twins for a month: twenty-nine

It's time for this year's Twins for a Month! Because my sister and I are a mere eleven months apart, every year, from November 10 (her birthday) to December 6 (my birthday), we get to be twins for a month.  I love my sister, my first friend. She is a rare beauty, with porcelain skin, cheek bones to die for, big brown eyes, and glossy chestnut hair. She is kind, and patient, and really, really funny (ask her to do her stand-up routine for you sometime). I love that we have now celebrated nearly three decades worth of birthdays together. This sister of mine, with whom I have shared so much.

Mel, may 29 be an awesome year for you (and I am thinking it will be!). May you be blessed with much love, plenty of time in the company of your family and friends, a little adventure, and all the joy your heart can hold. I love you. Here's to you on your 29th birthday.

Now, to the fort! (Alex built an awesome birthday fort, in which we will eat pizza, play board games, and watch movies tonight).

bandito turns 28

My sister turns 28 today, and thus begins our annual month of being twins (we're eleven months apart, and no, our mother isn't crazy, she was 22 and had a lot of energy).

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, creative, and funny sister, whom I love an insane amount! I wish I were in Austin getting ready to: 1) Make you a celebratory birthday breakfast, 2) Take you out for an afternoon of shopping and lunch, 3) Go out for dinner and drinks, followed by something cheesy but fun (like line dancing!), and 4) Give you a GIANT smothery hug, and a smooch or two.

Love you, Mel.

xoxo,

Sissy

beauty & style

I have two super gorgeous and stylish sisters. I love them. A lot. 

i chat, you chat, we all chat

One of my favorite things about the new computer is doing a three-way iChat with my sisters. It's so nice to actually be able to see them when talking to them, and much more fun than a plain old phone call. Mel is at home in Texas, Gigie is in her dorm room at Cal, and I'm at home - looking rather tired - in the snowy Midwest. Man, I miss my sisters!

Alrighty, off to bed. Five posts in one weekend, definitely a record for me. My goal this week is to work out five times in preparation for the start of my official half-marathon training next Monday. So, a good night's sleep is in order. Good night, all.

tanto craft studio

My little sister, Melissa, just started her own craft studio and she is officially up and running with a shop on Etsy. She is one creative mama and I am super excited to see the stuff she comes up with. Check out this cute bag she just put up on her shop:

It's called the Tammy Tote (awwww) and is awesome and handmade by one of my favorite people on the planet. Love you, Mel!

best in show

In honor of my beautiful, gloriously talented, and fabulously sophisticated younger sister, Gigie, I am posting this very artsy photo of her. She called me tonight to tell me that she won best in show in an art show! She entered one drawing and two paintings and one of her paintings was named best in show out of all 600 (or so) entries. Woot-woot for Gigie!

I am continuously amazed by the incredible human being the "runt" of the family, our little peanut, is turning out to be. She's artistic, musical, athletic, scholarly, kind, genuine, stylish, interesting, unique, and funny. To me, she's a breath of fresh air in a world where lot's of young people (and old people too) are more concerned with the latest celebrity trends than in becoming people of substance and worth. Also, she makes me laugh really hard. I just love this kid. 

a sisterly weekend

My sister came out to visit us from Houston! Something happens when I'm with my sisters - we get a little weird, and I love it. It was so fun having Melissa here, and next time Kevin and I hope that Gigie, Alex, and Ryan can come out, too, for a complete brothers & sisters (in-law) reunion.

Thanks for a wonderful birthday gift, Kev and Mel!

sister in love

I thought I would share these pictures of Mel and Alex on the day they got engaged. I am so excited for them! Congratulations to two beautiful human beings. A lifetime of love to you two.