What You Love Most

I have favorites. You have favorites. Now....we can share our favorites!

A while ago I attended a fabulous conference and learned about a really great website (I've been meaning to highlight FOREVER) called:

Mom Faves

I love the concept of this site! The idea is we all get on and submit our favorite things (products, solutions to problems, specific people at companies, etc) so that when we're out looking for something we can easily gain ideas from each other.

For example there is a 'solution' on there about stinky towels, or a recommendation to a fantastic local photographer, or website to find the best deals for ___(you name it!).

Now see what makes this even better is the more friends you tell, the more people are filling out their stuff, and the more friends they're telling, and the more we're all helping each other out!

Like say I go get my car repaired by an awesome mechanic at a shop called "Awesome Car Place" and the dude that works on my car is named "Awes Ome" so I jump on Mom Faves and write up a little rave review. Then my friend has the same experience. She jumps on Mom Faves, 'faves' my already written review and then our neighbor down the street sees it on there and then knows where to not only take her car but who to ask for to get the best service. It's genius I'm telling you! (Watch the video, it explains it a bit better than I can.)

Have a look around. Find me (cranberryfries), friend me, fave me, and see the stuff I've faved. Get an idea of the site and then start submitting your own favorite stuff.

The Story Behind MomFaves.com from MomFaves.com on Vimeo.

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**Be sure to send me a picture of your favorite shoes! (I'm working on a post highlighting my readers fav shoes so I can share some linky love.)

Writer, Reader, or Anything Else?

My adorable friend Olivia and I went to a Writers and Readers Conference at UVU yesterday. It was SO fantastic. I got to hear from fabulous authers like Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn series and finisher of Wheel of Time), James Dashner (13th Reality and soon to be released Maze Runner), Stephen Covey, Maria Covey Cole, Rachel Nunes, and Tristi Pinkston. Also so many others, I just didnt get a chance to hear from them all like Josi Kilpack, J. Scott Savage, Lisa Mangum, Annette Lyon, Patrick Muir, Anita Stansfield and Robison Wells (and more).

Shout out to my hubs was sweet enough to play with the kids all day while I went a learnin'. I even came home to a cleaner-than-I-left-it house. Brownie points.

Obviously the conference was attended by a lot of writers but I got to thinking: If I could do anything in the business, what would I be. I think my top few choices would be reader (you know, someone who actually gets paid), a publicist and perhaps a writer.

I know unlike my movie question a while ago, not everyone is as eager to work in this field. Are you? What would tickle your fancy?



Also I caved. If you want to follow me on twitter my name is.....cranberryfries.

Take a hint from Thumper

This weekend I overheard one woman say to another, "Oh goodness you look so tired, are you feeling ok?" To which the other woman responded, "Uhm, yeah I feel fine...."

Or how about something personal: I was at church and this lady walks up to me and says, "It looks like you're getting a cold!" "Uh, thanks?" I mean I remember telling my hubby, "I feel fine, do I look nasty or something?"

Has this ever happened to you?

I hope the people making these comments aren't trying to be mean and hurtful, but it's my guess that more often then not the people they say them to are now thinking, "Oh no, what do I look like to warrant a comment like that?!"

I'm guessing the reason for these comments is to show concern. 'Hey I notice you, and I'm thinking of you.' But to me, they certainly aren't coming across that way. Couldn't there possibly be a better way to say it?

Am I being to sensitive? Probably. But what really gets me is the gal that said it to me, it's not her first offense. It's at least the 4th time she's said something similar to me. Ouch. Really.

Do they just not have a filter? You know those people too right?

Why do we do this to each other?


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Want to win something?

One of my favorite authors, Sydney Salter, is celebrating the release of her new book, Jungle Crossing, with a free book and chocolate! Go enter. Really. She's fab!

I dont have one anymore, do you?

It's cooling down. Can you feel it? Well ok, maybe not everywhere, but here, where I live, it is.

And I LOVE it!

That also means more rain (which I LOVE) and snow in a month or so (which I love for about 30 minutes) and walking around in said rain and snow (which can be a bit tricky without the proper foot attire).

I have never been the type of girl to own more than 15 pairs of shoes. I do like shoes, and I like finding cute ones but I never seem to luck out with stylish and comfy. Case in point last winter (and one or two before that) I wore my fav sandals all winter long because they were comfy and easy. I didn't even mind the cold because my shoes were super comfy and kinda cute. (But they're dead now, RIP, since I wore them practically every day.)

I hate it when there's just a little something wrong with a great pair. They stretch after the first few wearings and then slip off, the 'slip on sandals end up making your feet smell so you never want to take 'em off once they're on, the blisters, the pinching, the cute but not tall enough or cute but too tall, whatever else some shoes do.

Which leads me to ask: Does the perfect shoe exist for you?

Do you have a pair of shoes you love that look awesome and make your feet scream with delight? If anyone would be interested I think it'd be fun to get a picture of all of our favorite shoes. If you want to send them to me at sprtygal10 at aol dot com or upload them to photobucket or flikr and send me the image that way I can post your pictures and link to ya. Maybe we'll shoot to do this in 2 weeks so start sending them in!

Great Escape Tag

Lovely Von from Sell...Party of 3 tagged me. Part of Todays Mama and Cricut contest too.

1. If you could escape to anywhere in the world where would it be?
I'm in a 'get here already fall' sorta mood so I'm thinking New England would be lovely!

2. What song do you play when you are by yourself in the car?
Sadly I'm horribly out of touch with great music (my antenna even broke off my car about 1.5 years ago so I dont even get radio unless I drive my hubbys car. I guess if I were to say one I'd choose one from back when I was in HS (does anyone else feel like that was the last time they payed attention to hip music?) it'd be one of these few, depending on my mood: Blessed Union of Souls, Light in Your Eyes; Cake, The Distance; Michael Buble, any of his songs; Jim Brickman, any of his songs.

3. If you had a night to yourself, and money was no object, what would you do?
I'd treat my girlfriends to dinner (Cheesecake Factory!) and a play and stay out late just visiting and laughing and eating yummy food.

4. What is your guilty pleasure?
Reading a great book all day long or eating out.

5. What is the farthest place you have traveled away from your home?
Hawaii, Bahamas, England in that order, not same trip

6. Last book that you couldn't put down?
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

7. When you want to escape into another time, what movie do you watch?
Boy Meets World or Troop Beverly Hills(childhood), Big Fish, Clue, any Harry Potters

8. What is your favorite local escape?
We love going to Fat Cats as a family. I really love Hale Center Theater plays. Eating out.

9. How do you escape on a budget?
Girls Nights Outs. We meet up at one persons house and everyone brings a potluck to share. We get fed, we get great laughs, we get fabulous girl time, we get to be us for a bit and we dont have to spend any money.

10. Best food you've ever had while on vacation?
I'm not one for exotic or crazy food so while on vacation I eat at normal places. Schlotzkys if there is one around! If not any place with lovely club sandwiches, or chicken dishes are good too.

A few friends who should do this too...Christie W., Kara, Josie, Holly, Gramee, and The Royal Family

Eating Cookie Dough

A few months ago we were at my moms house making cookies and like usual the kids wanted to eat the cookie dough. I was trying to educate them a bit, and well here's what happened.

There's no Business

If you could be in 'the movie biz' what job do you think you'd enjoy doing the most?

Be as specific as you'd like. I think it'd be fun to hear if you wanted to work on a certain movie with certain people or not.

Random Ramblings

My dad rented a storage unit and asked us if we wanted to use some of the space. We picked up a bunch of boxes and had them sitting flat in our living room. It was like Christmas morning for my kids. Empty boxes=instant fort.

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I've been pulling in a few chaotically packed crazy busy days the last two weeks. It was hard. Really. Hard. Sometimes I wanted to cry. Sometimes I did. But I gotta tell you, when it was the most intense and the most busy I really felt a little extra help. It's amazing how/when you feel blessings in your life.

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You know those days hubby doesnt make it home in time for dinner, or an even better question, when you know ahead of time he isn't going to be home in time? Do you make a normal meal or do make a 'kid friendly meal'?

I had an epiphany. I've been so concerned with getting a good variety and making good meals. This week I think my kids ate mac & cheese, corndogs and chicken nuggets 4 or 5 out of 7 days and they LOVED it and asked for them again. I know they're not balanced meals but I also realized my kids aren't as concerned as I am with the whole 'variety' issue.

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I wonder if people would like it if seasons were like year-round school? On for six weeks off for three weeks. (*I dont really know how year-round works.) I woke up this morning REALLY wanting to wear my cute brown sweater but obviously that wasn't going to happen. However I know after a month of snow I'll be ready for a little warmth again. (I'm a spring/fall kinda gal.) What about you?

That was a lot of entries. (Thank you!)

It took me a bit to gather all the names, print them out, and cut 'em up. Then I started stirring the names and I gotta be honest, I got a little nervous. Funny. I'm so excited for this.

Winner of the choice of book is...
*Victoria*

I have only read one of these but the other two on are on my to read list so I'll be able to tell you if they're good or not soon. :)

Winner of the treat basket is....
*Rochelle*

(if you're interested, the scoreboard is on the left.) Hopefully you can cuddle up on the couch and enjoy this basket of treats while having a little movie night with your hubby!

Winner of my 'favorite things' box is...
*Kristie*

I'm having so much fun putting this all together and I really hope it's fun for you! I'll try to get a picture of what I end up with so ya'll can see it.

Congrats you guys. Thanks so much for playing along with me! If you wonderful ladies can email me your contact info I'll get your prizes sent out to ya soon!

Email me at sprtygal10[at]aol[dot]com.