2012 Expectations

Goals, resolutions, expectations...whatever you call them, we've all got some desires for the new year. My personal dreams start Monday! (Not tomorrow cuz, I'm cooking up a real nice dinner) But, of course, these goals do include fitness. Cuz let's face it, when you're my age, it gets harder and harder to maintain an ideal weight. But in my defense I do NOT have self control issues with the sweets. Ugh!

So for 2012, I plan to embrace this lifestyle.

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Not his ENTIRE lifestyle, because he's gay, and we all know I am not.  But his healthy eating lifestyle.  I've used it before and it is amazing and it works!  Jorge is a fitness/foods genius.  I lost 10 pounds using this, then I went on vacation, and all good habits seem to go out the window on vacation. At least for me...

Then I am going to reacquaint myself with this little buddy. 

I love the visual it gives me.  Burn baby burn.

And since I am exercising my body, I shouldn't forget my soul.  

So I will be reading these puppies a little more diligently.

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And If I accomplish these whatever you call them, 

and I am real good,I think I'll buy myself something uber nice. 

What are your plans for 2012?

Look I made this...

There is this comedian, maybe you've heard of him, he is known as Johnny Biscuit.  He makes fun of LDS women and is absolutely hilarious.  In one of his acts, he teases LDS women for their affinity for a glue gun.  No joke, I love my glue gun.  I think I would hem a pair of pants with one if I could.  So, in honor of one of my favorite comedians, Biscuit.

"Look, I made this..."  

I give you a lovely wreath hung over an old chicken coop window (minus the poop, of course.)

It's time

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(Disclaimer:  That is not me, nor is that all my junk)

It's time to put this here Christmas away...I mean I already flipped the bird yesterday. Time to pack it up until next year...Clean, tidy and donate everything I don't want. Last minute tax deduction or a liberation? I don't know, you decide. It is all part of my Winter Solstice Celebration.

Merry New year!

Today I'm Flipping the Bird

I know what your thinking, and you're wrong.  I'm not flipping the angry birds, I'm just flipping the bird on this holiday.  Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas.  I truly do...I love our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, getting together with family and all the treats.  But everything has become so ostentatious over the years.  I have such high expectations for myself and I never measure up.

When I was growing up, my mom put on the most magical Christmases.  The decorations, beautiful treats and goodies, gorgeous wrapped packages...Ahhh!!!!  She was the quintessential Martha Stewart of Christmases.  She worked really hard to create perfect memories for our childhood.    But that's the problem....Everything was perfect, and what ended up happening was I create unrealistic expectations for myself.  I often feel like Clark Griswald in Christmas Vacation.  What I probably didn't realize is the sleepless nights my mom stayed up making those gorgeous decorations and treats, I like my sleep.  She also didn't work outside the home, I do...So I know all this, but I still feel like I am never good enough.  

I read once on a Mormon Mommy Site that this one family gave each child three gifts to represent the three gifts of the wise men.  No over the top gift giving, no day long present orgy.  Just several precious gifts.  I tried that this year with my kids...And you know what?  They were happy!  They didn't feel slighted in the least.  I didn't spend endless hours making treats.  We had birthday cake for Jesus, went to Church and then hung out in Jammies all day...And Christmas dinner?  Potato Soup, rolls and salad.  

So I am flipping the bird on Christmas traditions and making my own carefree, no expectations Christmas...And I think my daughter will thank me...

Merry Christmas

I used to have a crush on Donny Osmond when I was a little girl. No surprise that I love his rendition of "Mary Did You Know".  I've sung this before with a choir.  Enjoy and Merry Christmas.  (Remember to turn down my music player at the bottom of my page...)

Please Lock Me in a Padded Cell

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Do you ever have those days where you think, "Enough Already! Please lock me in a padded cell..." Yeah, I'm having one of those kind of days. It's where all those little things start to add up to something monumental, then all of a sudden you want to self destruct, go running or eat chocolate...I am at the self destruct phase.

Strike #1 I sent a package to Military Man. The post office insisted that the zip code was wrong from what TJ had given me. So I changed it to what worked for them. Turns out that is the Zip code for official government mail. I have been spending two days trying to track down that package for him whilst he has been working twelve hour days. It's hard enough that it is his first Christmas away from home, but to have mom screw up his Christmas box?! CRAP! Turns out that the box is being returned to sender parcel post cuz it wasn't official government mail. So it will be well after the new year before he get's his Christmas, PLUS, I gave the same address to both sets of Grandparents.  Classic...

Strike #2 While I was out trying to finish Christmas, Grocery shopping and a few errands at work, a certified package was delivered for Miguel FROM Air Force man for Christmas.  I was not there to sign for it so it has gone back to the post office.

Strike #3 I broke a bag of kitty litter all over the back of my car and garage while trying to bring in all the groceries.

Strike #4 I spilled a cup of hot Choffy all down the front of my clothes, while I was trying to decompress from all the stress...

So here I sit at the computer, documenting all the reasons why I am lacking and coming up short while ice cream is melting on the floor.

Please lock me in a padded cell...

Mele Kalikimaka from Idaho

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I would be a little remiss if I didn't mention the fact that I LOVE snow at Christmas time. Unfortunately, it has been greatly lacking in my neck of the woods. Let it be known that I live for sunshine. It completes me, warms my soul and brings me muchas happiness, but there is something about Christmas that just calls for snow. Maybe it is because I grew up in Colorado and snow was a beautiful way of life.

I spent a few Christmases in Hawaii, I know boo hoo, but seriously, Mele Kalikimaka did not mean Christmas to me. (It certainly didn't Jingle my Bells).  And lately, due to the Sunshine and lack of snow, I am in the mood to don a grass skirt and start singing Mele Kalikimaka instead of It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas.

Ladybug has been invited to a birthday party today.  They are going tubing.  My first question, "WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT?"  Apparently a few hours up into the mountains there is a place that is making snow.  Good times, she'll have fun.  Which made me start thinking that I should break out my snow cone maker and spread that lovely white stuff around the yard.....Make my own snow.  You know, to attain that White Christmas look. (I just won't add any yellow flavoring.  Mom always said, 'don't eat yellow snow...')

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

A Christmas Letter Misunderstanding

I recently sent out my Christmas Cards and the dreaded Christmas letter. If you have been a regular reader for a while, you will know my true feelings about Christmas letters, yet, I participated in this cheesy tradition myself.

Unfortunately, my Christmas letter has been misunderstood by even the closest members of my extended family. A depressed mama as opposed to the snarky narcissist I was aiming for. Let's see if my own blogging buddies understand me and my personality a little better than my own familia. Some people just take life a little too seriously. Just sayin'...Love ya my peeps!

‘Tis the Season to be Jolly…..OR NOT!!!

2011 Has been a season of change, and let’s face it, change STINKS!

TJ joined the Air Force in March, because what child doesn’t want to enter the pits of hell with an MTI to be your mama and daddy for two months?  We were able to go down to San Antonio in May to see his graduation.  He is currently living in New Mexico.

Miguel graduated from Rocky Mountain HighSchool.  Holy Crap!  Two down one to go, AND he plans to leave in about six months to serve a two year Church service mission.  He makes us laugh continually and is often mistaken for Justin Bieber.  (Shhhh, don’t tell anybody)

Ladybug continues to grace our lives with her sweet disposition, kindness and beauty.  And to be honest, I think, with her love of sports, she is the son her daddy always wanted…

Softball, basketball, football.  

KT continues to work hard at Micron providing for our family as an Equipment Engineer.  He is currently working with the Boy Scouts at Church and does psychotic things like camping in December and ice fishing.  I never said he was a Rocket Scientist.

I continue to try to find humor in life even when things become difficult,

Like kids moving out and graduating.  

Despite life’s ups and downs, I haven’t ONE gray hair or ONE wrinkle. 

Nope, not one at all and THAT’S A FACT!

PS…KT says I am supposed to say that he is the perfect husband.

Merry Christmas and BAH Humbug

I am THAT kind of mom

Miguel had his wisdom teeth out yesterday, and KT thought it would be a good idea to video tape him coming off of his anesthesia. It is quite hilarious, just disregard my untidy house. There were other things more important yesterday than picking up...

Make sure to turn off my music player at the bottom of the page.

A Christmas Wish...

"This is the spirit each true Christian seeks. 

This is the spirit I pray each may find. 

This is the Christ spirit. 

No quest is so universal, no undertaking so richly rewarding, 

no effort so ennobling, no purpose so divine. 

The Christmas season seems to prompt anew that yearning, 

that seeking to emulate the Savior of the world."

~Thomas S. Monson~

Design Inspiration

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I really like this design idea...it is SO thinking outside the box (haha). And the colors are so cool and relaxing.   I have a bit of a fetish for trunks and boxes.  Most are new but made to look old but this one is my favorite and it IS old.

Triple Tebow

During a family photo session, we decided to have a little fun.
I give you...................

The Triple Tebow

For Therein True Beauty Lies...

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"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For poise, walk with the knowledge 

that you will never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be 

restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed.

Never throw out anyone."

~Audrey Hepburn~

Guess Who's Coming Home...

Remember when I asked for prayers for this guy
because he hadn't gotten his orders?

Guess who's coming on on Saturday? 

Yeah, baby....

A Giveaway! Woot!

I'm so excited to share with you a giveaway.  I thought this would be fun because who doesn't like free stuff, ya know?  I was recently contacted by My Memories about hosting this here shindig.  Ironically, I won a similar giveaway recently on Every Day Mom Ideas.  It's my turn to give back.  So My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software is pretty easy to use.  The thing I like best is the fact that they have so many tutorials on their website.  If you are scrapbook software inept like me, then this is the one for you.  They are so helpful!

Here is an introduction Tutorial to their software found on youtube.  It is 30 minutes long...

Without further ado....this is how you enter.

1. One mandatory entry for visiting My Memories Suite and telling me which paper packet is your favorite.
2. One additional entry for being a That's What She Said...follower

3. One additional entry for putting my button on your blog

4. One additional entry for becoming a follower of the My Memories Suite Blog

5. One additional entry for becoming a My Memories Suite follower on Facebook.

6. One additional entry for blogging about this giveaway and linking back to me.   

Just post a comment on my blog post for each entry you are participating in, and I will verify your entry.  Deadline for entry is Friday, November 11th at midnight.  Winner will be selected randomly on Saturday morning and you will be notified by e-mail.  Please make sure to leave me your e-mail address if you don't have it hooked up with your blogger.  Obviously, non reply comment bloggers will be ineligible if I don't have an e-mail address to contact you.

Good Luck!

My Personal Haunting

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Recently, my dear husband drug me out to see the newest Paranormal Activity in the theater. I'm not a scary movie fan, and definitely not in a theater. I'd much rather be at home hiding under a blanket and easily be able to leave the room should the movie become too intense. I have been known to suffer an anxiety attack due to such scary movies. I knew better, but wanting to please my husband, I went along. Now just so you know, I survived. As evidenced by this here blog post. But, I was not without a lingering unease.

At work the next morning, I was sitting at my desk alone in the high school office while everyone else was in an early morning assembly. Suddenly our High School Principal's office light switched off. I looked up startled because I knew I was alone. I got up and crept around my desk toward his door. In that moment, the High School counselor's light switched off. She wasn't in the room either. My heart pounding in my chest, I came to realize that I must have brought "something" back with me from that movie. I had become haunted! Staring into the Principal's office, someone came into the main office behind me, and when they did all the lights in the rooms started popping on again.

Apparently, unbeknownst to me, motion detecting lights had been installed the previous evening, and my overactive imagination had gotten the better of me.

And that is why I shouldn't watch scary movies....

WOW

Where in the world could this be?
Where ever it is, it plays right into my Snowman Fetish...

Prayers for my Air Force Man

This is my Military Baby. Isn't he cute? He needs some prayers. Nothing serious really, or maybe I need the prayers. My baby was supposed to be coming home in November for 30 days of leave before his next duty station, but he has not yet received any orders. If the Air Force delays giving him orders, he can't come home. So, since I need some time with my baby, you think you could help pray for those orders? Maybe if we all pray and wish really, really hard, it will come true. Just a thought...

Repurposing II

I'm no thief, and I don't particularly like other peoples trash, but I must admit to going through my neighbors trash for a real find. May I add that the neighbor was my parents, and I asked them first? They threw away this wooden rocking chair. They said they had no need for it...I took that baby home did a little light sanding then painted with leftover outdoor house paint. It has sat on my porch for quite some time. Almost new porch furniture: Cost $0.00 See I really do love the word FREE.  

You can read about two other repurposing projects here...

WOW

Country Roads and Sunsets

A Pocket full of Pasties

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I went to visit my grandmother recently in California.  That one word alone ought to be revealing enough.  There are so many "Characters" in Cali, that this shouldn't have shocked me.  But still....I regress...

We took a family road trip to go visit my grandmother in her assisted living facility.  As there was quite the crowd, me, my kids, my parents and KT, we opted to do our visiting in the "Library" a public location with lots of seating.  A sweet old lady walked by using her walker.  Sweet is a real stretch of the word...She passed by checking us out.  Everyone there is curious about everyone else's business, due in fact, more than likely to boredom.  Sweet old lady came wheeling by again and walked right up to my husband and said,

"Are you wearing any underwear?"

You read that right!  I just busted out laughing, my poor little Ladybug started blushing and Miguel, he was just like, "Awkward".  KT wasn't wearing anything that would suggest otherwise.  She made small chit chat with my tolerant husband which I heard nothing of due to my laughter.  Grandma leaned over to ask me, "What did she say", because you know no one can hear in those places.  And when you talk to them, you have to say everything really loud, 

"Grandma, she asked if KT was wearing underwear!!!"

Of course, Grandma's response was "Oh Good Heavens!"

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Little old woman wheeled herself off for 15 or 20 minutes to work the circuit, then I heard her say "Where is that young man!"  Here she comes again.  

"Have you ever been to a stripper?"

At this point, I lean over and tell Ladybug that she should probably plug her ears.  "Sweet" little old grandmother leans in trying to show off her saggy cleavage.  I left KT on his own with that one. No Joke, She proceeds to tell my husband how she used to be a stripper, how she made $500 off a guy once and how she would carry a pocket full of pasties.  She all but stopped short of asking him up to her room.  

So the next time you see a "sweet" little old lady, she could probably be a "Spicy" old washed up stripper, cougar, trying to get your husband to her room.    

Thanks for the laugh Virginia...

And in case you were wondering, here's me and my grandma post laugh, ie. sexual harassment

Game Day Psychosis

In order to relate to the men in our family,

we've got to walk the walk. 

And sometimes, you just gotta have it...

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Wednesday's Open Window

Country Roads 

What do you get when you cross...

What do you get when you cross....Labor Day, Military Man and $650?

A 36 hour trip home! 

We miss you TJ and were grateful for your quick, 

exciting trip home.  Six months is too long...