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!

10-10-10 = CRUISE

Top 10 Reasons Why We Need to Take a Roommate Cruise:

#1: "Almost Paradise! Knockin' on Heaven's Door. Almost paradise, how could we ask for more?" (Checkout that arm muscle! Thank you to Jillian's 30-day Shred)

#2. This was my view while I was running on the track on the top of the cruise. Blessed Catalina Island. I like you. Kind of a lot a lot.

#3. When you don't pack for cool-ish weather, Catalina provided me with the sweat pants and sweatshirt I wore pretty much everyday for the rest of the week. Even though I sat in someone else's cigarette nastiness and got stains on them on day 2. (Gross.) This is Tina. Not me. :)


#4. Haven't you always wanted to walk on water?


#5. No make-up. All week long. Oh, and meet Butch. He's the real attractive guy on my right. Our ocean-kayaking tour guide. Pretty sure he is lusting after me in this picture. We may have seen some sea lions and cool orange fishies.

#6. You get to dress up all fancy for "Mom Prom." The best part is watching all the losers, I mean weirdos, I mean fellow cruisers get their pictures taken as if they were at prom. Oh so funny!


#7. A day at a resort came with the complete package: pools, hot tubs, massages, ping pong table, ocean, lunch . . . all precluded by a wonderful visit to a Mexican museum. My comment on the Comment Card? "More sun, less museum."


#8. If you are really lucky, and you have some AMAZING friends who live near the port of the cruise, you get to visit this little guy when you're done. Go Elisabeth. Go Tyler. Go Luke.


#9. best.people.watching.ever. This guy was my boyfriend. I know you're jealous!


#10. Towanda loved it. (If you look real close you can see the cigarette stains on the sweats. How embarrassing.) Towanda ESPECIALLY loved all the food. Basically all we did was eat. With other things on the side. And it's all FREE! Want some hot cocoa late at night? Ok! Want some fresh fruit for an in-between-snack snack? Ok. Want some pizza after lunch? Ok. Want some warm chocolate melting cake every night for dessert? Ok ok ok!!!!Oh, and the hot stone massage on our last night was the BEST thing I could have ever done. Really. If your husbands need ideas on what to get you from Christmas, I more than highly recommend. Worth every cent.

So, what do you say? Roommate + spouses cruise in 2011? We could go somewhere exotic. Or not exotic, if you want. Think about it.

My Mornings

The first thing I see when I wake up is this:
That's the pillow next to me. It's empty. Sometimes it makes me sad. But then, I look out my window and I see this:
And then I think about eternity, and heavenly promises, and then I can't be sad anymore.
(Promise the temple is bigger and brighter than that when I look out my window - guess it's time for a new camera.)

Coming soon: the update on the 10-10-10 Cruise - be excited!

Thank You

Dear Sisterhood,

I just have to say thank you to you all. You have shown so much love to Justin and me as we have struggled though our loss. The flowers you sent to the hospital were beautiful and brightened my spirits. Although my heart was aching, I could still feel love. Your messages were uplifting and gave me strength and encouragement. I am so lucky to have friends like you!

Much love,
Crystal