Summing up 2009...

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

I was the owner of a pet that bore young...it was pretty cool, learned to make fudge & went rock climbing & wore several faux mustaches.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't make any last year and yes, I'm making a few this year

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Only the pet mentioned above

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No

5. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Fame and fortune...OK, just fortune but it seems so lame to just say "money"

6. What countries did you visit?

Italy, France

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why:

March 18, 2009. I've been a mom for 10 years!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

umm....we're all still here so...? That counts, right?

9. What was your biggest failure?

Budget

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

That kidney infection in March sucked...

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My iPhone is pretty friggin' awesome

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Hazel...leaps and bounds on mental and physical progress in 2009

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Tiger

14. Where did most of your money go?

Medical bills and feeding 6 people

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The meds for the kidney infection...?

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

Matt Nathanson, Come On Get Higher

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? Happier

ii. thinner or fatter? Aahemmm...oooo, look a cute kitten!

iii. richer or poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Hanging out with my little women

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Cleaning & crying & visiting the pediatrician

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

In 2010? Hopefully with my whole family here. Including my sister home and parents (at the very least) visiting.

21. Name one random thing that people would be surprised to know about you.

I love and I mean LOVE pickles.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?

Only with myself

23. How many one-night stands?

If you count my affairs with Johnny Depp then...3,851.

24. What was your favorite TV program?

LOST

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

This seems awfully loaded, doesn’t it? I’m going to go with....aaaahem...ooo! look a cute kitten!

26. What was the best book you read?

People Magazine

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

This changes all the time. At the moment Paul Oakenfold featuring Brittany Murphy. It is very provocative! Awesome!

28. What did you want and get?

Significantly less time in the hospital

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

Paranormal Activity, Coraline, Zombieland and sorry but: Avatar

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

37, iPhone. It was a good, goooood day

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Skinny thighs

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

I think we all know the answer to that: black and/or live vicariously thru my girls. I'm still wearing most of the same pieces you've all been looking at for quite a few years now. I apologize to you all. What can I say? I'm a creature of habit.

34. What kept you sane?

This entire concept is hugely debatable

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I think we covered that in #23

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

Health Care (I know...snoooore)

37. Whom did you miss?

The Wadsworths...get home already will ya?!

38. Who was the best new person you met?

ummm.... see #39 below

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:

Never, ever name names

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

Even if you cannot hear my voice, I'll be right beside you dear.

Birthday Post Addendum

This is the birthday card I got from Dharma (aka my brother Chris). If you don't know what that is or find this funny...shame on you! And if you do: Namaste!

I think it's safe to say that I'm officially a giant geek.

Birthday Photos

So here's how 37 went down for me: Breakfast in Bed by Lowell!

Five alarm cupcake by me!

Sweets from my girls! All photos take with my new iphone!
In a word: perfect!

Happy Easter with Fondant!

My friend Amanda taught me a little bit about making cakes with fondant. Here's my first attempt at learning how to use it--pretty good for a first attempt, no?

It might seem like I love to bake but...I think I've baked more in the last 3 months than the whole rest of my life put together. I don't even like cake that much...frosting--yes! Cake--not so much. It's just an excuse to eat the frosting!Here is Amanda's cake that she made while teaching me to do mine! (I couldn't get it to rotate! Sorry!)

Geronimo Jackson Cupcakes by Jen

Seriously...how cool of a mom am I? Ultra cool!

50 Questions About Me....you lucky ducks!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
My middle name is after my God mother: Maureen

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
4 days ago--fight with Lowell

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
yes

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
hard dry salami from a real deli

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
4 lovely daughters and we're done

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
uhhhh.....yeah! Hello!?

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
see question 6

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
raisin bran crunch

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
sometimes--depends on the shoe

12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
mocha...sorry but it's true

13. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Teeth...used to work for an oral surgeon

14. WHAT IS YOUR BEST MEMORY?
Epidural...

15. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
my skin

16. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Rebecca Gail

17. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
Absolutely!!!

18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Dark wash jeans and black tennis shoes

19. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Lowell taking a shower

20. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SOUND?
the hum of the dishwasher at the end of the day when all the kids are asleep and all the work is done!

21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
black or glitter black if I was feel saucy

22. FAVORITE SMELLS?
forest, anything clean, dryer sheets

23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
my dad

24. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Yes very much!

25. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Olympics

26. HAIR COLOR?
very dark brown

27. EYE COLOR?
green

28. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
no

29. FAVORITE FOOD?
sour dough bread with real butter

30. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings!

31. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Yes Man...I actually really liked it...maybe that is why I said "Yes!" to this tag...?

33. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Winter

34. HUGS OR KISSES?
Both!

35. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Don't know

36. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Well, I just don't know!

37. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
I've started 4 or 5 & can't get any of them to take hold. Any suggestions?

38. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSEPAD?
no mouse pad

39. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Craig Furgeson

40. LIST SOME ITEM'S FROM YOUR BUCKET LIST:
Just enjoy whatever comes my way

41. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles

42. WHAT'S THE FARTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME?
Europe

43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I make absolutly splendid chocolate chip cookies.

44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Vegas!

45. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Anyone! I these are fun to read!

46. HAVE YOU EVER BROKEN A BONE?
Never

47. RED OR PINK?
Red for me pink for the girls

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
I stole him away from a hussy in our singles ward!

49. WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE?
Outside or at home

50. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER?
Lily

Another Recession Proof Find...

I found this great chair at DI a while ago! LOVE it!

High Fidelity

I've wanted to do a post on music for so long and I actually stated this post back in July. I've worked on it here and there over the months but it wasn't quite right. I knew I was waiting for the perfect end to the story and I finally got it!

In high school I hovered on the fringes of the indie music scene in the SF bay area. I went to all kinds of grungy little clubs and heard garage bands ranging from fabulous to frightening. The Bay Area produced Green Day in the late 8o's; a few years before they went huge and I saw them in several tiny venues-it was truly awesome. (It's my only claim to fame so I have to brag.) My two best friends were music guys; they were straight out of High Fidelity. There are several scenes in that movie that were almost exact quotes from my real life. My favorite is when the John Cusack character is reorganizing his vast record collection from alphabetical to autobiographical. It's a music nerds dream. I've tried to do the same thing with mix tapes and playlists because I love that idea that music tells the story of our lives.

And speaking of mix-tapes...the very idea is so definitively 80's that it's almost sickening. I still remember when I got a stereo with 2 tape decks that could copy songs from one tape to another. (Doesn't that seem antiquated now?) I remember making tapes for myself or friends and how it was this major gesture of friendship if you made someone a tape. For one, it was a glimpse into your mind and soul and second, the tapes were a major pain in the a** to make so they knew you'd spent some time making them. Of course, the idea was that you were giving this other person something new musically so you had to have at least a few really obscure songs to offer. Not an easy task when you don't have i tunes or the internet. It meant hours of searching music stores, talking to people and listening to lots and lots of bizarre stuff. It was a real financial investment too because you usually had to buy the entire album. No .99 cent songs at the i tunes music store to downloaded instantly with the click of a button. Sometimes when you were poor, grounded or stumped you'd have to resort to taping something off of the radio (total mix-tape humiliation btw). Either way the mix-tape has a place in the hearts of all children of the 70's do they not?

So I recently had reason to make a play list for a new friend and it was such a different experience. I just hopped on over to my play lists, grabbed my top 2 or 3 out of each play list. Fiddled around with the order for a few minutes and burned the disc. It was actually a little anti climactic--so I had to make a blog post about it that they could look at after they listened to it. So after geeking out about it for a good hour I felt sufficiently fulfilled in my mix tape/play list duties. Good fun...happy listening.

Fall Football

I just love fall and I can't help but wonder if I'm missing out on a major element of what makes this time of year so fabulous: football. I wish I liked it, I'd love to go to a game and have fun like other people seem to but I just find it all an absolute bore. The teams, the rules, the players, the fanfare and just...well, the whole thing. I want to have a reason to bake football field cakes and football shaped rice crispy treats and stuff but I'm just not feelin' it. I can just imagine myself talking all about 'my team' and whatnot but...? It's just not there. What's that about?

Anyway to the rest of you football fans out there, I hope your season has started well and that you bake all the football shaped treats your little hearts desire!

Budget Fever

I know budgets aren't a new topic or even a hot topic anymore, we are all having to tighten the purse straps lately.  It's getting bad over here between gas, groceries, medical stuff and life!  The other day Chloe was playing with a friend and they got in a little trouble and when they were told what's-what, Chloe said, "It's bad because it's wasting money." I can't even remember what they were doing but it had nothing to do with money... so I guess the budget talk over here is trickling down even to the 3 year old.   

My biggest vices on the budget are kids clothes, yard sales and diet soda.  I'm glad yard sale season is almost over and I switched to off brand soda from the grocery store:(  I just can't stop buying clothes though, with 4 girls the clothes shopping never ends.  This month to save a little money we decided to try and not eat out all month.  So far we've only gone out once when Lowell's family was in town...ooops!  

One of my favorite sites is called Thriftyfun.com I'll openly admit that some stuff on here is LAME but it does have some good ideas for squeezing more out of every dollar.  It's like a bulletin board so you have to take the good with the bad.  Anyway-I'm happy for any tips you have on how to make your money go a little further.  Happy budgeting!

Mama Bird...

I am so nesty right now, I'm making myself ill.  Since the weather cooled off  and the big kids went back to school I've been baking (?), cleaning, cooking, and crafting my head off.  I didn't realize how many of these needs were being filled for me by teaching, it was a great creative outlet for me.  Now that I'm home all the time and Hazel is feeling better it's all I can do to stop myself from nesting 24/7.  I've got my freezer full of meals all ready to go, the house is in pretty good shape and I even have a chunk of my Christmas shopping done!  Scary!

I Made This!

I made this garland! I stole this idea from the Nesting Place and then just added a few things for Halloween. I love it and I wish I could keep it now that it's done but I promised it to the school auction. Boo-Whooo. Sniff.

LRS *heart* JMS! 11 Years!

6 Great Questions From Zen Habits

 I found this over at one of my favorite sites: Zen Habits.  I just know that one of these days I am going to start applying some of his Zen teachings into my life and achieve at least some level of Zen myself.   Anyway- I really liked this so here it is:

1. Who do I love, and what am I doing about it? 

If you aren’t spending time with the people you love, change that. If you are holding a grudge against a family member, let it go and reconcile. If you’ve done something to hurt a loved one, ask for forgiveness. Drop the pride, and make up. If you haven’t seen someone in awhile, call them now to set up a date.

2. Am I pursuing my dream, or is fear stopping me? 

What have you always wanted to do? Maybe something you dreamed of as a child but have given up as unrealistic? Maybe something you still want to do but are afraid of failing? What fears are stopping you? And what would be the worst that could happen if you overcame those fears and pursued your dream?

If you’re already pursuing your dream, pat yourself on the back. You’re doing awesome!

3. Am I doing something that matters? 

There’s a difference between doing work, and doing work that really matters. Much of the time, we use up the few days we have on this earth with busy-work, stuff that doesn’t make much difference, and that’s sadly a waste of our lives.

Recently on Dumb Little Man, writer Ali Hale suggested you ask yourself, “Will this matter in five years?” I think this is a great question. It helps you distinguish between trivial busy-work that will take up all of your time but not matter in a few years, and tasks and projects and goals with high impact that will make a difference, in your career, in your life, in the lives of others.

4. What am I doing to help others? 

Kind of ironically, you get the most out of life not just by taking what you can for yourself, but by giving to others. What have you done lately to help people out? Have you been kind to people? Have you been compassionate? Have you been there for anyone? Listened? Volunteered for those in need? If you’re not doing anything to help others, this is a good time to figure out one thing you can do for someone, and put it into action. Ask this question on a regular basis, and you’ll make kindness a habit.

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” - Albert Einstein

5. Am I as good a person as I want to be? 

I ask this of myself all the time. Sometimes, when I’m impatient or selfish or less-than-helpful, I think back on what I’ve said and done and realize that I could have done better. Instead of beating myself up about it, I endeavor to try harder, to remember to allow my better angels to guide me, to rise above the trivialities of life to a higher plane.

It’s not easy to be a good person, at least not all of the time. It’s easier to be selfish, without thinking about it. But is that how you want to be remembered? Is that how you want to live your life? Give it some thought, and act accordingly.

6. What am I doing to live life with passion, health and energy? 

You can do all the right things, and yet live a life that’s dull and sluggish. If you let your health go, you will have little energy and you will waste the minutes you have left on illness. Instead, learn to live a healthy life, with good foods and exercise. This will lead to more energy in your life. And then direct that energy into something you’re passionate about. If you haven’t found that passion (or passions), start looking. You’ll thank me. :)

Pumpkin Day

You know how there was always a weird kid in your elementary school class that was obsessed with something like horses or model airplanes or whatever? Well...that is TOTALLY me but with pumpkins-I love them! I am so happy this year because I planted a tiny pumpkin patch and I actually have real live, fully ripened pumpkins in my yard right now! I have tried and failed to grow pumpkins for several years now but finally I have some just waiting to be picked!

Every year on September 1st (or fairly close to the first) I get out my pumpkin collection and it stays up until the day after Thanksgiving when we get out our Christmas stuff. My collection getting pretty big now and pumpkins big and small show up in almost all the rooms of my house. So we are sneaking up on 'pumpkin day' as I like to call it and I'm pretty excited! I'll post some photos when I get myself all decked out with pumpkins.

Please Excuse My Bad Behavior...I'm Fragile

I've been trying to think of a word to describe how I'm feeling about Hazel and I think this sums it up nicely: fragile.

For example, the other day I pulled a crazy bad parking job over at the Dollar Tree. A feisty-grandma-type decided to call me on it in spite of the fact that there were about 65 other available spots to park in. I am notorious for bad parking and normally I'd say "Ooopsie-Poodle! Sorry!" and move the car. But I was feeling 'fragile' and I took this womans head clean off. I mean it, I really laid into her. There is no question in my mind that this woman is someone's Grandmother and I am yelling like an insane person at her in the Dollar Tree parking lot about my sick baby and how she'd better leave me alone.

It gets better: I jump in my car, still cussing to myself and straighten out the car. I get out and as I get to the door of the store I see that this woman is waiting for me. She starts to talk and before I realize that she is trying to apologize--I'm already yelling at her to get away from me and how dare she speak to me. Well, I immediately burst into tears and proceed to bawl like a baby for the next 3 hours. Needless to say I didn't get anything I went to the store for that day.

Oh! How I wish that were the end of the bad behavior but I have another story....

I have a cell phone. I'm terrible about taking it with me, charging it and answering it. However, when we're in the hospital with Hazel I keep it charged and glued to my body 24/7 because you never know when someone will call with news, test results, questions or whatever.

About 3 months ago I started getting calls once a week or so from a little girl that is obviously trying to call someone else and is miss dialing and getting me. We are so familiar with each other that our conversations now go like this:

Me: Hello?
Her: Who is this?
Me: This is Miss Jen
Her: Ooops! Sorry...(click)

So the other day Little Miss Dialer calls me and I am feeling a little 'fragile'. Our conversation goes like this:

Me: Helloooo?
Her: Hi, who is this?
Me: This is Miss Jen and you need to stop calling me, ok?
Her: OK....(click)

So about 30 minutes later I get a voice message from this child's mother. She explains who she is and then gives me a big lecture about how if I have a problem with her kid I should call her and I shouldn't have yelled at her child etc, etc.. (Funny thing is I totally agree and have been known to let people have it when they get stern with my kids.) Anywhoooo, I called this lady back and gave her the 'I-have-14-calls-from-your-number-on-my-cell-phone-and-I'm-in-the-hospital
-waiting-for-calls-from-doctors' lecture right back to her on her machine. I swear, I did not yell. Not at the kid or in the message. I promise. But I felt like a gigantic b*tch. I cried all the way home from the hospital and had to go straight to bed the minute I got home.

Why am I doing this??? I'll tell you: I have these fragile moments when I can't stand the fact that other people are having a normal day and get to worry about things like parking spots and their kids inability to dial a phone. It's like the straw that broke the camel's back. How can they care about these things when my world is falling apart???

So there is a point to this post besides me and my bad, bad behavior. The point is that I am supposed to be learning things thru this experience and so far I'm just acting like a brat with a free pass to treat people badly. I'm turning into the mean lady that yells at grandmothers and scares little kids on the phone...ummm.....not cool. I'm learning that the rules still apply even if I'm having a crisis. Having patience means still showing courtesy when my fuse is less than a millimeter long and yes, when things are bad, even super bad. I don't want to teach Hazel to use her problems as an excuse to misbehave or live a bitter life. So in light of this lesson, I'm sending out an apology to Mrs. Dollar Tree Parking Lot and Little Miss Dial's Mom. I wish I could apologize in person but that's the price you pay for mistreating a stranger. No matter how fragile you are, you never have the opportunity to apologize.

Yard Sale Love

Pink Flamingo: .50 cents (according to my mom these are 'en vogue' now. Go get yourself one!)
Sun Flowers: $2.00

Full Vintage Croquette set: $5-we've already played several times
Giant cornucopia: $1

Warren Kimball print: $1
Antique lantern: $3

Why???

Why am I sitting here reading back issues of People Magazine? I'm with my daughter in the hospital...we're on day 13 and in her room I have *brand new* issues of Consumer Report, Cooking Light, Time, The Ensign, The Friend and the New Era. Not to mention the fact that I obviously have internet access and could be doing research on the strange and undiagnosable illness my baby has. (You know that it's every doctors dream to hear parents say, "I read about her symptoms on line...."!) I also have a sewing project, 3 unread novels and thank you cards I could write but no, I'm reading back issues of People.

Here are the top 10 things I've learned from my reading:

10. Prince is 50!
9. Lindsey Lohan has a girlfriend(!?) Does the train wreck ever end???
8. Tori Spelling needs to give it up and stop taking out 'ads' in Daddy's magazine.
7. Apparently you can get back into shape within 4-6 weeks of giving birth. I didn't get the memo and please...no one tell my husband.
6. The Depps, the Beckhams and the Jolie-Pitts are all neighbors with their French chateaus.
5. Reece Witherspoon is a spokesperson for Avon?!?!
4. If I read one more thing about S*x and the City, I will hurl.
3. This is the only publication with a crossword I can come close to finishing.
2.There are about 7 ads for prescription drugs in each issue.
1. I have a hard time feeling sorry for people with this much money, but I love to read about them...I just can't look away!

My Summer 'Must Have' List

Spray Sunscreen and Face Stick-Any brand will do but I am here to tell you this stuff is worth the moey.  The spray is prefect for kids and squirmy toddlers and even babies over 6 months old.  The face stick is great because it doesn't run or drip down when you sweat and get in your eyes. It's also great for hard spots like the tops of the ears.

Crocs and Flops-I am not one to wear Crocs myself but they are the ultimate summer shoe for kids.  They are perfect for slipping on and heading out the door.  Even my toddler can put them on herself.  We do a lot of activities near the river so they are perfect for amphibious activities like that too.  And who can make it thru the summer with out a fab pair of flip flops from Old Navy??

OFF!  Smooth and Dry Insect Repellent-This is the best thing ever made.  We live in an area with mosquitos that carry West Nile so I'm kind of a freak about bug spray.  This takes all the pain out of wearing bug spray.  It goes on dry, it doesn't stink and it contains DEET.  Go get some!

A Summer Reading List-This year for us it's Fablehaven.   Piper and Lowell finished the Harry Potter series this past school year much to Piper's sadness, but they are reading Fablehaven 1 now and it seems to be filling the void somewhat.  I read 1 and 2 a few weeks ago and I'm working on 3.  LMK if you are reading anything fabulous.

Discount School Supply-This is a great place to fill up your 'bag of tricks' for when the dog days of summer are just too much to handle.  A few favorites: Nuudles, Glitter Foam Dough, Scratch Letters.

Utah Valley Magazine's 99 Days of Summer List-This is a fabulous list of great things to do in and around Utah Valley.  I consider myself to be somewhat of an expert on things to do around here since I used to be a camp director and I planned all the activities. This list had things I'd never heard of so that is saying something.  They range from free to pricy but all of them sound fun.

Sonic Drive-Thru Happy Hour-3-5 PM every day is 1/2 price drink time at Sonic.  They have pebble ice and diet cherry limeaide.  It can get you thru a rough afternoon.

Yard Sales!-Half of my house is filled with things from yard sales.  I love them and I can't wait to go to some more this coming weekend.  Anyone want to go???   

That is about it for me!  Let Me Know (LMK) if you have anything you can't live without for summer.

What's in a Bag?

I think the quest for the perfect bag is almost as endless and the quest for the perfect jeans, it's just something you'll always be doing.  Here are some of my favorites, I just haven't gotten around to affording them yet!

I am having a full out love affair with the Sundance leather bags .  The chances of ever feeling like I could spend this much on a bag and then put drippy bottles and leaking pens in it is pretty far fetched.

Ninu:  She's an Italian designer that makes her bags from fabric and other materials.  I love the giant round green one.

I also love anything made with felted wool, it's just about one of my favorite things ever. I love Claudia's  designs (my favorite is the green with the brown fur edging) and these too (My fav: green with Muppet fur).

At the moment I really am loving my faux red crocodile bag from K mart, it's perfect for spilled bottles and leaking pens.  

Know of any great bags?  Send me a link.