Loosen up your schedule

About how long does it take you to get ready?

From the time you get up to the time you're ready to face the public, however you view that to be.

And just for an extra little thought, does it differ now compared to when you were in high school?

In case you need some help making breakfast faster, I enjoy a little of this...



*Today and tomorrow left. Have you entered?

Random Ramblings

Uhm. I found some fireworks. What am I supposed to do with them? I know if I pack them away I'll forget about them or won't be able to find them come next year, but I hate throwing things away of value. So there they sit.

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My first grader got a few new things this year: Lunch box, water bottle, back pack, umbrella, pencil case, school supplies, etc. Of course while we were out shopping my 3 1/2 year thought she needed the same things. I gotta admit I totally caved.

She doesn't need that stuff. Sure, some of it she can play with, but what was I doing. I know this is only the start of what will be years to come of, 'but she got one!'. How do you deal with the different stages and still not feel like you're giving some of your kids more? Maybe it'll get easier when they're older? It's ok you can laugh. I dont really believe that either.

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My kids have started watching The Wiggles. I gotta tell ya, I thought I wasn't gonna like them, but darn if they're not entertaining! I dont know why but before I watched them I thought they were British. Nope. Australian. Now I can totally hear it.

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Tomorrow's Saturday. Hoping to try a few things ya'll suggested the other day.

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Do you live in Utah? You gotta check this place out! Froyo is having a Grand Opening on Sept 12 from 12-2pm. I hear they have some fun door prizes and free yogurt! The new place is at 598 W. Main St. American Fork, UT. If you're not sure you wanna make the drive over, there are tons of yummy places for lunch, shopping,and movies you could hit up afterward! (Oh and I just found out they have Sorbet and blender drinks and Free Wifi!)

The giant black box

I'm not so much a tv gal as I am a movie gal. I'd say on average I watch a movie a day. Every time I say that it sounds a bit excessive, but I figure people are watching an hour or two of tv shows so I'm probably right on par with the rest of ya crazies. Right? Right?

Here are a few of our favorite movies that you might not have heard of:

Iron Giant
Saints and Soldiers
Big Fish
Cats Don't Dance (video below)

Any movies you're particularly fond of?
Any movies you think I should try out?
Any movies you think are superb that people might not have heard of?

Oh and I forgot to mention...my hubby was an extra in Saints and Soldiers.
*Dont forget to enter my contests. There is a link right below my header.

Yesterday I was spreading peanut butter, today I'm spreading love.

Check out my gal pal Olivia's Gnome Sweet Gnome. I *heart* her new header.

The other day she mentioned she had to get a man purse for her son. I laughed so hard when she put a creative spin on resisting sin in her lesson for the girl youth in our ward. And one of my favorite queries, would you stick your hand in for that? cause quite frankly I think I would.

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Bree Despain is having a contest to win an ARC of her book along with some fabu purple nail polish....named after her book! Isn't that just the bees knees?

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PS for those of you who have taken my quiz already. I was trying to give you some silly answers so there was less of a chance you'd get it wrong but I mismarked the last question. You are right, I did know my hubby in high school, so dont fret if you got that wrong. Just for taking the quiz you're entered to win!

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What's in it for you?

My daughter started 1st grade this year. Which means I've been packing my fair share of
Ok, really she's only been in school about 4 days and she bought lunch one of those days, but still after only 3 days of packing a lunch I feel like I've hit a block. I've packed her the same thing every single day. And each day she comes home with her sandwich untouched (most everything else is gone though).

I guess I should count my blessings that I dont have 500 kids that I'm packing a school lunch for. That could get ridiculous some!


Last time I packed my own school lunches was years ago when I was in college. I got to take fun things though like Italian pasta, leftover dinners, microwaveable soups. And in highschool I either went out or bought a Dr. Pepper and a bag of chips (isn't that what all sensible high school kids do?) Crazy kids.


Do you have any good ideas for me? Things you do for your kids? Things you remember you took to school? Help me.

Blogversary (presents included)

I started blogging 3 years ago today! It all started with my fabulous little family blog and then earlier this year I decided to create this one just for me. It's such a great milestone I wanted to share it all with you.

Here are 3 contests in honor of 3 years-

1~ You could win your choice of one of the following:
*A copy of Shiver by Maggie Steivater
*A copy of Ruined by Paula Morris
*A copy of Airhead by Meg Cabot

Comment on this post and make each answer a seperate comment for maximum chances to win. (Answer any or all.)

-If you were to win, what book would you choose and why?
-Do you have a favorite candy?? Tell me!
-What's your favorite thing to do for date night?
-Blog (or fb or tweet) about this giveaway and I'll enter your name 5 times in each contest.

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2~ Take this fun little quiz with random questions about stuff I've posted on this blog, and you could win this Movie Night basket. Anybody who completes the quiz will be entered.

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3~ Comment on any post I've made (or make this week) and get one entry per comment. You could win a box of my favorite things. (I get emails of comments so dont worry I'll be able to keep track if they're on other posts.) Believe me, It's gonna be super fantastically awesome.

All three contests will be open until midnight on Sept 1st, 2009.
Must live in the USA or Canada to play (sorry I can't ship much further than that).

Saturday Traditions

I remember when I was little every now and then on Saturday mornings my dad would take me and my sisters to the bowling alley. After a great morning he'd then take us over to the donut shop for a scrumptious breakfast.

Or more often my dad would work in the yard and take my sisters and I for rides in the wheelbarrow or on the dolly.

Right now our family is doing the Saturday morning cartoons but only be default. Haha.

I thought it' be fun to come up with some ideas to implement into my young family. So lovely readers, share with my your favorite memories or what you do now that makes Saturday special or fun for your family??

Random Ramblings

This morning I attended my first "Freedom Friday", Mommy only breakfast at IHOP. My friend Tawnya threw it in celebration of the kids going back to school. Isn't that a fun idea? I plan on doing on next year too.
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My two year old has learned how to say "meany head" from his older sisters. It's part funny (cause his little voice is so cute) and part frustrating.
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Why is it tunafish smells so nasty yet tastes good? (I know I'm gonna get comments about tuna being nasty now, I know it's not for everyone.) Are there other foods like that for you?
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Hubby and I have been watching a running documentary about a USA Carrier ship that was deployed about a year and in the water for about 6mo. The other night we watched pilots trying to land their F16's (I think) on a pitching deck. The seas were crazy and these pilots were amazing. It was really intense. We netflixed it, if you're interested I believe it's called "Carrier" from PBS.

Winner!

School has started today. I think life will return to somewhat normal. I'm excited for that.

I've been home from vacation now for 5 days, the longest streak so far since June. Really. Crazy right? I squeezed in a lot of awesome trips. The whole family, , extended families, me and the kids, me and my girlfriends. Park City UT, Idaho, Utah, Dallas TX. It's been a fantastic summer. But bring on Fall.


Thanks everyone for entering to win. I love spreading the love of good books!

The winner of the book Shiver is the adorable Jillene.

Tarlsscribbles Animation for hire

Do you know anybody who might be thinking this?

Cause it just so happens that I know someone who is looking for a good job.

My hubby has been crazy intent on looking for a job the past few weeks. He's been filling out applications by the dozens--and I applaud him, as so many of us know how much of a headache this can be. However last time I looked for a job I wasn't trying to support a family of 5. I can only imagine how much more stress that adds to a person.

If he had it his way he'd join the National Guard and also get a job at a Sheriffs Office. A part of that previous statement I'm more ok with than another. But I see stuff like this and it makes me wish we could just be so lucky that he'd find a job animating or illustrating. (Although with so many things it's who you know not what you know.I wish we knew more of the right people to get us a job.)

My husband is crazy talented and doodles stuff like this all the time (my doodles consistently look worse than my 1st grade daughters).


In that past he's been known to do stuff like this:



So if you've been wondering why I haven't stopped by recently to say hi, it's cause I'm out helping him look for a job. Wish us luck!

Shiver

Have you heard of this book? I picked it up about 2 weeks ago and really enjoyed it.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater is about Grace, a 17 y/o who has long been connected to the yellow eyed wolf who watches over her. Sam lives half his life as a human in the summer and his winter life as a wolf. It's a two person narrative which I haven't read in a long time and really enjoyed. (Plus I was browsing her website and she seems pretty sweet!)

Shiver has been well loved in my circle of friends so I thought I'd share a brand new copy with one of you luckys. If you'd like to win this book here are a few things you could do (If you'd like multiple chances to win please leave a separate comment for each answer):

~Tell me, would you rather be too hot or too cold?
~Growing up, who cooked the meals in your family?
~Did you have a good relationship with your parents in high school (yes or no is fine)?
~Do you like poetry, writing music, photography (any or all)?
~Follow my page -2 entries (leave 2 separate comments)
~Blog about it -3 entries (leave 3 separate comments)

Contest will end August 18th at midnight.

Scientific Experiment

Ok not really but I'm curious about something and thought I'd run a little poll.

Do you brush your teeth with warm/hot water or cold water? (You dont have to but if you'd like to include why you do--have you ever even thought twice about it?-- it'd be interesting to see if what I'm thinking is just a hunch or plausible.)

I'll post my theory/question in the comments in a few days if you'd like to check back in and see what prompted this.

Laundry: It's never finished because you're wearing clothes right now!

I have never had a busier summer than this one. I have gone on so many trips (within those a few vacations) that I can easily say I've been away from home more this summer than I've been at home. My family and I have been all over the place. The kids got to go to grandma camp, I got to go to Park City with friends, my hubby went to visit friends, we've attended several family reunions, I went to Texas with a gal pal and so on and so on.

Which means....laundry day hasn't really gone as normally scheduled. Which means, there are days like today when I did over 7 loads of laundry in less than 14 hours. I suppose there may be people out there who do this (other than those who have to hit the laundry mat) but it isn't my favorite way. Mostly because I despise the putting away part. So if I can do that in spurts it's easier for me.

Do you have a schedule or do you just do it when it gets full? Do you sort yours differently than I do?

Here's what usually happens at my house. I have six sorters:
Towels/Sheets
Whites
Kid Clothes
Adult Pants
Adult Shirts
Colds/Dedicates

Generally I do one load a day. I have it in my planner to do a certain one (aka whites on Mondays) but I'm not always spot on with that so I figure as long as I get one washed and put away a day I'm in good shape.