i logged back into my blog this morning for the first time in months. what a sad blog it’s turned into. that was never my intention. if i were a lot braver i’d tell you everything that happened. but i’m not. but today i will tell you happy things. i am sitting at a friends house in front of wide open windows with the nicest breeze blowing in. there are big green trees outside and the neighborhood looks so peaceful. you may have seen me mention on twitterthat i moved back to utah. through friends and blessings and a little serendipity i found a teeny, tiny house in salt lake. it’s just perfect for harlow and me. i’m not joking when i say it’s teeny. but the yard is big and there are two giant old trees and well, it just feels right and good. my friend billie and her family have been so generously letting harlow and i live in her basement while we wait for the house to be ready. harlow loves having a 2 year old to play with. i like it too. i’m going back to california this weekend for a few days with the johnson family. they’ve been the biggest support and strength to me while i’ve struggled through this last year. i cannot wait to see them. and shaylyn and her husband are back in town for a few weeks and i’m loving every second i get to spend with them. i can’t wait to get settled into salt lake and into my new home. and i can’t wait to share photos with you. i hope i can create a beautiful home on very little budget.

maybe it will just be for a few days, maybe a few months. i really don’t know. for the last week i’ve had to deal with something too personal and too painful to post on here.

::edited:: because nothing seems like the right thing to say.

i hate the way i’m feeling right now. i don’t want to see the world as ugly and hateful but right now it doesn’t seem like such a nice place.

on a more positive note i’m so grateful for the power of prayer and for loving friends.

i’m excited to have some time off to head back to salt lake city and visit friends. just me, harlow, and 15+ hours of driving. i’m looking forward to it actually – the visiting and the driving. i hope harlow does okay. i’m excited to get to stop in vegas to see erin too. finally! it’s too bad that chelsea will be out of town… this is what i get for being spontaneous. oh well, i can’t wait. please keep your fingers crossed that all the snow still on the mountains stays on those mountains.

there’s really not that many days to count down but i think i’ll make a paper chain anyway.

beautiful polaroid by phanieisfunny

i had so much fun in san francisco last weekend with krista and alice. there was lots of food, lots of walking, a little rain and a fair amount of shopping. i really loved san francisco and will be back asap!

B L O G S H O P from Bri Emery on Vimeo.

BLOGSHOP PHOTOBOOTH! from Bri Emery on Vimeo.

an ah-mazing weekend. i fell in love with la big time. and with blogging. and with photoshop. these are the funnest girls ever. photo taken by ithyle

look what i made. bri and angela are the best teachers. photoshop has never felt so useable. (though you must exuse my wonky handwriting) i can’t wait for our second day of class tomorrow.

when i start to panic over the fact that i have to still haven’t filed my taxes and that my driver’s license expires this month (ugh)… looking at is a good distraction.

what are your distractions?

image from think geek

after the blogger’s day of silence i realized i kind of enjoyed being offline. i read books, listened to music, went on longer walks, spent more (if you can imagine) time with harlow, cooked, cleaned and caught up on some sleep. it was nice. i love the internet – tweeting, pinning, instagraming, flickring, blogging, etc… but it’s nice to take a break. here’s some photographic proof:

i learned to poach an egg
i got a flat
harlow got stung by a bee on her face and was very sad
i rode a train up the coast
the ocean shimmered and sparkled
i saw some horses
and some cows
i spent some time with journaling
i slept in
and went to the mountains
then to the ocean

i’m filled with shock and saddness as i watch what is happening in japan. but i’m touched by these random acts of kindess that have been going on since the earthquake. please consider taking part in the bloggers day of silence.

edited & reposted: tonight starting at 10:46PM (PST)/ 2:46PM japan time, in remembrance of Japan, i’ll be silent on blog/twitter/facebook. for japan with love has earned $16,000 at last count. please join in if you can. for japan with love