things i want you to know

my sisters are the greatest girls i have ever had the blessing of knowing! since two of them (i have three total) are at such malleable and curious ages i decided they need to know a couple of things from their awesome and slightly-more-learned older sister (ehem, me). this one is for you, jordan and carly.

• remember to do one thing everyday that scares you; and i know what you're thinking, jordan- no not like that one time we snuck out of the house at midnight on my birthday and we were scared we would get caught and punished! do something that forces you to leave your comfort zone, something that will make you a more confident woman at the end of it.
• if you ever feel homesick, just eat something italian and nona's love will fill your heart.
• don't put yourself in a position to have regrets. always ask yourself, "is this something that i MAY regret later?" if there is even a slight possibility that you may, it's not worth the risk.
• despite what mom, dad and the national food organization may tell you, still eat the cake and brownie batter.
• learn to forgive; not doing so will only cultivate bitterness in your heart (you have seen this firsthand.)
• dancing in your room by yourself is a great source of therapy. do it, and do it often.
• remember that natural is always better. 
• never overpluck those thick, beautiful eyebrows that we were genetically given. you two are far too gorgeous to look like you are constantly angry.
• choose your friends wisely. plain and simple.
• challenge your body by partaking in physical activity as often as possible. your bodies are such precious, intricate gifts. respect them by keeping them in great shape.
• keep a journal and write in it every night. you're going to want to look back on this magical life of yours!
• wait for the man that God has for you... i know that i must sound like a broken record, but once you find him you will understand why i repeated this. you will be so proud to give him the gift of your purity.

remember this story that i shared with you:

"a teenage girl was ridiculed by two of her peers for maintaing her purity. her reply: "i can be what you are any day, but if you live a hundred years, you could never be what i am."

• make sure you laugh everyday. the sound of your laughter is quite possibly one of my favorite sounds on this earth, remember that :)
• always take your time when shaving, if you don't the effects are painful! your legs will thank you later!
• try not to get offended really easily. when you realize who's opinion truly matters (God), you won't care so much what the rest may say.
• when dad breaks out into his crazy, dancing jig, just join him. these will be some of the most precious memories that will flood your mind when you go off to school!
• master the classic cutillo car dance move (you know, the one where the hands look like they are going through orchestrated seizures.)
• first kisses will always be a little awkward, trust me! so don't be let down if they aren't as perfect as you are imagining they will be. since we're related, the chances of you being as awkward in this special situations as me is extremely likely... hahaha.
• embrace your brain. never dumb yourself down for anyone! you guys have such great potential in those noggins of yours, harness it.
• don't live your life worrying (i'm still working on this one!) come to the realization that as long as you are doing things that are right in His eyes, He will not let anything happen to you that is not in accordance in His plan.
• make sure not to bury your feelings inside. they will come out, and when they do it won't be pretty... trust me!
• pester jack and sam when they are old enough to have girlfriends. they might hate you, but i will be so glad you guys budged in.
• wash your face every morning and night. the dermatologist isn't just saying that to say it!
• eat ice cream at midnight as often as possible.
• lay out on the grass while the stars are out. i promise you'll see the world with different eyes.
• text a boy first every once in a while, despite what our girly magazines might say. be brave! who knows, he just might like the brave ones.

and lastly.

• you will have moments where you might feel unloved and lonely in this life. remind yourself ALL the time how much God loves you and how much your family loves you. if you keep that inside your mind at all times those moments won't come as often!

i love you guys, to the moon and back.

ice ice baby

This is a non-judging, friendly and all-inviting environment, right? Riiiiiigght?
Okay, good. Because since you signed in your blood (a la Professor Umbridge style) that you would love me for me when logging into this blog oh, you don't remember? Hehehe, I may have jogged your memory...Ooppsie daisy! I feel comfortable in admitting this to you: Vanilla Ice has been on the top 3 list of things on my mind for the past 2 days. stopjudgingme.


In the midst of me washing the dishing today also the prime time to sing "Ice Ice Baby" to myself it dawned on me... One of the most impacting thoughts that has ever entered my mind... One that has completely changed how I look at life... I finally realized how cool Vanilla Ice's name is.


I do not understand how it passed me, truly. I am the one who spots errors in movies that the editor missed. The one who corrects grammar like nobodies' bussiness. The one who sees every.minute.detail.

BUT THIS!?!?! how could i miss something so marvelous?!
Think about it...
Vanilla:
Buttery-smooth flavor. Comes in every possible form.. Even car air fresheners. The most popular, collective flavor on this planet as of 2012.

Ice:
Instant cool factor. Any drink without it is dismal. It's like magic!

PUT THEM TOGETHER...
And not only do you have a suuuuhh-weet combination of sugary sweet and ice cold, but a name that is so hardcore that all da homiez in Long Beach wish they were reppin'it. too much?


In honor of my man, Vanilla, (yeah, we are THAT close that he lets me shorten his name. Nbd) we decided to cook MC's like a pound of bacon Wait. You don't get that song reference? Either google it or leave, NOW. and had a crazy dope (another Ice reference!) dance party with Vanilla's hottest jam pumpin' through the house speakers.

Even my two year old brother got down with his bad self.

It was that crazy.

How a 2 year old de-stresses:

With the arrival of the triplets two years ago came an abundance of knowledge. The Cutillo Clan are now experts in that which regards any-survival skill and or emergency situation. If you want to learn for yourself go on down to the multiple supermarket and pick up your own! But before you do, here are a couple of things we've learned along the way from Jack, Sam and Carly. You know, to just warn you before you dive into the realm that few get out of: TRIPLET ZONE! DUN.DUN.DUN!

-How to change 3 diapers in 1:30 flat. Your skillz become sharpened like you'd never believe.

-How to turn a room full of blood curdling screams into a cove of serenity and come out slightly unscathed. It's a work in progress...

-How to scarf down an entire meal in 5 minutes. They are so divalicous and demanding of my attention! Geez louise!

-How to make someone burst into immense amounts of laughter all with one move of the facial muscle. Is my face really THAT funny?! Should I be offended or something?!

-How to decipher toddle-talk into a coherent language. I swear it is more difficult than Mandarin.

-How to dance to the music in Nick Jr with a smile on. Probably my toughest area because I am SUCH a music critic. Children music is included.

-How to become an expert in the horse-trollop-while-a-child-is-on-your-shoulders. The ultimate test of endurance and physical fitness. 

Just recently, Miss Carly Christina taught me a valuable life lesson. The Cutillo Clan's resident "Big Man on Campus" coming in at a whoppin' 3 feet 8 inches and 36 pounds of all muscle, Jack, decided to pick a fight with Carly because she was playing with his trucks. I am serious you guys, I was genuinely afraid of his reaction. It was kind of like how Charlie Sheen would react if you broke into his stash of Tiger Blood. **Yeah, that bad.

But instead of reacting like a crazed lunatic that had something illegal running through her veins she took the high road, sat down, laughed and played with blocks. Teaching me that when life gets rocky, to go away and enjoy the little things.

**After a brief stint baby rehab time out Jack has emerged a new man, anger free and all.. hahahahahahahahaha. Wishful thinking.

a haunting:

One of the Cutillo Family's favourite pastimes is ghost-hunting.

Cue the gasps and exiting out of my blog, saying "what a grievous activity!". We are who we are. Send us to the gallows. Whatev.

For those of you who decided to be loyal, un-judgmental friends and continued to read on, I thank you and send my undying love to you and expect an Academy Awards style swag-bag in the mail within 4-5 business days. now you haterz are eating your words, eh?!

This all traces back to one fateful day where my father, sister and myself had nothing to do and decided to watch documentaries on ghosts. 7 hours and two boxes of Cheez-Its later we were hooked. We came to realize that the town my father lived in was home to some very creeeeeepy places. We got our ghost-hunting gear and set out in hopes of documenting some of these gouls on camera. You could say were the next Dr. Peter Venkman, Dr.Ray Stanz and Dana Barrett! Wait, you don't know what movie I am referencing? Dear baby orange grove, you've been deprived!

Our favourite haunt (see what I just did there?! I just used a figure of speech that actually applies to what I am talking about! So clever, so clever I say! Kay, I'm done.) was the Old Mental Hospital. As we drove up to that huge,brick house we all got that deep-pit feeling that something isn't quite right within those walls.. 

Needless to say we were too scared to ever get out of the car...

But a ton of amazing ghost-hunting can be done from the inside of a motor vehicle, right?

My older sister ended up snapping a last minutes picture as my dad sped away (after me screaming, "GO DAD! GO! THE GHOST IS RUNNING TOWARDS THE CAR! iwaslying, btw) in which there was a silhouette of a woman standing in the top bedroom window. I wish I could show it to you all to prove of it's existence, but sadly I do not think that we've made it to that level in our relationship where I trust you enough.... Maybe one day we will reach that point where I divulge all of the Cutillo Family ghost secrets, but don't count on it.

Just the other day we visited the Old Mental Hospital. It still radiates the heebie-geebies that can turn a woman back into her 7-year old self...

Don't let the charming, suburbia street names fool you. Scary things dwell in this intersection!

That smile? Yeah, it is fake.It is just me masking my immense fear! See those clenched fists? Ready to attack if a ghost pops up from behind me!

After we got the heck outta dodge we found refuge in a near-by park where we processed how it felt to go back to the place where so many fun childhood memories were made. And something tells me a couple of the ghosts may have possessed us...

But then again, we are just weird regardless of being possessed by a ghost.

You don't have to believe me, but be sure to sleep with a night light from now on folks. Bwhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah.

mean people are... mean.

It's 8:26 a.m.
The phone rings. It says Liberty Middle School, my sister's school.
Now I am confused....
Is she hurt?
Is she in trouble?
Did they catch her smuggling in poodles from the black market?
Did she pretend she was on Pretty Little Liars and flirt with her teacher?
and the worst fear:
**Did she get bit by a rabis-infested, human hunting rabbit and begin biting all of her schoolmates, taking all prisoner?

Jordan's happy voice rings over the phone, "Em, can you bring me shorts and a shirt?"
Me: "Why? Did you get dress-coded?!"
Jordan: (said in a quiet, sad voice) "No, just  please. And fast."

Have you ever seen an elephant and a chocolate lab galloping in the Mid-West?
I know you all have and I can guarentee you were all 62% confused and 28% enthralled.
This, my friends, was like seeing an elephant and a chocolate lab galloping in the Mid-West. I was so confused, but man oh man, I was so enthralled as to why.

I drive in a very cautious, law-abiding and police-friendly manner (hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah) and go into the office to see my sweet little sister looking perfectly normal, now I am really confused...

I ask her why she is changing and she replies: "Nothing is wrong Em! It's cool!" Her voice sounded strong and confident, but I see right through her. I heard the slight crack in her voice. I know her too well. There is something wrong... She is putting up a strong suit for the other kids in the office.

As we walk out of the office I force her into telling me why and here is where my heart dropped.
"The other kids told me I looked ugly in my dress. They were making fun of me and said I looked stupid. I couldn't take it."

and then all i saw was red..... (now I know how Dr. Banner feels when he is trying to not turn into the Hulk)

I am fiercely protective of my siblings. My family always tells me I am such a "Momma Bear" because I let no one mess with them, and if someone is daring enough to cross the line I will be daring enough to through them back to where they came from. I am quite proud of it, actually. My moniker is going to come in handy when I have children of my own, that's for sure...

Why are kids so mean nowadays? Goodness gracious! What happened to the Golden Rule?!

YOU ARE MEANING TO TELL ME THAT SHE IS UGLY?!?!?!?!?!? woooooo-ee buddy boy, you better check your facts.

So next time you are tempted to pick on someone based on their looks, remember the wise words of Dieter F. Utchdorf: "STOP IT."

Please and thank you., unless you want this Momma Bear to unleash her madness on you.

**One thing I was happy about was the fact that she was clear of all bunny bite marks. PHEW! She is rabis free!

happiness is

• Waking up at 6 a.m. with Jordan to make breakfast for your mother.
• Combatting bacon grease and coming out slightly unscathed.
• Jordan finding utter humor in every situation (including people almost dying, seriously.)
• Watching Pretty Little Liars with Jordan and having her know every line of every episode.
• Mixing vanilla coffee creamer with vanilla ice cream.
• Waking up early, the human mind is so fresh at the time.
• Bacon for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Evening walks with the family.
• Car rides that involve singing at the top of ones' lungs.
• Having nannies that are sent from Heaven (shout out to Rosie and Alma! YOU DA BEST!)
• Being able to use my technical adult status to shut down boys: "How old are you? Like 14?! I am an ADULT! Stop barking up this tree little boy!"
• Cracking your back, even though every one tells you that you have an addiction.
• Smelling Christmas candles in May.
• Realizing you are never too old to play spy.

and...

• Having the comfort of a mother's love whenever I need it.

just call me mom, folks.

I feel as if I have died (too dramatic, huh?) been transported into a dream world.

Noooooooo, not that dream world. You know, the dream world where George Clooney and Daniel Craig are fighting for my attention? Where homemade malts and goldfish are my main meals? Where every one finds my funky dance moves pure beauty/art? Where my skin is always flawless?

Defintely not that dream world.

Rather, the dream world where time is quickly sped up and I am no longer my BYU student, 18 year-old self.... Sadly those days seem so distant now, folks. The days seem to have transported me to my future adult-self, children and all... (In this dream world I am sans-husband though... Where could this mystery man be? On a mission, maaaaaaaaybe? :])

ANYWHO! I have been dropping off/picking up my little sister at junior high every day which includes me pulling into the parking lot saying, "Now, Jordan, which one of these kids are your friends? Point them out! I want to introduce myself to them!" Which then causes Jordan to say, "Emily, please.. Please... Please, no." And then get out of the car while it is still in motion.... Yeaaaaah, I've become one of "those" people.

After dropping that little ball of sunshine off I arrive home to spend the rest of the day with the trips. (I have 2 year old triplet siblings, FYI. I don't just go volunteer with those rascals, THEY LIVE WITH ME!)

Maybe I am biased, but when we are all together and I am in charge I think it is quite the party. I think I am biased, ahh who cares!

I do Carly's hair (us girls gotta be lookin' fly!) then let her do big-girl things.

like read the ads in the newspaper.....

Is that a grown man reading the morning news? My! He is only 2?! Coulda fooled me!

We have dance breaks to keep things interesting. Don't let this picure fool you- groovy moves run in the fam! Ever seen me dance?

UN.FOR.GET.TABLE!

Sam gets emotional because of the raw beauty he sees when his sister dance.

Psssssst, I spy with my little eye a handsome fella sportin' a BYU shirt! GO COUGARS!

I don't know what to say, I guess mine & Carly's moves just move people.

We play dress-up.

Our love for shoes definitely proves we fell from the same tree, that's for sure!

Sam tried on Daddy's shoes and ended up looking like a thug.

Just call him Little S Dawg. (that's "hood" right?!)

And after a long day we sit and read this book, mentioned in my last post.

The family that reads together, stays together.

PHEW! These siblings of mine are so high matinence! We must be related afterall!

So until that day where I can greet my mystery husband at the door with our adorable kiddos I will take care of these guys... They are kind of cute and all. :)

IS THAT SCREAMING COMING FROM THE NEXT ROOM?!?!?! NO CARLY, STOP TRYING TO FIT JACK IN YOUR PURSE! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Note: Jack isn't included in this post due to the fact that he is always busy wreaking havoc to pose for pictures.