videos!

my niece is SO stinkin' adorable! and she's ridiculously smart for an 18 month old! I have to share some with you. enjoy!

jaime's married!!!

Jaime and Jim were married on December 20th in the Mesa, AZ, temple. It was a beautiful day. I feel so special to have been a part of it. I loved being by Jaime's side through the whole process, and helping get it all together. I think it turned out pretty darn well. Check out the photographer's slideshow here. She did an amazing job!

I will look back on this day forever with lots of emotion. Saying goodbye to Jaime was really hard, but I was also filled to the brim with happiness for her. She found an amazing guy and they will have a really great life. I loved getting to know Jaime's family. They are welcoming, sweet and lots of fun. I hope I get to see them again someday. I love you Jaime! Thanks for letting me be a part of your big day.

december playlist

with everything that is going on this month, I have often felt like I am watching my life from afar. kind of like a movie. and every good movie has an even better soundtrack, right? right! so, here is the playlist that has been in the background during all of the change and good times I have experienced in November and December.

Lucky. Jason Mraz featuring Colbie Caillat
Breathe Me. Sia
I'd Rather Be With You. Joshua Radin
Hallelujah. Jeff Buckley
More Time. Needtobreathe
This Year's Love. David Gray
Favor. Rocco DeLuca & The Burden
Morningtime. Sarah Dashew
Lay It On The Line. Rebekah LeBeau
How Am I To Be. The Watson Twins
Begin To Cry. Christopher Jak
Falling or Flying. Grace Potter & the Notwist
New Day's Dawn. The Wilshires
Where I Stood. Missy Higgins
How Can I Keep From Singing. SHeDAISY
Wintersong. Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
Song For a Winter's Night. Sarah McLachlan

christmas time is here!

I know it's a cliche, but the holidays are SO busy! I have managed to do a few festive things though, so here's my update.

last week I went to Heber and rode the Polar Express with James. it was so much fun! well, ok, it would have been a lot more fun if we were about 20 years younger, or had enough patience to handle obnoxious teenage "elves", but it was a great time anyway. is there a better way to ring in the holidays than to ride a train up to the North Pole to be greeted by Santa and Mrs. Claus and served hot chocolate and cookies by elves? I think not! thanks again so much, James, for taking me.



here are some pictures of my tree and favorite Nativity set. my tree has been up for a month now! I couldn't stand waiting, I was so excited about all of my new ornaments. isn't it beautiful? this is the first time I have actually had my own fully decorated tree. I guess you could say my adulthood is official.



and here's the first Christmas card I made this year. it's a lot harder to get myself to stamp at home these days since I spend 8 hours a day doing it at the office. but, I am sure this one won't be the last one I create this year.


a couple nights ago I hung out with Landon at a cute little coffee shop called Diva's. it was the perfect winter/Christmas night. hot choclate in the den, playing Scrabble and laughing with Christmas carols in the background. It snowed for the first time this week, too. now all I need is moolah for gifts and the season will be complete. :) I hope you are all able to enjoy this time of year as much as I am.

thankful thursday

it's Thanksgiving! I'm down in southern Utah with the fam, and couldn't be happier about it. I can't help but think about all the blessings I have in my life. who doesn't do that on Thanksgiving? so, here are some of the things on my list:

* my family. I don't know what I would do without them. we are closer than most families, and I don't say that lightly. have you ever watched Brothers & Sisters? we are close like that, but the flip side is that we have that much drama in our lives too. maybe more. it's all good though. we get through it all together and there's no better way to deal with it.

* my job. I couldn't be more grateful for a job than I am right now. I know several people that have been unemployed far too long and still don't have any leads. and not only am I simply employed, but it's by one of the best companies ever to work for. work is fun, and everyone in the office is too.

* my faith. the good part about losing your faith is finding it again. for those of you that have experienced it, I'm sure you know exactly what I am talking about. it's indescribable.

* my friends. no matter how old I get I will always need good friends. and I have some amazing ones. I don't make new friends easily, and that makes me even more grateful for the ones that have stuck around over the years. I couldn't have asked for better friends.

what more could anyone ask for?

new look for a new beginning

I redecorated my room! finally! it's been 4 years since the last time I gave it a whirl. I found this duvet at West Elm, and fell in love with it instantly. my next step was to get white sheets and paint my bed black. I still have a lot to do, but it's looking good so far. and it all came together just as a huge change came about in my life. I got news just yesterday that I was selected as the newest Creative Training Coordinator in the Demonstrator Training department at Stampin' Up! I moved up to the third floor before I left yesterday, and will begin on Monday. I won't be planning events anymore, but I will be training at some of them. first stop is Orlando in January. wish me luck! this position will be fun, but also challenging. my creativity is going to be put to the test as I will be designing most of the projects we teach our demonstrators or use as examples in our publications and on our website. the best part is that I will be up on the third floor where most of my friends are. so, let the good times begin!

history

In 1992 during the general election my dad scared the living crap out of me. I was 11 years old and knew absolutely nothing about politics or government. But, as most little girls, I sincerely believed every word that came out of my dad’s mouth. It was obvious that my dad wasn’t a fan of Bill Clinton. He would say things like, “The day that son of a bitch is elected will be the last day of our lives as we know it.” And, “If that piece of shit makes it into office, Hanksville will disappear. We won’t be able to survive here and it will become the next ghost town in Utah.” Hanksville is my hometown. When I lived there the populations was about 250, but it’s now closer to 175. It’s in the middle of nowhere in southeastern Utah, but surrounded by some of the most beautiful parks Utah has to offer. Goblin Valley, Lake Powell, Capitol Reef National Park, The Arches, the Henry Mountains, etc. The odd thing about the people there though, is that they aren’t fans of the BLM or SUWA or environmentalists. They believe they can take care of all that land themselves and don’t need any authorities telling them how it’s done. And by the way my dad was talking, I was sure Bill Clinton was going to turn our entire town and the 100 mile radius around it into protected wilderness area and we would be driven out like the pioneers.

On election day, I stayed up with my dad to find out who won. When the word came that William Jefferson Clinton would be our next president, I slowly walked back to my room, laid down on my bed, and cried for a good 30 minutes until I fell asleep. At school the next day, I kept asking all of my friends if they knew what was going on and if they were scared. Nobody else seemed to have a clue what I was talking about, so I just told them to wait it out and they would see. Years later, it was obvious that my dad’s predictions had been ridiculous, even though he claimed the Grand Staircase National Monument was exactly what he was talking about. Even though Hanksville never changed, and life as I knew it continued to improve, something inside of me never liked President Clinton until I got to college and learned the truth about his presidency, of course.

Last night, we witnessed American history, and most of us were a part of it. We elected our country’s first black president. I’m still in shock, but happier and more proud than I’ve been in a really long time. For a while I was unsure that we were capable of doing something so momentous in my lifetime, which, I’m sure, is why I am still in awe. I can’t wait to see what the next four years bring us. I am almost certain things will only go up from here. But, despite my elation last night, my dad reminded me of the feelings I felt last time a Democrat took over the white house. He had to call me and say, “I’m wearing all black tomorrow to mourn the death of our country.” And, “you won’t be celebrating when gas is $15 a gallon and you have to wait in line for a bowl of soup.” No wonder I cried myself to sleep 16 y ears ago! My dad is such a drama queen! Thank goodness I broke the mold and went to college, otherwise I might still believe him. And for all of you out there who do believe him, or have similar thoughts, calm down and try reading more than just the Enquirer! The best is yet to come.

better than Christmas!!

ok, I know, I've neglected my blog the past month. but, hey, give me a break, I've been really busy! and tomorrow is ELECTION DAY! how exciting! I couldn't not post something. everyone get out and vote. I don't care how ridiculous the electoral college is, we all need to be a part of this historic day. and just in case you haven't been following all of this, check out these sites first.

Barack Obama

John McCain

Now, VOTE OR DIE! that's right, I quoted P Diddy! I'm that dorky... let's all pray my spirits are this high late tomorrow night. that's right - GO OBAMA! happy election day! see you all in a couple days.

weekend in Seattle

I decided to drive out to Seattle with my mom at the last minute. I can't say I was happy with the price of my my last minute ticket, but I am SO glad I went. it's funny how it takes seeing my sister to realize how much I miss her. it has been a hard couple years having her clear out in Seattle. I have to say that I am really proud of her. she is a great wife and an amazing mother. her daughter, my ADORABLE niece, Nynaeve, is the smartest, and best behaved 16 month old I have ever seen. you can have conversations with her, that you both understand, she can count, say her ABCs, she has manners, and she LOVES to hug and cuddle and be held. seriously, she is the perfect niece.

she loves the books we bought her last time we were there:


who wouldn't have a great day after being woken up by her??

she LOVED the Koala I brought back from Australia:


and I got to spend some alone time with her at the playground:
we also spent some time at Snoqualmie Falls. it's SO beautiful there. every time I go, I love Seattle more and more, and my desire to move there gets stronger.




they will all be here tomorrow night, and next weekend. I can't wait to see them again!

the things I love about Australia

I had a fabulous time in Australia. it was even better than last year! I love it there and would have no problem becoming an Aussie myself one day. here are some of the things I love down under:

* Koalas! look how adorable they are! they are so cuddly and sweet. I couldn't stop oohing and aweing at them. if I were rich, I would have paid to hold one. it's my goal for next year. :)



* lawn bowls. ever heard of it? you have to roll an oblong ball across the turf and try to hit the white ball on the other end. I have to admit, I got pretty good at it. the ball curves when you roll it, so there is some skill involved. there's gotta be somewhere in the states to play. it's tons of fun.
* the Daintree Rainforest. It's amazing. I love trees, and I have never seen any like these. I don't think I saw any that were similar. tons of different kinds, tons of different heights, and barely any space between them. you can't even see the sky. I love it there.



* the people. to be honest, I don't think I've ever met nicer folks! they are all incredibly cheerful and welcoming. it seems they are all more real and down to Earth than we are here in the states. I want to start an Aussie-style American organization and teach everyone their manners and way of life. if we took our time like they did, we'd all have less headaches, heart attacks and ulcers. most of us would have better relationships too!



* Aussie slang. here are some of my favorites:
swimmies, or swimming costume - swimming suit
good on ya - good for you, or nice job
thongs - flip flops. we had some fun confusion over this one. :)
jumper - jacket
sunnies - sunglasses
rubbish - garbage, trash
bite your bum - be quiet
bush - middle of nowhere, desert
bushie - someone who lives in the bush
cheesed off - annoyed
chemist - pharmacy
boot - trunk of a car
cobber - a male friend
bloke - derogatory name for a male
brekky - breakfast
canopies - appetizers
in a tic - in a second
lollies - candy
mum - mom
no drama, no worries
petrol - gasoline
pressie - present or gift
rice bubbles - rice krispies
torch - flashlight

see?! when people talk like that, how can you not love them?

* meat pies. SO yummy!! and sausage rolls too! this place in Kuranda had the best meat pies ever made. flaky thick crust and tasty fillings. some of them had mashed potatoes on the top!



* driving on the wrong side of the car AND the road. it was hard to get used to, actually it was really scary at first. but, then it was fun. I got the hang of it, and it started to get exciting. I just had to keep my mind on it or off I would go in the wrong direction, or my windshield wipers would be moving instead of my blinkers going on.

* the fun animals and wildlife reserves. check out these wallabees. alligators, lions and tigers! and I saw so much more!







* the accents. I probably shouldn't say this until I have been to more countries, but the Aussie accent has to be my favorite. SO CUTE!

I can't wait to go back. and if you ever get a chance, you have to go. Australia is amazing!

one more rant

ok, just one more. for now, anyway. :) Keith Olbermann is amazing, and his "special comment" last night left me speechless. It's something that has needed to be said for years, as it is a situation that has been getting worse and worse every year. Thank you Keith Olbermann for pointing this out, and doing it so well. his right to do this without fear of losing his life or his job is one of the reasons I love America. enjoy!

enough!

did you listen to Obama's speech at the DNC? if not, here's your chance! despite how crazy my life is right now, I am doing the best I can to follow the general election, and every time I get a chance to listen to a speech or read into the headlines, I am consumed by some pretty powerful emotion. I usually have to keep this bottled up in respect to almost everyone around me, so when I read this post on dooce.com, it made my day. granted, I would put things a little differently than she does, and use different language, but I felt a lot of pride reading this and I am in awe of her ability to put the exact things I feel into words. if you're interested at all in why I have absolutely no interest in McCain and Palin, please read her post called And... boom.

PS - I am really far behind on my blog, sorry about that. hopefully I will find time on Sunday to post about Australia and the last minute trip to Seattle I took last weekend.

deer valley

I got free tickets to the Deer Valley Music Festival, so I took Jaime with me and we headed out for a girls night away. we first ventured up to Main Street and had dinner at Yuki Arashi. the sushi was pretty good. I'm sure we will post about it someday on Girls' Bite Out. as we neared the end of our meal, the dark clouds prevailed and the rain began pouring. rain is my favorite weather, almost nothing makes me happier than being in the rain! so, we ventured outside and headed for the car, stopping for ice cream, of course.

the music festival is outdoors, and as much as I love rain, I was hoping it would subside so we could enjoy the performance. the view was beautiful, the music was amazing (even depsite the fact that I'm not a big Beatles fan), the whole thing was great. and then there was a breeze. have you ever been wet and cold during a breeze? yeah, it's not exactly warm and comfy. we stuck it out as long as we could, but ended up leaving early. as we were rounding a corner on a wet, muddy slope, my cute little flats slipped right out from under me and I landed flat on my butt in the mud. my purse and lawn chair went flying, and everyone gasped in horror. leave it to me to make a complete fool of myself. I couldn't help it, I busted up laughing. what else could I do? it was funny, there is no denying it. and nothing could have ruined the evening. check out the view:

the world spins madly on

summers are always pretty crazy, and this one has been no exception. I haven't had much time to write, so I thought I would catch you all up. I have worked at several weddings, attended family weddings and baby showers, hosted a couple parties, worked at our annual convention (which is much larger than I'm sure any of you imagine), am heading to Australia in a couple days for a while (also for work), and will be heading down south next month for work as well. I also went to the Deer Valley Music Festival with Jaime, and I promise to post about that soon. ...last week we found out that the house sold, so we have to move out the day I get back from Australia. we are so lucky to have found a great place in the avenues, and we can't wait to be back downtown. ...I finished the Twilight series a couple days ago. that's right, I'm one of those crazy vampire lovers. :) you have no idea how much I wish I had an Edward of my own... I also finished season 3 of Weeds. I LOVED it. It's funny, real, deep, and intense. but take my advice, don't watch it if you can't handle swearing and drugs. ...this past weekend seemed to have a high school theme as I randomly ran into a few people I haven't seen for years, both in person and online. the flashbacks have been keeping me entertained. ...my mom is staying with us for a while. it has been nice to have her around. I have an amazing mother and am so happy to be able to spend time with her before she moves to the west coast to be near my adorable niece. speaking of Nynaeve, I just had to share this picture. we took this at the zoo while we were in Seattle. she loved keeping us entertained, and this picture brings a smile to my face every time I see it.

July Playlist

For the past few months, Jaime, Erica and I have been doing a monthly CD swap. I think the songs that I put on my CD each month are very telling of where I stand and who I am right then, so I have decided to start posting them. The name for my CD this month is Just Breathe. It seems like I have muttered that phrase to myself several times the past few weeks and when I looked back on my playlist, the songs all fit. It's one of my favorite mixes I have ever made and I can imagine myself listening to it forever. I hope you all enjoy it as well.

1. Keep Breathing. Ingrid Michaelson
2. Broken Parts. Raining Jane
3. Chasing Pavements. ADELE
4. Angels On The Moon. Thriving Ivory
5. Back To Where I Was. Eric Hutchinson
6. New Slang. The Shins
7. What If you. Joshua Radin
8. Incline. Raining Jane
9. World Spins Madly On. The Weepies
10. See How I Run. Jessie Baylin
11. Go On, Say It. Blind Pilot
12. Hometown Glory. ADELE
13. Closer. Joshua Radin
14. Desperate Sails. Raining Jane
15. Here For Now. Ani DiFranco
16. Be Be Your Love. Rachael Yamagata
17. Backyard. Guster
18. In The Deep. Bird York
19. Whiskey Lullaby. Brad Paisley

Par-Tay in Kanab!!

on July 2, 2008, I celebrated my one year anniversary with my amazing job. 10 days later I got to prove everything I have learned and how much I have grown by traveling to Kanab and running their company summer party all by myself. I feel so grown up! ;) it's very rare that any of us go to an event and run it completely alone, so I felt privileged. this party has been my baby for about 6 months. I planned every detail. I will admit I was nervous, but as soon as things were supposed to start coming together, and all of my vendors were supposed to arrive... they did! and they got all set up and ready to go 30 minutes early! everything ran just as perfectly as planned, and those that showed, had a great time. the main attraction was the mechanical bull! and the guy running it actually convinced me to get on. yes, I rode the mechanical bull, and had a great time. you know that saying, "you can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl"? well, it's true, I admit it. deep down, I will always be a country girl. I think that is why I love the Kanab employees so much. I get along with them really well and jump at every opportunity to head down there and spend some time with them.

anyway, it was an amazingly successful event, the storm harrowing above us didn't even dare to put a damper on our day. the weather was cool and breezy, but there was no rain on our parade. it was a great day, and I have pictures to prove it.