Festival of Trees 2010

I love Christmas, I love Christmas Trees, I like saving babies, so the Festival of Trees is a no brainer, even if it is WAY to crowded with ijits. I go every year, and the hardest part is finding anyone who wants to go with. Im okay to go by myself, but someone always ends up coming with me. Diane called and said she wanted to go with me this year, poor soul. We went the last night, that was also a saturday night. Super Busy with slow moving people. We got through the big trees (they also do quits, under 5ft trees, gingerbread houses, kids corner, dancing girls, and wreaths) and Diane had had enough. It was super crowed and there were a few trees that all had the same theme.... byu/utah, cowboy, twilight... but all in all it was great to go and catch up with Diane. and start Chirstmas!!! heres a little video of some of the trees.

I wont this.....if even from the Library

Real Simple 869 New Uses for Old Things: An Encyclopedia of Innovative Ideas for Everyday Items

Grace's view of Grants Blessing weekend

Grace got a hold of my camera the Friday M&D got here. Kate was playing beauty salon. These are the pictures that came out somewhat clear. Surprisingly the pictures taken with the lens inside our mouths or within inches of our necks didn't really come out.

WTH did I do wrong??

Its kinda a downer so be warned!

In the last 5 years there's been a month that has made its goal each year to see how far it can drag me down! That month is September. This year has been no exception. There have been some great things this month but they seem to be overshadowed. I guess its better to have most of the years disappointments rolled into 1 out of 12 months.

SELF PITTY PARTY
I didn't graduate
I loathe accounting class- it will be the death of me
Chiropractor's are EXPENSIVE
I love the cheaper rent but feel as if I live in a room the size of a mustard seed
Money seems to vanish
I cant catch my breath, when did life get so out of control?
There are no job prospects
Whats the point of having to register your car every year?
the list could go on....
but the BIGGEST thing that seems to be a reoccurring taunt for the month of September is boys/marriage.
-My barely 18 yr old roommate is engaged and I'm happy for her, but at the same time have mixed feelings. She hasn't experienced really living on her own, paying her own bills, having girls night, going to college, having a college job, college football season. She moved here and 2 wks later she had a guy. WTH. I remember how excited I was and how naive I was. I thought everything would just work out and all I needed to do was worry about the dress and the reception. I've tried to fill her in on the things that might be over looked now like, the marriage license, the family plan on the phones, changing her name on all of her information. I also am hesitant to be SUPER excited, because I know how this could possibly end. I know it wont end that way; they are just too Molly Mormon and Peter Priesthood sickening perfection, but I thought mine was perfect too. They've only been dating a month, and I know who am I to say anything, but don't ya think its a little fast? Shes 18!!! shes got the rest of her life to be married. At least our parents showed a little concern about it being so fast and we were 21. Her fiance(23yr od obsessed Star Trek Physics major) is always first to reassure me that there is someone out there and blah blah blah!
-In my accounting class that is entirely MALE and 2 girls, of the 2 of us one is now married (this past wkend) to one of the guys in the class. Great! They are a cute couple and I really don't know anything about them but not everyone needs to know that you cant take test 1 because you'll be in Mexico on your honeymoon. maybe im just bitter. Also last night as I walk into class there are the few guys that sit by me that tease me a little and one of them brought his wife, who happens to be the roommate I had when I was engaged, talk about AWKWARD!!!! having to explain why im still in college and I'm not wearing a ring in a class full of guys.
- Theres this new show My Generation on ABC and as watched the first show, I thought my 10 yr HS reunion is in less than 2 years, and what do I have to show for the last 10 years?? When I first accepted a friend request from a good friend from HS on facebook, his first question was how long had I been married and how many kids did I have. He was a little shocked to find out that I wasnt married. He said, but thats all you wanted, what have you been doing then? ... my first thought was impatiently waiting?!
- Most of my roommates at Liberty Square celebrated their 5 year anniversaries this summer, and after reading their blog posts, I thought about all of the adventures I had missed out on. All the stuff that 5 years of marriage brings. As I wrote a little comment on their posts, I wished I had their lives. Why hadn't my life turned out like theirs?

My friend Diane mentioned on her teaching blog "...They say that God will keep giving you a trial until you learn what you are supposed to learn from it. It seems that I did not learn a valuable lesson last year..." Well Im going to need a HINT because umm I dont know what I need to be learning!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also there was a tragic accident this past week at BYU. I grad student was hit by a car and was killed. As I was reading through this I noticed she wasn't married and was 27. That's me in 3 months. I thought about what if that were me, (well not the grad student part) but what if the reason she wasn't married was because it wasn't part of her plan? She only needed 27 years to complete what she was sent down here to do. I bet she spent nights crying/talking with her friends about being single and wanting a family one day. They never teach you in YW that everyone doesn't get married at 20. They never teach you (or I dont remember, because I wasn't going to be on of those old maid girls) how to handle 25, 27, 30 and single, They skip the part about you can do it on your own and going to the mid- singles (eeeekkk) isnt all that bad.

Lastly because if anyone is still reading youve had enough of my whining and think I shiould just grow up and forget about it.
On Grants blessing day Cameron came with me to my house before heading back up to his house for the continuation of Grants blessing dat party but just Brossettes. As we were driving the speed limit(dumb Hwy Patrol) Cameron and I decide to play a game that if you saw a certain car or color you get to punch the other person, as we were playing we passed a Haunted Forest billboard. Cameron said he really wanted to go and I told him a story about how I went with a guy once and by the end of the night the guy had a bruise on his arm, because I had been holding on so tight. Cameron then asked if I was dating anyone now like Manda. I said no and he replied well we will just have to work on that! Hes 9. I jokingly asked if he knew any hotties and he said Yeah, but they are girls and they go to my school. Ahh cam. I then stated well, they need to be guys and probably not guys from your school! He said he'd work on it, he'd keep his eyes peeled; but before he could finish his sentimental comment he punched me and said yellow! moment gone. and then I got him with a parking lot of 6 RVs = 6 punches! Thanks for the support Beans!

How friendly is your Chiropractor?

Last year at the Balloon festival I picked up J&M and had a sharp pain in my lower back, I was a cript for about a week having to bear crawl up the stairs each night to my room. I just iced it and it went away, then every once in a while it would hurt again each time quickly going away.
well, 2 wks ago during finals, I went to the post office stood in line FOREVER and shifted my weight and POP back pain! and it didn't go away, so I broke down and went to Kelly's chiropractor.

*Does he make house calls after 7 to check and see how you are doing? - not the receptionist, he himself.
*In the 3 rules that he gives about his office, does one include dinner with him?
(rules 1&2 were remember appointments and be honest{i think I was kinda thrown off by rule 2})
*Only been 3 times and he calls me by name and can spell my last name correctly without looking at how to spell it.

Ummm either He has a comment box that I haven't seen or He's all about wanting to make the world a better place for people with hurt backs.

Side note my spline/spine (same thing right?!?) leans to the Left!!!
Manda and Kelly made fun of me-not all of us are anatomy majors!!! and asked if I had a chance to see what he could do for my fingers, since they're bent also. DIE DIE DIE!!!!

She BLEW UP like a TICK

Theres this show called The Soup. It picks out clips from shows and we all have a good laugh. Well they also have a blog for things that just dont fit into the 30 min show. I saw this clip the other day, laughed out loud at work and even had to watch the entire episode. I think I am a new watcher of the show. Just watch them.

July-August

So theres been a lot going on for the last month. Sisitercation, Lagoon, and Cam's b-day, oh yeah and school. ITs been stressful, its been fun but sad its all ending. Summer is practically over and I didn't get to play. I guess I'll have the two weeks between semesters! Then its Miles, James, Jake, and Grant's Birthdays! Pictures were easier than typing out everything.

4th of July 2010

It started off with the Balloon Festival on Saturday morning. Then a BBQ/ fireworks at Kellys, Provo Parade on Monday, and ended with Libby's special day.
phrase of the weekend:What, What, What are you doing?

Ut County PoH 2010

Well I've been trying for about a week now to get this posted. but I guess the computer is smarter!

Lincoln and Dear John

Yesterday was my Statistics final and hopefully I passed. I wont know until I email my professor what I got, so i'm waiting until Monday so I can enjoy the Lehi parade. I put something down for each question so cross your fingers it was the right answer. Cindy also left for home for 3 weeks so I have the place to myself. To celebrate being done with Statistics I rented some chick flicks- ones Cindy wont watch(she wont watch a movie if theres a chance she will cry). I heard from a friend the Dear John wasn't as sad as I thought it would be so after class I redboxed it and sat down. Boy was she wrong, I cried the entire movie! if not for the relationship he has with his father but for the DUMB, shes not good enough girl that he settles for, story. I don't know if it was because he was a soldier or what, but umm it was way sad, enough that I got a headache from crying about it. - side note, the main chick isn't that cute and isn't a pretty crier.

But on a happier note Tuesday night Libby told me about a Lincoln event at the Orem Library.
Special Patriotic Event: Imagining Lincoln Beyond The Myth
Join UVU President Matthew Holland and sculptor Daniel Fairbanks for this program honoring one of our nation's greatest presidents. While President Holland speaks about Lincoln's life and service, Professor Fairbanks will sculpt a bust of Lincoln. Come gain a new appreciation for the nation's 16th president.
It was awesome. There were a few things that he mentioned that really caught my attention. He pulled up a list of the casualties of all of the wars America has fought in. Most will say that WWII had the most but in fact the Civil War did. He said the account they have is the US Federal amount, those would only account for Union soldiers, so he said if we doubled that amount to account for the Confederate side, just as an estimate because there were more than that, it would show the real amount. He also said for the number of people (Union and Confederate) living in the US at the time the chance of dying was 1 in 25 people- not soldier population, but citizens of the US. Wow!!! If you think about it, 1 in 25. that's like 1 in every classroom. Or 1 out of my family + 6 friends. Odds were not good.

But it was awesome and the guy (Fairbanks) doing the face of Lincoln started with the face of a young Lincoln and as Pres. Holland talked he aged him so when Holland finished it was the Lincoln we all know. They filmed it so I don't know if they'll have it up on the library's site or not.

Toy Story 3

I got home last night and we were watching TV and a Toy Story commercial came on and Cindy and I said, if there was only a midnight showing. Well we check and there was!!! so we drove up to Midvale and sat in a theater where we were the oldest people there. The movie was great. It was sad, adventurous, and a great ending to probably one of the greatest movies. My favorite new character is Ken. Rex will always be my favorite, but Ken is hilarious. I found a couple of videos that aren't in the movie, they are just promos, but too funny not to share.

Memorial Day Treats

Army Man cookies
Star cookies
White-chocolate dipped strawberries with sprinkles
Halved strawberries with fruit dip and blueberries


Sorry for the bad pics but we were already out the door and i wanted a quick pic.

Maybe im not meant to be a 'crafter'

Here's a shot of Kelly at Rio after the March for Babies!Last week was kinda rough, so when I need to relax or clear my mind I go to Home Depot or Lowes to the lumber section. Something about the smell relaxes me. As I was walking through the isles planning for the table i want to make this summer, I found some 12" stakes and crafting ideas started popping in, making the previous thoughts vanish. I thought I could make a crafty like fence for the entertainment center spring look. So i got 7 stakes and sand paper. I looked at the hinges and they wanted a 1.00 apiece. This was supposed to be a cheap fence (the 7 stakes together were 1.75) So I scrapped them and went to Kelly for advice she said to use wire. I went to Roberts and found wire(2.00) but really wanted hinges so I looked there and they had them for .20 each!!!! Got home and spray painted, didn't really need the sandpaper, maybe next craft. As I started to assemble them I thought i would alternate the hinges, and the first two went by quickly but as I started with the 3rd that's where the fun started. So there are some with a few holes, but you really cant see them and at 11:30 last night I thought about spraying them again to give a finished look but I really didn't care.

this is where extra holes were made.

not paying close attention to which alternating spot or side to place them.

FINISHED !!!

The blister I got from the tiny screwdriver

I tried loading this picture several times, somethings up with Blogger.


different pic but better angle

I tried

I saw this last Christmas and I wanted one, but way not worth what they wanted for it.
Then Kelly sent me an link to this blog and it had this bracelet. Kinda like the necklace, so I tried it.
Well it was harder than it looked. The beads kept sliding and once I finished it the strand was way twisted. So I thought to put ribbon on the back to keep it straight. Well it isnt exactly perfect and I'm kinda embarrassed to wear it outside.



The couch is flat. the necklace still twists a little. But the first time you try something it never comes out exactly like you wanted, Right??

I guess I'm not that crafty and that probably why they wanted so much for that 1st necklace, well that and the diamonds and pearls.

Round - about compliment ?!?

This past weekend my ward put on a cowboy themed sorta blind date activity. It was really fun and the guy that I went with was pretty cool. On Monday Gene, a guy at work, (the one that set me up with a guy awhile ago {click on Gene above to read about it}) asked how it went.
He then went on to tell me the guy he set me up with about a year ago was dating this other chic. umm, well that's great!?! Gene was not too kind in describing this girl. I bet she's really nice and makes that guy happy, and he must find her attractive and they get along well. Gene then went on to say that he asked that guy why he never called me back and the guy said that I was too much of a trophy for him. ummm, WHAT??!? Gene said it was a complement. Dude, how low is your self-esteem?

But in a way I can see the comparison....



Both are big on top and gradually get smaller as they go down.

So I guess I'll take that as a compliment.

What a deal What a deal

It's not a Kelly deal but still a deal. to bad everyone knew about this deal and printed all the coupons. I could have found uses for other ones.

Easter Chicks

For Christmas I received the Martha Stewart Cupcake book. There are plenty of cupcakes I want to try but this is my first. Here is the link to what they are supposed to look like Spring Chick Cakes. I used mini cupcakes, black icing, and tic tacs.

Counting down to the cruise

So I've been thinking a lot about going on this cruise. Mostly about what could go wrong. I've hidden behind the 'why would anyone want to leave this country' but I've got a passport and a friend that likes to travel and go on vacations, so I'm going on a cruise. I'm very EXCITED but I do have a few concerns.

1. The boat sinking. what if it has those gates in it like they did in the Titanic movie, where the poor people were trapped? I checked our room and we are 2 floors above the life boats. Cindy says they can hold around 200 - I'm just glad I'm a chick (women and children first) that rule still applies Right?!?!?!?! 2. Sharks. I pray they don't like dark meat! but I did learn from shark week that if you place your palm on their nose they wont eat you, so you know I have that going for me.

3. Pirates- I doubt they are anything like Johnny Depp. I just hope their ships are clearly labeled like this one.
4. Manda reminded me about this movie. I know but Abby you don't watch scary movies or movies without happy endings but alas I have seen this one, and ummm see #2 above. Also another fear, Cindy and I signed up for snorkeling...umm what if the boat forgets us???????
5. I want to either sleep on the floor or put something that will wake me up if water starts running onto the floor. Even though I mentioned we are 2 feet above the lifeboats we are still in the front of the boat. Cindy said since were on the inside of the boat our rooms with be completely dark, at first I was overjoyed (i like sleeping like a vampire) but I'm not sure I'll be getting a great nights sleep like I thought I would.
6. again sharks, but how am I suppose to put my palm on every shark if they are circling like this?

7. I might be a little spoiled, but umm do you have any nicer jail cells, maybe with an unused mattress or sheets, or maybe a not so public bathroom, or air conditioner, or without bugs or small animals? (my spanish isn't all that great and quite offensive. Cindy said if I'm not shot, I'll probably end up in prison)8. I know its seem impossible but I'm that one person that would fall off the entrance ramp into the nasty water.


So umm yeah, a few things that are worrying me. I'm not getting that much sleep, which gives my mind more time to think of things that could go wrong.

New favorite

Heard this song on the way to work this morning. I think its a new favorite. It's 1,2,3,4 by Plain White T's.

Spring Table

So every holiday I redo the table and add a few decorations around the house. I have a lot of craft blogs that I seal ideas from, but no one was putting up their Easter/spring ideas, so I had to come up with it on my own. I've seen the jelly beans in vases before and I saw the idea for the flower balls(the smaller 2) at TaiPan. The nest idea was from a Martha Stewart magazine a while ago. The green plates I found while looking for a table runner at Walmart(it was like 10:30pm) which they dont carry but I think they are trying to compete with the cute stuff that Target sales. They had those plates in 3 different colors/designs. I kinda wanted them all.

For the top of the tv I found wood garland @ Hobby Lobby and paired it with garland @ TiaPan. The chicks and eggs are from Hobby Lobby. The ribbon pails and eggs were from the $spot at Target. The big egg topiary thing is from TiaPan. It was found in the clearance section (which I did not know existed, i stumbled across it) It was marked down because the paint on a few of the eggs on one side were chipped, ummm just have that facing back, so I got a steal on it.
This is the wreath I made, most of it is from hobby lobby and TiaPan.
When Cindy saw it she asked when she got her own home if I could decorate it! some other friends mentioned I should be a wedding planner.... humm seems like there would be a good market here in UT, maybe I should look into it.