I Won!!

So it is really funny when girls that you taught in church as teenagers become your peers! They grow up and have kids the same age as yours... weird. They become these beautiful, freakishly talented young women. Lisa is one of those.

Lisa makes gorgeous vintage-inspired jewelry. Her line is called Jeweled Ambrosia. Gorgeous name for gorgeous things. She also makes some amazing childrens' puppets. You really should check out her Little Lovables site.

I entered a giveaway on her blog a while ago and I won! Here I am sporting these gorgeous (how many times can I say that in a post? probably as many times as I say it in real life...) Indian Charm Earrings. Fab, no? Yes!

Need a little something special for Christmas? I am sure that she can hook you up. She has a great little shop on Etsy, too.

Thank you, Lisa!

PS-- Please ignore my gigantic head! I was trying to get it big enough to show the earrings well. And speaking of which-- sorry for the semi-frozen smile-- my flash wouldn't go off...

Sunday Funnies

Another gem from Overheard in the Ward-

Elder: She is totally a "Lead Kindly Light " kind of girl.

Elder #2: Huh?

Elder: You know… [singing] Lead Thou Me On.

Overheard by: ChoirFreak

What Have You Done?

I got this from Holly's blog.
The things I have done are in italics and highlighted in bold:

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables (with mild success...)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (Europe 1984)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (it was a water taxi- but I am counting it!)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors (Greece)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (at houses- not at a Karaoke club)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (No, I haven't-- and there is a funny story behind that... just ask my husband...)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted (by my grandfather- it hangs in my room)
48. Gone deep sea fishing (yeah, with as much as I like fish, you can imagine my excitement)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (okay, we were on a budget- been there; not to the top)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (no, and that is a shame...)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (Yes, for my mom- she owes me; I passed out!)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square (it is on my list of things that I really, really want to do!)
74. Toured the Everglades (yes, and another funny story will be posted about that!)
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (several toes; some toes more than once; I am awesome like that!)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican (we were outside- I am counting it)
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (as a young child)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (yeah, right)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Sean Hannity is the coolest!)
92. Joined a book club (do I read the books? not always)
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

If you want to play along, go ahead!

Moto Moto - Big and Chunky

Okay, so watching Madagascar 2 I totally lost it in the theater and nearly peed my pants! This song cracked me up sooo bad! This is just a little music video, but I think that you get the idea.

Moto Moto is like a Barry White of the hippo world. You may think differently of me-- but hey, I am trying to keep it real.

My blog. Remember?

Enjoy! And pass the sweet potatoes...

Like It?

Like my new header??

My super-creative-wonderful-friend-who-moved-away, Aubri, made it for me!!

Thanks, Aubri!

(Yes, I realize that my backgrounds have changed about 10 times in the past 2 weeks! Just trying to find one that is 'me'. Love this one for the Holidays.)

♥♥♥

Up and Over

On John's first trip to China, we were confused by the fact that they flew him to Chicago (north) to go to Asia. We couldn't figure out if he was going to go eastward or westward.

Being the techie that he is, he enjoyed watching the monitor which showed their route as they progressed.

Amazingly, they went up and over the top of the world! Can you believe that? Here is a picture showing their plane as they went over the North Pole. Incredible.

I wonder if he heard tiny hammers? I am sure that the Elves are busy this time of the year. :)

Got Heat?

In 90 - 95% of the homes in China, the heat is controlled by the government.

They turn the heat on November 15th.

End of story.

Let's Dance!

Stephie's First Dance was this past weekend. I think that she looked so pretty! I can't believe (and neither can her older sister, Maddy) that she is getting so tall!

For the Big Night, Maddy did Stephie's eyeliner and gave her a quick lesson on how to dance with a boy. {sigh}

What a lucky mom I am. Not only are they beauties on the outside, but treasures through and through.

Stephie (left), Maddy (right)

Crochet Creation

As I said before, I have picked up my crochet hook again lately. Here is Lilly in a little hat that I made for her. I think that it is delightful. I have requests from my other kids- different colors, with or without flowers, but everyone seems to want one around here. Me included.

China Syndrome

Hubby's off to China again.

I guess he missed going to restaurants to eat things like:

this-

Goose Tongues

I Don't Know...

You Couldn't Pay Me Enough...

Or the adventure of 'Let's-Pick-Our-Dinner' ! (from the aquarium... no this is not a zoo, it is a restaurant...)

Plenty of delights to choose from:

Eel

Turtle

Or These Little Nifties...

Now, I Could Do This -

This, Not So Much...

I am thinking that a PBJ and some milk sounds mighty fine right about now.

Overheard in the Ward

Just a peek into the fun little blog called Overheard in the Ward. A blog dedicated to the funny things that we encounter on sundays, you can submit your own little morsels. Here is one that tickled my funnybone. ☺

Embrace Me:

4-year-old boy bearing testimony:

I’m so glad Daddy gave Mommy a special hug so my sister and I could be born.

In Answer...

Thank you for all of your inquiries. My Hubby is back from China safe and sound. Unfortunately, he has to return on Monday.

We had a fun couple of days together, including the Pumpkin Patch, lunch at Babe's, pumpkin carving, Hallowe'en, yard work and church.

Once back at work, it was apparent that he was needed back in China as soon as possible.

The Sunny Side:
He will be back for Thanksgiving, my (ahem) 40th birthday, and the Duran Duran concert!

Pathetic

"I've got two daughters, 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."
-- Barack Obama in Pennsylvania on March 31, 2008

Hallowe'en Fun 2008

Make a Smilebox slideshow