giving back

#1
This weekend it's mine turn to give a break to someone else. Unfortunately it wasn't for Jill or Robyn, who helped me out last weekend, I'll get them another time, but it's for my friend and her husband who desperately needed a get away.


[Adam let me sleep in and I woke up to a clean kitchen and 6 paper cups all lined up with initials and one still eating. ]

We had a couple incidences in the night, but I must say it's all going fabulously well as long as I don't look at my house. I'm taking advice from the best, Jill, and am letting the mess prevail until the kiddos leave, which will be later this evening.

#2
I mentioned before in an earlier post that I've been thinking about ways I could GIVE this year. I decided one way I could give back to all you bloggers who read my blog is to do a give away once a month. Each month it will be a different handmade item and hopefully this will also help me with another goal of mine to try new things.



This month I'm going to be giving away a set of 10 greeting cards (shown above) including envelops. If you want to be included in the drawing comment on this post. I will post the winner on Monday.

Thanks for helping me give and for all you give to me.

12 of 12

I need to just once and for all write down a list of all the things I want to accomplish this year because at this point they all just seem like ideas and not quite concrete goals.


[click here to see the images]

While taking the Design Your Life class CathyZ mentioned the 12of12 blog. Have you heard of it? I hadn't at the time, but I think it's a fabulous idea. Basically on the 12th of each month you're suppose to take at least 12 photos to best highlight your day. I loved doing Ali Edwards week in the life challenge, but have to be honest, I was exhausted by the end of the week documenting everything. When I heard about the 12of12 idea I thought it would be a great way to get little bits of your life throughout the year without bombarding your entire week.

So I decided to get on board and wanted to know if you want to do it too? I'm sorry I'm just getting around to posting about it, since January is about over, but I had forgotten about it until mid-morning on the 12th and it's been one of those posts in the back of my mind that I've been wanting to do, but haven't. Anyway, it's definitely not to late to start.

edited to add: I know this is something that can easily be forgotten so I will post on the 11th of each month to remind everyone who wants to do it. Hopefully I won't forget. :)

What does a non-gambling, non-drinking couple do in Vegas?

Eat incredibly well, so well I'm not buttoning the top button anymore. Adam tactfully calls it being food sluts.



Inadvertently, but happily celebrate the Chinese New Year.



Walk the strip admiring the staggering amounts of money it must cost to build a single casino. We did lots of walking to make up for the amount of food we ate.





Stay in a swank hotel for pennies...ok dollars, but I've paid twice as much before and the hotel was never as nice as the Palazzo. It was luxuries. Seriously look at that bathroom.


[ps I got in trouble taking this picture. I didn't know photos before the show were off limits.]

Go to the Cirque du Soleil show Mystere. It was fantastic.



Meet, thanks to Madame Tussauds, Mr. Daniel Craig. He was taller than I thought.



Enjoy the spring like weather. I must say it was hard to come back to the snow and jackets.



Search for and find numerous photo opportunities.

It's good to be home, but I am having a hard time leaving my vacation behind. I think that may be the only down side to leaving, but it's definitely worth it.

spt - resolve

tuesday, january 6 i resolve to take more self-portraits
tuesday, january 13 i resolve to take more self-portraits with people i love
tuesday, january 20 i resolve to take more self-portraits while trying new things
tuesday, january 27 i resolve to take more self-portraits doing things i enjoy

[taken with my iphone]

While I don't enjoy the actual traveling part, I do enjoy a vacation and I really enjoy getting away with Adam.

If you can't tell from the photo, we've been living it up (as best we can) at the Palazzo in Las Vegas for the past few days. We are heading home tomorrow...looking forward to seeing the girls, but we'll certainly miss the time we've had together. Who knew Vegas could be so relaxing.

she said

M: "Tess, you need to go get ready for dance."

T: "I feel too tired to go."

M: "You really should go because you're not going to be there next week, plus you're always tired after school."

T: "Mom, I know. Wherever I am I'm tired {pause} except in bed."

right now

I'm reading The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher and enjoying it so much I don't want it to end.

I'm working on getting my etsy site together. It's something I've been meaning to do for a long time now and a goal of mine this year. More to come when I get back from Vegas.

I'm listening to Mr. Brightside by The Killers.

My bed is still unmade and it looks so inviting.

I'm happy Megan is back to her normal healthy self.

I took this photo by request for Tess



I'm thinking about ways I can implement my word for the year, GIVE.

I'm not wearing jeans...unprecedented.

I'm eating a Dove chocolate bar.

I'm sickened by the pollution in the air. It's so bad Bella told me at school they're not allowing the kids to go outdoors to play during recess.

I'm thankful Adam is working on the science project with Bella.

I just finished putting together a little something for the girls at activity days tomorrow.

I need to get in the car to pick up my girls from school....so I'm off.

Have a great day.

home bound

I am home with a sick Megan for the second day in a row. I was hoping she would be feeling better this morning, but alas she's still looking a bit comatose and smelling much worse. I got her all soapy in the bath and even encouraged her to chew a piece of gum, which actually took no encouragement at all, but it doesn't seem to be doing it's job. I have though, enjoyed her quiet ways and spending time just holding her when she needs it. It's not fun when they're sick, but I do love the cuddles.

With that said, I'm a bit concerned by the length of her illness because I'm actually trying to get out of town this weekend. I'm hoping it will subside by tomorrow (for both our sakes) as I would love a little bit of a mommy break now that I've been planning on it, and let's face it, so have they. I think they would be totally let down as it's just as fun for them to get a break from the normal everyday routine.

So today to keep me sane while I'm home bound, again, I'm think about the good things, like how much laundry I've been able to get done, but it hurts my heart to see sweet Megan laying uncomfortable on the couch for the second day in a row so I choose to think of her like this,



like I found her a few days ago enjoying the sunny snowy outdoors. She is a bit of a handful, but I can't wait for her to come back.

edited: it appears she's coming out of it. Yeah! She finally asked for food and her wit is definitely on the mend. If you hadn't eaten in two days what would you choose? She chose ants on a log.

spt (self portrait tuesday) - resolve

tuesday, january 6 i resolve to take more self-portraits
tuesday, january 13 i resolve to take more self-portraits with people i love
tuesday, january 20 i resolve to take more self-portraits while trying new things
tuesday, january 27 i resolve to take more self-portraits doing things i enjoy



Although sometimes I do get discouraged and frustrated by trying new things, I actually really enjoy the challenge. I love to look at something and think, I could do that. It doesn't always work out like I want it to, but sometimes it does. I guess I've gotten to the point that I would rather try and fail than never to have tried at all. So this year one of my goals is to try new things. I would love to be able to combine last weeks spt and this weeks and try new things with those I love...there's nothing like learning with your favorite people. I guess that means I need to start planning some creative overnighters.

She wrote

Bella has been writing a lot of letters lately to us and her friends. Just yesterday she was preparing to mail a few. So it was no surprise when I found this letter (below) quietly being slipped under my door.



it reads:

Dear Mom and Dad,

I must ask you have you ever thought about writing me letters? You haven't been sending me any! I want to know how you feel, what your trouble most with, and if you want me to spend time with you.
(P.S. Please write a letter back!)

Love, Your Loving Daughter, Bella

When you get a letter like this what else can you do, but sit down and write her a letter back. I hope when she gets my letter it will make her smile as much as this letter made me.

saturday at home

Ah, I love Saturdays like the one I had today...free of obligations when you don't HAVE to do anything or even leave the house. Staying home left me with a lot of opportunities, and what I was really in the mood for was organizing so I thought I would tackle my studio.



I pulled out my computer, dusted, and fixed all the knotted cords so it looks much nicer underneath my table. While doing that I decided to move my scanner to my bookcase which leaves me more room next to my computer. I went up in the attic and found an old lamp to put on my table to keep me company during the evening hours when I can't sleep (I've been meaning to do this for awhile as the light in my studio at night isn't so great).



I also managed to clean off my desk which, come on, that takes a fair amount of time to do and a task you often get side tracked from. It's crazy the amount of stuff that will pile up over time.



I did a bit of rearranging around the first of the year I failed to mention. I guess you could say, I just needed a little change and there's not a whole lot I can do in terms of moving furniture so I moved stuff on my walls instead. I moved my cork board next to my door which left a large space to fill. I decided a plant was needed and then I moved a painting over (only temporarily until I can figure out something else) to fill in the extra space.



It was a good Saturday, a very productive Saturday...apparently Tess thought so too. I found her using her sketch book next to my new lamp.

one day I will miss this

I woke up this morning in a beautiful daze thrilled I got to sleep in a bit (7:30am) because the kids are out of school today and Monday and there was no need to rush (love mornings like that). As I walked down the hall I ran into Cinderella shoes, robes strewn about the floor, and I walked on littlest pet shop toys. So my bliss of a lazy morning was crippled by the girls stuff all over the place. It was particularly frustrating because I spent most of my morning yesterday cleaning. I just stood there in the hall talking myself out of a bad mood, reminding myself that one day I will miss falling over their stuff.

So calm and back in my daze I went to seek out the said girls that left me treasures. I found them downstairs giddy as can be to be watching TV, yes, that made me happy (I so remember those times as a kid), but the mess that surrounded them (how can they not notice what they're sitting in?) brought back all those feelings...must all my efforts be in vain?! Again I attempted to calm myself by saying, one day I will miss seeing mass amounts of toys scattered all over the place, one day I will miss this. Right?

I have to admit I don't know if I'll ever miss this...the jury is still out on this one



Seeing piles and piles of Megan's clothes all over her room. It infuriates me to no end because we clean it up daily. Will she ever learn? I fear this may be the view inside her room 12 years from now.

I may miss this...



after all it's just toys and it does clean up easily. It also speaks volumes and tells me I have happy kids in the house, but it is frustrating for this to be the first thing I see when I walk in from my garage. Why can't they just pick up after themselves...is it so hard to do?

I decided the best thing for me was to leave so I didn't get really mad, particularly at Megan. As I walked up the stairs and back to my room mumbling to myself about the injustice of it all, I passed my door like I always do and saw the pictures the girls hang up for us randomly (I also have some on my studio door). It made me smile and I thought, I will definitely miss this.



I will definitely miss seeing pieces of them throughout the house even if it does mean tripping over Cinderella shoes because the mess and the noise means they are here. Of course in the moment, where I am now, it's not always easy to see it that way. So I go throughout my day, most days, reminding myself that one day I will miss this even if I'm not missing it today.

posting larger photos 101

I get a lot of inquiries about how I make my photos bigger than what blogger allows using their upload so I figured it's time I finally found the time to post a how to in case anyone else is interested (thanks for the push jane).

step 1 how big can you go?


You want to make sure and check the width of the main body of your blog in your template to ensure you don't make your photos too big. If your photos are too big blogger will either crop the size for you or your photo will bleed into your sidebar. Either way you're not getting what you want. Check this by clicking layout in your dashboard then to edit html tab (if you're using the old blogger template you will find your code under tamplate not layout). Once in the template code look for content or it could be called outer-wrapper and then look for main-wrapper. Under the heading main-wrapper you will see the exact width of your blogs main body in px. It will look something like width: 450px (above image), keeping in mind it could be a different number. This is the number you want to use for the width of you photos when you go to resize the image.

step 2 resize image


Now we need to resize the image. Do this by going to your photo editing software (I use photoshop) and resize the photo to 72 dpi. Then adjust the width in pixels to whatever number you found in your template, so I would put 450. When I change the width the height automatically changes for you so don't worry about the height. Then click ok and save image. For photoshop user go under image/image size to resize your image (see image above). P.S. make sure resampling image is checked.

Step 3 upload to photobucket
If you don't already have an account with photobucket, create one it's free. I'm sure you can do this using other hosting sites like smugmug (if someone knows please share), but I've never found an easy way to copy the codes and the great thing about photobucket is it gives you the codes easily and quickly so all you have to do is copy and paste. Anyway, create an account and follow the uploading instructions.

Step 4 copying the code
Once your photo is uploaded into photobucket roll your mouse over the image and it will show four lines of different codes. You are looking for is the html code. Copy the code.

Step 5 paste image into your post
Now that you have the code copied, go to blogger dashboard and create a new post. Instead of using the compose tab which is the default, use the edit html tab instead. Paste code under this tab anywhere in the post you want your photo to be. Now, if you click over to compose tab it will show you the image.

I hope this make sense. Let me know if you have any questions and if someone knows how to do this with other sites besides photobucket please share.

have a great thursday!

tell me a story

Lately the girls have been asking questions about when they were little. You know, question like, "Tell me what I was like when I was little?" Once Adam or I finished telling one of them a story someone else would chime in wanting to hear stories about them. They laugh and laugh with and at each other at the stuff they use to do. With so many inquiries from them and not wanting to disappoint, I started looking through photos as a way to jog my memory. I don't know what it is about taking pictures, but I can remember exactly where I was and the circumstances of when I took it (too bad I don't remember the date).


[I took this with my first ever digital camera I got for Christmas in 2001. Oh my if you could see this old Sony camera now. I don't even know what happened to it. The photos were 640x480 pixels 72dpi (super small printing 1.5"x2") and it wrote the pictures onto a 3.5" floppy disc. It's crazy to think of now, but I loved having it.]

When I saw this photo of Bella and Tess I was immediately reminded of what we used to do during the day. Bella was a very calm little girl (luckily, because she was not a calm baby) and she was always satisfied by sitting and reading with me. It worked out marvelously when Tess came along because, as you can imagine, I was sitting a lot with a newborn. So Bella and I would read, and we wouldn't just read anything, we read No Matter What by Debi Gliori. It was one of her favorite books at the time so we read it over and over again. Now, if you know Bella then it's no surprise she had the book memorized after the third time through (she is still like that) and there was absolutely no way I could skip a part or miss a page. So after Tess was feed and happy Bella would sit next to her on my bed and read to her.

After remember and sharing this story with my girls I thought, I really should buy this book again (after so many times through it got ruined). A few weeks went by and I sort of forgot about it until I was at the library yesterday with Megan. It just occurred to me to look for the book and I was lucky enough to find a copy. So I brought it home to surprise my girls. When I originally told the story to Bella she didn't remember the book, but when she saw it again it brought back all her memories (of the story, not of reading it to Tess).



So this morning when I woke up, later than usual, I found the three of them cozy on the chair listening while Bella read them the story. It was a sweet sight for me to see and one I always hoped I would find since 2002 when I watched Bella reading to her sister for the very first time.

spt (self portrait tuesday) - resolve

tuesday, january 6 i resolve to take more self-portraits
tuesday, january 13 i resolve to take more self-portraits with people i love
tuesday, january 20 i resolve to take more self-portraits while trying new things
tuesday, january 27 i resolve to take more self-portraits doing things i enjoy

Adam and I were at our friends house Saturday night and my friend, out of the blue, said she tries to get her husband to take pictures of her with the kids so she actually makes an appearance (I have been there before, I think a lot of us have, and knew exactly what she meant). Of course my advice was to start taking self portraits and make it happen herself. She looked at me kind of odd, actually they both did, but I think she may take my advice and try.


[we've been playing lots of card games around here]

I hate to think of all the opportunities I would miss out on to capture these moments of us together if I didn't set my camera on the table and use a timer. I know in the future I will be so grateful I have pictures of us all together...including mom. I mean after all I was there too.

one word

I hadn't really thought about my new word for 2009 until the last day of 2008. I laid in bed that night thinking about what I wanted to focus on for the next 12 months. I come up with several words (many words that some of you have already picked), but nothing really seemed to fit just right. I guess that's when I unconsciously decided not to worry about it and hoped it would at some point find me.

And it did.

Last Sunday while I sat in RS it was this quote that captured my attention.

The reason charity never fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness is that charity, “the pure love of Christ”, is not an act but a condition or state of being. Charity is attained through a succession of acts that result in a conversion. Charity is something one becomes. -Dallin H. Oaks

When I heard this quote I knew I wanted charity to be a focus of this year. I don't think I am a completely selfish person that never does things for others, but I do feel that condition or conversion Elder Oaks is talking about isn't something I possess either. I also realize Charity is a big word and not something you attain in a year, it is what Elder Oaks said, something you become.



So while making dinner one night last week the girls and I broke out in song singing, “Give, said the little stream” (I have no idea why). After about the tenth time through I realized that was it...give. I have been given so much in my life and want to focus this year on giving back. I love the part in the song that says, “I’m small, I know, but wherever I go the grass grows greener still.” I feel small in this big world, but I also feel like I have a lot to give. I want to give of myself, give of my heart, give of my talents, and give of my time. In doing so, I'm hoping to capture, if even a little glimmer, of what Elders Oaks is talking about and begin to really understand what it means to be charitable.

There's nothing like sleeping in on a Saturday morning and waking up to a manicure.

This morning Megan patiently waited for me to wake up so she could show me the beautiful paint job she had done on her nails and insisted it be my turn. I was more than willing to participate. Who doesn't love a manicure?

today i...

- took Megan to the dentist to find out why her gums were swollen.
- forgot my sunglasses and was fighting the blaring sun the whole time.
- finished spending my itunes gift certificate from Christmas by buying Been a Long Day by Rosi Golan.
- took back a pair of boots I loved because the heel was too high. I towered over Adam and I just couldn't do it.
- got repeatedly hit in the head with a kitty balloon (can see in photo below) Megan got at the dentist.
- helped Megan sort through a box of clothes.
- was asked to do a photoshoot for a ballerina.
- left the house with frosted flakes crushed on the kitchen floor.
- spent a few minutes vacuuming up said flakes when I finally got home from all my errands.
- bumped into my friend Dani at Taipan, a home decor store I claim to never go in because it makes me so uncomfortable (I'm so bad at home decor). I was there looking for a cheep serving platter and yes, I was dying to leave.
- had lunch with Megan.
- hit myself in the head with the visor because I thought it was attached when I went to lift it up. It hurt.



- Megan declared, "I'm in paradise" while sitting on pillows in a target shopping cart.
- finished The Reader and this quote really stood out to me, "the truth in what one says lies in what on does." So so true.
- made a delicious pesto pasta for dinner.
- was asked by my friend to watch her three kids (ages 7,4,2) for 2 days at the end of the month. I'm really glad she asked because she doesn't get a lot of family help.
- heard Bella practicing her violin without any reminders from me.



- took this picture (above)
- had a big handful of chocolate covered pretzels and felt guilty about the 3rd and 4th handful.
- sat and held Tess while she had an emotional cry. Between her and Megan we are in big trouble when actual hormones hit.
- after the cry we read Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday by Megan McDonald together.



- finally finished this layout I started in November for the Design Your Life class. I'll have to share what I've done so far, but I stopped working on them at week 7 because I was working on Christmas gifts.
- read scriptures with my girls.
- saw a mouse in my backyard running on the snow. Yikes!
- watched Rules of Engagement Adam rented at Netflix.
- set my tivo to record 24 this coming Sunday.
- wrote in my journal
- got a babysitter for tomorrow night.

farewell 2008

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Family backyard campout, rode up the side of the mountain in a sleigh and had dinner in a yurt, put together a blurb book, reconnect with old friends on facebook, ran in a 5k with my whole family, took a design class, attempted watercolors, and made books.



2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did keep some of them and even made some along the way. Yes, I will always make resolutions. They keep me focused on what's most important to me.



3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I'm afraid to name them because I don't want to forget anyone, but what's coming to my mind now is my cousin Kalli, bloggers/friends Jordan, Mindy and Dani.



4. Did anyone close to you die?
Adam's Grandma Dot and the Prophet Gordon B. Hinkley



5. What countries did you visit?
No countries in 2008, but can I add I went to Lake Powell and I hadn't gone in over 10 years.



6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More patience with my little ones and more patience with myself.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
a) I will always remember watching and cheering for Michael Phelps during the Olympics. My whole family gathered around to take part.
b) Sharing the news with my girls when Grandma Dot and President Hinkley passed away.



8. What was your biggest personal achievement of the year?
I've finally been able to let go of my death issues. That alone has freed me up to experience life on a whole new level. I am happier now than I can ever remember being.



9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting what other people think get in my way. It is my nemesis and I'm determined to beat it.



10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, thank goodness.



11. What was the best thing you bought?
food storage



12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Bella choose to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Tess worked really hard and made great strides on her reading, and Megan started the violin.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I was really disappointed there wasn't a presidential candidate I could really believe in. Voting was one of the hardest things I did.



14. Where did most of your money go?
We had no huge purchases or problems so to be completely honest it was probably the grocery store, costco, or gas (so glad the prices came down).

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
One of my dreams coming true



16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
adam: It takes Two by Ryan Adams
my girls: Apologize by 1Republic
me: Hometown by Adele & Where I Stood by Missy Higgins

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
A. Happier.
B. No change, though I my legs are more muscular because I started running. So I guess my answer would be fitter.
C. We are as poor or as rich (however you choose to see it) as we were last year.



18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Written more of my thoughts down, found more ways to serve, and I wish we had taken a real family vacation.



19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
I wish I had not given anonymous the power to get in my way of finishing up my self portrait goal. A lesson learned.




20. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I feel in love with life. I know that sounds lame, but it's true. I learned to really appreciate what I have.



21. What was your favorite TV program?
I basically stopped watching TV this year due to the writers strike, but I was super excited for So You Think You Can Dance during the summer.

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No. Why is this even a question?



23. What was the best book you read?
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
They are never my discoveries, but The National and Adele



25. What did you want and get?
A canon 5d mark II. Yep, I'm still smiling.

26. What did you want and not get?
a family vacation



27. What was your favorite film of this year?
I can't even remember going to many movie so I must not have been in love with any of them. I will say I was really excited to see the new James Bond, but unfortunately I didn't love it.

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32. I have to admit I don't remember all the details, but I do remember feeling loved and really what more could you want on your birthday.



29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
It was a good year. I have zero complaints.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Same as always...Jeans and a t-shirt. Somethings just never change.



31. What kept you sane? Adam, my family, photography, time with friends, blogging, and reading.