The Nicole Show

Slowing Down

2011-10-26T16:02:00.000-06:00

The last two weeks I've been moving at break neck speed. I've been exhausted and stressed. My body has ached, my anxiety has been high, and I've more of less taken horrible care of my body through it all. Not enough sleep, eating all the wrong food, etc. etc. etc.

But today we reached a milestone. A BIG one. ALL of our stuff is FINALLY at our new home. It took us almost a week, and 2 U-haul trucks plus a lot of other driving back and forth in our car for all the "small stuff." But it's done now. The rental house is cleared out, cleaned up, and keys returned. We have officially closed the door on that chapter of our Arizona adventure. And I couldn't be happier about it!

Don't misunderstand, there is still a LOT of work left to do! I'm sitting on the floor surrounded by boxes that will likely takes weeks to unpack. Both garages are full of things that were just tossed in haphazardly so we could get the firsts U-haul returned before incurring yet another day's charges. There are 5 ceiling fans still in boxes sitting under my stairs and even more curtains waiting to be hung. (Nothing like moving into a new home with no window coverings to make you feel like you are living in a fishbowl.) The kitchen table is still buried. Clothes are still in suitcases.

But we are here! We have beds to sleep in and the kids feel like each day is Christmas as we find and unpack one more box of "lost" toys.

And I finally feel like I can slow down. I embrace the fact that it will take weeks (maybe months) to feel settled in and I can relax a little. I can take time to take my kids to the park again. (The weather is finally cooling down so such an activity is actually pleasant now.) I can go to bed at a decent hour. I can work my body without completely beating it up. I can take the time to eat a decent, healthy meal. I can take a morning to go volunteer at school. I can watch a movie or read a book or take a bubble bath! Because if this is going to take weeks anyway, what's the rush?

Baby Steps

2011-10-14T09:02:00.003-06:00

I just got up and I already want to go back to bed. Partially because I am still tired, but mostly because moving day is now less then a week away and I haven't yet begun to pack. I packed up some of the kids' toys last week but I haven't yet REALLY started to pack. Every time I try I stare at everything not knowing where to even start, then I get overwhelmed so then I just find something else to do instead. I just can't seem to wrap my head around the idea of moving again. I am very ready to be in our new home I just wish I didn't have to go through all the hassle of moving. It just feels like I JUST did it! It hasn't been long enough for me to forget what a pain it is. And this time we are really on our own to do it. Maybe that's why it's so hard this time. I just keep imagining me being the only person helping my husband lug heavy furniture up the stairs. All those stairs! What was I thinking?

I guess deep DEEP down inside I know things will somehow work out. I just wish I could convince the growing knot in the pit of my stomach of that.

I guess I just need to start somewhere. Baby steps, right? So, now it's time to get to work. I have some packing to do.

Piping hot bowl of Crazy

2011-10-13T22:56:00.001-06:00

There was a line in an episode of Scrubs in which JD refers to Elliot as a piping hot bowl of crazy. My husband laughed and laughed at this line, and has quoted it many times since.

Unfortunately, that is likely how the lady at the utilities department now describes me to all her friends and coworkers.

I'd like to blame it on the anxiety of the impending move and the associated anxiety and stress of getting ready to close on a new home.

Although that may have accounted for some of my craziness today, I think I mostly just got tired of stupid bureaucratic rules that I feel powerless to change.

I called the city utility company today to arrange for the water to be turned on, and the lady on the phone asked for my Social Security Number. I had already talked with both the gas and electric company who both also requested my SSN, so this request didn't surprise me. I declined to give it to her, as I had with the gas and electric company. Both the gas and electric companies wanted it so they could do a soft credit pull to make sure I was going to pay for my utilities should they go to the effort of turning them on for me. Upon refusing to give my SSN both utility companies instead assessed an up front deposit that will be refunded once I have made 12 on time payments. This is not a practice that I'm thrilled about. It sort of feels like a "guilty until proven innocent" approach. I mean what happened to just turning my power off if I don't pay? But, the deposit is refundable and it gets me out of giving my SSN. So I pay the deposit.

I assumed the city utilities would have a similar policy, so I politely declined to give my SSN. The lady on the phone informed me that I would then have to come into the office in person and provide identification before they would agree to service. And so I loaded my 3 kids up on the car and drove an hour to the City offices because it is that important to me to not give out my SSN unless absolutely necessary.

Upon arriving at the office I provide my ID and then the gal behind the desk again asks me for the SSN. I explain to her that I was under the impression that if I came personally into the office I wouldn't have to give it. I explain that I packed up my 3 kids and drove an hour specifically to avoid giving that information. She proceeds to explain that she is sorry I misunderstood but I still have to give my number, coming into the office was just to prevent me from having to give it over the phone.

At this point I'm starting to get mad because loading my kids in the car was NOT the way I wanted to spend my afternoon and now she was telling me it was all for nothing anyway. Assuming she wants my number in order to do a credit check I provide her with a copy of my credit report (with my number blacked out) that was given me by my lender.

At this point she explains to me that they don't do a credit check. The purpose of providing my SSN is merely to provide a unique identifier so that when I call on the phone they can assure they are talking to me. She tells me, "It's a security measure." So just to clarify I ask, "so basically you are just using it as a PIN?" She confirms that they ONLY reason they want my SSN is to use it as a PIN.

So of course I ask-why can't you just assign me a randomly generated 9 digit number then. As long as I know it and you know it it provides the same amount of security when I call on the phone without the exposure and risk associated with giving you my SSN.

Her response? "It's just our policy to use your SSN?"

"And what if I refuse to give it to you?"

"Then we will refuse service."

"What is to stop me from giving you a bogus number?"

"I guess if you feel good lying to me."

"Well that's just the thing. I don't want to lie to you. But I need water turned on at my house and I see NO need for you to have my SSN. So what choice does that leave me?"

The conversation went back and forth like this for quite some time. I tell her about how my Dr's office was at one point hacked and my SSN was compromised.The office then had to provide credit monitoring for everybody whose records were compromised and had opened themselves up for a class action lawsuit and this is what the city was opening themselves up to with their antiquated policy of requiring a SSN. Her response was that in all the time she's worked there they have never had any problems. To which I replied by saying that no problems in the past doesn't guarantee no problems in the future because let's face it, their little office isn't exactly Fort Knox.

I may or may not have used a few, shall we say, choice words. (Ok, I did.) I asked several times to speak to a supervisor, which she continued to refuse to let me do. We argued around and around and around in circles until I was so angry I was literally shaking and on the verge of tears all at once.

I swear I'm not typically "that" customer. This confrontation was so not typical of me. But something inside just snapped.

In the end, I am sad to admit, I gave her my number because bottom line is that I have to have water at my new house. I wish I had given her a bogus number. I'm typically a very honest person so I'm not proud of the idea of giving a fake number. But I'm not too fond of the idea of them having my SSN either. Really the only reason I didn't give a fake one is because I was so worked up at that point that I couldn't think straight enough to come up with something that I'd remember later.

I have since though written to the Utility Billing Administrator (yes, that is a real job title) explaining my dislike of the current policy and requesting that my number be scrubbed from their system and that I be assigned a random 9 digit number as in PIN. I cited Section 7 of the Privacy Act of 1974 (thank you Google!) that says

"It shall be unlawful for any Federal, State or local government agency to deny to any individual any right, benefit, or privilege provided by law because of such individual's refusal to disclose his social security account number." Sec. 7(a)(1).

I don't know that you can interpret water and sewer service to be a "privilege provided by law" but it's a start anyway.

I also intend to write a letter to the City Council as well as to the Mayor if needs be.

Is their policy outdated and in need of revision?Defiantly! Am I getting just a tad worked up this? Perhaps. Am I a piping hot bowl of crazy? You bet! But I've never heard of a single person who changed the world by rolling over and playing dead.

Form Vs. Function Follow-up

2011-10-03T13:57:00.002-06:00

Thanks to everybody who weighed in on my Form Vs. Function dilemma.

In the end we ended up with a completely different fan that wasn't even originally in the running.

This fan is brushed nickel, has 52" blades, and holds 6 40 watt bulbs (for a total output of 240 watts). The biggest downside of this fan is the downrod mount but that is made up for in the fact that this fan was only $39. Yes. $39. (It appears to be an old model that they are clearing out.)

Yes, when I realized I could get 8 of this fan delivered to my door for $344 the decision was easy.

In this instance turns out price was king.

Form Vs. Function

2011-09-29T11:01:00.003-06:00

We've been shopping for ceiling fans. Turns out when you build a home in AZ they don't actually put light fixtures in the bedrooms or living areas. Instead you get a switched outlet and the idea is that you plug in a floor lamp.

I am not a fan of a floor lamp being my only light source plus I am a huge fan of ceiling fans so we optioned to have the bedroom and living areas pre-wired for ceiling fans. But it is just that-a pre-wire. No fans included.

At Lowes yesterday we found a fan that Mike is in love with and a fan that I am in love with. And this is a classic Mars vs. Venus scenario. Mike is completely focused on functionality and I am fixated on style.

Here is the fan I like.

I like it because:

-It is brushed nickel, which is the color of the hardware throughout the house
-It is decently sized with 52" blades
-It holds 4 40 watt bulbs, for a total light output of 120 watts
-I hate when you look at a light fixture and you stare straight at the light bulbs-this fan solves that problem in what I think, is a very stylish, unique fashion.

Here is the fan Mike likes.

He likes it better because:

-It, too, is brushed nickle to match our hardware
-It has bigger blades-60" to be exact, which means more air flow
-It hold 3 60 watt bulbs, for a total light output of 180 watts
-This fan has an option for flush mount. The one I like requires downrod mounting, which can sometimes lead to more wobbling at higher speeds
-This fan also hides the bare bulbs for softer/diffused lighting but I argue it's a more traditional way of achieving that, and is not nearly as stylish.

So what do you think? What is more important.....Form or Function????

Drowning

2011-08-29T12:41:00.000-06:00

Do you ever feel like you are drowning in your own life? I am so craving some normalcy and organization and order to my life right now. I think a big part of it comes from living in this temporary house right now and having half my life still in boxes in the garage.

I actually thought that having less stuff unpacked would mean I'd feel more organized and put together. I thought it would be a chance to try out a new Zen lifestyle. But I find that it just makes me more unorganized then ever. For example all the office is all packed so I don't have my paper filing system in place. So papers from school pile up all over. I mean it's just little stuff like that but lots of little stuff is starting to add up and I don't feel like I have a handle on any part of my life.

The 2 1/2 hours spent in the car each day running to and from school isn't helping any, either.

I literally have 6 half finished blog posts. And ideas for half a dozen more. I'm flowing with ideas-but never have 20 uninterrupted minutes to get any of them out!

So while I try to catch up with my life if you have a minute today tell me your favorite, easy, inexpensive time management/organization tip. I could use ALL the help I can get!

Today

2011-08-09T21:03:00.000-06:00

Things that touched and inspired me today.

Courage is a Heart Word over at Brene Brown's Ordinary Courage Blog

We Can't Escape our Essence over at Andrea Scher's Superhero Journal

Almost

2011-08-08T14:11:00.011-06:00

I am ALMOST ready to write about my experience at Skip's Summer School last week. I just need a little bit longer. A little more time to recover from the small wounds of vulnerability and to fully embrace the magic of vulnerability. (Don't you find it amazing how it can be both at the very same time?!?!?!)

In the meantime, something a little funny to make you smile today. Because I'm a giver like that.

A few weeks ago I sent a text message to my parents with a picture of our new driveway.

A few days later we found ourselves stopped at a red light right next to the construction site for the Gilbert, Arizona Temple. So of course I snapped a picture and sent it to my parents.

Weeks later my dad sends me the following email:

"A while back you sent a picture of your foundation and driveway being poured. Not long after that you sent a picture of the Gilbert Temple going up. I didn't read the caption and was very surprised to see how big your new house was going to be...."

(Thanks for the chuckle, dad. Hope you don't mind me sharing it! If you do, it's too late. I already did!)

Not yet

2011-08-05T15:20:00.002-06:00

I am home from my trip to Skip's Summer School in Las Vegas. Everybody keeps asking how it was, and I want to tell you. REALLY I do!

But you see, I'm still kind of processing it all and although parts of it were great, other parts left me a little bit broken. So I don't think I can write about it.....yet.

But I will.

In the meantime I will share this.

Sunday morning before Summer School started I was having brunch at the Paris buffet. From among all the things I could choose from to eat I decided to grab a fortune cookie. I honestly didn't even want to eat it. Part of me just needed a good fortune. I was feeling a bit nervous about what lie ahead of me and I think I was looking for a little comfort or encouragement.

I don't think it was by accident that I chose the cookie that contained this fortune.

Keep true to the dreams of your Youth.

A simple enough message. Little did I know how much I would need this message in the upcoming days.

Monday at lunchtime I was feeling particularly exposed and vulnerable. I slipped over to grab some lunch at the food court across the street. I was standing in line for Chipotle but the line was long and taking forever and adjacent was a Panda Express that had no line at all. So, I jumped lines and grabbed some Orange Chicken. Which meant I also got another unexpected fortune cookie.

Stay Close to your inner-self.

You will benefit in many ways.

Once again, the perfect message to encourage me when I was struggling.

I'm still trying to piece together all my thoughts and feelings about my experiences over the last week. I feel like I am on the pinnacle of an important decision and I don't want to rush into it. But whatever I choose I will be forever grateful for these two little gems of wisdom sent to inspire me at a time that I needed it most.

You may call it coincidence, but I call it a remarkable blessing!!!

Terrified... mortified... petrified... stupefied... by you

2011-07-14T13:52:00.005-06:00

I wanted to write this post about how I am beginning to have a bunch of fears associated with my upcoming trip to Vegas for Skip's Summer School, and thought that since I haven't done a Name that Movie Monday in a while I'd throw one in as my title. Fitting, right?

I know, it's not Monday. So sue me.

Actually don't. We went back to our builder this week and opted for the wrought iron banister and so now they want more money. (Go figure.)

But I digress.

I leave for Vegas in 16 days, and with each passing day I grow a little more terrified. I'm excited, yes, of course. But I'm also terrified.

Why? Well because......

....everybody else is going to have a better portfolio then me.

....everybody is going to have a better camera then me. (I shoot a Rebel XSi)

....everybody has more lenses then I do. (I own exactly two)

....I prefer to shoot JPEG

....what if I prove definitely that I don't know the difference between an f-stop and a pit stop?

....I have nothing to wear!

....I've put on a few pounds. (okay more then a few.....)

....my pedicure is about worn off and I don't have time or $ for a new one before I go.

I know what you are thinking-clothes and pedicures have NOTHING to do with photography. You try telling that to my irrational fears.

I feel this added level of anxiety because I was hand picked from nearly 100 other photographers to attend Summer School on Scott Bourne's dime (he picked 10 of us total) and what if I am a disappointment? What if he ends up wishing he had picked some other deserving photographer instead?

I am determined to prove that he didn't make a wrong choice. So I've spent this week re-reading my camera manual. I may "only" have a Rebel, but I can know it forwards and backwards.

I've been reading up a little more on all sorts of aspects of lighting so that I don't feel lost in any of my workshops.

I've been re-watching my Zack Arias downloads from CreativeLIVE.

I've been reading my Shutter Sisters book.

But mostly I've been praying that I won't make a complete fool of myself.

Which is why I am SO glad that Skip Cohen posted this on his blog today.

According to this post 41% of attendees meet his definition of "newbie." That makes me feel like at least I won't be the only one there terrified of making a fool of themselves. It also means I am going to try harder to go out of my way to make others feel safe and comfortable there, because I am hoping others will be doing the same for me.

Also, according the Skip's post he has gotten a large number of questions from new photographers worried about fitting in. He says he has even been ask "what should I wear?"

Yea!!!! I'm not the only one freaking out about what I should wear!!!!

I'm still terrified. But at least now I'm feeling a little less mortified and petrified.

Vulnerability

2011-06-30T17:58:00.002-06:00

One of the lessons in the Mondo Beyondo course is about vulnerability. We all try to hard to be so guarded all the time, trying to never open ourselves up to being hurt or ridiculed or embarrassed or shamed. So we put, what we consider to be, our best foot forward. We hide secret parts of ourselves and sometimes those secret parts are the very thing that makes us who we are. But, we're shy or embarrassed or afraid, so we keep it under wraps, pretend to be who we think other want us to be.

But sometimes daring to be just a little bit vulnerable is just the key to opening up new doors.

So I've been toying with some ideas, and trying vulnerability on for size. And I had this idea the other day. I was painting, because I'm always painting these days. I had the tunes cranked and was singing as dancing along as I rolled paint on the walls. Because this is what I do. I sing and dance. All the time. Not that I'm particularly good at either. But I like it. No, I LOVE it. My husband laughs at me a lot. And claims that I wished my life was a musical. (I tell him my life IS a musical, just nobody else has learned the choreography yet.)

Just for a minute I got brave. I set up iPhone up on the step ladder, turned the camera on, and was just me for 5 minutes. I painted. I danced. I sang. I painted a little more. I danced some more. I painted to the beat of the music. All in a day's work for me.

I had every intention of then posting that video here on my blog, because that would be a HUGE exercise in vulnerability.

But I couldn't do it. It's a tad too embarrassing. A tad too real.

Well actually I was going to suck it up and just post it before I could have second thoughts. But I asked my husband if he would be embarrassed for me if I put it on my blog....and he hesitated, just the slightest bit. So then I got all worried that it was even worse then I thought it was and I chickened out.

So there will be no video of me busting a move with a blue paint roller in my hand. At least not today. I think maybe that was like jumping into the deep end of vulnerability and maybe what I need is to just dip my toe in. Test the waters before I drown in them.

Do you have any stories about being vulnerable? How did they turn out?

It's about more then just the color of the walls

2011-06-15T09:02:00.006-06:00

Yesterday I was painting walls, again. I feel like I have been painting walls for an eternity now. I literally have blisters and callouses on my hands from gripping a paint roller. Painting an entire house in a week is a LOT of work.

So there I am, all alone. My hands hurt and my neck hurt and my arms hurt. I started to question why I was going to all this effort. Yes, the walls were all neon yellow and florescent orange. And no, I didn't want to live in a house with neon yellow and florescent orange walls. But it WAS just a rental. And really we are just staying for 5, maybe 6 months until our home is done. And I started to think that all the people who said we were CRAZY for going to so much effort to paint a rental were right. Maybe we were in over our heads. Maybe it really wasn't worth all this.

The conversation with myself was negative, and exhausting and I had to get out of my own head.

So I started listening to some of my Mondo Beyondo interviews.

Shortly I came to the one where Jen Lemen interviews Kelly Rae Roberts. Jen talked about how Kelly's entire house was a place were dreams could thrive. And then they spent the next 15 minutes talking about how important it is to create a physical environment that is conducive to dreaming. A space that is YOU. Where your essence is at home, at peace.

And suddenly felt so glad we had made the CRAZY choice to paint. Even though this house is just a rental. Even though we will only be here for 5-6 months.

Because it is 5-6 whole months! And moving to Arizona in the first place was ALL about following dreams and following our crazy intuition and taking risks and finding out who we are. And what a shame if all that was sucked up in the neon yellow and florescent orange walls. How sad would it have been to lose our momentum and excitement because we were always hating those neon yellow and florescent orange walls.

Painting was no longer about the color of the walls. Painting was suddenly about creating a safe space for my dreams to thrive, because my dreams (and I should add my husband's dreams) are big enough and important enough and sacred enough to go to all this effort. At that moment painting the walls became almost spiritual to me. (Don't laugh, I'm being serious.) Making the walls clean and fresh and pretty again took on the feeling of a ritual cleansing of sorts, and it was no longer drudgery. It was a work that I was thrilled to be a part of.

The little things

2011-06-13T10:46:00.003-06:00

Last week had a few rough patches.

One of the things that pulled me through was looking for small things to be grateful for.

The 97 cent spray bottle from Walmart. Every time I got so hot I thought I was going to literally melt into the pavement I had one of the kids spray me down with some cool water. Did the trick every time.

A furniture dolly/hand truck.

A ramp from the trucking company that was wide enough for the furniture dolly. At one point I was feeling tired beyond limit. Even with the furniture dolly unloading the truck was taking extreme effort and I wanted to quit. As I was directing one load down the ramp I noticed how narrow the ramp was, and how the wheels for the dolly really just barely fit. I was suddenly aware of what a wonderful thing that was!

A landlord who happened to have a fully furnished rental around the corner that he was willing to let us stay in. Oh how wonderful it was to have a clean spot to eat a meal. A bed to sleep in that wasn't surrounded by the chaos of moving. I know that was a luxury most people aren't afforded when moving.

My iPod full of tunes that kept me moving, kept my spirits up.

Kids who have been mature beyond their age and have found ways to play together and entertain themselves and help one another out. My kids have been amazing little troopers and have rolled with the punches in an amazingly inspiring way.

A husband who was patient with me when I needed 10 minutes (or maybe a little more) to let the overwhelming feelings flow in and be experienced so they could flow back out.

A healthy body. It may have been sore and tired but it just kept doing what I needed it to do. I spent a lot of time thinking about my dear friend, MaeLynne, and how her last months were spent in near constant pain, her body refusing to work the way it was supposed to. My body was just stiff and tired.

We are still working hard this week. The truck is unloaded but there is still a lot to do before we are "at home" but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm going to Summer School

2011-06-10T22:22:00.000-06:00

I hate to boast-but life really is good right now.

Yes, we are still wandering gypsies without a place to call home.

Yes I am sore from painting for the last 3 days straight and I still have 6 more rooms to paint.

Yes I still have a 28' foot moving truck to unload before Monday morning.

And yes, I am feeling a bit stressed and overwhelmed and afraid and tired.

But life is still good.

Maybe it is the Arizona sun after a long, dreary Utah winter followed by an abysmal spring full of day after day after day of clouds and rain.

Maybe it is the excitement and hope that I am infused with from my participation in Mondo Beyondo.

Maybe it is all the time I've been spending with my husband and kids. (We have taken family togetherness to an whole new level these last few weeks.)

Or maybe it's a little of all the above added with just a pinch of magic.

There truly must be some sort of magic involved because yesterday something truly magical happened.

I have had my eye on going to Skip's Summer School for quite some time now. But things were all up in the air as far as when we were moving, and where exactly we would end up. Plus there was the expense of moving itself. So I just kept quietly wishing I could go, but telling myself it wasn't likely to happen.

So yesterday morning I was quickly scanning my twitter feed before heading out to go paint some more when I saw this tweet from Scott Bourne.

Scott was offering to pay for 10 photographers to attend Skips Summer School. I read it and my heart skipped a beat. And I got butterflies in my stomach. And my gut told me I needed to respond. NOW. I went through the negative self talk about how 100's would likely respond why should I win and that I had SO much to get done today I didn't have time.......but I silenced my self-doubt and sat down and composed a simple email to Scott.

Then I went to work. I had a house to paint. I figured it would be a day or two before winners were announced anyway.

I had an email back from Scott in less than an hour. It simply said "Hi Nicole. You're in. See you at Summer School."

I stood there in stunned silence, a paint roller in one hand, my iPhone in the other.

And the surprises were just beginning. A short time later I received a phone call from Skip Cohen to finalize my registration for Summer School. Not a secretary or an assistant, but Skip himself. And he asked me about me, and what I wanted to accomplish, and directed me towards the classes as summer school that he thought would most help reach my desired goals. It was an extremely surreal experience. And the REALLY fun stuff is still to come!

All because I wrote one little email.

Yes, life IS good.

New Beginnings

2011-06-06T14:20:00.004-06:00

I just wanted to let my faithful followers know (all 4 of you) that I have started a new project and blog.

Introducing Sweatin' and Clickn'

It is my 365 day photo challenge. A photo a day for a year, starting on our first day in AZ.

Head on over for further details and join us on our new adventure.

Purging

2011-05-19T11:31:00.005-06:00

I wrote the above caption on that box 8 years ago, when we were packing to move into our home. In case you can't read it, it says "Nicole's tapes that she needs to chuck but she can't yet-still emotionally attached".

We were newlyweds, moving into our very first house together, with a baby on the way. So much was new and exciting, but a part of me just needed to hang onto those tapes. I knew they were outdated. I never actually listened to them anymore because, well, my CD's produced much better sound quality. Plus iPods and other mp3 players were all the rage. I mean NOBODY was still listening to tapes. But I still couldn't part with them.

Those tapes were the soundtrack of my childhood and teenage years. They contained the songs that got me over the heartbreak of losing class elections, or a friend who was gossiping behind my back at school, the songs of celebration when I aced a hard test. They were a part of who I was I just needed to hang onto them just a little longer.

Fast forward to now, 8 years later. I have spent the better part of 2 months cleaning, and dejunking and packing up my house. 8 years and 3 kids later we've accumulated a lot of "stuff." I found myself easily tossing or donating things I didn't want or need anymore. So many things in my house just seemed to be weighing me down, holding me back. I was looking forward to the new adventure ahead, to the new beginning that this move would mean, and much of that stuff I was content to leave in my past.

As I got rid of the physical "junk" a strange thing started to happen. I found myself getting rid of other things that were holding me back. Letting go of relationships that were no longer serving me. Saying good-bye to old habits that were draining my time and energy. Deleting blogs from my reader that no longer inspired me. Unfollowing people on Twitter who were just trying to sell me something. Anything that wasn't serving a specific, positive purpose in my life was slowly disappearing. It was like doing one of those popular juice cleanses, but without all the extra time in the bathroom.

But then the other day as I was packing the office I came across that box of tapes. They were still in the same box I had packed them in 8 years ago, the quickly scrawled sharpie marker message still (mostly) readable, a thick layer of dust on top. I haven't even opened the box in all the years I've lived here.

But despite my recent rash of purging I didn't toss this box in the garbage can. Instead I lovingly wiped the dust from the top, and carefully opened the box to glance at my past. And decided that part of my past still serves me. It is a part of me. And so I closed the box back up and placed it on the pile of boxes to be loaded on the moving truck.

Because no matter how far I move, or how many new adventures I start, or how many times I try to "re-invent" myself-the true inner me remains the same. My core values remain unchanged. And I think those things are quite alright to hang onto.

Daring to Dream

2011-05-16T13:01:00.002-06:00

Dear Universe,

I get the message. You REALLY want me to stop making excuses, stop being scared, and to finally start following my dreams. I know it's taken me awhile, and I don't always pay attention to the messages you send me, but I'm paying attention now. How could I not be? You are screaming at me loud and clear!!!!

In ways too numerous to mention you paved the way and put all the pieces in place for our upcoming move to AZ.

Then you inspired Andrea and Jen to offer a two for one on Mondo Beyondo. And then you inspired my soul sister Andria to invite me to be her "plus one" for the whole adventure.

Then Saturday when we ordered Chinese food this was my fortune in my fortune cookie.

Then you used Sunday's post on Shutter Sisters to make sure I was REALLY getting the point. How could I not get the message when the post started with this quote:

"We need to find inspiration whenever we can, because when we're spiritually tuned in, everything is a clue pointing us in the right direction."- Sarah Ban Breathnach, Peace and Plenty

So today, as Mondo Beyondo begins I'm listening. I'm jumping in with both feet. I'm ready to find the path you are trying to lead me to. I'm finding the clues. I'm making room for stillness.

Let the dreaming begin!

"You may be right, I may be CRAZY. But is just may be a lunatic you're looking for."

2011-05-12T12:22:00.000-06:00

Most couples have a song. And, generally speaking, that song is romantic.

Billy Joel's You May Be Right is our song.

Even after nearly 9 years of marriage we frequently quote the lyrics to each other. "If I'm crazy then it's true, that it's all because of you, and you wouldn't want me any other way." That's just the way we roll.

And, truth be told, we both are a little crazy. But we are each our own unique brand of crazy, and somehow we compliment each other perfectly.

My husband is the type who washes his hands 10 times after being in a public place, and who will drive around the block 3 times just to MAKE SURE he closed the garage. He also MUST hear the beep the sound makes when you lock the car from the keyless entry 3 times before he is REALLY SURE the car is actually locked.

Me, on the other hand, will often walk out of Target only to find I never actually locked the car.

I have my own version of crazy though. For instance, when I was packing for our Disneyland vacation I would pick one day's clothes for a child (Shirt, pants, socks, underwear) and then roll that day's clothing all together, put the whole roll down in a gallon size zip lock bag, and then write the child's name on the bag. (Yes, I really did that!!!) That way each day I could quickly account for if I had packed enough clothes for everybody, plus then each day on vacation I pulled out one bag for each child and just handed it to them and knew they had everything they needed to get dressed.

So yesterday I called my sister-in-law and told her that packing to move was bringing out all my crazy. I said "I always knew I was a little OCD....." to which she proceeded to laugh hysterically, then between tears said "I love that you think you're just a little crazy." (I'd be offended, except that she is right!)

See, I was packing toys yesterday, and I couldn't bring myself to just toss all the toys together in a big box. I would first pack each individual type of toy in it's own zip-loc bag and then put the bags into a bigger box.

So as I sat on the floor of my daughter's room separating Fairy shoes from Princess shoes (because heaven forbid fairies should mingle with princesses) I realized just how crazy I really am.

Even the baby dolls got packed away in their own bags to keep them from getting dusty or dirty.

And yes, I do get that it looks like they are in body bags. Which amuses me to no end, which also makes me a little crazy.

Last week I had packed all the Lightening McQueen-type cars and toys, and clearly labeled the box. Then taped up the box and moved it to the basement.

Then yesterday, way in the back of a closet, I found Flo.

A normal person would've just tossed her in with the Hot Wheels since there is an entire box of them as well, and that box isn't sealed up. But no, my OCD required that I go downstairs, cut open the already sealed box, dig to the bottom to find the cars that are just this size, open the zip-loc bag, place Flo inside, reseal the bag, repack the box, then reseal the box.

Yup! You may be right, I may be crazy!!!!

Practice! Practice! and then Practice some more!!!!

2011-05-05T15:32:00.002-06:00

I always leave the house for a shoot feeling like it's going to be the BEST SHOOT EVER!!!!

Usually I just read a new photography book, or watched a creativeLIVE workshop and I feel like I now know everything I need to know to rock the shoot.

But then I get there and the baby is in a bad mood.

Or the sun is in the exact wrong place and everybody has to squint. (Okay, or maybe the photographer is just in the wrong place.....)

Or I take a picture that I love, only to get home and find that it is woefully blurry!!!!!

There are just so many stinking variables to account for all the time. The professionals make it all look so very easy! But I, at times, find it all so overwhelming.

Yet-the only way to get better is to practice, practice, practice!!!!

So, as always, a big thanks to all my guinea pigs who let me practice on them. Like the lovely Burton Family.

Sometimes the key is to just sit back and wait for the moment....

And let's be honest...sometimes I just take a ton and pray for one to turn out just right.

But at the end of the day I'm just so happy to be out doing something I love. (And I don't mean that in a cliché way. I mean it in the I really have fun doing it even if my pictures don't turn out 100% the way I had hoped kind of way.)

Waiting

2011-04-21T15:00:00.003-06:00

That is a picture my husband took of me taking this picture.

Which really has NOTHING to do with this post.

My brother-in-law once said that he was impressed by my ability to get things done.

This particular ability of mine has less to do with work ethic or organization and more to do with impatience. When I decide I want something done I want it done NOW!!!! Just ask my husband, he'll concur.

Like the time I was driving home late at night and saw the neighborhood clean-up dumpsters out and upon arriving home made my husband rip out the carpet in the family room because we could throw it in the dumpsters that night. Never mind that we didn't have new flooring yet. Or that we hadn't even talked about new flooring. I just decided I wanted it done and I wanted it done NOW.

That's the way I roll.

So I'm sure you can imagine that for an impatient person like myself waiting is about the hardest thing in world for me to do.

Which is why I am doing everything in my power to fill today up with busy work that occupies my mind so that I can stop thinking about the fact that I am waiting.

Waiting on something that I have done as much as I could possibly do about and is now in somebody else's hands. No amount of pushing or prodding or hoping will change that I am no longer in control of the situation.

And so I wait.

Maybe patience is not the real issue. Maybe it's that I just like to be in control. Because when I'm in control I know how things will turn out in the end. When I relinquish control I have to rely on hope and faith.

In fact, the more I think about it the more I realized that my problem with waiting relates directly with my problem with stillness.

Waiting implies not working, at least for a time. Waiting means submitting. Waiting is stillness.

President Ezra Taft Benson once said, "Yes, men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace."

I read this often, and tell myself I WANT to turn my life over to the Lord. But then when I get to the whole "waiting upon the Lord" part I get impatient. I want to submit, but can't be still.

But today, I have no choice. Something is truly out of my hands and my only option is to wait.

My amazing, creative, talented cousin Andria brought me this locket last week.

Did I mention she also MADE it? And that her timing could not have been more perfect!!!!

I have worn it nearly every day and when I am tempted to be impatient, to turn suddenly in a different direction just because I am tired of waiting, I feel the metal against my skin. I pull it out from beneath my shirt and hold it in my hand for just a moment. I breath in. I breath out. And I find the strength to be still. I find the courage to submit.

The Wild Child

2011-04-02T17:52:00.003-06:00

I blog, I don't blog. I blog, I don't blog. It's random and sporadic, I know. But, ya know.

But I have new pictures to share-so I decided hey, why not.

This is my beautiful niece.

On my sister-in-law's blog she calls this child of hers the Wild Child. So-I figured it was okay if I referred to her thus.

At the beginning of March she got baptized, which means I had to unique pleasure of photographing her special day just as I did her older sister and her older brother.

Any special day must start with a special dress

And shoes. Don't forget the shoes!

The really fun thing about photographing kids getting baptized is that they are at that fun age when most of them are losing teeth. And I LOVE capturing them JUST like they are.

The Wild Child had a front tooth that was just barely hanging on a thread.

If I was working for a family magazine I'd photoshop that tooth-but I actually love the way it is dangling there. Just keeping it real!

And by real, I mean real gorgeous! Anybody else jealous of her hair?

Now you need to know something about the Wild Child. Despite her beautiful princess-like appearance in these pictures she is a little bit, what's the word....not exactly tom-boy but not exactly girly-girl either. Is there a word for that?

So I told her to lean up against this gate and this is what I got.

I love the way she flops herself against, much the same way she would flop herself down on a bed. It's just SO HER!

And don't be fooled by her sweet look here. Do you remember the character, Sarah Baker, from Cheaper by the Dozen? You know, the one who was suspended from Lacrosse for using excessive force? The one who comes up with the elaborate prank against the unwanted boyfriend to which her dad responds, "You have a dark gift, Sarah Baker." I'm pretty sure this movie character was based on the Wild Child

And yet, when you see these pictures it's so hard to believe.

In all honesty though, she is a truly delightful child and it was such a pleasure to spend the afternoon with her!

Stillness

2011-03-25T10:50:00.004-06:00

Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God

I think one of my biggest problems right now is that I don't know how to be still. Not really. I will send a prayer up to heaven or quick a quick verse of scripture but then I "get on" with life, never giving any of it a chance to really sink in, to really touch my heart and soul.

I fill my days and hours with dishes and laundry and kid and iphones and email and tweets and text messages and phone calls. Even when I do find what could be a peaceful moment-the kids are outside happy and content-perhaps I am folding laundry or doing dishes-but if I tried I could still open myself up in these moments. But instead in those moments I still to to fill the silence. I turn on music, loudly and then wonder whey I feel over-stimulated all the time.

Even the quiet hours after the kids are in bed are usually spent watching whatever sitcom DVD came in the mail that day. (I do love Netflix, not gonna lie.)

Today I am in Oregon, in a hotel room. no kids. No husband. No laundry. No dishes. No car. I had originally planned to grab my camera and go explore on foot and enjoy the solitude. But I told myself that instead I needed to dedicate myself to being still.

But it's 2:30 and I don't think I've been truly still yet.

I have spent time reading, emailing, sleeping, eating-but still not really taken the chance to just be still.

What am I so afraid of? I hope that once I get myself to that place of stillness that God will finally come into my soul and show me what I've been missing, fill that emptiness that I try to fill with noise. But even the busy-ness doesn't really fill up the empty. When I check my email or my tweets and there is nothing new I feel even more lonely, empty, disconnected. Social media is supposed to make the world seem smaller but so often it tend to make me feel even more isolated.

Maybe the problem is that although I hope God will come in and fill all my empty places, but I am not sure if I have enough faith for it to truly be so. And so I continue to keep myself busy instead of allowing myself to be still because then there is no chance for me to be disappointed.

Maybe I don't really know how to be still. Because I don't think that being still is a passive thing. I think being still takes effort-I'm just not sure how to do it.

I feel like I am at a major crossroad in my life right now. I believe that some amazing blessings and opportunities are on the horizon. And yet I feel a little like I'm floundering. Like I don't know which way to go in order to get those blessings and opportunities.

I've had to work so hard for so much of the good things in my life that perhaps I am scared that if I am not working hard enough the blessings and opportunities I yearn for will slip through my fingers.

And so I work and push and stress and tire myself out on life's treadmill, but fear that in the end it will be the stillness that brings the blessings. That they will only come when I finally stop trying to get them for myself and let God instead give them to me, as a gift. A sweet gift that He has always wanted to give me. A gift that I only need to ask for, if only I would be still enough to receive it.

Even the waves of the sea listened when the Savior said unto them, "Peace, be still." (Mark 4:39)

So why can't I?

upheaval

2011-03-24T11:48:00.002-06:00

The Oregon Coast

Life is topsy turvy right now. But not necessarily in a bad way. Changes are on the horizon and I'm excited. Stressed and scared and unsure, but excited.

Right now I sit all alone in a hotel room in Oregon. For the last two days I have fully intended to grab my camera bag and just go walking and photograph anything that inspires me.

That's been the plan. But it's been raining and I have instead found peace in a cup of hot chocolate and my the pages of my journal. I can't remember the last time I had this much quiet time to sit and think. And then to listen. To really figure out what I'm thinking and feeling. What my hopes are. What my dreams are. My life is so wrapped up in my home and my kids and my husband that sometimes I completely lose me.

I think perhaps that something bigger than just the rain is at work here, keeping me in. I'm often so quick to fill up every minute of every day. I think something, somebody is telling me to slow down. To relax. To refuel. To regroup. To figure things out because once I get home life is going to come at me lightening fast.

I've written a bunch in my journal these last two days. Some of which I am thinking about sharing here. But I'm not sure yet. It's quite personal. And yet I yearn to feel the connectedness I feel when I am writing often. I miss blogging and the sense of community I feel from it. Life just got busy. And it became just one more thing to do. So I've kind of let it slip away from me a bit.

Plus I also feel a bit vulnerable right now. And I want to know that what I put out here will be embraced, not judged.

So I'm still on the fence about how much to share-but I'm sharing that I'm on the fence about what to share, and that's a start, right?

sugar and spice and everything nice

2011-02-25T19:22:00.002-07:00

So.....now that my niece is nearly 5 months old I'm finally getting around to posting her newborn pictures.

Good thing nothing that has life and death ramifications is dependent on me these days. Just sayn'

Isn't she sweet? Don't ya just want to pinch her little cheeks?

I have a thing for little baby feet and toes. So I took lots of pictures...

And little baby hands. What's not to love about tiny fingers?

Call me, we'll do lunch!

She really wasn't into cooperating with the whole pictures of sweet sleeping babies thing. But she did such a good job of looking sweet even while awake so I can't complain too much.

Okay, I may have gotten one that looked like she was sleeping.

Stay tuned and maybe by the time she is 1 I'll post some 6 month pictures. ;)

A Friend to all

2011-01-18T10:16:00.010-07:00

This is MaeLynn, a dear friend of mine who lost her battle with cancer on January 31, 2011.

I've been trying to write this post for weeks. At first I just wasn't emotionally ready. And then I was having trouble putting into just a few words the amazingness I feel at having known MaeLynn.

Even now I'm sitting in front of my computer tearing up because there is still a hole in my heart where she used to be. It's only been a few weeks and I still find myself picking up the phone to call her, only to remember that where she is now there is no direct line.

MaeLynn was my roommate when I at Utah State University. Which means there are a LOT of things I can tell you about her.

Like I could tell you how she was my only roommate that year that I could talk to before 9:00 am. (The other 4 were the epitome of NOT morning people.) But Mae was never grumpy. So we carried on quite pleasant conversations while getting ready in the early morning hours.

Or I could tell you that she was always the one with a sink full of dishes to do.

I could tell you about how we did Cindy Crawford work outs together.

Perhaps you would find it interesting that she was the first person I told when I had my first kiss. (Yes, my first kiss wasn't until college.)

That her favorite animal was a giraffe.

Or about how she was THE social butterfly in our apartment. She was always on the phone or going on a date or to a dance or church activity or something.

I could tell you about how she often complained about how she didn't like dating the Logan locals-but then ended up marrying one!

Or that she was a painter. Or that she never sneezed just once. Ever.

I could tell you all that.

But what I want to tell you most is about how MaeLynn loved and accepted everybody-just the way they are. MaeLynn was the least judgmental person I have ever known.

Nobody was excluded from her circle of friends.

I knew this about MaeLynn, but it was reaffirmed to me again the day of her funeral.

As I sat watching people arrive for the viewing I was once again blown away at the amazing variety of people who had come out to pay their last respects. There were people in dresses. People in suits. People in jeans. People in leather. People in bandannas. There was your "clean cut" variety. And there were people with multiple piercings and tattoos. Half the crowd smelled like shampoo and the other half smelled like cigarettes.

And here we all were, together in one place. Because that's what MaeLynn did best. She brought people together. And she NEVER judged a book by it's cover.

I was pondering all this and my mind went back to that year we were roommates. There was a boy across the hall that Mae drew into her life that the rest of us didn't care too much for.

I am not proud to admit it but we called him Slimy Jeremy. And "Germ"y. We often told Mae that she shouldn't hang out with him. But she knew better. We judged him. She saw the real him.

I stood thinking about Jeremy, wondering whatever happened to him. And then I heard somebody say "It's been a really long time, Nicole."

I looked up and there stood Jeremy. Not Slimy Jeremy, not "Germ"y. But Jeremy. The man he had become. The Jeremy MaeLynn always saw.

And that's why the chapel and the overflow and the gym were packed the day of her funeral. Because knowing that kind of person, the kind that can see into your soul, the kind who knows who you REALLY are and then loves you utterly and completely and wholly for being exactly who you are is not the kind of person you can EVER forget.

Instead of being sad that MaeLynn is no longer just a phone call away I'm trying to find joy in the fact that she counted me among her friends. Gratitude for the memories we shared. Peace in our shared faith and hope in a joyous resurrection.

Until we meet again, sweet friend.

Christmas comes this time each year.....

2010-12-07T22:16:00.003-07:00

This is our tree this year. Perhaps you can tell just by looking at it that 3 children under 4 feet tall decorated it. I thought about redistributing some of the ornaments towards the top but in the end decided against it. This is how they decorated it, so this is how it will be this year.

There is a lot of ornament clumping, too. I think I count 4 on this branch alone.

And another 4 on this branch.

Nearly all the ornaments on our tree are from my childhood. We had a tradition in our home of getting Christmas ornaments on as our souvenirs when we went on vacation. In addition my grandmother also gave us each an ornament nearly every year as well.

What this means really is that now that I'm married with my own family decorating the tree is only meaningful for me. As I pull out certain ornaments I relive certain memories from vacations as a child. But these aren't shared memories for my husband or children.

We do have an ornament from our family trip to Yellowstone.

But everything else is from my life pre-marriage.

It got me to thinking that I REALLY need to update our Christmas tree. I want it to be meaningful to my kids. I want it to be fun and interesting for them. Which means it's time for some new family traditions.

Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails

2010-11-29T21:14:00.003-07:00

That's what they say little boys are made of. But last week I photographed my newborn nephew and I'm pretty sure that, at least for now, he's made of pure sweetness with a dash of new baby smell.

Despite his innocent countenance he was kind of a nightmare to photograph. Okay, nightmare might be a bit harsh. But man, newborns are hard to photograph. Especially when you strip off all their clothes and then rip them out of the arms of their mother. They don't like that. Just in case you were wondering.

I turned the heat up in the house. We used a heating pad to keep the bean bag warm. And then we snapped quickly during the 2 seconds he was content each time we put him down.

He was so anxious for us to not unwrap him again that he was hanging onto that blanket with everything he had....

This is his old man face.

And is there anything more precious than tiny baby feet?

Hugs and kisses new nephew! Welcome to the family!

Random Photo Friday

2010-11-19T12:49:00.003-07:00

Like that? I just made that up.

Because I sitting here watching Tamara Lackey teach about children's photography on creativeLIVE and sorting through pictures (you know, trying to pretend to be effective with my time) and I found this picture I wanted to share. Just because.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that they are holding hands. I didn't pose that. It was completely natural.

I even love that are not looking at me. Mom was off to my side making funny faces and I love that they are so amused with what mom is doing.

Yup, love this picture.

Traveling with kids a.k.a. Pure Insanity!

2010-11-18T18:58:00.002-07:00

This post could also be titled "Pure Insanity".

I saw this quote today. "There are two classes of travel: First class, and with children." -Robert Benchley I have to admit, I didn't know who Robert Benchley was, but the quote seemed appropriate. You see, I'm beginning to get a tad bit apprehensive about taking the kids to Disneyland next month. I've been reading a couple of guidebooks and now I'm wondering if I am certifiably insane.

At any rate, the trip is already paid for so it's too late to back out now.

So my BIG question, the thing I am losing sleep over, is which camera do I take???

In as much as this is the kids' first visit to the Happiest Place on Earth I anticipate lots of magical memories and I want to capture each and every one. I've invested a decent amount of money to have a nice-ish camera. I even just ordered a new lens. (50 mm f/1.8) What is the point of my investment if I leave the camera home?

And yet, I'll be honest, sometimes when I take my camera it feels like an extra kid to take care of. I have to be aware of where it is at all times. I have to protect it from getting wet or damaged. And I'm pretty sure I would feel uneasy about leaving it in my hotel room during the day. Which means if I take it to CA with me it will pretty much be with me ALL the time.

One of my other concerns is that my current camera bag is a backpack. I love it when on a shoot. But I'm wondering if it's going to be a pain getting on and off rides at Disneyland. Do I want to carry it around my neck ALL day? Plus I'm worried if I'll end up SO worried about getting THE PICTURE that I'll forget to just have fun and live in the moment. I want to capture the moment, not ruin the moment. It is a dilemma.

I'm considering just taking my Powershot point and shoot. But wonder if I will regret that decision....

And then there is the question of whether or not to take the video camera. My iphone has video capability and is quite compact. Do I take my still camera only and depend on my phone for video moments? Or use my iphone for stills and take the camcorder? Because I draw the line at taking BOTH the DSLR and the camcorder. It has to be one or the other.

Advice, please! How can I most effectively navigate being both a mother and a photographer?

Misconceptions

2010-11-15T13:31:00.002-07:00

I think I need to clear up a little misunderstanding. On my last post the lovely Andria commented, "You're so cool and organized and you use holidays for teaching moments."

I would like to nip that little assumption in the bud. Trust me, I'm not as organized as I pretend to be. And to prove it, I'd like to give you a little run down of how my Veteran's Day really went.

I was awakened by my 3 year old. He excitedly ran into my room (at an hour way too early for him to be quite so chipper) and told me that the flag was flying in the front yard. (The local boy scouts do a yearly fund raiser in which they put a flag in your yard throughout the year for several of the holidays.) In my still groggy state I tried to conjure up in my memory what November Holiday warranted a flag in the yard.

I'm a little ashamed to admit that it took me a few minutes to figure out. But once I did my head started spinning about all the things I SHOULD be doing because it was Veterans Day.

So after breakfast and a quick shower I dashed down to the school room and started googling Veterans Day and kids activities.

I put Adam to work writing in his journal (an exercise I force him to do every morning even though he complains. See, I'm mean and make him write me AT LEAST 4 sentences. ) While he was writing I was quickly printing coloring sheets and a fact sheet about the history of the holiday.

I searched at great length the PBS kids website, hoping one of the shows had done a show about Veterans day. Seemed like the thing you might see on Arthur. But no such luck.

Of course, during this time Adam finished his journal entry and was bugging me about what he should do next. So I told him to write 2 more sentences. And draw a picture. And color the picture.

As for the younger kids, I told them to go upstairs and play for a few minutes. Which turned into 20 minutes.

But I was FINALLY ready to stab at teaching about Veterans day. It was halfway through reading the fact list on the history that the idea to check the History Channel's website occurred to me.

So as the kids colored I quickly jumped back onto the computer hoping the History Channel would come through for me, since PBS kids had not.

After reading about the Tomb of the Unknown Solider on my little fact sheet I decided I wanted to show the kids a picture. So Google became my friend, again. And it found me the youtube clip of the changing of the guard. Which was 10 minutes long. And my kids were bored of by about minute 4. (See I didn't tell you all this before. And you thought I had super kids, willing to sit still through anything.)

Next I forced my kids all to change their clothes. And they whined. And questioned why. But my perfect pictures of perfect kids wouldn't be perfect unless they were wearing patriotic colors. So I persevered through the questions and forced them to change into clothing of my choosing. Then I made them all sit still while I combed their hair. Because we can't have pictures of uncombed hair.

And then I forced them outside, into the wind, without coats. Because coats would cover up their patriotic clothes. And they complained about being cold. But I made them stand there anyway as I clicked away.

Good thing we still had these dollar store flags from the 4th of July. That was pure luck. Not planning ahead. Trust me.

I even made them march around a bit. It didn't work out so great.

Then I had in my head the idea for them to sing a song for their grandfathers. But I didn't have the music. Or a car. And Google failed me this time.

So I punted. I called my dad, hoping he was working from home. I knew the songbook I wanted was at his house and I hoped he could bring it to me and play the song for me as well. But no such luck.

So then I politely asked (practically begged) my brother to come over, stay with my kids, and let me take his car to get to my parent's for the music book. Luckily, he said yes.

But the difficulties were not at an end yet. Oh no. Because now I had to actually teach the song to the kids. Which, at one point resulted in me ~~storming~~ walking calming out of the front room in complete exasperation. I may even have said something like "I guess you guys just don't care about our Veterans. Apparently I'm the only one who wants to say thank you." Yea, not proud of that moment. But I'm just trying to keep it real for you here.

In the end they did sing the song. (I had to play it myself which was not as good as my dad playing for us....but I was punting, remember?)

And then I spent the next SEVERAL hours (too embarrassed to admit how many) trying to edit together pictures and the singing and the marching. Which means I kept telling the kids to go away and play. Sometimes very loudly.

And because I had holed myself up in the office trying to convert files that wouldn't convert and import files that wouldn't import I neglected to start dinner. Which means on the way to the concert we hit the Wendy's drive through.

And that, dear readers, is the truth behind my so called organized life.

Disappointed? It's okay, this always makes me feel better.

And as long as we are keeping it real, this post only took me about 12 hours to write. Yea, life with kids.

We Honor You

2010-11-12T09:22:00.002-07:00

We took a break from our normal school work yesterday in order to spend the day learning about and appreciating our Veterans. I figured that since they have a grandfather and two great-grandfathers (one of which passed away last year) who are war Veterans that they needed to learn about the importance of this day.

First I read to the kids about the history of the holiday. Then we watched a couple of clips about it on the History Channel's website. We also watched a Youtube video showing the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.

At 11:00 am we observed a minute of silence.

And then I let them color for a while.

Then I taught them a song that we recorded and sent to their Grandfather and Great-grandfather to honor them on this important day.

Of course, I don't like to do things half way so I also took a bunch of pictures of the kids with flags.

I had every intention of editing the pictures over the top of them singing to make a cute little Veteran's Day salute. But my iphone captures video in .mov format. And use a PC. Which doen't play nicely with .mov. I downloaded a few file converter programs but after about 3 hours I was frustrated and gave up on the whole project and took the kids to a Veteran's Day concert instead.

I'm not sure if my kids totally understand yet, but I hope it's a start.

Glory, Glory Hallelujah

Sainthood?

2010-11-10T11:39:00.003-07:00

At church this week a gentlemen was extolling the virtues of motherhood and he said that he felt that there was a special place in heaven for mothers who go to the grocery store with more than 2 kids.

Seriously, if that's all it takes to get into heaven I'm about to be sainted any day now.

Trust me when I say that none of us mothers actually enjoy taking multiple children to the store with us. Really we don't. In fact, I put it off as long as humanly possible because it's stressful and tiring. I feel my blood pressure rising right now just thinking about it. Which is why I imagine a world were everyplace I need to go has a drive through.

The bank has a drive through. McDonald's has a drive through. But the post office does not. Neither does the grocery store. Or the library. And frankly, I see this as an enormous oversight.

In my fantasy world I could have milk, eggs, stamps, and library books all delivered directly to my car. No more of the endless bucking/unbuckling/re-buckling of kids' car seats. No more chasing children through the store as I painstakingly make my way ALL THE WAY to the BACK of the store, which is where the milk is ALWAYS located at EVERY store.

No more futile attempts to keep my children quiet and respectful as we wait in line just to buy stamps.

And no more over-due fines at the library on the half a dozen DVD's the kids talked me into checking out when I dash into the library for one single book I have on hold.

Please tell me this day is somewhere in my near future.

(Trust me, they are not quite as innocent as they appear.)

and the truth shall set you free

2010-11-03T17:54:00.001-06:00

I've been keeping a secret. Mostly because when I mentioned it to some people just in passing the response was not positive. And as much as I pretend I don't care what other people think, sometimes I do. I want to be liked. I want to be accepted. Don't we all?

But this secret has become such a big part of my everyday life that it's becoming impossible to talk to people without letting it slip. And frankly it's becoming wearisome to try to have a normal conversation all the while thinking about not telling my secret.

So, I'm telling. And you can think I'm certifiably insane or you can think I'm the coolest mom ever or you can think I'm something right in between. The point is, I don't really care. This is my new reality and what you think doesn't change that.

I am home schooling my 1st grader.

There, I said it.

It was an agonizing decision. I cried. A lot. I have so many family members and friends who teachers. Let me rephrase that-who are GREAT teachers. People I love who have given years of service to public education. I, at times, felt like a traitor in their midst.

And to be fair I actually REALLY loved my son's teacher. My choice to bring him home was all the more difficult because I loved her and thought she was amazing was trying her very best to teach a classroom full of 6 and 7 year olds.

But that's just the problem. She had a classroom FULL. 27 to be exact. A handful of which are reading on a 2nd or 3rd grade reading level. And a larger group that barely knew their alphabet. I know because I volunteered each week reading with the students in the class.

And how can a single teacher give each individual student what they need when she has so many all on such different learning levels? She can't. But not for lack of trying. Because she is trying!

I did my best to work in the system. I volunteered more often, and talked to other parents trying to get them to volunteer more often as well. But that meant continually finding a babysitter for my 2 kids still at home. And most the other moms of kids in his class work so volunteering is not an option. I tried to get him moved to a different class. I read a stack of books that focused on helping boys succeeded in school. I asked for extra work to do with him at home, but after being as school for 7 hours the last thing he wanted to do was more work at home.

And in the end I realized that our kids aren't all cookies cut out of the same cookie cutter mold. They don't all learn the same. And my son wasn't thriving in the classroom environment that he was in.

I admit that this isn't the right choice for everybody. Like I said, kids aren't all cut out of the same mold. It just happened to be the choice that worked for us for now.

I'm also not sure if this is a long term solution. Right now I'm looking into lots of options. We've only been at it for 3 weeks and still trying to figure out a routine that works for us so it's too early to tell. But for now, it's what we're going with.

And thus goes my life

2010-11-01T19:42:00.001-06:00

Every time I try to save money it ends up costing me money.

Seriously.

Like the time I wanted to re-do the kids' bedrooms and thought I'd save money by buying Ikea quilt covers to put over their existing comforters. The patterns on the old ones could be seen through the new covers, clashing terribly. Plus the old comforters shifted around so terribly in the new ones that I eventually ended up buying quilt batting, stuffing it inside thee quilt covers and typing them like quilts which, in the end, cost me just as much money plus lots more of my time then if I had just bought what I wanted in the first place.

Or the time I wanted new curtains for my family room. I found the ones I liked. But feeling like they were not in the budget I found a really cool blanket at Ikea (again at Ikea....maybe Ikea is my problem) that I cut up and hemmed up to make the curtains. Only problem was that the first time I washed them they shrunk and were now smaller then the windows. After a few weeks I was so frustrated with the too tiny curtains that ended up back at Target and just bought the ones I had wanted in the first place.

This is how I do things apparently.

See-every year I think that it will be cheaper if I make the kids' Halloween costumes. Now, I've heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. I have been a mom for 6 1/2 years now. You would think I would learn that making Halloween costumes is ALWAYS a nightmare. But somehow I always seem to forget.

So this year was no different. (And now you already know how this story is going to end.)

Zoey wanted to be a witch so I found some black and orange tights for $3 and thought it would be really cute to make her a black tutu. I went to 4 different Wal-marts only find they were ALL out of black tulle already (even though it wasn't even October yet) so I ended up at JoAnn. I had a 40% coupon so I decided to splurge and get the glittery black tulle only to find out that I couldn't actually use my coupon because it was already 20% off. Which means sticker shock at the cash register when my 2 yards rang up the almost $8.

I then found an orange sheer curtain at Walmart on the clearance aisle for $2 and bought it, too.

Then I walked into Target and found an already made black tutu (complete with silver stars) for 10 bucks. Yea, you do the math!

But since I can't return cut fabric I already felt committed to making it. So I grumbled all the way home to my sewing machine.

I had no idea what I was going to do with my $10 worth of fabric but in the end this is what I ended up with.

I'd like to give you a tutorial on how I made the skirt but I really was making it up as I went and I have no idea what I did. This also might be a good time to mention that the glittery tulle was not such a great idea, cost aside. I forget that glitter goes everywhere and sticks to everything!

For her top I took a spool or orange ribbon from the dollar store and hand stitched in a criss-cross pattern onto a cheap black shirt from Walmart.

And the hat was from the dollar section at Target with some orange tulle hot glued to it.

I was going to hot glue some more ribbon around where I hot glued it but ran out of oompf.

And so now I guess you're expecting a picture of the little witch.

Well, ask and ye shall receive. Ask nicely.....

Well, okay, since you did say please.

So, in the end it cost me money and LOTS more time to make it myself. But the consolation prize is that next year she can wear an orange shirt and be a pumpkin using the same skirt.

All the Single Ladies

2010-10-26T17:26:00.004-06:00

Okay, I have to admit that I got that idea for a title from my friend Emilee.

She was asked by our Young Women president to come take picture of all the Young Women in our ward and Emilee graciously asked me come along as her second shooter.

Can I just say shooting teenage girls is so much different then shooting toddlers?

All of them are exceptionally beautiful young ladies. I really mean that. I hope they all know how beautiful they are!

I know all photographers say this, but it's hard to pick just a few of my favorite. It really does feel like trying to pick my favorite child.

A treasure beyond measure

2010-10-11T14:20:00.002-06:00

A little over a month ago I had the opportunity of taking pictures for a Primary (children's Sunday School) activity. It was a Grandparent's "T" Party.

A couple of weeks before the event I was able to watch portions of the CreativeLIVE Jasmine Star workshop Jasmine Star is a very successful wedding photographer, and although I don't aspire to wedding photography I never turn down the opportunity to learn ANYTHING and EVERYTHING I can about photography, so I tuned in.

At one point Jasmine talked about attending a Zack Arias One Light Workshop (who was the keynote speaker at Photocamp Utah last year and is, by the way, TOTALLY AMAZING!) and him telling a story about a man wanted to shoot the World Series. (The story was probably about a now super famous sports photographer, and I'm totally messing up the story by not being able to tell you WHO he was....but it is what it is. I've got 3 kids-only so much info stays in my head at any one time.) Anyway, the point is, the only gigs he was getting was shooting Jr. League T-ball. And for a long time he shot the games like he was shooting Jr. League T-Ball. Until one day he realized that he needed to start shooting even T-ball games like he was shotting the World Series. And, so of course, you know what happened. Once he changed his mindset it wasn't too long before was, in fact, shooting the World Series.

I likely massacred that story, but hopefully the underlying message remains. At any rate it inspired me to change my mindset. I didn't want to go into this thinking "Oh, I'm just shooting a primary activity." I wanted to be as serious and professional and creative as possible.

Jasmine also talked a lot about building your brand as a photographer. She has 3 words she uses to describe her own photography and every picture she takes should be a reflection of those 3 words. She encouraged the photographers who were attending her workshop live to pick their own three words.

I don't know that I'm to the point of picking 3 words to describe all my photography, but I decide to go into this particular assignment with 3 words.

Since it was an activity for grandparents I chose as my 3 words: vintage, antique, priceless. Because that's what I think of grandparents. They are not old junk. They are antique-something that maybe has been around a little while, but that very thing is what makes them of great value.

So armed with my 3 words I set about trying to create that feel. I got this idea in my head that I wanted an old barn door to use as a backdrop. Amazing photographer and all around nice guy, Rich Legg, came to the rescue and loaned me a very weathered section of wood fencing. It was perfect!

So, enough talk already! What you really want to see is some of the pictures.

Remember, I was going for VINTAGE, ANTIQUE, PRICELESS.

Brightly Colored

2010-09-13T21:16:00.003-06:00

At church yesterday my boys were wearing bright polo shirts and my daughter a bright pink polo dress. My friend saw them in the hall and commented that what they were wearing would make great picture outfits. Which was so funny that she would say that because that's exactly what they were! We had our family picture taken a few months ago by the very talented and all around super nice guy Rich Legg

See, here we are in our brightly colored polo shirts.

My mom saw the pictures and said we looked like colored Easter Eggs.

Zoey was hamming it up for the camera!

Adam was his typical goofy self

And Harrison was looking WAAAAY too grown up!

Thanks again Rich!!!!

Choo Choo

2010-09-08T14:49:00.001-06:00

Now that I blogged out of order I inadvertantly gave myself permission to pretty much blog about whatever I want, whenever I want. Do you have any idea how freeing that feels? I seriously should've done this a long time ago! My blog may not have been so neglected for so long if I had.

So today, I picked, at random, something I have been intending to blog about.

Way back in March (yes, 5 months ago!!!!) I went to a Photowalking Utahphoto walk at the Union Station in Ogden.

I took my oldest son, Adam. He loves cameras and trains so it seemed the perfect opportunity to take him on his very first photo walk.

Here are some of my favorites from the day.

crack

watch your step

restoration shop

fuel

tracks

christmas lights in march

Engage Brain

2010-08-31T16:19:00.002-06:00

I often tell my children that they need to think about the consequences of their actions BEFORE they act. In fact, I sound like a broken record when it comes to the subject. Think, think, think I say. Use your head!

I should take my own advice.

Yesterday as I was walking out the door to take my oldest to school a tall youngish gentleman was standing on my porch. He started rambling something off to me in perfect English but with a very think accent that I didn't recognize.

I kindly blew him off because I needed to get my child to school. He asked if he could come back in an hour or so and I said yes just so I could get away.

But I should mention we had had a big storm early that morning and it was cold outside and this guy was in shorts and a thin polo shirt.

As I am walking down my driveway with him he is prattling on about being unprepared for Utah weather and I so I offer to go back in my house and grab him something to warmer to wear.

I rush in and grab the first thing I can find, because I am in a hurry. I dash back outside with one of my husband's coats and hand it to him. He puts it on and goes on on about how it feels like paradise and thank you so much and he'll be back later.

He did in fact come back later, at which point he gave me his whole sales pitch for over priced children's books. I listened politely (because his accent was amusing-oh he was from Latvia) but then declined his product.

As he was packing his stuff up to go he asked me about the jacket-in as much as the sun had still not come out and he was on bicycle he was offering to purchase the jacket. He said he had looked at some at Walmart recently and they were around $20 so he would pay me that for the jacket.

I knew I had paid only $9 for that particular jacket because of end of season prices and it was really just a cheap coat anyway. Seriously. This is not the type of coat you would take skiing. So I felt bad taking money since so I implosivly just told him to keep it. He was a bit taken aback, asked if I was sure, and then proceeded to thank me profusely.

I guess since he figured I was a sucker he then proceeded explain to me that he would be selling his books through the end of the week and then he would be back delivering personally all that he had sold and that he only had his bicycle and did I know somebody who may need a little extra cash who would be willing to drive him around to deliver his books.

Once again, acting without thinking, I gave him the name and address of my bishop. (The local leader of my church congregation.) In my head he would know all the people in the neighborhood who were out of work right now who may be interested in a small odd job like that.

At that point this guy apparently felt quite comfortable around me (and yes he was in my house, and no my husband wasn't home and no I don't typically do that!!!) and so he asked if he could use my bathroom.

Of course I said yes.

It wasn't until he left that I suddenly realized all I had done.

I gave away my husband's coat!!!!! Yea, sure I bought it on sale at the end of the season a few years ago but we're going into the beginning of the season and it was going to cost me more than $9 to replace it for the upcoming fall.

I had violated my bishop's privacy by giving out his name and address.

I'd let him in my home.

I am not one to be overly scared about things but suddenly all those emails my mom forwards me about con artists and people pretending to be door to door salesmen who are really burglars just casing the joint flooded into my head.

Plus I gave him my husband's coat!

I believe it may be time to get a No Soliciting sign. Because even though I did manage to throw the Kirby salesman out on my front porch (I should blog that story someday....it's a good one!) I don't always exhibit wisdom when it comes to the door to door types.

Memories

2010-08-26T21:53:00.003-06:00

Today I've been watching Jasmine Star over at creativeLIVE as she shares with the world her knowledge and experience as a wedding photographer. (And tomorrow she is going to shoot an actual wedding live.)

I say I was watching, but really I have 3 kids who need to be fed and cleaned and entertained and picked up from school and there's laundry to fold and bills to pay...but it was running in the background all day and I caught bits and pieces of it as I went about my mommly duties.

So you'd think I'd want to write a post tonight all about what I've learned or about what I think of Jasmine or a how I'm going to be a better photographer now.

But really I'm going to write about something totally random.

You see, at one point today they actually stopped chatting in the classroom and started shooting the bride and groom. Jasmine took the group outside and wandered quite a ways from the building were they had all the equipment set up for the live streaming.

As the group was all finally coming back they had a quick shot of one of the tech guys and somebody in the booth commented how he was dragging around and keeping tangle free 250 feet of camera cable.

And then I had a flashback of my college days.

I was a broadcast journalism major and had an assistant professor who got fed up with the camera cables being constantly tangled. He preached to us how in the professional world that would never be accepted. Because if you need the camera NOW you do not have time to unravel and tangled cable. And so that day he took us all out into the hall and showed us the proper way to coil a cable so that it would quickly uncoil at a moment's notice. And then we spent the rest of the class time coiling cables and then, while holding onto one end tossing the cable down the hall in order to uncoil it, the idea being that if we had coiled it correctly it would uncoil easily, no tangles.

Seriously. The entire hour he forced us to repeatedly coil and uncoil the cable. This is what I paid good tuition money for!

And yet as I watched the tech guys chase down Jasmine and crew today I'm sure the cameraman was EXTREMELY happy to have somebody on his team that could keep his cable tangle free.

I'm going to start putting on my resume that I know how to keep a camera cable untangled. Maybe then I could move to Seattle and work for creativeLIVE someday.

non-sequential

2010-08-24T16:59:00.002-06:00

I'm a sequential kind of gal. I like things to go in order. One then two then three. It bothered me that they made the Di Vinci Code movie before Angels and Demons because as books they came the other way around. I refuse to start watching a television show mid-season. Dessert always comes AFTER dinner.

This need for order is a detriment to me when it comes to blogging. When I stop blogging for awhile but want to start again I have a NEED to catch up in order. For some reason I can't just jump right back into blogging where my life is at RIGHT NOW. I have to "fill in" all the missing parts from when I wasn't blogging. But then the task of "catching up" seems so daunting that time consuming that I put it off and put it off. So then I just may as well give up blogging all together. (This is the same reason I don't scrap book!)

But I saw something today that was too funny. So I'm just putting it out there. Out of order! And I'm surprisingly at peace with that.

I drove past a day care today and their sign out front was missing a VERY important letter!

It said "Great Rats! Come take a tour today!"

Great Rats? At a day care? And you want to advertise that?

(I believe it was meant to say great rates.....)

I was laughing hysterically. I so wanted to take a picture. But I was driving. And had to pee (which wasn't helped by the fact that I was laughing) and I had perishables in the back seat. So I resisted to urge to drive around the block so I could take a picture.

But it made my day just the same.

And look!!!! A breakthrough! I blogged non-sequentially! This opens a whole new door of opportunity for me!

Photography as Life

2010-03-20T21:15:00.004-06:00

Note from Nicole-I have decided to cross post this at my other blog, Naptime Optional since so much of what I learned at PhotoCamp had to do with my relationship to my kids. For you crazy readers that stop by both blogs (all 3 of you) sorry for the repetition!

I probably should've Googled that title before using it. I'm pretty sure somebody has it Copyrighted, because that is all the rage these days. Ever since the days of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten it seems everybody is taking whatever it is they like or are good at and make it a metaphor for life. I'll be the first to admit that it's a bit "Chicken Soup for the Soul"-ish. Canned stories that are meant to force emotion out of you. I hate forced sentimentality. Which is why I almost talked myself out of writing this blog post.

But I the more I pondered on it the more I felt it needed to be written. I had an amazing day today at PhotoCamp Utah and I am bursting. I need to take a moment to reflect on and be grateful for the time I spent. I need to take a moment to be still and to really internalize the messages the universe sent me today or else by tomorrow it will be life as usual.

The biggest lessons I took away from PhotoCamp today have very little to do with photography. I did learn about light modifiers and speed lights and composition and photoshop-and these things will help me be a better photographer. But I learned so much more, that if I let it, will help me be a better person.

Today's first lesson came from the morning's first keynote speaker, Bruce Hucko. He was talking about spending time with the Navajo years ago, teaching art and photography to kindergarten students. He showed a picture of a young child jumping high in the air and talked about how all the mesas in the landscape and how the children would run and jump and how when friends would come visit him they would watch the children with worried expressions and say "Aren't you going to tell them to be careful?" Bruce's response was "Why would I put doubt in their minds when they know they can do this? They've been playing on these mesas since the time they could crawl."

And that's when it hit me! Doubt is a learned trait! A child thinks they can do anything! Every child thinks he is a great artist, a great singer, a great story teller, a great climber, a great dancer, a great photographer. I quickly took stock of the ways I may be planting the seeds of doubt in my own children. How often do I force my own doubts and fears upon them? And why do I do that? I teach them to compare themselves. I teach them to second guess their abilities. I am the one who teaches them they are "not enough". And I don't want to send my children that message anymore! Because they ARE great!

The next lesson I learned came during the "Take Hot Shots not Head Shots workshop taught by Todd Keith and Renee Lee of BellaOra Studios. Renee was talking about photo composition. She was talking about all the extraneous stuff that ends up in our photos because we aren't paying attention. She said "If something is not adding to your photo, it's distracting from it." That hit me like a ton of bricks! How often do extraneous "things" end up in my life because I'm not paying attention? I've been feeling run down and worn out a lot lately. I keep promising myself I'm going to cut back, slow down, simplify. But not going to this will hurt so-and-so's feelings. Not finishing that will let so-and-so down. And so on and so on. But to what end? Anything not adding value to my life or the life of my family is distracting from it! Things have GOT TO GO. If they are not fulfilling or leading me to the life I really want to be living they are merely a distraction. It is beyond time to simplify and get back to what is important.

While all of today's presenters were awesome in their own right and I learned so much from each one I have to say that the highlight of the day was keynote speaker Zack Arias. I can not think of enough superlatives to describe his presentation. But on thing in particular that he spoke about stood out for me. He showed example after example of gorgeous pictures and then would tell us that just to the right of frame was a dumpster. Or that just behind was lovely wall of vines was broken bottles and that the whole area smelled of urine. Or that spitting distance from a lovely green hill a couple is standing on is a massive construction site. As I listened to him talk I realized I walk through life with a MASSIVE wide angle lens. I focus on the dumpster, the urine, and the mess. Motherhood really is just one giant mess. And most the time that's exactly what I'm focused on. I walk into a room and see the crayons strewn all over the floor and miss the one of a kind art project that is lying next to them. I walk out into the yard and see the sand from the sandbox dumped all over the patio and completely miss the imaginative play my children are engaged in. I look at childhood and see all the mess and miss all the magic. I need a change in perspective. I need to focus on the beautiful.

At the very end of the day, when many had already bailed out, Anna Day gave a brief but moving presentation she called Journeys and Destination. Earlier in the day Bruce Hucko had alluded to the fact that life is about the Journey when he said a good trip back home to Moab (from Salt Lake City, a 4 hour drive) takes him about a week. I kind of chuckled and secretly cringed inside a bit at the overused cliche. But Anna's presentation brought the idea into sharp focus for me. She showed image after beautiful image and talked about how this was NOT the image she had come to get. One beautiful picture of a butterfly on a purple flower she caught while desperately heading towards a bathroom. How often do we miss the MOST SPECTACULAR parts of life because we are barreling towards some specific destination? For me right now I often find myself saying things like "well, as soon as all the kids are potty trained" or "as soon as all the kids are in school" or "I can't wait until the kids can do such and such for themselves" There is always some point in the future I am trying to just survive to and in the meantime I am missing this journey. I'm missing the superheros and princesses and galactic battle ships. I'm missing the joys of mis-matched socks and mispronounced words. In the rush to be somewhere else I'm missing the now.

I feel a debt of gratitude to all the fine folks who worked hard to put on today's event, an event pulled off entirely by volunteers! A very special thanks to Jeremy Hall whose baby this really is.

And a heartfelt shout out again to Zack Arias who came out to Salt Lake on a completely volunteer basis, sacrificing time with his family to spend a little of his time with us.

********************

Archives of some of today's workshops, included Zack Arias Keynote speech, can be found at the PhotoCamp Utah website

AAAAAND last but not least-you can go here to see the video that inspired Jeremy Hall to send the email that brought Zack Arias to PhotoCamp Utah! Don't miss it!!!!!

Preparations

2010-03-18T09:06:00.002-06:00

I am attending Photocamp Utah on Saturday and I COULD NOT be any more excited. Seriously. I'm so ready to go from "wanna be photographer" to "Photographer".

So, there are a few things I am doing over the next couple of days to prepare.

First, I finally printed my picture for the Photo gallery display. I chose this picture.

Next, I plan on spending most of today reading my camera manual cover to cover. Yup, had my camera over a year now and I still haven't done that. But I made these 10 resolutions and so it's time to get a move on!

After that I need to spend some serious time on my flickr account. It's terribly unorganized. I have not made use of sets and collections and tags like I should. I have tons of pictures that should be for family/friends only that are public. And the thought that a REAL photographer may drop by my account because they met me at Photocamp and then have to click through my thousands of vacation snapshots is a bit embarrassing to me. So-I need to fix that! Ug. How I wish I had been smarter when I first started using flickr.

S0, now it's time to get to work. Shower first though. I do have priorities.

Beating a dead horse

2010-03-01T11:06:00.004-07:00

So-you are tired of hearing about the Studio Lighting Photowalk, I'm sure.

I recently saw the a wrap-up video shot by photographerJeremy Hall and if you are interested in photography even just a little it does a good job of showing the different lighting set ups that were at the Photowalk and is a tad interesting.

But the REAL reason I'm sharing it here is because I made it in the video! At 5:31 the classy looking photographer with the camera up to her face is me! And there's a nice view of my back in the following frame, too.

Yea, shameless, I know. But hey, it is MY blog. :)

Studio Lighting 101

2010-02-14T19:01:00.004-07:00

Yesterday I attended the Photowalking Utah annual Studio Lighting event. And I realized it's not hard to take good photos when you are working with expensive lighting equipment and professional models. :)

Actually it was a really fabulous event. I must say that photographers are quite an eclectic bunch. But they are also amazingly giving people. There was 9 different lighting set ups and a host photographer at each setup to guide and instruct. And every single one of them was extremely patient with my many MANY questions. I learned not only about lighting but about how to use my camera better in different lighting scenarios as well as a wealth of information about how to work with models. Everybody was so kind and generous with their time and talent.

And so now this is the part where I shameless post a bunch of the pictures I took so you can all tell me how good they are. :)

In one corner they had set up a trampoline and you could shoot your subject from the top of a ladder while they jumped. It made for some fun images.

This was a natural lighting set up. The outside light from the window lit them from one side and a reflector on the opposite side smoothed the harsh shadows. No lights or flash used.

This was Rembrandt Lighting.

A high key lighting set up

This set up was similar-the white background is the same. But there is no light on the backdrop itself. All the lighting is focused on the model for this look.

I liked this set up because it used just one light. Very enticing to an amateur like me who currently owns no lighting equipment of my own.

Okay, I won't torture you anymore. (although if you want to torture yourself you can see a few more shots on flickr page)

And now that I've made you look at my pictures, you can also go to the Photowalking Utah Group Pool on flickr and see pictures from some real photographers. Including pictures of Andrew the Rock star on the trampoline.

In the spotlight.....or not

2010-02-08T20:58:00.003-07:00

I don't generally think of myself as the kind of person who needs to be the center of attention. I'm not that person at the party telling all the funny jokes. I mean of course I want people to laugh at my jokes when I do tell one, but I don't need to be constantly telling them. I've spent a lot of time in the chorus, so to speak. And for the most part just being on stage at all is good enough, I don't need to always have the lead.

At least, that's what I thought.

Sometimes, though, I find myself in situations that makes me realize that there must still be a small part of me that is looking for my 15 minutes of fame.

Where to start? I was recently introduced to a group called Photowalking Utah And, as the name would imply, it's a bunch of people who get together with their cameras and go on photowalks and then share the pictures on flickr.

Rich Legg is one of the group's organizers and teachers. He also specializes in stock photography. So when he sent out a plea for extras I thought, what the hey. Sounds like it could be fun.

And really, that was my only motivation for going. Because it sounded like a fun way to spend a couple of hours.

But something happened once I was sitting there in that theater seat with the flashes popping. I suddenly found myself wanting to make sure I was in each picture. I found myself sitting a little taller in my seat or standing on my tiptoes to try and ensure I was in the shot. I started to wonder if I should've worn something different or done my hair different or worn more make up.

About half way through the shoot we moved to a smaller theater and Rich said that the people sitting in the back should sit up front this time. I was thinking "Oh good, here's my chance to really be seen in some of the pictures." But the gal on the end of the row we were on had 17 coats and 8 bags and who knows what else because she took FOREVER to get out of the way so by the time we got to the next theater over we were in the back again. And I was irritated. I mean like it really mattered. Seriously. When did I get to be such a Prima donna?

To top it off, I also kept looking around at the people who had brought their kids and thinking "I should've brought my kids. They're cuter."

Did I just admit to thinking that?????????

Rich has posted 1 picture from the shoot. And I feel a little like Mike Wazowski and his picture on the front of magazine. But really, it was a fun morning and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Dreams Deferred

2010-01-26T11:17:00.002-07:00

Dreams Deferred
By Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

I was thinking about dreams a lot in January because one of our assignements for writing group was to write a Bucket List. You know- a list of 100 things to do before you die.

I'm trying to reconcile in my mind which dreams are okay to put on hold because it's not the season of my life for that and which dreams I need to work on, to nurture so they don't shrivel up and die.

There is an Indigo Girls song that has a line in it that goes "My dreams come in like needy children, tugging at my sleeve. I said I have no way of feeding you, so leave."

I feel that way so often.

Sometimes I feel like dreams or destiny or our life mission (or whatever you want to call it) is supposed to just sort of find you. It's not supposed to be so much work. It's not supposed to require so much struggle.

But I guess it's the struggle that makes it so fulfilling in the end.

So if my dreams aren't going to just fall in my lap-what exactly is it that I am supposed to be doing now to move them along?

Best Friend Quiz

2010-01-25T14:21:00.002-07:00

Everybody had been emailing me quizzes lately. You know, what piece of furniture are you, how old is your spirit, what Disney Princess are you, etc, etc, etc.

So I decided to write my own!!!!

Take the following quiz to see if you can be my BFF.

You know you want to. (Be my BFF I mean, because who wouldn't?)

New Best Friend Quiz

1-What is your most typical response when asked “what’s for dinner?”

a.Filet minion with potatoes au gratin, steamed veges and a pear salad topped with feta cheese.
b. Take out-your dad is bringing it home with him
c. Cold cereal
d. dinner?

2-Which of the following music artists are on your ipod? Check all that apply

a. Miley Cyrus
b. ABBA
c. John Denver
d. Indigo Girls
e. Garth Brooks
f. Barry Manillow
g. New Kids on the Block
h. What’s an ipod?

3-Facebook or Twitter?

a. Facebook
b. Twitter
c. Both
d. Neither
e. am I supposed to know what those are?

4- You find yourself with an entire day ALL TO YOURSELF. What do you do?

a. sleep
b. clean the house
c. read a book
d. waste exorbitant amounts of time on the computer
e. call your BFF for a day of shopping and pedicures and eating

5-Do you text?

a. yes
b. no

6-You are in the car with somebody you don’t know too well and she starts singing along loudly to the radio. Do you:

a. turn it up even louder and sing along
b. stare at her, mouth agape, appalled at her shameless display
c. duck low in your seat so that passing card don’t know you’re in the car as well

7-Which TV Character to you most relate with?

a. Lucy Ricardo
b. Carol Brady (no personality)
c. Claire Huxtable
d. Carrie Heffernan (funny, but a moron)
e. who are these people? Who has time for TV?

8-If you and your BFF were at the movie together and somebody was talking loudly would you:

a. Shush very loudly
b. Move to another section of the theater
c. Inform the manager
d. make some sort of joke about people talking loudly during the movie

9-List 3 items you always carry in your purse:

10-You say you will be ready in a minute. This means:

a. You’ll be ready in 60 seconds, duh!
b. You’ll be ready in an hour
c. You’ll be ready in 5 minutes
d. define “ready”

Scoring

Give yourself 1 point for every question you answered. Then multiply it by 10. Then subtract half. Then stand on your head and sing I’m a Little Teapot.

If your score is 1-100 then we are going to be best friends, easy!

One Word 2010

2010-01-11T10:06:00.003-07:00

There is a pervasive theme running around the interwebs right now that says that instead of creating New Year's resolutions to create a theme for your year. One word to focus on, to give you direction, to give you purpose as you approach 2010. I was intrigued when I first ran across the idea last year but never got around to picking my word for 2009.

So here we are already barreling through 2010 and I have yet to pick a word.

This weekend I got smacked with a head cold and woke up this morning not wanting to do much of anything. So as I lounge on the couch with my laptop, watching my kids play with their new Christmas toys, I decided to stop putting it off. Today is the day! I am happy to declare that I have finally picked my one little word for 2010.

I know I've shared this before, but I'm so inspired by it.

And so, my word for 2010 is CREATE.

But it's not just about creating physical things, although I do want my year to include that. I plan to write more. (Yea for my new writing group!) I want to do more with my photography. (Thank you to Ryan for snagging me a spot at Photo camp Utah which sold out in a few short hours.)

But I also want to create memories. Create lasting relationships. Create opportunities for myself and others. In short-I want to create the life I really .
want to be living.

Here's to a great new year!!!!!!

Aiming for mediocrity

2010-01-05T22:06:00.004-07:00

I had a friend once tell me that I was living my life at 300% and that it was okay to take it down a notch and live at 100%. Although there have been times in my life that that would've been a true statement right now I actually feel like I am only hitting about 40% in most areas of my life, and am closer to 30% in others.

In my pre-kid life I was the A student. The on who got all the answers right and yet STILL did the extra credit. I was always at least 10 minutes early to everything. And my room was always clean. I was sickeningly dependable. I was the kind of person everybody loved to hate.

I don't say all this to brag. Just to illustrate how far I've fallen.

You see today I did the unthinkable. Today I utterly and completely forgot that I had jury duty. The old me NEVER would've forgotten something THAT important.

But it's pretty much par for the course for the current me.

So here I am, plugging through the normal morning routine, feeding the kids, begging Adam to hurry so he wouldn't be late for school. It's 8:00, my husband is ready to walk out the door to work, and I'm still in my pajamas. I walk past the fridge, like I had a dozen other times that morning. But this time something catches the corner of my eye. A yellow piece of paper half obscured by a handful of recipts. And it suddenly dawns on me what it is-my jury summons. I quickly yank the piece of paper from the fridge and start running up the stairs yelling words that should not be repeated.

I'm supposed to report to court house by 8:30. I have no babysitter. I haven't had a shower. I'm not even sure if there is enough gas in my car to get me all the way downtown. More expletives. Of this I'm not proud. But it's true.

I tell my husband in no uncertain terms that he is going to have to get Adam off to school and either stay home with the other kids or find a babysitter himself because I have no time. I skip the shower and throw on clean clothes, grab an elastic to pull my hair up in the car, and make a mad dash for my car.

I drive like a maniac knowing that no matter how fast I drive I'll never make it on time and start wondering how late I can be before they hold me in contempt of court. To say I was panicked would be an understatement.

I finally arrive at the courthouse (late, of course) and the security guard at the parking entrance wants to have an in depth conversation with me about my vehicle. "Do you like your Saturn? What kind of fuel mileage do you get?"

I park in the first open space I see and then run (in my heels) to the elevator.

When I finally arrive at the jury gathering room I'm 20 minutes late. And the only entrance is at the front of the room. No way to sneak quietly in the back.

Fortunately they were in the middle of roll call and hadn't called my name yet.

In the end we waited several hours only to be released to leave when the defendant failed to show up.

The old me, the 300% me, would now have a witty way of ending this post. The current me can barely form 2 coherent sentences and is, instead, just going to leave it at that and go to bed. Try not to be too disappointed. I'm living my life at 40% these days, remember? This is as good as it gets. (I have dirty dishes in the sink, too. Deal with it.)

Name that Movie Monday

2010-01-04T09:05:00.002-07:00

I know, I know. I said I wasn't sure if I was going to keep doing Name that Movie Monday. But we watched a movie last week (one we had seen before, but it had been awhile) and then ended up quoting this line all weekend. So I thought, what the hey!

Of course, I have to admit that had I not JUST seen this movie I would have no idea where this quote was from. But it's just too good not to share.

By all means move at a glacial pace, you know how that thrills me.

No movie codes anymore, though. Redbox has moved to a new model and now free movie codes are all unique and valid only once. :(

Ah well, such is life.

Feels good to be back!

Twice as Nice

2010-01-02T17:00:00.003-07:00

I'm not really a photographer and this isn't really a photography blog. But I do have a nice camera my husband gave me for my birthday and I do like to take pictures. (I also hate post processing so most my shots these days are SOOC) And this is my blog about me so I am going to post pictures that I took and there is nothing you can do about it. :)

My friend had twins a little over 2 months ago and so I offered to take "Baby's First Christmas" photos, just for fun.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Okay, that's more than just a couple.....and here's one (or two) more.

Okay, I'm done now.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T18:49:00.002-07:00

I wanted to start the year out right. I mean I just started blogging again and so if I really wanted to show my commitment to blogging in this new year I should start the year out by writing. Right?

But I couldn't decide what to write about.

I thought about making my best and worst of 2009 list. You know movies, books, etc But it seems so overdone and best and worst lists are completely biased anyway. Although I don't feel biased in warning you all NOT to see Beyond a Reasonable Doubt. That really is a horrible movie that you should not waste your time on. And I know now that half of you are going to run out and rent it just to see how horrible it is-and I will not be held accountable for the wasted time and money.

I also thought about writing the cliche post about my New Year's Resolutions. But we all know how lousy I am at making decent resolutions.

Then I thought that I could just repost this clip, except re-edit it to include only the parts pertaining to the new year. But, well, I have just spent the day post processing pictures and was feeling too lazy to edit video.

But then I looked over on my nightstand and saw the book my mother-in-law gave me for Christmas, the new Dan Brown book, Lost Symbol, the book I swore I wasn't going to start because it's big and I didn't have time.....but then I started anyway.....and it's just starting to get good....and well, I think I'm going to close my computer and go read instead.

A day late and a dollar short.....

2009-12-27T21:44:00.000-07:00

.....doesn't even BEGIN to sum up my life right now. Somebody PLEASE tell me how my life got away from me. It's like it snuck out in the middle of the night and at first I didn't notice it was gone because I was so preoccupied with unimportant things that had somehow disguised themselves as important things. Then by the time I realized it was gone it already had such a big head start that I had no chance of ever catching up. Especially since it caught a jet plane on it's way out of town and I'm only on foot. My only hope is that perhaps it will travel all the way around the world and catch up with me from behind.

I'm not even sure if anybody is still around to read my random diatribes. (I'm not even 100% sure what diatribes means, I've just heard others use it before and it seemed fitting just now.)

I've been away so long that my 2 followers probably got tired of me taking up space in their RSS reader and dropped me long ago.

But I can live with that.

Because I did in fact need a break from blogging. Besides needing some time to deal with family concerns and time to serve people I loved for awhile I also needed some time to sort out how I was spending my time. And how I wanted to be spending my time. And what was important to me.

I wish I could say that in the months I've been gone I discovered some rich fountain of knowledge. I wish I had some profound truth to offer you.

Instead I just discovered that life is busy. And that I can't do EVERYTHING. And that's okay. Really, it is.

Because life is about seasons. And just because I can't do something RIGHT NOW doesn't mean there won't come a season in my life when I can do it.

These past few months have been a season of making new friends, remembering old friends, creating memories, renewing trust, serving, giving, crying, aching, laughing, reading, pondering, praying and a little magic for good measure.

So, as we approach a new year I've been contemplating life, the universe, and my living room. I know it's cliche to set goals at the beginning of a new year-but sometimes traditions stand the test of time for a reason.

But this time it's about more than just rattling off a few random check lists which will quickly be forgotten. I want to really focus on what is important to me, and then ensure I'm spending my time on the things that are most important to me.

And I decided that blogging is important to me. In my months away I have discovered that I NEED to write.

But I may not write as much as I once did. And my blog may have a slightly different feel to it this year.

It's still up for debate as to if Name that Movie Monday and Flashback Friday will be regulars around here. I haven't decided yet.

Since I realized that writing is core to me I started a writing group with two very talented and all around fun people that I am immensely excited. I have not decided how much, if any, of this writing I should make public.

I have also decided to give up my quilt block of the month class this year. Which was a hard decision because one of the fabric choices for the quilt next year is black and white and neon green. Sigh. But-I still have so many unfinished blocks from this year that I decided I need to actually finish a few projects first before taking on more.

Anyway-the point is not to outline all the things I will and won't be doing in 2010. Well, actually, I don't really know what the point is. Oh, yes. It was to start blogging again. Which meant I just started writing randomly and this post here is what I happened to spit up on the page. I probably should go back and edit it and make it sound all pretty and have an actual point and be thoughtful....but I'm not. :) Because the important thing was not how pretty it sounded. The important thing was to just write!

Name that Movie Monday-sort of

2009-08-03T10:09:00.002-06:00

Hello.....hello? Is this thing on? Anybody there? Hello?

I'm headed out the door with the kids, trying to eek as much fun out of summer as we can since my oldest starts kindergarten in a few weeks. We are going to the Utah version of a beach. Laughable to you from California and Florida, but we make due. And my kids have lead a sheltered life and don't know any better.

But-on my way out the door my phone did it's little "you have a new text message" ring and I was pleasantly surprised to open my inbox and find a free movie code! I had nearly forgotten that those existed. So I had to pause and post it for you all. Because that's how much I love you!

And the best part is that you don't even have to endure one of my movie quotes to get to the free rental code. You get it for free today, just for stopping by. :)

Redbox free movie code: 27HZ4KT

Use it wisely.

Quintessential Quilting

2009-07-16T14:52:00.004-06:00

Yes-I had to use spell check to spell quintessential correctly. Thanks for asking.

Finally getting around to posting pictures of my quilt blocks. These are the two I finished just this week around midnight the night before my class. Yea, I like to do things at the last minute. Actually, I don't-that's just how it worked out.

I don't think I ever mentioned that this is a Civl war quilt so all the blocks are named for States on either side of the Mason Dixon line. In fact, the pattern name is North and South. Clever, eh?

This block is called the Oklahoma Ladder

This block is called Baton Rouge, LA

Now, add these to the first two I finished-Indiana Puzzle

and Philadelphia Pavement

and I've done a grand total of four! I should have 8 done by now! And they technically aren't supposed to give me the new blocks until I've finished the ones from the previous month....so hopefully nobody reading this blog will squeal on me. I'll eventually catch up.

Someday

Hopefully

Maybe

Quilt blocks and appologies

2009-07-13T13:18:00.004-06:00

Well, maybe not apologies. I have sworn never to apologize for not blogging because it feels trite and frankly, a bit overdone in the blogging world. So not an apology. Or an excuse. Maybe just an explanation.

See, my loyal follower will tell you that I'm starting to slip up. Yes. Me. Getting behind. First there was no Flashback Friday last week.

And today you will not be seeing a new Name that Movie Monday.

Life has dictated that I take a summer vacation. Not from blogging altogether, just from set deadlines on my blog. Because due to my life feeling a tad bit like a soap opera lately my time and energies are currently being spent elsewhere.

I am happy to report that my immediate family is fine. We are happy and healthy. Unfortunately close friends and extended family have experienced things in the past few months that have made it necessary for me to focus my attentions outside my blog.

Death
Divorce
Cancer
Miscarriage
Surgery
Suicide threats
Layoffs
Foreclosure

And that's just the beginning of the list.

Add that to family reunions, weddings, quilt block classes, book group, birthdays, baptisms, and projects in the yard and in the house and well, you get the picture.

I figure summer is a great time to take a little vacation anyway since most of you are off having fun and enjoying the fine weather anyway.

That's not to say I'm disappearing completely. I finished 2 new quilt blocks last night that I have to show off. And it's been brought to my attention that I still haven't shown pictures of my new floor in my family room. So I'll be here, posting when I find a spare moment or two.

And I promise that I'll bring back the weekly features you have come to love and count on, I just need a few months to catch my breath.

Lovin' it

2009-07-06T23:28:00.003-06:00

I am seriously loving my new camera. I still have a TON to learn about using it. But I'm having fun with it just the same.

This past weekend my niece was baptized and my sister-in-law asked me to take a few pictures to remember the occasion. And, if I can say so in a humble manner, I even surprised myself at how good some of them turned out.

The Dress

Daddy's little girl

Contemplative

Okay, she was actually squinting because the sun was so stinking bright-not a single cloud in the sky! But I like to pretend she in contemplating the covenants she'll make when she is baptized.

Nothing I can say but super beautiful girl!

My first storyboard

My second storyboard: More than just cousins

Like I said, I still have a lot to learn and much to improve on. But not bad for a beginner, right?

Name that Movie Monday-WIth a free movie code!

2009-07-06T15:00:00.002-06:00

Today is a special edition of Name that Movie Monday! Since it's the first Monday of the month there is a free movie code!!!!

And I'm going easy on you, too. A quote I think all of you will get.

"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming......"

Do you know it?

You do!

Well, for being so smart here is a code for a free movie from Redbox: 4J7LF6

ENJOY!

Flashback Friday

2009-07-03T22:10:00.002-06:00

In my time zone I still have 2 hours left until Saturday, so technically it's still Friday so I'm right on time with my Flashback this week.

I thought I'd bring you a 4th of July memory this week. How original, I know. But it's a good one so I don't think you'll blame me for my lack of originality.

The summer before my Sr. year in high school I actually attended a semester of college. I was accepted into a program at the former Ricks College (now known as BYU-Idaho) that gave high school students a real college experience and college credit to boot. For summer semester I lived in the dorms, attended classes, went on field trips, wrote essays, and got to know a lot of really cool people.

Since we happened to be in school for the 4th of July the college sent all of us that were in the Summer Honors Institue program (as it was called) to the Rexburg Rodeo. But the really thrilling part was the fireworks. As the arena lights went out and the fireworks began so did a scratchy recording of Stars and Stripes forever. The song got over but the fireworks display wasn't yet and apparently that was the only song on the tape (yes, I do believe it was a tape) because it was silent for a few minutes, time I can only assume they were rewinding the tape, and then Stars and Stripes Forever started again. And once again the song ended before the fireworks display. So, you guessed it, there was a few blessed moments of silence (well, fireworks were exploding just a few feet away so not really silence....but you know what I mean) and then we were once again honored to hear that scratchy recording of Stars and Stripes forever.

I like a good Sousa march as much as the next guy but I for one was thankful when the fireworks were finally over only because it meant we didn't have to rewind the poor tape yet again.

I hope that for tomorrow's rodeo that the city of Rexburg has invested in CD player, and a CD with a larger variety of patriotic music.

Name that Movie Monday

2009-06-29T17:31:00.003-06:00

Uncle! I cry Uncle! I haven't gotten around the posting today's movie quote. You may not realize the amount of effort I put into each Monday post. I don't simply rely on my own memory, or even the internet, which is often wrong. (I know, you're shocked) Oh no. I actually put in each movie I use a quote from and make sure I am quoting it exactly right, word for word. And well, I just haven't gotten around to that part yet. Sigh.

And since I still have miles to go before I sleep I don't plan on getting around to it today.

So instead of putting it off and doing a Tuesday Edition again this week I decided that I am going to let YOU, my faithful reader, quote YOUR favorite movie and see if I can guess it.

Go ahead. See if you can stump me. Could be fun. :) I won't even cheat and try to look it up. If I don't know it I'll admit so. How's that for a fair deal? Will you play along?

25 words

2009-06-28T22:01:00.003-06:00

Tonight our lesson for FHE was given by my Sister-in-Law Emily. She took her lesson from President Monson's talk, Finding Joy in the Journey

A portion of the talk read as follows:

In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Church member Jay Hess, an airman, was shot down over North Vietnam. For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words. What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote—and I quote: “These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.”

She then handed out paper and pens and challenged us to imagine we were in the same situation-having only 25 words to communicate to our family whom we haven't seen for 2 years and who we don't know if we will see again. What would we say?

So this is what I came up with.

Jesus is Savior. Atonement is real. Be generous. Serve others. Pray always. Be believing. Be responsible for choices. Eat your dinner because I LOVE YOU.

What are your 25 words?

Flashback Friday

2009-06-26T07:41:00.001-06:00

Flashback Friday is over at other blog today. Enjoy!

Name that Movie Monday-Tuesday edition

2009-06-23T10:57:00.003-06:00

I set for myself only 2 "deadlines" when it comes to my blog. Monday and Friday. Only two. That should be completely achievable! Right?

Yea, well, about that. Let's just say this is why I don't get paid to blog. I think you have to actually meet your deadlines when somebody is paying you to write. Good thing the only person I disappoint when I miss mine is my 1 faithful reader.

So, since I missed yesterday's edition of Name that Movie Monday I thought that today instead of making you guess the movie I'd just give it to you. Because it's kind of obscure anyway.

Raise your hand if you've seen the movie Stealth. Anybody? Anybody?

I hadn't either until this weekend. I had, however, seen the preview for it about half a dozen times. So when I saw it on the cheap rack at Walmart I thought what the heck.

And since I'm always on the lookout for memorable movie quotes here is my favorite line from Stealth

Ben: You and me we're....we're 2. 2 is a prime number, which makes it a lucky number. And i think we're very very lucky.

Kara: Just tell me you love me you pussy.

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T21:28:00.001-06:00

Or, as they say in blog land, Happy Falker Satherhood Day!

Flashback Friday

2009-06-19T08:02:00.004-06:00

Your patience has paid off! As promised today I have for you a Flashback Friday that will make your day! But do not take a sip of that chocolate milk before watching the video below or you will be sorry. I promise.

For your viewing pleasure I have put together the most memorable bloopers from my college days and my time spent doing the campus newscast: ATV News.

Maybe it's only funny to me because I was there and know the entire back story to each and every blooper. But I'm hoping that even if you weren't there you can find the humor of the situation. (wait, isn't that a BNL song?) Because I find it HILARIOUS!

So without further adieu, enjoy!

ATV3 from Nicole Miller on Vimeo.

Swine Flu and Faith

2009-06-16T11:35:00.003-06:00

The news is reporting the 5th known death from Swine Flu in the state of Utah. Which hits a little too close to home for me knowing that there are been confirmed cases of it in my neighborhood. In fact not just in my neighborhood but right in my ward. (church congregation)

Which means, of course, that for the past 2 or 3 weeks I couldn't help but keep an wary eye as the sacrament was passed to the congregation during services. I'd cringe each time somebody sneezed and then reached forth with that same hand to take a piece of broken bread, knowing that soon that same tray was going to be passed to me.

So you can imagine the giddy delight I felt when reading the following passage in the book I've been reading. It's from a book called The Longest Trip Home a memoir by John Grogan. (the author of Marley and Me) He was raised in a predominantly Catholic neighborhood and here he is recounting one of his many experiences serving as an Alter Boy.

"Some priests were so skilled they could deftly pop a host on the tongue without making any flesh-to-flesh contact and almost never fumbling. But most of them, in their caution not to drop Christ's body and risk sacrilege, ended up touching the recipient's lip or tongue, then doing it again for the next person in line, and the next. Standing beside him, I could actually see Father's thub and fingertips wet with saliva. The number of germs spread in communion lines should have triggered a four-alarm public heath alert, but no one seemed to mind. What was a little shared spit among true believers who were all going to heaven anyway? Besides, it was hard to imagine the Son of God would come into your body and then let you catch a disease simply because Father's host-dispensing skills weren't up to par. If Jesus could multiply fishes and loaves and raise the dead, he could certainly make sure no one contracted strep throat from the communion line." The Longest Trip Home, pg 69-70

I can't help but think that if the Lord, who is no respecter of persons, will keep the Catholics safe from strep in the communion line that He'll also keep the Mormons safe from Swine Flu during the sacrament.

Name that Movie Monday

2009-06-15T13:50:00.002-06:00

Now that it's going on 2:00 some of you thought I forgot Name that Movie Monday, didn't you.

But I didn't. I just took my kids to the park this morning instead of blogging. So sue me. (please don't really sue me. It was just a figure of speech. Plus I've got nothing worth taking.)

But first a question and a confession. What is your weakness? The one thing that is going to be the absolute death of you? Mine? It's the $5 movie rack at every store I walk into. There are so many great movies that I can't quite bring myself to pay $20 for but when I walk into the grocery store and there it sits with a $5 price tag on it I just can't help myself. It somehow finds it's way into my shopping cart before I even know what has happened. And once it's in my cart I don't have the heart to put it back on the shelf. I can't stand those sad puppy dog eyes looking back at me, feeling all dejected and rejected. So of course I have to take it home with me. I tell ya, I'm going to go dirt broke over those stinkin' $5 movies! That and buy one get one half off shoe sales.

Why do I tell you this? Because today's movie is from the $5 bargain rack. So are you ready for it? Here it is.

Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!

Sorry, no movie code today. But I saw Valkyrie over the weekend and it was fab so if you are looking for a movie to rent that is worth the buck you pay to rent it then I suggest it. In fact, I'll likely buy it on from the discount rack someday.

How rude!

2009-06-14T17:16:00.000-06:00

Does summer time make people more rude? Are we all so hot and crabby that we forget to think about others.

Not that it's been hot here yet. It's rained pretty much non-stop for 2 weeks now, nearly making me forget that we supposedly live in a desert!

Maybe that's the issue. Maybe the rain and lack of sun makes people all mopey and sad which leads to rudeness.

At any rate, last week I had my share of rude.

A sampling if you will.

Wednesday I was at Ikea with all 3 of my small children. Luckily 2 of them were able to go to smalland and play for an hour.

Which means I had the baby with me. And 3 very large items to get. So try, if you will, to picture the following. I have the baby in the stroller which I am pulling behind me with one hand. And a flatbed cart in front of me with a 100 lb dresser on it along with two very large paintings which I am also trying to manoeuvre one-handed. Quite a site, right? And yet not once did somebody who was completely empty handed offer to help me.

Mind you I made it just fine in the end. But still. Not a single offer of help. Although I did receive many judging looks from others as I pushed/pulled my load.

Thursday I took my children to This is the Place Heritage Park park. Before the day was over it started to downpour. We, of course, were still waiting for the train to arrive to take us back to our car when the rain came. One train came and was quite full, meaning we were going to have to wait for the next train to arrive.

No biggie, there was only a handful of us left waiting so I felt we'd surely get on the next train easy. Of course as we waiting several more groups of people arrived to wait for the train. I remained unworried because we were there first so they would let us get on first, or so I thought.

When the next train arrived me and my 3 small children were quite literally trampled as people crowded past us to get on the train before us. My 3 small children who were wet and cold and had already been waiting for 25 minutes to get on a train. And it's not like it was a bunch of inconsiderate teenagers who are notorious for thinking of only themselves. It was tweeners WITH their parents. Yes, the parents where not only accepting this behavior they were actually encouraging it.

I finally got desperate and walked up to the front of the train and asked the tour guide if we could sit in the front with the train driver were it was covered and warm. I thought she'd take one look at my poor wet children and say yes. Instead she said "Let me see if there is anybody else who needs to get on." HELLO!!!!! I NEED TO GET ON! I'M WET AND COLD AND IT'S PAST NAPTIME AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE MY KIDS HOME!

I didn't take no for an answer and soon we were sitting in the cab with the driver where all 4 of us were crowded onto the passenger seat but at least we were dry and warm. AND the driver was a very sweet old man who was the bright spot in the rain for me.

On the way to the car the kids wanted to take a stop at the Brigham Young house. Despite the fact that I just wanted to get in the car and go home I obliged them. On the way back down the very steep old pioneer home stairs I'm walking behind my two older kids, holding the baby when a bunch of older kids come careening around the corner and attempt to run down the stairs. I start seeing images of my small children tumbling down the steep stairs because they were bumped by these older kids so I start blocking the stairs the best I can and try to politely explain to them that my small kids are trying to go down the steep stairs (did I mention they were STEEP) and could they please slow down and wait for them to get to the bottom.

All this time the mother is standing at the top of the stairs watching me try to balance my baby in one arm while trying to keep my other two kids on their own two feet and she does NOTHING. Doesn't call her children back. Doesn't implore them to be careful or polite or considerate of other visitors. Just stands there. I wanted to cry. It was SOOOOO time to go home!

So of course the next day I'm at Lowes and I see a man in the parking lot struggling to load some plywood onto his truck. The issue was not really loading the plywood but rather the fact that each time he turned to put another piece on his truck his flatbed would start to roll away and then he would have to run after it. So guess what I did-I offered to hold the flatbed in place for him while he finished unloading it. And guess what-it only took me about 20 seconds to be polite. And hopefully it made his day. And hopefully it will create a little good karma for me and this week will be filled with a less rude people.

And hopefully more sunshine.

Flashback Friday

2009-06-12T09:03:00.004-06:00

I come before you today groveling for forgiveness and it's not even 10:00 am yet.

See, I promised you a laugh-out-loud, pee your pants, spit milk through your nose funny Flashback Friday today.

It's ALMOST ready. The original bloopers reel was over 20 minutes long so I've been hand picking the funniest moments and re-editing it with some titles so help explain the maddness. And well, it's done but not perfected yet. And I don't want to show it to you until it's perfect.

So can I have one more week to get it ready for you? PLEASE? I know I can't keep making promises that I can't keep or I'll lose the 2 faithful readers I have. I just want it to be just right.

Instead I came up with something for today's Flashback Friday that I hope you find equally funny.

I know that what happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas.....so I'll change the names to protect the innocent. :)

So I begin with a question. Why do we insist in taking embarrassing pictures of ourselves and our closest friends? Pictures that can be used against us at some later date? Why do we do this? Why?

See the weekend before I left on my mission I went to Vegas with my mom and her sisters. (My aunts, for those of you who are family tree challenged) For reasons that I still will never understand I allowed my mother to take this picture of me.

Frightening, I know. But that's not the worst part.

While on my mission my, er, not cousin whose name I shall not mention.....went on a similar trip with the same crazy chaperons. And she let them take this picture of her.

So, of course, when Mike and I were dating we passed through Vegas on our way to California and I coerced him into this picture.

Oh wait, I'm changing names to protect the innocent. That picture is not of Mike. It's some guy I may or may not have dated at some point in my past.

To his credit he was mortified by the prospect of this picture. It took a LOT of begging! And even after all my heartfelt pleas and arguments about how it's tradition he HAD to do it he utterly refused to stand with his head between them.

You're right, maybe I should've let these pictures stay in Vegas after all.

world's nicest theif

2009-06-10T20:36:00.003-06:00

I'm always slightly amused when I'm somewhere super exotic, like Dollar Tree, spending the impressive amount of $5 and the cashier asks for ID when I swipe my card. I always comply because, hey, she's just doing her job. But secretly I'm thinking "What kind of moronic identity thief would steal a credit card and then hit the dollar store for ant traps and gum?" Personally, if i had a stolen credit card I'd be buying big screen tvs online faster than you can say Amazon.com.

So you can imagine my surprise today at the library when whipping out my debit card to pay my library fine and the librarian asks for my ID. I'm thinking to myself, "you have my library card and have pulled up my account then I hand you a debit card bearing the same name as the library card and you still ask for ID?" Because how many people do you know who would steal a wallet and then immediately dig out the library card and go pay any outstanding fines. I mean really.

And note to librarians everywhere-if somebody else is trying to pay my fines please just let them. It would save me the time and hassle.

Name that Movie Monday

2009-06-08T08:22:00.003-06:00

I know you all want to know how the weekend went.

So here's the reader's digest condensed version.

Flooring-finished in family room and one set of stairs. One more set of stairs left to do still.
Baseboards-painted but waiting to be installed
Primary newsletter-finished!
Sharing Time-a colossal failure despite, what I thought, was a well thought out idea. Sometimes kids just don't respond to what you think they are going to respond to.
Quilt blocks-Not done. Not even started if you want the absolute truth. Hoping that if I plead funeral excuse and promise to have them done next month they will still give me my new ones.

On that note let's move into today's movie quote. Are you ready?

You know, somehow, "I told you so" just doesn't quite say it.

I have now fulfilled my Monday obligation to you so now it's your turn-make a guess.

I suppose I should also tell you the answer to last week's quote since nobody guessed it. The Movie is My Best Friend's Wedding.

Have a great Monday! I'm off to my quilting class. You know, the one where I'm the only one under age 50. Good Times I tell ya!

Flashback Friday

2009-06-05T00:52:00.003-06:00

I'm in over my head. But I just repented of my non-Flashback Friday ways. So I didn't want to blow it off completely. AND while looking for the clipart CD that I use for my newsletter I came across a DVD that I have been trying to find for months now. A DVD that is going to make a hysterical Flashback Friday.

But, as mentioned before, due to the craziness that is my life this weekend I don't have time to rip it and upload it and give it the proper presentation. In fact I don't even have time to be blogging, and yet and I am. I was working on my Primary newletter and I actually have all of the content written, But due to the untimely demise of laptop my template that I created for the newsletter has been lost. So my kind husband is working on the layout for me and I'm sneaking in a little blogging while he's not looking.

Thus today is the teaser for next week's edition of Flashback Friday. (I can use words like teaser because I was a broadcast journalism major.)

And speaking of my college days that is what next week's Flashback Friday is all about. And you now know that it also includes a video. And yes, I'm in it. But so are many other USU broadcast journalism students. So believe me when I say it's laugh out loud, pee your pants, spit milk through your nose funny!

And I can tell it is way past my bedtime because I have started every sentence with and, but, or so. My high school English teacher would be so proud!

I must now return to the insanity. Do NOT miss next week though. I PROMISE I will make it worth your time!

Happy Weekend ya'll. (I'm not even southern. It MUST be past my bedtime.)

Because I THRIVE on insanity

2009-06-03T23:23:00.004-06:00

I have sharing time this upcoming Sunday. (In layman's terms I have to entertain 50 kids ages 3-11 for 2 hours Sunday afternoon plus somehow actually manage to teach them something about Faith as well.)

On top of that I also am in charge of our monthly Primary newsletter that goes out on the first Sunday of every month. Which means I need to get that written and printed before Sunday as well.

Then, I have my Quilt Block of the Month class on Monday which I have FOUR quilt blocks that are supposed to be finished. It's normally only 2 but I missed last month's class for the funeral in Nevada. And, of course, I haven't even cut them out yet, let alone started sewing them.

So why, I ask you, did I think that tonight at 9:30 pm it would be a good idea to rip out the carpet in the family room? Why I ask you? why?

Well, I did get tired of Zoey peeing on it. (Which she did yet again today.)

And I have been dying to put in laminate because I hate doing my aerobics on the carpet.

And I noticed that the neighboorhood clean-up dumpsters were up the street tonight. And they are typically only there for 24 hours.

So,Ｉused that small detail as leverage, somehow convincing my husband that if we pulled out the carpet tonight we could throw it in the dumpsters and then lay laminate this weekend.

Doesn't that sound like a grand idea?

So at 12:02 in the morning my family room looks like this:

This one complete with a Ryan sitting on the couch eating his Sonic bacon toaster that he bought when he went to get us all free root beer floats.

And as I sit here staring at the large cracks in my foundation concrete the reality of what we just did is starting to sink in and I'm thinking I must suffer just for fun.

In other words, I may come up for air Monday night. See you then.

Excited with a side of skepticism

2009-06-02T16:12:00.002-06:00

About a month ago I got an email that basically said hey you have a great blog and we would like you to tell your readers all about our blog. At first I was like wow! Somebody likes my blog. And then reality set in and I realized my blog likely met some keyword search critera and that nobody actually READ my blog before sending me that email. Because well, as loyal my followers are (thanks for that, by the way) there are barely a handful of you. In other words, I'm hardly what you could call and influential blogger.

A few days later I got yet another email requesting that I promote a website and this time I didn't let it go quite so much to my head.

So you can imagine the skepticism I felt when I received the following comment on my blog.

Congratulations!

Your blog has been nominated for the 2009 Utah Baby Guide Blog Contest. The blog that gets the most votes wins! Voting ends June 30th, 2009.

Congratulations! You have a great blog!

Kindly,
Jessica Taufer
Editorial Director
Utah Baby Guide
j.taufer@utahbabyguide.com
http://www.utahbabyguide.com

Especially since I've had spam comments in the past. (before turning on word verification) Comments that served no other purpose than to get you to click over to somebody's insurance site.

My suspicion was furthered by the fact that my other blog also got the same comment. And when I've been spammed in the past both blogs got hit.

But finally my big head telling me "this one might actually be for real" got the best of me and I clicked to it.

It does look like a legitimate site. I think. And my Sister-in-law's two blogs are nominated in different categories which leads me to believe that maybe she nominated me (Thanks if you did!!!!) Or maybe she didn't. Who knows.

Her blog Orange World is nominated in the Discount/Giveaway Blog category. And her blog Orange You Special is nominated in the Product Blog category.

And so this is the part where I shamelessly beg for your vote. Because hey, it would be cool to win something! Plus you don't even have to register. Simply email contest@utahbabyguide.com and tell us the web address of your favorite blog for each category before June 30, 2009.

This blog is nominated in the Personal Blog category, right beneath Dooce. Yea right, like I'll win. But hey, it's a nice thought, right?

My other blog is nominated in the Funny Blogs category.

And I guess it would be nice if I told you their website. Because that's what a courteous blogger does, right?

So you can visit the Utah Baby Guide at, surprisingly enough, http://www.utahbabyguide.com/

I'll stop begging now. Since it's likely all really a hoax anyway. Thanks.

Name that Movie Monday

2009-06-01T10:48:00.003-06:00

Today is a special day here on Name that Movie Monday because, being the first Monday of the month, there is actually a free Redbox code today. HOORAY!!! So you BETTER use it because by the end of the summer there will be no more free movie goodness.

So-here is your quote.

It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy

Mwahahahaha. That's funny stuff, if I do say so myself.

I also thought it would be fun to give you a little movie star trivia so maybe those of you who NEVER GUESS would still stop by on Mondays, even though there aren't as many free movie codes anymore.

So-today I thought I'd tell you which prominent stars have a birthday today, June 1st.

Morgan Freeman turns a young 72 today.
Andy Griffith turns an even younger 83. Think little Opie is coming over for some birthday cake?
And, Marilyn Monroe was born this day back in 1926.

So, there you go. And here for reading this far down I shall not reward you with a free movie code: FM63H7

AND for those of you who complain that you never know the movie if you think you are better at guessing songs you can hop on over to Shades of Blond for Name That Tune Monday which I happen to terrible at! How is that for poetic justice?

Flashback Friday

2009-05-28T23:53:00.006-06:00

Somewhere pigs must be flying, because I'm finally posting another Flashback Friday!

As always, I had something much more elaborate in mind. Something that required scanning LOTS of pictures. And just thinking about it made my head hurt.

So I settled on something a little less elaborate but I think you will enjoy it.

Back when I was a wee lass of just 5 years old (I may have even started when I was 4) I was a member of a children's singing/performing group called The Rainbow Connection.

Wasn't I adorable?

The group picture is fun as well.

Yes, I still am THAT short.

AAAAAAND, for extra credit, only available to those who aren't actually related to me, can you pick out my older brother in the picture? (answer at the end)

It was a grand time, really. I once even had a solo. I got to sing the first line of Tomorrow, from Annie. "The sun'll come out, tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun" Yes, that was my 3 seconds of fame, with no fortune. Plus I'm pretty sure I only got the solo because I had red hair.

My brother also had a solo-"Eyes that look like heaven, lips like sherry wine. Elvira!" Or something like that. I'm sure he could tell you.

I also remember wearing a single white glove and singing Beat It

We have many miles of old home movies, on 8mm, of The Rainbow Connection performing. Which is ironic, since it's a SINGING group, and 8mm is silent. Nevertheless, judging from all the reels of Rainbow Connection my parents have my dad recorded every single performance ever. I'm not sure this would've been the case had it not been silent film. Because, let's face it, you didn't have to audition to be in the group and we were, after all, just kids.

And, for those of you still playing at home, THIS one is my older brother.

just keep swimming, just keep swimming.....

2009-05-26T21:30:00.004-06:00

I like to think of myself as an "on the ball" type of person.

I am on time. (most of the time)

I do what I promise to do. (When my kids don't cause me to do otherwise)

I return my library books on time (except for the 2 that were due today)

But all, in all I can be depended upon. Or at least I like to believe that I can be.

But the past couple of weeks life has just gotten totally away from me, and I'm not entirely sure how it got loose, or where it went!

I feel like I'm trying to move through molasses while everybody and everything around me is set on fast forward. I keep trying to catch up but only get further and further behind.

And I keep having that recurring nightmare of mine where I'm back in school and behind in all my classes. But the teacher won't accept any of my new homework until I've turned in all the old homework.

Sometimes I set my standards intentionally low so that I can live up to them. For example-I have only two days that I try to blog FOR SURE. Mondays, and Fridays. Any other day I blog is just extra credit.

And I can't even keep up with twice a week lately!

But as far behind as I feel, I am making baby steps.

If you recall, my husband's grandfather passed away a few weeks ago. I took lots of pictures at the funeral and had many family members ask if they could get copies, too.

Of course I told them yes, and then promised to have them up for view in a timely manner.

Well, I'm not sure you can exactly call it timely but I finally have a set on flickr of photos from the funeral ready to share.

And now a favor for family who may be reading this. My laptop took with it to it's grave many of my email addresses. And so while I will do my best to get the word out to family please help me spread the word.

Which means that Kaylene-you can tell everybody on your facebook page where to go to see pictures. Tell them they are welcome to download pictures directly from flickr. Tell them also that I am happy to send CD's or prints as well if they will contact me. And no, it doesn't mean I'll join facebook any sooner.

Still waiting

2009-05-24T22:38:00.003-06:00

Remember when I said that I was going to do a Saturday edition of Flashback Friday? Well, yea. About that. Well. I didn't so much do that. Perhaps you noticed.

Instead I left Adam home with Mike to work out a construction project together (details and pictures to follow....someday....hopefully) and I took Zoey and Harrison to Ikea to get bedding. See, we assembled bunk beds in the boy's room and moved Zoey out of the toddler bed and so everbody needed new sheets and comforters and such.

And well-that was great and all.

Until bedtime.

See, I spent literally 30 minutes making Adam's bed-the top bunk. Making the top bed is the WORST part of bunk beds. And we had decided to let Adam keep the nice (translation: expensive) mattress he's been sleeping on because, as I said to Mike, "He hasn't peed the bed for a really long time."

Which of course means I am awakened in the dark hours of the night to Adam crying out to me that he peed the bed.

Not sure if he was just afraid to climb down from the top bunk in the dark, or if he was tucked in a little too tight....either way I spent half the morning unmaking his bed, washing the sheets, and remaking the top bunk.

To make matters worse he peed on his teddy bear and in his drunken/sleepy/peed on self state he was furious at me for not letting him sleep with his teddy bear the remainder of the night. I kept offering him other stuffed animals, which he kept throwing back at me.

Oh so much fun.

And just because I KNOW you all want to be kept up-to-date on all the pee at our house Zoey did great all day....until just before bed time. Then it was a river all over the floor in front of her bed.

Seriously-if somebody knows how to make the hurting stop please do share.

And as for that Saturday Flashback Friday....it may have to wait until next Saturday. But I promise it will be worth the wait.

Intentions

2009-05-22T22:18:00.003-06:00

I began the day with such high hopes. Here was what I intended to do with my day

-Blog a humorous Flashback Friday post
-Comb my hair
-Apply makeup
-Brush teeth
-Get needed items to start an small herb garden on my deck
-Play with kids
-Clean my kitchen
-Read my book
-Cut out my quilt blocks
-Curl up with my honey and watch a movie once the kids were in bed

This is what I instead did

-Clean up pee-pee mess of 3 year old from carpet
-Scold 3 year old
-Get milk sippies
-Clean up pee-pee mess of 5 year old
-Scold 5 year old
-Change baby's diaper
-Load dishwasher
-Wash pee-pee clothes
-Clean up poop mess of 3 year old
-Scold 3 year old and send her to her room
-Make lunch for kids, which nobody eats
-Wash more dishes
-Mop bathroom floor where 3 year old has, yet again, peed her pants
-Send 3 year old to her room, again
-Wash more potty accident clothes and rugs
-Change baby's diaper
-Regret decision to put baby in toddler bed when he won't stay there during naptime
-Feel guilty for scolding children and call pediatrician to see if there may be a medical reason they keep peeing their pants
-Decide to go to Happy Hour at Sonic
-Discover that they are all out of Diet Dr. Pepper
-Order a Mango limeade instead
-Carhop brings a watermelon limeade to my car and informs me they were out of Mango, too
-Take one sip of watermelon limeade and decide it stinks
-Pour watermelon limeade down sink
-Get home and find that 3 year old has peed her pants AGAIN and Uncle Ryan had to clean it up
-Tell my children that we are SO NEVER EVER GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!!
-Send her to her room again
-Start another load of laundy
-Call my SIL so she could talk me out of beating my children

Well, you get the picture. It was one of THOSE days.

In other words-you have to wait until tomorrow for Flashback Friday. I know, I know, then it won't be FRIDAY. But it's my blog and if I want a Saturday edition of Flashback Friday then, by golly, that's what I'll do!

That is, of course, assuming tomorrow goes better than today.

Perhaps I'll just put them all in swimsuits and lock them in the backyard. Then they can pee all they want! Right?

And just in case you were wondering...I still haven't brushed my teeth! I'll go do that right now.

Name that Movie Monday

2009-05-18T09:57:00.002-06:00

Did you think I was lost? Did you think I had forgotten about all of you, my faithful followers? Never!

In case you missed the memo I was gone to Nevada for a funeral. And as long as we were driving that far we turned it into an impromptu family vacation.

I originally had intended to lug my laptop along and blog about what we were doing, including the beautiful pictures of Lake Tahoe taken from the deck of the home we were staying in.

But the day before we left my laptop up and died and I had to go on a computer fast for more than a week.

I will admit that I twittered via my phone. But I didn't blog. I didn't check email. (Well, I sort of checked email, via my phone, but it was hard to respond to any.) And you know what....I actually survived!

Oh it was hard the first few days. I was having some serious withdrawl. I didn't know what ya'll were up to. I missed your witt and charm. But I spent quality time with my family. And of course I watched a few movies. And played on the beach at Lake Tahoe. And took about a million pictures with my new camera.

And inasmuch as I am now tied to the desktop my computer time will still probably be limited. And I'm okay with that. It's summer. Time to be outside. Time to pull some weeds. Time to visit the park and the pool. Oh sure, I'll check in now and then.

Like on Mondays. So---are you ready for a new movie quote? Because I am SO ready to give it you!

Hey, who you calln' scruffy lookn'?

And now for the bad news. Redbox is discontinuing free movie Mondays. They will only be arriving the first Monday of each month through the end of summer and then they are Gone Like the Wind! (and no, that's not the answer to today's movie quote)

So-no code today. So go out and do some yard work instead!

Name that Movie Monday

2009-05-04T10:08:00.002-06:00

Laundry day is in full swing. We're heading out of town on Friday to attend my husband's grandfather's funeral. So are you ready for today's movie quote?

No. Spiteful, vindictive, very large, but never crazy.

And as a hint....my kids are watching this movie right now.

And of course it wouldn't be a Monday without a free Redbox movie code: BT73H9

Word to the wise-don't rent Doubt or The Caller. Neither were very good. Well, Doubt was okay. Just not great. But Amy Adams was in it, whom I LOVE. So-rent at your own risk.

Good luck!

Flashback Friday

2009-05-01T11:45:00.002-06:00

My wonderful Sister-in-law Karen has graciously consented to writing today's Flashback Friday. Her grandfather Edgar Carlson passed away this week and I thought it only fitting to pay him a small tribute today. (my husband's grandfather, too, in case your family tree skills are a little off)

I was only privileged to be in his presence a handful of times. So I thought it was fitting to have somebody who knew him well write today's post.

I think most little girls love their grandparents. I was no different. Some of my earliest memories with them are spending the night at their home at South Lake Tahoe. Grandpa's house had that sweet grandparently smell and when I close my eyes I can still sometimes bring those smells to my recollection. I know that I must have been a pretty cool or very bratty little kid because when I spent the night at their home I was allowed to sleep between them in their bed.

My grandpa was a large man, not just physically. Even his towering 6' frame seemed too small to contain his large heart and spirit. He was a man of substance, of character. I remember overhearing him talk to my brother and brother-in-law once about what he thought of goatees. He didn't mince words. He told it like he thought it.

As a little girl, I associated how much someone loved me with how tightly they squeezed when hugging me. I can assure you, I was certain that my grandpa loved me more than anyone else. Sometimes I wished he had loved me just a little less.

My sweet Grandpa passed away this week. I know him better now than I did most of my life. Funny how all our lives our grandparents are just our grandparents and that is all they are in our worlds. This week I learned my Grandpa was a man. A man with hopes, dreams, achievements, disappointments and plans. He was a son, a brother, a father. He was a husband, a friend, a business man. He was the son of two Swedish immigrants. All that said, the most important person he was to me was Grandpa. I feel blessed and grateful to have known him and to be a part of his family.

Hook, line, sinker

2009-04-28T18:38:00.002-06:00

It's common knowledge that I'm the mean one at our house.

I'm the disciplinarian when it comes to the kids.

I'm the spouse most likely to pick a fight.

And I'm the one who has no problem whatsoever saying no to salespeople. When Mike feels himself falling prey to a door to door salesman he always pulls out the "well you'll have to convince my wife" line. It probably comes from the fact that I've worked in marketing and I know all the tactics salespeople use to try to get me to buy a product and I'm secretly irritated that they are trying to use their little tricks on me. As if I'm dumb enough to fall for that line!

So you can imagine my husband's shock when he came home yesterday to discover I had spent (ehem, embarrassingly clears throat) over $100 on cleaning products from a door to door salesman.

Raise your hands if you've ever had the Advanage salespeople knock on your door. Show of hands please. Come on, keep 'em up.

Okay, for those of you still sittn' there pickn' your nose let me clue you in. Advanage is a eco-friendly cleaner sold by black inner-city kids from Illinois. Okay, maybe they're not all black and not all from Illinois-but all the ones who have ever come to my house are.

The Advanage sales crew show up in my neighborhood about 2 times a year. I always know it's them from a mile away because well, let's face it, I live in a neighborhood predominately white and Hispanic, so when I see large groups of black kids walking the streets with spray bottles hanging from their back pockets I know I'm about to get the Advanage sales pitch again.

We have lived in this neighborhood for close to 6 years now and not once have I said yes to their sales pitch, although I've heard a dozen times. They've cleaned the oil from my driveway a dozen times, cleaned the siding on my house a dozen times, told me all about the company's goal to take kids out of the inner cities and give them a way to make a living and get an education a dozen times. I know what they claim their product does and still never bought any of it. Never even been tempted. Not once.

Somehow my resolve all weakened when I opened the door to Katrina Taylor. Well, actually Adam opened the door. So then I had to talk to her.

There she is, standing on my porch, he beautiful white teeth and long dark hair and her ebony skin. She was striking to say the least. And the first thing she says to me is "Can I ask you a question?" I resign myself to hearing the sales pitch, yet again, and answer in the affirmative.

She says, "Why is everybody in this neighborhood so nice? All your neighbors have been SO nice to me today and I'm just not used to that." I was taken aback for just a moment, not quite sure if she was being serious or if this was all part of her sales pitch.

Just then the Elders walked past my house and Katrina called out to them, saying Hi, and telling them they she thought they looked very professional. I was struck with inspiration and I called out to them "Hey Elders, Katrina here wants to know why everybody in the neighborhood is so nice to her." I'm feeling a little proud of myself at this point thinking I'm giving the Missionaries the perfect chance to swoop in, tell her that everybody is nice and happy because of our faith in Jesus Christ and give her a Book of Mormon or at least a pass-along card.

Instead they gave me a blank stare, as if I was speaking Russian. One of them mumbled something along the lines of "oh, are people nice around here?" and after a short, awkward silence they said, "well, have a nice day" and walked away.

After that strange exchange the sales pitch for the cleaner began. She cleaned the oil on my driveway, like usual. And then I did something I have NEVER let any of these sales people do-I let her into my house to clean something. She cleaned the mildew in my bathroom. She cleaned a spot off my carpet. She cleaned crayon off my wall. She even wiped down my stainless steel dishwasher and told me that this cleaner would repel the fingerprints for up to 2 weeks.

But during all this cleaning that was going on she kept noticing things around my home relating to the church. She pointed to the family picture that had the words "Families can be Together Forever" printed under it and then told me how much she loved the church's teachings about the family. Then she read my sign hanging on the fridge from my Primary Sharing Time on Sunday "By following Jesus Christ we can live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again."

She went on an on about how she wished her family was closer. She told me that she came from a home of 7 kids with a single mom who only had a GED. She talked about how life had been hard growing up and how she has a 2 year old of her own now and decided she wanted her daughter to have a better life. So she's going to college and working hard to give her girl a better life.

There was a part of me that was trying hard not to get sucked in by her sob story. I kept telling myself that this was all part of the sales pitch. I was supposed to simultaneously feel sorry for her and be happy for her that she was trying to do something with her life and thus feel obligated to buy her cleaner. I kept telling myself this mentally, but something deeper inside me just kept telling me that she was sincere.

So I told myself I'd just buy one bottle of cleaner. But when she pulled out the price list she said if I bought 1-3 bottles she got 20% commission but if I bought the kit (3 bottles, a cleaning brush, and bottles to mix the concentrated cleaner in) then she got 60%. And if I got the kit PLUS a bottle of the glass cleaner she got 70%.

And I caved. For some reason I still don't fully understand I found myself writing out a check to her for the kit and the glass cleaner. The entire time I'm thinking to myself "my husband is going to shoot me!" And yet I kept writing out that check, handing over his hard earned money. And a lot of it, too.

And before she left I gave her my copy of the Family Answers DVD.

So now I suppose it's time for some serious spring cleaning. And a "No Soliciting" sign on my front door.

Name that Movie Monday

2009-04-27T10:17:00.003-06:00

I'm taking the easy route today. My movie quote is from the movie the kids have watched a dozen times this week and this line is stuck in my head. Okay, two lines actually.

I notice nobody's eating the gluten-free wheat grass cake. Come on trust me you just gotta get past the smell.

(I have to admit I keep thinking of this one because my sister made a gluten free cake for her wedding because her new husband is celiac and when I walked into my mom's house while it was baking I said "are you cooking something? It smells awful." Ha!)

Buy you're like the classic school principal. You're scary and bad with people and children are nervous around you. That doesn't sound right. I'm just saying what else can you do? Besides maybe Cuban dictator? Or the bogey man. You could be the bogey man.

Okay, I truly need to tackle that mountain of laundry now. So here is your movie code: I4CW33N

And now I'm off!

Flashback Friday-frusterated edition

2009-04-24T13:57:00.003-06:00

Remember when I said my sister was getting married soon and that after the wedding I was going to have more time to blog? Yea, that was a funny joke. The wedding was a week ago today (hence no Flashback Friday last week) and my house hadn't quite recovered from that yet when Ryan moved back in. Now my house is in complete and utter disarray. Plus I got this masochistic idea that since I was out of diapers I'd try to do a two-for-one on the potty training and get all kids out of diapers for good.

So excess time is not a reality yet.

Which of course means I waited until today to actually start writing Flashback Friday. And I had a brilliant idea, too!

A few weeks ago while going through pictures for Flashback Friday I came across a picture of my sister as a baby, me holding her. So I thought since she got married last week it would be a great picture for my blog. I was going to put the picture of me holding her, and then this picture of her now holding my baby girl.

Brilliant, right?

So of course I looked and looked for like an hour for the picture and can't find it. And in the meantime my house isn't getting any cleaner. And so faithful followers-no picture of my baby sister as a baby. All you get is this.

Congratulations Natalie and Justin!

Hop on over to Katie's Flickr and her blog to see more photos of the big day. And if you just can't get enough of Katie's pictures check out her photography site as well. (which was designed by the talented Josh Piersanti.

Wow-one of these days I should start asking to get paid for all this free advertising I do, since I'm sure I'm sending 10's of hits to the above mentioned websites. Let's see, at a penny a hit....I think Katie and Josh both owe me about 6 cents. Now pay up. :)

Name that Movie Monday

2009-04-20T10:22:00.002-06:00

Short, sweet, to the point. Here is today's movie quote. (from one of my current favorite movies....do I say that every week?)

This corn is like an angel.

Give it a whirl. If I have no correct guesses by this afternoon maybe I'll consider giving you a few extra clues.

In the meantime, enjoy a free movie on Redbox: M6FR97

If you haven't got a penny then a heypenny will do

2009-04-15T21:48:00.002-06:00

Seems like everybody is asking for money these days. (Do the terms bailout and economic stimulus ring a bell?) And although I'm not usually the first to jump on the bandwagon and do something just because everybody else is doing it there are those rare occasions that I'll do the "in" thing because it is the right thing.

So although I come before you today with my hand out, I'm not asking for a handout.

My brother is riding in the Harmons 2009 MS Bike Ride. He rode last year. And this is my sister's third year riding.

They ride in honor of our Grandmother, Sharon, who died from the disease back in 1972. She was only 40 years old and left behind 6 children. My father, who was the oldest, was 19 years old. He never remembers a time in his life when his mother was not confined to a wheel chair.

This year the bike ride falls on my Grandmother's birthday.

I know economic times are tough. I know spare money is hard to come by. I know there are a lot of good causes out there to give to.

But if you are washing laundry today and find some laundered money in the bottom of the washer please consider donating it to the National MS Society by sponsoring Ryan in the Bike Ride.

Or if you get around to vacuuming under the couch cushions and find some spare change instead of tossing it in the ash tray of your car maybe you could instead donate it to the National MS Society by sponsoring Ryan in the Bike Ride.

Or if you use that by one get one free coupon at Arby's this week consider taking the amount you saved and donating it to the National MS Society by sponsoring Ryan in the Bike Ride.

Anyway, you get the idea.

Any small contribution is appreciated.

And if you haven't got a haypenny-well then God bless you!

Name that Movie Monday-Tuesday Edition

2009-04-14T12:00:00.002-06:00

Sometimes movies merely entertain. And sometimes they touch you, cause you to think, and maybe even change.

As I mentioned yesterday I rented Marley and Me with my free Redbox code. Now I have to be honest, I wasn't sure if I really wanted to watch this movie. See, I didn't really know much about it except that there was a dog. And I'm not really what you would call a dog person. So thinking it was an overly emotional movie about a dog where they make you love the dog and then kill him off (can anybody say Old Yeller?) I had kind of steered away from it.

But I was at one of the busier Redbox locations (yes, I was at Walmart, please don't tell anybody!) and thus it was one of the only non rated-R movies available for rent. (one of my one complaints about Redbox-so few family friendly movies. Not that I would call Marley and Me family friendly. Despite it's PG rating a skinny dipping Jennifer Aniston and an over abundance of sexual innuendo made it not quite appropriate for my quite young family. But I digress!!!)

So what was I saying? Oh yes, I didn't want to rent it but hey, it was a free movie so even if it totally sucked I wasn't out much.

I am so glad I rented it! This movie is not just about a dog. This is a grown up coming of age movie which I totally related to! It was at times painfully truthful. Well, except that I don't have a dog and I am not as skinny as Jennifer Aniston after supposedly having 3 kids.

There are so many books and movies that are pre-teens coming of age. But the whole "discovering who I am and being comfortable in my own shoes" is not just a once in a lifetime experience. I could so relate to all the adjustments and difficulties involved in going from being single to being married. And then going from being married to being married with children. And redefining expectations. And figuring out what's really important in life.

My Sister-in-Law thought the end was depressing but I thought it was touching and realistic. Marley had helped John and Jen grow up, grow into a family. He had served a very important purpose in their lives. And now a new season in life was beginning for them. Because that's how life works.

So I guess this isn't really an official "Name that Movie Monday" since I already told you what movie the quote is from, and it's not Monday. But here's your quote just the same.

Jen: Honey, I'm sorry. I just got overwhelmed. No one tells you how hard this all is going to be.

John: Which part

Jen: All of it. Marriage, being a parent. It's the hardest job in the world and nobody prepares you for that. Nobody tells you how much you have to give up.

John: Sometimes I feel like they do tell you but you don't listen or you think "ah, they're just miserable."

Jen: I've given up so much of what made me who I am. But I can't say that because I'm a very bad person if i say that. But I feel it. I really do. I feel it sometimes. I just want you to know that.

John: I do know that. And you can say it. I say it.

Jen: But I did make a choice, I made a choice. and even if it's harder than I thought I don't regret it.

Name that movie Monday-Freebie Edition

2009-04-13T14:36:00.003-06:00

Sorry-no movie quote today. (I know you are crushed!) I had my quilt block class this morning and wedding errands to run and my house has been declared a state of disaster thanks to my birthday parties and such last week.

The good news is that by this time next week the wedding will be over AND you still get your movie code.

Free Redbox Movie: J89LA2

Enjoy!

I rented Marley and Me to watch while I fold about a zillion loads of laundry that have been sitting in baskets for the last week! If I don't start folding them soon they are going to start swallowing up kids. Wish me luck!

Take Two

2009-04-12T22:37:00.004-06:00

I finished my second quilt block. Hooray!

Don't look too closely at this one, though. There are some seams that I probably shoud've unpicked. But my class is tomorrow, and I was feeling rushed to get it done, and being Sunday night, I wanted to spend the time with my husband before the rush of the week starts again. So I wasn't really in the quilting mood. But I had to get it done.

To make matters worse my machine started breaking threads and binding up on me and I was getting more than a little frustrated. So I was just rushing to get it done.

But I hear the Amish people put mistakes in their quilts on purpose. So consider this my Amish block.

lather, rinse, repeat

2009-04-11T16:35:00.002-06:00

Back in January my cell phone took a little trip through the spin cycle in the pocket of my pants. After many failed attempts to resuscitate it (which included dehydrate cycle in the oven) it was officially declared dead.

I got my brother's old phone, popped in my sim card and was good to go. Well except for all the ringtones, pictures, and phone numbers saved on my phone. Somehow I managed to move forward anyway.

Fastforward to this week-while shopping at JoAnn's for quilting rulers I dropped my phone.

And now it looks like this.

In case you were wondering yes, it is EXTREMELY difficult to read text messages this way. AND worse than that, this whole destroying 2 cell phones in 4 months is REALLY hurting my "I really NEED an iphone" arguments.

Yea me!

2009-04-10T22:57:00.003-06:00

In my effort to be more creative I signed up for a quilt block of the month class.

And today, with the help of the fabulous and talented Aunt Bonnie I finished my first ever quilt block!

And this from the girl who pretty much hated all the sewing projects in 4-H!!!!

The only thing that could possibly put a damper on the excitement is that I still have one more to finish before the class meets again on Monday. I'm starting earlier next month!

Flashback Friday

2009-04-10T08:48:00.002-06:00

Adam's birthday was this week so I've been thinking a lot about the day he was born, and the first week that he was home.

So today I thought I'd share with you the first time I REALLY freaked out. The moment I really realized I was responsible for this little life.

I am not entirely sure exactly how many days we had been home. I do remember that Mike had returned to work. And I was still on the really good pain medications. And for some reason that I can't now fully understand I found it absolutely necessary to go THAT DAY and buy Adam a blessing outfit.

Remember, I had just said that I was still taking the heavy pain meds (he was a 9 1/2 pound baby and was delivered with forceps so I was pretty torn apart) which means I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVING. But this didn't even occur to me. I just knew I HAD to have his blessing outfit that day. It was apparently imperative to life as we know it.

So I load my baby into his car seat and we climb into our trusty little Nissan Sentra and off we go.

And it was the LONGEST drive of my life!!! Evey bump in the road I was sure I had just blown a tire. Every intersection I came to I was CERTAIN the other cars were not going to stop. I was jittery and afraid the entire drive. Every car on the road seemed out to hurt my baby. In my mind's eye my little Sentra was going to end up as a twisted mass of steel before we reached our destination.

Gladly, we did reach our destination, but by the time we got there I was a wreck. I sat in the car sobbing. I knew I couldn't safely drive us back home.

So I called my husband. Through heaving sobs I explained to him where I was and that he needed to come get me and the baby and drive us home.

Being a good husband he came immediately. He returned me and the baby to the safety of our home and then had to call his mom to go back to the store with him to get his vehicle.

Needless to say it was a LONG time before I drove anywhere alone with the baby again.

Seasons

2009-04-10T06:00:00.001-06:00

Before I get into today's Flashback Friday I want to take a moment and thank everybody who reads this little ol' blog of mine. It may not be kosher to admit, but I like thinking that people not only read, but actually enjoy what I write. I only wish I had time to write more. Really, I do. Throughout the day as I'm changing diapers and folding laundry I stare longingly at the laptop, my finger itching to type something quirky and amusing. But as of late life has just been so hectic. Even when I finally get the kids to bed there are a million more things to accomplish and I'm always exhausted. So writing must wait for another day.

I have started about a dozen posts. But am always interrupted by a small one needing something. Or somethings I just fall asleep at the keyboard and start to drool just a little, which is not something electronics like too much. And so, once again, writing must wait for another day.

I know that our life has seasons and right now is my season to have small children.

But spring is coming which means they'll be playing outside more and need me to entertain them less.

And Adam starts kindergarten in a few short months.

Until then the writer inside me will wait, patiently, for her turn. She will get her chance. Her season will come and I hope she will blossom beautifully.

Okay, enough of that sap-onto your regularly scheduled Friday Post.

No Movie Today

2009-04-06T08:31:00.001-06:00

No Name that Movie Monday today. My oldest turns 5 today and we're heading out for a day of family fun and adventure!

Create

2009-04-03T23:59:00.001-06:00

Things I've been thinking a lot about lately, put into words quite eloquently by others that I admire. Hope you enjoy.

An inspiring essay written by one of the most creative people I know.

This is why I blog.
This is why I photograph.
This is why I started a quilting class.
It's not much, but it's a start.

Tough As Nails

2009-04-03T21:41:00.002-06:00

Aside from the Movie Monday and Flashback Friday I've been quite AWOL lately. Not only have I not written much on my own blog but I haven't read or commented on any other blogs in quite some time.

So the house is quiet tonight. The hubs if off doing what he does best, which is being chivalrous and helping others even though he is dog tired and starting to get sick. He would never think of saying no when somebody asks for his help. So after getting the little ones to sleep I realized I had some time to myself. I thought about cleaning and then thought better of it. So I've spent the last hour with my google reader, having a grand time catching up on everybody's blogs.

There is just one small problem. In all the hustle and bustle that has been my life lately I haven't had time to do anything with my fingernails for a few weeks and they have gotten quite long. As I sit here trying to type out witty comments on all your blogs my nails keep tapping on the keyboard and, frankly, it's driving me insane!!!!

3 times I've started upstairs to chop them off but then I remember that my sister's wedding is a mere 2 weeks away and I thought that perhaps it would be nice to actually do something nice with my nails for the occasion.

Not that anybody will be looking at my nails. No matter how real or fabulous they are.

But I'm having a stay at home mom crisis lately and have been looking forward to my sister's wedding for months now because it gives me a really good excuse to dress up really pretty and be non-mommy frump for one night. So even if nobody will be looking at my nails I need them to be pretty for me.

But the tapping on the keys as I type really IS annoying me.

What's a girl to do???? Aside from giving up blogging completely until after the wedding I am at a complete loss!

Flashback Friday

2009-04-03T07:00:00.002-06:00

Today's edition of Flashback Friday is a tad scary. No, it's not about Halloween or haunted houses. But it does involve revealing a bit about my inner self, about the way I think. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is downright frightening at times!

So, before the memory you get a question. When you let your mind wander, when you have nothing else you have to be thinking about, what do you think about? Because I think about movie scenes. And I'm not talking about scenes from movies that I've actually seen. I mean I create movie scenes. Sometimes I'll even stick with the same scene for several weeks re-thinking it to make it better. I'll fix some of the dialogue or change the blocking or add some music for dramatic effect. Mind you I've never come up with an idea for an entire movie. It's always just a scene. A little tidbit. A teaser, a trailer. Sometimes the characters don't even have names. Does that make me strange? (please don't answer that question!)

For quite some time I was trying to work out a scene about how the male and female romantic leads would meet each other. I sing along to the radio in my car, quite loud and energetically sometimes. So I was trying to work out the details of a woman singing in her car while stopped at a red light. As she's singing away with much gusto she looks at the car next to her and sees a very handsome man singing along to the exact same song.

This scene was fresh in my head one morning as I was driving to work. As usual I was singing along to the song on the radio. While stopped at a red light I look over and see a guy I work with in the car next to me. And he was evidently listening to the same radio station because he was singing along to the same song I was! No joke.

Here's where it gets really weird though. Unlike the movie scene I had written and re-written in my head several times he was not handsome. He was a guy in our IT department and was the epitome of Geek! Now if I'm calling somebody a geek you know it must be bad because I score close to "total geek" on The Geek Test. But this guy he wasNapolean Dynamite Geek! Big glasses and everything. I seriously think that with all the stylish glasses available these days you actually have to special order glasses that ugly! But that's beside the point.

I couldn't help myself. The whole thing was so ridiculous that I started giggling. I couldn't stop laugh all the way to work. And I had to park on the opposite side of the parking lot so we wouldn't have to bump into each other walking into the building.

Thanks goodness I didn't need to call the help desk that day. I'm not sure I could've handled a conversation with the guy without lapsing into a total fit of hysterics!

Name That Movie Monday: Special Edition

2009-03-30T09:22:00.003-06:00

Due to the bridal shower I threw this weekend for my sister who is getting married in a few weeks I did not publish a Flashback Friday last week.

But never fear my faithful followers. I am going to make it up to you with a very special Name that Movie Monday today. One of the games at the shower this weekend was a quiz of movie quotes from chick flicks. So today I have decided to give you not one, not two, but TEN movie quotes!!! You read right. TEN Movie quotes from some of my favorite chick flicks. Are you up to the challenge?

Match The Movie Quote to correct the chick flick

“I know you can be under whelmed, and you can be overwhelmed, but can you ever just be, like, whelmed?"

"It's such a nice sounding word for what it means: a fortunate accident."

“Death Cannot Stop true love. All it can do is delay it for awhile.”

“If you love someone you say it right then, out loud. Otherwise the moment just passes you by.”

“I've never seen my sister so happy. If you hurt her I'll kill you and make it look like an accident.”

“I'm also just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love me.”

“Please get out of my Van Halen t-shirt before you jinx the band and they break up.”

“That's wonderfully sensitive, especially from a man who wears such tight pants.”

“I've had a really lousy Christmas, you've just managed to kill my New Year's, if you come back on Easter- you can burn down my apartment.”

“A movie! That's your problem! You don't want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie.”

Sleepless in Seattle
The Princess Bride
My Best Friend’s Wedding
Music and Lyrics
While You Were Sleeping
Notting Hill
The Wedding Singer
Serendipity
My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding
10 Things I Hate About You

There is no prize for getting them all right, except the satisfaction of knowing that you know your chick flicks. Oh, and a free Redbox movie, if you happen to live in a Redbox market:89ZQJ3

Although if any of my male readers get all 10 correct without the help of their significant other and without the help of Google I may have to wrestle up a real prize for you. So start guessing!