We Want to Know Wednesday

Here are this week's questions from Queso:

1. Are you a party person? Or do you prefer an intimate gathering with just a few friends?

I don't mind a party with a few friends. 10-15 max. More than that and I get shy and have a hard time talking to people. I actually just went to a cookie exchange party last night! Perfect timing for these questions!

2. Would you rather be a guest at a party or the hostess with the mostess?

I totally want to be the guest. I don't like being the hostess. It is too stressful for me. I have panic attacks even thinking about hosting parties. Unfortunately, we are having a party at our house tomorrow. It is a family thing and I don't even have to be in charge. I just have to provide the place. I am still freaking out.

3. What is your favorite party food or drink? (I'd love to see the recipe!)

I'm a lover of a good shrimp cocktail. I don't drink alcohol so I like to have Diet Dr. Pepper or whatever caffeinated beverage they may have! For my cookie exchange that I went to yesterday, I brought pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. It is the easiest recipe I have EVER seen .... other than buying a box of cookies at the store.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 box of Spiced Cake mix

1 can (15 oz) pumpkin

1 cup of chocolate chips (or more) 

Mix ingredients together. Use an ice cream scoop to scoop onto a greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. 

Seriously. Easy as that and SOOOOOO good!

4. What is the best party you've ever been to?

The first party that came to mind was one when I was young and single. I hung out with a large group of kids from my single's ward at church. We played a ton of games in the back yard and then all crammed into their living room and watched Rat Race. Only one or two people had seen it before, so we were pretty much watching it for the first time. I have never laughed so hard in my life! Love that movie! That was seriously one of the best summers of my single life! We did stuff every night of the week. How I managed to go to summer school full-time, work full-time, and party full-time, I will never know. :-)

5. What is your favorite party game?

I get a kick out of the game, I Never. The group sits in a circle with one less chair than people. The person in the middle shares something that they have never done. (Like, I have never gone deep sea fishing or I have never been to England.)  If anyone in the circle has done it, then they have to get up and switch seats. The person that was "it" can run and grab a chair. Whoever is left standing has to say the next I Never statement. It is pretty funny!

We played it at a ward party once. A guy said that he had never made-out with a man. Our bishop thought that he said, never made-out in a van. So the bishop got up and started running. We all nearly died laughing. He still hasn't lived it down! :-)

We Want To Know Wednesday

Here are this week's questions:

1.  What is your favorite cookie to eat?

That is tough. I actually have two. My mom and I make a really good No-Bake Cookie. I really love those. My mom makes a really good Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie. Sometimes she puts banana's in them too. They are yummy!

2.  Have you ever done a cookie exchange?

I went to one last December. It was pretty fun. It ended up just being a Girl's Night Out and munching on goodies. That was fun!

3.  How are you doing on your holiday shopping?

Um .... haven't even started. :-/  Actually, that isn't true. We got our family pictures taken and ordered so I guess I've done a little bit.

4.  What is your holiday shopping style? (A little at a time, or power shopper? Early in the season or last minute? Online or part of the crowd?)

I'm a little bit of everything. I start to freak out in the beginning of December and start to do my shopping. I do some online and some in the stores. I've never shopped on a Black Friday or anything like that. I don't do crowds because I get scared and claustrophobic.

And a random seasonal 3 part question...

5.  Light displays...do you put them on your house? What is your style and your fave kind to see? 

We're lazy and don't put lights up on the house. I am proud to say that I got my Christmas decor and tree up on December 1st. That is a record for me. I've never gotten it up that early!

As for my "type" of lights that I like? I don't know. I posted a video on Facebook of a house down our street. They are awesome! My boys love to drive by and look at their lights. Click HERE to go to my Facebook page and watch it! Might as well 'Like' my page while you're at it! ;-)

Happy List

 

I'M HAPPY that I got to go to P's very first Christmas program at school. He looked so cute up there singing. The gym was jam-packed full of parents. I could tell he was looking for me and my parents but he never could find us in the sea of faces.

I'M HAPPY that I got to see him in his class afterwards. I wanted him to know that I was there supporting him. :-)  His face showed me how happy he was. Love that boy!

I'M even more HAPPY that the Kindergarteners got to go first on the program. I totally skipped out on the rest.

I'M HAPPY to have a warm home to live in. The temperatures have been frigid that last few days. I am grateful to have a place to be and that I'm able to keep my family safe and warm.

I'M HAPPY to have wonderful friends. I don't even get to see many of them in person. I am grateful for Facebook and blogs. It has helped me keep my connections with friends. It really has been a blessing.

Now switching notes

I'M HAPPY to know that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me.

Some really bad stuff happens in this world but he loves us regardless. A friend of mine and his family have gone through so much heartache and trials this past year. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that God still loves him and his family. Despite the trials that we may have, I know that we are not alone. I am grateful and comforted by the knowledge. I am grateful for my religion that has brought me so much peace and reassurance.

We Want to Know Wednesday

Welcome to We Want to Know Wednesday Q&A hosted by:

Impulsive Addict, Janette, Mamarazzi and Seriously Shawn

{1} What game show have you always thought you could be on and totally WIN!

I always wanted to do Double Dare on Nickelodeon as a kid. Do you remember that show? The kids would compete with parents and answer questions. Then they had to go through obstacle courses and get slimed and stuff. That is honestly what came to mind first.

{2} Do you have a tattoo(s)? What are they and what made you chose them? If not, would you get one, yes/no/why?
Nope, I don't have any tattoos. I won't ever get a tattoo because I really have no desire to go through that pain. Also, I'm afraid I would hate it in a year or two. Plus, once you get old and saggy, it won't look the same!

{3} What is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own?
I honestly don't own much jewelry. I'm pretty much a tomboy and don't wear any. The only thing I do wear is my wedding ring. I got to help pick it when J and I got engaged. I love it!

{4} What is your driving pet peeve(s)?
What ISN"T my driving pet peeve? LOL! I get annoyed at most anything. If a person sits at a light while it turns green, I get grumpy. If someone drives too slow, I get grumpy. If someone drives too fast for snowy/rainy conditions, I get grumpy. If someone doesn't use their turn signal, I get grumpy. I really could go on and on! 

{5} What was your favorite sitcom growing up that you wish was still on?
This is hard. I really liked a lot of shows. The first one that popped into my mind was Growing Pains. I loved to watch that show. It used to be on when I was at school. I remember seeing once when I home from school with the flu or something. I managed to be "sick" quite a bit before my mom caught on. Oops!


So, what are your answers? Why don't you play along?

We Want to Know Wednesday

Welcome to We Want to Know Wednesdays Q&A!
Hosted by Mamarazzi, Queso and Crazymama













Here are this week's questions, courtesy of Queso:

1. What is the worst job you have ever had?
I've only had 3 jobs in my lifetime. I worked for my dad for 11 years. The other two have been retail. I'd say the retail sucks. I'd really like to get out of it. I really enjoy getting to interact with people but working on holidays bites. (Hence the absence from my blog in the past week and a half.)


2. Have you ever been fired?
Nope. I've been laid-off though. That stinks.

3. What would your dream job be?
Figure out how to be a stay-at-home mom, bring in some income, and still remain a sane, calm mother. Yeah, I don't know if that is possible. I do enjoy the small break from the children when I go to work. I like to think it keeps me nicer.

4. What did you want to be when you "grew up"?
My first aspirations, as a very young child, was to be a waitress. I went to breakfast with my Grandma and Great Grandma every Saturday. We always had the nicest waitresses. That was my first big dream. :-)  I wanted to be a "doctor who delivered babies." As soon as I found out how much school that entailed, I quickly kicked that idea to the curb. I had a short-lived dream of becoming a track-and-field star. Um, yeah. I'm about as fast as a turtle and have asthma. My track career came to a screeching halt after junior high. All through high school and entering into college, I thought I'd go into television production. I actually started the program in college but realized that I wanted a family and family life more. So, I honestly don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

5. How old were you when you got your first job?

I got my first job with my dad when I was 16. He was a real estate appraiser and I became his assistant. I input data in the computer, researched information at the court house, compiled the reports, delivered the reports, took pictures, ran errands, etc. I was a busy girl. I'm glad he hired me though. It was a great learning opportunity and helped me grow closer to my dad! :-)

Hope you all have a fantabulous week!

Friday Confessional

I CONFESS that I participated in the Breaking Dawn craziness last night. I wasn't crazy enough to stand outside in the rain for 4 hours though. We went to dinner, grabbed some snacks, and sat in the car until they actually started to let people in the building.

I CONFESS that we got terrific seats and only had to stand in the rain for 10 minutes. :-) Not bad if you ask me!

I CONFESS that I had never read any of the Twilight books or watched the movies until two weeks ago. So it was a mad dash to read all the books and watch the movies in time for last night.

I CONFESS that I honestly finished the book 2 minutes before the lights dimmed in the theater. I was reading like a mad woman! ;-)

I CONFESS that I enjoyed the movie quite a bit.

I REALLY CONFESS that with all that said and done, I'm still a Pot-Head (Harry Potter you sillies, I don't smoke that stuff!) at heart. I like Twilight and all but my heart belongs to Harry! :-)

I CONFESS that I am quite tired today and my 2-year-old may or may not have watched the movie Bolt more than once today. I'm not in the mood to entertain. The TV can handle it until brother gets home from school. ;-)

Three For Thursday!

Three things that I am grateful for from the year 2011:
1. I am grateful that E is communicating more. He is just like his big brother. They have taken their time to communicate and require(d) the help of speech therapy. P doesn't have to go anymore! YAY! E is growing in leaps and bounds since he started speech therapy. :-)


2.  I am grateful for my health. Yeah, I've had the flu and a cold now and then. However, I truly have been blessed. So has my family for that matter!


3.  I am grateful for the jobs that J and I have. They not be very glamorous or pay very good but they are jobs. I am grateful for that in this economic time that we live in.


Three things “I’d rather not”:
1.  I'd rather not play the Wii with P. The stinker is a very poor loser. Unfortunately, he inherited that from me. I'm a little bit better about controlling my emotions than he is ... though it has taken years of practice. ;-)


2.  I'd rather not die in pain. I know it is kind of weird to be thinking about that now but I've always been fearful of having to die in pain. I hope I go in my sleep.

3.  I'd rather not touch/see/think about snakes. They creep me out. Actually, I really do have a self-diagnosed phobia of them. It's not pretty. J used to think it was funny to tease me about them until he realized just how paralyzed with fear I would get. Even now, just typing about snakes, I'm looking over my shoulder to make sure one isn't going to attack me. How silly is that?! I know there isn't a snake in my house but the fear gets so bad that I can't help but look and be scared.


Three Thanksgiving plans, traditions, or memories:
1.  Most likely, I will be working on Thanksgiving Day. LAME!  This is the season that really makes he hate working in retail. I will get to go to J's families dinner but will have to rush back. The store, that I work at, is opening at midnight for Black Friday. I'll be there till 10AM.  Should be interesting!

2.  We used to always go to my Granny's house for dinner. I remember that she had this huge turkey. She had defrosted it but didn't have room for it in her fridge. She decided to keep it out in her garage to keep it cool. She didn't realize that it got below freezing that night and froze the turkey inside. She cooked it and it looked gorgeous. We didn't realize it was still raw in the middle until my dad started to carve it. Let's just say, we had to starve for another hour before we could eat! She can laugh about it now.

3.  My Great Great Uncle Bill used to bring a bottle of wine to our Thanksgiving feasts at Granny's house. I could never understand why because nobody drank it. I think, after several years, he finally figured it out and started bringing soda instead. It makes me chuckle to think about it. He was such a sweet man. He lived to be 100-years-old.


Three sneaky things I do:
1.  Every once in a while, if I get off from work early in the afternoon, I'll sneak home and take a nap before I go pick up the kids at daycare. I've only done it a couple of times but I sure did enjoy my nice, silent home. 

2.  I like to go and get a fountain drink at the gas station down the block from us. I try to keep it hidden from the kiddos because, if I don't, they drink it all!

3.  They way I get J to do things sometimes is sneaky. He knows that I want something when I put my hands under my chin and smile and bat my eyelashes at him. A lot of the time, when I do that, he just goes to the freezer and starts scooping me some ice cream because he know's I'll beg him to do it anyway. :-)


Three things that I missed the boat on:
1. Twilight. I purposefully missed the boat. I didn't want anything to do with it. I didn't read the books and I never saw the movies .... until 13 days ago. My friend finally talked me into reading them and now I can't put them down. I'm taking a blogging break now from reading the last book. I'm going to the midnight premier of Breaking Dawn tonight!


2.  Planking. I never realized what planking was or why people did such things until it wasn't cool anymore. Not that I could plank anyway. I think I'd break my neck trying. 


3.  Glee. It sounded dorky to me at the time. I finally started watching a couple episodes on Netflix and realized .... HOLY CRAP! I love Glee!! I can't wait until they add more episodes!


Three pictures:
I want to share three pictures of my favorite men! :-)  I am so blessed!

J and E cheesing it up in October 2011

J and P being silly in January 2009

P, J, and E in July 2009. I believe this was the second day of having little E home from the hospital!

Daddy looks so tired! :-)

We Want to Know Wednesday

Before I start, I wanted to apologize for my lack of presence on the blog front the past week and a half. 12 days ago my friend asked me if I wanted to attend the Breaking Dawn premiere with her. I told her I had never read the Twilight series or seen the movies and didn't plan on it. She was horrified shocked surprised. (I didn't want to get sucked into the Twi-hard craziness.) She begged me to read at least two chapters. I finally gave in to her request. A day later I was at her doorstep requesting book 2. She basked in her victory and gave me the rest of the books. So, for the past 12 days, I've been reading when I haven't been working or wrangling children. I've also watched all three movies with her in preparation for tomorrow night! :-) I'm 1/3 of the way through Breaking Dawn. Hopefully, I can finish before the movie. I know it is only the first half of the movie but I don't want anybody spoiling the ending for me while I'm there. 


Ok, long rant over. Now on to the questions!


Welcome to We Want to Know Wednesdays Q&A!
Hosted by Mamarazzi, Queso and Crazymama







This week's questions come from the awesome Queso and she wants to know...

{1} Do you have any musical talents?
I play the piano. I took piano lessons for 12 years. I haven't kept on it like I should but I intend to start practicing again. I still play the piano nearly every Sunday at church. I'd like to start playing classical music again. It is my favorite. :-)

{2} What role, if any, does music play in your life?
Music plays a big role. Music can bring all sorts of emotions and I definitely let it. When I want angry/hard stuff I love to listen to Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory album. When I'm in a lovey dovey, sappy mood I like to listen to Christina Perri. Let's not even get me started on the Dixie Chicks  Taking The Long Way album. :-) LOVE!

{3} What is your all time favorite song?
The first song that comes to mind is (Everything I Do) I Do It For You by Bryan Adams. I remember camping out by my radio waiting for it to play. I loved it.
 
{4} Do you sing in the shower?
Surprisingly, no. I sing everywhere else but not the shower. I have been known to serenade my coworkers. ;-)

{5} Has a song ever made you cry?
Several songs have made me cry but the one that comes to mind is the Return To Me soundtrack. Not so much the Dean Martin stuff but there are a couple instrumental tracks that are just gorgeous.

Three for Thursday

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER! ;-) I'm linking up with Evelyn!


Three long lost hobbies:
1.  Playing basketball. I wasn't very good when it came to playing in an actual game and playing under pressure. When I was just in my driveway, I was an awesome shot! :-)
2.  I haven't been reading as much as I would like. Kids and work take up a lot of my time.
3.  Sewing -- cross-stiching to be specific. I haven't done that in a LONG time.

Three jobs/careers I have had:
1.  Real Estate Appraiser's Assistant.  I worked with my dad for 11 years before he retired. I really enjoyed it because he worked around my school schedule through high school and college. He even let me bring P to work when he was a baby. I had to stop bringing him once he could crawl and started pushing the computer buttons. :-)
2.  Sales Associate at Hallmark. I really liked that job. The girls I worked with were awesome and the employee discount was sweet!
3.  I'm currently employed at Shopko. I've been there for 2 1/2 years. I did a Christmas seasonal stretch back in 2008 when I was pregnant with E too.

Three childhood dreams that came true:
1.  I became a mom!!
2.  Live near my parents. :-)  I never wanted to leave. I love 'em too much! We are within 5 minutes.
3.  I met and married an awesome man who treats me with respect and who is pretty darn HOT! 

Three childhood dreams that didn’t come true:
1.  I didn't become an obstetrician. I wanted to be the person that delivered babies. Once I learned how many years of school it took to become one, I quickly nixed that. 
2.  To act in movies and become famous. I always thought that would be great but now I'm not so sure. The press and paparazzi look pretty scary.
3.  I wanted to be an amazing track and field star. My dreams were crushed when I ran track in junior high. I couldn't run the mile without having a major asthma attack. I also sprinted about as fast as a turtle. Yep, a track and field star just wasn't in the cards.

Three toys I asked for Christmas when I was a kid:
I really can't remember so I'll say 3 things that I remember receiving.
1.  I remember being so excited for this doll that I received. My parents were still asleep and I was "quietly" trying to get it out of the box. I made such a loud racket that it woke them up.
2.  I remember getting a really sweet, huge stereo when I was in my early teens. It was cool!
3.  I remember getting a box with supposedly a million dollars shredded inside it. I was so little that I didn't realize that it was a gag gift. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. ;-)

Three pictures:

This was taken at the beginning of October when it was still warm out. :-)  Are these two the cutest ever?

I love how E's hands are in his pockets. He walked around like that all day!

My friend, Collete, and I had to make a dreaded trip to Walmart so we decided to do it together. She has a little guy with the same name as E. :-)  So E and E were holding hands. It was too cute to pass up a pic!

We Want to Know Wednesday

Welcome to We Want to Know Wednesdays Q&A!
Hosted by Mamarazzi, Queso and Crazymama







This week's questions are from Mamarazzi. A heads up, I'm not very girly especially in the makeup and hair department.

{1} What is your "can't go without it" beauty product/cosmetic?
The only thing I can't go without is hairspray. I usually wear at least eye shadow and mascara but some days I will go without, if I don't have time.

{2} Do you apply make-up before or after doing your hair?
That would totally depend on if the two-year-old has woken up or not. He is still sleeping in a crib and doesn't like hanging out in there if he's awake. So, if he is still sleeping, I'll take the time to do my make-up first. If he's screaming like a banshee, then I'll rush my hair, get him, and do my make-up while he eats breakfast.
 
{3} How would you describe your personal style?

Extremely laid back and, dare I say, lazy? I'm a t-shirt and jeans type of girl. The only time I dress up is for church or the very rare nice event. We don't have many black-tie events here in Eastern Idaho. :-)

{4} How long does it take you to get ready each day?
Not long at all. That is probably why I still rock the short hair. It seriously takes me 5 minutes, if that, to do my hair. My husband asks me to grow my hair out but I'm totally resisting. It is too easy to do! I don't want to spend 30-60 minutes getting ready.

{5} What is your one pamper, just for you, beauty splurge?
I have really sensitive skin and not a very good complexion so I splurge on a face wash. It doesn't have to be a specific brand but it has to be soap-free AND oil-free. I spend more than I like on it but it really helps my complexion out.

Happy List

I'M HAPPY to have a day off of work today! Yay! I'm totally gonna snuggle up and read .... as much as my two-year-old will allow. ;-)

I'M HAPPY for this time of year. Several friends on Facebook are doing 30 Days of Thanks. It helps me to remain positive and ponder about what I am grateful for!

I'M HAPPY to have such a forgiving child. We went to a friends house yesterday. I hung up my coat and purse on her coat rack. I didn't realize that everything was on one side. As I stepped away, it fell over fast and hard ... hitting P square in the forehead. :'-(  Poor guy. He has a huge goose egg on his noggin'. He cried for quite a bit but managed to forgive me. I know it wasn't my fault and it was just an accident but I hate when my kids get hurt!

I'M HAPPY for the movie Bolt. Little man, E, loves puppies and doggies. He gets so excited to watch it. As a matter of fact, he is watching it now so that I can have some bloggy time!

I'M HAPPY that my sweet sister-in-law and her hubby invited us over for dinner on Sunday. I am notorious for being a picky eater. I have grown in leaps and bounds as a married adult though. I am much more willing to try things. Anyway, she was nervous that I wouldn't like the food. Her hubby's ancestry is from Germany. They traveled to Eastern Europe last Christmas and picked up some Hungarian Paprika. Anyway, she made a heavenly Chicken Paprikash and homemade spaetzle! It was awesome!

I'M HAPPY for the opportunity to think about what makes me happy! Thanks Mamarazzi for hosting such an awesome meme!

Friday Confessional

It has come to my attention that people weren't able to copy the code for my awesome new button. The issue has been fixed. I hope you'll grab a button! :-) It is in the left column below my contact information!


It's time for some confessions!

I CONFESS that I whined quite a bit in the last couple of posts. Sorry about that.

I CONFESS that I'm having an affair. An affair with Halloween candy. I sneak around and hide it from others. It isn't healthy.

I CONFESS that I am writing this post the night before. I am absolutely dying to know what Mamarazzi's confessions are this week. She gave me a clue that I may be involved in one or two. If it has anything to do with a drug-induced email that I received -- it should be hilarious! ;-)

I CONFESS that I could care less about Kim Kardashian and her divorce. Don't get me wrong. I feel bad for people when their marriages don't work out but I certainly don't need to hear about it on every. single. new. channel. Besides, how can you really know if a marriage will really work or not in only 72 days. I think people give up too quickly anymore.

I CONFESS that I have a major slight addiction to Facebook and the Internet in general. My husband often asks me if I would have a breakdown if we didn't have it. I try to think that I'd survive but I certainly wouldn't like it! Most of my friends live inside my computer! Sadly, it is pretty much the only social life I have.


I CONFESS that I'm about ready to ship the 5-year-old off to a boarding school. He turns into such a needy, grumpy, monster after he's been sick. Do your kids (if you have some) do that? It takes a week or more to "train" him back to normal.

Three For Thursday!

I'm participating in another edition of Three for Thursday with Evelyn!







Three things I stole borrowed from my kids’ Halloween candy stash:
1. Tootsie Rolls. P, the silly kid, doesn't like 'em!! Crazy.
2. Snickers.  I've had an obsession with Snickers since I was a young gal. 
3. I usually steal the Nerds too because they are my fav! 

Three things I buy that have to be name brand: 
1. Dr. Pepper. None of this Mr. Pibb business. 
2. I tried the knock-off of Malt OMeal cereals and I am not a fan. Now, I know that the bagged cereals from Malt O Meal are knock-offs but they taste better to me than the "real" stuff.
3. Huh .... I can't seem to think of anything else. I guess that I just usually buy the knock-off stuff.

Three things I spend more than fifteen minutes doing every day:
1. Perusing Facebook.
2. Lately, I've been wiping noses and aiding sick children. That takes forever! ;-)
3. Listening to music

Three things that put me in a fantastic mood:
1. Phone calls or texts from family and friends
2. Winning a game against P on the Wii. The kid kicks my trash!
3. Finding awesome stuff to watch on Netflix. I'm currently going through The Wonder Years!!

Three things I do that a grown woman has no right to be doing anymore:
1. "Running up the dark stairs as fast as I can so the Boogeyman doesn't get me."  I totally stole that from Evelyn.
2. I also have to run and jump into bed so the snakes and monsters don't get me. Ugh. I'm such a baby!
3. Giggling whenever my husband says the word "screw." I do it every time! I'm totally giggling now just thinking about it!

We Want To Know Wednesday

Welcome to We Want to Know Wednesdays Q&A!
Hosted by Mamarazzi, Queso and Crazymama







This weeks questions are from Crazymama.

{1} How did you celebrate Halloween? Trick or treating? Adult party? Trunk or treat?

We went to a church party on Saturday evening. We let the kids run and have fun. Usually, on Halloween, we take the kids to our local mall to trick-or-treat around to the different stores. It is a pretty popular here thing to do here. It keeps the kid out of the cold weather and keeps them safer. Plenty of people still trick-or-treat around in neighborhoods too. We may start doing that once the boys get a little bigger.

{2} What candy is your favorite/the first thing you steal from the kids?

I usually steal the Snickers and the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Who am I kidding?!  I usually will steal most anything. ;-)

{3} What kind of candy do you give out, is it your favorite? or something you know you won't be tempted to eat?

It usually depends. The last couple years I have managed to buy the package with Laffy Taffy, Nerds, and Sweet Tarts. Weird. I usually purchase chocolate.

{4} How soon after Halloween do you take down decorations and put away costumes?

I don't usually decorate for Halloween actually. My decor is more "harvest" or just Fall stuff. I'm really bad about keeping up with the seasons. I actually forgot to take down some of my Spring decor until Summer was almost over. :-/  Oops!

{5} When do you decorate for the next holiday?

As I said before, I usually decorate with fall stuff so I don't start decorating for Winter or Christmas until one or two weeks into December.

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday

Hey, It's Okay ....

To have turned off all the lights and to have hid in the house so trick-or-treaters wouldn't stop by. How lame. I forgot to get candy and P was sick. We weren't in the mood, I guess.

To not be ready for the Holiday shopping season. I work retail and I really don't want to. 

To be totally excited to buy clearance Halloween candy. I'm totally going to hide it in my locker at work and much on it on my breaks!

To have dressed up for Halloween. Usually we don't but I talked J into it this year!

To have wandered around the store while waiting for P's prescription to be filled. It's not okay however, to end up buying a ton of stuff that I probably shouldn't have!

To have bought Cars 2, even though I knew that Christmas was coming. The cutie was sick and really wanted it. Man, I'm such a pushover!

Want to join in? Click on the button above and join in the fun!

Happy List

I'M HAPPY that we got to celebrate Halloween before P got too sick. Our church had a party on Saturday. Luckily, he didn't get sick until later that evening.

I'M HAPPY that I finally got J to dress up with me. He isn't one to draw attention to himself.

I'M HAPPY that he helped me make these costumes. It took a lot longer than I anticipated but it was fun to spend the time together!

I'M HAPPY that I got to rock my fauxhawk! I only rock it once a year so I was excited for Halloween to come! :-)

I'M HAPPY that J was a good sport and dressed up too! Aint he cute?!

I'M HAPPY that Mr. P found the "perfect" costume. He was so stinkin' excited to be Mario. :-)  Unfortunately, he was way too sick to go trick-or-treating on the actual Halloween day. We called the grandparents and told them to save some candy. We're going to go trick-or-treat when he is feeling better.

I'M HAPPY for modern medicine and doctors. It certainly helps ease a worried mom and dad's mind.

I'M HAPPY to have such a cute little officer in our midst. He was very selective of when he would wear his hat and when he wouldn't. I'm glad we managed to get a pic! :-)  

I'M HAPPY for wonderful friends who help me out. I managed to get P into a doctor appointment and didn't want to drag E along too. My wonderful friend took E and watched him with only a 1/2 hour notice. She truly is a rock star.

I'M HAPPY for the sunshine. It may be frigid temps right now but I'm grateful for the pretty sunshine!

WHAT IS MAKING YOU HAPPY TODAY? CLICK ON THE BUTTON ABOVE AND LINK UP WITH MAMARAZZI. TELL HER I SENT YA!

Friday Confessional

I CONFESS that I am more than a tad excited.

I CONFESS that, if you didn't notice before, that I got a bloggy makeover!!! Sarajo at Outta This World designed it for me! :-)  I think she did an AWESOME job!

I CONFESS that I really did not want to go to work this week. I really considered calling in "sick" but just couldn't do it.

I CONFESS that I have a huge slight addiction to Diet Dr. Pepper. The stuff is so yummy and the caffeine makes me a nicer mom and wife.

I CONFESS that I let my children watch Impy's Wonderland on Netflix. It was a cartoon, so I thought it was safe. Then I heard my son singing along to a song in the movie. It was Tom Jones' song, Sex Bomb! AAAAUUUUGH! Not a song I want my 5-year-old singing! Sheesh! Why would you put that in a children's cartoon?!

I CONFESS that I am freezing my patootie off but I refuse to turn up the furnace any more than it already is. You see, I'm kind of an Energy Nazi, if you will. My husband will attest. If lights are left on in an unoccupied room, I get mad and insist that they be turned off. Water may NOT run while you are brushing your teeth! Wasteful in my opinion. If I see my husband pause by the thermostat in the hallway, I immediately say NO! He wants to turn up the heat but I say, get a sweater!

I CONFESS that I sent my son to school today in a Spiderman t-shirt. Any other day would have been fine, but today was the day they had their pictures taken. Oops. Oh well, at least the picture will capture the true P. At least I combed his hair!! :-)

Bloggy Makeover!!!

Check it out!!! I got me a bloggy makeover!! Sarajo at Outta This World is starting a new blog design business! She needed a little practice and I was more than happy to oblige and help her out. Here is a link to her new blog, Outta This World Designs. Nothing is there yet but as soon as she is up and running, I will let you know!

Check out my SA-WEET new button!!  I LURVE IT! I hope you'll grab one and put it on your blog! (For any blog newbies, copy the text in the box. Go to Design and to Page Elements. Add an HTML Gadget and paste the text. Easy peesy!)

<center><a href="http://jklind.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Lindicious Life" src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/sarajolee13/Lindicious%20blog%20design/Lindiciousbutton.jpg"/></a></center>

Don't forget to scroll down a little further and find the Connect section on the left column. I'm starting a new Lindicious Life Facebook page. I hope you'll jump on and "Like" me! I'm also on Twitter so if you need all my most personal, status updates ... follow me! :-)  Can you tell from the plethora of exclamation points that I'm a tad bit excited?!  

Friday Confessional

I CONFESS that I had the best Girl's Night Out last night! My friend, Michelle, and I planned it. We had a chocolate fondue and a cheese fondue. We had the ladies bring things to dip. It was so fun. We had veggies, fruits, crackers, and berries. My friend even brought white chocolate popcorn! It was divine!

I CONFESS that I ate my weight in sugar .... probably more. :-)  It was so worth it though! It was so fun to get away from the kids and have some female interaction!

I CONFESS that I'm going to a craft party tonight. My mom signs up to make craft projects for me for Christmas. The catch is that I have to go with her and make it! LOL! That is okay with me. At least we get to spend time together. :-)

I CONFESS that I stayed home from work today with a little E who has pink eye. Luckily, I've become somewhat of an expert in it. I managed to catch his early and start treating it immediately. Hopefully it won't last too long.

I CONFESS that I'm considering becoming a permanent stay-at-home mom. I work part-time as a cashier but I've noticed that E is struggling. I'm trying to figure out how to supplement our income so that I can stay home with him. I play the piano and am considering teaching it. The problem: I don't know how to teach. Any suggestions?

Three for Thursday

Three things that have kept me from blogging lately.


Work -- Work has definitely gotten in the way of my blogging!


Netflix -- I'm addicted to The Wonder Years and Glee at the moment. :-)


Dead Brain -- I can't think of anything to write about!



Three things that leave me wide awake and staring at my ceiling at 3 am.


Kids -- Whether they are coughing, crying, or needing to pee, the kids keep me up some nights.


Finances -- Why does the world have to revolve around money? Ugh, I wish it wasn't so crucial and important to have money!


Job -- I'm trying to decide if I should quit my job and figure out a way to work from home. E has been struggling and I wonder if staying home would help him. 



Three Halloweenish things, thoughts, plans, ideas, memories, etc.


Costumes -- I totally shouldn't have splurged about purchased the costumes for the boys. We can't afford it but they will look so cute!


Candy -- Curse the Halloween candy! I sell tons of it at work and it just makes me want to buy some! I can smell the candy corns and just want to rip open the customer's bags and eat some. Candy = weight gain for sure.


Snow -- I have several memories of trick-or-treating in snow boots and a winter coat. I'm hoping the snow stays away until Halloween is over. Actually, I'd rather the snow just stay up in the mountains and off the road all year! ;-)



Three reasons I love being a mom in October.


Excitement -- Seeing and hearing the excitement from P about Halloween coming. Sometimes it gets annoying but I really think it is sweet to see the pure happiness over holidays!


School -- This is the first Fall season that I've had a kid in public school. It is kind of nice to have some time at home. I know I still have E but it is nice to have some alone time with him! I think he enjoys it too.


Cool Air -- It has been nice to have cool air and not have to run the air conditioner! I've already had to turn on the furnace. It is nice to be able to open the windows in the afternoon and air out the house! 



Three things I just need to get off my chest.
Christianity -- There has been the whole debacle over Pastor Jeffress calling Mormon's a cult and not Christian's. I, for one, am a "Mormon." Our church is actually titled, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I just want to say, for the record, that I do believe in Jesus Christ. I believe he died for us and I believe that I will be able to live with Him and our Father in heaven again one day.


Patriotism -- There isn't really anything "on my chest" but I just want to express my gratitude to those who serve our country. I also want to thank those who support their family members who serve our country. My family will be forever in your debt.


Glee -- I know that I am really far behind in the times but I have finally become a "Gleek." I'm not terribly pleased with how "loose" their morals are but I love all the singing! They have amazing voices!


Three pictures:
I'm going to share some funny pics and stuff that I've shared on Facebook lately. They make me giggle!

We Want To Know Wednesday

Welcome to We Want to Know Wednesdays Q&A!
Hosted by Mamarazzi, Queso and Crazymama











This week's questions come from Mamarazzi....

{1} When was the last time you lost your temper?
Haha! Um, last night. I made chicken enchiladas last night and both kiddos totally threw screaming fits during dinner. "It looks yucky!", "I don't want to eat it!", and "Waaaaaaaaaaah!"  Ugh, it down right pissed me off. I try to not let it hurt my feelings but sometimes it just does. I gave myself a time-out and cooled down in my room. 

{2} What 3 words best describe you?
Funny - I'm not necessarily a comedian or anything but I enjoy all things funny.
Compassionate - I feel great compassion and love for my family and friends. Sometimes I wonder if I can have too much compassion.
Nerd - Yeah, I'll admit it. I'm a nerd and I'm finally able to be cool with that. I hated that "title" in school but I can embrace it now.

{3} What movie could you watch over and over again and never get tired of?
Oh man, I have a lot of them. It would actually have to be The Lord of The Rings trilogy. I totally LOVE those movies. I've had them put away for a while because they were scaring the kiddos. One day I'll be able to break them out again and  have a marathon.

{4} If you could do something dangerous, just once, with no risk, what would you do?
I'd like to say I'd go skydiving or bungee jumping. I'm a huge chicken and I don't know if I'd actually go through it. I know that when I have done things that get the adrenaline pumping, that I have always loved it ... afterward. Example: I really wanted to ride the blast-off ride at Lagoon in Utah. I was terrified and almost chickened out. The poor kid strapped in next to me must have thought I was a lunatic! It ended up be so fun! I was totally shaking when I got off the ride but I loved it!

{5} Which is more important intelligence or common sense?
I believe that there cannot be true intelligence without common sense. So, common sense is definitely the start to gaining great intelligence.