pieces of christa

grand canyon road trip!

2010-09-28T21:22:00.006-06:00

back in May I took a drive to the Grand Canyon and Phoenix with Brad so he could check out the law school at ASU. we left in the evening and drove all night to the Grand Canyon and watched the sunrise. it was amazing! I still can't believe I never made it there until I was 29. so sad... I can't wait to go again and see much more of it.

Jaime met up with us in Phoenix and we hooked up with Jacque and went to their favorite sushi restaurant - Ra. soooo good! it was my second time there and I hope to go again. hopefully with the same awesome peeps.

we ran into a storm on the way home and I took this amazing pic from the car somewhere between Phoenix and Flagstaff.

it was a pretty awesome trip. and Brad loved it so he lives there now. very bittersweet. time to start planning a trip to visit!

time flies

2010-09-21T22:25:00.007-06:00

it's been a REALLY long time. to be completely honest, I just didn't feel like posting. :) and well... I still don't. so, I'm just going to post a bunch of pics to catch up. I"m sure you would all rather look than read anyway, right?

Series finale party for LOST. I made epic Kahlua Pork and Dharma beer. It was so much fun watching the best ending ever to the best show ever with two of my besties: Holly and Janiel.

THE SWELL SEASON! My first concert at Red Butte and my second time seeing Glen and Marketa in concert. They were even better this time, which is hard to believe! And it was so fun experiencing it with Jenny and Lindsay.

Trajan turned 1!!! He is the best nephew I could ask for and the most adorable little blond boy ever. It was a fun dinosaur birthday party.

Lake Powell!! I hadn't been in YEARS! It was so much fun. It was Brad's first time there, too. It is still one of the most beautiful places on Earth and I can't wait to go back.

I love my family. I spent as much time with them as I possibly could.

Cakes! We made a ton. We're getting much better and that's making it a lot of fun.

...that's it for now. but, there's a lot more to come!

through the woods

2010-06-09T00:14:00.004-06:00

these past two months have been the scariest I've had in a long time. but, I made it through! I felt calm going into surgery which was shocking. and the first thing I heard when I woke up was the nurse canceling my room for the night and explaining that I would be going home. I immediately starting grabbing my neck to make sure they had gone through with it. that was a mistake. grasping a fresh incision is never a good idea. it was there alright and I then realized how hot I was and began kicking. everything was hazy and strange... and then I was wheeled into a tiny room where my family was waiting.

turns out the surgery was only two and a half hours instead of four because when my surgeon got in there he found a pretty healthy thyroid rather than a cancer-ridden one. so, he only took the right lobe and tumor and then closed me up, sent the tumor in for more testing and sent me home.

recovery hasn't exactly been a bowl of cherries but it has been a lot easier than I expected. after a few nights I got used to the pain that came with every toss and turn and I eventually found bandages that didn't try to eat the skin off my neck. Tylenol kept most of the pain away and the worst part was being so extremely tired and weak. but, it's been two weeks now and I'm back into the swing of things and feeling pretty normal.

I had my follow up with Dr. Sharma yesterday and he went over the results of the more detailed testing they did on the removed right lobe of my Thyroid. turns out the amount of cancer in the tumor was so miniscule that there is no chance it spread! so, I am left with a functioning Thyroid and no need for any chemo or iodine treatment! great news all around! the incision is healing pretty well, but there was a stitch knot sticking out that he removed for me. it's longer than I imagined it would be, but the scar will hardly be noticable when all is said and done.

my hormones do seem to be suffering. be careful everyone - I'm moody and a little emotional. in four months I will go in for more testing to see if I need medication to balance my THC levels but for now, everything is good. life goes on. a HUGE weight has been lifted. I am healthy again!

I can't even begin to thank everyone enough. I got so many flowers and cards and visits and prayers and calls... I am so lucky to have such amazing friends and family! thank you all so much!!! I hope I can repay you all somehow...

fear

2010-05-23T16:25:00.002-06:00

I have been scared of a lot of things in my life. Things such as heights, snakes, semi trucks, guns, etc. But the things that I fear don't compare at all. My fears have weighed on me for as long as I can remember. They run deep. And they aren't there without reason. For one, I fear becoming an old maid. This is because I was raised Mormon in a small town. All I knew was that marriage and babies came before 20. Although I am very happy, I have far surpassed that cultural deadline.

I fear losing those closest to me. I've been to a lot of funerals that hit way too close to home and my dad has miraculously survived 5 heart attacks. To this day unexpected phone calls from family and close friends tie my stomach in knots and suspend my breathing.

I fear failure. Losing everything I have worked for and/or everything I own would be completely devastating. I have a deep sense of accomplishment that keeps me going every day. I'm not sure how I would function without it.

But most of all, I fear for my health. And more specifically, I fear cancer. The idea that something could take control of my body by slowly and quietly killing it while there is still no cure, has haunted me most of my life. My Grandma Ekker survived breast cancer. I was too young when it happened to know all of the details, but I knew she was changed. She had a mastectomy and was forever changed physically. But, I noticed a deeper change. I felt that it had knocked the wind out of her soul. Life weighed heavier on her. Since then I have seen cancer suck the life out of many. And not just those suffering from it but from everyone around them. It's draining. It's taxing. It's harsh and unforgiving. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy and I have continually prayed to keep it far from me and those I love.

Five weeks ago I went in for my annual physical. Despite the fact that I never had health insurance growing up and rarely saw doctors, I have made it a point to be very diligent about my health care. This was a normal day for me. Part of my yearly routine. But this time was different. My doctor found abnormal hormone levels and a high white blood cell count so he referred me to an Endocrinologist.

To make a long story short, I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism and the doctor decided to take a closer look. It took less then a few seconds for him to locate a large tumor on my Thyroid and decide to do an ultrasound. Because of the size and abnormality of the tumor I was instructed to get in for a biopsy as quickly as possible.

My doctor made every effort to put me at ease with the situation. I walked away feeling like everything would be fine, which made the days leading up to the biopsy a lot easier. However, it also sent me there very ill-prepared. It was one of the most painful things I have ever had to tolerate. I ended up nearly passing out from the pain and having to stay a while before I could be discharged. This put the fear back in me.

36 hours later my Endocrinologist called me with the news. All three of the samples taken for the biopsy had come back cancerous. Despite his best efforts to comfort me, the word cancer threw me for a loop. I wasn't prepared for it. I'm still not prepared for it... I spent the next couple days crying and then I hit the internet to educate myself about what was going on. It turns out that my doctors were right. If you have to have cancer, you want it to be Thyroid Cancer. And if you have to have Thyroid Cancer, you want it to be Papilary Thyroid Cancer which it turns out I have.

Two weeks later I met with my surgeon. My mom came with me for this appointment. We scheduled my surgery, a Total Thyroidectomy, for May 25 at LDS Hospital. I had about a month to prepare myself for the procedure. Despite all of the comfort I have received from my doctors, my research and my friends and family, I am scared to death. I have never been a patient in a hospital let alone undergone a 4 hour surgery removing one of my organs. I have had a hard time sleeping and I start to panic at least once a day. I have had very disturbing dreams that involve my insides coming out when the doctor slices my neck open.

I fear the surgery and I fear the effects it will have on me. A scar on my neck, critical medication for the rest of my life, yearly checkups to look for returning cancer cells, possible vocal chord damage, the painful recovery, and so much more. My mind won't stop coming up with more reasons to be scared. But, in less than 48 hours it will all be over with. I do have a few things to look forward to. For one, I will no longer have Hyperthyroidism. I look forward to never experiencing the symptoms of that again. Hopefully my metabolism will normalize as well.

The best thing that has come out of all of this is the realization of how many people care about me. Sometimes it's easy to forget that. I'm definitely loved.

I look forward to my post-surgery life. My life as a cancer survivor.

the swing of things - Feb. 2010 playlist

2010-03-06T11:38:00.002-07:00

I spent February getting back into the swing of things. after going so long without a full-time job/normal daily routine, it took some work to get used to it all over again. I made this playlist to give me the energy to do so. I think it's one of my favorites of all time.

1. better. regina spektor
2. hideaway. the weepies
3. your ex-lover is dead. stars
4. merry happy. kate nash
5. the guy that says goodbye to you is out of his mind. griffin house
6. heart. stars
7. scars. allison iraheta
8. the way i am. didi benami
9. the truth. kris allen
10. you and i. ingrid michaelson
11. drifter. joanna
12. foundations. kate nash
13. the calculation. regina spektor
14. farewell. rosie thomas
15. ready to love again. lady antebellum
16. let it be. kris allen
17. far away. ingrid michaelson
18. come out of the shade. the perishers

enjoy!

2010-03-02T22:14:00.006-07:00

it finally happened! I'm back in the working class again! it took a very long time. a LOT longer than I ever imagined. but, my new job was definitely worth the wait. I am the new Development Coordinator at The MORE Project. !!! (do those explanation marks give you an idea of how excited I am??)

it is perfect for me! I am a total bleeding heart and have always wanted to work for a nonprofit. from the moment I stumbled upon the website and throughout my series of interviews, I knew I wanted this job more than anything. and I have loved EVERY second since I was offered the position. it has given me more than I ever dreamed it could.

not only do I absolutely love what my work does for the poverty-stricken children and families in Brazil, but I love the every day things I do at the office. I also love everyone that I get to work with every day. I really don't think I could have found a better fit for me! so, here's to me FINALLY finding what I was meant to find.

and here's a shameless plug to end with - check out The MORE Project's website! there is so much you can do no matter how much you can give. I am amazed at the amount of support we get every day despite the horrible recession we are all dealing with. even if you can only give $5 a month, or $35 a month to sponsor one of the children in our program, it goes a LONG way and it is appreciated more than any of us can truly understand. so... yeah. I love my job!

looking up - Jan 2010 playlist

2010-02-14T13:11:00.004-07:00

January was a great month. I got to spend new year's with Stacy, Wayne, Nynaeve, Trajan and Steve. We watched Beauty and the Beast and played Candy Land and Scrabble all night. It was perfect.

Then I got to fully cater a wedding in Provo, thanks to Riehl Events. It was my first big success as Crave Catering.

A week later I went to Hanksville with Steve to visit with family and see the sights. Pictures from that are in my last post.

I spent the next weekend in Wendover with Amber, Gregg and Brad. We got a sweet hotel room, ate some amazing buffets, listened to some live music, and gambled our pocket change away.

I watched all the seasons of Friday Night Lights. I'm obsessed! What an amazing show! I have fallen in love with Taylor Kirtsch and finally understand football.

A few days later I got a call from The MORE Project and was offered a position I had been dying to get! I couldn't be happier with it. It's an amazing organization and I work with great people. It is definitely worth the wait and all the hard work of these past several months.

While all of this was going down, I was listening to this playlist. It's perfect for everything this month meant to me.

looking up
1. july flame. laura veirs
2. walk over me. dirty blonde
3. i run to you. lady antebellum
4. devil town. bright eyes
5. begin again. colbie caillat
6. cigarrettes and rain. chris o'brien
7. don't you evah. spoon
8. fireflies. ron hope
9. i'm the only one. melissa etheridge
10. need you now. lady antebellum
11. i'm yours. ron pope
12. off i go. greg laswell
13. i want you back. colbie caillat
14. back to her. five way friday
15. chasing cars. natasha bedingfield
16. all we'd ever need. lady antebellum
17. hard times. dirty blonde
18. fearless. colbie caillat
19. sesame street. joshua radin

enjoy!

the beauty of home

2010-02-05T00:52:00.001-07:00

I grew up in what the world calls "Majestic Southern Utah." I never understood why people were so enamoured by my natural surroundings. everything was so blah and drab. I hated the drive no matter where I was going. I hated the view from my windows. I hated every place my mom took us camping. all I ever wanted was to move somewhere green and wet and lively.

so, I did. I moved back east and smothered myself in trees. I even lived amongst the corn fields in Iowa for a while and I loved it. I savored every moment, every sunset, every view. I was heartbroken that I had lived in such an ugly place for so long.

a couple weeks ago I went home to visit my mom in Hanksville. it was very strange. I felt as though I had never been there before. I suddenly saw southern Utah through the eyes of a foreign tourist. every corner was a priceless painting I couldn't wait to see. everything was breathtaking. and it was even winter! I took a ton of pictures and just couldn't get enough.

that night as I was trying to fall asleep I suddenly felt a deep sorrow for wasting all those years wishing for something different. there are countless miles of beauty that I have never noticed or tried to discover. I vow to never let that happen again. I can't wait for the snow to melt and the winds to dry up the desert so I can venture back to my homeland.

I'm alive!

2010-01-26T22:59:00.010-07:00

I have no idea why I haven't been writing. I love to write. putting my thoughts and experiences into words and posting them for the world to read has been my release. so, obviously, I'm pretty tense. I'm going to do my best to give you a very quick update on the past few months.

Thanksgiving was great. very small. both my parents, me, rachel, sam, amber and gregg. delicious food, lots of games and movies, and loads of sleep. I didn't take any pictures... strange.

in December I worked at a couple amazing events for Riehl Events and was offered a great job doing exactly what I was doing when I got laid off. the problem was that they paid a LOT less then I was making before and were located a lot father away. it was a tough decision, but I had to turn it down.

Christmas was pretty much amazing! stacy, wayne, nynaeve and trajan showed up over a day early and surprised me. we had a great time at my place for a few days and then headed to my dad's in Torrey.

we then headed to Hanksville for the Powell family Christmas party. turns out it was the last one we will ever have. I'm still really sad about it, but also excited to start traditions with just my immediate Ekker family.

the 26th is my grandpa's birthday and this year he turned 70! we made him a pretty sweet cake to celebrate. he's looking pretty darn good for 70!

it is brett's birthday on the 28th, so we made him this cake.

we did have a little bit of drama - of course. brett decided to wreck his friend's motorcycle and dislocate his shoulder. he scared all of us, and they told him he would probably need surgery, but he is doing ok now. no surgery, but his shoulder will always be a little disformed.

the last day there we had trajan and randee blessed. we even got to take a family picture!

look how big the Ekker clan is getting! crazy! it's amazing how close we all still are and how well we all get along. I love my family! I'm so lucky to have the one I do.

best songs of 09

2010-01-13T18:30:00.004-07:00

with the new year comes my best songs of the year playlist. it's been a good one, and some of the most amazing people I have ever met brought some of these songs into my life. hopefully this list cd will bring me memories for years to come. I promise to write about some of those memories in my next post.

christa's best of '09 playlist:

1. Burises. Chairlift
2. Mushaboom. Feist
3. VCR. The xx
4. Son's Gonna Rise. Citizen Cope
5. Defying Gravity. Glee
6. Put Your Record On. Megan Joy
7. The Fear You Won't Fall. Joshua Radin
8. Us. Regina Spektor
9. The Chain. Ingrid Michaelson
10. If It Kills Me. Jason Mraz
11. Yellow Rose. Christopher Jak
12. Pablo Picasso. Citizen Cope
13. Another Kind of Green. John Mayer
14. In My Arms. Plumb
15. Beautiful World. Colin Hay
16. Soldier. Ingrid Michaleson
17. To Make You Feel My Love. Kris Allen
18. Bitter Heart. Zee Avi
19. Lovely Tonight. Joshua Radin
20. You Don't Know Me. Ben Folds
21. When You Love Somebody. Fruit Bats
22. She's Got You High. Mumm-Ra
23. I Gotta Feelin'. Black Eyed Peas

enjoy!!

my pumpkin

2009-11-17T15:00:00.005-07:00

so... isn't he the cutest kitten you have ever seen?? while we were in Hanksville last weekend we were staying at my aunt's house while their family was out of town. when my mom went out on the back porch, this is what she saw. only, he was bleeding on the top of his head and had clearly been chewed on and pushed around a bit. he clung to me like he was fighting for his life! so, I called my sister and she came to help me get him cleaned up since I literally have no experience with pets. this pic is right after we got him all dried and had fed him some milk. I immediately knew I had to call him pumpkin.

I debated all night whether or not to take him home. see, I have commitment issues and having a pet is quite a lot of responsibility. but, right when I fell asleep he curled up next to my neck and purred. that was it. I had to take him home. there was no way I was going to put him back outside to fend for himself amidst all of my aunt's dogs. so, the next morning I packed him up into our car and brought him home. I made a quick stop at PetCo and got all the essentials and we've been happier than anything since.

pumpkin is very sweet. he loves to cuddle. his favorite place in the world is on my neck and shoulders. he kicks his back feet like he's riding a bike when I rub his belly and he falls asleep when I rub his paws. he loves to nibble on my neck and toes. it makes me laugh every time. he is scared to death of the blowdryer. he hisses at it and gets defensive. I've had a great time getting to know pumpkin and I can't wait to see what is in store for us.

catching up

2009-11-14T17:02:00.013-07:00

so... I promised I would do better, and I obviously haven't. It's been about two months, and they've been a pretty hectic two months. so, here is a very quick update.

in September I took a very last minute trip to Seattle so see my new nephew again. here are some pics of that fun trip.

then, a couple weeks later I had a "staycation" in the SLC with my friend, Chris, from Albuquerque. we had a great time seeing the sights in the city, at the lake and up the canyon.

I made a few cakes. I think we are getting pretty good!

and we made our first real wedding cake! it was so much fun and the bride and groom and family all loved it.
then, I spent a week catching up with an old friend. we had lost touch for about a year. we took advantage of all of our free time by going to Antelope Island and to his cabin at Strawberry Reservoir. we live in a beautiful state! and I am soooo happy to be back in touch with Steve.

and then... well, I went to Seattle again. this time, with Steve. he had never been and was seriously considering moving there, so we gave him a place to stay and showed him around. we even went up to Snoqualmie Pass and stayed in Cle Elum at Wayne's family's cabin. it is gorgeous there! we had so much fun! I have the cutest neice and nephew in the world, and some of the best sisters a girl could ask for. I almost didn't come back. I miss them SO SO much.

about two weeks after I got back from this trip to Seattle, I went to Hanksville for a visit. I sure miss life there sometimes. we had a good time with old family and friends. in my next post I will show you the big life changing decision I made while I was there. it's been an adventure!

new artwork

2009-09-22T17:12:00.003-06:00

wow, I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted something! sorry about that. I will get on it, I promise. but, until then, check out my new blog header. it's cute, right? my sister designed it for me. she's a great graphic designer and would love to design something for you too. her website is Amber Golden Design, and she also designed the header for Christopher Ortiz at Stuff Journalists Like. hit her up if you or someone you know needs some design work done.

unwritten

2009-09-01T22:30:00.005-06:00

I took one of those lame quizzes on facebook the other day. it was called "what is the theme song of your life?" my result was Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield. I was surprised... I know, I know. it was a facebook quiz, not scripture. but it struck me like lightning and got me thinking. a lot.

for years I have been puttering along thinking that all my goals had been met. everything was already accomplished and had been since I was 24. when I was in high school my goal was to graduate and go to college. but, mostly just to get the hell out of dodge. so, I went to college. my goal there was to find the perfect major and graduate. when I discovered the answer to that was political science, my goals became larger. I wanted to get an internship in DC, stay there and eventually work on a presidential campaign. I figured that would take me quite a while.

but, lo and behold, the first job I got when my internship was over was working on the Gephardt for President campaign in Iowa. I couldn't believe it. was it really that easy?? getting the job - yes. but, doing it - no. they were probably the hardest 7 months of my life.

when that was over, I went back to DC and got a job at The Hotline working for Chuck Todd. it was my dream job and I was in the most amazing city ever. life couldn't have been better.

then things got bad for my family and it became apparent that I would have to move back to Utah. I left feeling very accomplished, but beaten at the same time. I had no idea what I was going to do. Chuck and everyone else at Atlantic Media put me on leave and wanted me to come back. I agreed to try, but knew that it would be impossible. ...now what?

since then I haven't really had any big goals. I've just been getting by on little accomplishments. at least that's how it has felt. that's why when I saw that my life's theme song was Unwritten my first thought was, "no, that novel ended several years ago."

a few minutes later though I had an epiphany. I'm only 28 years old! my life is not over, it is still a blank canvass. there is so much more I can do. so much left to learn and experience. what a revelation! I hope I can hold on to it. this could definitely make things better for me. how could I have not seen this before? seriously? duh, christa!

all time top 5 power songs

2009-08-31T17:01:00.001-06:00

When I work out, when I'm going through a break-up, when I'm having a down day, when I'm on the road and really tired, when I've had a fight, or when I'm headed to an interview or other life-altering situations, I need me some power music. And I need it loud. Really loud so I can sing at the top of my lungs. These are the top five power songs I listen to in those moments.

1. No Man's Woman. Sinead O'Connor
2. Talk To Me Now. Ani DiFranco
3. Soldier. Ingrid Michaelson
4. Leave. The Swell Season
5. Scream. Michael Jackson

Yes, those are the best. But, there are several others that just missed the list. They are all on my new power song playlist.

Right Through You. Alanis Morissette
Respect. P!nk
Not Ready To Make Nice. Dixie Chicks
Stronger. Kanye West
Mercy. Duffy
Lose Yourself. Eminem
Holla Back Girl. Gwen Stefanie
Closer To Fine. Indigo Girls
Give Me One Reason. Tracy Chapman
Don't Stop Believin'. Journey
Gel. Collective Soul
F***k You. Lily Alan
Since You've Been Gone. Kelly Clarkson
Stupid Girl. P!nk
Headstrong. Trapt

recent craftiness

2009-08-27T23:33:00.007-06:00

I played around with the oreo balls that my sister is so famous for and made chocolate peanut butter balls. they were amazing!!! like I have said before, chocolate and peanut butter are a match made in heaven, this recipe confirms that for any of you that doubted me. I'm no photographer, but they look delicious, right? It's way easy to make too! here's the recipe:

1 package Nutter Butters
1 box cream cheese
1/2 c peanut butter

mix all together in a food processor until smooth. roll into balls and dip in melted almond bark. let cool on wax paper and enjoy!

I also made this for Amber. I can't remember why but, the colors are her favorite. they are clothes pin magnets for her fridge.

and last but not least, here are the last two cards I have done for card club. very simple, but I like them. sorry the last one is so dark!

july playlist - rolling with the punches

2009-08-20T01:00:00.002-06:00

July was an interesting month. lots of pondering about what to do with my life. this is the playlist that was playing in the background during all of that deep thought.

1. Today. Joshua Radin
2. Lovers Without Love. Joshua James
3. Beautiful World. Colin Hay
4. Duet. Rachel Yamagata
5. On Your Porch. The Format
6. The Fear You Won't Fall. Joshua Radin
7. Just To Be Me. Josh Kelley
8. Hey Love. Chris O'Brien
9. Break Down Here. Julie Roberts
10. Colby's Song. Joshua James
11. Overkill. Colin Hay
12. Think of You. A Fine Frenzy
13. There Is No Arizona. Jamie O'Neal
14. If It Kills Me. Jason Mraz
15. This Is For. Ingrid Michaelson
16. Blackbird. Evan Rachel Wood
17. Rock Your Soul. Elisa
18. Mad. Ne-Yo

my two cents

2009-08-15T14:59:00.004-06:00

I can't hold it in any longer. I have to be heard. most of you that know me know how passionate I am about health care reform. and when I'm this passionate, I can't hold it in. so... here are my two cents.

my parents both worked while I was growing up. they both still do. but I never had insurance until I got my first full time job on the Gephardt for President campaign in 2003. going to the doctor was a very rare occurrence. even when my sister had Pneumonia she wasn't taken to see a doctor until she looked and felt like she actually might die. they just couldn't afford it even though they worked harder than most Americans and paid just as much in taxes. there is nothing right about that.

when I was 19 my dad has his first heart attack. because we lived hours from the nearest hospital he had to be life flighted to Grand Junction, CO, had surgery and stayed for a week. over the next seven years he had four more heart attacks with the same result. life flights, surgery, extended stays in hospitals. with no insurance the bills added up to over half a million dollars. my dad lost his house, his truck, his job, and ended up having to go bankrupt - twice. all of this because of a health issue.

right now, my sister and her husband don't work. they are living on unemployment and food stamps. they get free doctor visits, dentist visits, and eye doctor visits. my other sister and her husband both work full time and have no health care. they pay taxes and get nothing while my other sister pays no taxes and gets everything.

these are just my own personal examples of what is wrong with our country's health care system. there are a million other reasons. check out this amazing article titled The Brutal Truth About America's Healthcare. it's been 97 years since the health care debate began in congress, and it's absolutely ridiculous that it still hasn't been fixed. the fact that anyone out there likes the status quo and sees no reason to improve the system just completely boggles my mind. they have to be sitting on a very pretty policy of their own. probably military health care. the best in the country. and oh yeah, who runs that? that's right - the government does! we know the government can do it, and do it well, and there are no reasons besides selfishness and ignorance to be against Obama's plan. your precious private health care will still be available to you, and the competition will still be alive between companies. the difference is that all those people out there struggling to make ends meet who need medication and care will finally be able to get it. their load will be lightened, their pain will be eased, their lives will be saved, and all with tax money they are already giving to their government. they deserve it. they work for it and sacrifice in their own way for our country every day.

Obama will not approve a plan that raises our taxes, and the quality of our system will not be effected. the plan is an improvement. plain and simple. so, please, read all the facts and think it through with an open mind before you go storm trooping against Obama and his plan. right now our helath care system is 37th in the world. yes, it's that bad. yes, millions of our citizens cross the borders to get more affordable health care. it isn't working here. our people are suffering. this country deserves better and has the capacity to do better for it's people.

crave cake?

2009-08-12T12:56:00.006-06:00

I love Ace of Cakes! I'm obsessed. I record every episode on my DVR and sometimes even take notes while I watch. working with Duff and the gang at Charm City Cakes would be the ultimate dream job for me. and since I'm a caterer, I decided I should have sweet cake skills. so, I took a class from Jaxon here at Viking Cooking School. it was fabulous! Jaxon was a great teacher, and we had a ton of fun and learned some mad skills. I was scared, but I fell in love with fondant. I want to make fondant cakes every day! here are some pics from that day.

I thought we did pretty well for our first time. and now I'm getting a lot of requests from friends to make cakes for them. Amber and I did our first one yesterday. it was a 2nd birthday party for an adorable little girl. we made her a hungry caterpillar. what do you think?

if anyone needs a cake, hit me up! I love to do it, and am charging for ingredients only while improve my skills.

today's breakfast

2009-08-05T14:58:00.003-06:00

I had one of my favorite breakfasts today - raspberry yogurt cornmeal pancakes. I just have to share the recipe with everyone. why keep something this yummy all to myself??

raspberry yogurt cornmeal pancakes
1 box jiffy cornbread mix
1 cup raspberry yogurt (or whatever flavor you prefer)
2 eggs
1/4 c vegetable oil

when you cook these, the heat should be medium low. they take a little longer too cook, burn easily, and don't really rise. I eat them with butter and maple syrup and it's delicious! let me know if any of you try them.

these are my favorite things

2009-07-27T15:06:00.014-06:00

I just got back from spending a week with my sister, her husband, and two adorable kidlets in Seattle. I had an amazing time, and it was heartbreaking to leave. I love my little sister, Stacy, to death and it was a lot of fun getting to know her husband better. they had their new baby boy, Trajan Darys, 5 days before I arrived. he is precious! I was on cloud nine the whole time I was there with two adorable, loving and cuddly kids. my niece, Nynaeve, is the cutest, smartest and sweetest little girl ever born! here are some of the things I love about her:

* how SMART and so very very entertaining she is. check out a few of the videos I took of her (I apologize in advance for the poor lighting):

* how much she loves President Obama! every time she saw me pull out my laptop she would run over yelling, "Christa! can I see President Obama? I want to see him." and when I would pull up a picture of him she would say, "it's President Obama! he loves me! I love him too!" And I would say, "that's right, Nynaeve! President Obama does love you!" how adorable is that??? kids are a great judge of character, right?

* how cuddly and loving she is. I couldn't get enough of her hugs and kisses, and she loves giving them too.

* how well she plays with others. we took her to the slide at the apartment one day, and she made friends quickly with a girl there. she was jumping and happy and running up to the girl (who never spoke, by the way) saying, "come on little girl! let's slide!" And when the girl would take her sweet time climbing up the steps she would say, "what are you doing??" like she was really confused and perturbed. So adorable.

* how much she loves her baby brother. she is constantly hugging and kissing him and running up to him saying, "hi Trajan Darys! I love you my brother!" and she will do anything to help out with him. she is already a great big sister.

* how she says my name. CHWISSA! so cute!

* her big cheesy "happy face". she pulls it every time we try to take a picture. and ten I would have to say, "no, the cute face!" haha!

*her comments during movies. during the most exciting parts she would always look at me with her big wide eyes and say, "wow, Christa! what's happening? what's happening to them?"

* her poses. it's like she knows how cute she can be and wants to show it off.

I love my new nephew too. his name is Trajan Darys. he is so cute! he has adorable smiles, cute girly screams, big hands and feet, big blue eyes and he is a great cuddler too. I couldn't get enough of him. even though he insisted on peeing on me every time I gave him a bath or changed his diaper. boys will be boys, right? here are some good pics of him:

I had an amazing time there. I would have been happy as can be just hanging out in the house all day, but stacy and wayne made sure I got to go up in the mountains and see how much prettier it is there than it is here. another one of their "move to seattle schemes" I'm sure. but, really, look how beautiful it is there!

thanks, McIntosh family for a great week! I miss you guys. can't wait to visit again. wouldn't you want to visit every weekend? look at this adorable family.

The Tortilla Curtain

2009-07-26T23:09:00.000-06:00

it took me about 3 months to read this book. I just couldn't get into it. the characters didn't appeal to me or make me feel connected at all. there was nothing in the story line that got me hooked. I could easily read a chapter and be ready to put it away and go right to sleep. the one thing I did enjoy about this book was the insight it gave you to the life of illegal immigrants.

I did finish it though. go me! I always put books away when I am bored and never touch them again. but, I followed through with my commitment. I finished The Tortilla Curtain. and because I did, I can for sure tell you not to read it. just don't. thanks.

my latest obsession

2009-07-14T15:37:00.007-06:00

I have always loved TV. ever since I learned how to pull off a timed recording on my VCR I have been obsessed. then came boxed sets of seasons. I have Felicity, Will & Grace, Friends, Lost, and Grey's Anatomy. during college breaks these DVDs were my sanctuary. when I first moved to DC and was scared to death, Marti and I watched Felicity and it comforted me. it was my security blanket during such an unfamiliar time. that hasn't changed. for the past few months I have been in uncharted territory. no job and no for sure plan. it's strange and unsettling. that's where abc.com, Netflix and Comcast On Demand come in. I watched all four seasons of Lost at abc.com, three seasons of Weeds sent to my mailbox from Netflix, and what did Comcast On Demand bring into my life?

Dexter! if you haven't watched it, you must. I can't stop watching. at first I was just intrigued. curious. but now I'm full-on in love! so in love that I have dreams that Dexter is my neighbor and I have a crush on him, but he doesn't have human feelings which you know if you watch the show. I love all the characters. Angel, Rita, Masuka, Dexter, Miguel, and Deb. Deb is played by Jennifer Carpenter who also played Emily Rose. it freaked me out for a while, but now I love her too. they are all fast becoming my favorite imaginary friends. they are on showtime. you must watch.

june playlist - no goodbyes

2009-07-12T09:35:00.001-06:00

have I declared my love for music lately? I LOVE MUSIC. couldn't live without it. number one on my list for being wrecked on a deserted island? my iPod. hands down. these past few months have been lonely, with all the goodbyes and everything. so, this playlist has fast become my BFF. it got me through. I'm out of the woods and looking toward a once again bright future. maybe it can be there for you too.

no goodbyes
1. Dreamer. Kari Kimmel
2. Half Acre. Hem
3. Lovely Tonight. Joshua Radin
4. Rise Up. Diane Birch
5. Since You've Been Around. Rosie Thomas
6. Turn To Stone. Ingrid Michaelson
7. Somebody Loved. The Weepies
8. Such Great Heights. Iron & Wine
9. Leaving You. Corey Crowder
10. The Part Where You Let Go. Hem
11. All Love. Ingrid Michaelson
12. Where The Road Meets the Sun. Katie Herzig & Matthew Perryman Jones
13. Avalanche. Marie Digby
14. Yellow Rose. Christopher Jak
15. It Don't Matter to the Sun. Rosie Thomas
16. Someone Else's Life. Joshua Radin
17. Magic. Colbie Caillat
18. I Feel It All. Feist
19. A Case of You. Joni Mitchell
20. I Gotta Feelin. The Black Eyes Peas

all time top 5 Michael Jackson songs

2009-07-05T21:29:00.001-06:00

I have always loved, and still do love, Michael Jackson. Honestly, is there anyone else that can compare when it comes to talent? Is there anyone else that made a bigger impact in the world? I don't think so! When I look back over my childhood, all the way through high school, Michael Jackson is the soundtrack. I had cassette tapes and listened to them until they wore out. I used our VCR to record his videos so that me and my friends could watch them over and over until we had every move memorized. Nothing would put me in a better mood than a little bit of MJ.

I'm still in shock that he is dead. It's tragic. He had so much more to give. I was really looking forward to his big come back. I've been obsessed with watching the tribute shows, new developments, and documentaries. I can't wait to see the memorial, but I've decided to do my own little tribute on my blog. Here is my all time top 5 list of Michael Jackson songs:

5. Beat It - I probably sang and danced to this song more as a kid than any other song. Played it in the empty garage with my little red tape player while I danced in circles in my roller skates.

4. Remember the Time - This is my favorite video ever. My little brother is obsessed with Egypt and this video had to have been where it all started. I never realized how many cameos there are in it until a few days ago when I saw it again.

3. Scream - I was on the drill team in high school. We did a dance to this song, and it was my favorite dance ever. Everyone else loved it too, and we took first in the state competition. I love the video too. I remember it being a huge deal that Janet grabbed her breasts. That was way before she let one loose at the super bowl.

2. Black or White - I lived in a tiny town in southern Utah. Race wasn't a part of my life. We were all white. This song and the video, and just Michael Jackson in general, opened my eyes to the world and put me on the path to become the person I am today. I truly believe that his influence, his actions, his music, and his words brought the world together for the first time regardless of race. And he was humble about it, but he deserves all the credit in the world.

1. The Way You Make Me Feel - This song makes me happy. It ends up in a lot of my mixes. I never get tired of it. I'm sure I will listen to it, and every other Michael Jackson song forever and ever.

Michael Jackson more than deserved his title as the King of Pop and I doubt there will ever be anyone that can come close to it. RIP Michael!

online dating horror story #1

2009-07-01T20:52:00.003-06:00

as some of you may know, this actually happened a couple months ago, but I couldn't bring myself to write about it until now. although I've been doing the online dating thing for years, I still feel pretty self conscious about it and hesitate to admit it. so, here we go... hi. I'm Christa and I meet guys online. there, I said it.

I have met quite a few great guys this way - just enough to keep me from deleting my profile. but, usually the ones that aren't meant to be, are REALLY not meant to be. take this one for example:

John (not his real name) and I had been talking on the phone and texting for weeks before we actually met. he seemed like a great guy. very intelligent, funny, good looking, motivated, well-read, cultured. all the things I look for. I wasn't worried about anything on my way to the coffee shop that night. in fact, the only thing I could think about was whether I would have a job a week later.

he was late. I sat at the high boy for about 10 minutes, and then he called to say he was in line ordering a drink and would be right there. he didn't offer to buy me one, which never really dawned on me until just now... anyway, he came and sat down and we had great conversation, we laughed, and found we had more in common than we thought. I learned that he had only been divorced for a few months, was raised Catholic but converted to Judaism a couple years ago, and was a self-proclaimed wine expert. then, out of nowhere, he starts asking me about Star Wars. I have never seen the movies, nor do I want to. he is appalled and vows to watch all of them with me. I let him know it isn't necessary, I will continue to be ok having never seen them. he still insists.

I try to change the subject, and he brings up Lord Of The Rings. I have seen them and I enjoyed them. he says, "my ex-wife could speak elvish. it was a huge turn on." I was in shock. what? elvish isn't a real language. how nerdy is that? he continued, "I used to know it pretty well myself. I even have a tattoo." "wow," I say, "what is it of?" he points to his arm and says, "it's a band around my bicep. it has the inscription that is on the ring." I'm pretty sure my face gave everything away at this point. what kind of universe had we just entered? where was the guy I had been talking to the past few weeks? he nervously said, "I don't usually reveal that until the 3rd date at least." I can see why.

I changed the subject again. started talking about skiing. he loves it. I hate it. wanted to make that clear to him right then. and he begins talking about all the strange vacations he has been on and wants to take. he spent a week on a Navy ship in California pretending to be a sailor, and now he wants to go live at the Mars station in southern Utah. "WHAT?" I say. my dad works for them. nobody knows about that place. it's in the middle of nowhere and it's a weird NASA training spot. he can't believe I know about it and that my dad worked there and he says he likes me even more now. all I can do is picture him in a space suit walking around in the desert and converting his urine into drinking water for two weeks. ...not attractive to me. not. at. all.

as we were walking out to our cars he said he couldn't wait to see me again, and that he thinks I'm beautiful, and all that jazz. I smiled and waved. I couldn't wait for it to end! what the......? the next day as I was cleaning out the art room at work I received a text from him that read, "did you have an enjoyable enough time fort night?" I didn't even know how to answer that. what does that mean? who was this guy?? needless to say, I haven't seen this guy again. am I wrong to write him off? I don't think so!

here's to online dating and the great stories it brings into my life. let's all pray I'm not single for much longer, ok?

another one bites the dust

2009-06-30T14:10:00.003-06:00

it was a crazy week. I catered a wedding in the SLC on Friday, volunteered for We Make A Difference Now on Saturday morning, and then headed to Cedar City for my brother's wedding that evening. yep, my baby brother got married. and just 3 days before they found out they are having a girl in October! woohoo! another niece! anyway, here area few pics from their wedding.

new beginnings

2009-06-18T11:53:00.003-06:00

you know when something catastrophic happens to you, something unexpected that you were unprepared to deal with, and you feel destroyed and irreparable? and everyone around you tries to comfort you by telling you that things will work out, a new door is opening and you just have to have faith. and, at the time, it's really annoying and not comforting at all? yeah, that was my life two months ago. I was defeated. I felt no hope. the life I loved and planned on having forever had been stolen right out from under me. I was devastated. there really wasn't anything anyone could say or do to comfort me and I was sure that feeling would never go away.

well, turns out they were right all along! somehow, over time, the haze that clouded my mood and my thinking has disappeared and all I see now are possibilities. it's true, being laid off really was a blessing in disguise. for years I have talked about owning my own business and doing what I love on my own terms every day, but I never really thought I would be able to do it. well, IT'S HAPPENING! soon I will actually own my own business... ok, so it isn't completely finalized yet, but it is so close to actually happening that I can taste it. thanks to all of the support from my friends and family, and particularly my sister, brother-in-law, and uncle, this is going to happen!

I think this calls for a serious celebration. who's in?

goodbye

2009-06-05T11:26:00.003-06:00

I hate goodbyes. I'm sure that is why I have neglected writing this post for such a long time... April and May were full of goodbyes for me. Goodbye to my job and all the great friends I made there. Goodbye to the stability of work I have known my whole life. Goodbye to the life I knew with my sister at my side. Goodbye to my best friend, Jaime. Yes, I know. I already said goodbye to her when she got married in December, but she came back for a while and is now leaving again. We had a great time while she was here. And we took advantage of her last few weeks and said our goodbyes the best way we know how - by going to the best Broadway musical ever, visiting beautiful gardens, eating at amazing restaurants, and watching great movies.

Jaime got us tickets to Wicked for my birthday, and let me tell you, it was the BEST birthday present ever. We had amazing box seats and it was the best musical I have ever seen! Thank you, Jaime!!!

After all the fun it was time to pack Jaime up and ship her out. This is never fun, but when you are doing it so that your best friend can leave, it's much harder. That is why we decided that we aren't saying goodbye! After all, we are still best friends, and that lasts forever. We still have cell phones, internet, airplanes, cars, even snail mail! Jaime will be here to visit very soon, and once she is settled in San Diego, I will make every effort to visit as often as possible. No goodbyes, just different circumstances.

amber's wedding

2009-05-13T09:51:00.000-06:00

so... my little sister got married. it was a bitter sweet day for me. she's always been my little sister/best friend/role model. I've been really blessed to have her really close to me my whole life. we were unseparable growing up, and well, our whole lives until her wedding day. sometimes we would pretend we were twins because everyone thought we were anyway. we had the same group of friends growing up, and then in college, and even now. there isn't anything that we've gone through without the other by our side. so, needless to say, escorting her through the temple and handing her over to Gregg was a tough thing. but, I also couldn't be happier for her. she found the perfect guy and I've never seen her happier. the day was beautiful, despite the rain and it was great having the whole family together. the pics can explain it better than I can, so here they are.

free time!

2009-05-05T12:31:00.004-06:00

it's been kind of nice having so much free time! I'm not to the point yet where I am ok with the fact that I was laid off, but I can appreciate the opportunities I have because of it. the timing was perfect for Amber, I had about two weeks to devote all of my time to her and her wedding. (don't worry, there will be a big post about this very soon).

I was also able to go to Hanksville in the middle of the week for a funeral. Pam was my BFF growing up. all through elementary, middle, and high school. I loved her to death, and I loved her mom even more than I'm sure any of them knew. Denise owned the grocery store and managed the Sinclair and Piccadilly Pizza. she was my mom's first friend when she moved there newly married, pregnant with me, very young, shy and clueless. she gave her a job at the grocery store, and later at the Sinclair. She gave me a job at the Piccadilly when I was in high school, and gave me a big advances on my pay check for things like cheerleading uniforms, camp, and our senior trip to California. she made SO many things possible for me and my family, and she did it all without recognition and very quietly. I loved her and I'm really grateful I got to attend her funeral.

I've also had time to reorganize my house and deep clean it! I love that feeling. in fact, I'm going to do more cleaning today.

I have been spending a ton less money! no more eating out every day for lunch, no more driving all over the valley every day, and no more seeing friends every day to make plans with. it's kind of sad, but it's good for my finances!

I've been able to go to the dentist as soon as he can get me in every time. yes, I've had a lot more dentist nightmares. over the past 2 months I've had two root canals and 11 fillings. next week I have to go in for another root canal! all the pain in my mouth has kept me from eating my worries away though, and I've lost 6 pounds! I've also had a lot more time to go to the gym, which has helped that along too.

so, even though the job seach is discouraging and days can be long and lonely, I'm trying to look on the bright side. I'm sure the right thing will come along eventually, but until then I'm trying to enjoy all this free time.

i loved my job

2009-04-29T16:49:00.005-06:00

one of the many things i loved about working at Stampin' Up! was birthdays. look how cute they made my desk on my birthday:

some of the many other reasons I loved working there was the awesome people I got to talk to and laugh with every day, the fact that I got to do what I LOVE every day and get paid for it, the employee store and discounts, the beautiful building we worked in, the amazing demonstrators, and SO much more.

we had been forewarned about a month before the day of infamy arrived. but, no matter how much time we were given, nothing could have prepared us for the heartache and emotions we felt that day and every day since then. it's been tough. I loved my job!!! I wasn't planning on ever leaving. I wanted to retire from there. I loved it so much that I can't seem to find the motivation to look for a new job.

I'm taking it one step at a time. some days are long and lonely, but other days are full of fun stuff I never found the time for before. but, the best days are the ones where I get to see all my fellow laid-offers. we went to lunch the very next day after our unemployment meeting. aren't we all so cute?! a bunch of us went to lunch again today. it was great! nothing else has proven to cheer me up more than being with all my SU! peeps.

the day before the layoffs happened I took pictures of my latest projects. these items are being shown on stage at the Australia/New Zealand Convention this week.

so, with any luck, I will be able to find a new great job. I better kick it into high gear! or maybe I will just hang out and live on severance for a while. :)

one year older and wiser too

2009-04-28T09:56:00.005-06:00

apparently I've been very noticeably absent this month. there is SO much to write about! let's start with my 28th birthday. on April 11, I turned 28. I chose to go back to my hometown for that birthday/easter weekend and my bff's granted me the wish and came along.

I hadn't been to Hanksville for 3 years! it was so weird to go back. it's still the same place, but pretty different. I guess that is what time does... a part of me felt like I had never been there before, and that thinking this place was a part of me was wishful thinking. I wondered where that young Hanksville Girl went. don't you worry! my family helped me find her.

we rolled Easter eggs down the red hills. watching them hop around and bust into pieces was always exciting as a kid.

climbing up Indian Island has always scared the crap out of me. at 28, it was harder and scarier!
the last part to squeeze through before you get to the top.
the view from the top is amazing! I'm always amazed at how beautiful it is there.

you can't go to Indian Island without leaving your initials carved in the sandstone. and that we did.

I wished for a hot man, of course!

yes. we are 7 again. who knew heavy heavy hangover could still be so fun?

Happy Easter! I couldn't let Jaime, Amber and Gregg go without Easter baskets so this is what they woke up to.

our last stop was Goblin Valley. I LOVE it here. it's beautiful.

I couldn't have asked for a better 28th birthday! here's to many more.

I don't wanna grow up!

2009-04-06T23:09:00.005-06:00

I’m turning 28 this weekend. WOW! I can’t believe my 10 year HS reunion is this summer and I graduated from college 6 years ago! Time sure flies when you're having fun.

My mom came over for Sunday dinner last night and we were comparing our lives. When she was my age she had already given birth to all of her children. She had a husband and 5 kids to care for, a house, a job, was primary president in our ward - she was the perfect grown-up mom... My life is very different, to say the least. Last week Jaime and I color coordinated every day, you can see evidence in her post titled “yes, we're 12”. Saturday night we rented Bedtime Stories, and last year we went to Princesses on Ice with a bunch of girlfriends. Friday night I went to a 3-D movie with James at Clark Planetarium. Look how cute we are in our glasses!

We also skipped along the sidewalk at The Gateway and had a little water fight with our straws at Z'Tejas. In December we went to the Polar Express in Heber City.

At first I thought to myself, “wow, I haven’t grown up yet,” but then I realized that I just paid off my car, I pay rent, utility bills, credit cards, I have a career and an IRA. So, yes, I guess I am a grown-up. There is nothing wrong with occasionally participating in childish activities. They are a great way to alleviate the stress in my grown-up life. Oh, and I think it also compensates for the lack of little children running around my apartment. All in all, I'm loving life at 28.

project round-up

2009-04-04T14:53:00.009-06:00

I haven't posted much of anything lately, and to be honest it has mostly been because of laziness. :) so, here is my first attempt at catching up. here are some of the projects I have made the past few months (the ones I can share anyway).

I made these pages for training videos at work. the top one (with the beautiful pics of the crawford family) was for a stencil video, and the next one (with the adorable picture of my niece Nynaeve) was for a bow-tying video.

These are all samples I made for our Leadership conference back in January. those were challenging stamp sets.

This is a gift basket I made for a friend who had been really sick for a while. It's filled with all of his favorite things. yeah, it was pretty sweet of me if I do say so myself.
and this is the card I made last night for my awesome sister, Amber. today is her 26th birthday! she liked it, I think.

so, yes, I LOVE my job! let's all pray for me. come on! I know you want to. for those of you that don't know, my company is going through major lay-offs over the next couple weeks. there is a pretty high chance that I could lose my job. this has caused more stress in my life than I think I've ever felt. I have been getting headaches and really tight and sore muscles in my neck and back. I have been clenching my jaw so hard at night that it has caused pain up my jaw and into my ear. my dentist gave me a night guard to wear, so hopefully that will help. but, seriously - your prayers are needed too. my plan has been to retire from this company, so losing it already would be awful!
Thanks y'all!

I love PF

2009-03-21T21:09:00.002-06:00

so, I joined a gym last month. Planet Fitness. I love it! I've never worked out in an actual gym before. I was always too self-conscious to work out where other people could see me do it. but, I have to say that it's actually pretty fun. I go several times a week and have lost 14 pounds so far. go me! I'm also a little bit more tan than before. (heehee). PF offers free tanning to it's black card members. this way I can look better, feel better, and not have to worry about my winter whiteness. anyway, if you are considering a gym, I definitely recommend this one. I couldn't have chosen a better place to work on the year of CHRISTA.

rain on my parade

2009-02-22T09:51:00.003-07:00

on tuesday, february 17, 2009, I made the last and final payment on my car!!!! I have never felt so relieved and excited in my life. five years of $294 a month is finally over! the car is now officially mine. woohoo! I am now the proud owner of a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse. and what perfect timing, with the economy the way it is, right? things were looking up.

on wednesday, february 18, 2009, as I walked out to the parking lot after a long day at work I noticed that the hub cap on the passenger side front tire was gone. how in the world did that just disappear? I thought to myself, "if this is a sign of things to come now that the car is mine, I might kick someone." but, then figured a hub cap really isn't that big of a deal and went on my merry way.

on friday, february 20, 2009, I took Silver Love (yes, that is her name. long story) in for an inspection and license plate renewal. I was sure she would pass with flying colors, but as I sat there playing bejeweled on my phone without a care in the world, the guy came in to tell me that my car had failed. something about the RPMs idling too high. I couldn't help but think, "what in the world does that have to do with safety?" but, arguing would be pointless and immature of me, so I took the failure notice and went to the gym to work out my frustration.

this is the definition of ironic. and I have never been a fan of ironic. is it too much to ask to just have this one simple victory in my life? apparently so.

here's to Silver Love and all the drama that comes with her ownership.

he's just not that into you

2009-02-19T18:42:00.004-07:00

so, I watched it. most of you know that reading a few pages of the book made me cry in hopelessness for the male gender and pain from realizations about past relationships. I really didn't want to watch the movie. over two hours of that pain didn't sound enticing to me. but I went anyway, with an open mind and ready to be crushed. surprisingly though, I didn't cry and I didn't come out feeling hopeless about the possibility of a future healthy and happy relationship. it was actually a great movie. definitely real and honest. I learned a lot, and already have plans of showing it to my future daughters to save them from a lot of the torture I have gone through over the years. yes, great movie indeed.

one thing I did learn is how to tell when a guy IS into you. for instance, yesterday afternoon our waiter at Fortune Cookie was definitely into me. when he handed me my check, looked into my eyes and said, "your drink's on me," and then winked, smiled and kept his eyes locked to mine as he walked away, I knew deep down that he wanted some of this. if it only hadn't come out of nowhere, caught me off guard and if he had looked older than 12 I might have been all over that. wow, there's no way I would have caught that without having seen He's Just Not That Into You. GO SEE IT!

motivated!!

2009-02-17T19:45:00.003-07:00

I decided that 2009 is the year of CHRISTA. I am off to a good start so far. I am going to pay off all my debt by the end of the year (my car is paid off as of yesterday), take care of the "excess baggage" from past relationships that I've been carrying around, take better care of my body, make time to study and catch up on my hobbies. I will keep you updated for sure! watch out - here I come!

v-day cards

2009-02-03T19:18:00.003-07:00

as much as I prefer to ignore valentine's day during February and focus on the fact that it is black history month, I can still make some good v-day cards. check these out:

I'm goin' to DisneyLand!!!

2009-01-25T21:07:00.007-07:00

I'd been home for about 4 days when it was time to get back in the saddle and head to San Diego to see Jaime. we drove through the night, which scared the crap out of me, but I had Brad and my bestest cousin ever, Sheldon, to help me out. it was a long drive. we got there at 8 AM and immediately went to sleep for until around 1. then we went to Mission Beach. it was beautiful!

The next day we went to DisneyLand!!! my first time ever. and it was amazing! I can't wait to go back. we didn't have to wait for any rides at all. January is the best time to go, for reals.

the next day Jaime's dad took us to an amazing restaurant on Coronado. we had the best lobster bisque I have ever tasted! the view was amazing. we took these fun pics:

then we went back to good ole' Mission Beach. the water was FREEZING, but the sun was warm. besides the seagul pooping on my beach towel, it was a perfect day! after laying out and going numb in the water and watching the awesome roller skaters perform on the sidewalk, we went up to a little restaurant called Cane's on a roof with an awesome view of the ocean. pretty dang good food too!

that night we played rockband till the crack of dawn! we are superstars! Jaime can even play the drums with her feet!

we had a great time! thanks so much, Jaime! can't wait to see you again. seriously, is there a more perfect place than San Diego? you don't have to ask me twice to go!

Leadership

2009-01-25T20:38:00.004-07:00

because of my new position at work, I was able to attend our annual Leadership conference in Orlando. it was so weird being there in my new position, but definitely great. I got to produce some of our classes for some of our best presenters and demonstrators, put up samples and displays, and work at check-in. we had time to go out every night and it was tons of fun. we took a lot of silly pictures, went to City Walk and played around at Margarittaville, visited the upside-down building (I can't remember what that was...), ate cheese fries at Johnny Rocket's, and spent too much money. I love my new co-workers! you should all be jealous of me.

the best part was that we went to DisneyWorld!! I had never been there or DisneyLand, and we had half a free day on Saturday. we hopped in a cab (which turned out to be a death cab!) and headed to the happiest place on earth. it was SO much fun! we didn't have to wait longer than 10 minutes for any of the rides either. best. time. ever. I could barely wait 6 days to be in DisneyLand!! that's right - both parks in one week!

Christmas 2008

2009-01-25T20:17:00.004-07:00

wow! I am really far behind. so, to sum things up, I will just tell you about my favorite parts.

we didn't have money this year, so we didn't really exchange gifts. we all gathered at my dad's house in Enoch to eat turkey, play games, and rest. the snow was coming down all over the state like crazy, but we had to drive to Fish Lake for the big annual family Christmas party, so we braved it. this is what the cabin looked like when we pulled up:

the drive was scary to say the least, but it was definitely worth it. I love my family! we had fun playing games and laughing all night until we crashed into bed. but, not before my grandparents gathered us all together to share some of their wisdom and remind us of what is important during these hard times. in place of exchanging gifts, we woke up the next morning and put together hygiene kits for the Red Cross.

I'm always overwhelmed by the love and compassion my family shows. and not just at Christmas. all the time. I love them so much and I can't wait for nest year's cabin retreat.

videos!

2008-12-28T20:30:00.006-07:00

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!!!

2008-12-28T19:11:00.007-07:00

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

2008-12-17T11:10:00.001-07:00

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!

2008-12-10T21:31:00.006-07:00

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

2008-11-27T20:54:00.002-07:00

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

2008-11-14T09:00:00.003-07:00

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

2008-11-05T18:46:00.002-07:00

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!!

2008-11-03T21:20:00.002-07:00

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

2008-10-05T18:46:00.008-06:00

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

2008-09-22T13:46:00.011-06:00

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

2008-09-11T08:30:00.002-06:00

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!

2008-09-10T08:34:00.002-06:00

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

2008-08-15T00:09:00.006-06:00

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

2008-08-12T08:18:00.003-06:00

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

2008-07-27T23:54:00.002-06:00

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!!

2008-07-20T11:26:00.005-06:00

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.

Marie Digby

2008-07-20T10:53:00.003-06:00

a few weeks ago, Jaime and I went to the Marie Digby concert. it was amazing!! tiny room, only about 45 people there, great music, very personal. the venue was interesting. it was basically someone's garage and backyard on a random street. I am now a huge fan of Eric Hutchinson. Stepsonday was pretty good as well. you can read more about our experience here. why should I cover all the details when Jaime has already done it so well? here are some of my pics. enjoy!

Marie Digby:

Eric Hutchinson:

oh, seattle!

2008-07-06T21:19:00.008-06:00

ok, so I never posted about our amazing trip to Seattle! firstly, you can check out our dining experiences on our new blog girls' bite out. but, the rest of the details will be right here.

it was a really long drive in a bright green rental car, but when we finally got there it was well worth it. Amber and Gregg have a friend that works for Marriott and he got us a sweet deal just a five minute drive from Stacy's. the first night we spent playing with Nynaeve and showering her with gifts. this is a pic of her in the chair that Amber and I got her for her first birthday:

the next day we went to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma. Nynaeve loved the fish and the whales the most. she was practically fighting her way out of my arms trying to jump in. we all had a good time there and got lots of sun. the next day Amber, Gregg, Jaime and I went downtown to the waterfront and Pike Street Market. we also went on on the underground tour and up the Space Needle. Seattle is beautiful!

that night my brother talked us into playing glow-in-the-dark golf at the supermall. we had a good time and then ran home to have fun with Nynaeve. here she is sitting on her princess couch. she LOVES that couch, and she did quite a few acrobatic stunts on it to show off for us.

the next day we spent some time at Alki Beach where Nynaeve put her feet in the sand for the first time and did NOT like it. she screamed and grabbed onto the closest person every time we tried. and then when we played frisbee she ran all over and made friends with several strangers. if she is anything, it isn't shy.

she also really enjoyed the burgers and fries we had for lunch.

we then parked at the waterfront again and walked up to Barnes & Noble where we bought a bunch of books for Nynaeve and then over to Wasabi Bistro so that Brett and my mom could have sushi for the first time. it was amazing!

we had to head home the next day and Jaime and I ended up being stuck in the car for 15 hours before we got home. it was a LONG day, so it's a good thing we enjoy each other's company. needless to say, I can't wait to go back and visit. I have the cutest niece ever!!

shout-out

2008-06-26T22:59:00.003-06:00

I need to give a shout-out to Kelly, of the amazing Crawford Clan. Kelly and I have been friends for a long time and even though we are a country apart now, she has left quite an impression on my life, along with her awesome hubby and two adorable boys. I owe her a ton for many many things, but her most recent act of kindness was designing my blog. do you love it?? I do! she did a great job. I have always been and continue to be amazed at her creativity. you should all check out her etsy store. you really do have to see it to believe it. yes, she makes everything! home decor, clothes, furniture, you name it, and she will find a way to make it. and it is always beautiful. good luck picking out just one thing to buy at The Peek Boutique where she sells a small sample of her handiwork. and on top of it all, she is the wife and mother I hope to become one day. give it up for Kelly everybody! luv ya!

pink lemonade cupcakes

2008-06-19T22:11:00.002-06:00

I made these for my boss's birthday a little while ago and just had to share. aren't they adorable?? and they taste even better than they look! do you want the recipe? well, maybe I will post it on my new blog, Girls' Bite Out, some day soon. keep watching, we will get it up and running and irresistible in no time!

nightcrawlers

2008-06-06T10:44:00.003-06:00

it has been raining a lot the past couple weeks and I have loved every minute of it! cloudy, rainy days are my absolute favorite. I'm sure you all know how badly I want to live in Seattle. however, yesterday as I was walking down the sidewalk at work I noticed that a few worms had crawled up out of the grass and onto the sidewalk where they, of course, didn't survive. I had flashbacks of college because there were almost always dead worms on the sidewalks on campus and at my apartment. but, then I had a memory that I hadn't thought of in years and years and I decided that I should share it on my blog, and that I would make my childhood memories a recurring topic. I was also thinking just yesterday about how my childhood and teenage years seem like a totally different lifetime, and sometimes I don't feel like they are really my memories. so much has happened in the past 10 years or so and it has moved me farther and farther from the life I knew up until I was 18 years old. but, no matter how distant it seems, it is a huge part of who I am and it molded me into what I have become. even the very small things like the memory I am going to share with you today, and I think remembering them will help me embrace that part of me instead of feeling like a stranger to it. so, without further ado, here is my nightcrawler memory.

"my grandparents had a huge window in their living room that looked out into the front yard. it was a death trap for many birds, but that is a different story for a different time. I remember spending what felt like hours sitting in front of that window staring at the grass in the front yard waiting for the sun to go down after a rain storm. my grandpa loved to fish, and the best bait for him was the nightcrawlers that came out of his very own lawn. I was so excited to help him on this adventure that I couldn't focus on anything else. we had our styrofoam cups all ready, with just enough moist soil. our flashlights were lined up just waiting to be turned on and my jacket was waiting quietly by the front door. I remember staring intently at the grass, just waiting to see a nightcrawler get brave enough to poke up out of the dirt. they thought they were safe at night time, but my grandpa and I had a surprise for them! My grandpa kept looking over and saying, "Christa, do you see any yet?" "have you seen one yet?" I hadn't, but my nose got closer and closer to the window until the steam starting blocking my view.

all right, I think it's time!" and then I grabbed the cup, flashlight and bolted to the door. we quietly walked along the sidewalk while moving the flashlights slowly along the edges of the grass waiting for the nightcrawlers to show. when none appeared we would move a few few in and keep looking. when they appeared we had to quickly grab them and put them safely in our styrofoam cups. they were slimy and fast. it was all very exciting. I loved being involved in something so closely with my grandfather. no matter what I did with him, it was always an adventure. I miss him a lot...

yes, I am a Dork

2008-06-02T09:46:00.006-06:00

with a capital D. and I am proud. why be ashamed? I embrace my dorkiness. what makes me a Dork you ask? here are just a few reasons:

- I LOVE puzzles. in fact, I am working on this Disney Fine Art puzzle right now. which brings me to my second point

- I LOVE Mary Poppins. I hope to be practically perfect in every way some day, and I know how to spell supercalifragilisticexpialadocious. I actually love almost all musicals and would choose a musical production over a movie any day.

- I read. a LOT. I always have a book with me, and half of my moving boxes are heavy with books. I get lost in them and sometimes spend my day longing to get home and get back into my book. I have a list 20 pages long of books I want to buy at Barnes & Noble where, yes, I have a membership, and yes I worked there part time for a while just because I loved being there so much.

- I am way into politics. and I'm not just into it, I'm emotional about it. I can lose my emotions in a debate, and I have been known to cry during speeches. Barack Obama, JFK and Dick Gephardt know how to pull at my heart strings for sure. I get emotional on election days too, at the end of the night when the winners and losers give speeches. it brings back so many memories, and makes me get all patriotic.

- I love word games. Text Twist is one of my favorites. I can play that game for hours on end.

- I don't like clubs or big parties. I would rather be at home with just a few friends, or just my best friend. or if I go out, I prefer it to be an intimate setting. there are exceptions like concerts or Jazz games, but I usually only go with a few of my closest friends. I'm an introvert for sure.

- I have a thing for museums, national monuments, and historical sites. I like to take detours to these things on road trips and living in DC was SO exciting! there was always too much to do and even after living there for two years I still haven't seen or done everything I wanted to.

- I'm crafty. I like to make my own things like pillows, curtains, chair covers, etc. I've been known to whip out a mean cross stitch and you have all seen my adventures in cardmaking and scrapbooking. and yes, I started my own card swap club and we meet every other month.

I may be a Dork, but I'm a cool one and you all seem to like me anyway.

all time top 5 MEN

2008-05-25T18:08:00.008-06:00

ok, the moment you have all been waiting for has finally arrived. I have compiled my list of all time top 5 beautiful men. enjoy!

5 - Scott Speedman. I fell in love with him in Felicity. I think I was one of the only girls that was happy that Felicity and Ben ended up together. he stole my heart and I continue to stalk him in all of the B List movies he has been in since, like xXx: State of the Union. come on Scott, you can do better! let's hope The Strangers can top that.

4 - Josh Holloway. as I have mentioned before, Lost is an amazing show. on my list of favorite Lost things, is Josh Holloway, or Sawyer. when I first started watching the show I hated him. he was arrogant, stubborn and mean. but he slowly grows on you and you start to respect him. then you feel close to him, bonded if you will, and before you know it, he is the hottest man alive and you dream about him every night. yes, he is hot hot hot, and now it looks like he is going to become the leader on the island now that Jack is getting off. I can't resist a man with authority. and yes, he is so hot I couldn't narrow it down to less than these two beautiful pictures.

3 - Patrick Dempsey. as ashamed as I am to admit it, I have never seen Can't Buy Me Love. so, I don't have a nerdy preconception of him. the first thing I remember about him is Sweet Home Alabama, which is one of my all time top 5 movies. he is dreamy. the writers for Grey's Anatomy are genious. McDreamy is the best way to describe him. being able to work under him at Seattle Grace might even be motivation enough for me to go to med school! come on! isn't that picture unbelievably sexy?

2 - Christian Bale. I had never paid much attention to him until Batman Begins. he definitely caught my attention there. dang! raise your hand if you can't wait for The Dark Knight? that's right. I knew all of your hands were up. it looks amazing! Christian Bale is definitely my favorite Batman. and who can forget him in The Prestige, 3:10 to Yuma, and The New World? he is a beautiful, beautful man.

1 - and that brings us to NUMBER ONE. Will Smith. he should have more than two pics, but I'll try not to overwhelm all of you. it's his personality that puts him over the top for me. he reminds me of my high school sweetheart, and a guy I had a crush on my sophomore year of college. so adorable. he was even hot when he was playing Will on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. he is ubnelievably hot in Bad Boys, Bad Boys II, and Enemy of the State, adorable in The Legend of Bagger Vance and The Pursuit of Happyness, and amazing in Ali. and if you haven't seen I Am Legend, do it! Will Smith alone on the screen, sometimes shirtless for two hours. it's totally worth it! oh yeah, and I found out that he and Jada have an open marriage, so I guess I can keep him at the top of my list of celebrities I am allowed to get with. haha! come on Will, you know you want me!

do I look like a wall in this shirt?

2008-05-21T10:10:00.009-06:00

while cleaning out my inbox at work today I was reminded of a very funny story that I just have to share. back in February I walked into the stairwell on my way to the third floor and I almost ran right into our CEO and VP of Marketing (hereafter referred to as VPM). I said excuse me and squeezed past when our VPM said, "that is a beautiful sweater!" I smiled and said thank you. I have to admit, it is one of my favorite sweaters. It has a black and gray baroque pattern, sort of like this:

as I happily approached the door to the 3rd floor I overheard our CEO say, "now, when I look at that sweater I think "that would look great on a wall,' you know, like the pattern." Our VPM replied, "yeah, that would be gorgeous." I realized that since I was almost out the door it wasn't intended for my ears, so I continued on, but then paused in shock and thought, "wow, I look like a wall." and this scene from Garden State immediately flashed into my head:

I then thought, "hmmm, I don't think looking like a wall is a good thing." I still haven't decided whether that comment was an insult or not. Since our CEO is one of the nicest and most Christ-like people I have ever met, I doubt it was meant that way, but it wasn't exactly a compliment, right? needless to say, I will never look at that sweater the same again.

heaps of cards

2008-05-20T14:36:00.004-06:00

ok, I have been making a ton of cards and not posting them! how dare I, right? so, this is just a pic post of all the cards I have done lately. enjoy!!

when life hands you lemons...

2008-05-13T14:18:00.004-06:00

...squirt the juice in the eyes of your enemies! I may never actually do something like that, but there's something about happy bunny sayings that comfort me when my life is overflowing with lemons. this may seem a little twisted to you, I know happy bunny isn't appealing, but my family gets it. we could laugh for hours at these distasteful stickers. think what you will, but we all have thoughts like these at one point or another. I have always wished I could be like happy bunny and just say them with a big smile on my face. like, the other day when a girl cut me off, almost hit me, and then decided to take it out on me by honking, flipping me off and then riding my ass dangerously close all the way up Bangerter. I wanted nothing more than to calm her down by saying something inappropriate with a big smile on my face. or would it have been appropriate in that situation? either way, we both know that I will never do something like that. instead, I live vicariously through happy bunny and it lightens my mood. here are a few more of my favorite lines. enjoy!

I'm not mean, you're just a sissy
I hear the other ucky people calling you
Look how nice I am not laughing at your dumbness
Is ass your real name?
Run along and die now
Just not a shit giver I guess
It's cute how you think I'm listening
It's sad your mom dresses you like that
Like the world needs more drama queens
I'll be nicer when you're smarter

and then Erica introduced me to JunkMail Greetings which is even better!! be afraid, I make cards and I might start using these as templates.

ditto

2008-05-05T09:20:00.003-06:00

Jaime took me to The Swell Season concert on Friday for my birthday. she is right. I am a changed woman. this was the best concert I have ever been to. please read her post about it since she gave it much more justice than I can. The Swell Season Concert & Its Accompanying Superlatives yes, ditto.

since I love them so much, I want to share. so, I have dedicated my playlist to Glen Hansard and The Swell Season. enjoy!!!

adventures of yard work

2008-04-30T09:53:00.003-06:00

my grandpa and aunt Jessica showed up on a few days ago to lay sod in our front yard. I didn't have anything against the beautiful landscaping my Grandma did a few years ago, but apparently the realtor did. so, they spent the day creating a green front yard and preparing the house for spring and the yard work that I can see is now going to become my life. I was taught how to turn the sprinklers on and off, how long to water, how often to mow, what to pull and what not to pull, where the hoses, sprayers and sprinklers are for the backyard (yes, the back yard, which is much bigger, has to be done manually), which plants and bushes need to be sprayed and for how long, how to start the lawnmower, where to put the clippings, how often to weed, and where to connect the hoses.

until now, the most yard work I had ever done was driving my dad's lawnmower around as a teenager, and weeding the back yard of the townhouse we had in DC. when they left, I knew I had gotten myself into more than I had imagined. but, I was determined, and even a little excited! I love responsibility, and I love doing things that have a physical result. I knew I had it in me to keep the yard beautiful! the sprinklers in the front yard were easy - turn them on for 30 minutes every day. it was all good until this past Sunday night when I completely forgot about them until they had been on for 4 hours... oopsie! but, I had faith that we would recover from that mishap.

the weather was amazing on Sunday. I couldn't wait to turn up my ipod and mow the lawn while wearing shorts and a tank top so I could get the tan I have needed for way too long. I pulled the lawnmower out of the work room and the only think I could remember was that my grandpa said the rope had to be pulled. the electric start doesn't work. so I started pulling. I pulled while holding down the handle bars, I pulled while turning the key, I pulled while it was on turtle, I pulled while it was on rabbit, I pulled with nothing else going on. my arm was about to fall off. it was not working. I called my dad, he was no help. I called my grandma, and she informed me of the primer button the the front of the motor. I primed and primed and pulled. still nothing. I finally lifted the blades away from the lawn, primed and pulled. voila! I was up and running! after all that work it took a lot of energy to push that thing around the back yard, but the lawn looked amazing when I was done so I got a blanket and took a nice long nap on my greatest achievement of the day. a freshly cut lawn.

the next night when I went out to start the sprinklers in the front yard I noticed something big and dark pushing one of the squares of sod up like a huge dome. I thought it was an animal burrowing in our yard, which freaked me out so I called for reinforcement. Amber and Holly came to the rescue with flashlights and a bulb for the porch light. they snuck up on it, inspected it and informed me that it was a huge patch of mushrooms! gross! and amazing at the same time. they weren't there 13 hours before when I left for work. I never knew how fast and powerful they could grow. the next day I found out that it was because I overwatered the lawn those few nights before and the only thing I could do was dig them out and hope they didn't grow back. I don't have any gardening tools, so I put on some culinary gloves, grabbed a grocery bag and a metal serving spoon and went to battle with the mushrooms. there were more than I thought. they were stinky and slimy and had killed the sod that was in its way. I think I got them all out, but if they come back for more, I won't be surprised.

baby mama

2008-04-26T21:14:00.004-06:00

GO SEE IT! I laughed my tail off, and I'm still laughing. Tina Fey is a genius and you won't believe Steve Martin's character. if you go see it, I will reward you with 5 minutes of uninterupted eye contact.

I'm 27

2008-04-25T13:28:00.010-06:00

okay, I'm finally ready to admit it. I'm 27. thanks to my coworkers, family, and awesome friends, I had a great birthday and I am finally going to post about it! I'm not going to lie, I haven't been too busy or too sick to do this. I have just been putting it off. yeah, that's right. I don't happily admit that I am 27. BUT - it was a great day, and it deserves to be praised on my blog.

it all started with extra time in my comfy snuggly bed. I got to sleep in! you should all know by now how much I love that. I then spent some time stamping and made some of those fun magnetic bookmarks for my friends. then I headed to the airport to pick up Kerstin. she was VERY lucky with her American Airlines flight. she actually made it! the sad part was that she ended up being sick and having to leave after lunch. it was a good time while it lasted though, and we thoroughly enjoyed our free lunch at The Pie. we ate too much, of course. but, who could resist that cheesy pizza and warm gooey chocolate chip cookie dough with ice cream?

Amber and I then headed to Park City with Jaime and Erica where we checked in to our free jacuzzi suite at the Landmark Inn. we had SO much fun with the jacuzzi! It was really only made for two people, but three of us scrunched in there and had girl talk all night! I couldn't think of better people to spend the day with! we also went out to dinner that night to Zoom, which is Robert Redford's restaurant. it was delicious! the best part though, was the dessert. Amber and I shared the pumpkin parfait. it was divine! they even put cute candles on it for me. awww! I loved it so much that I licked the glass!

the next day we had breakfast at The Eating Establishment. it was really good too. there's some good food in Park City! after that we did some shopping at the outlets and headed back to Salt Lake early so Amber and I could head to Cedar City for our cousin's wedding. it was good to be able to see all of our family. grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. so much fun!

after being forced to take a couple sick days I headed back to the office and was greeted by these amazing cupcakes and cubicle decorations! these were delicious, I need to know where they were purchased. and I did feel like a princess at my desk, especially with all the attention I was getting. thanks ladies!

well, it all would have been better if I wouldn't have been sick. :) but, I lived. yes, I have lived to be 27. it has been great so far and I'm sure it is going to get better and better. things are lookin up for me. good things are on the horizon. alright, I will stop with the corny lines. :)

what I would rather be doing

2008-04-18T12:20:00.003-06:00

I have been stuck in bed with strep throat all week. it has been awful. I would lay there, miserable and bored out of my mind thinking of all the things I would rather be doing. that is when I remembered a post I wrote way back when I started this blog. it gives you a pretty good list of all the things I would have rather been doing this week. take a look!

on top of that, it was my birthday this week and I missed all the festivities that were planned for me at work. I also missed two appreciation meals at work. could it have been a worse week to get sick?? I did have some good times though, and my friends and family made my birthday amazing. they helped me forget that I turned 27! as soon as I have some energy I will fill you all in.

recent obsessions

2008-04-11T12:09:00.006-06:00

just an update on the new little things I have become obsessed with and which brighten my days.

Jonagold apples - they are oh so yummy! the funny thing is that I have never really liked apples unless they were covered in dulce de leche. but recently out of nowhere I started craving them (must have been a subliminal message in a movie or something). I just happened to grab a few of these delicious concoctions of nature one day while in the produce section and now I salivate for them. try one before they are out of season. you won't regret it.

Stampin' Writes - these markers make writing fun. I love choosing which colors I am going to use every day. I mean, if you have to write, use color! and I love the tips on the Journaler end. well, I actually love both ends. since I hate highlighters (yes, the ridiculous brightness hurts my eyes) I use the marker end to highlight. it's practically perfect in every way. just like me. ;)

Marie Digby - she is AMAZING! thank you Jaime for introducing me to her. her CD just came out and since I haven't made it to Target to purchase it, I have been watching her videos on youtube over and over. you will be addicted too. she and Sara Bareilles are my favorites right now. l-o-v-e. sometimes all I need is some great music and a piece of chocolate. but, when the music is this good, I don't even need the chocolate. now if that doesn't convince you to check her out, I don't know what will.

Magnetic Bookmarks - I bought one in Bermuda. It has a picture of a beach and hammock on it. beautiful... anyway, I love it. it doesn't slip out and you can use it to mark the line you were on as well. I am going to start creating my own, you know, with all my awesome stamping supplies. go Christa! maybe if you are nice enough to me I will give you one. :)

Patterned Heels - I love heels. I wear them as often as possible. but, a few months ago I got brave and bought some with patterns. since then I can't stop buying and wearing them. somehow they make me feel better about myself. when wearing them I usually prance around while singing in my head. and it usually sounds something like this: "I feel pretty. Oh so pretty!" I'm sure I will get brave enough to start buying more colors very soon.

Jodi Picoult novels - I'm not sure how to do her justice. the Financial Times said, "It's hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes." dido. thank you Kerstin for recommending her novels. so far I have read My Sister's Keeper, The Pact, and Nineteen Minutes, but I plan to read all of them. they are all pretty lengthy novels, but I finish them pretty quickly. it's hard to put them down. I have never felt cheated any information after reading one of her books. the description she goes into about every character, every event, every scene, is completely satisfying. no character goes unnoticed. and they are more than noticed. you are given intimate details about everyone you come across. you feel connected and involved. the issues discussed are thought-provoking and sometimes heart wrenching. Picoult is masterful at handling each topic. whether you like to read or not, you should read her novels.

shout out to b-rad!

2008-04-10T09:50:00.003-06:00

I have to give a shout out to a post that my friend Brad wrote. I pretty much fully agree with every word and want you all to have a read. it's called My Bleeding Heart.....bleeds for everyone .

after reading it, let me know if can you honestly blame me for being a liberal. ;) thanks, Brad, for finding the words that I couldn't seem to.

ship stories

2008-04-06T17:25:00.013-06:00

I'm back! the past two weeks have been great. I worked a ton, probably more than I ever have, but still managed to have an amazing time. it started by flying into San Juan. I was with Janiel and Johanna, who are two of the funniest gals out there. so, we had a lot of laughs and ate some amazing food at a Puerto Rican restaurant called Raices. you can see our food here. I got a skirt steak stuffed with the locally grown raices (which means root, or potato), mushroom sauce, and shrimp. it was so so yummy! raices are some of my favorite potatoes now! they served the drinks in tin cups and had the silverware thrown in a tin bucket serving as the centerpiece. the staff were all dressed in old style caribbean clothing and sang at random times. I posted a pic of them as well, but it is kind of blurry. if you are ever in San Juan, you have to stop by for sure.

San Juan is a beautiful city. here are a couple shots I took as we were sailing away:

we then had to sail for two and a half days before we reached New York. I had never been on a ship that was rocking that badly! the swells in the ocean were huge! it was cold and stormy. I could barely stand up, and every time I tried to walk I was practically thrown against a wall. haha! anyway, turns out I do get sea sick. I spent the first day at sea lying on the bathroom floor or running to the nearest bathroom. I think I threw up 5 times. but, Janiel gave me a patch and I was fine by that evening. most of my time was spent organizing boxes and setting up our hospitality desk, but we managed to have some fun together and with the ship staff who were thrilled to have us and our young crowd coming aboard. :D

we got everyone loaded and headed for Bermuda. when we arrived it was cold and rainy, but most people went out anyway. I was able to move to a room with a verandah, so I spent my evenings out there reading my book. the fresh air and sound of the ocean was great. on our third day in Bermuda my boss and I were able to get off the ship for a few hours! we took a ferry to Hamilton to do some shopping, and then back to the Naval Dockyard for some lunch and relaxation at the beach. here are some of the shots I got:

the main shopping streets in Hamilton reminded me of Georgetown in Washington, DC.

and here is the view from my room of the old Naval Dockyard. the clock tower is a mall, and there are tons of fun shops and restaurants hidden in there.
and this is the restaurant that has the BEST lasagna I have ever eaten! I am not exaggerating. I loved it so much that I practically licked the plate and I wasn't even hungry! I could barely move when we left, and I knew it was a mistake when I couldn't hold it down that night. haha! hands down, best lasagna EVER. and the staff was great. they flirted, and gave us free limoncello as we were leaving.
in Bermuda, chickens and roosters roam free. haha! the first one I saw scared the crap out of me.

when we got to New York and got everyone off the ship, we had a few hours to kill so we went shopping on Canal Street. nothing could have made me more happy. I had been dying for a Gucci or Dolce & Gabanna knock-off forever. haha! we first got some lunch at a great Italian restaurant near Little Italy. I will tell you the name as soon as I remember it. I had the best cream of mushroom soup I have ever had. the ricotta gnocci was pretty good as well. then we were off looking for bags.

after several shops, a lady made a secret knock on a wall, yelled a password, the wall opened and I was ushered into a secret back room filled with just what I had been looking for. I got a beautiful white GUCCI knock-off.

I don't think I have ever been this tired, so I am going to take myself another nap now. :)

gimme a break

2008-03-23T21:25:00.002-06:00

life is busy, busy, busy... I haven't had a minute to write. it's been fun though. I had my first card swap club, and we went to Disney on Ice. now I am on my way to Bermuda for two weeks for work. lucky me! so, enjoy the nice warm spring weather and I will see you in a few weeks!

lyrics

2008-03-13T21:31:00.004-06:00

I have been listening pretty closely to songs lately. a lot of the time, if the lyrics mean something to me when I hear them, I tend to listen to that part of the song over and over. sometimes the whole song. and then the lyrics will randomly pop up in my head. these are some of those lyrics - organized by category, of course:

Lyrics that make me feel empowered:

“I'd rather sleep my whole life away than have you keep me from dreaming.” Sara Bareilles, Fairytale

“When I'm approached in a dark alley, I don’t lift my skirt. … I was blessed with a birth and a death and I guess I just want some say in between.” Ani Difranco, Talk To Me Now

“Forgive... well that's a mighty big word for such a small man. And, I'm not sure I can.” Rebecca Lynn Howard, Forgive

I've had my fiar share of take care and goodbyes. I've learned how to cry, and i'm better for that." Sara Bareilles, Many The Miles

Lyrics that remind me of the pain and circumstances of past relationships:

“Feels like reckless driving when we're talking
It's fun while it lasts, and it's faster than walking
But no one's going to sympathize when we crash
They'll say ‘you hit what you head for, you get what you ask’
And we'll say we didn't know, we didn't even try
One minute there was road beneath us, the next just sky.”
Ani Difranco, Falling is Like This

“Oh I know you can hear me
But i'm not sure you're listening
I hear what you're sayin'
But there's somthing missin'
Whether I go whether I stay
Right now depends on
Whatever you say”
Martina McBride, Whatever You Say

“If you just realize what I just realized,
Then we'd be perfect for each other and will never find another.”
Colbie Caillat, Realize

“I have to block out thoughts of you so I don’t lose my head
They crawl in like a cockroach leaving babies in my bed
Dropping little reels of tape to remind me that I’m alone.”
Blue October, Hate Me

"Would have cut it myself if i knew men could climb hair. I'll have to find another tower somewhere and keep away from the windows." Sara Bareilles, Fairytale

Lyrics that give me hope:

“Take this sinking boat and point it home, we’ve still got time.” Falling Slowly, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

“Heaven bent to take my hand
And lead me through the fire
Be the long awaited answer
To a long and painful fight”
Sarah McLachlan, Fallen

“Three little birds, sat on my window.
And they told me I don't need to worry.
Summer came like cinnamon
So sweet,
Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.”
Corinne Bailey Rae, Put Your Records On

Lyrics to lighten the mood:

“Gimme some suga’, I am your neighbor!” Outkast, Hey Yah

“Movin' to the country, gonna eat a lot of peaches
Peaches come from a can, they were put there by a man, in a factory downtown.”
Presidents of the United States of America, Peaches

“Is he a dot, or is he a speck?
When he's underwater does he get wet?
Or does the water get him instead?
Nobody knows, particle man.”
They Might Be Giants!, Particle Man

You can't beat They Might Be Giants and The Presidents, right? I wanted to end on a lighter note. some of those are a little depressing. :) If you haven't heard some of these, be sure to.

more top 5 movies

2008-03-07T22:43:00.007-07:00

as I have been reminded by a few of you, I left out a lot of the movies that I watch over and over in my previous post. I should have made it a top ten list, I just didn't want to stray from my all-time top 5 theme. so, here is my list of all-time top 5 movies I left out of the prvious post, which listed movies I can, and do, watch over and over and over. they are:

1 - You've Got Mail
2 - Disney's Beauty and the Beast
3 - 13 Going on 30
4 - When Harry Met Sally
5 - Love, Actually

they're pretty good ones, right? I could also add Wedding Crashers, but I won't because the list would then by 6 movies long instead of 5. ok, next time I am picking an easier category to narrow down to 5!

on another note, I have recently become absolutely obsessed with Lost. do you watch it? it's amazing! I can't stop. I have been watching episodes for a week now and am already in the middle of season 2. not only do I love the story, but the guys are HOT HOT HOT! I mean, check them out!

sawyer

jack

sayid

mmm mmm good! if you haven't watched this show, do it! you can watch all four seasons on abc.com now. it's definitely worth the time it sucks out of your life.

I killed it...

2008-03-02T21:34:00.003-07:00

I bought a really cute plant at IKEA a couple weeks ago. I was really excited about it. Jaime and I scoured the plant section until we picked out the healthiest and best looking ones. when I got home I put it next to my spider plant. I was so proud of their matching pots and couldn't wait to see them grow. the next thing I knew, two weeks had gone by and I had completely forgotten about my new plant. by then half of the plant was dead. I watered it and moved it closer to the natural light for a couple days but it didn't help. it is completely dead now. I couldn't help but remember the scene from 28 days when the guy takes his plant back to the shop because it died. their counselor in rehab told them that they would be ready for a relationship after they had kept a plant alive for a while. I guess this means I am nowhere near being ready for a new relationship. I have to admit I'm not too worried or concerned with that right now. in fact, it is kind of a relief if it's true. I don't feel ready or remotely up to it yet. should I? sometimes I think that I really should be by now... I guess maybe I will go get another plant and try again...

all time top 5 - movies

2008-02-26T23:15:00.009-07:00

in a previous post I mentioned that I would start listing my all time top 5 things in several categories. that idea got lost for a while, but I am ready to unveil my first list! brace yourselves as I reveal my list of all time top 5 movies I can watch over and over and over and over... *ps - don't judge me by the amount of chick flicks listed here. I promise I have depth. ;)

1 - Sweet Home Alabama. I have this movie completely memorized. by heart! I relate to Reese Witherspoon's character, Melanie, so much that it is almost like the writer knew me. of course, I wasn't married to the guy I left behind in our small hometown when I took off for DC, but after several years I did come back and we gave it another whirl. I'm still single so it obviously didn't work out, but let's look past those small differences. my favorite line in this movie is when Melanie and Jake are finally reunited and she yells to him "Jake! You dumb, stubborn, redneck hick! The only reason you won't sign these papers is because I want you to." and Jake responds with, "Wrong! The only reason I ain't signing is cause you've turned into some hoity-toity Yankee bitch, and I'd like nothing better right now than to piss you off."

2- Spanglish. In my younger years I was a big fan of Adam Sandler, but this movie marked the turning point for him. I had outgrown his goofy characters and wanted to see more realistic roles, more depth. he nailed it with this movie. the movie is more about mother-daughter relationships than anything else, but it does touch on romance, immigration, education, and several other issues. of course, as a chick, my favorite quote from the movie is when Adam Sandler says this to Flor, "They should name a gender after you. Looking at you doesn't do it, staring is the only way that makes sense. And trying not to blink so you don't miss anything. And all of that and you're you. It's just that you are drop dead crazy gorgeous. So much so, that I'm actually considering looking at you again before we finish up here." who could walk away from a man who said that to you??

3- Garden State. I LOVE Zach Braff. this movie is the perfect example of his genious. not only are the story and writing amazing, but the cinematography is absolutely beautiful. oh, and the music! best soundtrack EVER. Natalie Portman's character is my favorite though. she is quirky. gotta love quirky. I couldn't pick just one of her quotes, I love them all, so here are two of my favorites. "Are you really retarded? Ooh, great job man! I really thought you were retarded. I mean, you're better than that Corky kid and he's actually retarded. If there was a retarded Oscar you would win, hands down, kick his ass!" and, "Ok, so... so... sometimes I lie. I mean, I'm weird, man. About random stuff too, I don't even know why I do it. It's like... it's like a tick, I mean sometimes I hear myself say something and think, Wow, that wasn't even remotely true."

4- The Wedding Planner. ok, I will admit it. I love Jennifer Lopez. and I used to think Matthew McConaughey was hot before he went all crazy. but, even more importantly, this movie helped me realize my dream of being a wedding/event planner. I want to be just like Mary Fiore! well, maybe with a little less complicated love story... anyway, my favorite quote in this movie is by Massimo, who is also the hottie Alex Karev in Grey's Anatomy (it's so weird to see him play this role). It's simple, but holds a lot of truth. he says, "Love can't always be perfect. Love is just love."

5- The Count of Monte Cristo. James Caviezel is amazing in this movie. he is one of my favorites, but the thing I love most about this movie is the revenge! I have never been gutsy enough to actually get revenge on anyone, so I live vicariously through this movie. I love this line from Caviezel's character, Edmond. "Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout as you did in Rome. Do your worst, for I will do mine! Then the fates will know you as we know you: as Albert Mondego, the man!"

quiet day full of cardmaking

2008-02-17T19:20:00.012-07:00

I made some fun cards today. I love them! I might use one of them for our card club in a couple weeks... and, yes, I need a new camera...

I also made this really cute box of chocolates and card for Ashley's birthday.

cinderella

2008-02-15T09:46:00.004-07:00

this week my awesome friend Laurie got us into Ballet West's production of Cinderella for free! this is the first of many princess activities we will be attending. we love princesses these days. this production was amazing! it was my first time since elementary school to see Ballet West perform. I was very impressed and reminded why I wanted to be a ballerina when I was a little girl. I would love to be able to do what they do. sure, I was able to do a lot of similar dancing while I was on the drill team in high school, but I never got to wear a tutu and tip toe around. so, I was able to sincerely enjoy the show even though the ridiculous notion that great girls can never find happiness or reach their true potential until a man magically appears to rescue them runs rampant in this fairy tale. well, is there a fairy tale that isn't based on that concept? even so, I am a sucker for fairy tales. which is why on March 14th we will all be attending Disney on Ice: Princess Wishes!

cutest niece EVER

2008-02-12T12:14:00.002-07:00

so, I have the cutest niece EVER! I miss her a ton, and I am dying to take a trip to Seattle. anyway, I received a disc full of pics of this beautiful little girl known as Nynaeve a few days ago so I want to share them with you.

see! isn't she adorable? so, I got her some really cute valentine clothes and made her a card. I have to thank Stampin' Up! for this one. I never would have made a v-day card. but, look how cute this is!

i heart obama

2008-02-08T20:54:00.000-07:00

so, i seriously heart barack obama. i have been supporting him for about four years now. that's right. i supported him when nobody else thought he had a chance. he is close, he really is! nothing makes me happier right now. i have never donated to a campaign before. i have donated to the party, but not a campaign. yesterday i donated to the obama for america campaign. obama gives me hope. i don't think i have ever had hope for this country. i have always wished i had been alive during the kennedy years. people were inspired and involved then. people cared. but, most importantly, people had hope. i want someone i can believe in. obama is that man. i hope the remaining primary states see what i do...

cupcakes!

2008-02-03T23:38:00.000-07:00

it's kind of crazy that I haven't posted pictures of my catering jobs, so I plan to start doing that. but, in the meantime, I have been experimenting with cupcakes a lot lately. most of you know that I am obsessed with them and am VERY excited about the new cupcake place in Salt Lake called mini's. I'll let you know when I finally get to try it. anyway, here are a few of my favorites that I have made lately:
this one is a banana spice cupcake layered with dulce de leche and banana slices and then topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. it was delish! and I am obviously not a photographer so bear with me...
this one is a chocolate orange cupcake with citris frosting. it was a huge hit at the superbowl party tonight. it's one of my favorites for sure.
these are my classic coconut cupcakes. I have served them at several events, and I guess I should feel free to brag and say that I have almost perfected them! they are yummy!

ok, hopefully this is the first of many posts to come! I have way too much fun experimenting in the kitchen. hmmm, maybe I will start posting cards that I make as well...

fun times

2008-01-28T23:20:00.000-07:00

wow, it was an eventful week! although I didn't get to go to Park City and stalk celebrities, I did go to two Sundance films here in Salt Lake. we saw Absurdistan and A Raisin in the Sun (you can watch this Feb. 25 on ABC). they were both really great. I love Sundance! we went to dinner both nights too, of course. one of my new favorite restaurants is The Paris Bistro on 15th and 15th. the food was amazing! I had the butternut squash ravioli. it was topped with toasted hazelnuts and a tasty cream sauce. we also had the wild mushroom tartine and a cheese and pear appetizer. I wish I had written down the name of the cheese because it was amazing. for dessert we had the molten chocolate cake and banana nutella crepes. yummy! I definitely recomend The Paris Bistro.

we moved this weekend. Brett and Rachel came up to help. it is always fun having them around. I never laugh more than I do when I'm with them. it was a full two day's work, and we had adventures almost losing furniture on the freeway. but, here we are, the newest residents of Magna. I am going to love living in this house. I hope we don't have to move again any time soon.

saturday night, after an exhausting day of playing mover, we went to There Will Be Blood. it was a great movie! well, it was slow and long, and there were a few music selections and cinemetography moves that weren't appealing, but overall it was GREAT! Daniel Day Lewis did an amazing job. the story was intense and intriguing. I would definitely watch it again.

and then tonight I went to my first Jazz game! it was a great game. they beat the Spurs. this is quickly becoming quite a rivalry. the Spurs beat the Jazz out of the playoffs last year, so it was a great victory. it was an exciting game.

now I am exhausted and have a full busy week ahead of me. wish me luck!

resloutions

2008-01-17T22:05:00.000-07:00

I am proud to report that I achieved ALL of my resolutions for 2007!! for those of you that don't recall, I resolved to get two stamps on my passport, get a full-time event job, work on getting my catering business going, and improve my monetary situation. yep, that's right! I did all of those things! so, I decided to set a few resolutions this year, but keep them a little more simple. after all, I deserve a year off. ;)

drumroll please... and my resolutions are:

1 - send a hand-stmaped birthday card to everyone in my extended family on time. I actually started this tonight, and sent off the first card to my cousin Jared.

2 - go to Disney Land (or Disney World). I am tired of being the only person in the world that hasn't gone. so, that's it, I'm going!

3 - take a trip to DC and Williamsburg with my youngest brother and sister. we have been talking about this for over two years, it's about time we did it.

easy enough, right? wish me luck and I will keep you all updated throughout the year.

things i love

2008-01-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

It struck me today how blessed I am. sometimes I wonder what I did before arriving on earth to deserve everything, and especially everyONE, I have. so, I started listing the little things that make me happy and I thought I would share it with all of you.

1 – ice cream. of course this is on my list. after all, I was getting myself a root beer float when I had this epiphany. I can’t remember a hard time that ice cream didn’t help me through.

2 – cell phones. I feel naked without it. it is my connection to the world. but, especially to those I love that live farther away than I prefer. it is also my security blanket when I travel or do anything alone. yep, it has helped me become the independent woman that I am.

3 – sweatshirts. the first thing I do when I know I am home for the rest of the night is put on a sweatshirt. it gives me a sense of security, and comfort that no other article of clothing can. when I put my sweatshirt on, I know I can finally relax and let down my guard.

4 – a new hair cut. over the past month I have changed my hairstyle. it started by growing out my bangs so that I didn't have them anymore, and ended with me chopping about 9 inches off the rest of it. since then, I haven’t been able to stop playing with my hair! it feels so nice. so fresh and new. I love it! and it has sort of given me new confidence as well. who knew a haircut could do so much?

5 – iTunes. I remember the days when I would spend several dollars on a CD of a single song. I would scour the messed up racks looking for my favorite artists. It was a frustrating process. especially since I lived in the middle of nowhere and could only do this every few months when I was lucky enough to make the 2-5 hour trip out of town! well, no more my friends. iTunes has made my musical life so much easier, and definitely happier. whenever I want a song, I just log on and click buy. In a matter of seconds and for only 99 cents, I have the song I want and I can burn a CD, put it on my iPod, or just listen to it over and over from my computer. could it get any better than that?

6 – my bed. my Grandma Ekker died when I was only 11 years old. she lived just up the street from us until then, and we were very close. to this day, her death is the hardest one I have ever dealt with. my Grandpa Ekker died about 6 years ago and I was able to go down to their home and clean it out before it was sold a couple years ago. I inherited my Grandma’s nightstand, sewing machine, books, and her bed – the most comfortable bed I have ever laid on. all of these items hold a very special place in my heart but the bed holds me and my down comforter and silk cotton pillows every night in the most comfortable sleep I could wish for. …I plan to keep it forever.

7 – movies. they are my escape. but, not only do they take me far far away from reality when I watch them, they can also sometimes help me figure out the mysteries of life. I don't know, maybe it is a bad thing that a lot of what I learn comes from movies, but I enjoy it so back off! :)

8 – email. I got an email today from one of my aunts that I haven't seen or talked to for a long time. I was very close to her growing up, and really miss her. getting an email out of the blue from a long lost friend or someone I miss a ton can really brighten my day.

9 – my friends. when I step back and look at my friends I sit in awe. my friends are some of the most amazing people on this earth. I can't help but wonder how I got so lucky and what makes them want to stick around. they are definitely my top source of support and inspiration.

10 – my family. what can I say? I love them with all my heart. and my car's wear and tear is a direct result of all the time I try to spend with them. it's never enough time.

so, with all this, wouldn't you say I'm a pretty lucky girl?

I like to move it move it

2008-01-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

ok, so you all know how much I hate moving. ever since I moved to salt lake I have been talking about how badly I want to find somewhere in the valley to settle down. but, still, every time I move I find somewhere to keep all my moving boxes because I just have a hunch that I am going to need them again soon. ...we have only been in our apartment for 4 months. last week my grandparents called. they have been having a hard time selling their house in magna and have had to take it off the market. they have some concerns about that, of course. like, will it be vandalized, will the pipes freeze, etc? so, they asked us if we would be interested in moving in for a while until the market gets better and they can try to sell it again. we are happy to help out, but not so happy about moving... and to magna. it will be nice to be in a big house and have some space. the commute won't be fun, and there isn't much around, but we are going to make the best of it. so, in two weeks, we will be the newest residents of magna, utah. for all of you that think magna is too far away, you best be getting over it. :)

holiday update

2008-01-06T22:15:00.000-07:00

wow... what a crazy month it has been! I better do a quick update. thanksgiving was good. time in st. george and time in cedar. it's always great spending time with my family. but, december! december was crazy!

ashley, amber and I threw a christa lee catering christmas party on the 15th. it was a LOT of work. we made our own invitations and our menu was pretty big. we got about 35 RSVPs, but about 80 people showed up! it was amazing. and it went until about midnight. so much fun! the craziest part though, was that I up and emailed james one day. I have no idea why I did that. for some reason I kept thinking it would make me a better person if I could find a way to be friends with my ex's. and james was a great friend, so I gave it a whirl. and he came to my party... it wasn't awkward, even though he brought his girlfriend with him. the best part though was that mark christensen came! I hadn't seen him in about 4 years. it was so good to see him. almost everyone I hoped would come, did. marti and andrew, jacque and scott, dana and ben, jaime, and obviously a lot more. I have to admit I was very proud of us!

christmas was great too. we all drove to vegas to pick up stacy, wayne and nynaeve from the airport. nynaeve is SO adorable! we had a great time. we spent a couple days in st. george and a couple days in cedar. it was hard to leave. it was a GREAT christmas.

on the 29th I attended the Riehl Events christmas lunch. I have had a great year working for Jacque. She is an amazing event planner and has become a close friend. at the event I learned that I was being promoted to event manager! I will be getting business cards and will now be involved in the planning process from beginning to end. not to mention a pay raise. :) I'm definitely excited!

james invited me to his new year's party at his apartment, so I invited mark to go along with me. it was a little awkward at first, but we ended up having a great time. guitar hero broke the tension and mark and james hit it off after realizing they played football together in high school. this world is way too small sometimes! anyway, it ended up being a great way to bring in the new year.

last night was our winter company party, which has been my project for the past 6 months. it was great! we had a black and white ball at the Grand America, filet mignon for dinner and an awesome dueling pianos show. I think it was a great success. it wasn't perfect, of course, but I am happy with it. I have ben sick since new year's, and even lost my voice for two days, but I have no time to recouperate right now, I am going to Palm Springs for work for the next week. wish me luck!

eat pray love

2007-11-30T15:41:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to read this book by Elizabeth Gilbert for about a year now. I finally bought it and have been devouring the pages every chance I get. this book is AMAZING! I really think it is going to change my life. for those of you that aren't familiar with the book, it is the true accounts of the author's year of self discovery across Italy, India and Indonesia. Italy to eat, India to pray and Indonesia for love. I haven't made it to the section about Indonesia yet, but eating and praying have been incredible.

the author offers you a completely different outlook on life. one that I, for one, have never considered before. if I can learn to grasp it, and hang on, I'm sure everything will improve. I don't think I will ever be able to afford a year of traveling and indulgence, so I'm hoping this book will do. although, I will probably spend my life trying to find a way to do exactly what she did. anyone out there have a large sum of money they are trying to get rid of? ;)

I have always wished I could write well, but I don't think I could ever write as well as she does, no matter how many classes I take or how much I practice. this book feels like a totally new language. like, maybe it is her heart speaking and making complete sense, touching your soul in places you never knew existed. that is the best I can do at describing it. (see, I told you I needed work on my writing skills!)

anyway, if you have read it, let me know what you thought. when I'm done, I will let you know whether or not it truly was earth-shattering for me.

c-c-c-christa!

2007-11-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

because of Carrie's many references to the way we were on sex and the city, I have been wanting to watch it for a long time. I finally did this past weekend. it's about a couple that is in love, but can't make it work because of their completely different oulooks on life. maybe I shouldn't have watched it, because now I can't help obsessing about how I am her! haha! I am k-k-k-katie! except I'm really c-c-c-christa, as Kerstin pointed out. :) anyway, if you haven't watched it, you should. if only to see who it is I think I am.

I was laughing at myself as I watched this movie. I got so tangled up in it - which in and of itself shows one of the ways I am just like her. I felt her emotion. I knew exactly what she was thinking, how she felt, and why. I had memories of myself saying the exact same things. the line that tore my heart out the most was when she was begging him to stay with her and she got him by saying, "You'll never find anyone as good for you as I am, to believe in you as much as I do or love you as much!" I have said that. and I meant it with all my heart. because when I love someone, I love them completely. and Hubbel knew that about her because when they finally started admitting it wasn't going to work, he said to her, "When you love someone, from Roosevelt to me, you go deaf, dumb and blind." that one stung a little, but it is definitely something I should be aware of. you think its a good thing, but it usually comes back to bite you.

anyway, enough of this sappiness! who is excited for Thanksgiving? I'm cooking for my family down in St. George, as usual, and if you guessed I would be making this year's Martha Stewart Menu you were right!

restaurant reviews - buca di beppo

2007-11-14T16:03:00.000-07:00

we went to Buca di Beppo last night. the food was amazing, and we also had a fun waiter who happened to be hot as well. :) I talked Jaime into giving him her number, but I will let her tell you that story...

we had the warm tomato spinach salad, and my mouth is watering just thinking about it! we also tried the gnocchi, chicken marsala, and eggplant parmigiana. they were all to die for! and the spumoni - well, it's the best I've ever had. I need to know what they put in their chocolate sauce. so, if you haven't been, make sure that is where you go next time you are craving Italian.

on another note, I'm driving a rental car again. my car is finally getting a new bumper and they put me in a 2008 Saturn Vue in the meantime. people have got to stop rear-ending me! my car is damaged and my rental car is awesome. I want a new car!! I can't have one, so the temptation must stop.

the ballots are counted

2007-11-07T08:55:00.000-07:00

I love election days. one of my goals is to take election day off as often as I can and spend the day helping with get out the vote efforts. I would have loved to be able to do that yesterday. I love the excitement and electricity in the air, and watching people march to the polls to exercise their rights. they are always smiling, which is a relief to see. it's the day that everyone finally puts aside the differences that have been hashed and rehashed for months and just all come together as Americans doing something that we are very lucky to do. oh, gosh, I sound way cheesy patriotic. forgive me... unfortunately my day was packed and I didn't even get to vote until half an hour before the polls closed. but, I did vote, and watch the news to make sure Ralph Becker won, and he did! I've been supporting him for SLC mayor for about a year, I have volunteered, and one of my best friends in the whole world, Steve Borg, is his finance director. I'm mostly just happy for Steve, who better have a job in the mayor's office come January. I also wanted to make sure Referendum 1 didn't pass, and it sure didn't. I am still surprised at how much it lost by. I guess I shouldn't lose my faith in Utah voters just yet... anyway, I hope you all got out and voted yesterday, and if you didn't, come November 2008, no matter who you are voting for, I will be dragging you to the polls!

restaurant reviews - tsunami and european connection

2007-11-05T15:55:00.001-07:00

ok, so Jaime and I have been making a list of restaurants in the Salt Lake Valley that we want to eat at. we are both obsessed with food. I have been looking for someone to do this with me since I moved here, so she is the best thing ever! anyway, we started with European Connection a couple weeks ago. it was SO good. they are a little place at Jordan Landing that makes sandwiches out of crepes. everything is made to order right in front of you. watching them make the crepes is part of the fun. I had a turkey and provolone crepe wrap and also a crepe with strawberries and nutella! the crepes were sweet and soft and the perfect thickness. I will definitely be going there again, oh, and I will be buying myself a crepe maker asap!

this past weekend we went for sushi with my sister, Amber, and another friend, Brad, at tsunami. I had been there before, but I think the sushi this time was much better. We had vegetables tempura, which are always yummy, as well as the following rolls: aloha, don juan, DTH, philly and the executive. they were all so good it took a few minutes to decide which one to eat when it was time for another bite. I took as much time as possible with every bite, savoring every flavor. they were all melt in your mouth good, and I am not exaggerating, no matter how cheesy I sound. ask Amber, the three of us were moaning with every bite! so, if you like sushi, definitely try tsunami!

next stop: Buca di Beppo and I promise to try to remember pictures next time.

all time top 5

2007-11-01T16:37:00.000-06:00

have you ever watched High Fidelity ? John Cusack's character, Rob, lists his all time top 5 records by different categories throughout the movie, as well as his all time worst break-ups. side note: it's one of my all time favorite movies for a lot of reasons. I found myself thinking about it today while I was driving all over town in my car listening to Sara McLachlan's Wintersong album. I realized that I'm not sure I will ever get tired of that CD. I'm surprised I haven't worn it out yet... There are two songs in particular that I listen to over and over and over: River and Song for a Winter's Night. I know every word, and I sing really loud like a crazy person in my car. it's also really odd that I can listen to a Christmas album like this. do you ever do that or is it just me? what are some of the songs that have that effect on you? I should dedicate a blog to listing all of those songs that I have...