There are 86 days until Christmas. Did you just have a panic attack? Sorry.
Last year for one of my bucket fillers, I encouraged everyone to go set up dedicated savings accounts for Christmas. I actually got emails from a couple of you who "bore your testimony" to the truthfulness of doing that.
There is still time for those of you who haven't done it. (read this as to how and WHY you should do this) Christmas never changes, and it is not an emergency, so put your Credit Cards away!
Today, go to the bank and set up a dedicated savings account (some banks you can even do this online). Figure out how much money you can afford to put in, but I would encourage you to put $50.00. I promise, you won't miss it. Have your bank automatically deduct it from your account otherwise you won't do it.
You get to pick the mature date, so pick a day towards the end of November that you want your account to mature. Then, by this time next year you will have $1,200 saved for Christmas.
Go do it. NOW! You will thank me BIG TIME next year. I promise.
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, did you know? That is the perfect night for some serious Halloween pranking! I found this great website, MyPunchbowl.com . It's a free website that helps you plan your spooky party from start to finish. It's pretty slick for the digitally challenged person like myself who has yet to figure out how to drive Photoshop. They have tons of pre-made invitations, or you can design your own.
I found this awesome Punch recipe on there, and thought I would share it with you.
Halloween Brew: Black Eye Punch
Black Eye punch is a terrific and frightful beverage to serve at your Halloween party.
To concoct this wicked brew you’ll need to combine:
2 cups of sugar
3 quarts of water with
1 13 ounce envelope of unsweetened grape soft drink mix
1 13 ounce envelope of unsweetened orange soft drink mix
Stir until all of the ingredients are completely dissolved.
Right before serving, add in 1 liter of ginger ale and several pieces of eyeball candy to float on top of the punch.
Whatcha waiting for? Go make some invites and lets have a party!
Do you have a Spare Change Jar? A place where all the coins you get during the day goes? Today, create one. Decide as family what you will use the money for and watch your kids start scamper to find spare change.
Do you have a plan for your personal papers? Are the organized and easy to find? Today, take 2 hours and organize your papers and filing cabinet. Shred what you don't need.
Today, lets have a BBQ. Just you, and your clan. If you have left over tomatoes from your garden, or your neighbors garden, you should make this salad. It is to DIE for.
Bacon & Tomato Salad 1 head iceberg lettuce - torn 1 head romaine lettuce - torn 1 head green leaf lettuce - torn 1 1/2 pounds thick sliced pepper bacon, cooked and crumbled 1 pound Swiss cheese 2 Cups chopped tomatoes 1 bunch green onions - sliced
Dressing 1 1/2 C Mayo 3/4 C sugar 1 tsp freshly ground pepper (i just use regular) 1 tsp salt
Mix together, stir until dissolved. Chill dressing. Just before serving, toss salad with dressing.
“I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people.” - Jack Handy
Let's get ourselves WELL on the way to fulfilling that quote up there. Shall we? Because I want you to have a good day today, we are going to start out with a video. I watched this no less than 27 times yesterday, and laughed harder every single time I watched it. I mean, tears people. It had me in TEARS!
You're welcome.
***** My lawn was starting to look like a meadow of clover it was so long. It really needed to be mowed. Me being the saint (right) that I am, decided that I would mow it. Just cause I'm nice like that.
Not a big deal, right?
Wrong.
My lawn is .75 acres and ALL of it is grass. Every last, stinking, bloody drop.
And my rider mower died.
I push mowed that .75 acres of grass in a mere 3.5 hours.
Then I died.
The end.
***** If I get one more email from the Sheik Sha-Reik telling me that I am the lucky winner of a ga-zillion dollars from his dead uncle... Well. I don't know what I'm gonna do. Except keep deleting them.
But seriously?
People actually buy that crap?
How on EARTH did I get on that mailing list?
***** I really do feel like 2 pounds of crap in a 1 pound bag. I had someone call me yesterday and when I answered the phone, I could tell they were looking at the numbers they dialed.
I calmly said, "No, you don't have the wrong number. I've just turned into a man."
sick sick sick
It totally blows, yo.
*****
It's Autumn.
Such a great word.
Autumn. Autumn. Ah-tum. Autumn.
My favorite time of year... sweaters, crisp mornings cool evenings. I wish it could always be Autumn.
***** Stupid cars. Apparently my car registration expired in August. I didn't know. I haven't gotten my stupid car registration yet. And, what's worse? I can't find anything on the stupid DMV website.
Stupid.
(where's my NyQuil?)
***** Why is it when you're sick and SHOULD be sleeping only you can't so you clean like a fiend? Then when your healthy, all you want to do is sleep?
Strange.
***** Happy weekend. I'm hoping to sleep. All the live long weekend.
Catch ya on the flip side!
1. Fireflies - Owl City 2. Heartbreak Even - Ani DeFranco 3. Is She Really Going Out With Him (Live) - Joe Jackson *great concert btw!* 4. Colors - Amos Lee 5. Hey Girl - O.A.R. 6. Flying High - Jem 7. Uprising - Muse 8. Rewrite - Sia 9. Sink or Swim - Tyronne Wells 10. Cold Beverage - G Love & Special Sauce
Tonight, gather your family around a firepit or even your grill and roast yourselves some Marshmallows. You could even make smores and tell ghost stories. Your kids will LOVE it!
Easy Smore recipe: sticks Fire marshmallows E.L. Fudgestripe cookies
Put marshmallow on stick. Put in fire. Be careful to set marshmallow on fire. Pull out of fire and put between two cookies. Enjoy!
Flowers instantly make me happy. Right now the sunflowers are blooming everywhere by me. Today, stop and pick a bouquet for yourself (and someone else if you want). Put it on your kitchen table and see if it doesn't make you feel happy.
I saw this over on Just So's blog... and I HAD to steal. Serio. This is one of the best songs I have heard in ages. I immediately emailed her to find out the name of the band, and then proceeded to download ALL of their albums. All two of them. All of the songs are AWESOME!
If you don't like them, I don't know if we can be friends. (just kidding. not really. only sort of. )
My closet does NOT look like this. It's a mess. I would be so happy to have a closet like this. I would hold a happy party in my closet.
Today, we are going to clean out our closet. If you haven't worn it this season, then you are NOT going to wear it. Get rid of it. Put all that junk in a giant garbage bag and take it promptly to the local Good Will. You will feel so much better!
Then hold a party because you did it! You cleaned out your closet. You can even hold it in your closet, if you want. I'm going to.
This is seriously one of the coolest Flash Mobs I have seen YET! I want to be in one of these so bad, and then to see they did one in MY town? Yeah. Totally bummed. Why did I have to move??
Recently, I discovered the joy of receiving an unexpected cupcake. Someone dropped by my house and handed me a plate of cupcakes. When I asked her why? She said "Just because." It totally made my day!
Today, deliver a cupcake to someone. Just because you can. If you can make them even better, But most bakeries sell cupcakes, if time is a constraint for you today.
You will feel so good after delivering your cupcake. Besides, you can have one too!
Faith is the converter and the teacher. Faith underlies everything that we do, it is shown in everything that we do. Whether it be to pay our tithing, attend church, or just believe. It all takes Faith.
How is your Faith? Is there an area in your life that is lacking?
Today, examine your Faith. Where can you BE better?
I know a woman who ties all her linens up with bows. Every single time she does the laundry. I don't. I'm lazy and I'm bad with bows.
But, there is nothing more satisfying than a tidy linen closet. Today, clean yours out. Fold the towels all the same. Pair your sheets together. Notice how nice that feels?
Guns don't kill people, people kill people, and monkeys do too (if they have a gun). - Eddie Izzard, British Comedian
Somehow Jefe made it on the NRA's call list. The "we're gonna call you every two hours until you donate money to us" call list is more accurate. Seriously. Every freaking two hours --IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY-- when normal men are at work, they're calling, asking for Jefe.
It didn't bug me at first. But after 297 phone calls? Yeah. I totally started getting irritated.
Jefe didn't want to talk to them either. They would call when he was home, and he would ignore the call, "Tell them I'm not available" he would yell, while hiding from the ringing telephone.
I would tell them to quit calling, and to take us off their call list, but that didn't help either. They just kept calling.
Stupid NRA.
Finally, in a fit of rage, and after about 6 phone calls in no less than 2 hours, I had-had it.
NRA: Hello. This is the National Rifle Association, may we please speak with Jefe.
Me: I'm sorry, he's not available. Please stop calling us.
NRA: We will just try back later.
Me: I'll tell you the same thing when you call back. Please stop calling us. Jefe no longer lives here.
NRA: Oh, He doesn't? Well, give us his new phone number, and we'll change it and stop calling you.
Me: I would, but I can't. He's dead.
NRA: Oh. I'm sorry. We'll stop calling you.
Me: Thank you. (hangs up)
{insert evil laugh}
Muwh-ha ha ha ha ha!
Who's your Momma now, NRA? Who's! Your! Momma! Now!?!
(they haven't called back either!)
***** I joined a choir.
Sher talked me into coming and auditioning for a choir that she's in. I went and sat in on one of their rehearsals and I haven't had that much fun in a long time. After one particularly hard song, I turned to Sher and started laughing. "That was a blast!"
It was.
Singing a really hard song-- sight reading really-- and nailing it? Total blast!
Then they had me go to the front of the room and sing scales. It was intimidating, for Google's sake. But my goodness! I forgot how much I loved to sing. I nailed the audition. Except for the part when they asked me to sing a harmonic minor scale.
For the life of me, I could not do it. At all.
But they overlooked that minor little detail, and will still let me sing with them. I was thrilled to death with the feedback they gave me on my voice. I haven't done anything like that in a long time.
It felt oh. so. good.
*****
I take great pride in my Facebook status updates. I try to write something totally random, because random weird thoughts are my specialty.
Here are my top five favorites, in no particular order
1. I'm handing out dumb ass shirts today. Who needs one? (my favorite response? no thanks. I've got the tattoo.)
2. Got a call from Hell today wanting to confirm my reservation.
3. I wish Morgan Freeman narrated my life. Except if I'm mad. Then I want James Earl Jones. And he can just breathe.
4. Was riding a horse yesterday and fell off. I almost got killed. Luckily the Wal-mart supervisor saw and came over and unplugged it.
5. Just beat my all time record high of most consecutive days alive. Hot dog.
***** Everyone loves disco.
At least I do.
***** After having watched 3 episodes of Glee, I have a theory. Wanna hear it?
No?
To bad, I'm going to tell you anyway.
I still like it. But, I think it tries to make you feel uncomfortable... to push the envelope just a bit. It seems like that is one of the main "agenda's" of the show... and really? I personally feel like they have nailed what mainstream high school is like. Especially after hearing from one of my friends who lives in Illinois, that there was a 6th grade girl and a 9th grade boy having sex, in the lunchroom. DURING lunch.
True Story.
Glee pushes the envelope. And really? That's the point. I really do think its pretty accurate. Maybe not in "Mormon-dom", but in reality? Yes. Quite accurate.
I still want to sing in choir like this.
Nerdy much?
***** Have a great weekend! Link up if you decide to play! But, you don't have to link up to comment. Don't let the linky scare you away from commenting. Comments are my crack, people. Gimme some comment crack. Please!
Catch ya on the Flip side!
1. What Do You Do With A B.A. In English?/ Sucks To Be Me - Avenue Q Original Broadway Cast 2. In Repair (Acoustic) - John Mayer 3. Dance Anthem of the '80's - Regina Specktor 4. The Bully - Sia 5. Ants Marching (live) - Dave Matthews Band 6. Southern Girl - Amos Lee 7. Numb - U2 8. Over My Head - The Fray 9. Hot Cookin' - G Love & Special Sauce 10. No One Would Riot For Less - Bright Eyes
I was invited to attend a Summer Social Retreat. (yeah. I know it's fall now) The event was hosted by April of Living the Sweet Life. It was a fantastic event and was held in the beautiful Heber Valley at Solider Hollow.
Mombabe who lives in Virgina was unable to attend, so I flew solo.
Due to the fact that I'm a mother first, I missed the day events that had been scheduled. Some of the day events included a Heber Creeper Train ride, a cowboy train robbery/wagon ride, horseback ridding and fly fishing.
Listening to everyone discuss the fun that was had during the day, I wish that I would have been able to attend the day events.
After all of the fun daytime events, which I'm still totally bummed I missed out on, everyone headed back to Soldier Hollow for a dinner catered byShirley J's and dessert by The Chocolate. The table decorations were so simple-- crayola crayons.
The effect was incredible... simple, fun and yet classy. That idea was filed away for future events that I might be planning!
Dinner, catered by Shirley J's was simply delish! We had a fantastic shredded BBQ sandwich, green salad with strawberries (which was the hit-- there were no left overs!) and fresh fruit. Drinks were Chocolate Soda from The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and ice cold water.
I didn't know what to think when they introduced us to Shirley J's, as I had never even heard of them. However, I am here to tell you that their food is incredible! We were all given a sample of their cream soup base/sauce mix and my kids have gone crazy for it!
The Chocolate was our sponsor for dessert... oh. my. sweet. heaven. I still dream about those mint brownies. We were able to try pretty much one of everything-- Isn't that every woman's dream? Permission to have one of ALL the desserts! Girls, the desserts from The Chocolate are incredible. If you ever have the chance to get something sweet from them, do not walk... RUN! Their desserts are a taste of sweet, sweet heaven! April introduced all of the incredibly generous sponsors that made the retreat possible, and then talked to us about "the miracle jar". You write down the one thing you want to happen in your life-- a miracle if you will-- and put it in the jar. It was beautiful to listen to her describe all of the things that she and her children have put in their Expect Miracles Jar and the fact that all of their miracles have come true.
April asked us each to write down one of the miracles we were wishing for on a piece of paper with our name on it, and she used those to draw the winners for the enormous prizes that she had to giveaway, including Sorel boots.
While the prizes were fun to get, hearing the wishes for everyone was what I found truly inspiring. I asked April to write a guest post for MMB about her Expect Miracles Jar. Look for that guest post soon.
Theswag that was presented to all of us was incredible. There was an entire skin care line from Skin Care RX --which i LOVE-- and it just happens to be one of the MMB sponsors. There was body butter from Nu-skin and chapstick from Badger balm... which is awesome lip balm We all got Lip gloss from Yes to Carrots, which has quickly become one of my all time favorite lip glosses.
However, my all time favorite swag item was the doTerra essential oils. I personally love doTerra oils, and was thrilled when we each received our very own bottles of Lavender, Peppermint and Lemon.
The other amazing thing about this event was the fact that we got interact with so many incredible bloggers. Truly, I was in awe and a little star struck with all the incredible bloggers that there are out in blogdom. A lot of the women present that attended were registered with MMB, so it was fun to put faces and voices to blogs. (they even got to know my real name!)
April planned an incredible event and we ate incredible food. We learned about incredible products and we got to meet incredible women.
Thank you April!! Your effort and hard work was greatly appreciated!
Thing 1 is in Honors English for 9th grade. Her teachers have been begging her to take this class since she was in 7th grade, but she just flat out refused. She wanted a "social life"... whatever kind of a social life a 12-14 year old can have.
Finally this year, she caved and took Honors English. She realized that if she was going to take the classes at the high school that she wanted to take, then Honors English is a must. She has kind of a hard schedule-- French 3, Algebra and Honors English-- but, I have been totally surprised.
She comes home and immediately starts in on her homework.
Weird.
It could have something to do with the fact that Jefe laid it on rather thick when school started. "You can't rely on your big brown eyes anymore to get the teachers to accept your late work. You are going to have to do it. And be organized. If you don't you will fail and it will ruin your life."
Or something like that.
For her honors class, she had write all sorts of original poetry and create a calendar with original artwork. She was freaking out about the art work part, until I reminded her that Photography is Art.
She perked right up.
Thing 1 has an eye for photography that I have yet to see. She takes the most incredible photos... and all she has is a silly little pink point and shoot camera. If she keeps up with her photography, she could really have something.
A few weeks ago I was asked to test toys for a company called ebeanstalk. They sent out a number of baby toys and toys for 1 year olds to toy experts (moms) for their review. While ebeanstalk picks great toys, they like to get some help from the real experts - moms - and we help them select great learning toys. The toy they sent me was a Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzle from Melissa & Doug, who make lots of wooden toys.
Moxie, who is 18 months old, was so excited when I got the puzzle out for her to try. The puzzle has cleverly integrated not only colors but shapes as well. While Moxie is playing, she is also being taught her shapes and colors! I love that!
The puzzle is perfect for her clumsy little hands to hold and manipulate. She will cart her puzzle with her everywhere she goes, and plays with it for long periods of time. She loves to sit it on her lap, babbling away to the various pieces of the puzzle.
I was curious to see if it was just this puzzle or if Moxie would be interested in other puzzles as well. I went to Toys R Us and purchased another one of Doug & Melissa's wooden puzzles and Moxie loves that one just as much. We say the animal sounds as she puts the pieces where they belong.
I have other puzzles for her to play with, but the Doug & Melissa puzzles seem to be her favorite and are perfect for her little hands that are just learning how to manipulate things. She thinks she is hot stuff, while she plays with her Doug & Melissa puzzles, because she has learned how to place the pieces... all on her own. She is able to problem solve, and figure out where each piece goes and then she beams with pride.
Doug and Melissa's puzzles are all handmade. They are of the highest quality that I have seen yet in wooden puzzles and have the perfect sized knobs for baby hands to hold. The colors they use are bright and eye catching.
I have zero reservations about recommending this toy, or this website to other Moms. It is a wonderful toy for small children, and the perfect website to purchase them from.
Ebeanstalk.com is a fantastic resource for not only purchasing toys, but finding the top selling toys in each age category. If you are wondering what toys would be the toy of the century to get that lucky child in your life, then check out Ebeanstalk.com. You can not go wrong.
At church I teach the 13 and 14 year old Sunday School class, and I do this voluntarily. I find it quite funny, because these kids are just like me. They don't know how to censor what they are really thinking, so we all get along really well.
Like the time we had a lesson that called for a compass as an object lesson, only I forgot the compass. I had one of the boys explain what a compass was, and how you use it.
Cute boy: I don't need a compass, I know my directions really well.
Me: Yeah, Me either. I have GPS in my uterus.
{gasps then hysterical laughter}
Cute boy: What's a uterus?
{more laughing}
Thing 1: MOTHER!
Other cute boy: You'll find out in 8th grade.
Cute boy: Seriously. What is it? Do I have one?
Other cute boy: Yes. You have one, and you should totally go home and tell your 16 year old sister "I have a uterus and you don't. nee-neer nee-neer."
See? I'm really only thirteen. I have no off switch. (but sometimes I wish I did.)
Today our lesson was magnifying your callings-- in life, school, career, church etc-- and following the example of one of our former prophets, Joseph Fielding Smith. It was a good lesson, and I even found some great examples of people in the scriptures that didn't magnify their callings.
Me: How could a parent magnify their calling as a parent?
Cute girl: Let you stay out late.
Quiet boy: Be nice to you and play games with you.
Cute boy: Have two kids.
{laughing}
Cute boy: What? Two is more than one. You're going the extra mile when you have two kids.
Me: Uhh. OK... So, Joseph Fielding Smith had two kids with his first wife, and then she died. Then he got remarried, and had 9 more kids with his second wife. That makes a total of 11 kids.
Cute boy: Dude. He was busy.
{hysterical laughter}
Cute boy: Not like that. I meant as the Prophet. But, he had 11 kids, so he totally magnified his calling of being a parent.
Cute girl: I'm so glad I came to Sunday School today. That comment just made my day.
Other cute boy: I don't get it. What are we talking about?
Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. - Carl Jung (1875 - 1961)
I actually really believe that saying up there. When I find myself being especially critical of others, I realize its time for me to take a step back and evaluate me. Usually what I'm being critical about in other people is actually something that I hate about me.
We all do it, criticize other people, but have you stopped to evaluate WHY you do it? It's not out of "the goodness of your heart". No. It's usually because it is a quality that you consciously or subconsciously hate in yourself.
I have been the lucky receiver of some highly critical emails lately. Scathing would be a better description. While the emails at first cut me deeply, I took a step back and did a little self evaluation. I felt like where I stood was firm and solid. I wasn't pointing fingers or saying mean hurtful things to anyone.
When I ran across this quote, I realized that maybe what these people were saying to me and about me that was so hurtful and mean was really a long discourse about how they really felt about themselves.
Food for thought.
***** Have you ever sent an email, where you've born your soul about something deeply personal only to realize that after you hit send, you sent it to not only the wrong person but the wrong person who will now tell the entire universe the contents of said email?
Yeah. Me too.
Totally sucks.
***** I have been enjoying being back on a schedule. Which makes the bohemian in me convulse violently. I was asked if I really do clean my bathrooms twice a week. Yes. I do. Usually. I can stand a lot of things, but a dirty bathroom is not one of those things.
I have actually been cleaning my house, pretending that I am moving. Have you ever done that? It's quite an interesting experiment. Look at your house critically, like you were thinking about buying it. It totally changes the way you clean, and put stuff away.
Yeah, I'm tricking myself. Pretending that someone will be looking in my linen closet, or rubbing their fingers across my blinds... but I do want to move. Maybe it will be putting good vibrations out into the universe and the universe will comply.
I'm putting the law of attraction to the test. Let's see if it works.
***** I hate text speak. HATE IT. Mostly because teenagers don't know the real meaning of the acronyms.
WTF does not mean what the fetch.
OMG does not mean oh my gosh.
It is disgusting to me to see cute teenagers using this kind of language. I called some on it recently and their excuse was "that's not what were meaning." Well, my dears. It matters not what YOU were meaning it to be, it matters what the rest of the world interprets it to be. They don't interpret OMG as oh my gosh or WTF as what the fetch. Its crude and disgusting and you shouldn't be typing it.
I think, honestly, they are living a bubble. In their Mormon world it probably does mean that, but to the rest of the Non-Mormon world it doesn't. How do you get these kids to understand that?
***** I say the word actually a lot.
A LOT.
Actually.
***** Remember that photo I took of Moxie sitting on the printer like it was her chair? I had to move the printer so she could just sit on the shelf because she was going to break it. Then Jefe bought me a new printer with a scanner/copier.
Oh my word.
I have been in scanning heaven. I have tons of old photos I have been scanning onto the computer. Let me tell you I have Throwback Thursday posts now. I am totally stoked about it.
Throwback Thursday's were something I did a year or two back that helped me document my life story with photos... my history. I wanted to write my life history for my kids and this was the best way to do it.
I promise you will want to mock.
*****
I have been putting together some Bucket Fillers. I had the bucket tossed to me a year ago and I loved doing it. I did it a total of three times last year. It was good for me because it kept me grounded and I felt really good about myself and my life. When it's all said and done, Life really is about filling our bucket... one drop at a time.
I did it for a while on my own, but that's boring. So I have decided that while that bucket is still being tossed around the Internets, I am going to start up my own again.
I'm trying to come up with a title of the post so that you will know immediately what it is. I will never put anything else in the Bucket Filler post, just what you are supposed to work on that day. I don't necessarily want to use "Bucket Filler as the title. Although I'm not opposed to it either, I just thought something new was in order... That's where you come in. I need suggestions. If I choose to use your title you'll win something. Like warm fuzzy foo-foo feelings. Or something else. Maybe.
Look for this to start on Monday.
*****
I have a September 11th post in draft that I need to edit for today. This day always makes me cry. I remember every single detail of what I was doing eight years ago. We were in Chicago and lived near a nuclear plant. I was terrified they would either drop a plane in Chicago (which I think was one of the plans), or hit our energy plant.
I watched The Today show as they showed the first plane hitting the towers. I thought they were showing a clip for a movie. Then they played it again. It was 8:02 in the morning in Chicago. I remember that. I had 10 minutes before I had leave to take Thing 1 to first grade. I watched, LIVE, as the second plane hit the towers.
I remember Jefe coming home from work early. Thing 1 spent the night coloring, making a calendar. When she showed us what she made, I started sobbing. June had a picture of me. February had a heart and Jefe. December had a Christmas tree and September had a flag with the words "The War".
As horrific as the next few days were, there was something different about our country. For the first time in my life, we were united together. There was no more partisanship in our country. We all came together and it was an incredible feeling.
I just knew, eight years ago, that we would never become a divided country again. I knew that this horrible, tragic event was what it had taken to finally unite our country. It was a wonderful feeling. The feeling of a united country.
I miss that. Isn't that a weird thing to say that you miss something from 9/11? But I do. How quickly we have forgotten what it is like or how important it is to be United.
*****
Well that's it folks. I see football games in my future. That and yard work. Lots and lots of yard work. Once I get that done, I think I'll update the music player on my blog. It's time to give it an overhaul. I'll let you know what I get that done too. I was told recently that I have good taste in music. Thank you. thankyouverymuch!
Catch ya on the flip side!
1. The Birds Near Her House - The Lounge Lizards 2. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room(live) - John Mayer 3. Hug My Soul - Saint Etienne 4. Night Train - Amos Lee 5. If You Leave - OMD 6. Filthy/Gorgeous - Scissor Sisters 7. Some Devil (live) - Dave Matthews Band 8. All The Small Things - Blink 182 9. Sunday - Sia 10. They - Jem
I usually don't blog about other people's giveaways because I'm lazy. Serious. I'm totally lazy. It's the only bad quality that I have. (Yeah, I wish. )
But, when I saw all the amazing giveaways that Ashley has going on over on her blog, I got motivated people. She has some incredible giveaways happening right now.
Necklace Tiles. I think I might need to call an ambulance, because I am DYING for one of these. I have seen them everywhere. But, I'm lazy, remember? So, I haven't figured out how to make them OR where to buy them. Now I know. But the wicked witch stuff is adorable and these necklaces are inexpensive. I'm seeing Thing 1 and Thing 2's friends Christmas presents in my near future!!
The owl skirt in this giveaway is seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen.
I wish Moxie would wear headbands, because I think babies and headbands makes them delish! But she just chucks them as far as she can throw them. I'll keep trying, and maybe when she finally gets some hair she'll leave them.
Another headband/bow store. PEOPLE! $3.00 bucks for a bow? Are you kidding me? You better just go buy 5.
I told you she had a ton of giveaways, didn't I?
You're welcome. Now go on. Git. Quit hanging around here. Go enter the giveaway. It makes my chances better. You know, Karma and all that crap!
If you were ever wondering just how big of nerd I am, let me put your mind to rest... I am the biggest nerd of all nerd-dom. When most people are surfing youtube watching important things like Obama's speech on Health Care, I am surfing youtube watching a capella choirs.
Yes A Capella choirs. (you need to watch that video... the thunder solo is freaking incredible!)
I have had an obsession for a capella choirs for years. Back in 2007 when I stumbled across a video of the ICCA Finals, I was hooked. Oh, wait. You don't know what the ICCA Finals are? Well, let me show my nerdom some more... It stands for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. You know, like a cappella show choirs.
They didn't have anything cool like this when I was in college. If they did, I was just too dorky to notice. I would have been all over it like Angelina is Brad. Singing is my thing... my passion... my ticket to ride.
But I didn't take that ride.
Can you imagine my sheer joy when I watched Glee? Yeah. Nerd-dom coming out big time again.
Jefe came in while I was engrossed, singing along and asked me what I was watching. When I told him, he started to laugh and said "I knew you would dig this show. It's totally you."
Wanna know why he knew that? Because it was me in high school. Well, and now too.
I live my life in a musical and I only wish the rest of the world would comply. If the rest of the world would cooperate with me, my assigned choreography and my face melting solos, we would all be a much happier.
I'm totally not kidding either.
Don't you wish you could get up on that stage and sing your heart out too? No? I'm the only crazy with those lunatic ideas?
Why can't there be a "grown up" version of a group like this? Cause if there was, I would join it so fast it would make Speedy-Gonzales look like he was standing still.
Until then you will find me every Wednesday night, curled up on the couch living my fantasy via Glee... Hoping and praying that one of my children will live out my dreams of being in a cool show choir.
I wonder... Do they have shirts? Cause dude, I totally want one. Like bad.
Jefe told our kids that if they could remember 3 things from the speech that we could talk about, he would get them each a prize.
Thing 1: I dunno. Some kids told me he was going to use mind control on us and hypnotize us into thinking his health care plan was a good idea. I told them they were retarded.
Thing 2: My education is my responsibility.
Thing 3: We want to keep the schools the bestest that we can and that He's the president of Basketball and swimming.
I think Thing 3 wins.
*** I read the speech on line and thought it was fantastic. Then on a whim I decided to drive up to the school just see if people really were throwing a fit.
They were.
I walked past a classroom where the kids whose parents wouldn't let them listen to the speech and I saw a boy plugging his ears. He looked terrified. It made me sad to think what his parents must have told him about the speech today. Really. What would make him feel like he would need to plug his ears and keep his head down on the desk?
The Secretaries and I were lamenting about how silly all the hub-bub was when a parent started ranting that she just wanted it to not be a dictatorship and to be able to watch it at home with her children.
While I can respect that idea, I find that thought process ridiculous and I as much told her so. If I am anything at all, its tactless.
That argument will not stand up, I told her, because the main audience he is targeting is not children who come from homes like yours or mine. It's kids who lack parental support; Kids who are poor or who may think college is not an option or who don't have the means to attend college.
Watching it at home would be beneficial to OUR children, but what about those kids? The ones who feel like getting an education is less than worthwhile and have zero adult support in their lives? Those are the kids he's targeting. Moreover, stating that this is akin to a dictatorship is just plain ignorant.
This is nothing like a dictatorship. Dictators do not want their countrymen to be educated. They do not want them to have their own thoughts. This speech was clearly pro education, and pro personal responsibility. He encouraged education and taking personal responsibility. He told them to not offer excuses as to why they couldn't, but offer solutions as to why they could. Yes, its hard. But, life is hard. Yes, you will fail. But what can you learn from those failures so you will be better?
That, my friends is not a dictatorship.
If you want a definition of a dictatorship research the Venezuelan government. Hugo Chavez is a dictator. He controls the media-- and makes his countrymen listen to him every night for 3-4 hours. He rants about everything-- including the fact that being educated is not necessary.
He tells his countrymen that going to school is stupid and a waste of time. He does not fund education (our government does), and he is closing schools left and right. The best way to oppress people and become a true dictator is to take away the need or desire for education. When you are uneducated, you are easier to control.
Hugo Chavez does that. He is a dictator. President Obama is not.
The End.
*I swear I will not write another political post ever again. *
There is another Charity Denim Event scheduled for this weekend to benefit the Utah Food Bank. You can get designer jeans and discount prices!
The last event they held was at South Town Mall, and I scored me a pair of Seven Jeans. Oh. My. word. I LOVE them. They make me feel skinny. And sexy.
The address for this weekend's event: 117 N University in Provo, UT in an art gallery. Thursday 3 to 7, Fri and Sat 10 to 7. All of the proceeds go to the Utah Food Bank.
The brands that are available are: Tops from Anthropology
Jeans from: True Religion Brand Seven For all Mankind Hudson Joe's Citizens of Humanity Tavernitti Antik
The prices start at $25 and go up to $80 per pair. FOR DESIGNER JEANS! You will be missing out on an incredible opportunity to get yourself, or your spouse some designer jeans at discount prices, all the while benefiting a great cause!
The Utah Food Bankis wonderful organization that helps people in need. Did you know that right now, 1 in 10 Utahans and 1 in 8 Utah children lives in poverty and is at risk of hunger? Utah is ranked4th in the nation for the highest rate of food insecurity which means nearly 350,000 state citizens might skip or miss their next meal due to a lack of resources.
That is a crying shame! We can do something about that, people!
For $5 off your jeans, bring in 2 cans of food. If people will invite their facebook friends, they'll enter them into a drawing to win a free pair of jeans.
Go get yourself a pair of designer jeans and take a can of food. Or four cans. Help make a difference!
Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. - Ferris Bueller's Day Off
I have been trying desperately to get myself back on a schedule. I've been doing laundry on Monday's. Washing, folding and putting it away. (did you hear the hallelujah chorus?) Bathrooms are Monday's and Fridays. Vacuum every other day. Make my bed as soon as I get up. Sadly, my bohemian self has really thrived on my new schedule.
I have also been making dinner first thing in the morning. Whatever it is, I make the entire thing, and then put it in the fridge. The only thing left to do is bake the meal. It has been super nice, and we have actually had meals other than cold cereal.
The other day, I made Ranch chicken. It makes a ton, so I made 3 pans of it and froze them all. While I was happily making my chicken, listening to talk radio (and feeling my eye twitch) I started smelling a happy, lemony smell.
Moxie took an entire bottle of comet and flung it everywhere. EVERYWHERE people. Do you know how hard it is to clean up comet, for Googles sake?
This time around, I had the presence of mind to take photos (after calling poison control and sanitizing Moxie).
Yes. I'm a blogger. Hear me roar.
***** Want to know how big of a nerd I am? I subscribe to a magazine called Artful Blogging. I love it! I hold it, caress it, and devour every single page. There are a lot of blogs featured in there that I was reading BEFORE I ever found this magazine. I'm cool like that.
There is an article in one of the past issues that I felt was really relevant and I wanted to share a little from it. It's on Blogging Etiquette. It must be true, if its in a blogging magazine, right?
1. Do comment on a post if you found it enjoyable or moving.
2. Don't make comments that are irrelevant to the post or site in general. Most especially DON'T comment just to link to your own blog-- that borders on SPAM!
3. Do respond to people who leave comments on your blog, either via email or by visiting their blog.
4. Don't comment anonymously. This is considered the height of bad manners in the blog world. If you can't own your words, then keep them to yourself, or consider sending an email.
5. Do link to another blog when you mention it, especially if you are re posting content. Give credit where credit is due.
Remember, blogging is a social activity, so the same basic principals that govern any social interaction should apply. Be thoughtful. Be courteous. Be kind.
I have a post in my draft folder that is all about blogging etiquette. I think its time for me to dust that one off and hit publish. For some reason, the Internet makes people lose their manners. Just because you can be anonymous, and leave mean comments, doesn't mean you should.
It's important to remember that a person's blog is the equivalent to a person's home. If you wouldn't go into a person's home and say things, then refrain on your blog AND in your comments.
My rule of thumb has always been, if I will say it to your face, I'll put it on my blog or in my comment. Otherwise I keep my trap shut.
What are your personal blogging rules?
***** My blog has never been, nor will it ever be, a political blog. I don't read political blogs. I am intensely interested in politics, but I will never talk about it on my blog. There are very few people I do talk about it with, just because people have gotten really wonky about politics.
That being said, I have to say something about this Obama address that is happening on Tuesday.
Seriously? Why is everyone freaking out? It's the standard "Welcome Back to School address."
Ronald Regan did it. (I remember hearing it) George H. Bush did it. Twice. (pushing his anti-drug campaign. I heard that one too).
Really?? Are there not more important things that we should and could be worrying about than this brouhaha that has been created of the "Stay in school speech"?
I'm not declaring my affiliation with any party here. However, I find it interesting that when the Bushes gave their speeches to children, it was OK. When Regan gave his speech to children it was OK.
Would we have had this kind of uproar if Kennedy had given a "welcome back to school speech?"
And that's all I have to say about that.
***** Like how I cleverly put the blogging etiquette before my political post? The one and only political post I will ever make in my entire life?
It was planned. I'm like that.
***** Just to let you know, strep throat totally blows, yo.
(I actually wrote blogs. I guess strep throat totally blogs too.)
I actually bore my testimony of on the truthfulness of Antibiotics on my facebook page. Just one more reason I'm going to hell.
***** We had 8 break-in's in my neighborhood night before last. EIGHT! And a car stolen.
Here I thought I was living in safe, happy-ville suburbia.
One of my neighbors that got robbed put up a hilarious sign. I saw it on my way to take Thing 1 to school this morning. I went back to take a picture of it, but they had taken it down. You'll simply have to take my word for it. Maybe I can convince the neighbor to put their sign back up, so I can prove its hilariousness.
It read:
Dear Robbers,
Next time just ask. I've got more ammo.
Stupid robbers.
***** I seriously love NPR and PRI. I LOVE IT! I told this to someone recently, and they told me "then you're a liberal."
Really? I'm a liberal because I like to listen to NPR and PRI? That's totally dumb.
Have a happy holiday weekend! We're going to listen to Prairie Home Companion's Broadcast from the Minnesota State Fair (our Saturday night ritual) and eat Burgers.
Heaven in my world.
Catch ya on the flip side!
1. Free Fallin' (live) - John Mayer 2. Mothers of the Disappeared - U2 3. The Fear - Lily Allen 4. That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings 5. I Taught Myself How to Grow Old - Ryan Adams 6. Parachutes - Coldplay 7. Breathe Me - Sia 8. Flying High - Jem 9. Let Go - Frou Frou 10. Sycamore - Saint Etienne
Do you have a Spare Change Jar?
Today, lets have a BBQ. Just you, and your clan. If you have left over tomatoes from your garden, or your neighbors garden, you should make this salad. It is to DIE for.
Tonight, gather your family around a firepit or even your grill and roast yourselves some Marshmallows. You could even make smores and tell ghost stories. Your kids will LOVE it!
Flowers instantly make me happy. 
This time of year is my favorite. 
My closet does NOT look like this. It's a mess.
Recently, I discovered the joy of receiving an unexpected cupcake.
Faith is the converter and the teacher. 
all images courtesy of fotohok
After all of the fun daytime events, which I'm still totally bummed I missed out on, everyone headed back to Soldier Hollow for a dinner catered by Shirley J's and dessert by The Chocolate. The table decorations were so simple-- crayola crayons.
The effect was incredible... simple, fun and yet classy. That idea was filed away for future events that I might be planning!
Dinner, catered by Shirley J's was simply delish! We had a fantastic shredded BBQ sandwich, green salad with strawberries (which was the hit-- there were no left overs!) and fresh fruit. Drinks were Chocolate Soda from The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and ice cold water.
April introduced all of the incredibly generous sponsors that made the retreat possible, and then talked to us about "the miracle jar". You write down the one thing you want to happen in your life-- a miracle if you will-- and put it in the jar. It was beautiful to listen to her describe all of the things that she and her children have put in their Expect Miracles Jar and the fact that all of their miracles have come true.
photograph by Anniemations photography
photography by Thing 1 
Moxie, who is 18 months old, was so excited when I got the puzzle out for her to try. The puzzle has cleverly integrated not only colors but shapes as well. While Moxie is playing, she is also being taught her shapes and colors! I love that!
I have been putting together some Bucket Fillers. I had the bucket tossed to me a year ago and I loved doing it. I did it a total of three times last year. It was good for me because it kept me grounded and I felt really good about myself and my life. When it's all said and done, Life really is about filling our bucket... one drop at a time. 
There is another Charity Denim Event scheduled for this weekend to benefit the Utah Food Bank. You can get designer jeans and discount prices!
Jeans from:
Yes. I'm a blogger. Hear me roar.
