Lessons Learned in 2008 ...

*Even though I do not like animals, I feel really bad when I hit one accidentally with my car ... and I do get misty eyed during that Sarah McLachlan commercial.

*The Jonas Brothers creep me out ... and I don't get them.

*There is only one REAL Pinkberry.

*Kathie Lee will never stop being annoying.

*MTV is nothing like it was when I was a tween.

*I'm a sucker for shows about mysteries/murders that have an ominous voice narrating.

*Don't hide anything in the oven unless you are in the habit of checking the oven before turning it on.

*I don't like chicken ... unless it is cut into very small, thin pieces.

*DVD sets of TV shows can easily become my downfall

This year has been an interesting one. Most of all this year I am grateful for family and wonderful friends and for the Gospel.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My New Friend Ruby ...

It is no secret that I LOVE reality television.

I have found a new show that I truly enjoy. 

It's called Ruby and it follows a 30 something 500 pound woman from Savannah, GA who is trying to lose weight.

I love her.

She is whiny, and real and says everything in her thick southern accent.

My roommate and I love to quote her to each other.

My fav is when she tells her BF/roomie Jeff that he needs prayer ...

She is so saucy!

She cracks me up!

Leg Warmers and Roller Skates ...

My parents surprised me with tickets to Xanadu for Christmas!

I LOVED it! 

I was so sad that it closed on Broadway before I got to see it.

But the touring company was fabulous.

I laughed, hummed along, and at times I really wanted to get up and dance...

Don't worry, I refrained myself.

The movie may have been horrible, but the stage production is genius!

Thanks again Mom and Dad!

Scoop, Scoop, Grapevine ...

Every family has different holiday traditions.

This is what my mother and I do every Christmas Eve ...

This Is A Public Service Announcement ...

Today Court and I stopped at the food court at the mall in the midst of some serious shopping for some refreshment...

Santa came and sat next to us.

He was eating sushi and noodles.

You may want to rethink your cookies and milk this season and opt for something a little different.

It looks like Santa has developed a taste for Asian cuisine.

(He was also drinking a Pepsi, which I won't lie, made me and my Diet Coke soul believe a little less.)

I Was Born In The Wrong Era ...

Because it looked like this at my house this weekend there was no way I was going to drive anywhere ...

So I watched this ...

And this ...

And decided that I was born in the wrong time.

 I love the golden era of Hollywood and the great old movie musicals. 

I love Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

 

And so, since I wish Gene Kelly was still alive so he could be my boyfriend,

here is a clip of one of my favs ...

Portrait of A Blogstalker ...

Yes I'll admit it ...

I am a blog stalker.

I have found many that I love.

The other day I had an embarrassing experience ...

I was walking out of an office building when I saw a woman whom I recognized from a blog that I frequent ...

Before I even thought I flashed a giant smile and said "Well Hello there!" 

in a voice that sounded like we had been BFFs since 3rd grade and still spent time reminiscing about Brownies and our weird elementary school librarian together.

She gave me a look that said "I don't know you. Please quit stalking me."

I finally realized ... she didn't have a freaking clue who I was.

I flashed another smile and quickly walked away before she saw my face go red with mortification.

This Is Not Okay ...

We're Off To See The Roloffs ...

We took time out to drive to the Roloffs!

Jackie, Em, and I having a hard time containing our excitement on the drive there.

We found it!

It was in such a pretty area.

Sadly, it was closed to the public, but that didn't stop us from trying to spy.

Until we saw this.

Here's there house from far away.

It was fun to go and see where they live. I have already recognized a few things as we've watched the show.

Next time we'll go during pumpkin season and see if Zach will take us on a tour of the farm.

And I'll buy a t-shirt.

Walking In A Winter Wonderland ...

It snowed today.

I should be grateful that it took this long,

but I'm not.

But in honor of my new goal to be more positive,

(I know it comes as a surprise that I can be a little too sarcastic and cynical)

I have decided to list what I love about winter.

1. Hot Chocolate

2. Flannel Pajamas

3. Slippers all the time without my feet getting hot

4. Extra blankets on my bed

5. Watching the snow fall gently out my window as long as I don't have to drive or walk in it.

You May Think Less Of Me When I Tell You This ...

You may think I have no heart or soul ...

But, I HATE that Christmas shoe song.

And I can't bear to hear it one more time!

Natures' Beauty ....

We spent some time at Ecola State Park. It was SO beautiful! 

I could not believe how peaceful and tranquil it was there.

I wish that I had a better camera and that I was a good photographer. 

These photos don't do justice, but you kind of get the idea.

It's That Time Of Year ...

to bust out the Christmas music! I love it!

I have a lot of Christmas music. It makes me happy.

But here is a list of my staples ...

I love the Carpenters ... always. This one is always the first CD I play to welcome in the season.

(After which I play Mariah Careys' "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and dance around.)

I love Clays' CD. His version of "What Are You Doing New Years' Eve?" is my fav. I also love the awesome note he hits and sustains at the end of "Don't Save It All For Christmas Day". Amazing!

I love John Canaans' CD. It is filled with beautiful sweet hymns and a lot of John Rutter. I especially love his take on "When Joseph Went To Bethlehem".

Cheese ...

We stopped by the Tillamook cheese factory on the way back to Portland from the coast. 

Such delightful smells ...

Em got her picture with some dapper Christmas cows.

We got some yummy ice cream.

Dave REALLY likes cheese!

We did a little cheese taste testing, watched some workers in the factory, and then walked through the gift shop full of ... you guessed it ... all kinds of cheese!

Ode to Ping Ping ...

We love TLC. We watched a documentary on Ping Ping, the worlds smallest man. All week we have been talking about Ping Ping (and the fact that he is a chain smoker ...)

So my little sis made a sculpture of his face using left over mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving.

We call it Thanksgiving art.

A Night On The Beach ...

It was so fun to walk out on the beach at night. It was low tide and it seemed like you could walk out forever.

We decided to take pictures of the kids jumping on the beach ...

Clarke got some air !

All the cousins ...

Even the dads got in on the fun!

So fun to all be together!

An Oregon Thanksgiving ...

We played a lot of games ...

Ran into Zac ... Such a nice guy.

Felt a lot of love between the cousins ...

Tried to catch salmonella ...

And deep fried a turkey.

Hope your thanksgiving was as wonderful as ours!

Because I Have To Share ...

My mother says it is Senior Citizen abuse ... little does she know that I already have her on the waiting list to get in!

The concern should be geared towards the creepy director who is obviously the "stage dad" who is living out his long lost dream of being the next Fifty Cent.

Also ...the last one is my fav. I will never look at a choir robe the same way again.

So You Understand My Typical Train Of Thought ...

I love these gloves that Em bought for me on our recent trip to UO. They are perfect at keeping me warm and yet allowing me to use my fingers.

The only problem is when I have them on I think of homeless people ...

Then I think of fashionable homeless people ....

That leads to pondering the musical Rent (they have fashionably dressed homeless in that show) ...

And that leads me to sing Seasons of Love in my head for the next 20 minutes ...

And then I don't get anything accomplished.

Or I think of them as leg warmers for my arm ...

Then I think about the 80's and how I wished I could have gone to the Fame school and worn leg warmers while dancing with Debbie Allen and LeRoy ...

Then I think about that infamous Fame dance move while running down the streets in New York and how I wish we always danced in the street ...

And then I start trying to perform Debbie Allens' opening credit monologue in my head ...

and then I don't get anything done.

If Calories Didn't Count ...

I would live of off these ....

Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

New York Bagels with Cream Cheese

After A Day At Work Like Today ...

I want to run away to this place where no one can find me ...

But Saturday I get to go play with all of them ...

And if my dreams come true, get a glimpse of them.

That's better than Hawaii.

Let's just hope I last until then!

One Day I Am Going To Make These ...

Sunday Entertainment ...

Sometimes 8:30 am church comes REALLY early. It's those mornings that I wish we had a little of this during Sunday School. It might keep those yawns and thoughts of a great nap further away.

The "quartet" in the back is my favorite ... and the crazy guitar player in the front. He is SERIOUS about his skills.

Thanks to Dave and Nigel for sharing.

Favorite Part of Today ...

was when I pulled up to my fav "natural/organic" grocery store and saw all the "healthy/granola/vegan" workers smoking by the dumpster. I had to laugh out loud!

Sicker Than A Dog ...

That's right. That is what I am. I came down with it on Saturday night, lost my voice and have been miserable ever since. I was really good the first few days .... lots of liquids, lots of vitamin c and echinacea, chicken soup ... you know the run down. Nothing helped. 

So today I have stayed in bed with my goblet of DC, a bowl of kettle corn, and obscene amounts of "Gossip Girl". I don't feel any worse ... 

in fact I might even feel a little better.

Not So Sweet Dreams ...

This morning was the second morning this week that I have woken up with this song in my head ...

Not really sure why ...

(Possible the Nyquil induced comas I've been putting myself in to beat out this nasty cold)

I spent way too many hours of my childhood watching this and the "We Are The World" video.

New Fav ...

Even though I am still listening to Jason Mraz 24/7 , I do slip this song in every once in awhile.

I love it. It is a great "dance and sing in your car" song. (and you all know I love those!)

You Know It's A Bad Day When ...

*You have to go out in your car and read the scriptures during your lunch break so you don't say mean, hurtful things to your co-workers.

*You realize that you now cannot go outside without your winter coat.

*You see snow on the mountains and realize it will be that way for the next 4 months.

BUT THEN ...

*Alma makes you a yummy DC with Lime

*Your boyfriend Jason sings "Live High, Live Mighty, Live Righteously" to you all the way home

*Your lovely roomie has a yummy dinner waiting for you when you get home.

And suddenly ... it is not such a  bad day after all.

It's Election Night ...

Can you see the excitement on my face?

(and my smeared eye makeup? it's been a long day peeps.)

I have my hair in the "Palin" in honor 

(even though I can't stand her and she is why McCain lost my vote)

I will spend the evening making homemade pizza, watching Brian and Tom, and missing Tim Russert and his whiteboard.

I won't be sad to stop hearing the overuse of the word "maverick",

but I will miss Tina Fey.

Who will it be?

Harvest Fest 2008 ...

Harvest Fest was a blast! It is our annual party that brings together lots of old friends and roomies. It is one of my favorite things about fall and it is our chance to pretend we are Martha for a day ....

Here are some pics ...

Courtney did a fabulous job on the apples. So cute!

Our craft this year was a cute "give thanks" banner and a fun pumpkin bag.

Em Snyd made amazing homemade rolls (which is a HUGE thing! She's never been the domestic type.).

We made popcorn balls for everyone to take home.

I had so much fun catching up with everyone and eating yummy food that I didn't take any pictures of people!

Until next year ...