We share so much in common and she is a very open-minded woman. I'm gonna miss having her around.

Dan, Mike and Nick also enjoyed a boys afternoon of lunch and who knows what. Whatever boys like to do. According to Nick, though, they had a very nice time.

Later that afternoon I took a small jaunt around town where I explored the very old St. Albans cemetery. I am completely fascinated by old cemeteries...I could have walked around that place for hours.

We spent our last night in Vermont hanging out with our cousins Mike, Brian and his wife Kristin, enjoying wine and music and good conversation. We all had a good laugh over the fact that none of us expected each other to be so close in age. From the way Dan and Violet talked, we expected them to be young children and they expected us to be in our sixties. We've all had enormous fun getting to know each other and I'm just so sorry we don't have more time to goof off together. We'll definitely be keeping in touch and tonight was a really great way to spend our last night here in Vermont.














And we were finally able to enjoy a beautiful Vermont sunset.

Vermont - Day Three

Today we hit the road with Violet and Jack and headed out to Lake Champlain and the Lake Champlain Islands. The Islands are a peninsula that run through the lake from Burlington, Vermont to Montreal, Quebec. There are five small towns that reside on the Islands where there are homes as well as shops and restaurants for visitors to enjoy.

Also along the way is an eight-mile detour to a small bridge that took us into Rouse Point, New York. Rouse Point is another small
town like St. Albans and those on the Islands. We had a nice little jaunt through town before moving on.



After our tour of the Islands we moved on to Burlington where we visited Church Street. This historical street is lined with shops and restaurants all nestled into wonderfully preserved buildings. We enjoyed a lovely lunch and saw a few sights before heading back to St. Albans for the day.















That evening we were treated to yet another superb family meal courtesy of Jack and Pam, complete with delicious food and more family stories and laughs.


This visit has been so therapeutic. It's been so overwhelmingly amazing to get in touch with these luminous people. We've heard so many times on this trip that we are pretty neat for making the trek across country just to meet them, but they have really given us so much more than the effort we put out to get here. They have given my sister and me something we've never really had....family. And my God, is it ever fun!