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

She Passed!!!

Lesley passed her exam to become a certified pharmacy technician today!!!!!
She has worked tirelessly since September to become a tech; she gave up every weekend, most week nights, and a ton of time and energy into learning and studying. I am so proud of her for accomplishing this goal that her employers asked her to reach, and she did it in only six months. Well Done!!!!

COOL WHIP Frosting | Mistreated Cakes Commercial

What do women love? Frosting
What do women hate? Animal Cruelty
This commercial is BRILLIANT!!!

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZAIJAmPn44&feature=youtube_gdata_player


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A Special, Long Awaited Day

So I took/stole this photo from my cousin's Instagram but it was for a good cause (blogging is a good cause, right? Don't answer that!! LOL).
Today, we went to the Logan LDS temple and did my great aunt Shirley's work and sealed the Burke family for time and all eternity. It was amazing and so special to witness an eternal event and be proxy for dear, dear deceased family members.
My Aunt Shirley died a year ago and was preceded in death by my Uncle Gil and cousin Sherry, and Michael who died as a baby. I miss Sherry so much it hurts. The Burke family were always so nice to Lesley and me and we may have been the only kids they actually liked. JK!!
Uncle Gil always had M&Ms to give us, made us big bowls of Snelgrove Canadian Vanilla ice cream with Hershey's chocolate syrup and all the 7-Up we could drink, and he probably got a kick confusing us with his potato pancakes (are they potatoes or pancakes?!).
Shirley let us sleep on the pull out couch in the TV room and I'll never forget when we stayed with them in 5th grade and she did my hair for school; the teacher actually had to re-do for me at recess but I was so proud my aunt had fixed my hair.
Lesley and I were talking about how great Sherry was to us and we figured she was more of our "auntie" than a cousin. She taught us how to color in the lines, watched Sesame Street and Mr. Roger's Neighborhood with us, took us to the Cottonwood Mall where she introduced us to cheese sticks from Hot Dog on a Stick and gave us 10 cents to get swedish berries at ZCMI while she used the phone to call for a ride home. She took us swimming at Jan's and taught us how to use public transportation. She loved to point out how much I looked our mom and Lesley looked like our dad even though we are identical twins. She was like our first adult who was a friend. We would spend hours with Sherry and she never got angry or upset with us when we were probably a lot to handle for someone in a wheelchair. There was nothing Sherry couldn't do.
I am so happy that they are now an eternal family and can have the blessings of the temple if they choose so. My Aunt Sondra (Shirley's baby sister) said something to the effect of "my mother has been waiting a long time for this day" and it hit me how true that is and how much effort has been made on the other side to make this day possible.
I am grateful every day for my family and for the promised blessing that we will be together for all eternity, and that my dad's death is only a temporary separation. It was such a privilege to be in the temple with some of my family members and witness this long awaited, blessed day.

1 really good reason to shave your legs in winter...

Is because you will not have to be embarrassed when you slip on the ice while walking in to the Salt Lake Temple and need to ask an adorable old temple worker if they have a first aid kit then refuse to show her your "owie" and make up a lame excuse like you're not really that hurt anyway but the pain really is bad and you are bleeding down your leggings which leads you to write a run on sentence in a blog post instead. Let the psycho analysis begin!

Saturday Seething, part 63 of a 444 part series

Around mid February is when I start getting tired of Winter. I'm tired of scraping snow and ice off my car. I'm tired of wearing dark colors and choosing my footwear based on how many inches of the white stuff (well really by this point it is a yucky brown) I have to trudge through. I'm tired of being wet and cold.
Now to clarify, I really do enjoy Winter but it seems to drag on and on. I feel the same about Summer come late August.
I love having all four seasons in Utah but my favorites by far are Spring and Fall and they always seem to be crowded by Summer and Winter. I love sweater/light jacket weather. I love wearing a pair of flats without socks. I love the colors of the newly leafing trees contrasted with the brown of the bare branches. I love when the leafs turn colors and blow in the wind.
My favorite months of the year are April, May, September, and October.
I do love Winter and Summer but they are examples of having too much of a good thing. The "blizzard" today has just pushed me over the edge. I'm going to try to stay positive and March is just around the corner. A few more snow storms are left and then it will be early Spring where it snows in the morning and then it all melts by the afternoon.
Stay Warm!!

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Saturday Seething, part 62 of a 444 part series

Not much to seethe about today other than really tired feet and a sore throat.

I'm one week in to my new job and I love it so far (yay!!!).

I thought I did a lot of standing at the gallery but I did have a stool to lean against so my feet aren't as prepared to stand 8-9 hours a day as I thought. The trick is going to be wearing different shoes every day. I wore Lesley's danskos yesterday and they were fine except for the bruises they left on the top of my feet. I wore the danskos when I worked at Eat a Burger without any problems (other than rolling my ankles occasionally). Today I'm wearing Lesley's Simples and they've been good so far.

Now, without further ado...
The Top Five Things I Love About My New Job:
1. I love being downtown at City Creek Center.
2. I don't feel the pressure to "make the sale".
3. I love being cheerful at 7 AM and surprising people :)
4. I love the all you can drink soda (FRESCA!!!)
5. I love feeling a part of a team rather than a lone reed.

Valentines Day 2013

My sister sent me this e-card this morning and I love it, of course.
Today is my "saturday" and I have a super bad sore throat and headache so I got to cuddle with my cats all day. Millie and Fiona are such great sources of love and happiness. They have magical powers to make you feel better no matter what. They are a miracle and blessing in my life. I feel so lucky!!

Saturday Seething, part 61 of a 444 part series

I don't think it's normal to be so nervous in social situations that all you can think about trying not to get your sweat on the guy sitting next you.

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Last Day at Repartee

Tomorrow will be my last day working at the gallery. I'm excited for new opportunities but at the same time heartbroken to leave the work I love. As I have been preparing for this day, I get more and more excited to work for VRx and be working in downtown SLC at City Creek. The future is bright!!

"I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord. Over mountain or plane or sea... I'll be what you want me to be"

Mario Birthday Party

Happy 6th Birthday Aaron!! Your party was SO much fun!!! We all love to dress up :)

Sleepy Kitties

Saturday Seething, part 60 of a 444 part series

If you've already been president for 4 years, why the heck do you need another inauguration celebration?!! Hello Mr. President, we are broke and cannot afford to throw you and your wife another party where you invite all your celebrity friends and wear designer clothes. The American people are too busy trying to find and job and put food on the table for their families, so forgive us if we don't give a crap about your second inauguration. If you had any decency, you would skip the celebration and get back to work.

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LASIK Touch-Up 2013

Dear Reader-
I had a LASIK touch-up this past Monday. I originally had LASIK in August of 2004 and was so happy with the results up until around September of 2012. I couldn't read street signs and in November, I literally got lost looking for my mom at Festival of Trees when she was right in front of me the entire time. Life is scary when you can't see!! So I went for a check-up at the eye doctor in December and my right eye was pretty awful and my left eye was bad too but still within the legal limit to drive without correction. He offered glasses or a LASIK touch-up and I chose the latter (it is a quality of life issue and I can't see myself going back to contacts and glasses anytime soon after flinging 8 years without them).
So my procedure was scheduled for January 14, 2013. You think it would be easier the second time around but you would be thinking wrong. Since I know exactly how it is, I was terrified, nervous, and basically in full-blown panic. My sister suggested I ask the Doc to call in a Xanax for me to take before the surgery, so I did but the pharmacist talked the doctor out of a 2.5 milligram dosage to a .5 milligram. So I took it and hour before my procedure and waited for "the magic" to happen... and waited and waited and waited. Stupid pill never really took effect, other than making me a little drowsy. After the doc tried to lift the previous flap with a tiny scalpel without success while I was in the waiting room, I got in the chair and placed under the laser. I was shaking uncontrollably as we had to wait 10 minutes for the cutting instrument since it hadn't been prepared before hand. I was anxious and alone with my eyes taped lying under a big machine. Good thing I'm not claustrophobic!! Ha ha. Finally it got underway and everything went well. I didn't hemorrhage this time and the whites of my eyes don't have bruises. I went for a follow-up yesterday and I have perfect 20/20 vision!!! Yay!!! My right eye still has occasional blurriness but eye drops sharpen that up right away. My vision will continue to fluctuate for the next few days/weeks.
All in all, it was so very worth it. I'm a little embarrassed by how nervous I was but you can't really control extreme cases of anxiety with deep breathing and logic.
Here's to amazing technology!!! Now bring on the eye drops!!

Saturday Seething, part 59 of a 444 part series

I have been awake since 5:30 AM and only now getting in the shower at 2:20 PM. Why do Saturdays go by so quickly when I'm not working?!!
Les and I drove our big brother to the airport at 6 AM (he is going to Walt Disney World to cheer on my lovely sister-in-law while she runs the WDW Marathon on Sunday. Go V!!!!!) then we went back to bed for an hour or two, and we have been deep cleaning our apartment and doing laundry ever since.
We are finally done but still need to do a grocery run before we go to a hockey game tonight with friends.
Les and I have not had the same day off of work since early October and we were long over due for some team work in tackling our cleaning/organizing issues.

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Fast and Testimony Meeting, but in a YSA Ward gets confused with Group Therapy

First off- why do some people in my YSA ward get testimony meetings confused with group therapy sessions? It makes it humorous but distracting to the purpose of Fast and Testimony meeting.

I'm too much of a self-conscious whimp to get up in Sacrament Meeting and bear my testimony and the feelings of my heart, so I'll share them here (it's my blog and I can do what I want with it- LOL).
I know Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I know He was the son of God, He lives and loves me. I know everything that happens has a purpose in His plan, even the bad things. I know the Gospel was restored to the Earth through Joseph Smith. I know the Church is true and we have a living prophet who talks with God and runs Christ's church under His direction. I am so grateful for the temple and for my covenants.

Our lesson in Relief Society today was on the talk President Burton gave at the RS General Meeting this past September- the one we got to sing in. The talk was about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and it's power to make things right and show God's love for us. The teacher asked us how the Atonement can make unfair things/situations right. The word "fair" has been thrown around a lot lately, with the Occupy Movement, tax debates, and the past presidential election. I hate the word "fair". "Fair" is a perception and an illusion as life is never fair; someone will always feel like they are treated unfairly. We all have experience with feelings of unfairness (is that a word?), so I think the topic of the Atonement's power to heal unfairness is rather universal.
Sisters started sharing personal experiences of how the Gospel and the Atonement helped right wrongs or hurt, unfair, feelings/situations. I still struggle with feelings of unfairness about my dad's death; totally not fair that he died when I was only a baby and I don't know him. I'm still angry. Why did the Lord take him? How can the Atonement help me overcome these feelings when He was the one who caused it? Then my mind comes to the promises of the temple. My family is eternal and that is only because of the the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We will all be together again because of the Resurrection. Our separation is temporary but our love is eternal.
We are all in the hands of the Lord; he will keep us safe and lead us where we need and want to be. The Atonement is love, it is salvation, it is comfort, it is amazing!!!


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Saturday Seething, part 58 of a 444 part series

I am convinced you can do almost anything as long as you have a comfy place to sit.

First post of 2013

2013 is boring (so far)

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An accounting of 2012

2012... A pretty happy year (well, happier than 2011)

In 2012:
- I went on a Disney Cruise to Mexico
- I went to Disneyland
- I went to Walt Disney World
- I got new carpet in the apartment
- I finally replaced my work purse
- I was called to be a Relief Society teacher (which made me love going to church again)
- I only finished reading one book, regrettably (but I did start several books. I have a recently developed habit of not finishing books I get bored with)
- I watched both the first and second seasons of Star Trek the original series
- I only bought 1 new pair of shoes (I do not know if this is a good or bad thing)

Goals for 2013:
- to be a more positive person, inside and out. I need to keep my opinions and cynicism to myself; negativity is a poison I need to expell out of my life.
- try something new I find on Pintrest at least once a month
- do my visiting teaching


PS: this is my 102 post of 2012. I wrote 101 post in 2011 and 100 posts in 2010. My goal is to post 103 times in 2013

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Happy New Year 2013!!!!

Saturday Seething, part 57 of a 444 part series

This is the last Saturday Seething of 2012!!!
The post Christmas grumpiness is something that always annoys me. Yes, I'm a little bit grumpy most of the time, but it always is difficult when it seems everyone else is grumpy too. We spend 24 days spreading Christmas Cheer and then by the 26th it's all gone. It's odd but very true.

On happier thoughts...

The best way to spend the last Saturday of 2012? Watching Lord of the Rings at the cabin of course!!
After seeing The Hobbit, a lot of things make more sense and the beginning is rather clever in details mentioning what happens in The Hobbit. I'm always a fan of cleverness.

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Christmas + Cat Nip = This

Millie couldn't stop rubbing her face on her new perch from my mom and Fiona was literally drooling. SO FUNNY!!!

Crazy Christmas 2012

So family photos were not a total failure- hooray!!!!!!!!
Half way through the shoot we did a silly face photo and turned out to be my favorite, mainly because all the kids are looking at the camera (miracle!!!).
Merry Christmas from the Deyhle, Dawson, Beach, and Powell Family

Stockings are hung by the fire with care

Thanks Cinnamon Santa

Cinnamon Santa says, "Let your Christmas Vacation Begin!!"... Well that is what I think he said. I couldn't really hear him that well as I ate his head.
Merry Christmas!!!

Saturday Seething, part 56 of a 444 part series: 198

I have worked 194 hours in the past month (only 4 more to go for a total of 198!!!!!!!).
I have 38 hours of over-time coming my way so I'm not too upset about it but I am thoroughly exhausted.
This is my fourth Christmas at the gallery; I hit the wall about 2 days ago but the season does get easier every year. I have only cried once, so far, and still feel charitable and semi- filled with the Spirit of Christmas (which is first in 4 years).
I am very much looking forward to the next 3 days that I have off from work and taking family pictures at the cabin. Fingers crossed that the kids behave and the adults don't hate me for bossing them around.

Merry Christmas!!!!

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My continued battle with Christmas Music, 2012 Edition

The most efficient music to drain a person's will to live is The Carpenters Christmas played over and over.

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Happy Hobbit Weekend!!

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


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Vicious Cycle (Diet Dr. Pepper)

I had a large Diet Dr. Pepper at 1 pm yesterday and I am still wide awake at 2 AM. I haven't had a large caffeinated drink in a long, long time- maybe a month or so. It never used to affect me but now I feel old. I can totally see how it can be a vicious cycle: you are tired so you drink a little in the afternoon, which perks you up but then you can't fall asleep so you stay awake which makes you even more tired tomorrow. Agh!!! Too bad I still LOVE Diet Dr. Pepper :)
It is 2 AM and so far I have watched ALL The Office Christmas episodes, a Star Trek TOS season 2 episode, an episode of Khloe and Kourtney Take Miami (all thanks to Nextflix), plus some beauty tutorials on You Tube, and I still can't calm my mind down. I will be suffering tomorrow!! It's that vicious cycle.

PS: I'm really bummed I forgot to blog on 12/12/12. It is probably the last triple digit date I will experience in my life and I forgot to mark the occasion on my blog. That makes me sad.

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Saturday Seething: part 55 of a 444 part series

The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that majority of sadness is due to un-met expectations.
We plan, we dream, we set expectations and when things do not turn out how we imagined, we are disappointed.
It is really hard to deal with the repercussions of un-met expectations but then you can't stop dreaming and planning of the future. No matter how sad and disappointed you may be, it is important to keep dreaming; keep expecting good things will happen.

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Happy Christmas 2012!!!!

This video is the perfect way to kick-off Christmas!! It is Jimmy Fallon and Mariah Carey singing her hit "All I Want for Christmas" with The Root accompanying them with classroom instruments. It is BRILLIANT!!!
Happy Christmas!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWEfszb9h8Q&sns=em


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Saturday Seething: part 54 of a 444 part series Agh!! Late posts

So I posted my previous post on Thursday morning but it is just now showing up on the blog- agh!!

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