The Christmas That Changed Me

The past couple of weeks, my emotions have been really close to the surface, especially at church or other places that I have been able to feel the Spirit. The same Christmas memory comes to my mind and so I thought I would share it with you!

It was the Christmas of 1988, I was in 5th grade. Christmas Eve my dad took me to KMART so I could buy a Christmas gift for my brother David. I picked out this tri-fold wallet mini planner thing. Christmas morning it was my mom, dad, David, and myself. I remember about half-way though opening my presents looking at David and realizing that all he got was a pair of black socks and the wallet I purchased him. The magic of getting presents on Christmas was gone. I didn't want to open any more. I felt a terrible pain in my 10 year old soul, I didn't want to get more presents than him.

Later that day our family met at my sister Inez's house. David gave everyone his present to them. He has spent that year cutting out blocks out of levi's, sewing them together, and tying the quilts. He had made one for all his brothers and sisters, with enough left over to give one to each of his children. Yet, he still had only added a small cactus to his small pile of Christmas gifts. He didn't seem to care, he was happy with the presents that he gave. He wasn't expecting anything in return.

This was David's last Christmas. He died in April of the next year. He had spent a good part of his last year on Earth working on a gift for those he loved most.

His last Christmas left me with an important truth. This time of year is NOT about getting temporal gifts, it is about giving. Every kind of giving. Since then I have stopped making REAL Christmas lists. I really don't care what I get. I am more concerned with others and making sure they have a good Christmas. It is a time to show love to others. It is a time to give service, a time to share the gospel, a time for rejoicing, and a time to look outward and not be selfish.

Christmas since 1988 has lost that magic of childhood, but has gained much more. I am thankful for this gift that I have been given: an understanding of the meaning of this time of year.

My Letter To Santa Claus

Dear Santa,

How have you been? Well I hope. Is Mrs. Claus being nice this year? I hope so, she is kind of tricky sometimes. I know this is late, but, in the digital age I figured you would still get my Christmas list in time for the big day.

I would like the following:

1. A great score on the GMAT I am taking in January.
2. To get into the MBA school of my choice.
3. A pony, black please.
4. A new IPOD or ITOUCH.
5. A new car, preferably a Range Rover in black, but I will settle for an Altima in black.
6. My own house, with hard wood floors, a pretty kitchen, and fancy craft room.
7. Some diamond earrings.
8. A cute boy to smooch with.
9. For Big Dave the Korean to be nice when he visits and to let me hold him and love him and kiss him a lot.
10. Plane tickets to New York and Europe.
11. For it to be Summer RIGHT NOW.
12. A new gym membership, mine just expired.
13. Oh, and peace on Earth and to cure world hunger.

You're the best!
Love,
Delia D'Nell

The Stairs of DEATH or D'Nell the Ditz

It was a normal Saturday morning during Open Enrollment season, and I found myself at work. Because the workload this time of year when I got to work I didn't read my email (I was at an all day meeting on Friday so didn't read that email either) and just started on the 6 inch pile of papers in front of me. I was alone and had the music turned up...life was good.

Two hours later I hear what sounds like a walkie-talkie, I thought nothing of it. The security guards usually make their rounds a couple of times. But the noise persisted. I turned down the music only to hear:

"ATTENTION! ATTENTION! There has been an emergency reported in the building. Please exit the building using the stairs as quickly as possible. Do not use the elevator!!"

My heart started to race. I quickly finished what I was doing and grabbed my purse and coat and headed for the stairs. (side note:My office is located on the 10th floor.) I preceded down the stairs. On the 7th floor the stairs stopped and you had to go down a hallway. I wasn't concerned. Office's start on the 7th floor and go up, the parking garage is floors 1-6 (they are tearing the parking out...). Anyway, at the end of the hallway was another set of stairs. Another 2 flights and the stairs were blocked by a makeshift wall and I was forced to go down another hallway. This one looked creepy and like it was put together at the last minute. In some areas the walls were crooked and you could see out the the DESTRUCTION zone below. My heart starts beating a little faster and I am starting to feel the anxiety rise.

After the "creepy" hallway was a door. It opened into what I affectionately call the "STAIRS OF DEATH". They were metal stairs held together with pipes. The stairs are covered in a white tarp material, but were wet. I paused thinking if it would be worse to die in the building or on these stairs. (For those of you who don't know...I am super super scared of heights SUPER SCARED). I decide I will be brave and chance the stairs. I step on too them and the structure shakes and the metal gives slightly below my feet. I hold on too the cold railing and proceed down praying they hold and I don't die in a pile of metal. The whole way my heart is beating so fast and loud and anxiety has started to morph into panic.

After what seemed like an eternity, I make it to the bottom and go through the door the puts me out in front of the normal entrance to the building. I look around and see only a lady coming out of the building...from the elevators. I stop and ask if she knows what is going on, and this is her reply.

"Oh, they sent an email out yesterday that they would be testing the fire alarms this morning."

WHAT!?! A feeling of being a complete idiot washes over me. I thank her and take the elevator to the 10th floor. When I get back to my desk, my co-worker is there and starts laughing as I tell her of my mistake. While I did feel like an idiot, the experience provided much in the way of humor for me and my co-workers all week! Including a field trip so they could experience the stairs of death for themselves. Enjoy the pictures below.

p.s. the last pictures are of my building and the destruction going on...kind of creepy, but we have been assured it is still a safe place to work!

Humor Makes Things Better

I have been working millions of hours and still feeling constantly behind. My personal life isn't much better. I feel like I don't have time to do the things and be with the people I want. Let's just say it was a long day, heck a long week, month, and today I would say LIFE.

What awaits me when I check my email? An email from my niece Erin, subject "Liberty Loves Santa." I didn't read the email before I looked at the pictures. This picture made me laugh out loud and suddenly everything is better. Life is good. Humor, Laughter, and loved ones make me happy, grateful, joyful, and feel like a million bucks!

Things That Must Go - Seriously

So, I was driving to work last week and I heard an advertisement for UFC (Ultimate Fighting) something about children allowed, and I thought to myself, "What the ?!@@$#"!

Here's the deal. I don't really understand why people want to participate or watch to people locked in a cage fighting! I haven't ever been, but it sounds awful and barbaric, not to mention WEIRD! What is the attraction to seeing someone get beat up? Why do these things draw crowds? What would you do if your brother, husband, sister, friend, child, etc. came to you and said they wanted to be an ultimate fighter? I think I would take them to the therapist.

When I got to work that day I was sharing my opinion with my friend and she said it is a good outlet for people who have a lot of aggression. If they didn't do this then they might do something worse. WHAT THE?!@$@? She asked why ultimate fighting was worse than boxing. Honestly, I had a lame answer that day, but the more I thought about it...I agreed...I guess there will be no boxing matches for me in the future.

I think ultimate fighting must go.

Is it a double standard that I LOVE HOCKEY, even the smashing, but now detest ultimate fighting and or boxing? hmmmm.....

The Magic of Ordinary Days

Thanks to Ashley for recommending "The Magic of Ordinary Days" by Ann Howard Creel . It is a simple heartwarming story about life, love, and ordinary days. I recommend reading the book and then watching the movie. The book is better than the movie. But I fell in love with both!

Narla Stikes AGAIN!

Okay, so maybe not. At the end of October my nephew Jake had a surprise birthday party at Laser Quest. Since I hadn't ever played before I decided to give it a whirl....oh my HECK! I loved it! Well, not so much the part that I totally sucked and came in LAST place, but other than that I loved it! Above is my score card. It is definitely going in the box with my cool memory stuff. If anyone wants to go play...just give NARLA a call!

Side note: my 4 year and 7 year old nephews did better than me. Wow! I am really really bad and need some serious practice!

**Carrie, remember when we made up hockey names? And remember DaNarla was mine...now it is just shortened to Narla...making up nicknames...oh the crazy times...***

Pierced My Heart

Today we had stake conference. A mother of 7 spoke, and during part of her talk she was relaying how this one week in particular she was having a hard week and she felt that she was inadequate in many things in her life. She went to the temple at the end of that week and was renewed and this thought came to her.

"I can do hard things."

This statement rang true in my soul as she said it. Who doesn't have periods where they feel inadequate for the life they are trying to achieve, and who doesn't wonder if they are making correct choices, or doing all they could. I wanted to jump up and say "Me too, Me TOO!" But that would have been weird and awkward so instead I am doing it here...

"I CAN DO HARD THINGS!"

A Thankful Heart

I am Thankful for...
*a healthy mom, who has recovered nicely from 2 hip replacement surgeries. Ardell felt so good, that she prepared a large and very tasty Thanksgiving meal.
*the opportunity to serve my dad and help my mom and sisters take care of him in the last bit of his life. It is something that I really struggle with. I have to work on having a good attitude, to remember that this is a blessing, and some days I am just trying not to gag. I am learning a lot about myself in the process.
*a good job, with wonderful, funny co-workers and AMAZING bosses. Wow, am I lucky.
*the gospel, My Savior, Heavenly Father, and the Holy Ghost without which I might have had a complete breakdown about 7 times.
*my friends who amaze me almost daily with how caring, funny, inspiring, and completely crazy they all are.
*my immediate family: parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and all of the in-laws. Each year I appreciate them more and more. I have always said it is hard to be the youngest by 12 years, but that is more than made up for by the people who are apart of my family. Not a day goes by that I don't talk, email, or text someone in my family. We have such a great time together. I am also lucky enough to have THE cutest nieces and nephews they are too funny!
*my education and the opportunity to be able to get more education.
*my blog. I have discovered that it is great therapy for me!
*my many purses...and all the purses I will own in the future.
*yahoo music and yahoo music videos...it keeps me going at work!
*my favorite lamp

Below are some fun pictures from my Thanksgiving day. I hope you enjoy!

Lucky Number 113

The 9th Annual Taste of Utah Charity Dinner for Cystic Fibrosis was on Saturday night. I was lucky enough, along with some cute friends, to volunteer at the dinner. I was excited for 2 reasons: first, I truly enjoy doing volunteer work, there is nothing more freeing. Second: The best restaurants in Salt Lake would be there and you could try a "taste" from them all!

I attended a training the weekend before to learn what I needed to do...and let me tell you...I think I was asleep! My friends and I were assigned to Registration, then mailman, then checkout. As we were getting ready for the people to arrive (the people who had paid at least $50 a plate to come and were planning on spending a lot more at the auction) we were reviewing the instructions and the "script" we were to say. I should have studied harder. The first guests arrived and...I forgot half the stuff I needed to tell them! No worries, I laughed it off with Heather (pictured above)...it only got worse. During the rush of getting guests checked in and getting their credit card information (to pay for the silent and live auction items they would purchase) we were also letting people know their bid numbers. Well needless to say in all the confusion, I assigned a guest bid number 113...and then right as they walked away I turned to Heather to see her writing down bid number 113 for her guest...that had also just walked away! We started laughing and Heather ran after her guest and switched him numbers. Seriously, it was a little chaotic, but we had some great laughs.

Besides the mix up with the bid numbers we also got our pictures taken with Frank Layden, former coach of the Utah Jazz. I know you are all jealous! I will post the picture as soon as I get it signed! Yep, he gave us his card so we could mail him the picture for him to sign!

We all decided that next year, we want to be guests...and not volunteers!

CORROLLA

Let me start by saying...CORROLLA has a lot of patience with me. Some of you have heard and been around for my adventures with CORROLLA, but the latest one...well it is the cream of the crop.

It was a typical Tuesday morning, CORROLLA and I were driving into the parking garage listening to our favorite radio station X96, the Radio from HELL show. Let me pause and give some vital information, our parking garages have been on the blitz with the ARM's up because no one's cards worked to let them in...and it had been going on for about a week now. There usually was a guy standing there waving you in the garage. Okay, back to TUESDAY. I pull up and make eye contact with the guy to see if I need to stop or if it is status quo, he smiles and makes no motion to stop me...so I proceed following the car in front of me...and then...

CRASH &#*@#*#&$#(@*&$@#!!!!

Yep, the parking garage arm came and smacked CORROLLA on the roof.

Seriously, I think this could only happen to me and CORROLLA...we have such bad luck sometimes. For some odd reason I was pretty emotional that day (I think I wasn't fully awake yet), so while I was holding back tears I dealt with the parking garage guys...and CORROLLA got her picture taken. The claim is still not resolved and I am going to have to follow up.

I share this because I am positive that I am not the only person wondering if this ever has happened to anyone...now we know!

Apron, Apron, APRON!

I FINISHED my APRON! I am super excited. It is super cute...although it does need to be ironed and starched a bit. Yes, it does match my the pillows on my bed...and NO it wasn't planned. I am now taking orders for future aprons...the price is negotiable.

Halloween!

Ardell, she can be so crazy sometimes...I guess that is where I got it. She heard on the news that you should give nutritional treats for Halloween, so trick-o-treaters got a string cheese with their candy! Too cute!
I am so proud of my mom! As many of you know she had 2 hip replacement surgeries this year. Well on Halloween she walked across the living room with only the help of her cane. She usually needs to rely on her walker to help her keep the weight off the hips. She is doing so well! She has mentioned several times that this is the first time in 4 years she hasn't been in constant pain. Modern medicine is such a blessing. Oh, and for the record she had about 70 kids come...she likes to keep track.
I went to my ward's Halloween party, pretty much the best party of the year. As you can see...I am not very creative. In my defense...I really LOVE my scrubs. They are so comfortable!
It just so happens that Xena Princess Warrior was in attendance...and we're friends. I know you are jealous.

Is It TOO Early?

I just made my first Christmas card of the season. Do you think it is TOO early?

I DON'T! These Christmas cards take FOREVER! My brain can only come up with so many cute ideas in one sitting...and I have ADD so all the cards have to be different. I will be lucky if I get 20 - 25 made before Christmas.

Anyone want to get together to make Christmas Cards?

Follow UP

Book Review

Looking for a good book to read? Let me recommend "Ellen Foster" by Kaye Gibbons. It is a short quick book that will tug at your emotions. There were tears in my eyes, and if you know me, this is rare occurrence with any media.

If you read it let me know, I would love to discuss it with you!

Kaleiescopes Are Cool or Creepy Co-workers

I was at a Benefit Fair in Heber for work on Monday. My table was right next to the "feel good" employee assistance table. They were giving away stress reliever toys, one of which was a KALEIDeSCOPE! Imagine my delight! I am now the proud owner of a toy kaleidescope.

Tuesday, back at the office, I was looking through my KALEIDeSCOPE enjoying a little break, when ALL OF A SUDDEN I hear giggling in the next cubicle over. CHAY has a smirk on his face. If you know CHAY, this means TROUBLE. So after running through all the questions with him to try and determine why he is smirking...(What do I have a big black ring around my eye now?) he finally admits what he did. He took pictures of me with his phone while I wasn't paying attention because of the aforementioned "Stress Reliever KALEIDeSCOPE" break. AND he is holding the pictures hostage.

Now you tell me are KALEIDeSCOPES secret tools of CREEPY EVIL people?

Crafty Crafterson

I spent most of the day yesterday doing crafty things and I loved it!

I also, for the first time ever, made some fun Halloween cards...this one is my favorite. I LOVE SPARKLES! I purchased this sparkle paper in Arizona while shopping with my super cool friend JILL.

SPARKLES Rule...and so do women working towards becoming Domestic Goddesses...and I my book that means being a card maker.

(p.s. no worries if you are not a card maker...just use a different book on what qualifies you as a Domestic Goddess!)

Downtown...

I love working downtown.

Only Downtown would I be able to walk to work through a construction zone.
Only Downtown would I be able to work in a building with 27 floors.
Only Downtown would I get distracted walking into and out of the building by construction crews demo-ing the building. So fascinating.
Only Downtown would I be able to listen to concerts in the park on my lunch hour.
Only Downtown would I work in a building where they are tearing out floors 1-7...so you will be able to see right through them.
Only Downtown would I work in a building whose main sewer line gets cut and we aren't able to use the restrooms in the building for 4 hours.
Only Downtown would I get to go to the food court in the mall attached to my building to use the restroom while the restrooms in my building are off limits.
But the best part of working Downtown is the Sushi Bar across the street where I get to go for lunches (1/2 price sushi rolls during lunch) and get to meet friends there after work (Wednesdays is 1/2 price sushi).

I love working downtown...

Below are pictures of the friends I had sushi with tonight...


This is Tanner and I. Love him!


Tanner and Tiffanie. Seriously, some funny people...they're great!


Angie and Tiffanie, definitely a fun time. Angie tried sushi and nagri. She gave sushi a thumbs up and almost threw up the nagri.

Thanks for the fun times today!

p.s....I LOVE SUSHI & Nagri!

How Much Do We Pay You??!??!

My Friend Carrie (aka salami face) writes about things her 1st graders say...and it got me thinking about the things I hear at work. So with out further ado I am stealing her idea...

Sometimes I get employees who call and say some pretty crazy things...being in Human Resources, you tend to learn more about employees than you really want too! For instance, I don't need to know if an employee has "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" especially if they are in my singles ward. All of the below situations are actual instances and comments made by employees:

Situation #1: We had an employee call in about how much money she elected to put into her FSA (it is not necessary to know what this term means). On the form she faxed us, she wrote $2000. Well, after a paycheck or two she called in because this amount seemed unusually low to her. We looked at her form and explained the situation. Then she said this: "The form I faxed you only says $3,500, do you think the numbers changed when it went through the fax?" Luckily, I wasn't the person talking to her...or my response would have been "Oh! Dang it! That happens when we forget to feed the Fax Machine People. I am really sorry, I will get the corrected for you right away!" Wow...seriously. What makes it worse is we looked at what she does for us...and let's just say...I don't know that I would want to be a patient in her care. The other sad thing...she makes more than me...so sad!

Situation #2: We have an employee that we will never forget, let's call her Sally. Sally sent us a fax it was too someone named "Bob" at a different company, but with our fax number. We called her to let her know that she sent the fax to the wrong place that she had the wrong fax number. This was her response "Can't you just forward it on to BOB?" I think the appropriate response would have been "Since the fax number on the sheet is ours and Bob doesn't work here, if we try to fax it to him again...we will be faxing it to us, and then we will get the fax again, and try to fax it to him again, and around and around we will go...eventually someone in our department is going to get awfully dizzy!" Wow, again...wow.

I didn't know that fax machines were so hard to use...and that is only the beginning.

One of my favorite shows is "The Office"...ask any HR professional, and they have had circumstances that come pretty close to the scenarios from the show...it is scary. At each place I have worked, I could name a department that would fit right in to the TV show...pretty crazy!

Some days, I wonder if I picked the right career path. I definitely did not pick one that pays the most money...but I did pick one that makes me laugh, and isn't that what life is all about?

Sneaky, Sneaky, Sly

A not-very-interesting thing happened to me last week...and it felt like a punch in the face.

It all started a month or so ago. Every morning I get up, take a shower, get dressed, and then blow dry and straighten my hair. I started noticing that it was taking me a long time to style my hair...and I haven't really changed my routine...if anything I have tried to shorten the time it takes to do my hair (if you question this...just look at my hair lately).

Well, last week I slept over at my parents house and instead of plugging my blow dryer in, I used my sisters. WOW, I was blown away, and mean literally BLOWN AWAY! Her blow dryer was powerful...what a blow dryer should be. The time to blow dry my hair was cut by more than half. I loved it...it even made me smile!

So, by now you are asking yourself, why is she writing about this? So her blow dryer stopped working...BIG DEAL!?! Well, as I was using my sister's blow dryer, I realized that my blow dryer just didn't STOP working...it gradually got less and less powerful. It did this so slowly that I didn't notice...maybe it took me 30 seconds to a minute longer each week to blow dry my hair, until it was taking 20 minutes a day (seriously I have like 5 strands of hair it should only take 5 minutes for a quick blow dry). As, I was thinking about how this broken blow dryer snuck up on me...I started thinking about how this is a REAL LIFE PARABLE.

How often does this happen in my life or in the world? For example: I make a goal to read my scriptures everyday and I do really good for a really long time. Then I go on a trip and forget to pull them out one night. No big deal, I start again the next. But maybe instead of reading 30 minutes, I start justifying only reading 20 minutes because I am tired...and then 10 minutes, and then one day I realize I haven't read my scriptures in months. (This is just an example and not confession). Or, my goal to eat 5 fruits and vegetables each day, only to find myself justifying months later that green jell-o counts as a vegetable because it is green. How often does this happen to you? This happens to me with the words I say quite often.

This kind of sneaky subtle change isn't always bad. Example: I didn't always pray every night. I made a goal in my early 20's to start praying each evening. Sometimes I would forget but most nights I would say my evening prayers. One night as I was laying in bed tossing and turning, wondering why I couldn't fall asleep, it came to me...I hadn't said my prayers. I immediately said them and fell right asleep. The prayers snuck up on me and became an important part of my life without me even realizing it.

So, there you have it. My REAL LIFE PARABLE. Something so insignificant yet it felt like a punch in the face and made me examine my life. I have thought about the blow dryer everyday...sometime multiple times a day. Each time, a new thing comes to my mind, things I need to change, and things that I have changed for the good...without even realizing it.

Thanks Mr. Blow Dryer!

This Makes Life Better...

COMMUNICATION!

Seriously people. Communication is wonderful. Communication is great. Unfortunately, communication is hard. I truly believe that everyone communicates differently and it is WORK to understand other people. I am not talking about "pass the salt" type of communication, but the bigger stuff, the "I need help" or "We need to work something out" type.

I found two quotes I really like:

"The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said." (Peter Drucker 1909-2005). I believe this is true. I have a hard time saying the really important stuff. I skirt around the issue, whether good or bad. If I am nervous about how the other person will take it or if I have a lot invested in a relationship (friendship, family, romantic, work, etc) it is hard to just come out and say what I feel or am thinking. I am sure I am not the only one. I try really hard to get over this, but with every new person and situation, I seem to find myself back at square one. Those who communicate with me, sometimes/maybe most of the time, have to listen to what I don't say. Which seems lame...which is why I am working on being better.

"Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after. "

Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 'Gift From the Sea'. I LOVE THIS! Some of my best and most cherished memories are conversations I had with people. Conversations that went beyond the surface and gave me a glimpse into another persons reality and gave them a glimpse into mine (which I am sure was quite scary for the other person). I don't know about you, but I sometimes CRAVE a good talk. It isn't just good conversations...but REAL communication. Knowing that when you are talking with someone, whether it is making a decision, chatting about something that happened, politics, whatever, but that you understand them and they understand you...just makes me want to jump for joy and I feel so good...and free. I have several people in my life that I communicate with really well most of the time. The communication is one of the biggest reasons I keep them in my life and trust them. Lack of good communication...well...I don't really want to keep those people close...

Here is my take away...I need to constantly work at communicating effectively, especially when the issue is important...because I do care. On the flip side, I need to seek to understand those who are communicating with me.

Whoa! Someone Needs a Nap!

That someone is ME! I have been really cranky lately...so this is my one and only apology to everyone. I think I need to be sent to my room for time out...and to think about my actions! Seriously.

Let me ask a general question...Does bad luck really come in 3's? Who started this theory? That is what I would like answered...and now.

In case you were wondering how the food storage is going...I now have 2 1/2 shelves! I have been shopping the ads and getting some great deals! Yay me! Wahoo!

Home Sweet Home

I just got back from a 4 day visit to Phoenix. I had a lot of fun (which I will write about soon), but it feels good to be home and to sleep in my own bed! Unfortunately...it is freezing here!

Speaking of freezing...I need to buy a space heater! My room is freezing!

Everything Is more FUN In The Rain

I went to the Real Soccer game on Saturday with my friends Heather and Tauni...and Heather's family. It was a great game...Real even won! Yay!

It rained almost the whole game...and not just a little mist...I mean rain. I think it made the game a lot more fun. I was completely soaked and freezing cold after the game. I was literally SHAKING...even with that...I still had a great time. Thanks Heather for inviting me and thanks Rick for buying the tickets! (Rick is Heather's dad).

By the way...don't look to closely at the picture...I look like a complete NERD!

Reflection

FAITH. I have realize more and more each day that FAITH is essential. Specifically FAITH in God, in His Son, Jesus Christ, in the Holy Ghost, and that prayers are answered.

FAITH, isn't something I naturally have a lot of, I have to continually work on it each day.

My mom had her second hip surgery today. I wasn't worried, I knew all would be well. The surgery went better than planned and she is doing well. As I was sitting with her in the hospital and we were chatting about the sewing class I had just attended...a peace came over me, and in my heart I rejoiced. In that moment I felt an assurance that I am a Daughter of my Heavenly Father, He does care about me, and He does answer my prayers...regardless of if I actually say them. I was reminded once again, that if I put my life in His hands, He will direct it for good. This doesn't mean that trials won't come, but I will be able to endure, and be stronger because of them.

Wow

Okay friends, I know I am trying to become a Domestic Goddess...but if I ever think this is a good idea, I give you permission to beat me senseless or do an INTERVENTION or something drastic. Wow. The only word for this is a stunned and slightly frightened "WOW".

Speaking of Guilty Pleasures

I spent Saturday day being completely selfish and doing things that make me laugh and happy.

Guilty Pleasure 1 & 2: Spending time with people I love and doing crafty type things:

I went to Ashley CookieMonster's house in the morning and she taught me how to make a really cute table topper/runner. Yes, more sewing. The best part was spending time chatting with Ashley, we haven't seen each other for a long time and I forgot how much I like her. She makes me laugh, but the best part about Ashley is that she can be honest with you, without making you feel like an idiot. (Watch for a picture of the finished table topper in the next couple of weeks).

Guilty Pleasure 3 & 4: Demolition Derby's and USU Hockey games

After Ashley's, I drove to Logan to spend the evening with my cousin Lizette and her husband Theral. Two fun adventurous people. The best part is that they came with me to TWO of my favorite "Guilty Pleasures" a demolition derby, and a USU Hockey game. I like both of these because of all the SMASHING! I am NOT a violent person, and I don't like VIOLENCE...but somehow the smashing in HOCKEY and Demolition DERBY's is just too fun! When I was going to USU I missed very few HOCKEY games.

I hope you enjoy the pictures below of my Guilty Pleasures Saturday:

This is Lizette and Me. We didn't know we were cousins until we had known each other for almost 2 years...weird huh!




I had a small PANIC attack at the beginning of the derby...I forgot that smashing is scary...I had to cover my eyes for most of the first heat. But I was okay and loving it after that...so weird.


This is the end of the USU Alumni game. The Alumni got their butt's kicked. USU HOCKEY ROCKS! My friends and I even made a 2 disc hockey soundtrack with all the songs they played at the hockey games...I HEART hockey.

This is my favorite USU hockey Alumni, Clint Stosich. He was my neighbor my 2nd year in Logan. All the single ladies who are reading this...he is AVAILABLE if you are interested in dating him let me know and I will hook you up!

Understitch, Slipstitch, What the?!?

Friday night was sewing night with the ladies (Shannon, Jodi, and Carrie). We planned to make aprons. It is a lot harder than it sounds. Armed with our sewing machines and material we were ready. Here are a few of things I learned:

1. When you meet a lady at JoAnn's who tells you that 7th graders could make this...remember that 7th graders have the teacher present at all times. What the heck is understiching?
2. Patterns should come with DVD instructions, the pictures do not really help.
3. When sewing with friends you need to have sewing snacks.
4. A requirement for my future house is a counter as big as Shannon's. It was perfect for laying out material to pin the pattern too.
5. Laughing at your self is essential!

I just have one final thing I learned: Pattern makers are EVIL. Why do they print patterns on the thinnest paper ever? And how do they expect you to fold it back up to fit in the packet?

Here are some pictures of the apron making event. I didn't finish my apron...I think this will be a project for Ardell and I.

Me! Smiling as I am pinning the pattern to my fabric.

Carrie, modeling the ruffle for the bottom of the apron.

Jodi, holding up her 1/2 finished apron!

Shannon, our gracious hostess, and the only one to finish her apron! How adorable!


Carrie and I sewing...notice I am not smiling now!

Which Way To Go?

Which way?
Right? Left? Straight?
Uh oh! Wrong way!
Flip a U turn...
Crap! Now I am Lost!

Sometimes I think there is too much choice. I have too many options and I get overwhelmed. I wish I could see the end...then I would be able to make decisions better. It is no use, all I can do is aim for my current goals and head down that road until I reach them or I get a ROAD CLOSED sign.

2 Decisions were made recently: One very personal and one kind of exciting!

1. I am nervous. I set a deadline today. I should have set this deadline much sooner. I would have avoided a lot of sleepless nights. This deadline involves me taking action if something doesn't happen. I am nervous and scared, but I feel good about the decision and deadline, but that doesn't make the nervous feeling go away. This is a personal road I am going down that isn't appropriate to share on such a public site...but I wanted to share this milestone...I feel strong. October 1st...that's the deadline. WOW. Keep your fingers crossed that I am strong enough to follow through. Just to clarify...I don't want to take the action...let's hope something happens before October 1st.

2. I can't believe that I am doing this. It seems so grown up. It means more debt. JUNKY. I am taking the GMAT before the end of the year, and applying to MBA school. I hope to go next fall. If I can find a program that starts in January then I will try to get accepted late to that program. In a way, I am excited to increase my education and open many career options, but I am nervous about going back to school. Am I really ready to dedicate so much of my time to school? Am I smart enough? Sure college seemed like a breeze...but this is the MAJOR leagues. What if I fail? What if I don't pass the GMAT? I am not sure I am ready to be "College D'Nell" again. She was less spontaneous and more structured...and...maybe...just maybe not as fun. Okay, the fun thing has to be a lie, I am always fun. MORE DEBT! I am definitely not ready for that. Bring on the challenge. I can do this.

Are decisions always this hard? Does everyone take as long as me to decide? Weighing out all options and the second guessing yourself? And then when the decision is made...is it bad that I still sometimes have doubts?

Guilty Pleasures

This blog is inspired by Jill who listed her top 5 guilty pleasures. I don't know that these are my top 5, but they are definitely close to the top.




1. Purses/bags. I seriously love them. I even name them. Last night I took the purse I was currently using (New Job Purse) and Florence (I bought this purse in Florence Italy) to my mom's with me...I was going to switch out purses. (I really really love Florence and missed her just a tad.) I did switch purses...but with a new purse I bought last night. My new purse is named Red, and came with a clutch purse, which I have named Baby Red. (Dang the sale on bags at Smith's Market Place...there is another bag I want to buy...but I am trying to restrain myself!)



2. Sparkles/Glitter. I don't know why...maybe I am still just a child. But I love stuff with Sparkles. I wore my new shoes yesterday and today after work that have sequin stars on them. They make me smile!




3. Reading. I love to read. I loved that I got to spend most of the day Monday reading. No worries, I wasn't being lazy, I was at the DMV for a really long time. I didn't really mind because I got to read! I read 3 books in the last week. (Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse). Love it!



4. Shopping/Wandering through stores. I like to get up early on Saturdays and shop. I like to do this by myself or with a good shopping partner. (I lost my shopping partner monts ago and I need another one.) I don't always buy something, but it is fun to get ideas and see pretty things. It also helps me in the decorating department. I like to see lots of things so I can narrow down what I want to use. Ask anyone who has shopped with me when I am looking for something (example: Duvet/Comforter) it can take me a REALLY REALLY long time to make up my mind (like a year...it seriously took me a year to find a duvet).



5. Pictures. I like taking pictures and looking at pictures...they don't even have to be my own. My Grandma Swasey kept all her picture albums in the NICE living room. I would ALWAYS look at all the albums every time I went to her home. I loved them. I think I like pictures so much because they help me remember and they stir some kind of emotion. When looking at old pictures of my parents or family or whoever, I like to use my imagination and create a story around the picture. I took about 300 pictures in the first month I had my new digital camera. Whoa!

What are your guilty pleasures?

Thanks Jill, what a fun List! (p.s. If I can remember I am posting the picture of "Operation: Wear Everything You Own!)