Holidays

I know I've addressed this before but the whole holiday thing is a little out of wack around here. It seems we jump from one to another and really it is so much less about the actual date or reason of tradition but gifts. Can you see me being all grinchy, GIFTS GIFTS GIFTS. I have told my kids every year that there is NO EASTER BUNNY or leprechaun or cupid that decorates, sabotages or breaks into your house to stuff you full of sweets. In fact I traded with them at your birth for the chance to randomly do nice things through out the year by myself, thus surprising them with things like, vacations and craft parties. So when I do surprise them with things like, heart shaped pizza and pink donuts, they look at me like I'm being weird and unnecessary. Can we ever really win? When I am surprised with a fresh Lai to remind me of our "honeymoon" in Maui, I am ecstatic.( They say women are hard to please) Then there's St Patricks Day? I don't get it, is everyone in Utah Irish? I certainly wouldn't think so judging by how many people STILL stop and tell me all about their English ancestors. Unless they think it's the same place! Our Easter consisted of a great Sunny day, Tri-tip Santa Maria Style and of course an egg hunt which apparently, no one is too old for. So now that that is over with, I will enjoy spring for a little while until the next holiday which just happens to be MOTHERS DAY. Oh I do hope the Mothers Day Fairy comes who cleans your house and brings bacon to your bed and takes you clothes shopping and watches chick flicks with you and..and.. what do you mean, no such thing. GGRRR...

Alfie

No, I'm not talking about this guy, Although it was awesome to meet him and listen to him sing of course but I have to share some pictures of my new little puppy, Alfie, well you knew it was coming. Not sure if this was his bath or mine but he was so little in the sink without his fluff that I had to share. Plus he doesn't sit still long enough for a real picture. I just get this Or this But I do love my crazy speedy ball of fluff. He's growing so fast.

Lightn Up

I've wanted to make a change in a my bedroom for a little while now. I feel bedding and accessories are just like clothes and jewelry and I love to change them about with the seasons. It's easy to do when all your furnishings are neutral and you have a storage room to put the old stuff in. I find myself rummaging the buckets regularly as I switch things around on holidays, orange works for Halloween, red for Valentines or Christmas, teal for spring and lime green, well it has stayed the course but now that it is packed, may see the light again at Christmas. I kind of have a thing for stripes and I wanted to send a subliminal message to my husband by adding a pretty Tiffany blue. So I set too, making some changes. These are my before pictures. I wanted to get rid of the dark brown and add some accessories. I wish I could take cool pictures like the super bloggers but after an attempt at photography, I decided I didn't have the patience to set everything up for a shot, I prefer the "in real life" it looks better version in stead of the "wow, You don't look anything like your extremely well lit, photo shop version of yourself" shot. So these are my afters: I added some drapes, a duvet cover and some cool picture frames that hubby gave me for Christmas, a softer than fluff throw blanket and a cool chair. I recently vacated the basement of all my hair supplies as Boyd is planning a man room/office there and really only do family hair now :-( sniff sniff. So I got this cool little trolley to keep behind my door. A couple of towels and rug in the adjoining bathroom and I am a happy camper. I am happy with the results as it really has lightened up the room and the color messaging had it's desired effect and I got this little beauty for Valentines. Yes I'm talking about the box, that's all I wanted. I know it's supposed to be what's inside that counts (that was awesome too) but I really just always wanted the little blue box, I AM just that shallow. My whole room was inspired around this little box which now has its own spot on the shelf. and while I was in the mood for lightening up, I lightened my hair. I don't love it yet but it takes a couple of attempts to go from very dark hair to light without needing a wig because it all snapped off. It's a hard reality but I am getting old and have so much grey that I was seeing that skunk stripe within a week of coloring, the blond helps stretch the trauma out for a few extra weeks so I may have to stay this way until I switch to the blue rinse.

Believe

I realize I've been awol for a while but I have been mourning the loss of a computer I know how to use. I have finally given up sulking and am trying to get a grip on this new, ultra cool to nerds apparently, laptop/tablet thingy.I got it a super nice cover so that makes it pretty to look at, shallow I know. I have finally downloaded pics and had a blast looking through all the fun that's been had around here in the last little while. I will start with the coolest Mummy Daughter date ever!!! Asha and I went to see the Beebs in concert. It was a hot ticket apparently, sold out in minutes way back when but as usual I decided to go last minute, on a whim after watching his awesome movie. I managed to get a couple of tickets off KSL the day before. They were limited view since I'm a cheapskate and wasn't about to drop $300 a piece on them but would have to say, we scored. The seats were awesome, not only were we close enough to see everything but we got to sneak peak some backstage stuff going on. Like this! His show was awesome, he's a true performer. At one point he went out among the crowd, suspended and sang acoustically. He's a dang good little singer but I'd have to say I mostly like his message. He seems to know his crowd are all youngsters and he gave a few touching little speeches about, following your dreams and believing in yourself no matter what. It's a message we all need to hear from someone who literally sang on a street corner and has worked for it everyday since. Yep, he made a believer out of me.

This month on Studio 5, is a discussion on "pretenders". The show itself is made up of segments that give ideas and helps for lifestyle subjects. I enjoy it. I was recently in line at the grocery store and thumbed through a magazine called small storage solutions. It was full of bright colorful, inspirational ideas to help feed my strange love affair with organization. I almost threw it in my basket but with a $10 price tag, thank goodness I noticed, I put it back and felt grateful for all those Blogs out there that give all this inspiration for free. You just need to check out the list to my right for ones I follow. The connection here hit me, it's these same "mommy Blogs" as they have been named, being featured that are also being accused of being "pretenders" For example:One of my favorite blogs to follow is IHEARTorganizing. Which gives fabulous ideas for things like this playroom.

I mean we all have little boys who will happily sort their lego by color and put it in the appropriate drawer at the end of a play session right? Or this beautiful office/craft space in a closet, I mean who doesn't have a closet they could convert for something this lovely.

The fact is, I can look at these pictures and feel happy and get ideas. I am well aware that the pictures are taken with additional lighting and having been untouched or unused by anyone. I also love that a couple of months later there will be a new picture of the room completely different and I love that the person is using their energy to do something they love and then sharing it. Maybe for some validation or praise and sometimes for their own sanity, to have one space in the home that for one minute, looks beautiful but like I said, I personally have gotten some drive and ideas from someone else's "perfect" room. The segment has mentioned photos of people made up and dressed cute when in reality, they shower at 3pm and spend most of their lives in sweats and I say, whats wrong with that? Surely I'm not going to post my worst pictures to immortalize my "normal-ness" I like to look at scrapbooks and see happy times and successes and while I have the odd tantrum picture or messy house shot, which I'd share if I could find any of my images (new laptop, grrr)I prefer to focus on the good, positive things and appreciate others for doing the same. Imagine a facebook feed full of "reality" -My dog just peed on the carpet.-My son is annoying me so much I want to punch him. - here's a picture of what 8 loads of dirty laundry looks like. No. I prefer the happy parts of peoples lives. Real friends already know the real you and would never accuse you of pretending because you only share the good part. I have seen many "mommy bloggers" who are driven, intelligent, capable women, who choose to, or feel they should, stay home to raise their children and while they watch their bodies fall apart to childbirth and can feel their brain cells withering with the monotony of 24/7 childcare, they maybe channel some of that previous self into a blog. For many it has become a source of income but for most, at least a source of sanity or connection to others in a similar place with similar interests. I really think if someone feels inadequate or problem-ed, because of someone else's posts, pictures or blog, that there is something else hurting their heart that makes them feel this way. If you actually think the stars wake up looking like that and sweet Jen from IHEARTorganizings playroom really looks like that at a moments notice, then I laugh in your general direction. When we understand our own potential in this life, to become as God is, we have a desire to improve. We can either look at all we don't do or we can decide what small area to try to improve on today and enjoy the process.We celebrate our achievements because we worked for them and feel good and want to forget our failures and short comings, not take pictures of them. That's my 2 cents. If you think I'm a pretender then you don't know me. I am honest and have never tried to portray a false image of me, I believe it to be one of my best qualities that I am real. If you think my life appears perfect and I am awesome because of this blog then we are likely not friends but feel free to continue that belief because my life and myself are pretty awesome :-)

Christmas Quickie

You know your in Utah when there is snow on the ground and everyone goes out in shorts and t-shirts.

You know your not 'from" Utah when you still take every opportunity to see a Prophet of God speak in the flesh.

You know your a teenager, when despite being surrounded by incredible creations, each representing a lost or terminally ill child, you have a bad attitude and wonder "are we done yet?"

You know your new puppy was born when you realize the only Christmas pictures you have are of him...but so cute.

Did you know, there are new outlets in Lehi? AWESOME!

You know you've had 17 winters in Utah when you finally break down and buy a snow blower.

You know your a workaholic when you sign up for an extra shift Christmas Day

You know your a Bieber fan when all you've wanted for the past 2 years is purple high tops like his...and finally they come in a youth size.

you know your a nerd if, well if your in my family, actually scratch that, we only have a couple but that's all I need to support me in my aging years.

you know it's Christmas when there's Yorkshire pudding and crackers on the table

and we wear our tissue crowns.

and Yes, in case you were wondering, that is a Santa hat and I did wear it all week, including to the mall and city creek and a movie :-)