Camping is in tents.

The next few posts over the next few days (hopefully) will be chronologically out of order.  I still haven't posted my visit to Mississippi and the plane rides to and from.  Look for those.  I promise they'll come soon...someday.

Derek and I are enjoying the seven-week break between the Spring and Fall semesters.  Mainly I've been working and cleaning, but this weekend we went on a ward campout.  It was really fun.  I'm a little more sunburned and a lot more sore!

Friday night we prepared our foil dinners and drove out to Island Park.  Our awesome bishop has a cabin our there.  He's an orthodontist, and he saved for this cabin for 23 years.  He also hand-picked and laid the stone inside, on, and around the cabin (mansion). What a hard workin' guy!  So, Friday night consisted of eating good food, lots of s'mores, playing fun games, having a small devotional, and socializing until about midnight.

Saturday we had pancakes, eggs, and bacon for breakfast.  The bishop took lots of people out on his boat and showed him all the cabins that were even bigger than his huge home.  We went swimming, paddle boated, and went tubing.  Derek and I got on a massive tube with another ward member.  The tube could fit 4 people.  I was in the middle holding on for dear life and bouncing up and down constantly.  It was extremely fun and slightly scary.  I did stay on.  Go me!  But after a while I was super tired and sore and couldn't last much longer, so Derek let go for my sake, and we called it a day.

We ate lunch in Ashton and discovered a new way of enjoying eating out.  We bought one entree and a couple other small things and shared it.  It ended up being cheaper, and we sampled lots of good food.  Cool!

After showering we took a nap and woke up at 8 o'clock.  Somehow we were able to sleep well last night as well.  We're still sore, but we're satisfied with the fun, productive weekend.

Sorry there aren't any pictures.  We brought our camera but forgot to document.

Sweet Home Mississippi

This week so far has been fun-filled.  Monday night after picking me up from the airport, the family and I went to Corky's Barbecue for dinner.  So GOOD!  Of course, right when I got home I got into my swimsuit and jumped in the pool. 

Tuesday was filled with shopping, mainly.  Old Navy, how I have missed thee.  We also went to the Nursery to get some plants for the wedding and reception.  After watching Reina get hyped up and dancing to the Michael Jackson video, we went to Liz's to set up for Tracy's bridal shower.  The house was packed full of ladies, young and old.  We had good food, fun games, and good food. 

At 11:00 p.m. we arrived at the movie theater to wait around for the long-anticipated Eclipse.  Surprisingly I liked it a lot better than the previous one.  I spent those hours asking Liz lots of questions about the plot and making fun of corny lines and goofy looks of hunger and lust.

After sleeping in until 10:00 this morning, I'm ready for another day of fun-filled family activity.  I'm planning on having lunch with Dad and practicing some music with Patti and Alex.  Tomorrow we'll be setting up the church and deck for the wedding and reception.  So far, a good week.

pooka, wheat, water, meat

This weekend in preparation to leave my husband for a whole week was actually quite eventful.  Friday night we joined Matt Nelson and his date, Kim, on the lawn of the dorms on campus to watch Harvey starring James Stewart.  It was funny and insightful.  Very enjoyable.  With ten minutes left of the movie, the clouds rolled in bringing lots of thunder and lightning and a little bit of moisture.  So they cleaned up, and the four of us went to Derek's office in the MC to watch the last online.  I love 6'3" rabbits.

Saturday morning I made these really good wheat pancakes.  I got the recipe (and wheat berries) from a Preparedness Fair the stake held on Tuesday.  They were yummy.

Saturday afternoon we joined the rest of Rexburg at Porter Park for the Epic Waterfight.  It was awesome.  We have lots of pictures and video.  It was an event to remember.  East side (red) versus West side (blue).  We even bought t-shirts to prove it.  Afterwards Derek, Matt, and I went to Jamba Juice and Ricky Ray's BBQ.  The bbq place was recently opened by two students (one from NC, the other from FL) with some really good barbecue sauce.  We'd go again.

Saturday night after having burgers with Jackie and Adam, we enjoyed a James Bond movie (Die Another Day).  I know this post is just listing the events, but the awesomeness of the speak for themselves.

Sunday was filled with home teaching, church, Egg McMuffins (made by Derek...Mmm), lemon poppyseed muffins, and a new recipe...garlic shrimp and pasta (with homemade sauce).  All in all it was a delightsome weekend filled with good food, good friends, and fun activities.  Now I'm just waiting for morning to come.  I can't sleep.  I don't want to miss a moment with Derek AND I'm excited to leave at the same time.

I plan to post often this week so all (especially Leigh-Ann and Derek) will know what I'm up to back home for Tracy's wedding week.

Memoirs of a Wannabe Geisha

Every night this week we have had dress rehearsal for Opera Workshop.  I am in the Madam Butterfly scene as one of her attendants for her wedding preview.  The nine of us girls get to wear sorry excuses for kimonos, but our makeup is pretty fun.  white faces, pink eye shadow 9more like FACE shadow), lots of eye liner, a widow's peak, and small red lips.  I'm trying to wait until necessary for Derek to see because I know he's not a fan of that look.  Friday night it will be inevitable though.  I took a picture of my face last night, and well, it's pretty ugly. As odd as it looks up close, but eyes DO look a bit more Japanese from farther away.

Mary, Jon, Miss Melanie, and Mr Roy are coming up this weekend.  I'm so excited to have guests. I feel like I haven't seen them in FOREVER!  The hard part is that I now have to prepare the spare room/storage room.  There are heavy boxes to be moved, and I'm not home when Derek is until we're tired from a long day.  I'm sure I'll figure something out.

I have been able to make our room look more fun.  Derek really wants a Disney-themed room full of our adventures to Disneyland last April for our 'honeymoon.'  So I began to make that a reality for him.

He was pretty dang excited... and impressed with the sign I made.

Next semester the music department is putting on a full opera instead of opera scenes, so my chances of getting a lead went from 40% back down to 0%.  It kind of sucks.  I've been working super hard to get a lead, and I know I'm good enough. But it hasn't happened, and now it never will.  Story of my life.  Always in the choir in the school musicals.  They are doing Marriage of Figaro which only has about 4 girl parts anyway.  So all the divas will get there roles, and I'll get nothing again.  Oh to be a diva... I'd be able to get priceless experience that would help me tremendously in my musical career (whether I'm a performer or educator).

On a more exciting note, I'm going home in 11 days!

thoughts... hot off the press!

               laundry... 

As a college student I have had the opportunity to use laundry facilities at the many apartment complexes I have lived... both single/student and married/community.  Through this time I have realized that there are many types of laundry people. There are two types that I would like to mention now.

There are laundry people who are exact and particular with the way things are done.  They set alarms so they can get their clothes out of the washer and then the dryer at the perfect time.  They have the opportunity of folding their clothes while they're still hot and have no wrinkles.  The one I encountered today was bald.

The second type of laundry person is ME.  It took me about two years to really figure out what kind of laundry person I was, but I have developed into this type.  The forgetful launderer.  It takes a few days of mentioning the need to do laundry before I actually do it.  It takes a few hours of distracting myself before I switch the laundry to the dryer.  And it takes a few hours (and at times a whole day) to finally get my wrinkled clothes back to my house to be folded and hung up.  

The popular thing to do in the laundry facility is take others' laundry out of the washer or dryer (more often), set it on top of the counter, and continue to finish what you started.  As I was developing my system of doing laundry, I felt kind of uneasy about handling another person's laundry.  There are many things you wear and clean that you don't want others to see, let alone touch.  BUT 'everyone else was doing it' so I joined in.  I mean I actually came to the facility... if I waited for another opportunity I might have had a couple more loads to include.  So I opened the door to the dryer and a wall of warmth swept over me.  (No it wasn't inspiration.)  I saw to situations before me.  1- This fellow launderer is just like me and won't be back for a couple hours.  2-  This person likes the feel of warm, wrinkle-free laundry more than they like hulu.  I took the chance.  I was quick.  I watched my back to make sure no one was coming, and I switched their laundry with mine.  

As I turned around to leave I heard someone walk in the door, and when I looked up the bald man was glaring at me and heading to the same dryer I was leaving!  Now he knows that I know that he wears blue underwear.  

...I think I should turn into a Type 1 launderer.

it's just Mineral Water

This Memorial Day weekend we joined the family on a trek to different cemeteries throughout Idaho and Utah, giving flowers to those who have gone before us. We made one stop at Hooper Springs which has a natural mineral-rich spring. Old people like my father-in-law love this part of the journey. He fills his bottle full of water and enjoys the cool, refreshing taste of the natural mineral water. Others are convinced to try the infamous water and suffer the consequences. It may just look like tasty H2O, but don't let the transparency of the liquid fool you. I think the faces of our family members will convince you that there is more to this water than meets the eye. Enjoy.

eat, drink, and practice etiquette

Tonight Derek took me to an Etiquette Dinner on campus. A lady came and taught everyone how to sit down, greet people, eat your soup, and place you fork. It was actually pretty fun. I felt pretty good about my manners because my mom taught me very well.

The lady encouraged us to make conversation with the others at the table, and it was then that Derek decided that good conversation was better than the truth. Here are some of the LIES he shared with everyone at the table:

~He has seen the new Alice in Wonderland movie 5 times.
~I told him that he wouldn't get a home-cooked meal until he came to the Etiquette Dinner and learned some manners.

Here are the TRUTHS:

~He has never seen Alice in Wonderland, the new one OR the Disney version.
~He remembered that I mentioned that the Etiquette Dinner would be fun, so he bought the tickets about 2 weeks ahead of time without me asking.

There was one other lie he told about me which was a reflection on my character which is why I started this blog in the first place. But alas, I cannot remember. Anyway, aside from the conversation, the food, lessons, and company were great.

On a more celebratory note, today was my last day working for the Census Bureau!! Tomorrow I have one more meeting to turn in my things, and I will be done. I plan on having better days filled with positive encouragement from all around me and confidence in myself and all tasks at hand. They (whoever 'they' is) always say, "It's a hard job, but someone's gotta do it!" Well, ten years from now, no matter the situation, that 'someone' will NOT be me!

come downstairs and say hello

I just realized that I never told you what I got for my birthday from Derek (over a month ago). But first a story...

Sophomore year of college I had a beloved CD case full of my favorite CDs. Since I only bought CDs of my favorite bands, the case was priceless and worth a lot... at the same time. One night as my roommates, some boys, and I were galavanting around Rexburg, my roommate just so happen to lose my case of CDs. I had asked to hold on to them, and an hour later she didn't have them and didn't know where they were. Only possible outcome: She threw them out the window.

I was lucky enough to have some backed up on my computer, but not all. I'm poor, so I just did without. SO for my birthday my kick-butt husband gave me all 5 CDs of my favorite band Guster. Surprised! Thrilled! How awesome is that! I had mentioned it to him, and 4 years later he remembered. The real kicker is that I didn't suspect a thing. He's typically bad at hiding surprises like that from me. He's improving, and I'm impressed.

2010 Census

For the past 3 weeks or so I've been working for the government.... the Census Bureau in particular, and I'm not a fan. I have a meeting with my supervisor every weekday, and it is a horrible way to start each day. He's not very personable, and I feel like a failure the moment he knocks on my door. I feel bad. He's just doing his job, but he's making me feel like crap in the process. Anyway... a job is a job and is nothing special when you're not doing what you love. I thought it would be fairly easy and fun to knock on doors all day and convince people to give me their personal information. It's harder than it seems. Everyone's living situation is different. There's not always a mom and a dad with a few kids. The houses aren't always occupied. People have moved in AFTER Census Day (April 1), and there is a certain way to document everything. I think I've got it all figured out now, but the first two weeks were so difficult. Aside from the meetings, I've been able to meet a lot of different people, and many make me sad to think that I can do nothing to help them. It breaks my heart to see people struggling and working so hard to survive in the situations they've been given. I think it will all end soon though. And I am more excited than sad to see this job go. Hopefully in 10 years I won't be in desperate need of a job.

...and NOW a word from our sponsors

So, I got an e-mail asking me to do a review on my blog of the coupon website CouponChief.com. I frequently check out couponmom.com, so I already had a standard to go by. I figured Coupon Chief was the same thing. Boy was I wrong! Honestly if it wasn't impressive, I just wasn't going to do a review.

So, coupon chief is different than couponmom.com & coupons.com because it focuses on individual stores. So if you're shopping online or about to go to a store, I'd check this place out. There is a search engine to search for a particular store & there is also an A-Z index of every store they work with. I was surprised that they had many exclusively online stores like anthropologie.com and modcloth.com. And I was super impressed when I saw that they feature Airlines coupons as well. Their A-Z index is LONG and full of almost anything you can think of. It has my favorite sites and stores. So now I'm going to make a list of stores they feature BEYOND target and wal-mart.

furniture stores

airlines

online stores

home improvement stores

restaurants

academic & business distributing

computers

Disney!

hotels

car rental

movies

flowers

feet/shoes

cameras

fitness

Like I said, I'm impressed. Check it out. I'm totally psyched about this new-found treasure!

"Happy bEARTHday!" ~Liz

Yesterday was my BIRTHDAY! And it was a fun one. I exercised in the morning. The weather is nice, so I have more energy and a stronger desire to lose a little of that flub that has congregated around my tummy over the past year or so.

I went to lunch with Leigh-Ann... Craigo's lunch buffet. Soo good. Soo much food. We didn't indulge too much, so I don't feel like the exercising was in vain. At the last minute we decided to head to Idaho Falls, and I bought a really cute raincoat. Now Leigh-Ann and I both have cute Spring coats that us want to strut around with puckered lips- constantly photo ready!

Derek took me to see Disney's Oceans...AWESOME! Now I want to watch Earth (didn't get a chance to) The movie wasn't playing in Rexburg, so we had to go to Idaho Falls.

That only meant that we had fast food for dinner instead of somewhere nice-ish. We stuffed Taco Time burritos in my purse and enjoyed dinner while we enjoyed the show. I'm glad the lights were out because at times I was staring at the screen with my mouth gaped open and my burrito two inches from it. Attractive, I know.

To end the night we went to the Cocoa Bean for some yummy drinks and a fat, flavorful cupcake. Ooo boy! I didn't realize what I was missing.

I got a package from MOM. Those are always exciting. Inside were cute shirts/blouses from Kohl's, a cute wall hanging, and a picture of Reina at Easter holding a bunny. I can't show you, though. It's copyrighted. How awesome it is to have my family!

So that was my awesome birthday. I would like to thank Senator Gaylord Nelson for founding Earth Day so that I could celebrate it every year on the day of my birth. I always wanted to be a hippie, and that just makes me one step closer. Although yesterday was my 23rd birthday, it was Earth Day's 40th anniversary. Cool!

Oh and I would like to thank my best friend Leigh-Ann for finding the color button and adding color to her blogs. I'm a copy cat!

Tomorrow is EARTH DAY

I'm thinking I'll never update the world with the important events of the past few months because It'll take too long to type. Maybe one day I'll at least post pictures.

For my birthday that is THIS Thursday (tomorrow), my best friend Leigh-Annie Fanny gave me the collection of Jane Austen's novels all bound in one FAT book. I started Sense and Sensibility and have decided after 10 chapters (short chapters compared to chapters these days) that Jane Austen is a better writer than most other women. That may be why she has her own section is bookstores and is considered one of the Greats next to Charles D. and Edgar A. P.

What's hard is imagining new characters because I saw the movie. So now Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet, and Professor Snape (don't care to look up his real name) are dressed in time-appropriate clothing and feeling but not expressing their thoughts...except for Marianne (Kate), of course.

The world has long decided that movies made after books are not as good as the books, and yet when a movie of a book I've read or heard of comes out, I have a strong desire to watch it and ruin the world I imagined for these people. My Harry Potter world was destroyed before I even read them...because I saw movies 1-4, read books 1-6, watched movie 5, and read books 6-7...in that order. How sad, but funny to imagine our movie star Hermione Granger with horribly frizzy hair. Only the first movie gives her hair justice. Why does everyone have to be so pretty?

So, let me tell you something exciting! Derek got me a birthday present, and (wait for it) I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS!!! He's pretty bad at sneaking and surprising. Last year for my b-day he had it easy, Disneyland. Christmas, he ordered the Michael Buble Christmas CD while I was sitting right next to him, then got it in the mail and left it on our bed so that when I walked in I wondered why he got me a gift for Thanksgiving. I could go on, but I won't. It's fun to know that he tries hard to do cool stuff for me. :) I really do appreciate it. What's awesome is that he's improving, hence the lack of knowing what he got me for my birthday. He ordered it. I tried to think of anything I thought of wanting and decided that I have no idea. How exciting!

Anyway, sorry for the boring post. I'll try to think of something interesting to mention next time.

jane austen and vampires

I know I have a few things that I need to write about, namely Derek's birthday and my recital with all surrounding events included, but right now I want to give an update of today. Just today. I started and finished a novel written by the not-very-well-known author Beth Pattillo called Jane Austen ruined my life. Patillo is a fan of Jane Austen, to say the least, and I am one who has never read a Jane Austen book although I have seen a few movies (Sense & Sensibility, Emma, and parts of Pride and Prejudice).

I'm pretty sure I recommend the book, especially if you like Jane Austen novels. References to them lace the pages of the heroine's thoughts. The book begins kind of broad and vague, but I've noticed that all books by female authors are like that. Every time I start a book by a female author, I begin to tell myself to never read a book by a female again. How very betraying of me! Of course I neglect that thought after a few chapters in and can't put the book down.

Reading this book made me want to read all of Jane Austen's novels, and since I'm married, I won't have to worry about the loneliness of finishing the book and realizing my lack of a Mr. Knightley. I wonder, though, if Jane Austen's novels start so disappointedly as others I've read. I've heard they are long and cover a long period of time, as opposed to the 2-week journey I went through today. I guess I'll have to start reading to find out. How very girlish of me! I never thought I'd want to get caught up in books like this. Next thing you know I'll be drawing hearts around "Edward" when Derek isn't looking.

As I was looking for a picture of the acclaimed vampire, I noticed some similarities of the two Edwards. A different, more vampirical picture was chosen, but it scared me a bit, and I don't want it donning my blog page for the next few weeks. Maybe you don't see the similarities. It used to be that a pale face, textured skin, and sunken eyes weren't very hot. If so I'd be famous!

Tomorrow, tomorrow!

One more day until Derek's awesome birthday, and I am antsy! Today I finished the last bit of shopping I needed for his birthday dinner, and over the weekend we finished a huge 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle as part of the decorations. I overestimated my abilities to put it together, so there will be only one puzzle instead of the two I had planned.

This last weekend was mainly spent putting together the puzzle but also spent practicing and taking pictures, all in recital preparation. Leigh-Annie Fanny took my pictures and did the makeup, and we're just getting more and more excited. We had too much fun doing it. As you can see, she's counting down as well.

Today, to keep me busy and my mind off tomorrow, I will be working on my program for the recital and cleaning the house so I don't have to do as much tomorrow. I know, this update isn't that interesting. I promise you will soon see pictures of Blue Bayou-inspired decorations and FOOD. Until you see the cuisine, here's a list. For lunch I will make us some Monte Cristo's. They're bayou-inspired Chicken Cordon Bleu...and cheaply/simply made. The cheap way is this: You make a meat and cheese sandwich and grill it like grill cheese... except the bread is prepared like french toast (dipped in egg, milk, and cinnamon). Dip it in raspberry jam, and ENJOY! Weird I know...but oh so good! For dinner we will enjoy my first ever Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya. I can't wait to see how it turns out. The recipe calls for 3 large onions. Mmm! For beverage, we'll have Mint Juleps (virgin). And for dessert, it's the classic cherry dump cake... only with apples! I'm beginning to think that I'm more excited about Derek's birthday than Derek is. :)

I just remembered that last week I made some bows for Liz. I got so excited about them that I bought supplies to make more. Enjoy.

Since I'm hyperlinking everyone's blog, I figure I should take to time to introduce you to a newcomer of the blogging world: Momma!

i forgot!

I don't know HOW I could have done it, but I did. I forgot my favorite holiday until I read my best friend Leigh-Ann's blog. So it's 4:35 and I just changed into green. How sad. Thanks for the reminder Leigh-Annie Fanny!

Our car is fixed and runs smoothly. Derek will be home soon (with the car) to work on homework and what not, and I will be helping him which means this blog is going to be short.

I spent all day with Jackie yesterday. It was really fun. We hadn't done that in a while. We went shopping, picked up my recital dress, explored an antique shop, bought stuff to make a felt Noah's ark for Reina, and watched "Sherlock Holmes." All in all, a wonderful day. Well, that's about it for now. I'll update longer soon. :)

Weekend Wallapallooza

The car wasn't able to be fixed on Friday, let alone diagnosed, so we walked home from school. It was a lovely walk. We didn't play at Porter Park because it was getting cold, but it wasn't so cold that the walk was uncomfortable. We took a short cut... on the railroad tracks. It felt like we were in a movie... bums with nowhere to go and no way to get there.

When we got home, we called some friends over, ordered pizza, and watched movies. By the way, all who doubt should doubt no more. The Domino's Pizza commercials aren't lying... it really does taste better. We've tried three of their American Legend pizzas, and they're awesome. I'd say give it a shot, but use a coupon (they have some on their website). Who can resist Memphis BBQ Chicken Pizza? (No, I did not get paid to promote Domino's Pizza, but I should have.)
We also watched a movie called "The Court Jester." It's an older. Angela Landsbury is a young, hot princess. It's funny. I recommend it. Brother Olsen let me borrow it. He kept quoting it. i recommend you look it up on youtube. :)

The chicks don't show their legs like that in the movie... how provocative for 1955!

Saturday was full of homework and taxes... quite worth the headache. Today we actually got up early (9:45) compared to our usual Sundays. It was quite refreshing. I think I'll actually be able to sleep well tonight. :)

Take me home tonight... be my little baby!

Earlier this week I went to D.I. and got two pots...among other things...because they were cheap and interesting. I was hoping to use them in the decoration process of Derek's birthday dinner. Well, today I found a way to use them. Derek and I bought two plants at the MC, and I believe they will look awesome in our awesome plant holders.


ALSO at D.I. I got a small bag of about 5 pairs of earrings for only $3.00. "But you can't wear earrings," you say? They are very ugly, awesome earrings. I have to wear them. I'm cleaning and sanitizing both the earrings and my ears... wearing them with care because they're THAT incredible.


The auto mechanic students here at BYU-Idaho finally gave us a call saying they could take Ol' Bess (our Honda CRV) and diagnose a problem. Derek took it at two, and so far the spark plugs, fuel injector, and something else is fine. They're looking at something else, and we're just hoping they can get it taken care of in the next half hour. Probably not. THEREFORE, our Friday night plans are postponed, and we just might walk home from school...which will actually be great because it's a nice day outside. We may spend some time at Porter Park swinging and playing on the playground equipment.


Something that is interesting to me is the fact that I have no "blog-followers." It's kind of sad and tugs at my confidence and worth every now and then. (Only a little) I know TWO people that read it but aren't following me. I FOLLOW YOU. Yes, this is my shout out/guilt trip. :) Just push the "FOLLOW" button on my page- you'll get updated on your Blogger Dashboard, and I'll feel like I have friends who think my ramblings aren't in vain. Honestly, it doesn't hurt that bad... but it could...soon. :)

Umm, so here's a list of things I get to do over the next 3 weeks:

.pick up my recital dress
.take picture for poster
.design poster for recital and get printed
.design program for recital and get printed
.practice...a lot
.go to Ogden for our new niece's blessing
.celebrate Derek's birthday all day via cooking and transforming our living room
.figure our where all our guests are going to stay Friday, April 2
.prepare our apartment for a buttload of guests
.possibly file taxes
.STAY EXCITED about the near-future events! (DONE!)

I'm not even going to list off the things Derek needs to do over the next few weeks. He has a lot of school and work. He kicks butt. The end.

Derek's birthday is only two weeks away, and i am so excited! Before it comes I have some projects to finish to complete the atmosphere of the evening. I'm working on my second of two paintings to cover the windows. Honestly, they look like a third grader did them, so I'll just call them Impressionistic and move on. (just in case you can't figure it out... river, trees, grass, lightning bugs, flower patches)

Yesterday, Jackie and I made paper lanterns. I got a little carried away, but it was so fun and easy and they looked so awesome, I just kept going. I'm getting some battery-powered tealights from the dollar store to sit inside them and help light up the room.

I'm planning on turning my floor lamps into willow trees. We'll see how that turns out.

I completed a couple projects for Jackie's apartment. Leigh-Ann and I added some pizzazz to Jackie's white canisters for her kitchen. I didn't take nay pictures of those, but I probably should. I did take a picture of the huge nautical star they have... I painted it black and added patterned paper to fit their strict theme. It looks pretty darn cool.

Opera Scenes was this weekend, and it was awesome. I've never had so much fun being a disgusting, ugly witch. The pictures really don't do me justice.

I was also a village girl named Gianetta with a single line of my own that I played with such perfection, the scene would have been ruined without me. (Not!) So much makeup.

Derek gave me some lilies for my performance. How sweet! One is in full bloom , one is beginning to open, and one is still waiting to grace me with its presence later. It's pleasing to know that I will enjoy the flowers for more than a few days. Lilies last a long time, especially if you have some not-yet-bloomed buds. Well, this is all for today. I need to make lunch for Derek... and plan dinners for the week.

Celebrate good times, come on!

So, the day I had been anticipating for the past few years finally came! Yesterday morning I had my final jury for my recital in April, and for the first time I was more excited than nervous. Brother Linford, Brother Olsen, and Kris Ciesinski were my jurists. AND they were all impressed. They were all smiles. After my first song Kris said, "I don't even know who this girl is anymore." They all commented on how much I've improved musically, vocally, and performing-ly. :)



Yesterday I was all smiles which made up for the lack of sleep both Derek and I have gotten this week. He did ANOTHER all-nighter Tuesday night... therefore I didn't sleep well.

Oh yeah! So, I passed my juries, and my recital is most certainly April 2 @ 9:00pm. All who can get here are invited, and somehow we'll find a place for you to sleep and a babysitter for the half hour or so for any kids.

I was surprised at the songs they asked me to sing. They were my less difficult ones. I still have a lot to work on...always. But I'm good enough to share my talent with all of you and be sponsored by the school. That's saying something.

The opera scenes performance is this weekend as well- Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30. That will be very entertaining- funny and dramatic.

Don't think I'll be relaxing from now until my recital though. I still have lots to do. Practice, improve, get my dress and hope the alterations worked out, make the programs and poster... and still find a job.

I AM SO EXCITED!! I'm also excited for Derek, a new client at work says he'll only work with them if Derek is his account executive. Cool.



I feel bad for Derek because I constantly have songs from opera scenes and my recital in my head...just small sections that I sing over and over again. I'm so sorry. It will all end soon.

all-nighter

So here we are. It's Monday 2:52 am, and we are not asleep. Derek has a presentation for class tomorrow and is still doing research. I've been helping slightly but got extremely drowsy with a queasy stomach so decided to go to bed. Obviously that didn't work out. As drowsy as I am, I can't sleep. Lots on my mind... mainly art songs. Hopefully that ends for a while after Wednesday. So I'm up again feeling weird and hoping sleep finds me soon. Until then I'm reading about composers of the songs I'm studying and encouraging Derek to keep up the good work. So here's his issue he's studying: merit pay for teachers, yes or no? He's assigned to the "no" half of the issue. As he studies it, he understands the "yes" side more, only if implemented correctly. Basically he's thinking there's not much knew to it... lawmakers are just trying to cut budgets by paying a few lucky teachers more and everyone else less.

Anywho... I'm excited for April. Mississippi family is coming (Mom, Dad, Sister)!!! I'll finally do my recital, which I am looking forward to instead of dreading more and more each day.

I'm excited for March (happy March by the way). My recital juries are in a few days, we have our Opera Scenes performance this weekend. St. Patrick's day... of course. AND Derek's birthday. THAT I am really excited for.

Last year for my 22nd birthday we ate at the Blue Bayou restaurant at Disneyland. It was the coolest eating experience of my life. So, this year on the 23rd of March for his 23rd birthday, I'm turning our apartment into the Blue Bayou as much as I can. Jambalaya, Mint Juleps, Mississippi River, paper lanterns, candles (lightning bugs) and so much more. I'll be sure to take pictures.

Well, that's all for this hour, I believe. Wish us luck of productivity for the next few.

frugality. money-wise. saving.

The last month has been pretty fun I guess. Kind of boring on my part since there as been no luck on a job. Of course, I've almost given up of trying. Poor, pitiful me. I hate job searching... more than being unemployed apparently. I've been crafting the last few days. I transformed a beautiful star for Jackie and Adam, then Leigh-Ann and I transformed some kitchen canisters for Jackie, and I will soon transform a few of Jackie's pictures to make them worthy for her wall.

I finally finished Liz's kitchen gift. Now I must be strong and wait for her to come up here in April to give it to her. I'm too poor to mail it. I have to keep reminding myself of that.

Lately Derek and I have been entertaining ourselves with Lord of the Rings. We finished the Two Towers last night (even though we were supposed to be doing homework).

Now I'm just counting down the days to my final Jury before my recital, the Opera Scenes performances, and my Recital. I'm excited for them all... more nervous about the Juries though. I'm afraid they'll ask a question about my music or composers that I don't know the answer to.

Next weekend Derek's dad and possibly his mom are coming up for a visit and to see the Opera Scenes performance. I'm excited for guests. I've been putting off cleaning too long. I need to mop...and vacuum...and clean the bathroom.

Lately I've been browsing the internet for coupons and money-saving ideas. It is now time to incorporate them into my every day schedule. One idea I've been reading about is to take The Pantry Challenge. Pretty much, eat out of your pantry and stop shopping for more food until your pantry is practically empty. Well, there is not much in my "pantry" but there is enough for at least two weeks I think. So my goal for the next two weeks is to center my meals around the food I have in the pantry and spend little to no money on extra ingredients for the meal. Hoping this will save money, I'm going for it. I spend too much money on groceries. I think it's because I love to shop. Derek probably trusts me too much. But, hey... I'm learning.

Fun, informational sites to check out:

moneysavingmom.com

thecouponbasics.blogspot.com

couponmom.com

New Projects and Past Events

As I looked through my pictures on my phone I remembered that I wanted to mention some projects I've been working on for Liz AND I wanted to mention our fun weekend in Ogden.

First, I saw some pictures of some cute kitchen things and decided that I wanted to make a recipe box and a decorative sign thing for Liz's kitchen, so I got started. I've finished the recipe box (except for maybe a few more recipes to add). The sign is still in the making. So far I have the utensils and hooks painted. If you see the picture, you may be able to see what I have in mind. On the spoons with have the phrase "my Nook." It'll be pretty darn cute. Also I'm making a board on an easel to place her recipe card when she's cooking. I'm making that out of the cutting board in the 3rd picture. So, here are those.

So for the long weekend this January we went to Ogden to see family, and we were lucky enough to spend Saturday evening with the nieces and nephews. We played Cowboys and Indians with both a fort and a tee-pee made by yours truly. We also gave baths, ate food, and watched a movie. It was all fun. Here are some pictures.