New baby

This melted my heart. I know really talented people.

I need your help!!

FRIENDS! I need 30 seconds of your time to help some special kids. Obviously if I didn't think this was important I wouldn't be reaching out to you, if you agree feel free to foward a link to this on to your family and friends.

Four years ago, this little girl came to Now I Can with a walker… and after 4 weeks…she donated it to them! She had learned to walk. Now I Can is a unique charity that offers children with disabilities hope to be able to sit, stand, and walk as other children do. As a charity, they are a unique facility in the United States that offers as much discounted and free therapy as possible. Miracles large and small happen daily at their center. Now I Can wants to help every child reach their goals of independence, regardless of their ability to pay—and now YOU can help without spending a dime.

Now I Can is in position to win $30,000 from APX Alarm this Monday, August 23rd! This money will help many children desperate to have an opportunity to benefit from their unique therapy. A typical 3 week session of therapy costs $6,000,which is a daunting amount for those who already have mountains of medical bills. Now I Can was started to help kids who struggle to say “now I can” as they learn new skills. Four years later, they have helped hundreds of children, and they have all become an inspiration in this important effort to help children reach for a stronger future. Now they need your help.

Please help by “voting” for Now I Can today and once a day until Saturday, August 21st. It only takes a moment and will bless a life forever. Here are the simple directions (printscreens attached for those wanting better directions):

1. Go to http://apps.facebook.com/apxgivesback

2. Enter your email and password to log in to Facebook

3. Click on "Like"

4. Share info "Allow"

5. Click on "Start Voting"

6. Click on green "Mountain" region symbol

7. Scroll down to find Now I Can and click the “Vote this Charity” button

8. Return every day until Saturday and post invitations to invite all your fb friends to join you

On behalf of disabled children and their families--thank you for your time and for sharing this with as many people as possible. We only have five days to do this for the “Now I Can kids”!

The reason I'm smiling

I just got the best present ever - a replica of my all time favorite ring made in real gold instead of the spray painted version I've been rocking. I'm seriously so excited.


If any of you try to steal it/cut my finger off you will go down.

P.S. My fingers looks all wrinkly in pictures. Why is that? Do I have old lady hands?

Tom Cruise on Hometeaching

This was made by my friend Cameron and it just made me smile.



Tam - I'll post a house tour after I get back from Lake Powell with Tara. :)

Keeping clean

The Lord instructed his people to “organize yourselves; … establish a house, even … a house of order, a house of God” (D&C 88:119). Order is characteristic of the Lord’s work. “Mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion” (D&C 132:8).

I'm naturally an organized person. I can't tolerate clutter for very long and a good deep clean makes me happier than most things. Lately I've been thinking about organization, cleanliness, etc as it relates to our relationship with our Father in Heaven. I have figured out that it matters, but I haven't learned much about how I'm supposed to achieve it. Then I found this post, and not only do I LOVE it, it answered my prayers. It applies to me even if I don't have kids. This section especially spoke to my soul:

"Mom has to be engaged in the process to ensure quality control and to teach organization. Mom establishes the level of order and continually enforces it. She provides a place for everything. She doesn't fill her children's lives with mountains of things to take care of. She keeps it simple. She limits the number of shirts and shoes and toys her children have to deal with so that their lives are manageable and then she helps them manage."

I have to be involved in the cleaning process (how I wish I could only rely on the cleaning lady), I need to have a place for everything, I don't fill my life with unnecessary items that have to be taken care of. I keep my life manageable. I am responsible for creating and maintaining a house that reflects the Lord.

Ok, so that was a little deep. But it's what's on my mind.

Friday, July 2, 2010

We celebrated America at APX today with hamburgers, watermelon, snow cones, and water balloons. We know how to throw a party and we're not afraid to do it.



After an entire week of everyone talking about the awesome sale at the Loft and continually saying "I'm going tonight," I finally went. The sale was great and the goods weren't too picked over - the perfect combo. The Gateway is just fun on a warm Friday night and so wandering through shops and finding bargains was a good time.



Dinner at 10:30 at Happy Sumo (outside) with 2 girls I really like talking to. So girly but so fun.



I use children's organic toothpaste 25% of the time. It tastes good and is kind to our planet but I still feel weird using it.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Malea had a baby (one of the craziest birth stories I've heard yet) and so Liv and I rushed over to welcome the newest petite LBG. She's beautiful and tiny and perfect. I can't wait to hold her again!

Excuse the cleavage, it just happens sometimes.

Liv, send me pictures so I don't have to steal from your blog!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

I flew to Minnesota today.



The flight was great because of my iPad. I. love. it. Seriously, it made my flight fly by. I watched a little 30 Rock and then we were landing.



When we got to MN there was a touching reunion.



We ate some great food. A filet with a parmesan crust...



...creamed corn...



...and key lime pie. So not healthy but so delish.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

My bed was delivered tonight at 9:05. Thanks Ikea for not showing up during that 4 hour window that I was required to be home during or risk another $49 delivery fee. Maybe since you were late my money will be refunded? Doubtful.

Here's the bed in all its unmade glory...I was about to climb in it but I won't pretend that I make my bed most days (or ever).



As I assembled the bed I realized that I have no idea what happens when you want to get rid of a piece of Ikea furniture. Can you get disassembly instructions? And what about the pieces that seem impossibly hard to take apart? Am I stuck with this bed FOREVER? Oh gosh, the things I should think about before I start a project...

Monday, June 21, 2010

Cute tiny melamine bowls from Target. All things are cuter when they're small...and when a set is only $6.



Terry the cat, you may remember her from her time stalking me but not killing Little Buddy the Mouse, is back on the prowl. She gave birth to kittens (that's how I finally determined her gender) and with her slimmer figure is more brazen in seeking out a new home. I opened my back door tonight to get a nasty smell of bacon out (another story altogether) and a few minutes later she snuck in. I quickly reminded her that she's not welcome in my home and she left without incident. While somewhat wasted on me, her newfound confidence looks good on her.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

This yogurt is very delicious. There's a secondary crust/cinnamon-y flavor that's like the cherry cobbler and it's amazing. Yoplait, you're awesome.



Blinds were hung in my house yesterday and they look great. They're the finishing touch I needed to make it look lived in and I could not be happier with how full my house looks now.



I went to Chelsea B's wedding reception yesterday afternoon up in Salt Lake. I love, love, love that entire family and it was so great to be with them for a little while. It's crazy to me that Chels is married, she's still 11 in my mind, but she looked so happy with her husband that I'm forgiving her for getting married before me.

Friday, June 11, 2010

I did my first real home repair today - patched holes in my wall. I'll judge my success once they're painted...right now they're a little scary.



I love the clouds in Utah. Driving up the bench in Provo today the sky was unreal so I pulled over to take pictures. The dang iPhone doesn't do the situation justice...I just need to drive around with my SLR.






Mary and I bought the same sandals in Hawaii and I've been slow to try them out...boy I'm glad I did today. I may wear them every day for the rest of the summer.



I saw Robin Hood tonight with Jeremiah, Micah, Dallas and B Money and it was thoroughly enjoyable. The storyline is the prequel to the traditional Robin Hood story and I loved the early peek at the characters' relationships. I'm a sucker for understanding motivation.



Coming home to this just makes me smile. So cheesy, but I love knowing people are watching over my little house and keeping it safe.

The things I forgot to mention - Thursday, June 10, 2010

Remember my ultra talented friend Meredith? She taught an intro camera class at her house and I'm so glad I went. I've had an SLR for a year and had no idea how to use it until she taught me the basics. Loved it. Love her.



I had my first snow cone of the season, in the Smith's parking lot. The weather was overcast and windy but the event ushered in summer nonetheless. I definitely don't recommend snow cones from that place, the best in Provo are from the stand outside Days Market. Dondi, let's go get a good one soon!

Laughing

Yes, it's a baby+dog video which I normally hate, but this one made me smile.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

When I moved into my house I decided that I needed a new look for my bedroom. The bedroom set I currently have is fine, but it's big and black and not what I'm going for in my master bedroom. So about 5 months ago I started looking for bedroom pieces that I love - and I can't find anything. I want a bed that's very durable - ideally made out of metal. One of my biggest frustrations is nice wood furniture that gets dinged up - with metal I won't deal with that. I also want something versatile enough that it can transition life stages, bedrooms, etc without looking out of place. Now that I've been in my house 3 months and my bedroom is still ridiculously ghetto I decided to buy place holder furniture, all from Ikea. Below is the combo I *think* I might want. What do you think?

Links:
Bed
Dresser
Nightstand

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Today I gave blood. I once had a transfusion so it only seems appropriate that I give back.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

My breakfast of choice these days:



It's like a heartier, fruity version of Special K but still only 100 calories a serving. Delish.

I had sushi today for the first time in a long time. I tried a new Happy Sumo roll, the Rockstar. Seriously good.

Monday, June 7, 2010

When you can actually see your grass blowing in the wind it's time to cut it. Please bless that my landscaper can come this week...




I had my first real neighbor visit today - 4 year old Addie and I had a great time chatting about anything and everything. She's in my primary class and probably counts as my first new friend in the ward. You'll note in the picture below that she's pointing to a bug - the bug she killed because she said it was going to eat my toe. See why I say I have great neighbors?

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Sandwich thins are my new favorite food and bagel thins aren't far behind them. So close to the real things and so much better for you. Just awesome. Thanks Tara and Alicia for showing me what I was missing.




I used the mini donut pans that Alicia gave me for my birthday to make "donuts" from cake batter this afternoon. They taste good, but they look better. If anyone has a great baked donut recipe please share with me.








A crazy intense thunderstorm rolled through the valley today. The sky was beautiful while the storm was still up north - just after this it turned so dark and quarter sized hail started falling.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

This showed up on my desk today and I can't wait to play with it! Too bad I'm so busy that it will be a couple of days before that happens...




In theory I'm anti fake plants but I'm trying this number out on my mantel to see how I feel in practice. So far, so good.




A new table and lamp for my library were delivered today. I really like them...the base of the table makes my heart skip a beat.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Today was a crazy one...Todd won E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year tonight so I spent half the day getting ready for the event. Between running the errands I had procrastinated and prepping my body (hello, being a girl takes TIME) I felt like a chicken with my head cut off.




I got my first pair of Spanx today and I think my life might have changed just a little. Stop judging. These things are AWESOME. If you think I'm nuts go try a pair. Don't waste your time on the hosiery kind, go straight for the spandex-y ones. Love them.




After the E&Y dinner I rode back with the Woodleys, Vonks and Browns. Jason Vonk was whining about his sore tooth so next thing you know he's getting a root canal from Jason Brown's dad. The entire event was just as funny as it looks.




I came home exhausted to find this - my bathroom looking like a teenager's. It takes a lot of chaos to have a night out on the town.