I'll Spare You The Mush

So....you saw my fancy sewing machine, but I didn't have a good place to put that beauty. So, I desperately needed another desk for two reasons:

1) Awful Walmart corner desk for the computer
2) Really cute refinished desk from craigslist that ONLY holds the sewing machine

CHECK OUT THIS BABY................

Hand crafted by my awesome husband

(that's right ladies...he rocks)

Don't let the picture fool you. This bad boy is long enough to hold not only the computer, but also my sewing machine, AND the serger. It's a small room's dream table.

My personal carpenter offered to cut cord holes in the top to organize all the chaos and he even suggested carving out the back of the legs so it would sit flush to the baseboard and wall.

I decided it was perfect the way it was and I didn't want to risk not thinking it was perfect, so I had him leave it just like you see above.

Hasta la vista nasty corner desk!

AND.....if you know anyone that wants a really great desk that I refinshed, just let me know :)

Sewtime Showtime

Yee-Haw!!! My first big girl sewing machine!

You'd think with the sewing I've done up to this point I would have a nice little machine....well I didn't. So, this is the debut of my most recent purchase!

She looks so beautiful and valley-girl'ish, but trust me...I've done some research, and this is a hard core thread pumping machine!

Once this pretty little girl shows up at my door I will have a whole new adventure in front of me.

Trust me, you'll hear all about it!

There Is Sunshine In My Soul

We've all had days like this right?

I hope I'm not crazy and ya'll have days like this!

For the past several days I have worked really hard to overcome a natural unsatisfaction towards my life. It's like I didn't care because there was too much to care about.... hehe, what a predicament right?

I had to conciously make up my mind to shake off the yuckies and next it was time for a little backup....

Let me be the first to share the reading your scriptures every night does a body good! A little Alma 57 was the icing on my "turn around cake" (especially vs. 21,26,27).

Today is a good day. Things don't get done, oh well, right? I am continously blessed so I better keep my faith, get over myself, and trust in my Heavenly Father.

Sorry to get all churchy on you :)

I Got Nothin...

Sat here for too long trying to think of a post title, so you don't get one today :)

Life has been crazy and I know that isn't much of an excuse, but whatever, it will have to do (just like my lame title, haha)

1. You saw that I went to Chicago from my prior post. I was there for work for 4 days and then stayed for another week to visit my family and Tyler flew up to visit as well. That was his first time east of Arizona! Here's some pictures:

We ditched church and got White Castle....ooops!

Out on the glass at the top of the Sears (Willis) Tower

4th of July Fireworks with the Family

With the oxen that pull wagons around Nauvoo

The 4 acres that Tyler's ancestor owned in Nauvoo

Tyler in the Mississippi River where the pioneers crossed

1. I had a big pitch in California for some work I have been doing around the Yogurt category layout. I worked with some people in suggesting the best Yogurt set for Safeway 5 years from now (A set is literally the 'set' of shelves that yogurt sits on). Does it have more Kid yogurt, what flavors should stay, where should we put organic yogurts....all of that fun stuff.

2. Went to Santa Barbara with my work team. We had some good brainstorming and also some good team bonding. I got to eat at an amazing restaurant called Downey's, got a coconut cupcake from one of the shops on Cupcake Wars, and went on my first vineyard/winery tour.

I'm not a drinker, as I'm sure many of you know, but it was an educational tour so we got to go behind the scenes and see how they harvest and actually make the wine. Did you know there is 23 POUNDS of grapes in one bottle!? Crazy. So long story short, it just smells like vinegar and alcohol, so I still don't get why people like it so much, but it was intersting to learn about.

3. Christie and Dan (Tyler's brother) had their baby! Durham Everett was born Tuesday, July 13th and I haven't seen him in real life yet, but he is SO cute in pictures!!! I can't wait to snuggle him up! So, there's the highlight real!

I'm Not Great at Vacationing

So, I had this nice little trip planned:

- Go to Chicago for work, sit at a few meetings, go to a few dinners, walk around the city a bit

CHECK

- Go to my aunt's house to visit my cousins, relax, and just catch up on the family

REALITY

- Go to my aunt's house and decide she needs to have a yard sale, sit outside for 2 days and peddle her old stuff (it was my idea and I thought it was wothwhile....but not what most would consider a vacation)

CHECK

Here's the proof of our labors on the second day (it was slow, haha):

Only the Beginning....

One Girls Camp craft down............

So many to go......

My Recent Sanity

So...some of the best things about my job are the people I work with, I know that is SO cliche, but, meet Pam........

This is us at a little office outing to Bucca de Beppo where we absolutely stuffed ourselves! Don't get me wrong, this isn't a Pam love fest (love ya Pam!!), BUT it's people like Pam that make my days go smoothly.

I love people that are equally as goofy, but appropriately serious, not afraid to be totally crass or abrasive (becuase trust me, I can hold my own in that department), and have such a kind heart at the same time.......

those are my kinds of peeps :)

Bliss from Blessings #7

• An AWESOME husband that cleaned my yard last night! I came home from a work trip to California and I heard 'our neighbors' raking in their backyard. I thought to myself, "I can't believe they are actually cleaning that mess!" Then, what do my wondering eyes see appear? I tall handsome man in my backyard that's clear! No dog poop, no clippings, no tall grass or tool, just a nice clean backyard...my husbands no fool :)
• Talking to my brother that is serving in the military in Korea. Things are a little sketchy there right now, so it's always nice to chat with him.
• A nice lunch in the office with a new-bee around these parts. We got a good visit in and now I have a new friend!
• I'm so grateful that I get along with my in-laws! I LOVE getting texts from my sister-in-laws. Woot-Woot!
• A nice (FREE) all you can eat dinner tonight with friends. Can't beat that!

Bliss from Blessings #8

Better continue my blessings....I can't just leave 8 sessions out there unfinished!

• Great family time this weekend. I got to see some cousins I hadn't seen in probably 3 or 4 years and it was a good time to reconnect.
• Seeing both moms shine with their fancy new bracelets! It is so fun to make your mom happy!
• Being able to joke around with Tyler. Everytime we goof off I sit back and think how great it is that neither one of us is offended and we can just laugh our head's off.....trust me, we can get ridiculous.
• Having the opportunity to exercise my creative side as I get ready for our youth Girls Camp! Having to keep 30 12-15yr old girls occupied for 5 days can be a daunting task, but it has really stretched me in a good way.
• Maybe I have said this before but I am so blessed to be able to make choices. Tyler and I are choosing to live our lives the way we do and we can choose to live it another way if that starts sounding better. We are blessed to have options.

One Day When I Grow Up

In honor of my mother and in preperation for one day when I too will have such a huge job, I've decided to make a list of some of the wonderful ways my mom has shown me how to be a good mom.

• Sacrificed so we could have the experience. I know paying for swim, dance, and gymnastics was not cheap. She took the time to sign me up for junior forest ranger training, beauty pageants, and 4-H. She drove all over the world to take me to learn how to be a broadcaster, shoot a gun, build a snowman, march in band competitions, and be in musicals. She sacrificed.


• Sang to me. We sang in the car, while we made dinner, before we went to bed, at church, walking around the block. She gave me my voice.


• Made me cook. I hated to cook. She was determined and I dodged her as much as I could, but she eventually won.


• Didn't make things a big deal. I remember being so scared to ask her if could wear makeup. I was about to go to bed and I went in her room, sat on the bed with her and clung her pillow to my chest. She asked me what I wanted to say....I covered my head with the pillow and muttered, "I want to wear makeup". She said, "Okay...."


• Made me pull weeds. She taught me how to work and work hard. I can't count the hot summer days when we raked, shoveled, and pulled weeds on our acre of land. Filling trash bags and wheelbarrows. I remember going in my room and laying under the fan in my undies. Hot and exhausted, but accomplished.


• Let me make choices. There were things I did that I know she didn't agree with, but she knew they wouldn't kill me, so she let me do them. She let me learn from my mistakes instead of protecting me from the life lesson.


• Loved my dad. There were days when I'm sure that was a hard thing to do, but she was an example of unconditional love for my father, which made me understand how much she really loved me.


• Taught me about money. There were plenty of people that made fun of me for having Easter candy at Christmas. I have always loved having a 'stash' and my mom has always supported it. She helped me open my first bank account, made me save, and also taught me to spend. I was always encouraged to buy something after I had saved some money, especially if it was a good deal.


• Spoke frankly. I can never blame my mom for not telling me something, even if I didn't want to hear it. She is open and honest and says what's good for your head, even if it's hard on your heart (and your ears!)

She would tell you she disagreed, but this woman is a REALLY good mom, and continues to influence my life to this day. One day, when I grow up.....