Thankful Thursday...

I haven't played the Thankful Thursday game lately... It is so over due!

This is what I am Thankful for this week...

1. I found a new friend... She is so dang cute, and funny and she has been my neighbor for almost a year and I just met her... Yeah- I pretty much suck as a neighbor! Anywho... I attended services and she was the RS teacher... I was totally drawn to her. Later that week a bunch of us went to lunch and I have been in love with her ever since. Then to top it all off... after I am totally somewhat stalking her (googles her... and it worked), I find out she is FAMOUS! Kindof a rockstar in the scrapbooking world... t-shirts and everything...see I should be a scrapbooker so I could have known her sooner and been REALLY impressed when she moved into my neighborhood! Here she is... check her out. She is just a girl, but oh so much more! She is Margie Romney- Aslett. How cool... she is even a hyphenater!

2. Old Friends... It was so much fun re-connecting with some of my oldest and dearest friends. It is sad how life sometimes gets in the way of staying close with people that mean so much to you... I am stickin' with these babes from now on- They are too much fun!

3. My Project 365... It is true... I have stuck with this for 13 1/2 weeks now. I have never followed through this much in my entire life! I have really enjoyed this little project and think it is going to be amazing to look back over every single day of 2009. Here are last week's pages... I guess as proof I am not as flakey as I usually appear!

4. My i-touch. I know this sounds totally materialistic, but this little gadget has rocked my world. I love love love pandora radio! I just bought a game called izits that is the best ever...move over bubblet! I can actually get emails now even if I am not at my computer! Not to mention the music! I am waiting with baited breath for my contract with my current provider to expire so I can get rid of my ghetto phone and move on up to an iphone. It is good to have goals and something to look forward to...

5. Going to Vegas, baby! The thought of getting out of northern Utah snow spring and actually experiencing real spring is a good thought!

When I grow up...

When I was little I wanted to reach for the stars...

I wanted to really BE something...

I knew I wanted to be a wife to a handsome man...

I knew I wanted to be a mom... I sang the song "When I grow up I want to be a mother...and have a family... 1 little, 2 little , 3 little babies of my own."

As time went on I thought I wanted to be a Marine Biologist because they got to work with dolphins... then a rock star... then a dance teacher...then a Solid Gold dancer...

I thought I wanted to be a mortician and follow in the daddy's footsteps...

I went to high school and college and decided I liked English and History and teaching...

1+1+1=3 !

I found my handsome man

& started having babies

I became a high school teacher and taught for 10 years.

Then I decided I wanted to just be a mom...

This is really what I want.. this is the best job ever!

My babies are getting big & are all in school

Sometimes I think I would like to be an aesthetician and give facials (pick zits for money)...

Somedays I like to sit and blog all day...

Somedays I like to sew or paint or play with my pictures...

I want a room of my own that I can use to create whatever I want!

I really like to entertain and throw parties.... I like my life to be a party!

It is crazy that sometimes I still wonder what I want to be when I grow up!

Will I ever grow up?

19 years...Really?

19 years really?

I am going to let you all know just how very old I am...

19 years ago I was a Freshman at College and was on the drill team!

Made such fun friends and had such a great time!

Fast forward 19 years to NOW...

Some of us connected on Facebook and decided it was high time we got together...

Since my house is kind of centrally located (and I volunteered) we all met at my house!

So. Much. Fun!

Here is the little invitation I sent out...

I know there are weird brown things on it... but, I am in the witness protection program and can't divulge my personal information...

Here we are 20 years later...
Karla, Amy, Sarah, Tracy, Deena, Monica, Me, & Megan
We were missing a few, but we will catch them next time!
Megan drove all the way from St. George and then turned around and went back.
She wins the award for the most effort made...

Here are a few pics of the buffet... minus some of the food
It was so fun to use my new copper chafing dishes! Yahoo!

We looked at old photo books, watched a video (scary), laughed at all our BIG 80's hair, ate, saw pics of our kids (32 between us all), and got all caught up with each other...

We just didn't want it to end!

It is amazing how fast time flies...

It seems like just a few years ago we were all at Dixie College!

Thanks to everyone for making the effort to come...

Let's do it again soon!

Happy Birthday to the Queen Mother!

Viv!

Happy Birthday to the QUEEN MOTHER!

Here is a little bit about her...

She loves Mary Englebreit

My kids call her their "pot head Grandma" because she LOVES, LOVES, LOVES pots and flowers... Her whole back yard is potted flowers. One of her biggest goals in life is to work in a greenhouse.

She is a whole lot of fun! Everyone likes to go with Viv... because a good time is guaranteed!

This pic was taken at Bette Midler last summer... we had a blast!

oops... How did this picture of the Relief Society President make it on the Internet?
She is just a normal down to Earth babe!

She supports all of us in everything we do.

This was taken last weekend at Mitch's baseball game!

She has been married to my dad for 40 years...

She has stood by her man through thick and thin... and they still even like each other!

Here is their wedding photo...

What a dish!

What a pair!

My dad looks like he is about 11 years old.

She is the oldest of 3 kids and was always a little mother to her brothers...

She still likes to take care of people!

She is the world's best aunt, cousin, friend,

MOTHER!

She has got PERSONALITY PLUS...

very outgoing, GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR!

Viv is the best! I am so lucky to be her daughter!

She means the world to everyone that knows her...

Happy Birthday, Viv!

We All LOVE you!

So... What do you think?

Okay... So I was a little bored with the last layout. I wanted color and something kindof jazzy, without being too busy and weird. What do you think? Good? Bad? Weird?

Good Mail...

I am a little tardy in posting this.. .Tanja Please forgive me!

Last week I got the most amazing package from my blesbian blover Tanja.

She is just the cutest thing...EVER!

The package included a darling D platter... a great candle lantern and the cutest card ever that said, " You're one sick puppy"... That is why I like you so!

I just love her!
Remember this:

A day of blogging bliss with Mindi and Tanja...

Thanks again for the fabulous prize!

Happy St. Paddy's...

Happy St. Patrick's Day...

I hope you all take it easy on all the green beer you're going to drink today!

or in most cases...

take it easy on all the green M&Ms you're going to eat today!

I swiped the pics of Martha looking like a total "Martha" in the apron & gloves I sent her for my

blogiversary give-away.

There really was a prize and there really was a winner!

Here is the little package I sent... It was so fun to put it all together.

I knew she liked red so I tried to do it all based on that color.
It was fun... thanks to all those who played along and entered my give-away!

She Really Does Exist!

She Really Does Exist... The wonderful and TOTALLY darling Tammy!

I met her equally darling sister, Colette, at Tonia's holiday boutique and told her if Tammy ever did brave the cold to call me and we would surprise her...

Tammy braved the cold and...

Collette called!

I called a few people that I know IRL and we all met Tammy for the first time!

She is cute and funny and everything I would expect and more!

A little more quiet than I would have thought...

( But with me, Tiburon, Melissa, & Vanessa who could get a word in edge wise?)

She was so much fun to hang out with!

Tammy, Collete, & I even saw a movie together...

You guessed it... "Confessions of a Shopaholic"

Tammy likes to shop.. I like to shop... it was a fitting movie!

We had a fabulous lunch and I am so glad to finally know Tammy!

Her sister updated her FB account by saying " Collete had a fabulous day running around with Tam and her imaginary friends"

Tammy is better in person that she is in "invisible"

She even hooked us up with glam notbooks... she is so cute.

What is better than friends bearing gifts? Not much!
Yeah for the opportunity to meet Tammy...

I hope she will come back soon!

( or we all need to leave the 60 degree spring and head to Arizona for a little 85 degree spring)

We're on our way!

Thankful Thursday...

Here it is once again.. time to stop and reflect on everything I am thankful for:

1. A little bit of sunshine coming my way... Next week I am headed south for a baseball tourney. St. George has corner on the market as far as SPRING goes and I can't wait to partake in all it has to offer!

2. Pandora Radio... Yesterday Madonna radio kept me very entertained playing everything from Madonna 80's style to Beyonce' and Jutin Timberlake. Cyndi Lauper radio is also one of my faves!

3. Meg and the evergoing shoe battle was only a 4 out of 10 this morning. What am I going to do with this girl?

4. Without sounding like TAMN I am off to get a "PEDI" this morning... My pigs are looking pretty winterized and BAD- Time for a llittle spring fling for the toes!

5. Tanja is back... she is all private and locked up, but she's back! Yeah!

6. A little girlfriend time coming up... NOthing recharges me like a little fun, shopping, and laughing with some friends. YAHOOO!

I Fell Off The Wagon...

I fell off the non-apron making wagon...

I made many aprons for Halloween &

Some for Christmas...

and I wasn't going to make ANY more.

I haven't been doing anything creative lately and I have been in a funk!

Bette, Pandora & I stayed home all day and whipped this little number together.

I feel much better!

Bette, the body, is modeling my latest creation...mixing old fashioned cherries with hip zebra...

I added a zebra, tulle, ribbon, bling corsage flower for an added little zing.

Don't forget the dish washing gloves...

p.s. Bette is the body, Pandora is the radio station... basically it was me, myself and I... and I had a wonderful day drinking diet pepsi, sewing, singing Madonna Radio and talking to myself.

Does it get any better?

Does it really get any better than this?

I might have seen the movie a few times... let's talk about a few things...

The movie is definitely different than the book... I went with low expectations because I loved the books sooo much! I was pleasantly surprised! The movie is great, especially if you haven't read the book.

I still love the books... especially because there are 5 of them and the joy will last longer than 2 hours.

Could Isla Fisher be any more perfect to play Becky Bloomwood? I think not!

I want to dance with fans!

I recognized her feelings when she says that shopping makes her feel warm and wonderful- shopping makes the world seem right. YIKES... guilty of some of those same feelings...

I think I need to see this again and then go shopping... and soon!

P.S. I happened to go to the new Nordstrom this weekend.... Oh my beautiful store! I felt like I was in a dream. You should see the shoe department. I am headed back on Wednesday to really check it out and to have lunch with a girlfriend... It just doesnt' get any better than a beautiful new Nordstrom.

Thankful Thursday...

Things I am so thankful for this week:

1. An in-house graphic designer... The talented Tiburon for allowing the whole blogosphere to nab her logos and run... thanks Tib- glad I can use your talent whenever I need it!

2. Friends bearing prizes... My darling friend Tonia stopped by last night to bring me a "March Prize"... just because. She brought me some "DAHLING" dish gloves... Lime green ...so cute!

3. That I lived through the dentist... I had more than one email asking if I lived. Yes... I did! BUT, I do have to get a CROWN- and not the princess kind. I told the dentist, his assistant, and the receptionists that the next time I see them I WILL BE HIGH- and I will be... for reals!

4. DVR- Really! One of the best inventions ever!

5. 1 year of Blogging- Such a great thing in my life. Wow! I have met amazing people via the world of Blog... Thanks! You make this such a fun part of my day!

6. Another day in Paradise... I've got so many things to be thankful for... I need to stop complaining....get my crap out of the street and just celebrate- I've got the world on a string!

This is what I am thankful for... What about you!

366 days of bloggin...the winner is...

There is always some let down after a big event... But I am so happy to announce...

The winner of my Blogiversary Giveaway... lucky #20

( picked by Meg as she ran out the door to school)

With a blog name like Laughing out Loud ...I so needed to know her!
We have blogged in the same circles for a while... and I almost met her, but I didn't attend Kristina's Meet and Greet... so fate intercepted and she won my giveaway!
Yesterday was the first time she had visited my blog... a new year... a new friend!
Thanks to Tanja, Tammy, Vanessa, & Veronica for the sidebar shout out!
I will totally hook you sisters up for that!

Martha... email me your address and information and I will get your prizey sent!

1 year... 197 posts...Lots of new friends...lots of new knowledge= my 1 year blogiversary!

Who would believe it... A Little of This & A Little of That is

1 year old!

I can't believe how fast this year has flown by...

I have loved blogging, reading blogs and meeting some of the most amazing women!

Because you have all endured this past year with me...

I am going to reward one of you with my

One Year Blogiversary Fairy Giveaway!

This little care package will have several things that I have found or talked about in my last year in the wonderful world of Blog... Especially things that are retro, domestic, sarcastic, glittery, or just overdone... remember the name of this blog is A Little of this & A Little of That... but the real message behind it all is.. .A little too much of a Good thing is WONDERFUL!
This past year has been wonderful... Thanks to you!

You know the drill... Leave me a comment for one chance, shout me out on your blog for two, send me a prize and have a really good chance at winning... just kidding! I can't be bought...well...maybe...just kidding- really- this is all fair and square!
Thanks for making this little endeavor a really great one!
P.S. The party is over Friday Night at 12:00... you've only got a few days to RSVP!

P.S.S Did I say Friday night at midnight... I meant TONIGHT at midnight!

If it is past 03-03-09 then it is too late... sorry!

You snooze... you lose!

My Wild Saturday Re-cap...

Saturday... Whew! What a day... What an unusual day!

They day started out like any other... running kids to various sporting events, practices, etc.

Caylor then took Meg on a skiing Daddy/ Daughter day... they had so much fun, but forgot the camera... My friend Sandy and I took Natalie away from the hospital for a few hours and we all went to see "Confessions of a Shopaholic"... LOVED IT! Natalie was glad to get out for a little bit of fun and we had a great time. Good news... Natalie and her baby, Falicity, got to leave the hospital on Sunday and go back to St. George... I think they were both really glad to get to go home...especially to a nice, new apartment!

The interesting part of the day actually became the interesting part of the evening. I have a former high school class mate that I found on Facebook that is now a Drag Queen... He was Scott Wilson.. mild mannered high school student...

Now....

He is Syren Vaughn Drag Queen extraordinaire! My friend Melissa went to the nightclub, Bliss ( formerly known as THE BAY) on Saturday night. It was gay/lesbian night and the reason we went was to see Syren and her other friends from Vegas perform.

Let me just tell you... Syren is quite the woman!

Melissa, her brother Christian, her two cousins, & I had a great time. We danced and watched, and had so much fun. Most definitely a new experience for me!

I hope my will is in order!

NO!

Today is the day... the one I would rather sleep through... Today is the day I have to go get my teeth cleaned at the dentist. I would rather go to the OB-GYN, Toys-R-Us, a pet store,and the ARMY. I hate going to the dentist! I have a teeth cleaning, but it usually leads to more... I cry when I have fillings! I have some rotten teeth going on right now and I have actually had a tooth ache. Can anyone say ROOT CANAL? I think this stems from a childhood full of silver teeth. It was nothing to go to the dentist and have 5-6 cavities at a time. I am just sick about this. I probably won't take a xanex today, but one is guaranteed for the day I have to actually have my teeth drilled and filled. I am such a baby.

Think of me as you go about your happy day...

DYING in the Dentist's chair!

LAZY!

Laundry to do...

Kitchen to clean...

Bathrooms to scour...

Groceries to buy...

Dinner to make...

DVR shows to catch up on...

What?

I think today I am

NOT going to get ready...

NOT going to leave my house...

NOT going to be productive...

NOT going to care!

( see backpedal post)

UPDATE: I got my Brothers & Sisters episodes watched...and my man called and said he was on his way home. Just taking the rest of the day off- GREAT! Where am I going to hide the breakfast dishes! I have got to bust a move. This is what you call BUSTED!

There is someone I would like you to meet...

Here she is... Brandy!

My darling little sister is all grown up and has started a blog...

Let me tell you about her..

She can sing ( I donated all my musical talent to her)

She has naturally curly hair

Her wedding was like one you see on a soap opera... over the top

She is a interior designer extraordinaire!

She is married to a totally hottie

She has two DARLING little boys

She is a scrapbookin' freak!

She lives three doors away from our other "non-blogging"sister

She is so dang cute and funny and just the best!

Check her out here, leave a comment and make her feel welcome in the blogosphere!

My life with Meg...

Yesterday was Meg's 1st grade PATRIOTIC program at school...

We knew the songs...

We had the red shirt, denim blue sparkly mini, white sparkly tights and cute boots...

we had practiced the part...

&

My stupid camera was about out of batteries so I only got a few LAME pictures.

When will I learn?

The very best part of the whole thing was the convesation we had as we were getting Meggie ready for school...

Meg: Mom, I am so tall I have to be on the top row.

Me: That is great, Meg... That way everyone can really see you.

Meg: No... the best place is the bottom row- that way the audience can see your whole outfit!

I am so proud!

I told Caylor that little story and he made sure he told her how he could see her whole darling outfit... He is the best dad ever!

Just Thankful...

This past week I have had Thankful Thursday EVERYDAY!

Here is my story!

Last week my mom, Viv, came to my house to offer support to a girl in her neighborhood and church. The girl, Natalie, is 24 years old... has two daughters ages 16 months and 4 months... that right there would push me over the edge... just wait it gets better.

Natalie was raised in foster care... her biological mother is crazy! When Natalie was 4-5 months pregnant she had to have her gallbladder out. Her husband took her to the hospital and never showed up again. He is some kind of gang banger living in Salt Lake City... LOSER! They are now divorced. She had nobody so she did call her mother for help. Her mother lives in Southern Utah and brought her there to stay and re-coop. One night they got in a fight and the mother started kicking Natalie in the stomach (remember she is pregnant) and so Natalie pushed her off... the mother flew back and fell. She then called the police and had Natalie arrested for domestic abuse... Natalie couldn't make bail so she sat in jail for two weeks. She was then homeless. She and her 9 or 10 month old baby lived in the care and share in St. George for 21 days. She then called a Mormon bishop who helped her get into a rental trailer in my mom's ward. Viv was in the room when she had her baby and has tried to help her get back on her feet. Two weeks ago the baby, Falicity, got sick and was life flighted to Primary Children's Hospital where she had open heart surgery to repair a major birth defect. She wasn't supposed to live through the surgery. While the baby was in PICU my mom and Natalie stayed at my house. My heart has broken as I have watched this darling girl suffer. She is absolutely alone in this world save a few ward friends and people that have reached out to her. Her baby got out of the hospital last Saturday. When I went to St. George she was staying here in Salt Lake with the sister of the Bishop that got her out of the Care and Share. She was supposed to go back to St. George today, but the baby got a cold and is back in Primary Children's Hospital. I hope and pray that she is okay... I am going down today to take Natalie some treats and friendship.

WOW... This is a LONG drawn out story... and I have given the Reader's Digest condensed version. I am so thankful for my life and my own problems. I can't imagine how hard it would be to have a baby so sick... now add without a husband or mother or sisters or any family what-so-ever. Last week I cleaned out my closet and gave her a few things.... you would have thought it was a Neiman Marcus shopping Spree... she was so humble and appreciative! She has NOTHING and is SO grateful for all that she does have. She is a great mom and a really nice, funny person. I have so many things to be thankful for... Holy Cow... I am crying again as I write this. The one thing that has been going over and over in my mind is ... Because I have been given much, I too must give! I am not writing this to get money or sympathy or comments about how great it was I had her stay at my house...but to really publicly be Thankful for all I have!

Yellow!

Today I followed Tiburon's lead and did the color test. I have known about this for years...since I was in high school and I sooooo believe in it. The first time I took it I was 98.9% yellow. When I was teaching school red became a little more of my personality, but I have always been mostly yellow. I have a little bit of blue and usually NO white at all. This little online test that I did today doesn't give you your % of the other colors, just the dominant one! If you aren't familiar with this... you need to take it. It is really funny. I bought the book and think it is so right on!

Yellows (Motive: Fun) 85.13%
Yellows are motivated by Fun. They are inviting and embrace life as a party that they're hosting. They love playful interaction and can be extremely sociable. They are highly persuasive and seek instant gratification. Yllows need to be adored and praised. While yellows are carefree, they are sensitive and highly alert to others' agendas to control them. Yllows typically carry within themselves the gift of a good heart ( this was my profile from the test...below is my own take on it...)

Each color has good and not so good qualities... here are all the colors and some basics of each:

Red: motivated by power... very organized and business-like, self starters, but sometimes a little too power hungry.

Yellow: Motivated by FUN! The party of life! Lots of fun, very charismatic, quite positive... sometimes a little shallow, centered on instant gratification, and flighty...not too organized.

Blue: Motivated by relationships. Very loyal... and worried about people. Very dutiful and worried about doing the right thing. Sometimes can be too hung up on the task and can also be self-righteous.

White: Motivated by Peace. Peace-keepers... want to be left alone and DO NOT want any conflict at all! These are sometimes very creative and seem to be in a world all their own. The down side to this color is they are silently stubborn... you CAN not force them to do anything they don't want to do...

Thi is such a fun little test, but also has really helped me in my relationships with people. My man is a red/blue combo... that with a yellow is interesting. The book even talks about different colors and their relationships. I am not a self-help reader ( it just isn't fun enough for me..haha), but this book is awesome.

P.S. Tiburon was red... go over to her blog and read her profile...

Food, Blogging, Drinking, Eating...what could be better?

This past weekend I was in sunny, but cold, St. George at a baseball tourney... the ride down and back was consumed with this little jewel... Julie & Julia- My year of Cooking Dangerously

This is a memoir of Julie Powell and her quest to figure out her life. She takes on the "project" of cooking every recipe in Julia Child's recipe book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, in one year. It is hilarious! She debones a duck, murders lobster, and all the while is blogging about it. This took place in 2002...she blogged before blogging was really popular. Now her story is being made into a movie starring Meryl Streep. I am so curious about Julia Child now, I want to find some old TV reruns of her show. I didn't know she was 6'2". Who knows maybe I will master the art of French Cooking...NOT! This is a great read! There are so many wonderful passages about the ups and downs of blogging... funny culinary disasters... and just funny life happenings. You can still read the blog here

P.S. Thanks Chalyce for the book! LOVED IT!

Enjoy!

Hello!

I have missed you... I have got so many things to share with you... I hope you haven't forgotten me... I'll see you tomorrow!

He's a keeper!

My Man! He is such a keeper! He is a profound hater of Valentines Day...thinks it is a commercial scam man that sometimes forgets Valentines Day. Last Sunday he had a a total surprise for me... an early Valentines Day gift! Needless to say, I was surprised about more than one thing! He got me an ipod touch and had loaded all my music onto it! So sweet!

My family all got these for Christmas, but I am not really a music junkie... I have my XM in my car and that is good enough for me, so... I just kept my little vintage nano rockin'. The boys have loved theirs and Caylor has become a facebook fiend now thanks to the ipod touch. ( Mindi teases him calling it his blog-lite. He does have a blackberry touch phone, but it doesn't float his boat like the ipod does)

So I have started playing around on it... it is fun and way different than my other ipod. Mitch told me about Pandora Radio and it has rocked my world the last few days. It is like having a massive music collection on shuffle. Songs that I had forgotten about, but loved are the little surprises that just pop right up! Let me tell you... Cyndi Lauper radio is pretty darn amazing! I know I am probably the very last person on Earth to know about this...for I am NOT a techie, but it is the best ever!
So... back to my man... He is the best and I love it when he can pull a little surprise out on me. I am usually a little snoop it takes alot to surprise me- I guess you could call me a busy-body. Caylor is definitely a keeper!