May I please have a David Beckham shmovie...

(AKA Burger King is FRIGGIN' BRILLIANT!)

I don't know about you, but I believe in this statement wholeheartedly: David Beckham was created for the sole purpose of making everyone all hot and bothered. Yes, I said everyone, because he is just THAT freakishly hot he can even make straight men swoon. He also has insanely great talent with a soccer ball that soccer players will forever be mastering the "bend it like Beckham" move.

Burger King recently decided to revamp their menu and advertising.  They, very wisely, eliminated "the king" from their ads.  He was a little on the creepy side if you ask me,  definitely did not excite any yearning for me to run off to Burger King. Instead they, brilliantly, intrusted the work of some celebrities to show off the new menu items.  In this commercial you will see that someone with insane intelligence came up with the most ingenious concept of all time.

Alright, everyone do it with me, BREATHE IN and now BREATHE OUT...again!

Does that not make you want to run, throw on the first pair of shoes you see, grab your car keys and drive as fast as you can to the nearest Burger King? Well, maybe not quite that reaction, especially since you are trying to to cool yourself off after watching that clip 10 times (or 20 like me, I've got no shame.)

I'm not gonna lie, I went there and asked for a "strewberri banana shmovie." The cute little mexican lady just looked at me like I was some sort of loonie person. Then I said, "actually I want a mango shmovie, I mean smoothie."  This got my order rung up, and actually it was a very tasty shmovie, I mean smoothie. I suggest you try one sometime.

***I am in not way affiliated with Burger King. They did not pay me to write about their products or ask me to.  This is just my own opinion and I did it of my own accord.***

Mucus Brain...

There is scientific proof that a woman's brain actually shrinks during pregnancy.  It is what I have called "pregnancy brain." During pregnancy woman has a valid reason for having dumb moments. I have experienced this when I was pregnant with my girls. 


During the last few weeks I have been ailing with an upper respiratory infection.  Which basically means that I have multiple infections going on in my head.  The great part of this is the never ending stream of bright green mucus that would exit through my nose and mouth at all times of the day and night.  I would be coughing and sneezing at the same time, and if I didn't have a tissue--okay you should be getting a picture of what was happening. No need for me to go into further gory details. 


While going through these delightful mucus filled days, I found myself not being too smart. I would instantly forget something that someone just told me,  I wouldn't understand something really simple being explained to me, etc.  My cousin was here with me and we dubbed these occurrences "this is your brain on mucus" aka "mucus brain."  Luckily my mucus filled days are seeming to be behind me, and I hope my brain isn't clouded by it anymore. I have been able to sleep and breath, which I appreciate more than anyone can know! 

Glad this guy no longer resides with me

The Fray concert experience...

(AKA my unofficial date with Ryan Tedder)....

As you know I adore The Fray.  I was totally bummed when I found out their Spring tour wasn't coming close to my area.  Luckily my amazing husband knew just how bummed I was, so he surprised me with tickets to see their last show in Denver at the Red Rocks Amphitheater! BEST SURPRISE EVER! (and if you know me you know I DO NOT enjoy surprises)

Forecast for Denver night of concert: COLD with 50% chance of rain. No worries, we decided to be prepared (husband even wore long johns, telling me I needed some too, which I declined).  We stopped at REI, purchased stadium seat thing-a-ma-bobs, and ponchos.  We had brought lots of warm clothing layers and accessories from home.

Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado

 We get to the amphitheater early, so far it's not that cold, but the sky has been taken over by dark ominous clouds. We decide to go walk to the very front of the seating to survey the seats for the best available ones.  Right as we get up to the front row, we see two men walking out on the stage toward the front row.  It was Isaac Slade and Joe King from The Fray! They walked all along the row greeting and taking pictures with fans.  Talk about being at the right place at the right time!

After that, we found some really great seats and sat down and waited for the show to start.  Just as the first opening act was about to come on stage I started to feel some wet drops emerge from the sky. As soon as the rain made it's presence known to all, everyone got into "stay dry mode."  The whole audience, in an almost choreographed motion, stood up and donned some sort of rain gear.

Us all poncho-fied.  I was looking at my phone while inside my poncho and took a picture.

It started out as a light drizzle, escalating to an impressive flurry of rain.  Luckily, it only lasted for the hour that the two opening acts were performing.  The sky must've been privy to the upcoming performance that was about to ensue in the gorgeous outdoor theater.  For, just minutes before, the downpour changed to just a slight mist, then vanished into thin air! When The Fray came onto the stage, everyone was poncho/ umbrella free and able to stand and dance like no one was watching. (or was that last part just about me?)

It's at this time I had a very interesting person appeared next to me and asked if the seats next to me were available.  I replied with the affirmative and proceeded to immediately remove our ponchos from the area requested. As I look up and get a good look at the male who was speaking to me I recognize that is was none other than Ryan Tedder, most known for being the lead singer of One Republic.  To me, this was a HUGE deal.  I do a little freak out inside my head, on the outside I was keeping my cool, as demonstrated in the picture below.

During the show Ryan put his hand on my back and preceded to yell in my ear (so romantic), to ask if I could save the seats while he went to get a drink.  He was gone for awhile, it seemed like he would never return, but he did!  I informed him that I thought he had stood me up. (Yes, I am THAT cool) I did have a little conversation with him, which was cool.  Just as I was about to ask him if I could get an official picture with him, happened to be when he decided to leave.  I wasn't expecting his early departure, so I just stood there in disbelief that I had missed my opportunity.  Oh well, I'm sure if I really want to I can make that happen another day.

Back to The Fray...they are truly amazingly talented individuals.  The show was a wonderful experience. At one point Isaac came up into the audience and walked right next to me, husband gave him a high five. My favorite song was sung beautifully by Joe.  I always feel a tiny bit of disappointment when their concerts are over, I wish I could put their actual concert into my iPod!

I LOVE THE FRAY!

Scars and Stories...

This album has been on repeat on my iPod for the last 2 months. I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE FRAY!  Their previous album was amazingly brilliant, and this one is sensationally wonderful. You could say I am a little teensy tiny bit obsessed.  (Just found that I posted about The Fray here and here, I like them lots!)


Two years ago the husband and I saw them in concert.  We were so blown away by the sheer talent of this band.  We have been waiting for them to come back close for us to go see them again!  Well the time has come and we will see them 2 times this year!  WHOOT WHOOT! (I am not going out of control crazy about it either- I promise! I am the epitome of calm cool and collected)


On every album there is one song that the guitarist/backup vocalist, Joe King, sings lead on.  While I love Issac's voice, I always look forward to what I have dubbed "Joe's song." On this current album "Joe's song" happens to be my very favorite song on the album.  The song is called "Rainy Zurich", and it is all sorts of feel goodery (it's a word if I say it's a word) that I love. In fact, being the humble person I am, I have decided this song would be even better with ME singing WITH Joe King (The Fray).  Yes, that is the conclusion I have come to. While that may sound a little strange, if you think that, just remember that this blog is dedicated to "my thoughts."  With that in mind, it is acceptable for me to be sharing these thoughts.  


[Just incase Joe King has "Google name alert"on, I may be entering his name and The Fray, more often than needed.  You never know.]  


Now since I no longer have the music on my sidebar, I think it is necessary that I include the song that I am talking about.  [For potential Google Alert purposes: This is Joe King (The Fray) singing "Rainy Zurich"]

Smelly?

Yesterday I bought my girls deodorant.  Although I have accepted the fact that they are growing up (too fast), this was weird for me. For some reason this was even weirder than getting my older daughter a training bra. I care about their hygiene, especially their body odor, as I have an uber sensitive sense of smell. 


 I hadn't noticed anything yet, but apparently their school teachers have, I would notice too if there were 20+ kids in a room and the temp is 90+ degrees outside.  Their teachers announced to the class that everyone MUST wear deodorant. My children, being the good students that they are, informed me of their "assignment".  I was a little shocked that 3rd graders would be so smelly, but 5th graders I wasn't so shocked.  I was pretty sure that MY girls didn't smell though.  I decided to do a smell test.  I figured I have put my nose right next to their bottoms when they were babies to test the air,  their armpits should be harmless!  (Keep in mind we were actually at the store when we were doing this) I have the oldest go first, because that is her gift for begin born first, I sniff and we are in the clear.  She tells me that she isn't sweaty or smelly at that moment in time.  I go to my youngest, sniff, and WHOA NELLY that kid NEEDS deodorant! She had just been outside pretty recently, and was hot and sweaty.  I'm in a state of disbelief.  I am not a sweaty person, and when I do I smell like roses.  In fact I RARELY wear deodorant.  Shocking, I know, but this is the truth.  It takes a little bit for the realization to settle in, but I tell my girls to pick a scent they like, they have fun with it.  When we get home I teach them how to apply the stuff, they are both incredibly ticklish, so that was fun.  Now my girls will not have smelly armpits, they won't be adding to the bad smell in their classrooms.  They will be smelly good, hopefully, from now on.

I've been thinking...

Apparently I haven't been doing much thinking ("thoughts") since February 2010!  That is OVER 2 years ago!  Well, ladies and gentleman, I have been thinking lately!  (I appreciate the applause that I am not able to actually hear, I have a good imagination though) 


If by any way shape or form, anyone will see this, I want to give you a sneak peek at what I have been thinking about:

*My new hobby/ project
*current obsessions
*TV shows
*fantasy boyfriends
*food (note to self: smoothie)
*cool things I have or want to have


Well that seems to be all I can think about right now.  I hope this post will give you hope for a better future.  

Sneak Peek!

Here is a sneak peek at what I have been working on! I just made the bed and I am LOVING the room! I still have furniture to work on, but I couldn't help myself I had to share this!!

Under Construction...

This is the theme of what my life has been going through the last month. Well not so much my life, but what I have been doing all around me! I have been/am in the process of remodeling the whole second floor of my house. Today I picked out paint colors for one of the rooms. That will be under way in a couple weeks. I am so exhausted from all the work, obviously blogs have been put on hold. I make time to go to the gym and take care of my wifely/motherly duties, and do all the projects also. I reward myself with relaxing in my bed with a good book. I have about 30 hours of TV shows on my DVR, but those are going to have to wait, as is my blogging. I may need another month before I really am able to sit here and feel like I can post! I may be able to do quickie posts like I have been doing here and there (btw I did one on my family blog) so be on the lookout.

Tired?

Are you tired of seeing my eye? I know I am. Sorry about the absence. This month has been extra crazy with Christmas things. I was also sick for a week so that threw me WAY off! What I have been up to other than Christmas craziness? Here is a list of a few things that have made me happy!


1. NOG! "It's the NOG!" in the words of my 8 year old. Half of our family doesn't tolerate the lactose so we go for this holiday drink. Good thing about this is it's less fat and calories then the normal low fat eggnog. Best part about it is it tastes SUPER yummy and it doesn't upset my tummy!

2. I read this one day while I was sick. Yes I do think it was one day. Well maybe a day and a half. I could NOT put it down. It has all the requirements that I need for a good reading: romance, suspense, and great characters. If you haven't read this- do! I highly recommend it!

3. My favorite show of the year is GLEE! It was a sad day when I heard that no new episode will be shown til APRIL!! WHAT?!? Are you SERIOUS?! Luckily I have the soundtrack on my iPod and I haven't deleted the last few episodes from my DVR. Here is the best rendition of "Don't Rain on My Parade" I have EVER heard! (pause the music player before you play this!) EDIT 12/23 -Apparently they took down the video I had on here first. Now we just have the audio and not the video. You can watch the episode on Hulu if you want to see it!



There you go! A few of my newest favorite things. And now you don't have to see my eye anymore! Now I need to go see if my Christmas cards have arrived yet in the mail so I can send them out!!!

Playing Around...

Today instead of making my grocery list (obviously my favorite thing to do), I decided to play around on Photoshop. I wanted to see how the effects work and mess around with them a little. I first took a picture of my eye. Cropped it close up, then tried a bunch of the different effects. Here are my favorite ones. The one on top is called Mosaic Tile. You can select more or less tiles, grout size, and lighten the grout. I like how it turned out.

Next one below is pretty freaky. It's called Glowing Edges. I think it looks like an alien eye or some sort of science fictional character! I can't help but love it!

This one is Rough Pastels. I like how it looks like a painting on a canvas.

This one is my absolute favorite. It's called Dry Brush. I'm pretty sure this effect will be used again. I absolutely love the look it gives to the photo. All the texture in it is smooth and enhances the lines.

This is a slow and steady learning process I am having with this program, but I am totally loving it. I am blogging my progress so I will be able to look back and see how much I grow. Hopefully someday I will be a pro at this and can make great things with my talent. One thing I do know is my grocery list is not growing. I guess I need to focus on that now!

Heavy...

Yesterday my friend asked me to go to a weight training class at the gym with her. I was reluctant at first, but decided that I needed something to motivate me. I hadn't been to the gym in almost 2 weeks, so I had to get my butt into gear somehow!

If you know me very well you know that I am pretty wimpy when it comes to being "strong" or "sporty". I just don't do well in those concepts. You might know also that working my arms at the gym is my least favorite activity. I will work my legs up the wazoo before I do anything with my arms. Going to this weight class I knew there would be arm working, and it freaked me out, but I decided it's about time my arms got some attention.

The class was hard, but I LOVED it! Thanks to Heather for making me go with her. She had to help me, but I felt that I could do most of the stuff (especially after she showed me how)! I had very little weights on my bar, but I feel that with practice I will be able to add on more.

I can't help but think of how parts of our life sometimes gets hard and heavy and we just don't want to work on it. We will carry on with the easy parts, just because it's easier, but the things that are uncomfortable we ignore. There are things in my life I know I have been trying to neglect, but I am going to try to lift a little at a time and hopefully be able to get strong enough I can lift it all. Even if it does mean I may be hardly able to move the next day. :)

Nature...

I love Oregon and I need something to distract me from my kid who is home from school. She is pretty much better from her sickness except for a very persistent cough. I took these pictures when we went there last month. Love the green. Love the trees. Love the water. Love the sand. Oh and I even love the spiders. (Only if they are perched safely away from the house and in the middle of their webs!)

Bathroom Redo...

If you have been to my house you have seen my little tiny bathroom that's at the front of the house. You step up a couple steps and there you have it, a little tiny bathroom. The ceiling is very low, I can even touch it standing on my tippy toes. Oh and the thing I really dislike about it is there is a stinkin' window right to the side of the toilet! I can't do anything about the window, unfortunately, but I can do something to make it not seem like a midget bathroom. With some ideas from my friend and some inspiration from a pillow I have I gave my bathroom a little makeover! Here is the photographic evidence:

Before and during pictures (click to enlarge)

Now for the BIG REVEAL!

Looking into the bathroom from outside it.

Above the toilet some much needed decor.

We installed a hand towel ring for your hand drying convenience.

Towels are a work in progress. I like them but Marshall's didn't have enough of the print I wanted (the big one), so I am trying to see if the other one (the small one) will work.

Rug is also trying to win it's way into my heart. What do you think?

Finishing touch is the window valance I made. Big thanks to Darla, I could never do things like this without her inspiration and drill!

Project complete!

Canning Adventure...

Last week a couple friends and I split some boxes of produce. We got them for a good price that Sara so kindly organized and picked up. Stacie and I decided we would can our portions of produce. Well, my dear friend Stacie had never canned before in her life! I, on the other hand, have canned many a times during my life with my grandma and step mom. That being said I am not used to being the one all knowing about what I am canning. So with a little help from this huge jem:

Stacie and I were on our way! First day we did salsa with our tomatoes and jam with our peaches. The next day we did tomato sauce with the rest of our tomatoes (we had a lot of tomatoes that were VERY ripe). Then the last day I whipped out the pears. Here is a collage of the fruit of our labors!

Who wants to join us next year?

I now declare blog strike -OVER!

I suppose I was on a blog strike. At first it wasn't a conscious decision to be on a strike. I really didn't have anything to blog about. Then came the first day of school. Everyone was blogging about the first day of school. The kids in front of the house with their backpacks on. Looking so cute in their new school clothes. Big huge grins strewn over their faces. We took pictures like that. We really did. But what happened after those pictures were taken was something we didn't really see coming. It may seem like nothing to you, but it is definitely something to me.

Separation Anxiety

No I wasn't the one having this problem, my new 1st grader was. It had been slowly creeping it's ugly head just when the summer had started. We can't even say that there was a real trigger, because it was so gradual. Then first day of school happens, and BOOM, it's ugly head is there in full force taking over my sweet sweet child. Because this child is usually such a sweet, happy, and bouncy kid this thing made her seem like someone I didn't even know. It really scared me.

When it came time to possibly blog about this occasion. I sat down on my computer and looked at the cute pictures of the happy child.

Then I lost it.

That is when the strike truly began. With time and counseling my child is doing lots better. The big ugly head that is separation anxiety only comes up a little now. We are having lots of help with dealing with this from her teacher and a therapist that we are taking her to.

I can now share the pictures from the 1st day of school. But you will have to go to the family blog to see them! Let me know if you need an invite to that.

Feelin' crafty...

So here is what I have done in the past few weeks:

I read Confessions of a Shopaholic.
I read Shopaholic takes Manhattan.
I read Shopaholic ties the Knot.
I read The Time Traveler's Wife.
I read The Actor and the Housewife.

I babysat for multiple people.

I helped my kids with their summer schoolwork that I so kindly bestowed on them.

I did laundry, but did not iron, so therefore I have a nice ironing pile waiting for me.

I started a Facebook page, not sure what I think about it, but it's fun to see old friends on there.

I forced my friend to let me and another friend help her pack up for her move.

I gave some much needed cooking lessons to my very young, but dear friend!

I wore my new THE FRAY T-shirt not once, not twice, not three, but four times since the concert. (I may have to post a picture!)

Last, but certainly not least.....
I got CRAFTY!!

This is big for me since I am so far from crafty! Luckily this craftiness was helped by an idea on a website. Here they are:

A little Giraffe!

The Giraffe and (anorexic) Elephant!

Back side is MINKY! (so soft!)

I made these for my friend's little girl that just turned one last week. I LOVE how they turned out. I even had to draw the template by myself. Even though the elephant is anorexic, I don't care! I'm also going to make a couple tote bags this week. I'm in a sewing mood!

Happy Birthday to me!

Last week was my birthday and my birthday present from DH was redeemed last night! We went to THE FRAY CONCERT! You remember my love of their new album? Well I am even MORE in love with it now! Seeing them perform live was amazing and I can't wait til they come again!!!

p.s. I posted a new playlist so now you get to listen to The Fray! Aren't you so happy about that?

YUM-O...

The 4th of July holiday just a couple days away and I have not a clue what we are going to do. So far we are going to hit the parade in the morning. After that, who knows. What I do know is that I want to share with you a super yummy dessert I made a few weeks ago. Here it is:

Simply Sensational Strawberry Shortcake

(if you click on the top picture it will take you to the recipe)

The recipe is from from Kraftfoods and it is so DELICIOUS!! If you need a nice summer treat here you go!

Great Deal...

Just a quickie...

I follow quite a bit of blogs on my Google Reader. If you don't use this you are REALLY missing out. Anyway, I am getting off track a bit. Today on one of these blogs there was a great deal added on to the recipe that was posted. Basically you need to just go to the blog and see what I am talking about. It's Real Mom Kitchen, and there is a coupon code for this great site, called Shabby Apple, that sells super cute dresses. I really like this oneIt's called "l'Ete" (click on the picture!)

There are a TON of way way cute ones. Go check it out and then comment back on here and tell me which one is YOUR favorite!

(p.s. I have been posting EVERY day this week! All posts have been on the family blog, so go check them out if you haven't already! YEAH for me!)

Guess what...

I'm ALIVE!

Were you starting to think otherwise? In fact I have been so alive that I have not hardly been home, I've been running around so much!

Guess what else...

I have a PLAN!

My plan is to do a post everyday this week until I am caught up with all my happenings. I may or may not post on THIS blog. Remember, I have my family blog that is private. I share more detailed things about my family on there. If you don't have an invite to my private blog send me an email or comment if you think you deserve one!

Today my goal is to download all my pictures from my cameras. Then tomorrow I can start my posting.

Wish me luck!