Family Wall Hanging

For Christmas this year I made my parents a wall hanging that says "family". There are 6 letters in the word family and there are 6 kids in my family. Each letter represents one of us kids. So I made different images to put on the front of the letters that goes with each individuals personality, hobby's, things they are good at, you know stuff like that. I also had everyone write a message for mom and dad and put those on the back of their letter. I really hope that my parents like the gift! I think it turned out pretty cute. Here are some pictures of it =DThe back where everyone's messages are.




Hopefully you can tell what everything is on the fronts but if not here's a list of what they are and my thought process

F (Sarah) sewing machine and spool of thread with needle. She is awesome at sewing
A (Josh) mixing bowl, various ingredients and cookie. Makes amazing cookie bars!
M (Lars) a open book. You could be "deep" and say Lars is like an open book or that he has to study a lot for law school however you'd like to look at it lol
I (Darby) “comedy/tragedy” mask, paint brush and paint splatter. No brianer because she is artistic.
L (Maren) knitting needles and a cozy home. Have you seen those adorable hats she's knitted for the boys? They are GREAT! And she has made such a cozy home for her family
Y (Ashley) scissors and Patch. The scissors could represent a lot of different things for me... doing hair or anything crafty that I do tend to need use of scissors at some point. And Patch b/c she's my baby!

and here are close ups of each of the letters because they took awhile to design and actually get made so I want to show them off =D

hair

So I finally have redone my color ... it was sooooooooo faded the browns were a red color, my hair ALWAYS fades to red which is amazing because I've stopped using color that isn't pure ash (blue) base but it still fades to red! And it's not like a little bit red it's like people ask "oh so you've put red in your hair" Nope! That's just what it does. Anyways off of my hair stylist rant lol here are some pictures of my hair :)


I really like it to be mostly brown with highlights now a days ... well to be fair it's pretty even between blond and brown but the brown is a more dominate color.... And who's noticed how long it's getting? YAY!!!! Finally it grows soooo slow. Welp that's enough talk about my hair :)

offended much?

I've realized that the older I get the more easily I get offended by people, and honestly most of the time it's silly things that are taken wrongly and then multiplied and than I go looking for other reasons not to like that person! Can you said crazy lady? *conducts the chorus of crazy lady* And other times I feel justified in my getting put off by someone and instead of wanting to revolve those feelings I just avoid being that person because, heck, that's a whole lot easier than given them a chance to "redeem" themselves. Which is dumb how can someone make up for something they didn't even know they did. Everyone say will say something that will offend someone else without even knowing it.

Case in point there is a woman in our branch at church, for those of you who don't know we're in a care center for our church calling which we LOVE! (no sarcasm we really do love serving there) but there is one woman that is just a bit ornery, she's made comments about a dress I wore that she didn't like, she's asked me if I'm pregnant (which I'm not people I just carry my weight in my tummy!!! lol) and quite a few other things. So when we were at the center doing some visiting we ran into LaRae and she was telling us that she "apparently" had offended a lady that lived there and the woman told LaRae that she would NEVER talk to her again and has been true to her word. But the thing is LaRae had no idea that she had done anything to this woman and was upset that she had. LaRae told us she tries not to offend people which goes to show that even the most "offensive" people probably don't mean to be.

This post is just for my benefit really to show how silly it is to become offended by people and to let it interfere with being friends with someone or harboring bad feelings about someone. It's not showing so-and-so anything all it's doing is hurting ourselves. For one you've lost a friend and two you're the one left with the negative feelings. So silly! So I guess the whole reason for this post is to show that again I'm NOWHERE near perfect and that hopefully it'll help someone out there. I know there aren't a whole lot of people who read my blog but still hopefully it helps someone =D And if I've ever offended you I'm SO sorry I didn't mean it in that way and I didn't mean to hurt you at all. I'm in this whole journey called life along with everyone else and I make just as many mistakes as the next person if not more and I apologize for my insensitivity and hope you'll forgive me if I have cause you to be offended.

Parents

I saw this posted on a cousins blog. It was very powerful and I feel the need to share it on mine as well

http://www.danoah.com/2010/09/you-just-broke-your-child.html

It just breaks my heart to know that there are children who aren't getting the love they need and have the god given right to have in their lives.

weight loss progress

So I know I still have a pudge but I don't think it looks bad it just a little cushion ... I'm still planning on working out and loose more but here's some tummy shots. Hopefully you all can see a difference and that I'm not just crazy. (and I'm a bit bloated from being that time of the month so I actually am a bit smaller than this)

=D

Losing inches is fun! Haven't lost anymore pounds which I honesty could weight 500 lbs as long as I looked good lol I don't think that's possible ...well I guess wolverine is pretty heavy with all the metal (yes I'm a nerd, I know) Anyhow the latest measurement update 2 inches off my pudge YAY!

turbo jam

So I know it's not huge, but I've been doing the turbo jam videos for almost a month now, and it's working! I've lost anywhere from 5-8 lbs (my weight fluctuates like no other I swear I can range within 5 lbs within a day! I think it's crazy) and I've lost about an 1-1 1/2 inches around my pudgy area on my tummy which is what bothers me the most the rest of me doesn't bug me at all. I wore a fitted shirt to church yesterday and people actually noticed that I had lost weight! Yay me!

HA HA HA

Funniest moment of the day: I was doing a dorky dance, Chris said it was sexy jokingly and than I snorted but it wasn't on purpose... needless to say I couldn't stop laughing for a while. Love my life lol

prop 8

I know no one asked me but I honestly couldn't care less if gays get married. I think they should have the same rights as men and women who are married. My issue is once it's illegal they'll bring it into the schools and teach kids about it. I personally don't want my child to be taught about that by someone else. I want to be able to teach my children about what I believe to be a moral issue myself. If that's how someone has chose to live you know that's fine with me, it's not my place to judge or whatever. But once it effects what my child will learn I have a problem... I don't agree with it and don't think that it is morally correct. But I also know that our heavenly father loves them just as much as anyone else and I don't feel any resentment towards them. But again like I said I feel like I should have the right to teach my children when I think when they are old enough to understand and be able to teach them what I believe to be correct. I feel like that is within my rights as an American citizen. That's my stand on it. That also is how I feel about drinking, smoking, having sex outside of marriage, driving like an idot and among other things .... people are going to do what they are going to do whether I agree with it or not I just don't want to be pressed on my or my family is basically what I'm saying.

Catch up .... again

So I had an awesome time in Cali for two weeks (8th-22nd of June) It was sooooo much fun! I went down because my best friend of what 11 years now? (wow crazy it's been that long) graduated from Cali State Bakersfield. I'm really glad I was able to be there I'm so proud of her.
me and Amanda's mom aka my second mom waiting for the ceremony to start


Amanda in line to walk across the stage!!!

She's had a rough year this last year and has handled it so well she's just an amazing person love her so much! We were able to take a trip to the beach and go shopping and go to dinner and a movie and have girls day and so many more fun things! I got to catch up with some old friends and make some new ones, overall just a great trip.us at the beach

But I am so happy to be home with my hubby! I missed him lots! And I've actually missed doing the cooking (weird I know) So I've been making him breakfast quite a bit (since he works nights it's like lunch for me and breakfast for him) and I've made a blueberry cream cheese braid (well actually two b/c the recipe is for two of them) that were super yummy and the link is for the recipe if you want to give it a try! and Reese cookies they're chocolate cookies with a peanut butter center! yum, and cool lime cheesecake Delicious! Don't worry we aren't just piggin out by ourselves.(just to clarify these are just things I've been making, not things I've been making us for breakfast lol)*note this isn't a picture of the one I actually made but mine did look just like it =D

Chris has family in town. One of his cousins are getting married this Saturday (yes our anniversary is also on Saturday the 10th... 3 years =D) So we've been sharing the goodies with them. On Saturday we went to the rodeo it was fun I hadn't been to one since I was in high school! So that's what we've been up to as of late.... Hope you are all doing well, all our love!

Pineapple

So Chris pulled the top right off of the pineapple we got and I just thought it was the saddest looking thing without it's "hair"
Chris thought it was so funny that I was troubled over the pineapple that he said I should take a picture of the "massacred" cantaloupe too, it was skinned alive and cut in little bits ... (it's next to the balded pineapple) and his was cutting up an apple and said he disemboweled it. Our poor fruit. lol

and here's an update picture of the boys (Steve is on the left and Bob is on the right) Bob has taken over for being the most active of the two he has overflowed twice! They are now in the fridge that way I don't have to feed them every day =D

Funny

Oh my heavens funnest thing I've heard all day was, "hold on Jesus is calling" said by my mom lol. Someone from the church was calling the house.

It really bothers me .....

when people make commitments they have no/little intention in keeping....(just in case that worried you at all this is in no way about Chris and me) Why would you ever do that? Why make promises to someone when you know that if it doesn't pan out exactly like you thought or that it took more than minimal effort to make it work that you were out of there? And why go through the in pretenses of going through the temple just for looks and to make your parents happy? To make covenants just to brake them because "you can". Step up and be a better version of yourself instead of digging yourself into a hole and while your at it rolling around in that same dirt and pretending that it's making you feel better about being down there in the first place? People drive me crazy don't do the things your doing and than act like it's everyone else fault for how poorly you feel and how your life has "suddenly" turned so bad. *stepping off soap box*

Now on a completely different note. Things with Chris and me are just great nothing noteworthy really going on just the same ol' same ol' but as they say "no news is good news". I have endeavored in making a sourdough starter, for those of you who don't know what that means.... it's pretty much cultivating your own yeast to use in breads. (I've used this method of doing it if anyone is interested) Bread rises slower using it but it is healthier for you and is supposed to add more flavor to your breads, pancakes, muffins, whatever you cook using it. And it's an experience that I thought would be fun to have, to be able to use something that I've worked at and have grown.... like a yeast garden lol. I'm actually growing two. I have one that I'm feeding with just wheat flour and one with all purpose. So I'll have one wheat and one white once they are fully grown. I am on day 6 and the wheat one is doing a bit better than the white one it actually is rising up quite a bit after getting fed and should be ready to use here before too long. OH and I forgot I've named them well actually Chris named one and I the other... The white starter Chris has named Bob the Blob and the white one is name Yeasty Steve =D

Here are our two boys next to each other lol. As you can see Steve is quite a bit more active than Bob is at this point but to be fair I had just stirred in some Apple Cider Vinegar to give Bob a boost. So he was just stirred down when I took the picture.


here's a close up on Steve.... he has been doing really well in just the last couple of days has started to rise quite a bit
his "name tag" lol you know how I like being crafty. I printed than cut them out and "laminated" aka covered with packing tape =D (Don't mind the water marks I kinda got it wet)


And than here's a close up on Bob you can tell how much Steve has really risen because they have the same amount in both but this is what they look like being stirred down

and than his name tag

So that's what we've been up to as of late. Oh and if anyone in the area wants some of either starters when they are fully grown I'd be happy to share. Hope you all are well!

Let's see who plays =D

My friend posted this on her blog and I couldn't resist so here it is:

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year. (I'll try to get it done soon)
4. You have no clue what it's going to be.
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so, and leave a comment telling me they did, win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me!

*Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!*

Funny Stuff

OK so lately I have thought that everything is funny.... like putting stuff of Chris's head and taking pictures lol.... I know I'm weird but seriously I think these pictures are super funny

So mom sent me a crown punch for scrapbooking so I had Chris wear it and thought it was pretty darn funny it's so small! (again I know I'm a weirdo lol)


look at his face it's like oh you are so funny please stop taking pictures of me


Than I put a dish towel that I crocheted on his head and I think he looks like a flamboyant Jewish man ah ha ha


And here Chris was asleep and there is a pillow under the sheet with him but it looks like he has a HUGE bum!!
I am easily entertained!

Chris's Birthday

So Chris's birthday was a few days ago and we had a really great day. I made waffles from scratch topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Than we did presents and for dinner before he had work we had steak and potatoes! It was a really simple day but it was great! I'm so thankful for him, he is such a blessing and is always so happy and positive. Sadly quite the opposite of myself a lot of the time! It just takes sooooooo much before he's even bothered by something whereas I have a short fuse. He really is my better half in every since! I love him so much and am really very grateful for his (almost) unending patience! I love you hun!

Birthday

Today was my birthday! It was really fun... we stayed home and it was awesome! Chris talked to my mom a few days before and told her he really would like to make me ribs like she does since I've told him how much I like them. So that was one of my birthday surprises was ribs for dinner. Just like how mommy makes =D It made me so happy! And also ever since Christmas and learning about Grinch clues Chris has been doing his own versions. He did this for valentines day and than also today. He hid my presents in the fridge, VHS video case, and under this HUGE salad bowl we got as a wedding present we keep on top of the cabinets. The presents from Chris were an egg pan and tiny spatula to go with it, a rice cooker/veggie steamer, and some yarn. I got a edible bouquet from my in-laws it's very yummy. And got a bunch of scrapbooking supplies from my mom and dad! I've had so much love from everyone today and lots of birthday wishes... couldn't ask for more on my birthday! Thank you everyone for your love and support!

picture time...the bouquetmy egg pan
here's a comparison to my normally used pan (I think this picture is really funny! They're supposed to be like eyes ._o <---like that)
Just the two of us

For those of you who are my facebook friends there are more pictures there but you get the idea of the fun we had! =D

Unheard of.....

two blog posts in the same week! Ha ha ha I made a birthday card for my grandma she was born on St. Patty's Day and I was born on her birthday and my nephew was also born on the same day (I also have a cousin born on the same day ... what can I say it's a popular day =D) I thought it turned out really cute so I want to share some pictures...

here's the digital layout I made first I've really have liked doing this before making the card it makes it easier to play around with ideas w/o wasting paper and time...

and here's the actual card (I took them with my phone so they aren't the best quality but you get the idea)

here's a close up of the leprechaun (isn't he cute!)
and here's the digital layout I'm going to make for my nephew I haven't made it yet...and one more picture here's just the digital of the card I made for my mom, her birthday is the last day of the month in Feb so it's Valentines theme I think it turned out really cute (I should've taken a picture of the finished project)Welp that's what I've been up to lately =D

Parenthood

So I watched the season premier of the show "Parenthood" and I must say I liked it. I think the sneak peek at next weeks show looks like it'll be good. I did cry watching it to night and most likely will be a tear jerker for me. It has some funny moments and some touching ones... we'll see if I actually keep up with it but so far I've liked it =D.

On a side note but related somewhat .... anyone have a baby I can borrow to cuddle with?

Craftyness!

So I've seen these cute vinyl cutouts of the temple people have gotten married in. The only one I had seen of Jordan River I didn't really like so I drew my own in a program called inkscape and I can now cut it out of vinyl for us!

And an other project I did was made a vinyl from one of our wedding pictures!

Here's the original

then the silhouette

I've cut this out out and it is on our wall in our bedroom. I really like creating different things to cut, being crafty is so fun!