Goodbye 2008....

Hmmmmm..... I approach the year's end/ new year with bitter-sweet feelings. I am always conflicted this time of year. First, I HATE making resolutions, but somehow always find myself doing it anyway. My hate stems from the unspoken and sometimes loudly spoken expectations of others telling me "You MUST make new year resolutions", so I do, and then so VERY OFTEN fall flat on my face when trying to actually carry them out.

Secondly, I don't like the unknown. I don't like not knowing what the next 365 days holds. I'm not big on surprises. Ok, that's not true, I LOVE surprises, but I am not good at waiting. If I know I am going to get a surprise, I want it NOW. Not too far off from the bratty girl in the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory- "Don't care how... I want it NOW!" At least I own up to it, right? So, the future is not my favorite place to look. I am a very much "live in the present" kind of person. I'm always trying to find a good reason to have a little party, or do something fun to celebrate the NOW.

Thirdly, I am not one to look back, either. (Again... I live in the Now.) I don't like looking back on my failed resolutions, hopes that never came to fruition, decisions I could have made differently. So seeing that a whole year has gone by and I can probably count on 8 fingers the number of times I actually made it to the gym when I vowed I'd go at least 4 times a week... well, you can see why I don't like to look back. I'm not saying I have only regrets, or that nothing good happened in 2008- that's not it at all! But in looking back, I tend to see the bad along with the good, I don't like it, so tend not to look back at all.

Of course, there is some good that goes along with New Year's celebrations. Life always hands you surprises, and you never know what awesome thing is coming your way- well, that is a pretty cool thing. There is a really good reason to party, because everyone else in the world is, so I can pretty much justify it to my husband as a good reason. The realization that many of the fears and worries I had about the unknown at the onset of 2008 never came to pass is also a positive thing. And that the struggles I had in 2008 can be left in 2008 forever, that is also a good feeling.

So, I am going to try something new. I am going to put down something for each letter in HAPPY NEW YEAR- something that happened, or something I hope will happen in the coming year.

H- hope to have a baby
A- apron business, started in Feb. 2008 and plan to grow in coming year
P- Piano, get my son in lessons in 2009
P- Practice my singing more in 2009
Y- Young Women Beehive Advisor in 2008, love it!

N- Nappy- needs shots again in March (just a reminder!)
E- Europe trip last June... so fun!
W- Windows, New in the upstairs! Yay!

Y- Yell at my family less
E- eat more fruits and veggies
A- attempt to renovate upstairs kitchen in 2009
R- Recital, hope to attempt a vocal recital for family and friends this year.

Well, I can't stop the ball rolling, so 2009.... come what may, I am ready for you. Bring it on! (But be gentle with me!)

Santa Knows....

Santa knows something I don't know.

Santa knows that come the holidays, I ALWAYS over-do it and become quite frazzled.

Santa knows that I have spend hours upon hours shopping for the perfect gifts, baking the perfect neighbor treats, planning the spiritual Young Women lesson that will make them all cry, cleaning the house so it looks pretty and nice for Santa to come, worrying over did I go out of the Christmas budget AGAIN....

Santa knows these things.

That's why, on Christmas morning, he sends me on a fun scavenger hunt... EVERY Christmas... where I find pretty smelling lotions and decadent body washes along the way with clues attached. He leads me out into the snow, down to the basement, behind toilets, under mattresses, just to make the experience more enjoyable.

And this year he gave me a gift card so I could go indulge myself at the mall of my choice, with specific instructions to "only come back with girly stuff". (Santa knows I like to buy my guys stuff.)

This year, Santa knew I needed some quiet time to myself after nursing a sick child the week before Christmas trapping me inside for 4 days, so he gave my son a new Playstation 2 (to replace our broken one) and 3 new games to keep him occupied. His parents were a little concerned at all the gaming that would be taking place over the next week, but Santa knew.....

he knew I would need him to be out of my hair for a while!

So, do I feel like a horrible mother for letting my son play video games for hours on end? Ummmmm.......... not really! It's Christmas, for Heaven's sake! Let the kid have some fun! Let the mom enjoy some quiet time!

Thanks, Santa. I really needed the lotions and perfumes, and my new "Bleak House" DVD, and some quiet time.

Santa Always Knows!!!!!!

Not a normal family...

I don't know about everyone else, but when I was a kid, I couldn't wait to wake up and see what Santa brought. My sister and I would wake up around 3 AM and talk and play Barbies until we were allowed to holler to my mom "Is it time to get up yet?". That was usually around 6 AM. We'd be so excited, we couldn't sleep!

My house now on Christmas morning: I lay awake in bed from 4 AM until about 8 or 8:30 when I finally can't stand it anymore. I get up and go wake up the kid, then the husband so we can finally open presents.

What's wrong with my family???? Why don't they wake up extra early and can't wait? Why is it that every Christmas since my kid was born he sleeps in until I wake him up, and he isn't chomping at the bit to go see what Santa brought???

My family isn't NORMAL!!!!

I need my sister to come sleep over and play Barbies with me until they wake up!

OCHTD.... Obsessive Compulsive Holiday Treat Disorder

I am freaking busy!!!!! So WHY did I spend 3 hours last night doing this???????

Malnutrition and the Tutu monster

The holidays are not the best time for good nutrition, you know what I mean? People constantly bringing over treats, being so busy making them yourself you don't have time to cook so you throw a frozen pizza in the oven, shopping for presents all day long you stop to grab a $.99 burrito, you know.

Apparently my son is feeling the effects of his holiday malnutrition. Last night, after eating 3/4 of a frozen Red Baron pizza, he came downstairs with a handfull of dogfood.

"Why do you have dog food in your hand? You know Nappy won't eat it that way. Go back and put it in his bowl."

"It's not for him."

"Ummm... ok. Why do you have dogfood in your hand?"

"Grandpa says dog food has lots of fiber."

"And?"

He pops a piece into his mouth and eats it!

"Gross!" I said. Then, curiosity got me, "How does it taste?"

"Ummmmm...... like dog food."

and he proceeds to eat the rest like popcorn!


Weird kid! Oh, follow up to yesterday's post. He invited his friend over to play, and a few minutes later he came in looking like this:

Who are this kid's parents, anyway???

Why don't I have girls??????

I just had to post these pictures of the CUTEST tutu's EVER!!!!!!! I made them, and now I don't want to part with them. *sniff* My son has other opinions, though. I made him try one on just to see if it would fit the girl I made it for, and he was less than thrilled! I had to promise him I wouldn't tell any of his friends!!!!

Here they are!!!!





And the back have cute contrasting colors and bows!!!!

Christmas progress report....

I am very much a "list" person, this is the only way I can be remotely organized, so I decided to post the items I had to get done yesterday and check them off as I go. I guess this is really more for myself than any of you. I mean, how exciting is it for you to read about my "to do" list?

crochet several scarves and hats: I have done one scarf and hat, but have decided to reduce the items to 2, not 6 as originally planned.

make a robe and pajamas: pajamas are done!

make 3 different kinds of fudge to take to neighbors: Finished! Yay!!!

finish 2 aprons: finished one so far!

somehow sneak off to the store to get the stocking stuffers- done! Yay!!!!


shorten the sleeves on a dress shirt, which I've never done and am totally freaked out to do...

make a fruit cake

get stockings out of the attic

clean house from top to bottom

bathe the dog (this takes 2 whole hours, by the way!)


I'd better get crackin'!

I'm not stressing one bit!

Ok, it's Christmas.

3 days until Christmas, to be exact.

I do this every year... decide to make handmade stuff, and then get so swamped I can't even approach the thought of working on it until 3 days before Christmas.

I think I just do better under a short deadline.

My church talks have always been inspired at the last minute. OH, I mull over ideas for weeks at a time, but the actual sitting down and writing it out usually happens the night before in a stream of non-stop inspiration. That's how it has always been.

I think I may be one of those people that thrives on stress. Ok, that's not entirely true, I actually break out in zits, eat only m&m peanuts, and have all sorts of tummy troubles when I am under prolonged stress- I wouldn't exactly call that thriving. But, I think my brain takes things up a notch when I am under short durations of stress.

So, this week I should be really alert and flowing with inspiration and determination. You see, I have only 3 days..... 3.... to complete:

crochet several scarves and hats

make pajamas

make a robe

shorten the sleeves on a dress shirt, which I've never done and am totally freaked out to do...

somehow sneak off to the store to get the stocking stuffers

make a fruit cake

make 3 different kinds of fudge to take to neighbors (fudge must be perfect, or I can't dare to let the outside world taste it!)

get stockings out of the attic

clean house from top to bottom

entertain my son who is already going stir-crazy from being sick for 4 days last week and being couped up in the house all that time.

bathe the dog (this takes 2 whole hours, by the way!)

finish 2 aprons (ok, start and finish one, and just finish another one)

Oooooohhhh...... you know what, this list is way to long! I can't even bear to finish it. I think I'll just curl up in bed with a good book and let Christmas pass me by!

Did I mention there are only 3 days until Christmas???????

Time to refinance your home NOW!!!!!

I promised my husband I would put a plug in for him, since he's not the type of guy to just put himself out there and do it.

So.......

Interest rates are at a 40 year low right now! In fact, they dipped down to 4.3% for a while today, and are hovering around 4.8% for a 30 year loan which was unheard of!

What does this mean for you? It means, TIME TO REFINANCE!!!!

Speaking as his loving wife, My husband is honest, ethical, and will give you the absolute best deal! This isn't the time to dilly dally, though. IF you don't want to save a few hundred dollars a month, then don't call. If you do, then call my sweet husband TODAY!!!!!! He'll get your rate locked in for you, and get you on the road to a better interest rate and a lower mortgage payment!

This isn't a ploy to pay off our Christmas presents! Believe me! My husband got into this business because he truly loves to help people. If you know him at all, you know he is just that kind of guy.

Ok, that's enough of that. It's up to you whether you want to save money or not. There's no harm in calling- he'll crunch the numbers and tell you in minutes what you could save. What is there to lose?
Call him today! 801-205-7426

The saddest story ever told...

I am a lipstick fanatic! It's true... I can totally forget to comb my hair, but if I leave the house without lipstick on, I can't function.(I never used to forget to comb my hair, though. In college, I was a fanatic about my hair being perfect and my nails colored to match my outfit. I was even late to class once because my nails totally clashed with a sweater I had put on. I really wanted to wear the sweater, so I redid my nails. Well, I had to catch a husband, didn't I?) Ok, back to the lips. I keep some in the car, in my purse, by my front door, my bedroom, and the bathroom. My lips scream out in panic when I don't put it on. Sometimes, when I'm in my pajamas, I catch a glimpse of my naked lips in the mirror and at least put on tinted lip gloss. So, you can see my problem when I realized I was almost out of my favorite lipstic- the stuff I wear religiously every single day.

I got online to order some more of my favorite lipstick in the world. It was the perfect everyday shade- not too pink, not too brown, not too dark- just right. I almost cried when I first put it on- it was the most perfect lipstick in the whole wide world, and I had it! Much to my dismay, when I got online, I found it had been discontinued- cancelled! What about me? I asked in horror?

I rallied a few moments later, and proceeded to order some other promising shades, similar to my favored shade, and anxiously awaited their arrival, as though Santa was bringing it himself! I checked the shipping tracker every day, several times a day, to see it's progress across the country to my little home. Finally, yesterday, it came! I wasn't here when it arrived- ironically I was at the post office- but when I got home, there it was: the cute little box full of liplicious goodness.

My fingers trembled as I carefully opened the package. My pulse quickened as I removed the bubble wrap and brochures. I began to panic a bit when I got closer to the bottom and hadn't yet found the treasures within, but my fears were soon put to rest as I removed a bundle of bubble wrap with the little tubes inside.

I fumbled trying to remove the protective plastic outer wrapping from each tube. Oh, Rosewine! I have been looking forward to our meeting... Oh, and Terracotta- how divine you will look with my green shirt...

I hastilly removed the lid from Rosewine and carefully smoothed the stick up over the contours of my arched lip, and down around my lower lip. It glided on like melting butter over warm rolls. Suddenly, my stomach lurched- What?! No... No, it can't be! Quickly, I grabbed a tissue and wiped it off. Desperately, I grabbed the Terracotta and tugged the lid off, smearing it over my lips in a much less careful way. No no no no no no.... I repeated. No! It can't be! I compared the two colors side by side, one was a bit more pink than the other, but both very similar, and both made me look like a 90 year old corpse in a mortuary all done up for her funeral.

I was devastated. I cleared the nasty thought from my head and reapplied the lipstick. Maybe I was looking at it wrong. I turned my head from side to side. No use, there was the corpse looking back at me in "funeral pink" lipstick.

Hopelessly I replaces the lids, slowly wrapped them back in the bubble wrap, placed them in the box, and sealed their fate and mine with strapping tape. I felt closer to the dad in A Christmas Story when the Bumpus hounds sneak into the kitchen and ravage the much anticipated turkey, leaving him weeping and desolate on the floor, clutching the last remaining wing. My hopes of gloriously smooth and perfectly tinted lips dashed to pieces.

I will venture to the drug store today to try to salvage what is left, if anything, of my self esteem. I probably won't comb my hair, though.

Sniff.... sniff....

Can you FEEL the Christmas joy???

Boy, am I in the Christmas spirit or what?

I finished my craft boutique show on Saturday, and was GLAD to be done! I had to drive in a terrible snow storm to get there, my stuff was clear down in the theater room of the basement, it was hot, and hardly anyone came through! Oh, a woman doing people's toe-nails in the other room had stolen my pink waste basked I put by my display for people to put their hangers or messed-up entry forms in. She just dumped all my hangers and stuff out onto the floor so she could borrow it to put her stinky, dirty foot garbage in! I couldn't believe it! She just giggled and said, "Oh, I hope you don't mind, I borrowed your garbage can. People were putting all that stuff in it and I figured I'd just use it for my garbage." There was no, "Do you mind if I borrow this?" or "I'm sorry for dumping all your stuff out onto the floor in front of all your pretty aprons, messing up your display so I could steal your pretty pink waste basket!"

The next morning when I went back, she had replaced the garbage can WITH all her crap still in it- and mine sitting on the floor next to it. Gee... thanks, lady! I hid my basket behind my stuff so she couldn't walk off with it again. I couldn't help but notice the towel she had draped over the foot rest she had her customers use to get their feet done. It was dirty, and had glitter all over it from the previous customers. She didn't even change the towel between customers? Gross! I was going to suggest to her that she change it, but she didn't have any customers on Saturday, so everyone's feet were saved from sharing fungus!

Did I mention I felt like CRAP on Saturday? Ya, stuffy nose, sore throat, sinus headache, deep chest cough... So, all in all, the craft show was NOT a screaming success. Oh, I did sell all my Twilight aprons, but that was IT!

Ok... breathe.... I can now focus on getting my house in order for Christmas. Today's list includes: dishes, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, loads and loads and loads of laundry, sewing special apron orders, going to post office, buying a PS2 for the little kiddle, and getting the guest room ready for guests this week. Did I forget anything?

Oh... I can already feel the headache coming on! Merry Christmas!

I feel violated...

We were burgled last night.

It's never a good feeling when you walk up to your door to unlock it, only to find it is unlocked, and you KNOW you locked it... AND turned on the alarm.

Someone came into our house and graffitied our couch! That's right, there were pictures all over it...

ok, cute, darling, irresistable pictures of my nieces and nephew, in matted frames.

Ok, so it was my brother-in-law.

Lucky for him he wasn't here when I got home becuase I would have pulled out all my Kung Fu moves on him. He would have been defenseless against my Woo Shi Fingerhold!

My angel...

I am sick.

I was sick on Sunday, and a little bit on Monday, but thought I was feeling better. Today, after moving all my furniture around, and inhaling large amounts of dust, I feel really crappy!

I have a fever. And my body aches all over.

My son tried to help.

He said, "Mom... you don't really want to cook tonight, do you. " (not a question.)

"no. not really. " (cough.... cough)

"Well, why don't we go out to dinner? I'll pay!"

I wanted to cry. As much as I would have loved to not have to cook tonight, I couldn't allow my little son to pay for our dinner, (which would have been 79 cent burgers from Arctic Circle with the money he's got)! However, the words warmed me all over! Thanks, Buddy!

When no one's around...

I spend a good part of my day completely alone. My son is at school from 8:30 to 3:15-ish, depending on when he moseys on home, so I am alone for about 7 hours.

I spend much of the time picking up after the two men in my life, and sewing aprons, running errands, answering email, etc, but it is also the time I get to do stuff I don't normally do when others are around.

What? What are those things you do, you say? Well, here are a few:

I sing. It's true, I don't sing much when the family is home. My son says it hurts his head, and- well, things just get crazy when they are home. So, my alone time is the time I turn up the bluegrass music, or the musical sound tracks, or the celtic music and sing at the top of my lungs! I love it! My dog howls when I do it, but I just imagine he's singing along.

Read. Sometimes in the afternoon, about an hour before my kid gets home, I like to relax and read a book. I've seen a few blogs list the books by their bedside. Here is a good place to do it:

Twilight... of course.
Life and Death in Shanghai (my friend let me borrow it- it's very interestig!)
About 8 different historical romances, usually paperback.
A couple books by Maeve Binchy
my journal

(What? No scriptures, you ask? Those are on my husband's side right now.)

I talk to myself... CONSTANTLY! But only when no one is around. Ok, the other day my husband was home from work, sick, and he caught me talking to myself. I talk through the dishes, vaccuuming, dusting, etc. It helps me get through it all. If I don't do this, the voices just build up in my head and I get bad headaches! This way, I can let them out a bit at a time. (no, I don't need a straight jacket!) I used to do my homework outloud when I was young, it helped me stay on task and get it done. I think this is the same idea.

That's pretty much it. Oh, and I NEVER wear shoes in the house. I hate wearing shoes! I'm not one of those picky people that makes you take your shoes off when you come into my home, but I personally kick them off the second I get in the house! My feet need their freedom to be who they want to be! It bugs my husband, but he bugs me when he keeps his shoes on, so I guess we're even. He has pretty much accepted the fact that I'm a little nutty, anyway. Especially now that he knows I talk to myself!

Now you know what I do when no one's around! (oh, did I mention my neighbor does, too? Ya, he caught me singing at the top of my lungs one day when the back door was open. I was pretty embarrased!)

A Happy and Sensible Holiday Message For You All...

Twilight Aprons

I just had to post the aprons I made. If you know someone who loves Twilight, this would make a GREAT Christmas gift!

O Christmas Tree...

I have always wanted a pretty THEME tree for my living room. You know, the one that doesn't get all the kid's homemade ornaments hung haphazzardly on it, or the ornaments given by loving neighbors that don't match a single thing in your house? I love my traditional tree that does sort of have a theme, (sailboats and lighthouses) but also has many mismatched ornaments as well. It is the tree that holds all the memories, the ones you talk about as you put up all the ornaments.

However, this year, I FINALLY got my theme tree! Ok, it's not the dream theme tree, but I am quite pleased with how it turned out. I got the ornaments at next to nothing, and love it! My little guy helped me decorate it, and for once I didn't have to rearrange all the ornaments he had put up- he actually got the concept of spacing and arranging! (Should I be worried?)

Anyway, here is my theme- "The Heavens", with stars and angels! Yay for Christmas Trees!!!!!

Bad, Stinking, Dumb Day!

Today is just a crummy day.

Yesterday was not too great, either, but I put up a Christmas tree in our living room and it looks really cute, so that- at least- was good.

Today- just a crummy, bad, stinky day.

That is all.