these are a few of my favorite things...

So Emily tagged me to post 15 of my favorite things in life right now. I'm thinking she means products, because that's what she posted. So here goes...(in no particular order):

1-Eucerin Creme daily moisturizer. What with the weather turning cold and the likes, my skin likes to get extra chappy. That's no good, mm-kay? So this product helps to de-chap my kuckles and cuticles. Dy-na-mite!

2-Mary Kay Satin Lips lip balm. It is exactly what it says...it turns your lips to satin. As you can tell by the product above, I've got some dry skin. Mary Kay Satin Lips helps my lips stay hydrated all the livelong day!

3-Artec Kiwi Color Reflector Root Elevator. Since I'm growing my hair out, and my hair is ultra FINE, I need some help giving my hair any sort of body. This stuff works nicely without making me look like I am trying to win a pageant or something...

4-My iPod. Although technology isn't always my friend (because it's smarter than me, I admit), the iPod is a real winner! Download iTunes for free, upload music, sync to your iPod...easy as 1, 2, 3...which is exactly what I need. Now I can jam out to my favorite tunes on the go, baby!

5-My camera. It's not the best digital camera in the world (some version of Kodak EasyShare), but it fits my needs. I rarely leave home without it.

6-Mission brand Sundried Tomato Basil tortillas. Yum-o! Makes a tasty wrap, or else superb with fajitas or tacos. Seriously: yum-o!

7-Scentsy Wickless candles and candle warmers. Honestly, this is a product I can really get behind! The candle warmers are cute (they have several to choose from). The candles come in little bars you can break into smaller pieces. They smell dynamite, and the smell works almost as soon as you turn on the warmer. And, oh yes, the thing that warms the candle is actually a light bulb. These bad boys are ultra safe...even if you dunk your hand into the wax, it doesn't burn you. They've been okayed for school districts all over the place. If I were a sales person, this would be the product I would sell! I heart Scentsy!

8-Gap OM perfume. They don't sell this dynamite scent at just any Gap Store, much to my chagrin. But it smells real good. The fellas seem to like it, too. (They like it better on the person than in the bottle...I've had a few interesting conversations about that, actually).

9-Tis the season for Cherry Cordials. Except I can't really stand the maraschino cherries at all, so I like to buy the Cherry Cordial Kisses. All the same great flavor without having to eat your way around the nasty cherry. :)

10-Wow...fifteen products is a lot! Umm...the Office DVDs? Sure, we'll go with that. I don't own season 3 yet, but I will one day in the near future. I heart that show!

11-Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration CD. I really love Celtic music, and this CD is excellent! My favorite songs on there include: Christmas Pipes, O Holy Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, and The Wexford Carol. But they're all pretty excellent. Oh, and you can safely assume that this CD has already been uploaded to my iPod.

12-I love Crock Pots. For real. The slow cooker is a genius invention! You can make so many tasty meals in these bad boys with little actual work! Ellen Degeneres has said "That's not cooking, that's magic." I totally agree...this is some magic I can get behind! I love 'em!

13-I'm a big fan of hot cereal too. I fell in love with porridge on my trip to the UK (that'd be oatmeal here). Go, Quaker Oats. And also Cream of Wheat. Mix it up with some brown sugar and consume with a glass of cold milk, and I'm one happy girl!

14-Maurice's slacks. I love that store, and this is the place where I get my slacks. They have various brands, but I think most of mine are actually Maurice's brand. They are super cute, I get lots of compliments on them, and they're quite comfortable too. The triple threat...or something. :)

15-My Columbia Wool Socks. Don't worry, they're not itchy and gross like you're thinking, like with wool sweaters. These bad boys keep my tootsies nice and warm, and they're super!

There, I did it. And I didn't even have to borrow from the Sound of Music...like "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens" (and this is good, because I hate cats, and I don't like to lie!) Anyway, I'm going to tag Bridget and Elise. Good luck, ladies. 15 is a lot!

Thanksgiving...

Well this weekend sure was a good one! I'm pretty sure it had something to do with getting the heck away from regular life on Tuesday afternoon. (It's not that I don't absolutely love my every day life, but it was just getting to the point where I needed to go home and spend quality time with the fam). I ended up losing my voice for most of my trip home...Wednesday I sounded quite manly, and Thursday my voice was just above a whisper. -ANYHOO...I had myself a great time! I got to hang out with the fam and just kick back and relax. And, oh yeah, the Thanksgiving feast was dy-na-mite! Kudos to my momma for all that tasty grub!

I didn't get to see Aaron, Amy and the boys until Saturday, but it was worth the wait. Honestly do you think little boys can even get any more handsome than this?! I'm quite certain they don't! (If you're going to disagree with me, then don't answer that question).

Here are some pictures as proof of their handsomeness.

Jackson-up close and personal, eh?


Sethington

Giggle-pants Seth.
I wish I could remember what he was laughing at...


Seth has started taking his first steps...
here are a few I caught on film.
That's his momma, Amy, beside him.

And here's Jackson taking a bath.
I think he looks pretty cute with his goatee of bubbles!


After his bath, Gramma tried to put Jackson down
and he'd lift his feet and wrap his legs around hers.
He thought this was a pretty fun game.

Goose has the ability to dwarf everyone around him.
Especially babycakes Sethington.

Oh, and here's one without the nephews:
Goose and our little mother.

My nephews are the cutest! And my family is the greatest! -I really ought to take pictures of EVERYONE when I go home next time...which will probably be pretty easy, as it'll be Christmas. Yeehaw!

did you know?

I was tagged by Elise, so here goes...

Six random facts about yours truly:

1-I grew up in a house full of boys (4 brothers), and I'm grateful for it! They say that your siblings help to shape you into the person you are and who you become, which totally makes sense. I sometimes think that they have ruined me (although they say they've primed me). I am, by no means, a girly girl. But in all honesty, I like myself and I love my brothers. In fact, when I grow up and find a guy who wants me bad enough to marry me, I hope we have mostly sons. Girls equal drama, and I'd rather not deal with it en-mass.

2-As much as I'm not a girly girl, I still don't quite get a lot of the logistics of sports. I enjoy watching live sports (LIVE meaning I'm sitting there in the arena, not watching it on the TV)--especially hockey! I even understand some basic rules and terminology. But if you start talking about statistics or technical terminology, etc., I am one lost girl.

3-I hate video games...except for Guitar Hero and that one karaoke game you can play on PS2. I could waste a lot of time in front of either of those games, especially if my brothers are there, wasting time alongside me. :)

4-I haven't been very many places--yet. But the few places I've been I've LOVED (namely Scotland and Vancouver BC). And I've totally caught the bug; I want to see the world and experience life abroad firsthand...as long as I can come back home to the good old USA. (I love America and couldn't give it up!) Places I want to see (in no specific order): *Sweden *Greece *Italy *Brazil *Germany *Austria *China *Portugal *Spain *Switzerland *Australia *Ireland *etc., etc.

5-I enjoy being teased. Blame it on the brothers, but I can actually thrive on it. People have pushed the limits a few times and gone a bit too far, but it's rare.

6-I wish carbs were proteins and vice versa. I'm trying to be health-conscious, but mostly I'm just aware that I'm eating lots more carbs than proteins. (Carbs are so much easier and oh-so tasty! Why can't the roles of carbs and proteins just switch?!)

I guess I'm supposed to tag people now...? I've never played this game before. I guess I'll tag Emily and Jules.

Moab commentary...

This past weekend, me and my buddies went to Moab to play. We went mountain biking, hiking, and jeeping. So much fun! We spent a fair amount of time in Arches NP and drove around in the Canyon Lands.

We (Lisa, Brooke, Jason, Cameron, and me) headed out on Thursday evening in Cameron's Amigo. Got to Moab right around 1:30am, where we met up with JANELL!!! Slept in a bit, then hit the road and had all sorts of fun Friday and Saturday.

Honestly, Friday wasn't one of my better days. I woke up feeling good and happy, but then I must've eaten something bad for breakfast because I felt ill and threw up before heading to Klondike Bluffs bike trail. And then I threw up once more on the trail. (My friends all stayed put while I walked off and vomited in a bush...I think it's because they care, although I was kinda embarrassed by it. Oh well...) We made our way to the top of the trail, then headed back down. Downhill is definitely more fun than uphill, but I (of course) went off the trail (it all looks the same to me) and had what Jason called a "blow out." My bike flew end-over-end and somehow my bike seat twisted 90 degrees. I, miraculously, fell off on my side, rather than over the handlebars and onto my noggin. So...I got up and picked up my bike, then realized I was shaking pretty bad. So I sat down for a bit while Jason fixed my bike seat. And then...I realized...I had torn my pants. Yep. Ripped them down the front. So I was exposing much more of me than I'd care to admit. Fortunately I was wearing white "biking shorts" under my ripped pants, so that could've been worse. (I have to say, I still cringe with embarrassment when I think about this part of the trip). Anyway...I got back on my bike and tried not to be too scared the rest of the way down the mountain. I made it. Yay hooray.

After the biking experience, we went back to the hotel to put our bikes away--and so I could change my pants. Then we went jeeping. 6 people in the Amigo is not its full capacity, but it was a bumpy ride and quite interesting. But fun! We saw Gemini Bridges...the whole of Arches and Canyon Lands is AMAZING. -Afterwards, we went back to shower, then we had dinner at Moab Brewery. Then soaked our sore selves in the hot tub. -Afterwards, I noticed my wallet was nowhere to be found, so I freaked out (mildly) and called the Brewery to see if it was there. They said NO, it wasn't, but Janell drove me there to check it out just in case. Turns out it, in fact, was there...under the table where I was sitting. Geez, what a stressful day Friday was!

Next day, we got up early-ish and had ourselves breakfast. (I steered clear of the bagels and cream cheese). Then we hiked to Delicate Arch (so beautiful!) and played around Arches NP for a bit. Then we headed to Canyon Lands and did some more off-roading. Went to Muscleman Arch. And Island in the Sky.

Then back to the hotel to play a fun game, True Colors. We played in the boys' room, and, truth be told, I'm pretty sure the game would've been much more fun if we would've turned off the freakin' television. (Everybody was enthralled with this show called Ninja Warrior. It has its merit, it's rather entertaining...but I got sick of it after about 30 minutes. Not Jason, though. And everyone else, for that matter. I'm sure it was my problem, eh? :)

Sunday we got up and went to Sacrament meeting at the Moab 4th ward, then went back to the hotel to pack up the Amigo and trailer with our bikes, etc., and then said our sad farewells to Janell. Then it was back to Idaho for the rest of us.

As...ah...interesting as Friday was, this weekend really was a winner, and I'm glad I have such awesome friends! (As Cameron said, it took me moving to Idaho and making friends with the great people up here to get me to see the MAJOR landmark of UT, the Delicate Arch. Geez...) So...thanks, my people of Idaho. I had a great time!

Moab...the pix

Biking Klondike Bluffs

Janell and Gina

On the trail, there were several little rocks in "rings."
These rings were surrounding dinosaur tracks.
This is my foot next to one of 'em.


Poor Brooke got squished by Lisa and Jason while jeeping
on our way up to Gemini Bridges.


Some commentary about my experience of my crash...
Brooke took this video when we were up at Gemini Bridges.

This is Gemini Bridges.
You can't tell very well from this picture, but there's a big gaping hole
which makes this two bridges instead of one.
Hence "Gemini Bridges"
The ride down from Gemini Bridges:
Brooke, Lisa and Jason stood up in the back of the Amigo.
It was cold, but they had a good time back there.

Hiking to the Delicate Arch

My first view of Delicate Arch!
Seeing THE arch from another arch...


Cameron brought up a few times this weekend how pathetic it is
that I'm from Utah and haven't seen the Delicate Arch before.
It is pathetic.
The situation has been remedied.

Lisa and Brooke perched up high near the D.A.

I scampered up the least threatening big rock up there
so I could gaze off into the distance.
Me and Lisa doing "the stance."

We went to see the North and South Windows.
I think it looks like a TMNT mask...

My friends in the North Window.

Mirror Arches

A view from Mirror Arches (I think?)
We frolicked in another arch after the Windows.
This is a view from a rock...wherever we were at this point.
The Windows are in the direction where my camera is pointed...

Don't you think this picture belongs in an ad to sell an Amigo?
Too bad they don't make them any more...

This is at Muscle Man...something.
You can't really tell how scary it was;
the drop was hundreds of feet, and it made me nervous!
This is the whole crew...

On our way up to Island in the sky.
We went top-down, and I nearly froze.
Brooke took this picture without my knowledge.
Obviously.
(You do what you gotta do to keep warm!)

Atop the Island in the Sky...
Looking down at the Canyon Lands.
STUNNING!

Janell and I were freezing!

Just after the sunset from the Island in the Sky...
(I didn't get my camera out till the sun had just dipped below the horizon.)


And as a bonus...
here's the "pants" story as told by the victim.
(PS Mom, do you think you could fix 'em?)

Happy Halloween!

Yesterday was Halloween, and it was a very busy day for yours truly. I went to work for just shy of 10 hours. I work with children, and I have come to decide that I don't really love children as much as usual on Halloween...they are excited to the point of obnoxious, and they made me really work for my money yesterday. Meh...

Then I came home and ate really quick, and then left for the POD Halloween party that our branch is in charge of. I helped in the kitchen while most of the others were outside doing trunk or treat for the kids in our stake. BUSY!

The party kicked off right around 8pm. It was so awesome! They had a raffle, and the winners got to sumo wrestle in big fat sumo suits that we rented. I was lucky, because they drew my name...yeehaw! That was definitely a highlight of the evening! (Actually, I was talking to my friend Kattie who was co-in charge of the party, and she told me today she didn't draw my name, but rather she rifled through the names and picked mine out. I'll take it!)

So...I was dressed up as the Cat in the Hat. Now I hate cats, but I love Dr. Seuss. Plus, my momma already had the costume made up. The hat didn't stay on very long. And once my name was called to wrestle sumo-style, the tail came off and ne'er was pinned back on my bottom afterwards. (After that, I was just dressed all in black, so I called myself a shadow).

Here are some pics though...

The Cat in the Hat.
Tracie took this picture without my knowledge...

Lisa dressed up as a Chiquita Banana...just for me.
I thought it was pretty hilarious.

And here we have the Cat in the Hat licking the banana...

The Pope and a nun hugging?!?
That's Briant and Missy. Very clever, me thinks...

And here I am suiting up to sumo wrestle!
I went up against Seth Green...


Here's a video of our first match.

Waving to the crowd, giving 'em what they want...


Do you like how, after I fell, Seth pounced on me?


This one's funny too...
*We were tied: 2/2. So there was a tie breaker, which I promptly lost.
But somehow they still claimed me the winner.
I think it's because Seth pounced on me once I was down,
and he also knocked me 'round the face.
Kattie and Chris didn't think that was very gentlemanly of him,
so they announced me the winner...but I still say Seth won.*

I was jumping around in my sumo suit and Tracie took a picture.
It looks kinda funny, no?

Me and Seth; the skinny version (after the fight).
Do you like how my hair is all sweaty and matted to my head?
I don't like to think of all the people who've sweat in that suit before me.
*Insert dry heave here*

Callie and Wade as Bob Barker and some other old fart...

President and Sister Baird...

Witch Tracie in the kitchen...

So it was a fun night. Oh, and I didn't even tell you the best part! Cameron pulled some strings and got us a live band to play for about an hour: Fortunate Son. Lemme just tell you, they are AWESOME! They really know what they're doing, and they do it so well! They played some original pieces plus some other stuff (Van Halen, Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World, ACDC, etc.). WOW! As much fun as it was to sumo wrestle--and that was fun, make no mistake--the band totally made the evening! Fortunate Son rocks South-East Idaho! Yeehaw!

After Fortunate Son finished, the IF 1st branch RS presidency did their OK Go dance ("Million Ways"), which was awesome. And then there was somewhat of a dance...

The evening was a HUGE success! It was so much fun, and we had a really good turn-out. So...as annoying as my day kinda started out being yesterday, it was really excellent in the end. Halloween rocked my socks off this year!