Late Night Sunshine

It's summertime. That's always sunshine in the little world that is mine...

HAPPIES of the Week-

1. Shabby Apple "Take Two": Got two dresses this week. Love 'em. The ones I posted on a previous blog unfortunately didn't work out so well, BUT I chose two others and I'm certainly happy with them.



For the record: This dress was STUNNING. I just needing something I could wear more frequently... it wasn't quite something I'd feel comfortable wearing at church. Let's just say it enhanced my backside quite well...

... Or I've just gained too many new curves...


2. $$: Has anyone noticed that I am able to get jobs pretty darn easily? For that I am grateful. In a time when finding a job is rough, I seem to be able to get plenty of them. Granted, I'm not doing what I am actually a PROFESSIONAL at, but ya know... it works. I am blessed and I am thankful for that.

3. "We Built This City...": Chuck and I have recently revisited our love of Settlers. Yep- the love is SO still there. Had a fantastically fun night with Yissa and Steve a few weekends ago and a likewise event last night with Biff. Will we ever tire of collecting wheat, ore, wood, sheep, and brick???

4. Hungry: I have a new friend. A skinny, and may I add, UGLY, pussy cat who seems to live in the unfinished house next door. I'll take anything at this point. The other day I fed the mongrel some leftover holiday hot dogs. I haven't seen her since. I hope I didn't kill her. But she was REALLY hungry!

5. 2003: Had a good visit with my dear Chelsea a few weeks ago. Hilly, Chelsea, and I spent the afternoon reminiscing and stuffing our faces. I love my friends.

6. "Who's the Black Lady?" (No, for family who knows Chuck's humor... I am NOT racist!) :


This is Audra McDonald. She is a legend in my world of musical theatre. I've loved her since the "Carousel" revival in 1994. Friday night I had the opportunity to see her live- in legs-length proximity from my little body. She. Is. Stunning. Thanks, Hale Center Theater-Orem for an incredible evening.

7. Crunch: I love Honey Bunches of Oats. I have eaten them in the last few days. They taste good.

8. Drama: Still loving the ridiculousness which is THE BACHELORETTE this season. Jenny Latimer and I had a fantastic blog up our sleeves for this season... and it got lost somewhere among the summer vacays. :-( Next season...

9. Birfday: Two weeks. Anyone want to give me the best present EVER and pay off one of our cars??!?!!??

10. Peeps: These two favs are coming to visit it just a few weeks. I can't wait. I miss them.

Oh, one small note: After two recent incidents of people I haven't seen in a few years NOT recognizing me because of "the blonde", I am wondering if it's time to take things down a bit and become "dirty" again... ya know- the way I was made??? Hmmmm... My husband has never known me this way...


Thoughts?

Time's a Tickin'

Notice my awesome new TICKER in the right hand corner of my bloggy. Motivation. A way to see results. Good.

Speaking of TICKERS...

In case you want the world to know when you're ovulating, you know, so that everyone on the bloggy will know when you'll be getting it on to conceive that extra grandbaby for the in-laws...


I just love that ovary picture.

3/4

It is true. The 4th of July is my favorite holiday. And when this fantastic holiday falls on a Sunday here in Mormonland, we get THREE DAYS of fireworks, food, sun, and fun-ness.

It. Was. Lovely.

1st 4th of July: Games and fireworks with the in-laws. Catch Phrase is a wonderful "waiting for fireworks" game. Yummy pizza, great people... delightful. I have great in-laws.

Camera got left in the car. :-( Boo.

2nd 4th: Again, camera got left in the car. :-( Boo!

Our regular every-other-Sunday dinner with the Robinsons turned into a fantastic 4th of July party with a BBQ, homemade ice cream, and discussions about THIS. How is it that we haven't even been on the big boat yet this year and we're already loving plans for NEXT year??! Again, I have great in-laws.

3rd 4th: My mom's fam gets together ONCE a year. This is it:

The kiddos obsess over this drinking fountain...

Cute Auntie

Grandma in Leah's chair... ? ? ?

Lovers.

Sisters.

Yiss and Abi

Kid.

Two kids.

This is my momma and her man Frank. Kensie calls him "Fink."

Some of the lady cousins. I love us.

All of this made me one happy, happy girl.

I also got a massage today. That made me really happy too.

Need

I feel the desperate need to put on my tap shoes and beef up my skills. Unfortunately, Utah isn't exactly the HUB of adult tap classes. Dilemma. I have found some DVDs online... suggestions?

Goodness

Highly recommend this beauty. "Simplify" by Carolyn Rasmus.

Childhood

Spent some time playing on YouTube this morning. This was one of my very favorite toys as a kid, and had our house not fallen down a hill and all of our stuff shoved in storage sheds all over creation, we may have kept track of her and all of my kiddos (yes, the ones I don't have...) could have enjoyed her too. Sniffle.



Guess I'll have to spend a few hundred bucks on E-Bay in a few years.

Here's another gem:



What more could I little girl want than a canine with a Velcro uterus? I was getting older when these came out, but my sister sure loved them. And boy- what a catchy little tune!!! :-)

Yes, I was eleven when these came out, but don't worry- I had THREE of them. To credit my awesome fortune, I bought one at Wal-Mart and the card told me I'd won TRIPLETS!!! Weeks later, my little babies came in the mail. It was a good moment in my life.



I also had two sets of these little buggers...




Fortune stuck again when I won one of those sets, and again, the little babies came in the mail. They even had diaper rashes that could be wiped off with a warm cloth. How adorable.

It's Sunday. Again.

And you know what that means...

Time for the "happies" of the week. I told Chuck the other night that now that I live in one place and don't really DO anything abnormal (like I did for so many years...), my blog is boring and no one cares to really read it. I'm wracking my brain for ways to spice it up. But ya know- sometimes life is just "boring" and calm. I am grateful.

1. Once a Year: It's that time of year for us. The time of year when you have to register your car. It's expensive, and if your cars need a little work, it gets more expensive when you have to make repairs so it'll pass safety and emissions. Thank you, Utah. Thanks to my husband's ingenious tinkering and some extra blessings, the truck passed emissions and has only some light issues for safety. We'll put in some bulbs and HOORAY! We'll have one car registered! Mine comes next month... Goodbye, Big Boat money. (Yes, we're planning another big boat ride this Fall...)

2. Boat: The Big Boat ride this Fall comes because this week my sister "officially" had some big changes in her life. Like anyone who reads my blog knows, it's been a rough time so far this year. Rough for me because it's been rough for her. Now the rebuilding begins, and in November, we're all gonna hop on the giant boat and float around for a week without ANY cares. Heaven.

3.

Remember this pretty dress? Now I'm gonna work a bit at the place I bought it. Fun. Happy blessings.

4. Junk: We've been selling stuff. Thank you, KSL.com.

5. Surprise: Jake and Vienna broke up. I. Am. So. Like. Totally. Shocked. Yeah. This TOTALLY makes my HAPPIES post.

6. Pop!: Favorite holiday is right around the corner. And it's on a Sunday. WHICH MEANS, in the lovely land of Utah, that we get THHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEE "4th of July" s. Saturday, Sunday, AND Monday. Get me some food. Now.

7. Granulated: Sugar. I am trying to control myself. I've started every day the past two weeks. Uh hem. Why, oh WHY, did I stop being a nutrition freak?

8. "Chuck-a-Grandma": This is where "Fink" took my mom and Kensie this week. (Can you figure out the translation from "Kensie" back into "English"?)

9. Memories: Like the corner of my mind... Scanned a bunch of old Playmill pictures this week. Sentiment. Spewed all over my desk. It was fantastic.

10. Baby: We have another new baby in the family! Kinzley was born on Friday, the 25th. Congrats to Darci and Jason. We love babies. (The ones that belong to other people...) :-)

11. Write: Another plug for LDSJournal.com. I do love it. So much.


Hope y'alls week turns out happy. HAPPY 3 days of 4th!!!!

Day Late and a Dollar Short. Sunshine.

1. Bliss: Had a super happy Shabby Apple day this week! In a matter of days these lovelies will be in my possession...



... My sister ordered THREE others. Closet swapping is grand.

2. Love: Brandy and Quinn (Chuck's step-sister) got married Wednesday. I DO love weddings...


3. Skye-Baby: I bonded with this baby during the aftermath of the reception:

Pretty sure she thinks I am the coolest.

4. Memories: Had time to upload some pics from the fantastic trip we took to Yellowstone a couple weeks ago. It really was a fantastically fun trip- even if Chuck and I didn't get home till 4 AM that Sunday. I have never seen him so exhausted.

Me, Chuck, Kristi, Andrew, Tavnir, Hilly, and Gretel at Big Springs

The cabin

Feeding giant fishies at Big Springs

Home at The Playmill

Gretel was totally impressed...

Back to Utah via Jackson Hole. Ate at this dandy little piece of Mexico.

I'm thankful for happy times and happy memories like this.

5. Birthfa Day: Happy Birthday/Father's Day to My Daddy! 55.


6. Excuses: MENCHIES IS COMING TO UTAH!!! Thank you, higher power of the universe. ;-)

7. Kiddo:

My sister posted this on Facebook this week. Kensie is 100% girl.

8. Hope: Got lots of it. Thankful.

Remember to be thankful for something this week. Peace.

Shabby Apple Love Love- Fixed Link!

Dear People:

It's a good day. Y'all know my great love and desire for all things Shabby Apple... Well go HERE for the next 9 hours and you can get a $100 gift card for only $40!!!!!

Click on the link above and choose TUSCON as your city and put in your email address- and bada bing! The deal will come up!!!

Happy birthday to me... it's only a month early...

Sunday Sunshine

Been gone for about three weeks now...

#1: HOME. I love home.
#2: Sister: It was a good week for my Biffy. Thankful for blessings.
#3: Friends, Food, West: Had a FANTASTIC vacay to West Yellowstone, the Playmill, Yellowstone Park, Island Park, and Jackson Hole last week. Wonderful people. Beautiful memories.
#4: Lambert- I have a deep and abiding love for this little lion:



And while we're on the subject of Disney shorts:





Can you tell what Chuck and I have been doing this weekend???

#5: Rawr! : Spent some time with the Beast this week.

He still turns into the prince at the end...

#6: Tony Awards: I love me some theatre nerd-om with fellow nerds. Tis a great night for food, fun, and * BROADWAY! *


#7: Weddings: Three weddings in the next 2 and a half months. Brandy, Kaitlyn, and Justin. And I am doing fantastic gifts. Something I would love to have. Yep. Weddings. I love them.

#8: Mac-N-Cheese: Crockpot gourmet style. Forget any kind of "eating healthy," but geez it's divine.

#9: Clean: The office of our house is my dumping ground. I cleaned it. And I am proud to say that this blog is coming to you via a DESK! I am awesome.

#10: Snack: Chips and salsa.

MWAH.

I Looked Out the Window and What Did I See??

... An old lady in a muumuu living in a camper???


WHAT HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE IN CALIFORNIA?!?!

La la la

	I'm Singin' Tuesday, June 1, 2010
	8:00pm - 9:15pm
	Brigham Young Historic Park 59 E. North Temple, SLC, Utah

Sunshine

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY, "Suck!"
("Suck" is Kensie's latest name for her uncle...)

Hi folks. Chuck turned the big 3-0 on Wednesday and what did we do to celebrate?

I got him into the car and blindfolded him with two ties...

We drove to Provo and hopped in the car with his aunt and cousin...

We drove through his birthplace - Henderson, Nevada, at nearly the exact time of his birth!

... and we ended up at Disneyland.
For three days.
My husband is a happy 30 year old.

* A huge thanks to Jill and Nate for making it all happen! *

Other happies:

- Flowers: We got home tonight and found that the planter in our front yard had been filled with flowers. THANK YOU Tom and Lisa!!!

- Fantastic Disneyland food: Corn dogs, Blue Bayou, Churros, Pineapple Dole Whips, Bengal BBQ, giant peanut butter/chocolate chip cookies, Limeaide. Goodbye flat tummy.
- Concert: Singing. Happy.
- THE BACHELORETTE: A friend and I have a very fun project in the works for this season... Stay tuned.
- Cheese: It's yummy.
- Home: I love coming home after a trip. I LOVE home.
- Glee: Love me some because my husband mocks it almost as well as he mocks The Bachelor.
- Summer: The forecast says it's here... we'll see!
- De-Chunking: Run run run. That's the plan. Also, I will once again be torturing myself with Bob and Jillian.
- Yellowstone: We're going.
- Orlando: I'm going.
- Surgeries: Grandma and step-mom doing well so far. Relieving.
- Husband: I love him.
- Holiday: 4th of July. Coming. Favorite.

Backburner-ed Blogging

Yep. Haven't spent any time in the blogging world for about three weeks now. Too much going on. Lots of performances, lots of work, lots of drama, lots of responsibilities, etc. etc. etc. As we head into June, I'm thankful that the year is half way through, that I get to take some good vacations, and that it's finally Summer! (Well, almost... sometimes the weather would like to tell us otherwise...)

Happies of the last THREE weeks:

1. Temple: I've been able to go twice in the last three weeks and it has been absolutely wonderful. I am so thankful for a place where I can go to feel close to Heavenly Father and ponder and learn and grow and serve.

2. Hair: Finally got my hair "did" last week. I feel much less FRUMPY.

3. Grass: Who knew Chuck and I could be so obsessed with GRASS? We look at our yard lovingly every day and have spent the last three weeks trying to make our baby grass as plush and green as possible. I never saw myself as a person who would drive around neighborhoods and be envious of the GRASS in someones yard.

I have become that person! (Does that make me domestic yet???)

4. Students: I have enjoyed, the last three weeks, lots of time with my students at the Scera. We completed our production of "Seussical Jr." on May 11, had a Broadway Review with the entire Scera Youth Theatre the following week, and finished up the year with class last Thursday. I'm grateful to have had time with these fun, talented kids this past school year. I'm thankful to have at least one of my jobs pertain to what I am actually GOOD at. I'm not GREAT at TEACHING it all yet, but I am getting better. I wouldn't have survived the ropes of the Scera without some wonderful assistants as well.



5. Friends: I cannot express how grateful I am for friends who can talk some sense into me. :-) Andrea and Hilly are VERY good at this, and I am thankful. Now I just need Andrea and Devin to move back to Utah. Now would be good. :-)

6. LDSJournal.com: What? I'm like a broken record? Yep. I still love it.

7. Wedding: Oh, how I still love to think about it and remember. I was never one to fantasize over weddings until my own was over. Now I do all the time. Best day ever.



So those are my happies.

Now: Changing gears for fun.

Thanks, KSL's Nightside Project for making me think- I am curious to see what y'all have to say about this:

Dating VS Marriage in the Social Networking World

Blogging, Facebook, Twitter, all things social and online: Are you dating these sites? Or are you married to them? Let me explain...

When you are dating you always present your best self. You are careful about what you say, conscious of what you do, and you have a filter on your behavior at all times. There's often a tease or a flirt, and occasionally you'll let loose and get a little crazy. But let's be honest- you're being JUDGED, so you're careful about what you say and do. You're always being watched, and you're aware of it...

When you're married the walls come down. Your spouse learns that you look goofy in the morning, you have habits that drive him crazy, and the filter that your mouth once had fades away and a stream of consciousness verbiage explodes. When you're married, there's not much left to guess. You're always being watched, but you don't really care...

So, are you dating or married to your social networking sites? What do you share? How far do you go in what you say in a Facebook status or on a blog? What are YOU comfortable with? I think that many of us type away without REALLY thinking through the fact that x- amount of Facebook friends can, and actually WILL, READ what we're typing. Do you sometimes post things to "fish for compliments?" Do you sometimes vent without really thinking about the fact that the person you're venting ABOUT could VERY easily read your words? Whether you consciously had an ulterior motive or not, have you ever posted something that you probably just should have kept to yourself?

I'm just curious.

Many people- sometimes myself included- have NO filter when it comes to Blogs, Facebook statuses,Tweets, etc. I can't help but strongly believe that ALL this causes WAY more drama in life than is EVER needed.

Common phrases of 2010:

"Oh my gosh, did you see what ( Insert Name ) 's Facebook status said this morning?"
"Oh yeah, I read your blog!"
"So-and-so removed me as a "friend!"
"I can't believe that she wrote that!"

Gossip gossip gossip... talk talk talk...speculate speculate speculate...

For months I have been warned by family members and those close to me that if they'd been reading my blog as an outsider, they'd assume that I am really unhappy with my life and in my marriage. Hmmmm. That came as a shocker. Yeah- I poke fun and tease and am very sarcastic in what I say- but I also feel as if I'm pretty positive and post about the good things going on in life. But it all made me think about what I am posting, and how people are perceiving it all.

How are YOU perceived via Tweets and Facebook status updates???

I guess I have learned that some things are better vented behind the privacy of my online journal. (Insert plug for LDS Journal right here!) The drama that could ensue from a spontaneous Twittered thought is absolutely not worth my time. I also believe, though, that sometimes the things posted on these sites really HELP those around us to know that they are not alone in their feelings- we're bonded via blogs and Facebook. I'll absolutely admit that I feel bonded and sometimes "warm and fuzzy" after reading a blog of emotional bulimia.

So, there are pros and cons to the "dating" and "marriage" relationships of social networking...

Are YOU dating, or married to your Facebook, Blogs, etc... ???? Do you have a filter? Or do you freely share without a care?

Clever

Some people do multi-level marketing. I have never seen this approach:

The Setting: Craigslist.

The Ad: "I'm looking for a part-time secretary to work from home to help manage my window cleaning operations including crews, schedule, book keeping, customer calls, and place classified ads online, blogging, social media, and a few other things."

Amy's Response: "Cool. I shall respond."

The Result: Scam used to find suckers of multi level marketing.

I can never get back that 45 minutes of my life...

Sunshine on a Sunday

1. My Boy: A Few Adoring Facts- My husband works hard. He loves to tie down things in his truck. He pays for practically everything (Including the car and the student loan that I brought into the relationship...) He is REALLY good at what he does. He makes me laugh. He honors his priesthood. He does funny dances. He's very tidy and clean. He always magnifies his church callings. He sings in a high voice the shower-sometimes. He doesn't like mornings. He always wants to help people. He has great ideas for decorating our house. He loves to mow the lawn. He thinks that he will someday convince me to like "The Simpsons." He supports and encourages me in everything I do. He helps me with anything artsy that I can't even attempt. He is a great organizer. He tells me when he uses my body wash. He loves "Extreme Makeover- Home Edition." He is passionate about many things. He lets me feed him wheat pasta and fiber bars without complaint.

Just a few reasons why I love the guy...

2. Stake Conference: We had a fantastic stake conference this weekend. Our stake was split, our bishop has been moved to the stake presidency, we had incredible speakers... it was a really wonderful couple of meetings.

3. New Beginnings: Sister is moved. Everything still needs to be completely unpacked and organized, but Biff and Kensie are on their way to having a really cute home and a place to begin anew. It feels peaceful.

4. Bling: I have a really great wedding ring. I love it. It sparkles and it makes me happy.

5. $1335: This is how much I paid off on the truck this week. YAY ME! (See note below for updated info...)

6. Pesto: I do believe I have perfected my homemade pesto. This is an accomplishment. And I am proud.

7. Cookies: I make a mean chocolate chunk/butterscotch chip cookie. Oh, I've mentioned the dough before? Yeah- that dough also makes really great cookies.

8. Book: In relation to last week's excitement to watch the BBC story on Anne Frank, I have begun reading her diary. Good stuff.

9. Gifts: We got a late wedding gift this week! Thanks, Kara!!! I LOVE THAT!

10. Home: I love our house and being home. And I love our neighborhood and our ward and the people here. It all makes me happy.

Note: Remember how last week I was all pumped and motivated and even blogging about being "anxiously engaged" and working like crazy to pay off our cars? Yes, well... complications have risen and I am not longer working in the store. Though the story would be great blogging entertainment, this is the Internet and I must have a filter. Sigh. Anyway, the point is:

I need another way to make money. Does anyone in Utah know of someone who needs an employee to work from home, or someone who is in the Lehi-ish area that is hiring?

Complexitites

Life.

Is it strange that I am only now, just a year shy of thirty, seeing with my own eyes, and feeling with my own heart, how ROUGH life can be?

Those who know me well know VERY well that my teenage years/early twenties were no piece-o-cake. I have not led the charmed life that many of you would suspect by seeing my life on the surface of this bloggity blog blog.

But to be perfectly honest, the last few years have been CHARMED.

So charmed, that perhaps, I've forgotten all the tears and the anguish and pain that this life ultimately inflicts.

This year, 2010, has reintroduced me, however indirectly, to those elements of life. And it's rough. REALLY rough.

Is it wrong that everything I have been witnessing for the past several months literally makes me scared of LIFE?

I literally feel like my eyes are being plucked open as to make me keenly aware that sometimes, life just SUCKS. (And that is a word I do not use... so yep...)

What would I give to go back to the days of my naivete... The days of being concerned over the fact that I was wearing BUCKLE shoes to my 6th grade Valentines Dance... or that I had to stay in from recess for talking too much during reading time... Yeah, Amy. Life was really hard for you. . .

What'd I'd give to see those kinds of problems now...

I blog about all of this because it weighs me down lately. Writing somehow allows me to find some sense in the craziness.

I write not to set off alarm or make eyebrows raise. I simply write to say, "Geez- the pretty princess, after about six really great years, has awakened to the fact that things are sometimes still REALLY hard."

But I guess the bright, shining hope behind all of this is:

2 Nephi 2:11

For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so... righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

SO yep, times can get REALLY hard and REALLY painful, and REALLY REALLY awful.

BUT

Times can also get REALLY wonderful, and REALLY joyful, and REALLY exciting. Is it wrong that I live for those times?

Anxiously Engaged

Sometimes I just get in thinking moods. Tonight is one of those times.

I've been contemplating and pondering life as it is right now for me. I work. A lot. Over forty hours a week. Sure, that may not seem like much to some of you, but for me- Princess Girl who used to only WORK 7 hours a week, forty hours is quite overwhelming.

Wah wah- welcome to life, sucker.

No, but really. Remember how when I left Disney and moved to Utah and got married and stopped performing and yada yada I had my moments of getting lost and discouraged and depressed?

GUESS WHAT? While working forty hours a week I have NO TIME for that silliness!

I have PURPOSE. I have a CAUSE. I have a GOAL.

And however silly the goal of getting our two cars paid off is, it's SOMETHING. And I am happy about it.

Yes. I wish I still had time to work out with Bob and Jillian. Yes. I wish I still had time to watch Oprah. Yes. I wish that I had time to plant pretty flowers in my flower beds. And YES. I wish I had time to fold all my laundry after I wash it.

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut...

I am grateful to have something good within reach. It's a long and hard process that may cause me to lose my mind (literally... if you want stories, contact me...) , but it's good for me.

And I am sure my cute husband is grateful for less frequent bursts of tears laden with the "I dunno what to do with myself" line.

So yes, my friends, more than ever I am seeing the wisdom in this great scripture:

D & C 58: 26-27

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness...

Culinary Yumminess

Thanks to my cute cute hubby for this fantastic dinner. Wanna come to our house this summer?!?!?

Sunday Sunshine - In a Literal Sort ot Way

THANK HEAVEN FOR SPRING.

That is all I have to say.

Sure, there will be a few more snowstorms, but I am NOT letting that get me down! I'm not letting the scratchy and sore throat and stuffy allergy nose get me down either. Spring has sprung. And I LOVE it.

1. Milestone:

Home sweet home became such one year ago TODAY. Do you realize that anything from here on out marks the longest I have lived ANYWHERE for the last eleven years? Preeeeeeeeeeeeettttttttttttty cool. We love our happy little home in our happy little neighborhood in our happy little ward in what some call "the middle of nowhere." It's not nowhere to us.

2. Secret: I know a secret. A big one. But I promised I wouldn't tell. But at lease I can say that I know something...

3. Helpful: Now that I am working like a crazy woman Chuckie the Hubby has been wonderful to help out around the house. He does laundry (his... he doesn't dare touch mine- ha ha- he cleans up the kitchen and TV room... etc etc etc.) Nice boy.

4. Moving: Sister is moving this week. It's a desperately needed move that will be AWESOME for her and Kensie. Can't wait for things to start anew.

5. First: First extra pricipal payment on the truck will be made this week. Let the countdown to the end of the year begin. Oh wait, I began that on January 19. Whatever. Who's counting? :-)

6. Happy: Had a fun night on Friday at a wedding and at Heather's house. It's not often, anymore, that I get time to hang out with my bestest friend from the Layton years. Feels like going home. Yep. Happy.

7. BBQ: Hubby is giddy like a school boy to start using the grill. Today is the kickoff. Yum.

8. BBC: Found this jem http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/annefrank/watch/video.html?ep=1&chap=0 that aired on PBS last Sunday. Can't wait to sit down and watch it tonight. I love history.

9. Mocking: A few weeks ago CBK and I rumaged through our basement and cleaned it all up. He had no problem mocking my collection of teenage literature that could be categorized in the genre of "Dramatic young deaths caused by dramatical health problems. " I was OBSESSED with this writer named Lurlene McDaniel who wrote all about young girls who died from cystic fibrosis, heart failure, cancer, etc etc etc. Let me sample you some of the titles: Letting Go of Lisa, The End of Forever, To Live Again...

I was pretty much awesome.

This is coming from a girl who went through a phase of playing JFK assassination with her Barbies. (Yes, I KNOW that you are now THOROUGHLY disturbed- but heck it was the 1993 30th anniversary of the assassination- documentaries were EVERYWHERE!!!)

Know what I think? I think I will just stop there... I'm embarrassing myself.

10. Survivor: Loving it this season. Lots.

11. Treats: Gah- Chuck made the best butterscotch/peanut butter Rice Krispie treats this week for Office Night. Kinnnnnnnnnnnnda addicting. Divinity.

12. HK: Tavnir is in Hong Kong for a few days this week. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and sentimental. I can't WAIT to hear what he thinks.

The End.

Be good. And happy.

In The Past...

When I was a kid I would eat butter out of the tub by the SPOONFUL.

Yep.

Sunday Sunshine - Scorched

Happies:

1. I am alive. This week begins the crazies that will be my life until about May 25. Every day will be one day closer to the crazies ending. This gives me hope.

2. Sleep: Thank heaven for it.

3. Crock Pot: Thank heaven for it also. (Keep those recipes coming...)

4. Water: I would die without it.

5. Soap: Bath and Body Works "Dancing Waters." Makes my hands smell super nice and fresh. Ahhhhh.

6. Kiddo: Sleeping Kensie in the other room.... plllllllllllllllllllllllease let her stay asleep.

7. Birthday: Mayzie is one!

8. Quiet: Peace. Serenity. I appreciate it.

9. Massage: Thankful that I have earned one. Need it. BAD.

10. Busy: Less time to sit around and be sad that I am not singing for money. OK- either that or it makes me think more about it... Ha ha.

11. Wedding: Dear Friend getting married on Friday. Happy.

Be good, people. And make it a fantastic week.

Sunshine- Two Weeks Worth

Mr. Striped Shirt= Me.
Carrot= A Furnished house and $600 extra a month!

All of a sudden I am a busy person. No more leisurely sleep-ins, runs on the tredmill at noon, loads of laundry at two... nope. That has all changed. It's good. And tiring. But at least I feel useful. And uber motivated.

#1: ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND: I haven't yet posted about this great little weekend we had. On Wednesday night Chuck was too excited about what he had planned to wait till the next morning to tell me. My cute husband comes in the the room with our traditional road trip treats, a book about Arches National Park, and a bike rack for my car. He'd planned a weekend trip down to Arches where we could hike and play and ride our really awesome we-bought-them-off-KSL bikes! Wahoo!

Thursday came. Rain. Snow. Not such a great forecast for my cute hubby's well thought out plan. :-( (The weather has previously been forecasted as nice...) BUT we switched up our plans, spent the day in Park City and had dinner at Carrabbas. It was a GREAT first anniversary. And guess what?!?!?! Our cake was delicious! It looked a little sad- you know, all smashed up for being wrapped and frozen for a year, but awwwww it made me sentimental. I nearly cried when we threw its remains away a week later. Sniffle.

I loved that cake.

I loved OUR wedding. A lot.

(The OUR is for Chuck- he always accuses me of using "my wedding," and "my cake" and "my house" here on the Bloggy Blog. So Chuckie- that was for YOU!)

#2: Job. JobS. I now have three jobs. The Theatre, Little School, and now... drumroll... I am the manager of a STORE in a local mall. Um, WHAT? Yeah- Long story REALLY short:

Costco. Modeling. In the past. Newest position? Manager of a store selling products of the same company that I worked the Costco job for. Confused? Yeah. Me too. But hey- it's all good.

Point is... This all leads me to the happiest/sun shiny-est part of this whole thing!!!!

THE COUNTDOWN

In less than NINE months BOTH of our cars should be paid off. (Remember how awhile ago I had a goal of paying off the TRUCK by October??? Now it's BOTH cars by DECEMBER!) At that point, the only debt we'll have will be my student loan. GAH! I've said it before and I shall say it again (for different reasons this time...) Please let 2010 go by quickly!!!

And by the way- I have never really been one to ask for time to go by quickly... but I can not WAIT till the car payments are over, we'll have $600 extra every month, AND I'll get to spend the money I make on things we don't ALREADY have.

I can hear the Z Gallerie calling me now...

Or maybe we could have a kid.

Or go on awesome vacays.

THE MORAL IS:

Debt=CRAPPY.

Paying it Off= Happy, but annoyingly time consuming.

#3: Days with Kensie: Awwww this little girl continues to make me smile. We have several great quotes from her- courtesy of the last few weekends.

Chuck: "Kensie, where is Myles?" (Our nephew)
Kensie: "He's with him Daddy."

Perhaps she has been living in South Salt Lake too long...

Chuck: "I love Amy."
Kensie: "She is MY Amy. I love her."
Chuck: "Well I am married to her."
Kensie: "Noooooooooo! She is MY Amy! I am married to her!"

I feel loved.


#4: Carrabbas: Have you been there? Rigatoni Martino. Never gets old.

#5: Easter: Family, a great show with my mom (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Orem Hale... go. HILARIOUS!), too much candy, great food, etc...

But most importantly, of course, the Resurrection of the Savior. The day was more poignant this year. After the loss of Emily in November, this Easter was a brilliant and wonderful reminder of the fact that she will live again. For that we are forever grateful.

#6: General Conference: Nothing beats and awesome weekend at home watching Conference and hearing the words of our great prophet and other leaders. I feel rejuvenated and hopeful and I feel a little bit of bliss. Life is good.

#7: Baby Beyonce:



It makes me smile. Chuck version is better though... ;-)

#8: Carrots: They're great. For a vegetable.

#9: Best Friend: Oh Crockety Crock Pot(s)- You shall become my best friend in the coming months. Dear Blogging World friends: I need good crock pot recipes so hubby and I don't starve while we're both working way too much. Healthy. Suggestions?

#10: LDS Journal: Can't stop the trend of a few weeks. Still lovin' it.

#11: Spring: It has to be coming. I thought I could see it, but it went back inside it's groundhog hole or something. Come out, come out, wherever you are! (Not like I'll ever be outside to enjoy it...)

#12: Gay Witch Hunt: Best episode of The Office. I never tire of it.

#13: Survivor: Great this season. Chuck and I are thoroughly enjoying it. Thoroughly. Like as in, we LIVE for Thursday nights.

#14: Can't end on 13...

#15: Tax Miracle: Did I ever mention how scary our taxes were this year? Scary. We started out owing $2400. Found some papers that helped. Only owed $360. Still kinda freaked out about paying the $360, but grateful it wasn't $2400. Surprise check comes in mail: $369. We overpaid on our escrow last year. Paid our tax bill.

Thank you, blessings of tithing.

They are real.

#16: New Makeup: I love it and I need it.

Yeah- that's gonna be all. I need to fold laundry. And get everything done that I won't be able to for the next... indefinitely. Yep.

Also: Who ever really gets through this whole thing? Do you really read it or am I just typing to myself. Killing time.

Either way...

... How? ... Yeah. Ummmm...

This week: Lots going on.

Long story short: I used to work, ya know, like ten hours a week- maybe... now I work over forty.

And I will indefinitely.

How, oh how has this happened to me?

Good news? As of approximately December 31 BOTH of our cars will be paid off. No loans.

Please let AprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberandDecember go by fast.

Please.