about last month

You might say it's been an eventful month. So eventful, in fact, that I feel a list coming on. (I can't help myself.)

In the last 30 days ...

1. I went to Hawaii for my Grandpa's funeral. It was a perfect weekend celebrating an amazing man with a family I absolutely, totally adore.

I heart Hallstroms ...

... and Uncle Jim's Kalbi ribs ...

... and work parties at Grandpa's house ...

... and the "return-me rhyme" in Grandpa's
books, found at said work party ...

... and terrifying quantities of KFC ...

... and cousin Chris eating this entire plate of Chantilly Cake,
all because someone said, "I dare you" ...

... and self-portraits — Hawaiian-style ...

... and cool cousins ...

... and the loveliest of grandparents.

2. My hair has returned to its blonde roots — however artificial they may be. It's good to be back.

3. We went to Idaho Falls to help Adam's parents move into their beautiful new home. It was so fun to be a part of the transition (not to mention show off my brute strength), and we can't wait to make millions of new memories on Strawberry Lane. By the by, don't you just love that street name? My inner 4-year-old was hoping Strawberry Shortcake would show up with a plate of cookies welcoming them to the neighborhood.

4. We found out these two crazy kids are coming home.

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

5. We attended General Conference, which was completely special and completely inspiring. Remember Elder Holland's talk? I remember.

6. Oh, and we bought a house. Adam and Briana Stewart are, you know, homeowners.

7. I know, right?

the golden boy

It's Adam's golden birthday today (turning 29 on the 29th), and since I can't be with him on this most happy of days (I'm in Hawaii for my Grandpa's funeral), I want him to know that I love him more than the 29 Kalbi Ribs I plan to eat for dinner tonight.

That's true love, right Uncle Jim?

Happy Birthday, honey. Miss you like crazy.

Hawaii loves itself some Adam Stewart.

belated blogiversary

Dear Blog,
I owe you an apology.

You turned 1 last week Friday, and I treated it like every other same-old, same-old day. I went to work. Amy and I beat the boys mercilessly at Hand and Foot (no, like mercilessly). And then I went to bed with nary a birthday greeting in sight.

Shameful, indeed.

I should have been throwing virtual confetti. I should have been closing my eyes and Googling a wish (or 10). And I should have been eating colorful cupcakes while perusing past posts (mmmm cupcakes).

But alas, a belated birthday sentiment will have to do — along with a shout-out to a few of my favorite posts here, here, here and here.

Do you have any favorites? (Because this blogiversary is a celebration of me, obvs. :)

Happy Birthday, Blog. You're growing up so fast!

Love,
Bri

xxxooo

Grandpa Hallstrom passed away last night. He was in his 91st year, as he would say (whilst Grandma would shake her head and say, "Why would you want to sound older than you are!").

There is too much to say about just how amazing Grandpa was, so I'll sum it up by saying he had class — just like Grandma did.

Miss you, Grandpa.

xxxooo,
Breezy

I adore this picture of Grandma and Grandpa.
Thanks for posting it, Megs.

to the queen of birthdays ...

There's no one in the world quite like my Mom.

Isn't she lovely?

And on this, her birthday (it's the 25th of February in Hong Kong), I want her to know how much I absolutely, positively, completely, unequivocally love and adore her.

Have the happiest of birthdays, Mom. I wish I could be there to give you 58 hugs, kisses and smiles. Muah!

eat your heart out

Happy Valentine's Day!

XOXO, the Stewarts

By the way ...

We so used to serve heart-shaped pizzas at Brick Oven on Valentine's Day.

I so used to say "eat your heart out" every time I served one to a table.

And I so thought it was amusing — every darn time.

that's so random

This tag has been going around Facebook the last few days, but I decided to steal it for the blog. (Shhhhh. Don't tell Facebook.)

Here are 25 random things about yours truly.

1. I'm fairly certain I look strange in 99 percent of close-toed shoes.

2. Adam makes me laugh at least five times a day.

3. I love holiday-shaped Reese's Peanut Butter Cups way better than regular ones.

4. I have the raddest friends.

5. I got into journalism because I wanted to do the New York City internship program in the Communications department at BYU. When I applied for the major I remember thinking, "Sure, I could write." I fell in love with journalism shortly thereafter.

Thanks, New York City.

6. I can be a bit of a workaholic.

7. I'm really talented at napping.

8. Adam and I have a lot of weird coincidental connections. We were in the same ward a year before we met — and didn't know each other. He and his dad used to home teach my boss' family in Idaho Falls. And, strangest of all, one of my closest friends, Kel-Bel, married one of his closest friends, Salter — three years before we met. And we both attended their wedding in California! Craziness.

9. I'm slightly obsessed with combing my hair throughout the day. Marcia Brady and I would have gotten along swimmingly at sleepovers.

10. I loved me some "Troop Beverly Hills" growing up. ("Patches? We don't need no stinkin' patches.")

11. I might be the only girl in the world who doesn't like the "Twilight" books. But if you do heart "Twilight," I don't judge.

12. I like the idea of cooking way more than actual cooking.

13. I can be a little bit of a "gamer." I'm crazy awesome at SEGA Genesis (which I still own, btw), I'm pretty darn good at Mario Kart on the Wii, and I beat the first Halo game while Adam looked proudly on. (Did I just type that out loud?)

14. When I lived in Hawaii, I wore sweatshirts in 80-degree weather.

15. I really liked the TV show "Reba." Yeah, I said it.

I don't care what you say — Van and Cheyenne were hah-larious.

16. I think YouTube might be one of the best inventions ever.

17. I don't like shopping at places like TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack because I can't handle the clutter. It stresses me out.

18. I want to smack Bikini Girl on "American Idol" upside the head. Ughh.

19. There was a time when I thought Breezy was my middle name, because surely (surely!) my parents wouldn't have NOT given me a middle name. I even signed my diorama project "By Briana Breezy Hallstrom" in second grade. Mrs. Ching had to break the news to me gently.

20. My sisters are knitting wizards.

Sister Erin knit this for nephew Ryan. I know, right?

21. I'd love, love, love to be a columnist for a magazine someday.

22. I often lost shoes as a child, because I'd get to school, immediately kick off my sandals and run barefoot all the day long. I so didn't have haole feet.

23. I averaged four hours of sleep in college. I'm positive I'm still recovering from it.

24. I can't wait for the new Kelly Clarkson album. (Sometimes I have tween tendencies.)

25. I've never met a cupcake I didn't like.

Yum.