Girls Weekend: Part 3

...And the weekend still continues.

What is more fun then sitting around a giant table, having someone cook for you, and having food thrown at your face like a seal at the circus...

(the whole dinning experiences here at this restrant is a blog post in itself...)

Sounds just like a place that we would enjoy.

Yeah, that's right.

Teppanyaki for Lunch!

I love that place and thier noddles aren't half bad either.

On Tuesday before the ladies needed to head to the airport, we took them to Trafalga for a few games of laser tag and hit up the go carts.

(ssshhhhhh... I let the kids play hookie from school.)

For a while, we had the whole Trafalga to ourselves...it was awesome.

We introduced Jenny and Deonna to Cafe Rio...YUMMY!

(In fact, we went back a couple of times for lunch/dinner, but can you blame us??!?!)

After that with just a few mintues to spare, the kids knew that at Home Depot was the NASCAR car of Joey Logano, they wanted to show it to Nana.

(For all of you who don't know, but my mom loves NASCAR. Her driver is Kyle Busch #18. To the kids, she is known as NASCAR NANA. In fact, in the words of Dan, my mom is "Brainwashing" the kids into watching NASCAR.)

While at Home Depot, they had mini wood cars for the kids to make and take their very own NASCAR of Joey Logano.

Now, off to the airport we must go with fun memories of the past 5 days on our minds and very full suitcases.

I HATE good-byes!

Thanks to Jenny and Deonna for a fun girls's weekend.

You are some of our favorite people.

Know that you are loved by many here in Utah!

We have to do this again...sooner than later for sure.

In fact, Come September, the Scrapbook Expo will be back...

Just an Idea. ;)

Girls weekend: Part 2

With us being gone both Friday AND Saturday scrapping...we told the kiddos that they could pick what we were going to do today... BEAUTY MAKEOVERS is what they wanted to do.

What little girl doesn't want their hair done, put on lots and lots of makeup, get into fancy bright colored clothing with bling and pizazz, and to top it all off...

be in the center of attention and get lots of pictures taken!

Here is the before pictures:

"Miss Boom Boom" and "Fluffy" were the ones that were beautifying up the gals and ladies. Here are a few pictures of the gals all dolled up...Beautiful if you ask me.

In fact, they look too grown up.

(Dan don't want any boys knocking on our front door wanting to date his daughters for a very long time.)

Awe, something that all mom's like to see; her beautiful girls with smiles on their faces, actually getting along and loving each other.

I am a Lucky mom! With all this girlie stuff around...Carson was feeling a bit left out, BUT wanted NOTHING to do with the makeup and dressup... BUT, when we asked him if he wanted to pose as a NASCAR fan aka W.T. He was all for that!I was even able to get a Superman pose from Carson without too much beggin'. Not long after this picture, Carson was done and back to playing the wii is what he ended up doing the rest of the afternoon. I will take what I can get from him even more so, from a 5 year old boy during beauty makeovers. No Laughing...here is my before mugshot before getting transformed into a purple beauty goddess... YES, you better bet that us too, the "older" girls were into getting beauty and wanting our pictures taken as well. Wow-za! Look at those beauties! No camera shyness here! Who said that you have to be a "little" girl to appreciate the finner things in life like makeup, fancy outfits, and a camera shoot. We are all "little" girls inside, but we are now old enough on the outside to afford to buy the "finner" things.

As you can tell, we ALL had a great afternoon playing Dressup and giving each other beauty makeovers.

It made me realize that no matter the age, size, shape, color, all girls just wanna have FUN!

Here's to Girls weekend.

To be Continued...

Girl's Weekend: Part 1

What do you get when you combined friends from Idaho that you haven't seen in a long time, plus throw in my mom; Add in 5 days of fun and lots of laughs, late nights, and good company and conversation... you get a well needed GIRL'S WEEKEND!

Come on down to Utah Jenny and Deonna!

We welcome you with welcome arms and a pocketful of money to spend at the scrapbooking expo.

We spent Friday ALL DAY and NIGHT cropping our hearts out.

Nothing like starting at 9am and going until midnight, with shopping thrown into the mix and snacking here and there.

AND...

if that wasn't enough, we wanted to conquer Saturday as well at the scrapbooking expo.

With our big mugs full of caffeine, we were able to do it!

We were able to pull off the prizes, shopping, dancing, and cropping.

We did what we came there to do...I was able to get 20+ two-page layouts finished!

2 days down: what other things will we do this Girl's Weekend??

Only time and our imagination will tell....

To be Continued...

just Knock it off.

Okay, these crafting blogs are either drive me crazy with all of the awesome ideas, thinking I need to make this AND that... AND/OR break the bank thinking I need to make this AND that.

Well, the latest project that I wanted to try, I found over at Just a Girl blog where she took a shows how to make this darling Anthropology lampshade.

Anthropology is "trying" to sell theirs for $88.00!!!

No I don't think so!

So, with the help of Just a Girl, she teaches how to make your very own lamp shade for a lot less.

Here is my lampshade that I am going to "knock off " and transform into my very own creation.

(BTW-Dan bought me this lamp years ago for Christmas from Home Depot, not sure if they even have them anymore, but it was a shout out to where to might start your looking if you are in need of a floor lamp.)

So, with the directions I followed from Just a Girl blog, I was able to make my own "knock off" lampshade in a few hours and with only a few glue gun scars to show of.

TA-DA! From boring to Awesome!

AND it DIDN'T cost me $88.00! Here is the CSpringer with a price tag of less than $5.00 in supplies. I think I did a might fine job and when you think that you need something, just try to "Knock it off" instead!

Before & After

Girl's Bathroom edition:

The Before:

While walls.

Kinda Dull.

No real personality.
Well, it is a bathroom. We do have that going for us.

I told Kenzie to pick a color from the old shower curtain, for it was a pricey one from Pottery Barn and I wanted to still get use out of it...plus, the one that I really wanted online was out of stock. I hate that when that happens...I like something, fall in love with it, go to buy it...and out of stock it was!

Not cool.
Sorry about my small tantrum. Oh well, I will make this one work.

Well, we start the redo upgrade and even buy the girls a new light fixture to install in their bathroom...
Allow me to vocalize that I dislike Fieldstone Homes!
Look at the awesome hole in the wall that Dan found when he took off the old light fixture AND after phone calls and emails to Fieldstone, they informed us that the kind of work that their employees do were at code and did with great care.
BULL S%#*!
Anyways, again back to the redo upgrade girl's bathroom...
The After:
Paint color on the walls: Orange
Bead borad is up.
White shelving.
White molding around the mirror.
Orange and white accent decor.
***Notice the light fixture is NOT changed...DUMB Fieldstone said they would not have someone come out and fix it unless it was on our dime.
BULL S#%*!!
AND the hold was too big for the light fixture that we had bought, so the patch work would have been too noticeable.
All in all, the girls love their bathroom and are actually excited to use it.
Now, maybe the wet towels and laundry will stay out of my bathroom. ;)
Here's to another successful redo...next is the master bed room aka the "Love Retreat" according to David Bromstad.
BTW-LOVE HIM!

LUCK is in the house...

...even if the girls didn't seem to catch any leprechaun with the traps that they set the night before.

Even though the kids didn't catch the leprechaun, they were able to snag a few bags of treats.

St. Patties Day is here.Carson started the morning off with a big bowl of Lucky Charms. Delanie is shows off "her"(aka busy work for mom) leprechaun trap homework.

Carson and Cassie show off the awesome shirts that I made, thanks to my silhouette machine and the easy to use iron on vinyl that Silhouette sells.

(Again, I found Carson's shirt idea on eighteen25 craft blog. Cassie's shirt was pure me.)

With all the kiddos dressed in their green, they are bound to have one LUCKY day.

With those four smiling faces, I know that I have all the luck that I need to bring me happiness.

A meaningful night...

...and I wasn't even the one that was being honored.

Tonight was all for Bishop H. David Burton.

The city of Salt Lake, has a annual event in which they honor "a Giant in our City."

For all who don't know who he is, Well, Bishop Burton is the Presiding Bishop for the entire Mormon Church.

Not only is Bishop Burton the Presiding Bishop of the church, but he is also a family friend.

See, Dan and I had a connection to Bishop Burton way back, even 11 years ago, when Bishop Burton flew up to Oregon to marry us in the Portland Temple.

(Dan's Dad and Bishop Burton go w-a-y back, they went to high school together.)

Back to the meaningful night to honor Bishop Burton...

Dan and I (as well as Dan's parents and all of his sibling/spouses) were invited to spend the evening honoring Bishop Burton at the Grand America Hotel.

We were to dress formal and and get ready to hang with the "Who's who in the state of Utah"
2000 people from all races, religion, and state of affairs were there...and then there was US.

We were definitely fish out of water, but it was fun and fancy to see the "Bold and the Beautiful" people of our great state.
This is what a $300.00 plate of food looks like.
Impressed?
I must not enjoy/appreciate the taste for fancy food, Dan needed to go stop at Micky D's on the way home for a quick cheeseburger because he was still hungry. Neither of us touched the Salmon. YUCK!

Speech after speech of nothing but great things that people said about the kindness, love, hard working, determined, patient, great man Bishop Burton is, we watched a movie about him that said more of the same things; Bishop Burton got up and addressed the audience.

After hearing all of the wonderful things that were said, I was inspired to be more like him.

He truly is a wonderful man.

One thing that Bishop Burton does, is rates certain experiences in how many chocolate chip cookies it may be. It could be a one chocolate chip cookie day or a 10 chocolate chip day...well, in honor to him, they gave each guest two cookies wrapped up next to our seats; to close the event, everyone was asked to raise their cookies and toast to Bishop Burton...it was a 4000 chocolate chip cookie day.

Another reason why it was such a meaningful night was for who else was in our presents...

President Thomas S. Monson.

The prophet of the Mormon church.

Well, after the event, Dan and I were walking over to snap a picture of the Prophet.

We kept getting closer and closer.

Then all of the sudden, secret service was there.

(Where in the heck did they come from??!?!)
Big wigs from the church and politics from the state were coming by to give their respect to the Prophet.

He was darling.

He was ever so sweet to everyone.

He was normal, but so much more.

Dan and I were standing there, taking this all in, when President Monson sees Dan and I and walks up to us, extends his hand and gives both of us a firm hand shake.

I will always treasure that moment!

Tears filled my eyes.

I was touched!

The Prophet of the Lord talked and meet with me.

I know that He is a man that was called of God.

In his handshake, I could feel of his love for me, the church, and God, but did it ever so humbly and sweetly.

A moment I will hold ever so dear to my heart.

***On a side note, on the way home, we called the kids to let them know how the night went and how Dad and I got to shake the hand of the Prophet. Delanie ever so sweetly said, "Awe mom, first David Archuleta and NOW the Prophet. You are Lucky!"

Yes, Lanie, I am lucky and like I said...it was a meaningful night!

Bitter Sweet:

Can you believe that the time has finally come for these two to...

(read the sign)

sign up for Kindergarten!

I thought that this day would never get here; the thought of "freedom" during the day has me now thinking that this moment is BITTER SWEET.

From the day that these two were born, they have been by my side; keeping me constantly busy and on my toes.

From the worrisome of being born 6 weeks early to the toddler stage of the naughty tests of seeing just how you could push me.

(One of the very reasons why this blog started in the first place.)

I wanted the "freedom" so bad and longed for the day that I could have some time to myself.

Well, Be careful what you wish for because time is one thing that you can't control...

Now you two are going to start Kindergarten THIS Fall. Now look at you two, 5 years old, hand in hand down the halls, best buddies, getting ready to conquer "everyday school" while I will be "free at last"...

Did I really want this?

Will I survive?

Was I wishing time away?

What will I do all by myself?

This moment is Bitter Sweet.

Somethings get all the Luck...

...and what is more lucky when you happen to see a flying pig...

...and this flying pig just happens to be on one lucky mantle. Looks like we are going a bit green this time of year.
Thanks to the help of some of my favorite craft blogs ie. eighteen25 & I am momma hear me roar, I was able to print off these darling st. patty's day printables.

Also, the Dollar Store, Tai Pan Trading, and Ross were my big helpers in creating this Spring back drop on my mantle.
I even made this "grow" banner with my very own two hands.
All it took was...
An Old Book.
Cardstock.
Chipboard letters.
Glitter.
Ribbon.
Flowers.
Glue.
AND about 2 hours of my time...
and Ta-Da.
A Happy and "Lucky" mantle for us to enjoy!
"Going Green" isn't a bad thing.

Harassment=Love

This basketball season, one of our favorite things that we did as a family (and Dan and I found ourselves there on our date nights as well) was going to the Utah Flash games.
Not only are they fun to watch, I have a hate/love relationship for the opposing teams.

I love to harass the other players.
The white board comes out and the "harassment" begin.

I am not the only "bad" girl...Christina Treu is my partner in crime.

We are genius.

We laugh.

Other people enjoy the signs as well.

We have gotten the nic-names "the white board ladies."

Even security gets a good laugh with the signs.
The players on the opposing team actually get a kick in the names that we come up with to "harass" them with.

Here I am with one of my favorite players in my little hate/love relationship...Dar Tucker.

When he was on the bench, he would get the sign that would say..."Tucker-ed" Out?

He and his teammates would smile from the other side of the court.
No wondered why we have such a fun time at these games.
Is it really the game of ball I love or the game of the Harassment=Love?

Either way, bring on the game of basketball.
On a side note...

At one of the Flash games, we sat only a few seats away from Ty Corbin; the new Utah Jazz coach. Dan was pretty excited to be able to get a quick photo with him.
At one of the earlier games of the season, I was able to snag a hug from Donny Osmond, himself who sat only about 4 seats away.

Pretty Cool.

You never know who will be at these games, but one thing is for sure...you're gunna love the games.

Tell me how you really feel...

I found this "note" that Kenzie wrote over the weekend when she was frustrated about working on her monthly book report.

Notice that there is a sad face and happy face...one is crossed out and one is circled.

Sometimes it is easier to write your feelings down then to yell and scream.

Mackenzie is a good kid.

She is also a good student.

She is also pretty hard on herself...stresses too much.

(Wonder where she gets that...maybe her mom.)

Well, with each month, the kids are assigned to read a book and do a report/project.

The kids have a month to do this assignment.

Well, for the month of February, they had to read and make a puppet. That part Kenzie was okay with. (Give that girl a craft and she is in Heaven) BUT it was the other part of the assignment that scared her; getting up in front of the class and give a report on the book as the puppet.

NOW that is NOT Kenzie's favorite thing...she gets that from her Dad.

I enjoy it.

In fact, I remember dressing up as "CC the clown" in my fifth grade class for an assignment. There is no way that Kenzie would enjoy that...hence the hand written note she wrote when she was feeling stressed with this assignment.

Well, today after school Mackenzie was full of smiles for a couple of reasons.

1. Her puppet was done

(it is a warm fuzzy if you couldn't tell.)

2. The assignment was done.

AND

3. She got a PERFECT score on this assignment!

With that bright smile of hers, she handed me her book report assignment for the month of March.

Really???

Can I get a break?

Not a day to relax from February's months assignment?

Where is MY piece of paper to write my feelings down?!!?

The gift that keeps on giving...part1

So, this year for my birthday, Dan did something that he might never live down...

On top of all the fun gifts and dinner, he also gave me the "okay" to redo the upstairs loft.

You kinda got a sneek peek in my Birthday Post, but here is the official redo post....PART1.

(I am still waiting for my furniture to get in at IKEA...they keep pushing the arrival date further and further back. Hurry up already...my bum doesn't think sitting on the floor is too cozy anymore.)

So, with every redo; you must always have the BEFORE picture:

Country Living was the "theme" I was going for,

(OR it was what we had when we were apartment living many years ago.)

(By the way...I am still trying to sale that awesome checkered sofa/bed with matching rug PLUS even some decor for ONLY $60.00. Call me if you want the "Country Living" in your home.)

Notice the awesome OAK...not a fan. Never really was, but, we made it work.

So, let the old stripes be gone...and bring on the board and batten.
"We" (I say that term so loosely) even took out the old baseboards and added 5.5 inch baseboards. LOVE them!
So...with the magic of photos, this project is now done within minutes.
It only took a weekend.

AFTER:
New colors are:
Gray/Silver, White, Black, and a pop of Orange
(you will have to wait to see the orange)
*Clean lines.
*Bright.
*Openness.
*Classy.

Look! NO MORE OAK!
The tv is even off the floor.
I LOVE IT!

This room has been so much fun to do.
I can't wait to show the rest with the decor once the furniture is in place.
See why Dan may regret giving me the "okay" to redo the loft...because it hasn't stopped there with just this project.
I had him "finish" the look in the rest of the upstairs with the taller baseboards with board and batten throughout.
LOVE IT!
NOW...
The girls bathroom is on the list,
As well as our bedroom...See it's the gift that keeps on giving. ;)