11.29.2008

meandering thoughts.

a. i think that getting along with co-workers is essential to enjoying your job. it must really suck to go to work when you know full well you aren't going to get along with your co-workers.

b. i am super annoyed that i am getting sick...again. at least it is different, but still...annoyed.

c. i might have the funniest nephew alive. trust me on this one. evidence is coming soon.

d. i think that it just feels better to have a clean house. i think that it is harder to keep a dirty home that it is to keep one clean. just pick up after yourself...it's really not that hard.

e. i so wish that certain people would learn what "seperation of church and state" really means and then apply it to appropriate situations.

f. i also wish that certain people would learn how the democratic process works and then accept the outcome of that process.

11.27.2008

thankful.


just wanted to wish everyone a very happy thanksgiving.

i have so much to be thankful for, but today i am especially thankful for my family.
i've loved spending the day with my sister and her family.
and i am so very grateful for them and all they do for me.
and i'm so very extremely grateful that they didn't leave me in northern utah all by myself.

again, happy thanksgiving.
don't overdose on turkey.
and be careful if you go shopping tomorrow.
it's crazy out there.

11.25.2008

spt.

the challenge: i can not think of a better way to embrace the path to the winter holidays, than to find ways to simplify. and so, we shall start here. the challenge for november is to simplify your self-portraits. each tuesday, take a self-portrait. and post it on your blog. this month, our portraits will speak for themselves. at the end of four weeks, you will have four self-portraits that capture you in the moment. no doubt, you will be able to look back at your four self-portraits and notice subtle changes. you will remember little things about that day, just from the color of your cheeks, the play of light in the background, the gleam in your eye. what stories can you tell when you can't use words?

11.19.2008

for today.

for today: november 19, 2008.

outside my window: it is dark and probably cold, but it's nice and warm in here.

i am thinking: that i am pretty excited for the holiday season. i didn't get to spend as much time as i would have liked with family during the last holiday season. this year is already looking up as far as family time is concerned. thanksgiving with my sister and fam and new year's with my family in vegas. party on party people. (i realized i left out a crucial holiday--christmas--but, alas, i will be working. oh well.)

i am thankful for: seasons. i am learning to embrace change and am grateful for the environmental reminder everyday that change is sometimes good.

from the kitchen: i can smell clorox and pinesol. i do love a clean kitchen.

i am wearing: the usual.

i am creating: lots of things in my mind.

i am going: to visit my nephew's kindergarten class on friday. can't wait.

i am reading: the tenth circle by jodi picoult.

i am hoping: for peace and calm.

i am hearing: music. love music. especially new music finds.

around the house: things are cleaner than they were a week ago.

one of my favorite things: reality tv shows, especially the kind that include dancing. the ballroom dancing kind are the very best.

a few plans for the rest of the week: work. laundry. cleaning. work. kindergarten. work.

here is a picture thought i am sharing:

11.18.2008

spt.

the challenge: i can not think of a better way to embrace the path to the winter holidays, than to find ways to simplify. and so, we shall start here. the challenge for november is to simplify your self-portraits. each tuesday, take a self-portrait. and post it on your blog. this month, our portraits will speak for themselves. at the end of four weeks, you will have four self-portraits that capture you in the moment. no doubt, you will be able to look back at your four self-portraits and notice subtle changes. you will remember little things about that day, just from the color of your cheeks, the play of light in the background, the gleam in your eye. what stories can you tell when you can't use words?

11.14.2008

a little obsessed.

if you know me, you know that i am a sucker for a reality tv show. especially one that is about dancing. this explains my little obsession with a little known dancing reality show called dancing with the stars. i really didn't want to get into this season of dwts because sometimes i hate that i watch tv so much and that i get so involved with certain shows. but that plan flopped...big time. i even stopped watching prison break and heroes to watch dwts. i know, what is wrong with me? i'm not sure, but i seriously am a little obsessed. and the obsession was heightened by last week's results show for three reasons...brad paisley, the schwimmers and maksim chmerkovskiy.

first, i love brad paisley...always have and always will. 'nuff said.

second, i loved this dance by lacey and benji (both of whom come to us via another little known reality dance show, sytycd--which is probably why i like them so much).



and last, but most definitely not least, was this dance with my new boyfriend, maksim (for those of you who are not in the know, he is the tall one with the buzzed head).



and just in case you couldn't catch a good glimpse of my new boyfriend, here is a really, really hot picture of him prior to the new hair-do, courtesy of google images.



yeah, anyway.
reality tv.
dancing.
obsessed.
new boyfriend.
that's all.

oh, and btw, i might have an added obsession with ballroom dancing now, too.
and i'm not crazy...i realize he's not really my boyfriend, just play along.

11.11.2008

spt.

the challenge: i can not think of a better way to embrace the path to the winter holidays, than to find ways to simplify. and so, we shall start here. the challenge for november is to simplify your self-portraits. each tuesday, take a self-portrait. and post it on your blog. this month, our portraits will speak for themselves. at the end of four weeks, you will have four self-portraits that capture you in the moment. no doubt, you will be able to look back at your four self-portraits and notice subtle changes. you will remember little things about that day, just from the color of your cheeks, the play of light in the background, the gleam in your eye. what stories can you tell when you can't use words?

11.10.2008

happy birthday (belated).

i'm a very, very naughty aunt and completely neglected to properly celebrate my niece, lucie on her first birthday. i hope she will forgive me!


i can't believe that it has been a year already. and she has already changed so much since she left the great state of utah and headed to the northwest. (i wish they weren't so far away, but they are, so i am grateful for technology, digital pictures and blogs.)

happy birthday, my sweet cheeks!
you are so stinkin' cute and only gettin' cuter!
i hope you had a happy day.
(and i really am so sorry for forgetting.)

lucie on her blessing day.
love the binkie marks on her chubby cheekies.

gearing up to head out.
i seriously can't get enough of the cheeks.

because she is so close in age to her cousin, lillie, i will admit that i was making comparisons and i thought that lucie was always way more smiley than lillie, although i do think that they changed roles later on.

i can't believe how much she looks like her brother, jake, but she is such a girl.

probably the first smile i got out of her for a few months.

snacking on sand along the oregon coast.

again, happy belated birthday, my sweet cheeks!
i love you and miss you!

and a happy belated birthday to her daddy, too.
check out the celebrations here.

11.09.2008

sunday scribbling.

prompt #136: change.

quite the fitting prompt for such a momentous week. i've been thinking a lot about change and changes this week. so i'm glad i have this opportunity to write down what i have been thinking.

you probably already know that i was not an obama supporter. on tuesday, i was quite disappointed with the voters in this country. and then i got angry thinking about what kind of changes an obama administration would bring to this country. i even commented to my sister that there was no way that i was going to call him president obama because i didn't respect him and couldn't do it. she set me straight and since then, i have been contemplating about elections, presidents and respect...and here are my thoughts:

  • even though i whole-heartedly disagree with almost every single policy president-elect obama believes in, i have to remember that over half of the voters in this election don't.
  • even though i believe that president-elect obama has a shady past and extremely questionable associations, i have to remember that over half of the voters in this election don't.
  • even though i believe that president-elect obama does not have the experience necessary to be president of this country, i have to remember that over half of the voters in this election don't.
  • even though i believe in the more conservative values of the republican ticket, i have to remember that half of the voters in this election don't (at least on some level).
i know, they are basic thoughts, but let me explain. i am so sick and tired of the way that the mainstream media and liberals disrespect president bush and his administration. i am enraged when people belittle and disrespect president bush. i think it is on the verge of un-patriotic. so, when i stopped to think about this aspect of my belief system more fully, i realized that me saying "i can't call him president obama" falls right in line with what i am disgusted by. so this week, i have vowed to change.

  • i vow to respect the president of the united states of america, regardless of who holds that office. i don't have to agree or even pretend to agree with the policies of the president or the administration and i can even engage in civilized discussions and disagreements about said policies. but i don't have to respond by insulting, belittling or undermining the president and his administration.
  • i vow to eliminate my sports-fan mentality. there is no "them" and "us" in this country. we are all americans.
  • i vow to try and find all the good i can in president-elect obama and his administration.
i know that there are many, many americans who are disappointed with this election and the results, but instead of being bitter and negative, let's breathe change into the political landscape. it is time for change. it is time to stop the disrespect. and that is one change that i am truly hoping for during these next four years.

please.
read.
these.

insight.

i love the sound of: rain pelting the fallen leaves.

i love the sight of: friends whom i haven't seen in a long, long time.

i love the taste of: a delicious meal with said friends.

i love the smell of: rain on a cold, fall day.

i love the feel of: lazy sunday afternoons.

11.07.2008

real housewives with unreal hair.

approximately a week ago i caught an episode of this amazing show. i really haven't been a fan of the real housewives, but there is something absolutely fabulous about the "hot-lanta" housewives. especially kim. and the most amazing thing about her is her hair. i can't decide if it is real or not--which is probably why i can't stop watching...i'm waiting for the wig to fall off or the extensions to fall out. does anyone know if it is real? anyway, if you haven't ever watched this show, i highly recommend it. not because it is classy and sophisticated. simply because i can't stop laughing when i watch it. they are all train wrecks. some more so than others. that's all.

11.04.2008

spt.

the challenge: i can not think of a better way to embrace the path to the winter holidays, than to find ways to simplify. and so, we shall start here. the challenge for november is to simplify your self-portraits. each tuesday, take a self-portrait. and post it on your blog. this month, our portraits will speak for themselves. at the end of four weeks, you will have four self-portraits that capture you in the moment. no doubt, you will be able to look back at your four self-portraits and notice subtle changes. you will remember little things about that day, just from the color of your cheeks, the play of light in the background, the gleam in your eye. what stories can you tell when you can't use words?