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!)

Tinfoil

Please refer to number 6 on the list in the previous post. For everyone who can't keep my family straight. This is my sister Inez. Enjoy!

Addition to the story 9/9/07 - My sister Inez has great co-workers...and great stories about them. Let's just say she likes jokes and so do they. This was her birthday present from her co-workers! I love it! Side-note...apparently it gets really hot because the of the heat from the lights reflecting off the tinfoil.

Lists Lists and More Lists

I like lists. I am a list maker. If you look in any notebook I own you will find lists somewhere and on random papers I have stashed places. Lists make me happy, they make me feel organized, and help me feel empowered. Lists are just great. Yesterday I was at a Healthy Community conference. The conference was centered on preparing for emergencies and disasters and also on being healthy. A great conference for new lists.

During the presentation "20 Lessons Learned from Katrina" I was inspired to make a list of items that I need to purchase over the next year for my emergency preparedness/72 hours kits (flashlights, batteries, radio, matches, etc). Once I started making that list I remembered my goal from last week to make a plan for food storage, of course I needed to make a list of food for my food storage before I could plan what weeks I would actually purchase the food in...(black beans, rice, canned chicken, flour, etc.). Whoa, I felt great! Better at actually have made lists so I am one step closer to getting things in order for my 1 year supply and 72 hour kits.

Well, the next speaker was a little boring...so what could I do...I made a new list, my Christmas gift list. I wrote down all the names of people I wanted to purchase Christmas gifts for this year and started planning what gift(s) each person would get. Wow! Usually I don't do this until November or sometimes even December! I was on a list making high! What else could I do??? Make another list, a "who is going to get a Christmas card" list. I had already planned to evaluate my current supplies and purchase additional items to start making my Christmas cards, but now I actually know well in advance how many I need to make. Yay!

I am sure you are thinking, "Where does she keep all these lists so she doesn't lose them?" Never fear, I have a small note book I keep in my purse for this exact reason...to make lists. My most common lists are, a shopping list, a "to do" list, and a "cool things I heard about and want to look into more" list.

So why am I telling you about my obsession with lists? At the conference the last speaker talked about being "Hardy" meaning how to be emotionally/mentally healthy to be able to deal effectively with stress and other events in your life. I have heard her speak many times, always good, but this time the concept of each day making a list of things that made you happy stuck with me. What to do? I started my personal list yesterday "3 things that made me happy in the last 24 hours." I am committed to writing 3 things down each day. I, however, also wanted to share a list of items that have made me happy or smile recently, I hope you enjoy!

1. Made plans and purchased tickets to visit Joe in Phoenix. While I am there I am also going to see Jill. I love her!
2. I went to dinner with Ashely CookieMonster. She just makes me happy.
3. Ashley spurred some ideas for a table topper/runner that I want to make...so excited.
4. Had Chili Killies with Tiffany and Michael. Yum, and I got to see their new house, super cute!
5. Hearing the song "Hey there Delilah", who wouldn't be happy after hearing these words "...girl tonight you look so pretty, yes you do, Time Square can't shine as bright as you, I swear it's true." and "...don't you worry about the distance, I'm right there if you get lonely, give this song another listen, close your eyes, listen to my voice it's my disguise, I'm by your side." I love it! It has been my cell phone ringer for awhile now.
6. Looking at the pictures of Inez's office covered in tin foil. That made me laugh out loud every time I look at them...which is everyday.
7. The fact the Teo is still alive (he is a plant I purchased a LONG time ago).
8. Watching "The Office" episodes, especially with Nicole, her laugh makes me laugh.
9. Getting a sno cone with Annalissa
10. Cooking.
11. Being with my parents.
12. Talking with my family.
13. The old metal thingy that has stars in it that came from Grandma Lizzie's house.
14. Reading my friends blogs.
15. Wearing my cute glasses.
16. Making a list.
17. Using cans of Air. Seriously, I am addicted to them...I want to spray everything and everyone!
18. Cleaning under my bed.
19. Reading quotes from the Quote Book at work.
20. Checking my email and finding an email from a friend.
21. Purses, I love my purses. It makes me happy to give them names (New job purse, Florence, Prada, Park Avenue, etc. Okay, so they are not the most creative names but I like them).
22. Getting a pedicure, and then each time I see my cute toes.
23. The sound of my nails clicking on the key board...it means they are getting long!
24. Making friends at fabric/craft stores with complete strangers.
FINALLY the last one on my list today
25. Planning a trip.
Wait...just one more...
26. Feeling the Spirit and getting renewed.

I had planned on only writing 10 things, but as you can tell...my lists sometimes get out of control.

What would be on your "Things that make me happy/smile" list?