My Spiel

Yes, I am a single girl and yes, I do have a significant other to spend Valentine's Day with this year. However, my opinion about Valentine's Day came about 2 years ago when I lived in Portland. I worked in a floral shop during this festive little holiday and it was SO much fun! It was so fun to see the outpouring of love from everyone that came in. It wasn't just sappy boyfriends/husbands/secret lovers getting flowers and chocolates for their significant others...it was anyone getting them for anyone - parents, grandparents, siblings, neighbors, etc too. It was so cool to see, and maybe I'm just a sap but I now think Valentine's Day is so neat!

We all have busy lives where we're running around, doing our own thing, and it's kind of cool to have one day set aside each year to stop and tell everyone you love that you love them. I'm not saying that businesses don't make a bundle off of this day - they definitely do - but I'm just saying that there's no reason to be bitter if you don't have a significant other, there are plenty of other people in your life who love you and whom you love. It's not a "single-awareness" or pig out with your girlfriends and feel sorry for yourselves day. It's a day to pick up the phone and call your grandma, or send your nephew a valentine in the mail, or send an email to a friend, or take cookies to a neighbor. I know, I know...I'm sounding super cheesy right now, but I don't care! I actually love Valentine's Day and I want to spread the single girl non-bitterness! So Happy Valentine's Day to all the people in my life and if you've thrown up by the end of this post...I don't care...I love you anyway!

Pick up Lines

So, back in December I got in a little accident and finally got my bumper fixed after about a month. I went to pick up my car today and there was an older "gentleman" (I use the term loosely) in there getting his '06 Mustang fixed. As I'm standing there the old man starts talking to this other kid, who recognized me from my job, and says:

"She must be a telephone operator, cuz she's got great lines!"
"She's got a body that goes for miles!" (something like that...he clearly messed it up)
and last but not least,
"She makes my liver quiver!"

Ok, old man, take a breather before your Viagra kicks in and we all get embarrassed.

Expanding my Horizons...

Ooooh! I'm so excited! My mom and I just signed up for an Interior Design class at UNLV. It's only 4 weeks long, but I think it'll be so fun and we'll at least get to learn the basics and see if we're any good at it. We've both wanted to give it a shot for a long time and I can't wait for it to start!!

I just decided yesterday (yes, a little late on the New Year's resolutions) that 2010 is going to be the year that I take charge. I'm no longer waiting for life to lead me, I'm going to take the lead for once! No more waiting until I'm done with my calling to take classes and go on cruises. I'm just going to do the things I've wanted to do for a while, and make time for my hobbies. So...I'm warning you that there may be more random posts to come...

Just Because...

I'm sitting at work and I'm sooo bored right now. Rain in the car biz means a slow week of paperwork! So, lucky for you...I get to blog now!

Matt and Renee and their little ones have been living with us for the past few months and I am in love with those boys! Nephews are the greatest!! Almost makes me want my own kids....almost. Jonas is potty training right now and he'll be 3 on Monday. He says and does the funniest things. Yesterday we found him running himself a bath - stripped down, toys in the tub, cold water running (not plugged) just sitting in there! haha (he may have had a little accident...) The other day Renee heard him singing "A Child's Prayer", but he mixed the words up a bit and sang, "Heavenly Father, you are really there..." Precious. It's nice to have a child's innocence around to put things back in perspective. Gibson is just sooo nice to have around. Renee has been lucky to have such good babies. He laughs and smiles at everything and he's motoring all over the place! If you're ever having a rough day, that baby's smile will fix it in a heartbeat! I just love them.

So, I just read Lindsay's blog and decided to steal her post, since I don't really want to post about dirt biking with my brothers last weekend, and my dad's new calling (1st Counselor), and how great my boyfriend is....

1. What did you do in 2009 that you've never done before?

I rode on a cable car! I also took a pole dancing class, which was super fun too!

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and will you make more for next year?

If I made any I'm sure I kept them :)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

I can't remember! I know I have some pregnant friends who are close to me who are close to giving birth though!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Not this year, but a lot of them got married which I call "dying" too...since they tend to sometimes disappear into newlywed land :)

5. What places have you visited?

San Fransisco! San Diego, LA, Canada, Utah...

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Patience, better organization, no debt, my own place, more chocolate

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched in your memory and why?

August 15th - my best friend, Joni, got married and I was her maid of honor. It was a truly beautiful day.

8. What was your biggest achievement this year?

I was able to balance all of my endeavors - calling, business, job, life...

Pretty much every wedding I finished (especially a two-day wedding I had) were huge accomplishments to me - all 19 of them!

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Just my mind

10. What was the best thing you bought?

Oooh, so many things...pretty clothes, scarves, shoes...technically I paid for my cruise in 2009 so I'm counting that!

11. Where did most of your money go?

I moved home and paid off my credit cards...so it all went to the banks

12. What song will always remind you of 2009?

Jeremih - Imma Star. haha! Oh Mei-mei... My bosom friend Megan Paris is a music fanatic and introduced me to a lot of great tunes such as this one.

13. What do you wish you would have done more of?

Weddings, relax, paint, projects

14. What do you wish you would have done less of?

Worry

15. What was your favorite TV program?

Either The Bachelorette with Jillian or Dating in the Dark or Modern Family or Glee

16. What was the best book you read this year?

Hunger Games or Water for Elephants...I don't know..there are a lot

17. What was your favorite film of the year?

That's a really tough choice...I can't ignore Harry Potter bc he is my first love, but I loved (500) Days of Summer too

18. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

I went to San Fransicso with Megan Paris and it was sooooo much fun! We had a blast! I turned 27. We'll probably do a repeat trip this summer and go somewhere fun again...I hope!

19. What political issue stirred you the most?

I'm not political but I'm trying to pay attention a little more. I guess the health care issue got me listening for a minute...

20. Who was the best new person you met?

Charlie <3

p.s. I just looked back at the last 6 months of pictures and I have to say I had a pretty fantastic year!

I "Blue" Myself...

So, I took a quick version of the personality color code test again. Lately I've been really curious to know what I am now, bc I've flopped a little before. It tells you to answer the questions according to when you were a child. I'd like to think I was a lot different when I was a kid, but I'm not...I just don't show it. :) In high school I was a blue/yellow. In college I was a yellow/blue (and I think I cheated a little bit bc I wanted to be more yellow so badly - they're way more interesting!). Now, I'm a blue again. The test I took online wouldn't tell me the ones that came next, unless I upgraded my account (lame) but I was only 38% blue, and the others were really close. I'm assuming I'm probably a blue/yellow again. Anyway...I don't really disagree with it. Yellows are positive, fun, creataive, and carefree - which I am to an extent. But I really think it hasn't changed much. I've always been a pretty close balance between blue and yellow. What do you guys think?? Ooooh, and post what yours is too. This is fun :)

Blues (Motive: Intimacy)
Blues are motivated by Intimacy. They seek to genuinely connect with others, and need to be understood and appreciated. Everything they do is quality-based. They are loyal friends, employers, and employees. Whatever or whomever they commit to is their sole (and soul) focus. They love to serve and give of themselves freely in order to nurture others' lives.

Blues have distinct preferences and have the most controlling personality. Their personal code of ethics is remarkably strong and they expect others to live honest, committed lives as well. They enjoy sharing meaningful moments in conversation as well as paying close attention to special life events (e.g. birthdays and anniversaries). Blues are dependable, thoughtful, and analytical; but can also be self-righteous, worry-prone, and moody. They are "sainted pit-bulls" who never let go of something or someone once they are committed. When you deal with a BLUE, be sincere and make a genuine effort to understand and appreciate them.

The "Memo"

I am no fashionista, but I do fancy myself to be relatively fashionable. Charlie and I went to the movies Saturday night and whilst we were standing in line waiting to go into the theater, I was people watching (of course). After a few minutes I pointed out to Charlie that every single teenage girl I saw was wearing jeans tucked into Uggs. No joke. I've never seen so many jeans and Uggs in my life. The more we watched the more we realized it was mostly teenage girls, but even spilled over into the older generations - grandmothers too! I mean, I like a good fashion trend and I'll grasp on to a good one and ride the train, but really?? It was astounding and comical how many we actually saw once we started paying attention. Did I miss the memo?? Sorry teeny boppers, but it becomes less of a statement and less original when you're the 2,476th girl at your school wearing them.

Furthermore...I have to express a fashion faux-pas that drives me crazy. Velour leisure suits. I can't tell you how many times I've been at the mall, a restaurant, or the movies and I have seen women walking around in these velour leisure suits. Since when did that become public outing wear?? You are not J-Lo and I don't care if it does say "Juicy" across your butt. It's not appropriate. Show some respect for yourself and the people you're with, for heaven's sake, and throw on an outfit! I do own such leisure wear and that's exactly where I wear it...in my home on Sundays whilst I'm being leisurely!

AND...if anyone cares about my last fashion rant I'll give it to you. Leggings at church. Leggings are pants. They don't belong at church. If you feel your dress may be a smidge too short there are sooo many pretty, patterned, textured tights out there that would fill the purpose of keeping your legs warm and covering them up at the same time. What a phenomenon. Don't get me wrong - I like leggings. I wear them with casual dresses every once in a while. In fact, I'm wearing a pair with a little cotton dress and a scarf at work, as we speak! I just don't think they're appropriate church wear. That's all. Happy Monday everyone!!

Dear Friends...

How is my "training" coming, you ask? I am still not a runner. Shocked? I know. You'd think a couple of weeks of running and I'd be a pro. Weird. I still get bored, but I think I'm getting closer to fooling my mind. Truth is, I'm not really aspiring to being a runner, per se, I just want to run 13 miles...once. That's all. So far this is how it's gone...I did pretty well on Monday when I realized the Bachelor was on at the gym and I could distract myself with the desperation of 30 ridiculous women chasing after 1 ridiculous man. I wish the gym had TiVo though, because every time a commercial came on I instantly started thinking about my legs, and my breathing. Grrr!

So, here's what I'm thinking...I'm going to try listening to classical music - maybe this will calm me down; then I'll try listening to one of the movies on my iPod, then I'll try a book on tape, and if all of that doesn't work, well I just don't know! I guess I'm just not cut out to run long distances. Who knows?! It is a lot less boring when I can run outside though, so maybe I'll try and convince my boyfriend to do that with me a few nights instead. Anyway...I know you all really care about my progress. Also, I found a really inspirational website of running quotes and today these are my favorites:

"Good things come slow - especially in distance running." - Bill Dellinger, Oregon coach

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'" - Peter Maher, Irish-Canadian Olympian and sub-2:12 marathoner

"Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired. When you were younger the mind could make you dance all night, and the body was never tired...You've always got to make the mind take over and keep going." - George S. Patton, U.S. Army General and 1912 Olympian