Post 103 of 2013

I did it!! Wahoo!!!! I posted 103 posts in 2013.

The last few hours of 2013 have been spent making music video/lip syncs to the Frozen soundtrack with my nieces. The nephews got in on the fun for "Let It Go".
Only 15 minutes left in 2013!! Time to party!!!
Bring on 2014...

An Accounting of 2013

Top 5 Movies:
1. Frozen
2. Much Ado About Nothing
3. Star Trek Into Darkness
4. The Hunger Games Catching Fire
5. Austenland

Favorite Song:
Treasure by Bruno Mars

Favorite Book:
Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

Favorite Meal:
Cafe Rio Pork Tostada

Favorite Drink:
Diet Mountain Dew

Favorite Vacation:
Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise to Bahamas

Favorite Color:
Mint

Favorite TV Shows:
Cougar Town
White Collar
The Pioneer Woman

Favorite New TV Show:
Reign

Favorite App:
Vintagio (silent movie app)

Favorite Fashion Trend:
Statement Necklaces with Collared Shirts

Things to look forward to in 2014:
- My 30th Birthday
- Watching Valerie's Cheer Competitions
- Frozen coming out on DVD (my nieces suggested I write that)
- Traveling















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Happy New Year from Millie and Fiona

Goals for 2014

1. Read 1 book a month (I have attempted this goal for the past 3 years but really think I can do it this year).
2. Learn to handle stress better, like actually take a class to learn, not learn by experience.
3. Be vegetarian (no beef or chicken) for the month of August.
4. Post 104 blog posts in 2014 which breaks down to 2 posts a week.

What are some of your goals?

Post Christmas Blues

Does anyone also get gloomy and feel sad right after Christmas?
I'm sure I'm not the only one.
We plan and plan and anticipate Christmas, then after a brief 24 hours it's all over; back to regular boring life.

Relaxing Christmas Day 2013

We had such a perfect Christmas Day!! Well, perfect for me at least.
We slept in and woke up to Eggs Benedict with eggs from my mom's chickens. We exchanged gifts with my parents which was lovely, then we got ready for the day and headed to Red Stone to see Frozen. Frozen is such a great movie!!! I loved every minute of it.
Then we went back to the cabin and made dinner. I say made but really we just heated tortellini soup (our traditional Christmas soup my grandma makes that we all die over. It has Italian sausage, tomatoes, carrots, zucchini, and tortellini. Yumm!!!). Then we finished off the night was delicious peppermint bark cheesecake. We ate it yesterday as Dave's birthday cake and we had leftovers. I love me some cheesecake!! The we packed up and headed home since both Lesley and I are working tomorrow.
I loved having a relaxing day full of good food and good movies and good people.

Goodnight Christmas!!

Christmas Question:

Did Dean Martin record all his songs while he was drunk? I mean his slurring is endearing but kind of sad.

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Merry Christmas 2013!!

It is a glorious day here at the cabin. I feel so very blessed!!

Our Nativity Play 2013

Every Christmas Eve, after dinner and before presents, Lesley and I help the kids put on a nativity play. Most of them are still too little to say lines so we usually have an adult read from Luke 2 and the kids walk out in front of the fireplace, or "stage", when their character is mentioned.
This year was a little different. Lesley and I usually make-shift costumes out of peoples scarfs and coats like we do for our silent movies, but this year my mom ordered some awesome costumes online. There is an adorable Mary and Joseph costumes, a star costume, a regal wiseman, shepherds with crooks, and the angel has a set of feather wings.
I think the real costumes got the kids more excited/ more willing to participate this year.

Christmas Eve 2013 Dinner at the Cabin

Our Version of the Nativity 2013

We made a silent movie of the Nativity.

Merry Christmas!!

Silent Night, Holy Night

Good night from me and Millie

Happy Christmas Eve Eve 2013

We are spending Christmas Eve Eve wrapping presents, cuddling with our kitties, and watching My Cat From Hell Helliday Special.

Post 90 out of 103 in 2013

I'm getting so close!! Only 13 more posts to make my goal of 103 blog posts in 2013.

Playing in the Snow at the Cabin

I was helping my mother put lights on the railing around the deck of the cabin. The kids followed us out in their snow clothes and made snow angels and threw snowballs off the deck. It was windy and snowing, well I'm not sure if it was snowing or the wind was just blowing it around. The cabin is always fun but even more so at Christmas time.

Snow Angels...

... On the deck of the cabin!!

Making Christmas Treats at the Cabin- Turtles

This is another Pioneer Woman creation, or her friend created it and Ree shared it.
Toasted pecan halves
Pretzels
Rolos

Heat oven to 350 degrees
Place pretzels on a baking tray
Place rolos on pretzels (1 rolo for 1 pretzel)
Place in oven for 3 minutes. Make sure to keep your eye on them as they can burn easily.
Take out of oven and immediately place a toasted pecan half on each melty rolo and squish down slightly.

Yummy!!

Making Christmas Treats at the Cabin, Peppermint Fudge

We got this super easy recipient from The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. Lesley and I love her show on the Food Network and I have been a follower of her blog for years.
It is 1 bag of chocolate chips and 1 can of sweetened condensed milk.
Melt together in a double boiler and spread in a foil lined (and thoroughly baking sprayed) square cake pan.
Sprinkle crushed candy cane on top while still warm.
Refrigerate for 2 hours to speed up firming time (we just stuck ours out on the porch here at the cabin).

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

More Fun at the VRx Christmas Party

Fun at the VRx Christmas Party!!

Work Party

Tonight is our work Christmas party and I am SO excited!!! They sent out the save-the-date back in September/October and, at the time, December 20th felt so far off in the future but here we are. Boy, time can fly by quickly.

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A Can of Peaches

So I figured out what made me sick. Apparently you're supposed to refrigerate canned fruit right after you open it and are not supposed to eat an opened can of peaches for breakfast that has been sitting out all night on the kitchen counter. Oops!!

I make bad decisions at 5 AM.

Post 80 out of 103

Getting so close to my goal of 103 post in 2013

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Sick Days

Today was a pj wearing, kitty cuddling, ABC Family Christmas movie watching day.

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I have issues...

My issues with public restrooms have been well documented on this here blog over the past 8 years. Today I did something in a public bathroom I never ever wanted to do, get sick. Without going in to much detail, it hit me hard and all-of-sudden and I went home early from work (by an hour).
I don't what I'm more traumatized about, getting sick or doing it in a public restroom (in a very crowded mall food court, at lunch time, with little kids looking under the stall at me as I'm kneeling on the floor).

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Today is a Good Day

Today is a good day but I can't fully explain why. Do you ever get a simple gut feeling that tells you "it's gonna be a great day!!" Or "you should've stayed in bed because today is gonna be awful"?
I'm not sure if it is intuition or a self-fulfilling prophesy but like my blog header Jenny Holzer Truism says, A Positive Attitude Can Make All the Difference in the World.

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A Good Sister

My sisters are so lucky to have me :)
Not to brag but I'm a pretty awesome sister.
Right now, at this very moment, I am waiting for my sister's car to be serviced at the dealership. I traded cars with her at work and drove her car to get serviced. It's already been an hour and they said I probably have another 15 minutes to go but I'm happy to wait, because I am a good sister.
I love having sisters!! We have lots of fun together. I loved when we were teenagers and my two eldest sisters were living at home and going to a singles ward. It was a challenge to have 4 girls sharing a bathroom but I loved helping them get ready for dates and then hearing all about them when they got home. I'm SO lucky!!





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29 posts in 15 days

Only 29 more posts to go to reach my goal of 103 posts in 2013!!

Good Morning

It is always hard to get up at 4:30 AM regardless of when you went to bed the night before. It is even more difficult when you have these two sleepy heads cuddling with you.
I snapped this photo right when I got out of bed this morning. They were totally asleep in mirror image of each other and the flash woke them up. Love them!!


*Fiona is on the left and Millie is on the right.

RIP Joan Fontaine

My all-time favorite movie is Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca. It stars Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier and it is brilliant. Joan Fontaine died today and her brief obituary on people.com just made me adore her even more, especially the end when she told an interviewer how she thought she would die at the age of 108 on stage playing Peter Pan and her older sister Olivia De Havilland would have sabotaged the flying wires. So funny!!

I saw this on PEOPLE.com and thought you would be interested: Joan Fontaine, Oscar-Winning Best Actress, Dies at 96 http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20766598,00.html


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BW Nutcracker

Ballet West The Nutcracker

We are having a ball at the Ballet tonight!!! Even in the cheap seats it is amazing!!

Christmas Light Heaven

We had such a Girls Night Out tonight!! We (my friends/cousins and I) picked Lesley up on the corner by City Creek after she got off work, went to dinner which sounds simple but was way more complicated than that (but that is a story for another day), and ended the night driving around the Avenues looking at the posh houses and magical Christmas lights. Jenny LOVES Christmas lights!! She took us to this house pictured- WOW!! There are hundreds of lawn ornaments in this front yard, no joke!! Last year, Jenny talked with the homeowner and he has been collecting them for years and finds them on eBay and KSL Classifieds. It is such a wonderful display and some of the ornaments are humorously arranged, like a pig sniffing another animal's backside or whole line of Santa figures along the ridge if the roof.
I had so much fun driving around town with my friends and telling funny stories and sharing memories of Christmas pasts.
This is such a wonderful time of year when you're not working retail :)

Free Facials Make Any Day Better

This was a LONG work week and I must have been showing it when two of my regular customers came to get sodas this afternoon. They work for Lush and suggested I come in and try a fresh mask. Well the gave me a full-on facial with a neck and hand massage. I was SO happy!!!! I loved it so much I actually bought some of the products: Oatifix fresh mask and a Peace beauty bar. They also gave me great samples of the other products they used. This was the perfect way to start the weekend!!
Thanks Lush!!!!

Christmas with the #MoTab 2013

It was great but it wasn't Alfie Boe or Sissel.

My History with Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

I am SO excited to attend the annual MoTab Christmas concert!!!!! As my gorgeous and talented eldest sister is a member of the Choir, I have great blessed to attend several of these concerts in the past 13 years (wow!! Has it really been that long?!!!). I remember going to Angela Lansbury in 2001 when I was a senior in high school and she sang Tale as Old as Time and I nearly cried. I then went to Audra McDonald and was blown away by her powerful voice. I as able to go to the Sunday broadcast of Sissel and that concert was a total game changer for these Christmas Concerts and I think the Choir has been trying to recapture that magic ever since. Next, I saw the King Singers and Nathan Gunn, which, in my opinion, were great but not quite like Sissel (can you tell I was obsessed?!!), and then last year there was Alfie Boe. Oh my word, that was the BEST MoTab concert I have ever been to, right up there with Sissel in 2006 and Katherine Jenkins in the summer of 2012. Sure, Alfie Boe still had the lame dancers but it was way toned back from the extreme self-indulgence of the choreography of previous years.
Now tonight, I get to see Deborah Voight and John Rhys-Davies!!! To be honest, I'm more excited to see Sahla and Gimbli than hear a famous opera singer. Les and I were watching Raiders of the Lost Arch a few weeks ago and it just then clicked for her that John Rhys-Davies played both characters. So funny!!
Anywho, I love Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!!
Thanks Andrea for getting us tickets!!

Naughty but Nice

I LOVE Kath Kidston but have a really hard time spending money on handbags. I have been on their email list and follow them on Facebook so when I heard the glorious news that they were offering FREE shipping to the US for orders $75 and over, I nearly cried with joy. It's a Christmas Miracle!! Well maybe not that much of a miracle but still wonderful nonetheless. All of the bags that I really, really wanted were out of stock (it is only 2 weeks to Christmas) but I saw this one pictured and fell in love. So I bought it as a present to myself since I really don't have that many people to buy presents for or a husband to buy presents for me. That last bit sounded selfish- oops- but I have to justify needless spending.
For those not familiar with Kath Kidston, they are a London based design company that sell printed handbags, housewares, clothing, and all pretty things all in pretty floral and graphic prints. We saw SO many knock-offs while we were in China 2 years ago and I wish I had purchased more than one Kath Kidston there. It has been the best travel/weekender bag ever!!!
Happy Christmas to me :)

Confession no. 4

I prefer cats over most people

Agh......

... 2 Weeks 'til Christmas!!!!

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"Let me sew, let me sew, let me sew"

Confession no. 3

I un-friend people on Facebook who consistently use poor grammar.

I Want This Sweater...

Teaching Relief Society Today

I'm teaching relief society today and I'm a little nervous. I love this calling so so much but every once and a while I get a lesson that I just can't seem to get discussion questions for and that makes me way nervous.
The lesson today is about the Prophet Joseph Smith and President Lorenzo Snow's stories and personal testimony of the Prophet. I love Church History so I always enjoy hearing people's personal experiences with other Church History figures but I'm struggling coming up with thought/discussion questions other than "isn't that a nice story? How does that make you feel?".
What I do like about this lesson is Lorenzo Snow's repeated proclamation that he knew Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God not because he knew him personally but because the Holy Ghost had confirmed that truth to him.

This is my last lesson from the Lorenzo Snow manual. I'm excited to find out which president of the Church we will be studying next year and I hope I can continue teaching relief society for a long time. It seriously is my all-time favorite calling!!

Reign, Frary Forever

If you aren't watching Reign (yes, on the CW), you are totally missing out on great, original entertainment. I am obsessed with the show!!! Gorgeous costumes, great acting, and not your typical CW cheesy eye-roll inducing drama but truly good storytelling.

For those that are skeptical, please give it a chance. Megan Follows (from Anne of Green Gables!!) plays the "villain" where she is delightfully deceiving and cunning and you totally love to hate her. She alone is worth watching an episode.

Tonight's episode "Left Behind" was extra good!! I am totally shipping Francis and Mary, aka Frary!!

Frary Forever!!

PS: Yes, this show does turn me in to a squealing girl. No, I am not embarrassed to admit it.

Watch Reign!!!

Festival of Trees 2013, part 5

Festival of Trees 2013, part 4

Festival of Trees 2013, part 3

Festival of Trees 2013, part 2

Festival of Trees 2013, part 1

My mom has out-done herself this year on her tree for the Festival of Trees. This is her 25th year doing a tree and every year is great but this year is fabulous!!!!

51 Posts in 31 Days

Get ready for some serious blog overload...

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My Heart

I was able to shoot family pictures for my sister and her in-laws yesterday. I know everyone says they have the most gorgeous nieces and nephews but mine really are. Ashley is so pretty you can shoot her pictures with a construction site in the background and it's still gorgeous!!

Retail during the holidays :(

I have gotten the stomach flu every late November for the past three years but I am happy to report that I did not get sick this November, hooray!!!!
It was probably the anxiety and stress of the holiday shopping season that weakened my immune system to get sick in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Christmas is still stressful but this year it's not a do-or-die, work 60 hours a week, end up with swine flu and strep throat on Christmas Eve situation, like in 2009.
Retail is awful so I'm hoping we all can be nice and considerate of the sales assistants, shop girls, and cashiers that are only trying to do their job this holiday season.

Happy December 1st!!

This is the wet nose that woke me up this morning (at 11 AM).

Confession no. 2

It drives me mad when people always post every photo on Facebook AND Instagram. Yes, I know it is very convenient to share your Instagram pics on Facebook but that doesn't mean that every photo you post needs to show up on social media twice; it makes them less special.

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Happy Thanksgiving 2013

I have plenty to be thankful for this year (and every year).

1. My eternal family
2. My job
And
3. Millie and Fiona

Confession no. 1

Whenever I feel really fat and ugly, I go buy new lipstick.

58 Posts in 36 Days

So I had a goal to post 100 blog entries in 2010, 101 in 2011, 102 in 2012, and 103 in 2013. I accomplished the goal in previous years but I fear I may fail this year. This is my 46th post of 2013 and we only have 36 days left in the year. So if my math is correct, which it most likely is not, I have 57 more posts to go this year.

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Kid's Silent Movie- Robin Hood

Whenever we get all the nieces and nephews together, Lesley and I help them make a silent movie of some sort of fairy tale or story they all know. So far we have silent movied (see that, I turned a noun in to a verb... Yup) Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, and now we have Robin Hood. All of these fabulous productions are on my YouTube channel if you want to see the full catalog.
Robin Hood took the most effort we've ever put into these movies. We have costumes (AKA Aunties' college wardrobe), and we actually had to rehearse a few times before I finally gave up and shot it. We usually just yell directions at the kids while we film because the finished product is silent so you won't hear our screams.
It's fun and a great way to create memories.
Without further ado, here is a link to Our Version of Robin Hood

http://youtu.be/P-4Z4sO2bas


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Happy Family Thanksgiving 2013

Day 7: Animal Kingdom

Day 6: Epcot, part deux

I've had a few perfect days in my life; one was Rome and today was a new day to add to the list.
We ate, we walked, we rode.
The weather was amazing and even a little on the chilly side (love!!!).
The. Perfect. Day.

Day 5: Hollywood Studios, part deux

The weather was absolutely perfect today; sunny but not blisteringly hot. I love everything about this park!!

Day 4: Magic Kingdom

We made our shirts... I know!!!
Lesley's is rather clever and represents all 4 parks (look closely and guess in the comments). Mine is a simple Mickey silhouette but the fabric has Hidden Mickey's all over it.
It was sweltering hot today. The high was around 92 with like 100% humidity. Luckily the crowds were really low and we got to do almost everything, outside of meeting characters. We were there to open the park at 9:00 AM and we reluctantly left when they kicked us out at 7:00 PM.

Day 3: Pool Day and Downtown Disney

We planned to have a rest day after Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. The party ends at midnight and we usually don't get back to the hotel until 1 AM so it us really nice to sleep-in and not rush to a park in the morning. We spent most of the day at the pool then went to Downtown Disney for dinner and a little shopping and people watching.

Day 2: EPCOT

Day 1: Hollywood Studios

Happy Halloween 2013 (almost)

We got all dressed up as Bikers from Disney Channel Teen Beach Movie for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom.

Happy Autumn 2013

Glow in the Dark Party

We had a super fun work party tonight!!! Neon and Glow in the Dark is really cool

Testing... Testing... 123

... Is this thing on?
I really have fallen out of the habit of blogging since the demise of Google Reader and I apologize to myself most of all.
I am drafting a post on my thoughts about the current wildfire in Rockport and threatening our beloved cabin but until I'm fully ready to write about my feelings on this emotional week, here is a newspaper clipping on an interesting fact about cats. Meow

Wauwen

Auntie Alli: What is your name?
Lauren: Wauwen.
Auntie Alli: Wauwen?!
Lauren: No! My name is not Wauwen, it's Wauwen!!!

Cannon Ball Contest July 2013

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Trailer!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7li5eZ3JZbA&sns=em


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The Cookie Beggar at Evan's Party

*hint* It was me!!!!

I LOVE being an Auntie; it is without hesitation the best role in our family. I thank my Heavenly Father every night for allowing me to have these hilarious, adorable, sweet, thoughtful, clever, imaginative, strong, awesome, wonderful treasures in my eternal family.
Thank you to my siblings for making me an aunt, I couldn't have done it without you! Ha ha ha!!

Happy 4th of July 2013!!

Goodbye Google Reader

I'm quite heartbroken about the demise of Google Reader today. I have been a huge fan of Reader since 2006 and it feels a little like my third best friend has died.
I know there are other feed sites I can use but I'm still mourning the loss of MY Google Reader.

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Much Ado About Nothing

This is my new favorite movie (almost of all time)!!!
I laughed, I cried, it was lovely.
It is pure, simple, and honest storytelling at its finest.

https://www.facebook.com/allidaw/posts/10201483639122123

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Spoiled Resume

This is going to sound SO pompous but my heart breaks for people who hate their job. I have been so blessed to enjoy each of my past jobs. Yes, they all have their challenges, but I have never been miserable in my work. I have a hard time imagining what drudgery people feel about a job they hate. Poor them! I feel spoiled to love my work and I realize how lucky I am.
I am totally exhausted from the past 7 days of work moving locations. Moving is always stressful but moving a retail location on a 48 hour deadline is off the stress charts. But we did it!! Whew!!! There are still some little things to finish up and adjusting to the new space will take time but all in all, I am very excited and pleased with the finished product. It is gorgeous, light, and in the perfect spot (right at the east "entrance" in to City Creek).
I love my job. I love the company I work for. I love the people in the company; I trust their vision. I feel so blessed and lucky that I get work here.

Birthday Song

Happy Mother's Day!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ4Rnba85o8&sns=em


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Can you guess where we are?

Mission Control NASA!!!

One Day at Walt Disney World

And we hit 3 parks!!! We are tired and sweaty but it was awesome!! If we hadn't eaten or needed to go potty then we could've fit in Animal Kingdom too but I was happy to enjoy breaks in the hot humid day.
Here is my favorite picture today, it's me and A outside Rock'n Roller Coaster this morning.
Loves!!!

DCL Sail Away Party 4/26/13

Hooray for vacation!!!
I love Ashley's face and true, pure excitement; it is what vacations are all about.
Keep up to date on our adventure by following me Instagram.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtuM7Sp3YBw


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Happy Caturday, from Millie

Call me Tooth Fairy

I'm pretty sure I was the Tooth Fairy in a previous life. I LOVE helping my nieces and nephews pull out their teeth. So far, I have helped/coached Valie, Ashley, Evan, and as of today, Aaron in loosing their first front tooth. Val did hers at Leatherby's, Ash did hers right before family pictures, Evan did his at my aunt's pool party, and Aaron did his at his great grandmother's house. Jack and Lauren better give me a call when their times come! LOL