Thursday, June 28, 2007

It's hot

I used to live in Southern New Mexico, where it gets hot on a regular basis in the summer. 110*. In the shade. On a cool day.


But then I moved to Utah. When you think of Utah, besides the Mormon temples and BYU, you think of snow. Isn't that a motto here- Greatest Snow on Earth. And we had the Winter Olympics here in 2002. It was cold then. Below 0*. I know. I stood out in the parking lot with my son so he could play with the marching band at 4:00 in the morning as the torch went by. It was bitter cold.


Well, it's not cold now. No sireee- bob. It is
I think I hate hot worse than I hate cold. At least with cold, you can add layers and sip raspberry coco and curl up under a blanket by the fire and read a book and have a pretty good excuse for not doing anything outside. But with hot? No. People look at you as if you were off your rocker when you say you can't go outside in the heat because you will get sick. (why do you think I read so much?) But it is true. The sun makes me sick. Really, really sick. I started out the summer getting my yard in order. Pulling weeds, planning the fairy garden, adding plants to the pond. But now, it is hot until midnight or later and so I don't sleep and then when I do fall asleep, I don't wake up until after 7 and it is already getting hot again.
Ahh well, good enough reason to curl up on the floor in the hall (where you can actually feel the swamp cooler) with a good book.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Now I Get It



I am decoratively challenged. I always have been. You could give me and my sisters as well as my sister in law, Tammy the same room, same furnishings and knick-knacks, pictures, what have you and theirs would be gorgous and mine would be usable- sort of.

I had an appointment with my rheumatologist in Sandy this morning. Since Ikea is on the way home, I thought I would stop and see what all the fuss is about. Especially since every time I asked my sister, Sharon, where she got this cool knick-knack, that piece of furniture etc she always said, "Ikea". So I stopped.

Now I need to say this, I HATE, HATE, HATE shopping. I will do anything to advoid shopping. Most women like it. I don't. If I have to go shopping, take me to Home Depot and let me get some new tool, or paint or something that I can fix up or plant or redo. That is what I like. Well, after 2 hours in Ikea, I decided that I needed to get home. And I have already planned to go back and what I want to get when I am there.

Today I spent less than $40 and I got:
2 mesh hanging things for my girls to put their stuffed animals/toys in
1 curtain for my kitchen pantry door way + rings to hang it from a rod
1 wooden crate with dividers to set on my kitchen counter to corral all of the pencils and paper and chore list
1 set of small cups for small children
5 small baby toys for when Hunter comes over
1 tub to hold the baby toys when Hunter is not here

Now, I am more of a crystal chandelier and marble tile type of gal, but I did find some furniture there that I liked.
I will be getting a small bookcase and some magazine holders to replace the filing cabinets (and large tub under the piano) in my living room that hold the piano, tuba, saxaphone, trumpet, drum music.

I also have a thing for dishes and chairs. I am proud that I didn't come home with a single dish. It was really hard, though. I am going to clear out my cupboards again this week to make room for those cute purple glass bowls and those small goblets that would be great for orange juice, and they had some mixing bowls, mine are about shot after 22 years of cookie and cakes and bread, and those plates, oh and I need some new trivits and.......

Well, let's just say that I finally get why all the fuss about Ikea and I will be having my sister's go shopping with me and coming to my house to put everything where it should go. And then I will have a beautifuly decorated home, just like they do.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Tag, Your'e it

As soon as I read the topic of Karlene's latest blog, I knew I was going to get it. And I was right, I didn't run fast enough. So here goes with the game of tag.


Remove the blog from the top, move all the blogs up one, and add yourself to the bottom.

Novembrance
The Lyon's Tale
Sundial in the Shade
Inksplasher
The Dance

What were you doing ten years ago?

Let's see, 1997. No knew babies in my home so it is hard to tell. Oh! I know, I was trying to convince my husband that it would be a good thing for me to go back to school and finish my degree.

What were you doing one year ago?

Working for Rosehaven Publishing, a job that I miss every day. Miss the job, miss the office, miss the people, mostly miss the world's best boss.

Five snacks you enjoy: (I am going to list the unhealthy ones that I indulge in)
1. Kevin Miles makes the world's best chocolate covered carmels. Miles Chocolates If I had to admit to an addiction, it would be these.
2. A glass of orange juice
3. A big bowl of peaches and cream with sugar
4. Twix candy bar
5. Russel Stover's Vermont Fudge Pecan Roll

Five songs you know all the lyrics to

1. 5 o'clock Somewhere by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffet
2. Skin by Rascal Flatts
3. I loved Her First by Heartland
4. Little Moments by Brad Paisley
5. When He Cheats by Carrie Underwood

Things you would do if you were a millionaire:

1. Build my dream house (in Wallsburg)
2. Furnish my dream house with what I want and not what I can afford
3. Trust fund for all my kids and neices and nephews
4. I wouldn't be in debt
5. Travel to Holland at tulip time, visit the Louve, go to Denmark, Australia, visit church history sites, see old buildings in Italy........

Five bad habits:

1. I am too picky
2. Expect things to be done MY way
3. spend too much time on trivial matters
4. don't read my scriptures as often as I should
5. don't balance my check book except once every 4-5 months (and then it is a terrible mess)

Five things you like to do:

1. Dance
2. Read
3. Redo furniture
4. Remodle
5. Shop antique stores

Things you will never wear again:

1. Maternity clothes
2. Bell bottoms
3. 4 inch heels (but I will torture my self with 3" on a good day)
4. A size 1
5. Blue eye shadow

Five favorite toys:
1. Fisher Price old and antique Ferris Wheels
2. My UB fragrance designer kit
3. Musical tops
4. Jacks
5. My hammer, saw, paint brush, gardening tools etc.

Where will I be in ten years?

Living in my dream house. One of the most successful Urban Botanic Fragrance Designers. Playing with my grandkids. Healthy and thinner. Married to a man that adores me and I adore him. Thinking that life can't get any better than this.

Five people to tag:
(this is the hard part because almost everyone that I know that has a blog has already been tagged!)

1.Lindsey
2. Marilyn
3. Holly
4. Diane
5. Stacey

Sunday, June 24, 2007

From the halls of Montezuma

My third child, second son leaves in 75 minutes to go to San Diego to MCRD (Marine Corp Recuit Depot). This is the second time I have sent a son off to become a Marine. Somehow this time is harder.
Maybe it is because last time I could fool myself into believing that he was just off to scout camp and then life could take over before I missed him too much.
Maybe it is because last time I had 3 days between when he graduated from high school and his actual leaving.
I think it is because last time he left on a Monday and I had daily things to keep me occupied and not thinking about his leaving.
This time, I have had time to think about all the things I am going to miss. He already went to scout camp and came home. He is leaving on a Sunday. I always cry at church during the sacrament song. Today I promised I would not cry until I dropped him off at the recruiting office and was back in my car.
I started crying when I was trying to put my makeup on. I should have just not put any on because by the time the opening song was over, I didn't have any on anyway. I really wasn't going to cry. At least I didn't have to give a talk or anything like that.

Then to make matters worse, our bishop announced that we were going to have a musical sacrament meeting. Our ward does this once in a while. It is kinda like testimony meeting. The congregation thinks of a song that has a special meaning to them, you go to the pulpit, tell the meaning of the song in your life and then we sing it. Well, the spirit wouldnt' let me sit this one out. No, I had to get up. I tried ignoring the feeling, but you know how that goes. But I couldn't think of any song to sing that wouldn't make me cry harder. No matter. So I stood up and think I spent a year just crying at the pulpit. I am not even sure what I said, but we sang my family song, Hymn #250 "We are all Enlisted" (ironic, I know).

I am proud to be the mother of one Marine and one Marine recruit. In 12 1/2 weeks I will be the proud mother of two Marines. I will get my boy back for 10 days while he is on leave and then he will be gone for another eight weeks at SOI (school of infintry), at Camp Pendelton. So in all he will be gone almost six months. He will come home on leave the week after General Conference and then be gone until after Thanksgiving. But he will look so handsome in his dress blues.

Friday, June 22, 2007

Counting Stars

"Jane was hoping for a date-maybe even a boyfriend. What she wasn't expecting was Paul Bryant's completely original and sincere pick-up line: Hi. I'm Paul. I have terminal cancer. My wife was killed in a car accident, and I'm looking for a woman to raise my children." **

Do you love romance novels? Do you live vicariously through the lives of those found on the pages of a romance novel. Could you take or leave a romance novel? Or does the thought of reading a romance novel set your teeth on edge? Whatever your feelings towards romance novels, here is one that you do not want to miss. "Counting Stars" by Michele Paige Holmes.

Jane is almost thirty, LDS, never been married and her family never lets her forget it. This induces here to answer a single's ad in the newspaper, thus altering her future forever. But then you already knew that, didn't you? After all this is a romance novel.

But wait, this isn't like any romance novel you may have read in the past. It turns out that Paul really does have terminal cancer and he really is just looking for someone to raise his children after he is gone.

Jane and Paul's children are thrust into a situation that is so maddening that you, along with Jane will want to kill Paul, if he weren't already dead, that is. It is here that Jane meets Pete, and of course the meeting is a disaster- don't forget this is a romance. But just when you think that Michele is finally following the traditional romance novel formula, she takes a turn that leaves you wanting more. Then just when you think you have the ending figured out (you know, they fight, they have to spend time together, the non-member joins the church, asks the girl to marry him while standing in front of the temple and they live happily ever after), Michele again turns down another road and you are pulled back into the lives of Jane, Pete and the kids.

Trust me, you will laugh, you will cry, you will cheer and you definately will look at the night sky in a whole new way. Even if the thought of reading a romance novel sets your teeth on edge, give this one a try.


**From the back of the book, "Counting Stars" by Michele Paige Holmes

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Books down

I finished my first book for the Summer Reading Thing. I won't post about it until Friday though, when the summer reading really starts. But I am doing a boutique the rest of the week for my home business, Urban Botanic, and won't be able to do much reading, so I read this book early. Besides, Karlene gave it to me for my birthday, yesterday and what are birthdays for if you can't just sit and read the day away?

Megan says that since I started early I will have to minus one from my list. Maybe I should just add one to my list. Actually, I am going to hit the library after Strawberry Days are over and load up. Then I will post more to my list, so I will choose all the books I want for that trip and then add one for Megan.

Seriously though, I have been looking at everyone's blogs that has signed up and posted a reading list. I am just wanting to include all of those books on my list as well. I really had intended to spend this summer mucking out my house and deep cleaning and throwing away. I am going to have to limit my reading if I plan on getting anything at all done these next few months! I have a couple of real weaknesse and these are what they are:

reading
buying chairs at DI to refurbish
reading
buying cute dishes
reading
Oh, and did I mention reading?

Monday, June 18, 2007

Reading list

I promised Karlene that I would have my reading list posted here by last night. However, she gave me a book for my birthday. My birthday is today and she brought me the book on Sat. Do you think that I could wait until today or even until I had posted my reading list to start it? No way on earth that is going to happen. I started it Sat. night and finished it last night. I will put that one on my reading list, because it was going to go on it even before Karlene gave it to me. I was just going to go to the library to check it out though.

Here is the beggining of the list
  • Counting Stars by Michelle Paige Holmes
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
  • Double Take by Alma J. Yates
  • John Doyle Lee by Juanit Brooks (this is a biography of my great grandfather)

Well, that is a start on what I know I want to read and what I have on hand. I will add to it as the summer progresses and I get to the library.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Summer Reading


As I mentioned earlier, my friend over at Inksplasher is holding a Summer Reading Thing.
(disclamer, I lifted the following directly from her post about the summer reading thing. But I did cut parts of it out- you'll have to go to her post to see what I left out)
Here's how it works:

Who: The Summer Reading Thing 2007 is for anyone who’s game and up for a reading challenge.
What: A summer reading challenge for everyone. Set your goals and track your progress. No goal is too small; no ambition too great.When: June 22nd through September 22nd, 2007.
Where: The blogosphere. Join up using Mr. Linky. Post your summer reading list on your blog and backlink to Inksplasher.
Why: To promote literacy around the world. Yeh, right. Because we’re addicted to reading or we need a kick in the pants to get us started.
How:
1. Make a list of books you’d like to read during the summer. Check your bookshelves and nightstands for unread (or unfinished) books. Go to the library. Browse your local bookstore or amazon.com. Check the book lists from Katrina’s Spring Reading Thing or last year’s Fall Into Reading. Ask your friends and neighbors for suggestions. Encourage them to join as well. Start a group where you all read the same books. That’s cool too.
2. Decide which book(s) you’re going to read. There are 13 weeks of summer. If your goal is to read one book this summer, that’s great. If your goal is to read 13 books, or even 26 books, that’s great, too.*I’d like to suggest that we stretch a little. If you normally read fiction, put at least one non-fiction on your list (and vice versa). Try a genre you don’t usually read. Try a new author chosen totally at random. Make your list challenging and FUN!
3. Write your blog post defining your list. If you have all your books nearby, you could stack them up, take a photo and post it. If you’ve really got time on your hands, provide a link to amazon.com for each of your titles. Totally up to you.
4. Come back here and use Mr. Linky to join up and backlink to this site. Let’s support each other in this fun summer reading challenge. Visit the blogs of other participants and POST COMMENTS! We all love comments.
5. Feel free to use the Summer Reading Thing 2007 image in your sidebar and/or in your post. If you know how to do it, please link the image back to this post.
6. Regularly (defined by you) update your posted reading list on your original blog post. Change the color of the text or cross through them as you finish each book.
7. Almost Entirely Optional: Post reviews of the books you read on your blog. Use the Mr. Linky on the Summer Reading Thing Reviews page to link back to your blog. (This is entirely optional, but required if you want to win the Grand Prize.)
8. At the end of the summer, write a recap post telling us about your experiences in pursuing your reading goals. I’ll have a list of questions for you to consider answering and another Mr. Linky to be posted the last week of the summer (September 15th).
9. And yes, there will be prizes. Like Katrina, I’ll choose one participant at random at the end of the summer who will receive a $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com.Grand Prize Eligibility
Requirements:
Join Summer Reading Thing 2007 by posting your reading list on your blog and signing up through Mr. Linky by midnight (MST) on Friday, June 29th, 2007
Post at least one book review and use the Mr Linky here to share it with us.
Post a recap of your Summer Reading Thing 2007 experience on your blog and link through the recap Mr. Linky by midnight (MST) on Saturday, September 29th, 2007 (one week after the summer ends). (Recap page will be posted September 15th.)Note: You can join Summer Reading Thing 2007 at any time; deadlines are only for prize eligibility.Other prizes will be given out randomly during the summer, regardless of when you join. Prizes to be announced later, but they will all be books.Okay, that’s it. Let’s get reading!Click here to join Summer Reading Thing 2007.

Blog names

My friend is starting a Summer Reading thing over on her blog. I want to join her in this, but when I started thinking about where to post my reading lists, goals, updates, etc. I realized that while I have more than one blog, they are all work related and I didn't want to post this on them.

So, I needed a new blog for personal things like this.

Then I realized that I needed a name for this new blog..

My son and I started thinking. Here are some of what we came up with:
  • Crazy Tragic, sometimes almost magic, awful beautiful life* but there was already a blog by that name.
  • I'm all that and a bag of chips (seemed a bit ego inflated to me)
  • All the rest
  • Dance of life
  • My life, my times
None really seemed to capture the essence of me (maybe that should have been the name- the essence of me) Then I walked into my bedroom and looked at the arrangement of pictures on my wall- my favorite activity by my favorite artist, Jack Vettriano.















Dance me to the end of love Dancing Butler The Waltzers

I used to dance. A lot. Every day. As much as possible. Every day. Then life happened and I married a man that can't dance. In fact, two left feet would be an improvement. And kids came. And housework and I changed my dance routine from dancing to music on a dance floor to doing the dance of life.

And so when I saw the pictures this morning I realized that I still dance. And that should be the name of my blog.


*lyrics to a Daryll Worley song that I love.

Till Graduation









Indeed.

add to kirtsy

Miles to go







Indeed.

add to kirtsy

Treadmill







Indeed.

add to kirtsy

Weight change









Indeed.

add to kirtsy