Just Because I Did it Once, Doesn't Mean I Can Do It Again

While I was in Minneapolis (more on that shortly) I had the news turned on in the morning while I was getting ready and GUESS WHAT?! You won't believe this, but trust me, it's true (well, according to the true-ness of the news). The term "Domestic Goddess" is now in Webster's dictionary. And no, the definition does not mention my name. Shock!

In my quest to become a domestical goddess, I signed up for a sewing class (thank you, Groupon). Keep in mind that the last thing I sort of sewed was 6 ish years ago when I asked my Mom to teach me how to make some very-simple pillow covers. But I'm pretty sure she did all the hard stuff because she couldn't believe how much I didn't know, and found it easier to just do it herself. So I came knowing little more than if you push your foot down on a pedal, the machine does its magic. The class was not your typical "you'll learn how to make a pair of awkward pajama pants" class. Only 5 people allowed, and I'm 97% sure I was the only Mormon there. (Not sure why that matters, just giving all the details.) "So what, dear domestical goddess, did you learn how to make," you ask? Oh, just a robe. If you promise not to look close at any stitching, you can look at the picture. Next to the guy who made his out of a pink flamingo print, I'd say mine turned out good. Real good. I even "customized" mine and chopped off the sleeves (the long ones were driving me nuts).


And no, I didn't take my robe with me to Minneapolis. Remember back in college when Crystal and I would go to our nerd conferences? Well, my only compensation for being awarded the Nerd of the Year award was this trip out to the same conference we used to go to. They let me judge one of the contests I competed in as a college student - weird. I'm real old because those college kids looked real young.

Can I just say that I LOVE Minneapolis? While it WAS colder than Utah (30 degrees was the high) I hardly noticed it as I walked through all the Skyways that connect EVERYTHING downtown. If you know where you're going, you don't have to step foot outside. SO cool. And don't even get me started on Mall of America. A woman's dream. Anyway, here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.

This one's for Crystal. Shum on the left with the new "Barrett" on the right. Yeah, he looks like he's 12. He's not.

I was the 1st in my little group to get my award which meant I had to stand up there the longest. Wanna know what was going through my head? "This is such a funny ritual that we have. I think I've been on this stage for 5 minutes. I feel like I'm in a Miss America pageant. Should I wave while I try to smile awkwardly? At least I'm not in a swimsuit. Please bless no one is actually looking at me. This is so awkward. I wonder what the lady next to me is thinking? Don't laugh. Don't laugh. Don't laugh."

And here's us nerds in all our glory. The guy to my left was married. I checked. Twice. The guy behind me did NOT throw up on me (thankfully).

That is all.

best.post.ever

I know you've been waiting and waiting for this. I was hoping to get it up on Valentine's day - guess I'm only 3 weeks late. How embarrassing. Here's the story behind this love note. I found the original hanging up in the wrestling room at school (I was taking a self-defense class - promise I NEVER wore a singlet!). I noticed it at the beginning of class and of course was dying with laughter. Sadly, I forgot to grab it on my way out. I told my roommate about how awesome it was, and we chuckled, but I was so sad because I couldn't remember all the juicy details. Fast forward 2 months, when the love note was long-forgotten. One of my students walks into class and says, "Hey Spjute, look what someone stuffed inside my locker." Lo and behold, it was THE NOTE! Oh blessed day! This one wasn't the original, but who cares? It's still got all the goods. Miranda saw it and tried to rip it up (apparently it was her friend that wrote it, and apparently some not-so-nice students made copies of it and put it every where. High schoolers can be so immature. But I am secretly grateful they did it. And you will be too once you read it. Promise.) I added a picture of it so you can see it in all it's glory (notice the tape from Miranda's ripping job). Not sure how a 16-year-old girl came up with all this, but number 11 is by far my favorite. I've got a shake for anyone who says all of these to her husband. One per day. 18 days (we tragically only have the first page of the love note). ENJOY! (Oh, and just so you know, they're not together anymore. I'm sure it was the end of the world when they broke up.)

37 Reasons Why I LOVE DYLAN [plus 1: everything you say]

1. You make me feel like the most important person in the world when I'm with you.
2. No matter what you can always make me smile.
3. You love me for who I am and what I stand for.
4. Your smile is like my safety. That doesn't make much sense, but it's the most comforting thing ever.
5. You are an example to everyone around you, including me.
6. You make school bareable and just a little hug can make my day.
7. Every time you kiss me I get butterflies and sparks.
8. Every time I kiss you, I feel so confident and cool.
9. I know you will listen to everything I have to say and really care about it.
10. You can sing! And you share the same love for music as me.
11. You have the most impressive body ever. And it's adorable when you show it off to me.
12. You make me feel needed.
13. When a different guy does something as little as waving to me, you attack me with a super tight hug.
14. Your laugh makes me smile, even if it wasn't really that funny.
15. You are VERY funny and you know how to put me in a good mood.
16. We kind of have the same religious views so I don't have to pretend that I believe in something that I don't.
17. You can talk to anyone you meet very openly and comfortably.
18. You are really mature for a sophomore boy. It's refreshing.
    

A Little Princess

I've always loved the movie, "A Little Princess." (The new-ish one - not the old one with Shirley Temple). Have you ever read the book? Obviously it's a quick read - it's been a couple years so I decided to pick it up again. (Well, I guess technically I'm listening to it while I drive/go to the gym, so I'm not picking up the book, just my iPod.) Anyway, it's full of these amazing gems - good quotes to apply to life, ya know? I heard this one yesterday and really loved it:

"When people are insulting you, there is nothing so good for them as not to say a word--just to look at them and think. Miss Minchin turns pale with rage when I do it, Miss Amelia looks frightened, and so do the girls. When you will not fly into a passion people know you are stronger than they are, because you are strong enough to hold in your rage, and they are not, and they say stupid things they wish they hadn't said afterward. There's nothing so strong as rage, except what makes you hold it in--that's stronger. It's a good thing not to answer your enemies. I scarcely ever do."

Amen, Sara Crew.

Coming Soon to a Blog near you: the BEST post ever. (Little sneak preview: "37 Reasons Why I love Connor +1 - Everything you say!" by a high school student. I LOVE my job.)

Ode to Jill

Let's be honest, most 28-year-old Mormon women are blogging about their kids/husbands/crafts. Since I don't have either of those, I get to blog about my roomie. Here are just a few of the things I've learned from Jill:

1. How to Fold Sheets

Tonight for FHE, I learned how to fold sheets so they are all nice and compact and together in a set. Coming from someone who didn't know that fitted sheets could actually be folded, I was embarrassingly enjoying myself.

2. What to Wear.

It's too embarrassing for me to tell you how long it's been since I bought new jeans. We went on Saturday, and thanks to Jill, Towanda is very happy. Very happy.

3. Say Yes to the Dress

This picture is highly embarrassing. Don't show your husbands. I was going to blur out my face so you would think it was someone else with a hot bod, but I was too lazy. (And of course I'm totally kidding about the hot bod part.) I promise this is the only wedding dress I've ever put on. Really. And it was all for fun. Jill works for a way-out-of-my-future-wedding-budget wedding dress label. She's basically amazing at what she does. And one day she had to bring home a dress. So I may have made her put it on me. Just had to make sure there weren't any problems with it, ya know? Want to look and feel like you just lost 15 pounds? Put one of these babies on. (Yes, I will actually do my hair and wear makeup on my wedding day. No, I will not look like a shameless hussy.)

4. Say No to the Robe

Robes are WAY over-rated. And blowdrying hair while wearing a robe leads to excessive amounts of sweating. This is bad if you've just showered. Use one of these babies instead. They're cool, breezy, and even cute! Special thanks to Hawaii.

5. Quitters

You know those days when you don't want to take a shower, do anything to your hair other than a messy ponytail or a hat, or put on ANY makeup? When you work full time, you can't get away with that too often. However, when you get home from work, who's to say you can't "quit" for the day? Calling them sweats is SO 90's. Oh, and one day when we have our babies, we'll have "Quitties for Kiddies."

6. WAY better than Jillian Michaels
(don't judge me for being too lazy to rotate)

Living a block away from a totally awesome Rec Center is real nice. Especially when you have a roomie who will practically be your personal trainer. Dear Jill, my legs hurt real bad right now!

7. Next Best thing to Diet Coke

No, I haven't taken-up drinking diet coke (although Jill would be ecstatic of I did). But I'm pretty sure Jill and I took care of almost an entire pitcher of C.L. (Crystal Light) tonight for dinner. Looking for something to satiate the sweet tooth? Crystal Light. Love.It.

8. Shirt-Folding

The correct way to fold a shirt. Nordstrom style. I've always wondered how they do that!

9. Scarves

While I already had a love for scarves, Jill's plethora of them have kept me both warm and stylish this winter. And since I leave first in the morning I always get first dibs. Thanks for sharing!

10. How to Be the Best Aunt Ever

Got this note from my 6-year-old niece. I know you all think it would be super awesome if I lived with you too, but for now, I'm taken!

A Fresh 2011

There is something wonderful about having a fresh start. I guess it shouldn't take a new year to have that mindset, but nevertheless it's refreshing.

Fresh start on:


Teaching my kids more, filling their day with more enriching activities.
Decorating my house and making it nice for our family.
Working hard on my calling, I have a feeling I am in my final days.
Supporting Russell more in his wild adventure of starting this business.
Being more active.
Reading more.
Bring more fresh food into our home.
Keeping focused on the big picture.
Staying calm.

Adios 2010

I was planning on making a post with some 2010 highlights, but I'm not gonna lie, I had to think REALLY hard to come up with just a few, and most of them consisted of trips that I've already blogged about. (Don't mean to sound ungrateful for the many blessings I DO have, but let's be honest, it's been another one of "those" years.) Speaking of "those" years, remember all the "see a black cat and you get 7 years of bad luck" and "walk under a ladder and get 7 years of bad luck" . . . do bad years really come in 7's? Please bless no.

Since my bff (Mom) passed away a year ago today, I've been thinking a lot about her (well, really I think about her all the time, so I guess nothing's different) but mostly I've been thinking about life and hard things and family and the temple and the Savior and the atonement. (That's a lot to think about! Thank goodness for the modern medicinal miracle called sleeping drugs.) And while I would give anything to have Mom and Linz back, at the same time I wouldn't trade anything for the things I've learned (I know, it's an oxymoron, just go with it). Someone recently commented that I probably have much to share about what I've been through. In some ways, yes, but in other ways, the things I've learned can't be put into thoughts or words, they can only be experienced. And isn't that really what life is all about, experiences? The good, the bad, and the (sometimes too-often) ugly? We all have our own "experiences," tailored to our strengths, weaknesses, and (I think) most importantly to our potential. There are no short-cuts to becoming the person we need to become, and there is only One who knows how to get us there.


So here's to a new year - may it bring, love, peace, joy, some discomfort (for growth) and family togetherness with whatever family you have around you.

Thomas Family Christmas Card

Hey Roomies!  Here is my wanna be Christmas Card this year!  Hopefully I can get some real ones
out to you all...The real ones looks slightly different.  Happy Holidays, Love you all!