King of Anything

I like this video. She tells 'em off with a sweet smile on her face. And isn't she just gorgeous?!

Day 8: A Song to Match Your Mood

I guess I'm feeling a little feisty today. Is that the word? Maybe independent. I just wanna do what I wanna do. Maybe it's hormones, or leftover teenaged angst.

Here's a side story. More like my rambling thoughts.

It might be a little deep,long, and incoherent. Just a warning.

Lately, I've been feeling a bit discontented with things. Not terribly unusual for me, since I generally fall into the terrible category of women who play the "I'll be happy when..." game. I'm just not okay with staying stagnant. And as a stay-at-home mom there isn't always a lot that proves I'm progressing in my life. I have a hard time with that.

Add to that the fact that I live with the MOST content guy to ever walk this earth. Whether I shower and apply makeup, or sit in my jams all day... same happy guy. If I make a three course gourmet meal or mac and cheese from the box, it makes no difference. He's pretty darn satisfied all the darn time.

So basically, we're polar opposites and it creates problems. Not for him, because he's always as happy as a clam. Just for me. Problems like feeling guilty for not being more content. (are you getting a glimpse into my overactive, over thinking moral mind?! It's a scary place....)

But then I read this story sent to me in an email. It totally applied.

"One of the worse things we do i s compare ourselves to others. Just last week in Relief Society, I said to Wendi during the opening song, "Is Kathleen as pleasant as she looks?" Wendi said "Totally." I said, "She oozes this amazing angelic glow." And then I thought, "I want that." Some of you who know me know that one of the deepest desires of my heart is to be sweet.

Not too long ago, I was thinking about my parents, who happy to be very sweet. I was mindlessly putting on my makeup and kind of pondering and praying. How did I miss that sweetness that my parents exemplify? Heavenly Father, how did I not get any of that?!

At that moment, I received probably the most profound revelation I have ever received. A voice spoke to my mind and to my heart and said, "Sweet people can't do the work I need you to do. I have work for sweet people, and I have work for you. I gave you that grit so you can do what I need you to do. It's a gift. BUT...you have GOT to learn to temper it in your relationships."

So I read this, replace the word 'sweet' with 'content', and it's a total answer to my conundrum. And I think that if I can direct my life in the way the Lord would want me, I can do some good with my 'gift' of wanting to change and progress for the better.

And in no way is this specific to me. I firmly believe we've all got our own gifts that allow us to perform as an instrament in the hands of God in our own specific ways.

I think I just lost sight of that for a moment and now I remember again. And I feel so happy to remember who I am again.

Day Seven

Day 7: Your Dream Wedding

So here's the deal. I'm married already. And So the "right" answer to this question should be to post picture of my actual wedding day and say that it was a my dream.

BUT truth be told, I really wanted to do things a little different. It just wasn't the right season and wasn't practical and other things were more important.

So, here's the fantasy wedding. No holds barred.

First- it would be in the fall. November 11th to be exact.

I would wear this, but in a gold tint.

Your invitation would look similar to this.

and this...

My dress would be a cross between this...

and this...

My sisters would wear this dress, minus the black belt. Instead, it would be gold or a deep shade of burnt orange.

These flowers would adorn the place

The cake would be similar to this. With the addition of tiger lilies.

Oh yeah, and it would be in Paris. At the Notre Dam Cathedral to be exact.

Yeah, that sounds about right.

John Mellencamp - Jack & Diane

Day Six: A Song that Reminds Me of Somewhere

Anytime this song comes on the radio, I am instantly transported to 2001. I am sitting behind a concessions stand in a metal folding chair at the Gorge Amphitheater. This was the only song I recognized during the entire concert. My 14 year old self was just feeling so totally cool for being at a concert, with boys (never mind they were my big bros basketball friends who didn't say a single word to me), wearing my faux Doc Martins and faded flare jeans.

It's amazing how music can do that.

Day 5

A photo of yourself two years ago.

Day Four

If she wasn't across the entire world, I would never post this picture.

BUT she is.

And she has nine months to forgive me for what I've done.

DAY 4: Your Favorite Photograph of Your Best Friend

Gorgeous.

This is my honest-to-goodness fave!

I hate choosing a bf because it makes me relive the repressed memories of being in the 1st grade, having to answer the dreaded question, "am I your best friend?"...

So..ONE of my absolute best friends is my sister, D'laney. She's a hoot.

The story behind the afro is this: One night, we were reminiscing about the good old days when our momma would tie our hair in rags so we would have curly hair for church. We talked about how much we hated rags, because it was terribly uncomfortable to sleep in them. Then I had the brilliant idea to relive the experience and started tearing up some scrap cloth.

And this was the result the next morning.

Only D'laney would agree to participate in my nonsense.

And that's why I love her.

Day 3: My Idea of the Perfect First Date

I gave this one a lot of thought.

More like an obscene amount of thought.

But I'm pretty sure I nailed my idea of a perfect first date. So here it goes...

First of all, it would be with this man; Jude Law. The end.

Just kidding.

The daydreaming continues.

Next, I'd wear this outfit, and instead of driving it would be a gorgeous spring day (meaning, no wind) and we would peddle around on vintage bicycles.

And in the daydream, I would be coordinated and not look a fool trying to cycle.

First stop= The San Diego Zoo. I have this affinity for zoos and San Deigo is the Mecca for zoo lovers.

After we spent 4+ hours looking at every single zoo exhibit, we'd be starved.

So we'd go to this Chinese fave.

And I would order this. On Brother Law's dime, of course.

Next, we'd go to this Broadway musical.

Afterward, Jude would sweetly suggest we swing over to the WSU creamery for the best ice cream in the universe- Ferdinand's. And since we're already defying the laws of time, space, and travel...during my perfect date I could enjoy the ice cream without my lactose intolerance.

Afterwards, we would peddle our bikes to my apartment. We would play a couple of round of Power Scrabble. We would be evenly matched (Jude Law is no ignoramus), but I would win the majority of the games.

And lastly, Mr. Law would end the night at an early hour with a peck on the cheek. No lingering.

An impossibly, perfect date.

What can I say? When I dream, I dream big.

Day 2

Day 2: A photo of something you ate today

Costa Vida sweet pork salad.

Total comfort food.

Time for a Challenge

Due to the fact that I am COMPLETELY lacking in blogging inspiration, I'm starting one of those 30-day challenges we all hear about so much.

It was a last resort.

My choices were to google a generic challenge or post daily about how much I loathe Rexburg weather. And since no one likes a Debbie Downer, I chose the former.

And now for the disclaimer: I'm not a photographer. I appreciate a good picture as much as the next person, but I can't take one for the life of me. Just assume that any decent pictures posted on this site were taken by someone else. Someone with skills.

So here it goes.

Day 1: A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.

Here's me. This picture makes me laugh because it's totally off-guard.

And when I'm caught off guard apparently my true spastic self comes shining through.

And how was my day? Pretty normal. Here are the highlights:

- H slept in until nearly 10 this morning.

- Beautiful, long jog around Porter Park.

- Consumed half a bag of Wonka Exceptionals. Before my jog. Not smart.

- Homemade mac and cheese for dinner. And for the first time, I was happy with the results.

- Nice enough weather today that we were able to play on the porch for a couple of hours.

- First attempt at potty-training. BUT after three accidents in 50 minutes I decided to procrastinate that whole business until later.

Pretty simple around here. And sometimes, that's just how I like it.

Buzzed

Before

After

Feeling Nostalgic

Do you ever just want to go back in time and do it all over again?

Even just for a day?

I love this photo

Looking picture reminds me of the smell of salt water

She's SO tiny. And their eyes are beautiful.

Before Hinder came along, these two were attached at the hip. I can't believe this was just a few years ago. She's totally a little girl now. No longer a baby.

We had so much fun with these two. We practically lived together.

Oh my. I miss those cheeks TERRIBLY.

101 Things in 1001 Days: Update

Lazy. That was me at the end of 2010. I totally ignored my 101 goals and ate too much holiday pies instead. So when 2011 rolled around, I resolved to get serious about accomplishing some of the items on my list.

Nothing motivates this girl like a list. Nothing.

Here's what I've been up to this year, so far...

#10. Have a photo shoot done by Mallory. (1/30)

We've been trying to get this done since Hinder was in utero. I'm so glad we finally buckled down and got it done.

#45. Make homemade Valentine cards. (2/8)

Thank goodness for the cricut my mom-in-law got me, because I would have carpal tunnel right now if I attempted to cut all of that out by hand.

#47. Paint a picture on canvas. (2/11)

A first attempt at painting.
We're getting ready for painting session #2 this weekend. Watercolors this time! I'm beside myself with excitement.

53. Go one month without candy, cookies, cake, ice cream, or anything else delicious. (Jan 2011)

Being a hardcore sugar addict, this was a tough one. My poor husband suffered the brunt of my withdrawls. Cranky. And maybe a little verbally abusive.
69. Eat at the Idaho Falls temple cafeteria. (2/26)

Glorious prime rib. Need I say more?

74.Experience a horse drawn carriage ride. (1/29)

I got lucky on this one. They had these free rides going on in the park by our house one random afternoon. Hinder insisted we ride four times, and I didn't object.

94. Finish the State Quarter collection.(2/19)

I have been working on this silly collection since 1998. 1998! That's more than a few years. And for he past 3 years, the only quarter missing was Hawaii. Finally, we broke down, traded in a ten dollar bill for a roll of quarters, and found the darn thing.

It's nice to have that monkey off my back.

So far so good for 2011.