5.31.2011

memorial day 2011

the happenings (and mishappenings...is that a word?) of memorial day 2011:

*husband had to work: boo. so mara worked, too. double boo.

*china star take-out for dinner: it's not a bbq,but tasty all the same

*frosty run: lame sauce cuz wendy's is getting rid of all their good twisted frosties. grr! BUT on the way home, we had an experience to remember....we thought we'd seen it all when it comes to that round-a-bout at 5 points in bountiful. but we found out we hadn't. as i started to pull into the round-a-bout, there was a car going THE WRONG WAY! at first it was kinda scary, and i just stopped, cuz i'm like whaaa??? and then we just started laughing cuz it was this old lady, completely driving the wrong way (not even sure how she got going in it the wrong way..) and then had to exit through an enter point, putting her on the wrong side of the road. HILARIOUS. oh gosh. it was very humorous.

*jae got shot! bahaha. k he didn't get shot. but we joked that he did cuz he was bleeding out all over both of us and his shorts and feet and bathroom floor! for those that don't know, he's a diabetic and has an insulin pump. we put his latest pump site on his side, but it's been painful and kinda bleeding for a couple of days, so we opted for just taking it out and putting a new one in. well, pretty sure we (and we means i, since i'm the one that put it in) must have hit a vein, cuz as soon as i pulled it out, it gushed blood everywhere!! oh geez! talk about grab a bunch of tissues and apply pressure asap! but we didn't get it covered before it hit most everything on it's way down to the floor. he's all good now, no more bleeding and no more pain, but it was a bit crazy there for a minute. sorry, love. i'll do better next time, i promise. no veins.

*and of course....bachelorette! love it. drama drama. but seriously....what's with mask guy?

how was your memorial day? we missed out on the cold, rainy cemetary visits cuz of work, but were thinking about our passed loved ones all the same. big thanks to all that have gone before.

happy tuesday :)

5.25.2011

{love}

i just love this....had to share :)

pizza pizza

elisabeth (friend from high school) was passing through town this past weekend. her and her family are in the process of moving from oklahoma to washington, so we planned a quick dinner get-together with the girls! turns out we have a hard time being able to get everyone together at one time, so we only had 4 of us. but it was still a good time filled with pizza from the pizza factory and girl talk. until next time, ladies....!

elisabeth, kristen, mary, me
{yes, i look frumpy & pale. please ignore}

5.22.2011

weekend happenings

Jae's high school friend, Danny Angus, married his beautiful Brazilian bride, Ci, on friday night. unfortunately, the few pictures i got of the couple were crappy and blurry. but it was a fun evening, nonetheless, and we had a good time catching up with friends and taking advantage of the photo booth!! (don't worry, awesome photo booth pics to come once i get them scanned in!)

on saturday, our good friends Troy and Leslie celebrated their 2nd anniversary. i got to join in the festivites (Jae was working ALL DAY) and i'm so happy i could be part of the fun!



today has just been the usual. hubby goes to work (BIG boooooo), church, laundry, catching up on DVR stuff.

speaking of....i better go get the laundry out of the dryer! xoxo.

5.20.2011

mr. golden sun

i need some sunshine to help me get out of this funk i seem to be stuck in.

my poor husband (who gets the wrath of it all) wishes i'd get some sunshine too, i'm sure.

hope it's a good (sunny) weekend for us all!!

xoxo.

5.19.2011

NieNie

i love NieNie. as in the NieNie dialogues. don't you?

if you haven't yet stumbled upon her blog, you REEEALLY should. she's an amazing woman/mother/crafter/wife/person who has an even more amazing story.

last friday night, 20/20 did a special on her and her family, and their life for the past couple of years. did i mention that she's AMAZING???

if you missed it or didn't know about it or want to see it again, you most definitely should do that. asap. here:

http://abc.go.com/watch/2020/SH559026/VD55126905/2020-513-plane-crash-survivor
{you have to copy & paste}

her & her husband went from this:

 to this:


i, of course, forgot to set it to record last friday, so i finally had a chance to watch it last night online. holy wow. i knew it'd be good, but it was really good. it really made my heart hurt just a little bit. Stephanie is so so sweet and strong and i don't know how she does it. but it gives me motivation, if nothing else, to NEVER take for granted anything. period. life is too short. seriously, please go watch it. it'll make you cry. it'll inspire you to be the best you can be.

i'm grateful i got to see this, and i'm grateful to miss Stephanie from the NieNie dialogues for sharing her story.

5.18.2011

a funny for you

i found this on another blog that i may or may not stalk....

no, i'm not a mother, and yes, mother's day is now over for this year, but it's entertaining and true all the same and i like it. i have a feeling i'll have the same sort of prayers when i am someday a mother myself.

this is a prayer given by Tina Fey about motherhood. if you've heard it or read it, then enjoy it again :)

"First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches. May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty. When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half... Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called 'Hell Drop,''Tower of Torture,' or 'The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,' and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age... Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short...  O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers... And when she one day turns on me and calls me a B in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that crap. I will not have it. And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. 'My mother did this for me once,' she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. 'My mother did this for me.' And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes. Amen." 
- from BossyPants, by Tina Fey

and another one...

what is it, you say?? oh ya know...just another AWESOME GIVEAWAY!!

Ruffling Feathers is doing an excellent shabby apple pencil skirt giveaway! 

well what are you waiting for??? hurrrrrry and go check it out!

5.17.2011

eye suck...

eye suck?? that's weird. but anyway......

alright, ladies, this one's for you...(who am i kidding, do any men read this?? i'm going to go with no...)

i'm definitely no make-up expert. never have been. i think i do a decent job at keeping my face looking as decent as possible, but sometimes it just really struggles. i've never been one to buy the super expensive, professional brands of make-up, mostly cuz i couldn't justify paying that much $$ for it, when usually regular store brands work well enough. i know, i know, with most things, you get what you pay for, and i believe that, but i really think you can have beautiful make-up with revlon, maybelline, cover girl, etc brand products. do you agree?

let's talk mascara for a minute...or two. i used to always use Avon before a friend introduced this lovely Almay mascara to me. i've now used that for a few years. it's worked well, i've liked it well enough, obviously, since i have kept using it for a long time. maybe i'm just bored with it? maybe i want my lashes to just be way more super awesome than they are? let's be honest...my lashes kinda suck. they're short and straight and just not the greatest, but that's what i have to work with.

i searched around a bit recently, and found that lots of people/places raved about this mascara. so i thought, well why not give it a try. i was running out of mascara anyway, so instead of buying the usual, i got this new one. let's just say, i don't think it's meant for lashes like mine. i can't seem to figure out how to make it make my lashes awesome.

perhaps i really should try one of the fancy, expensive kinds? (shh, don't tell my husband!) perhaps i really just need a lesson in putting on/using mascara correctly?? this is a very likely answer. so i guess i'm just wondering if you lovely ladies with lovely lashes can give me any advice. i don't want/need any crazy lashes, or even spectacular lashes. just nice lashes. i don't wear tons of make-up usually (getting up and being to work by 7 most days makes my make-up efforts very slim) but i would like them to look as nice as i can get them to look with a somewhat minimal amount of work. ooh, which leads me to another question - in the commercials, where they tell you it only takes 'one brush and you have dark, luscious lashes' really true? cuz if so, then i need more help than i thought.

so PLEASE, leave me any and all suggestions you may have, expert or not! i'm happy to hear them. thanks girls!!

5.15.2011

{2Byrds} 5.7.11

Jae's brother, Jordan took his beautiful bride, Chelsea, to the Bountiful temple to be sealed for eternity. they both looked absolutely stunning, which was no surprise. Jordan and Chelsea have dated since high school. they're two peas in a pod. they balance eachother out pretty perfectly, i think. here's a (really BIG) peek at their special day. first, the temple...


the couple with C's parents

Chelsea and her beautiful mama...they don't look alike at all

Jord and George


 and then, the reception, which was at Eldredge Manor.

crepes! mmmm
(don't mind the crappy, random-arm pics. there wasn't much room!)

it was such a lovely day for a lovely couple. WE LOVE YOU, JORDAN AND CHELSEA!!

5.13.2011

friday the thirteenth

i woke up this morning (not even remembering it was friday the 13th, cuz really i don't really care about all that rubbish) and was in high spirits! and i want to tell you all the reasons why:

*it's FRIDAY
*we got to wear JEANS to work today!! (courtesy of employee appreciation week)
*i slept in an extra 30 minutes this morning, and still made good time to work!
*i get to go to the ballet tonight with my lovely sister, Kellie
*it's WARM outside, and will eventually be HOT too!
*i get to watch a bunch of fellow employees put on what is sure to be a ridiculous fashion show
*we get free ICE CREAM today (again - we're {apparently}much appreciated this week at work)

i considered that a pretty good list to start off my morning with!! then i remembered it was friday the 13th, and decided it was lame and who cares, cuz today's gonna be a good day!

and then i found out about the bad news.

my good friend and hairdresser, Cara, had to put her sweet dog, Milo, to sleep this morning. it probably sounds kind of silly, making a friend's dog's death such a big deal, but Jae and i house-sit/dog-sit for Cara. we've come to know and love her two babies, Milo and Bella VERY well. Milo had been having multiple seizures and they found a tumor in his brain. thus, decided it was best to put him out of his misery. i'm so sad!! Milo was so very sweet. he was always so happy to see us and was one of the best cuddlers i've ever known. you will be missed greatly, Milo. thanks for being so good to us :)

i'm determined to still have a good day! the sunshine does wonders for the soul, and i'm planning on spending as much time outdoors as possible. here's to you, Milo!



hope you all have a REALLY GOOD day today :)

5.11.2011

blog envy

i'm having some pretty serious blog envy today.

i look at all these fabulous blogs by all these fabulous women/wives/moms. so cute and fun and new and smart and crafty and stuff. and i look at mine and my blogging/crafting/creative skills. and realize i kinda suck.

i wish i was more crafty. i don't even have little chillins yet, so i should have plenty of time to explore/expand my creative part of my life, right? but i don't. why don't i?? good question.

i just want to be like you, ok?!?!!

the end..

5.10.2011

shout-out for my momma's

i know it's a bit late, but i didn't want to just let this year's mother's day pass without giving a huge thank you to the woman who brought  me into this world.

my mom is anything but selfish. her life completely revolves around everyone else, which most importantly includes her grandkids and her pets. i'm seriously not sure what she would do without them! she's always trying to help others in any way she can, and puts her needs/wants second. you're a beautiful person, mom, inside and out, and i know i was put in just the right family with just the right mom to help me through this life.

i also must mention my mother in law. she raised 5 boys (and one girl too) mostly on her own, and that is something of an accomplishment in itself. she's a hard worker, and has taught her kids the importance of that, as well as responsibility and integrity. she's a good example to us all.

i may not be a mother (yet) myself, but i have some amazing examples all around me for when i am. thanks so my mom's and all the mom's out there. you guys are AMAZING!! i look up to you all. xo.

5.06.2011

cuteness

so this is totally random, but it just made me so happy, i have to share.

i was reading a friends (private) blog, and she wrote a post about her and her hubby's 2 year anniversary. it was so so cute - she included a bunch of things they've accomplished in their 2 years so far, and how they're excited for the future, etc etc.

well, one of the comments on that post was from her grandpa, and he said:

"as great as it is, it still gets better."

doesn't that just make your heart melt?? i'm just a mushy push-over lately, i guess, but with these 3 weddings coming up this weekend, i have wedding/marriage/husband brain, and that little, simple comment from someone that seems to have had a happy, loving marriage for many years just put a smile on my face and gives me great hope and excitement :)

{s - hope you don't mind i shared this!! xo}

5.05.2011

get it while the gettin's good

so i stumbled upon this awesome blog AND she is doing an awesome giveaway! how perfect is that?? 

anyway, it's a DownEast/Modbe swimsuit giveaway! they have some really good suits, so you should go check them out! of course, my husband would just roll his eyes and say i already have a million suits and don't need another one ever again. but you can always use a new suit :)

5.02.2011

overwhelmed

i feel a bit silly blogging about how i feel overwhelmed about my brother-in-laws wedding this weekend. it's not even my wedding! i've done next to nothing to help out with preparations for it. i haven't been asked to do much this week, or the day of for that matter, yet i'm still stressing. wanna know why??

CUZ I HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING TO WEAR TO IT YET!!!!!!!

and it's stressing me out!! no, i'm not a bridesmaid. i've only been asked to wear something in their wedding colors. i've ordered two dresses online, had a skirt option that my mother-in-law bought, and been to just about every store from murray to layton over the last month or so. and i somehow still have no idea what i'm going to wear. i just don't love the dresses i ordered. and i feel like if i'm paying over $100 for something, i should more than sorta like it. and it's not like it's hard colors to find - i just need something in some sort of brown tone. how hard can that be, honestly???!

i decided to go to forever 21 last weekend (i think - all the days spent roaming from store to store are blending together now). online, they had a few possibilities. but i admit, i'm not an avid forever 21 shopper, although lots of others seem to have great finds there. can i just say, that store overwhelms me. it gives me anxiety. it's big and loud and there's random stuff everywhere. it's one of those stores where you can find awesome stuff, but you have to SEARCH for it. you have to dig and wander all over cuz nothing is all together. there's not a top section or a pant section or a dress section. they all just run together, and i can't shop like that! ughhh. just thinking about it makes me anxious. i lasted about 4 minutes in that store, and had to quickly exit. i just can't handle it. i'm a freak, i know.

soooo, i drug Jae with me to the mall yet AGAIN this past saturday. he was thrilled, i'm sure. there's a new store there (i forget the name) so as a last minute attempt before the mall closed, we went in. i found a decent enough skirt. tan. some flower embroidery stuff at the bottom, and a tie thing at the waist. there wasn't a top to go with it in the whole store, but i got the skirt anyway, cuz i'm simply running out of time! but now, even if i use that skirt, i still have to find a top to go with it. pretty sure showing up topless won't go over well. so i still have to do more shopping. i never thought i'd be so entirely SICK of stores in general in my life.

i have about 55 hours to work in the next 5 days. when am i going to do more shopping?? i have no idea. if anyone happens to be out and about sometime between now and saturday and happen to see a cute brown blouse that would go with a tan skirt, or just a cute dress or something that sounds like it might work, PLEEEASE feel free to let me know!

pretty sure the bride is less stressed than i am right now. and i don't even know why. it's not like anyone's really going to care what i'm wearing. i just want to look nice, i suppose, and i'm (clearly) majorly struggling to do so.

5.01.2011

date night!

as some of you may already have known, Jae (and i - i take partial responsibility because i washed those nasty teenager-sweat-soaked jerseys every week) coached our ward's YM's basketball team this past season. we took them all the way to the stake championship and won! the boys thought that was great. anyway, as a thank you, which was totally unexpected, the parents of the boys got an olive garden gift card for us! how nice, eh? i think we could coach again if we're getting sweet thank-you's like that! so last night we decided to have a date night and hit up olive garden.

i didn't get any pics of our yummy food. let's be honest, i was just really excited to eat it, there was no time for fiddling with cameras. i did, however, get the camera out for the dessert! we hardly ever indulge in a dessert (i mean, $6-7 for one slice of something??) but we haven't had a nice night out in awhile and half our meal was being paid for already, so we went for it. at olive garden, i usually go with the black tie mousse cake. you canNOT go wrong with that one. but i wanted to be daring and try something new. so we picked this:

white chocolate raspberry cheesecake
and it was a fine choice! we enjoyed it thoroughly. but not before our waiter gave us a mini photo session ha! he was an awesome waiter (is it 'er' or 'or'??...) he was super on top of things and entertaining, but not to the point of annoying, and he saw me pull out the camera, so he insisted jae come sit by me and he sat at our table and took pics of us with our dessert. what a goof! it was pretty funny. even one of the other waiters snuck in behind us in a couple pics, which we didn't realize til after! here are a few...



needlesstosay, he definitely got a nice tip :)