I also am still in love with my Bissel Flip-It. I know Julie and Angie both have one, but after 3 years, mine still is awesome. If you have lots of tile or hardwood, this thing is awesome. It sweeps, mops, and squeegees all in one. So the squeege part isn't all that powerful, but really this thing is a livesaver! I bought mine at Sears 3 years ago for about $100. It's pricey, but totally worth the time savings!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Clear face, clean floor
I'm Bringin' Sexy Back!
Girls. I have found them!!! I have been searching for the perfect pair of jeans for years now. You know the jeans that make your legs look LONG and SLeek, minimize butt size, etc? Well, I've found them! SILVER JEANS! The only drawback is that they are LOW RIDERS, so i've had to work on longer tops and my spare tire! They are a wee bit pricey, but after I begged my husband to get them for me, we went out and he commented that they were worth every penny! I like the Tuesday cut and the Suki, but there are many many styles and you just have to go the buckle and try them all on. HAPPY SHOPPING!
And the winner is.....
NASTY! I don't think even the Diamancel could help poor grandma! This picture is so gross, sorry for posting it :) Yvette actually sent this in the spring with an Open Toe Shoe Pledge, which it sounds as though some of us have violated! I promise if I ever see any of my friends getting close to this (which you're not, Mar) I will intervene!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Ugly Summer Feet
So, I kept hearing about this foot file by Diamancel. Every year in the In Style Best Beauty Buys issue (my favorite!!!) It is always rated the best. It's pretty spendy so I didn't buy it but finally earlier this year I got some money for my birthday and broke down and bought it. Amazing!!! It is $38 and is the Diamancel Callus Conqueror #20. It is incredible for that dry, thick, cracked skin around heels. I think it is made with diamonds and is supposed to last for about 5 years. It is pricey but when you think about it, it's only about the same price as one pedicure. Anyway - I LOVE this product! I think they sell it at beauty.com, so you can order this and the DIMRS together! :)
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The Bumbo!
No More Blinding Head-lights!
I absolutely love this product...don't leave home without it! As crazy as it may look girls these DIMR'S really do dim the head-lights so to speak! They are small silicone forms that basically succion right over top of the "PN's" (protruding nipples, as dubbed by Marilee ;-)) Listen. They can be worn under the sports bra, non-padded bras, bra-less, and swim wear. Yup, you heard me! The "mini sisters" can even be worn under water...they will not move! I will even be sporting mine at the triathlon I'm doing in two weeks! It's super sly baby! It's also totally funking however, to see the old "targets" totally missing when looking in the mirror;-) You gotta give'em a try!Remember, they're called DIMR'S and they are $29.99, but worth it! You can order them on beauty.com! Happy Dimming!
The best banana bread recipe ever!!!
2/3 cup real butter (unsalted)
1 1/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
dash of vanilla
3-4 brown bananas
1/2 cup sour cream
2 2/3 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add each egg, one at a time. Add vanilla and mashed bananas. In a different bowl, mix the dry ingredients and alternate adding them into the wet mixture with the sour cream (1 cup dry mix, then 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 cup dry mix, sour cream, 2/3 dry mix). Bake in 2 pans for 45 minutes or until done at 350 degrees!
You can also substitute the bananas with zucchini (call me if you need some, i have them growing out my ears) or peaches, or cherries, cranberries, etc...)
A Few Good Recipes
Yesterday Jocelyn and I were talking about her obsession with Snackwells Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies and how they discontinued them. We googled it online and found the recipe! We both challenged eachother to make them, and folks...they REALLY do taste like the real thing! And for 13 of them to be 100 calories...count me in. Here's the recipe:
Makes 12 Dozen bite size Cookies
1 egg white
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon corn syrup
1 tablespoon shortening
1 1/2 tablespoons egg substitute
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon plus a pinch of salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Beat the egg white until thick. Add the granulated sugar to the egg white and continue beating until the mixture forms soft peaks. While beating, add the brown sugar; corn syrup, shortening, and egg substitute. In a separate bowl, combine the flour; salt, baking soda and baking powder: Combine the dry mixture with the wet and mix well. Add the chocolate chips and incorporate them into the dough. Divide the dough in half; then roll each portion into a long, thin Jog about the same diameter as a nickel and wrap each in plastic wrap. Put the dough into the refrigerator and chill) it for a couple hours (you may also use the freezer for roughly half the time if you're in a hurry). When the dough has thoroughly chilled, remove each log of dough from the plastic wrap and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place slices on a cookie sheet coated lightly with nonstick spray about 1/2-inch apart, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cookies turn light brown. Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 13 cookies Total servings 11 Fat (per serving) 3.3g Calories (per serving) 105
The dough will turn out really gooey, like peanut butter...so I have no idea how they were able to roll it into a log. Joce tried to put it in the freezer and that kinda worked, but I just rolled it into a fat log and threw that into the fridge. They are so yummy!
Here's another recipe if you're searching for something to make for dinner. We call it French Dressing Chicken which I grew up on. You can make it totally low fat too!
3-4 Chicken Breasts (un-cooked)
1 box Uncle Bens Wild Rice
2/3 cup white rice
1 can of cream of celery soup (i use the healthy request kind)
1 can of cream of mushroom soup (healthy request)
1/2 cup milk (skim)
1/2 cup french dressing (fat free)
slivered almonds
parmesan cheese.
In a 13 by 9 inch pan, put the wild rice and seasoning packet in (uncooked). Add extra white rice. Place chicken breasts (or you can use tenders) on top of the rice. Mix in a bowl the 2 soups, milk, and dressing and pour over chicken. Top with almonds, cheese, and foil. Cook in a 350 degree oven for 2 hours. Serve warm. You might also want to use minute rice to make sure it's cooked all the way through with the rice. It's seriously SOOOOOO good! We had it last night.
Missing Edward and Bella!
Jacob or Edward?
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
I did it!
Comment Notification Email
Anyone who hasn't joined the email group. You can anytime. Just let me know and I'll send you the link to join.
Porn for us "good girls"
Monday, August 27, 2007
Orange Julius
1/2 can frozen orange juice concentrate
3/4 c. milk
3/4 c. water
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
15-20 ice cubes
Blend together and serve. Serves 4.
P.S. Just read about "imprinting" in Eclipse. CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keepin' my girls in check...
I purchase mine at Kohl's for $40.00 and it looks like they're about the same price at the Champion site. They're super comfortable and seriously, the girls stay put during my most high impact aerobics classes or jogging.
If you're in the market for a new one, check it out! :)
Growing
On my own blog I have it set up so that any time someone comments on my blog the comment is automatically emailed to me. That way if someone comments on an old post I will know they commented (since I don't check old posts for new comments on my blog). If you don't have this set up on your own blogs you should check it out. Very handy. Under "Settings" then "Comments" at the bottom is the "Comment Notification Email" and you put the address in there where you want comments on your blog emailed to you.
Anyway... on to my point. You can only have one email address for the comment notification so I created a WKTGS google group email address that anyone on here can join it and then whenever a comment is put on the WKTGS blog it will send that comment to the emails that are in that google group. Again... very handy. Who wants in? If you do either give your email address in the comments or send it to me here and I'll invite you to the group.
Let Me Introduce Myself
Hey girls - First of all, I just want to say how excited I am about this blog! How fun.
1. Full Name: Tamara Faye Nelson Cooper-Leavitt (I know - a little long)
2. Age: Seriously? OK - 34
3. Married/Kids - Married almost 14 years to my hot hubby Jeramy, Ella- 4 1/2, Finn - 6 months
4. Work: In my former life I was a CPA but I got a promotion to SAHM when I had Ella. It's the best job ever!
5. Resides: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
6. Hobbies: Shopping, reading, working out, photography, decorating my house
7. Loves: Music, EBay, girls night out, date night, talking, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, Clorox wipes, PuraCleanse (see Marilee's post on this), chocolate chip cookies, shoes, bags, jewelry - really all accessories, Sephora, J.Crew, Anthropologie, The Container Store, Nordstrom and the Rack, Diet Coke, vacation sex (sorry - I just got back from a trip with hubby and no kids. SIGH!)
8. I am on this blog thanks to: Marilee
9. Dreams: Rich, thin & beautiful! I would love to reach my goal weight/size before I have another baby (probably not going to happen but it's still a "dream"). Another baby. A pregnancy without puking my guts out. A house on the beach and cabin in the mountains that I could share with family/friends. To be able to walk into J.Crew, Anthropologie & Nordstrom and buy what I like without checking the price tag. To raise my kids to be loving, considerate, righteous and confident and have them still love me in the process. Lots of beautiful grandbabies!
10. Addictions: SHOES! My computer - Ebay, email, now blogging, iTunes (wow, those $0.99 songs really add up!) Cleaning and organizing my house, hair products, wardrobing and stylizing my family, diet coke, People magazine.
11. Biggest Dislikes: stretch marks, telemarketers/solicitors, rude people who work in the service industry (hello - you're getting paid to be polite!), inconsiderate people, a messy house, not being able to fit into my clothes after a vacation!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Help A Sista Out!
Get to Know Me
2.Age: 28
3. Married/Kids?: Husband: Jason, Kids: Amelia(Mia) Just turned 3 a couple weeks ago and Jackson who turned 4 months today!
4. Work: Stay-at-home mom, but certified Elementary Education teacher
5. Resides: Draper, UT
6. Hobbies: Reading, traveling, working out, scrapbooking, cooking, shopping for my kids and really for anything, watching football (NFL and College), fishing, sewing.
7. Loves: I love Ebay, watching movies, like many of you...my Bare Minerals(I have been using it for almost 2 years now), Ann Taylor clothing, hanging out with friends and family, going to plays, Gymboree clothes for my kids, Sundays, Sephora, going out to eat.
8. I am on this blog thanks to: Alysha
9. Dreams: That my family will always be healthy and happy and that we will all be together for eternity.
10. Addictions: The Internet: Ebay, now blogging, checking my email, Twilight Series (any info. about it.) buying clothes for my kids.
11. Biggest Dislikes: People who drive slowly, mean and rude people, waiting too long in line(hey, I have 2 under 3...) people who lie, people who are always late.
Hey Gals!
I love reading about what products you gals are loving right now. If you guys have any other product likes, let me know.I have a feeling that I will become like Alysha said, "Addicted to blogging." I am happy to join and I will be doing my page as soon as possible with 2 kids under 3! You all know where I am coming from!
I also got all the things needs to make the Cafe Rio food. I will let you know how it all turns out.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Copycat
Café Rio Pork
3 lb. pork roast
16 oz. salsa
1 can of Coca Cola
2 cups brown sugar
water
Fill your crock pot with just the roast, and fill it half way with just the water.
Cook on high for 5 hours.
Take the pork out after the 5 hours, and drain the liquid.
Cut the roast into 3 or 4 sections and place back into the crock pot.
Puree the salsa in the blender and transfer to a bowl.
Add the Coke and brown sugar and mix.
Pour over the roast and cook on high for 3 more hours.
Shred with a fork.
My recommendations:
I also added ½ pack of fajita seasoning, 1 can green chilies, and about 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning during the last hour of cooking. Also, when it was done cooking, I drained out all the liquid and reduced it in a saucepan so it was thicker. With my additions, it tasted AMAZING!
Also, here's the recipe for the dressing, rice, chicken, and homemade tortillas:
Cafe Rio Creamy Tomatillo Dressing
1 package Hidden Valley Ranch
1 cup mayo
1 cup cilantro, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 tomatillos - peel off paper, chop
1/3 - 1/2 cups buttermilk, to consistency you want
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
Put in blender and mix.
Homemade tortillas
3 C. flour
1/2 C. veggie or olive oil
1 1/8 C. luke warm water
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
Mix all ingredients and knead. If too hard to knead, add a little water but if too sticky add a little more flour. Let stand for about 10 minutes. Makes about 12 small balls. Flatten each by rolling them out and then cook them in a frying pan.**I usually have 2 frying pans going at once so they all get cooked faster
Café Rio Rice
3 c water
4 t chicken bouillon
4 t garlic –minced
½ bunch cilantro
1 can green chiles—or equivalent fresh
¾ t salt
1 T butter
½ onion
3 c rice (see note)
Blend cilantro, green chiles and onion together in food processor. Bring water to a boil and add all ingredients, simmer covered 30 minutes.
Cafe Rio Chicken
1 small bottle Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
1 T chili powder
1 T cumin
3 cloves garlic—minced
5 lbs chicken breast
Cook all together in a crock pot for 4 hours, shred meat and cook 1 additional hour.
Because Shannon Said I Had To...
2. Age: 30
3. Married/Kids?: neither
4. Work: Recreation Therapist. I work at a residential and day treatment center for naughty teenagers and i love it.
5. Resides: Orem, UT at the Hotel Petersen.
6. Hobbies: MUSIC, reading, organizing, cleaning, hiking, scapbooking, knitting, crocheting, cooking, traveling, movies, golf, make-up artistry.
7. Loves: Hanging out with my sisters, a clean house, iPods, lipgloss, my Bath & Body Works oil diffuser, new mascara, a good flat iron, anything that helps me to be more organized (thanks Ikea), Lemon Propel, dark chocolate, Cafe Rio shredded pork salad, any kind of berry, Costco, Target, Post-its, air-conditioning, power tools, long showers, watching Lola tear across the back lawn, Collin's laugh, golfing with my mom, quiet Sunday afternoons, laying in the grass looking up at the sky, knitting anything for little people.
8. I am on this blog thanks to: Shannon....big shocker.
9. Dreams: to get married and have a couple of kids and watch them grow into successful adults, travel the world, get my masters degree, continue to be happy & healthy, oh...and pay off my credit card.
10. Addictions: Buying music from iTunes, scrapbooking supplies, powdered drink mix tubes that you pour into water bottles, Bare Minerals Make-up, cleaning and organizing my house (this is actually a sickness not an addiction).
11. Biggest Dislikes: People who are condescending and rude, people who drive slow in the fast lane, dirty public bathrooms.
Friday, August 24, 2007
New Blogger - All About Me...
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Airbrush this!
http://www.iwanexstudio.com/
Click on the portfolio link at the top. As you click on each photo, move your mouse over the picture and you'll get a look at the before and after. All I have to say is Girl! I need to get me a program like this!! I recently took my own "before" picture to motivate myself to get back in the dieting game and a little airbrush or two would make a SERIOUS difference!
Enjoy -
aj
Last Post Today - Sorry!
So I had to post a picture of my favorite new find ever! I got this frame for my birthday and couldn't wait to hang it on the wall before posting.
Not sure if you other moms out there have the same problem, but quickly (as we had kids), all the pictures in our house evolved to be of the girls only. I missed having pics of just me and Beau - maybe mostly because I was skinny and want to remember the good 'ole days. Either way, I wanted them around! So when I found this frame, problem solved. Now, I can have pictures of all of us! And, as newer better pictures come around, I can rotate out.
I'm in love.
My Date w/ Stephenie Meyer
Hi All! Sorry for the delay in getting my story about Stephenie Meyer up but here it is!
So Monday evening Yvette (who is still yet to post anything...maybe we could all encourage her with a welcome, as she is new to blogging and says she's not sure what to write) and I headed to "The Tattered Cover" bookstore to try to get some good seats for the question and answer period that was happening before the signing.
Yvette and I
We thought leaving at 5:30 for the 7:00 event would be plenty of time!! WRONG!! We got there at about 5:45 and the place was PACKED! We sat at the back and could hardly see a thing! That was okay though cause we could still hear her and when it was time for the signing we got to be right in front of her! Anyway, during our hour + wait the people who work at the store kept making announcements. "She WILL NOT pose for you but you may take a picture as you pass by!", "She will ONLY personalize "ECLIPSE". Do not ask her to personalize "TWILIGHT" or "NEW MOON"! "You MUST get in line in order of your ticket number", etc. Now imagine these announcements being said in a very dictatiorial, snooty way and that's how they really sounded. I became a bit worried that Stephenie would be a bit snooty since all these announcements were snooty! But alas, I did not need to worry a bit! She was so down to earth, unaffected and real! She answered questions for about 20 minutes and then started signing books! It was hilarious to look around at all the people there. It was all teenagers with a few parents to chaperone...and then there was us...Yvette, two of her friends from Colorado Springs, Katie and Jill, our friends Tanya and Brecken and me. All of us in our 30's, all of us married with children and not one teenager with us! We were the adult mom groupies and felt like we stood out like a sore thumb! It was hilarious! But, the teens around us didn't seem to care and chit chatted with us about the books just like we were one of them (we felt so cool :-).
So, when it was our turn to go up to be herded through the line I started wondering if I should be cheesey and tell her that I was a BYU grad! Of course I'm my mothers daughter and couldn't resist! As she signed my books I mentioned I had gone to BYU too! She was soooo excited! She wanted to know when I was there, where I lived, if I took any English classes? Turns out we were there the same years, she lived in Heritage Hall, me in Helaman and no, other than English 101 (or whatever the number was) I didn't take any English classes! Anyway, she was really cool and it was fun to see that she hasn't let all this success go to her head! She's the type of person that would be fun to hang out with! Anyway, to any of you going to a signing any time soon, it's really fun and totally worth it! Say hi to Stephenie for me :-) Ha ha ha!
This is me (in the black) and Yvette (in the purple) talking to Stephenie. Tanya took the picture just as Yvette stepped in front of the camera! oops! :-)
Me talking to Stephenie about BYU!
Brecken and Tanya getting their books signed!
(So it just occured to me that the pictures of me are hilarious! You know the funny pictures you see of someone with a famous person only its the famous person and the person saying they are in the picture is way in the back, all you see is a head with an arrow pointing to it saying (that's me!) I'm totally LOL at myself because you can't tell that I'm even in any of the pictures!! However, I promise they are of me and I did meet Stephenie)
Introduce Yourself...Okay!
2. Age: 30
3. Married/Kids?: Married to Beau, mother of two girls - Tatum: 2 ½ and Hayden: 1
4. Work: I'm a full time mom & work from home as a product coordinator for an up an coming company (watch for us October 1 in several Utah malls!)
5. Resides: West Jordan, Utah
6. Hobbies: I love being crafty – this used to include scrapbooking, but I’ve fallen out of the loop lately (need to work on that). In a former life I loved to read, but who are we kidding – I have two kids. I love spending time with the girls (both my own and my friends) and doing most anything as long as the company is right.
7. Loves: Stretch denim, VS lipgloss, 40% off at Roberts, the “Do Not Disturb” button on our home phone, nap time & my cute husband.
8. I am on this blog thanks to: Sharny P.
9. Dreams: I wish everyone didn’t live so darned far away from each other (family and friends included). I’d love for Beau to be able to work less strenuous hours and have more time for himself – the boy works so hard it’s unbelievable. I wish I could fit into my pre-wed jeans. Damn, I looked better than I thought I did. Hindsight is 20/20, I guess.
I love this idea – thanks for the invite!
Halloween Boxes
All they are is a set of three paper boxes (I got mine at Joanne's). I painted them black and then sanded them just a bit and stained them for that more rustic look. I found some cute chipboard letters at Robert's (already orange) and stained those to match. Add some cute ribbon and fun accessories and there you have it!
I'm considering making a small box for Christmas gifts for neighbors (same idea, much smaller scale).
Can You Believe?
PS...anyone who has yet to buy a pair of Mary Jane Crocs...They are awesome! I know Ang has the baby blue ones, and Mandella has the green ones, but they are heaven sent! I love my Chocolate Brown ones! I bought mine at Extreme Footwear.com and they have free shipping on all their Crocs, Teva's and Reef's. Great to do business with! They have tons of colors and styles, more than you can find in the stores.
Also, some of my other loves currently are: Colgate Toothpaste with Scope, my tongue scraper (if you don't have one...GET ONE!!!), Scribblers Popsicles - they are the perfect size for toddlers, and a good little treat for adults, my curling iron...I know I've blogged about it before, but it rocks. It totally waves your hair and stays in for days. $40 at Sally's!, and of course, Secret Clinical Strength...if you are a sweater...it works awesome...I am on my third stick!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
My Turn... About Me
2. Age: 29 (I have less than a month left before I have to say I'm 30!)
3. Married/Kids?: Married to Ben and no kiddos of our own yet
4. Work: Well, currently I'm a full time stay at home wife. Does that even count? Since we got back to the US I have been traveling here and there and so... no job. We'll see how much longer the status of my employment/unemployment lasts.
5. Resides: Round Rock (Austin), Texas
6. Hobbies: Blogging, Photography, Scrapbooking, Traveling, Reading (I have in the past few months really started loving to read again, thanks mostly to Twilight and Stephenie Meyer!)
7. Loves: Ben, my family, my friends, vacations, chocolate, baking, my TV shows (lots of reality TV in there), yummy shower gel and lotion, photos, Thai food, pedicures, fresh laundry, chocolate chip cookies, my Mom's cooking, a clean house, my afghan blanket, and I (like Julie mentioned I think) also love acrylic nails but haven't had them in a long time, I think it's time I get them again. And oh Angie... I am right there with having my towels folded a certain way. In fact I just folded a large load of towels this morning and they look great. OK this list has gone on long enough.
8. I am on this blog thanks to: Shannon
9. Dreams: To be a mom. To live closer to my family. To go on vacations.
10. Addictions: Blogs, Google, The computer (although without the internet it gets boring quickly), DVR (especially now that there is nothing on I can go back and watch my favorite dances on SYTYCD... don't tell anyone). You know you're addicted when something happens in life (away from the TV) and you want to push the back button to skip back 7 seconds! This happened to me a few times when driving and listening to the radio. Scary. And I have to say that my husband is addicted to NOT watching commercials. If I let the commercials play (which I often do when I'm watching TV and on the computer at the same time) he can't help himself from telling me to FAST FORWARD.
11. Biggest Dislikes: Who said dryer lint? Ha! That was funny! I agree about that, yuck. Also... Bugs! Sick I hate them all! I do not appreciate the bull frog hanging out on my hose nor the geckos that sometimes get IN my house. Get me out of Texas!!
I LOVE our BLOG!!
Oh and I promise I'll blog about my date with Stephenie Meyer once I decide to take the time to find my camera and upload the pics!!!
I'm off to finish reading "Eclipse"!
I guess its my turn!
2. Age: 34
3. Married/Kids?: Married to Mr. Incredible, Brent Green. We have three exuberant and wonderful children: McKenzie-7, Indiana-6 and Presley-2.
5. Resides: Orem, Utah. Hoping for a European address sometime in my life.
6. Hobbies: Computer whatever, READING, READING, READING. the world just about ended when I took up quilting and love it! Photography, scrap frames and books, playing with my kids, and talking to girlfriends about life!
7. Loves: Russian HONEY CAKE!!! Chicken Marsala at carabbas, my life, smelly lip gloss that tastes good, a beautiful moon, great poetry, a fabulous book, HOMESTYLE pop secret, laughing hysterically, silver jeans, shopping, and watching kids say and do funny things!
8. I am on this blog thanks to: Shannnon! The queen mother!
9. Dreams: OF COURSE TO SPEND A WEEKEND WITH STEPEHNIE MEYER, and then have her cast me in her movies, and then have her create a new vampire based on me. To finish the outside of my house and have a deck that is like Alice's tea cups at disneyland. To have my children avoid the really terrible things in this world, and to enjoy every moment of this beautiful thing called life!
Thanks for all of your posts. I love reading them, and it is great to feel connected to others and share being a woman with all of you!
Long lost Sista
1. Full Name: Angella Rae "Hotpants" "Flash" Glenn Jimenez
2. Age: 29
3. Married/Kids?: Married to Philip (or Phil) mother of Marissa: 5 and Dylan: 2
4. Work: I'm a full time mom with currently nothing on the side (which is a little unusual for me!).
5. Resides: I live just north of Charlotte, NC in Mooresville - Race City USA
6. Hobbies: You know, I'm really boring! I read and 'stuff'. Of course I love shopping and I'm totally off with TV right now so I'm trying to find other activities to occupy my time. I'm starting to enjoy decorating and wishing I had a money tree to get it all done at once.
7. Loves: Let's see, I love: the beach, the beach and the beach. I love my car and my ipod. I love fake toenails (see previous posts!), pink grapefruit anything, black beans, Dish jeans, my new body pillow, and baby kisses. I love U2, lipgloss, mint chocolate ice cream, and key lime pie. I love my sister, a clean bonus room and my towels folded just so. I love a balanced checkbook, Ice Breakers Pomegranate Lemon-aid mints and my new sports bra. I think that should do it for now!
8. I am on this blog thanks to: Shannnon of course
9. Dreams: I'd love to open a Bernard Callebaut store here in town to keep myself busy, earn a small fortune and be able to get the devil stuff for free. I'd love my husband to find a new career that's exciting as the current one, somewhere close to my sister or best friends. I hope my basement is developed within the next 5 years. I'd love to be a travel agent so I could really tell if I was being ripped off everytime I want to go somewhere. I dream of a WSH reunion again this year.
Happy blogging girls! Hopefully I can get caught up soon. But I have had a copy of Twilight for over a week now and HAVEN'T EVEN OPENED IT! Sharn, you can stop swearing now. Maybe I'll get started right now :)
Sunday, August 19, 2007
A Good Movie
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Let's Welcome
Friday, August 17, 2007
My New Boyfriend
Since I have a fictional boyfriend (Edward) and teenage boyfriend (Zac Efron) couldn't we make them the same person!! Don't know if Zac is mysterious enough to play Edward but after watching the High School Musical 2 Premiere tonight, I've decided I love him just as much as I love Edward! He is so cute! It's a good thing I'm not a teenager or I would be SERIOUSLY love sick over this cute boy! :-)
Family/Friend Tree!
We'll start with Shannon
Shannon is friends with -
Julie
Jocelyn
Angie J
Yvette
Julie is sisters with MARILEE and HEATHER
Julie's sister-in-law is LINDSAY
Lindsay is friends with ALYSHA
Julie, Marilee and Heather are cousins with KACEYMarilee is friends with LOUISE
Mandella, I don't remember where you fit in, so fill me in so I can remember!
I hope this helps! If I forgot anyone else I apologize for my stupidity!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
REGULAR anyone???
A few years ago I started to get these terrible stomach aches. The kind where I would get hugely bloated, feel like I was super gassy but nothing would ever pass. Sometimes the stomach aches were so bad that I could hardly stand up straight and when I did stand straight I looked like I was 5 months pregnant. So I started to eliminate things from my diet to see if that helped. Diet Coke (never fear, that wasn't the problem and I'm appropriately back on it :-), bread, dairy, gum, nuts, etc. Nothing seemed to help this problem and guaranteed, every time I went to dinner somewhere nice, this stomach ache would present itself. Finally after a few years of it getting worse and worse I started using over the counter stuff like Gas X, Mylanta, Metamucil, etc. These products worked temporarily but the problem always returned. I even went to the doctor and was tested for the glutin allergy but it came back negative (glutin is in wheat and almost everything we eat has it). Left to either deal with life in an uncomfortable, bloated state I had almost given up. Until I heard about colon hydro therapy (that's a whole other post- yes, I tried it, yes it was weird, yes it works). Through the therapist's recommendation, I found a product that has honestly and in every way changed my life.You MUST know about this!
What I found is an all natural fiber drink mix that tastes disgusting but works wonders on my digestive tract. It is called "Pura Cleanse" and is sold by a company called Miracles of Health (miraclesofhealth.net). I drink it regularly two times a day (plugging my nose and gulping it as fast as possible), and my life has changed. My stomach aches are completely gone, I'm never constipated, and I have soft, easy, regular movements. Not to mention more energy, a flatter stomach (no bloating) and a happier disposition because I'm not full of "crap". (just as a funny side note, one of the first times I met Angie, she told my mom and I that her parents told her the reason her eyes were brown was because she was so full of crap! Ha ha ha! Do you remember that Ang?)
Anyway, I don't tell you this to gross you out. Though this is funny to talk about I am really being completely serious. In the past year I have talked to so many friends who have the same stomach aches and issues that I had. It is so much more common than anyone realizes! I share this in hopes of helping someone who has "pooping problems" as I did. They are not fun to have but no one ever talks about it so no one knows what will help. If you have any issues like that, trust me, I know what will help and its this stuff.
Go to the website, check out their stuff and if you feel so inclined, order the PURA CLEANSE! If you want some quick results, order the CLEANSE CAPS too! You'll be more regular than you could ever imagine!
Good luck and let me know how it goes! Happy Pooping!! :-)
Yummy!
I got my first bottle of this stuff when I was visiting my sister in Pittsburgh. I went through it so fast and then was sad it was gone already and so I made my trip to Sephora here in Austin to get a new bottle. Whenever I use it I can't stop smelling it (I try not to use it every single day because I want it to last longer). It smells like the beach... well not really... it smells like a tropical beach resort!! That is better because growing up by the beach I know that sometimes "beach smell" isn't a good one. :) This. Is. Yummy.
Has anyone tried it? It is a little pricey but who can't use a few splurges?! Philosophy Sweet Coconut Milk shower gel. Talk about Good Stuff!
P.S. The matching body butter didn't seem to smell very good to me in the store and to top it off it was lots of moola... but I love the Sephora brand of their coconut body butter cream. Yum!
Here's Some Total Momsense
Hey Ladies, I'm Marilee's old childhood friend Louise...thanks for putting me on as a contributor! Love this blog! I feel a little like a third wheel girls. Could some one please post the" family tree/friend tree", I'm so confused about who's friends with who and who's related..you all have cute families and are such funny, articulate, and may I say gorgeous women! -the pressure! I guess I'll have to post a " get-to-know-you" soon. So, as per the You-Tube clip-hysterical! Her name is Anita Renfroe. Check out her website www.anitarenfroe.com to see all her funny book titles eg."It's A Purse-Driven Life", "If You Can't Lose It, Decorate It". Enjoy ;-)
Monday, August 13, 2007
I guess it is my turn!
1. Full Name: Heather Lynn Miller Empey
2. Age: 31 (how did that happen?)
3. Married/Kids?: Married to Steve Empey. Kids - Tyler who is almost 7, Brooklynn 4 1/2 (yes Lindsay stole my daughters name, I can't believe her - Just Kidding Twee, I love you) and of Joshua (who is running in circles and watching MoMo, Elmo) 19 months
4. Work: Empey Inc President, CEO and everything inbetween
5. Resides: California
6. Hobbies: Scrapbooking kind of, blogging, reading, when I can, go on trips whenever I can, can eating be a hobby? I don't know just hanging out I guess, I am with Lindsay and I am a home body.
7. Loves: Well first definitely is my hubby and then my funny little monkey's. I love it when Joshy dances and Brookie's toothless grin, I love Tyler snugglieness (Is that a word?), I also love Snickers with Almonds thanks to Julie, and I love a good Diet Pepsi every couple of days, I also love a good, butt kicking workout. NO really I do.
8. I am on this blog thanks to: Shannon
9. Dreams: To be able to hit the spa anytime I want. No, but seriously to get rid of my baby roll and then just to live close to some family and raise my kids and go on some fun trips. Nothing to fancy really!
10. Addictions: computer, I am addicted to the internet. Other than that not much, maybe ice cream and popcorn.
11. Biggest Dislikes: I don't like people who are late, it drives me crazy. I hate fish or really anything that you eat that comes from the sea. I HATE sushi! I also very much dislike when my kids don't listen to me. Drives me crazy!
That is me, I hope you enjoyed it!!!!
TWILIGHT OBESSESSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is SO sad how my mind is TOTALLY obessessed with these books. But, they are AMAZING and they give me the "Rhetorical Milk-Bone" my mind needs to chew on each day!! GREAT ARTICLE IN THE DES NEWS TODAY ABOUT HER:
BYU GRAD'S VAMPIRE TALE ECLIPSES HARRY POTTER ON BOOK LIST
FULL STORY: http://deseretnews.com/article/1%2C5143%2C695199836%2C00.html
ECLIPSE IS JUST THE BOMB!!! There is also a 1 min video on amazon.com, where she promises to wrap up bella's story with a nice bow, but says she may write more about the vampires. BRING IT ON!!! I am a willing and anxious fan. In fact, I'm like a newborn VAMPIRE because it is so delicious that I can't STOP MYSELF.
okay, enough!
anyway, someone wanted the questions i used for our twilight party, so I will post them here. DRINK UP LADIES!!!
Twilight ?'s
Do vampires bathe?
Does Alice live vicariously through Bella?
Why can’t Edward read Bella’s mind?
Bite or no bite? Why?
Who broke the treaty first and when?
IF Bella turns, how would she feel dieting all the time (vegetarian)? All tofu, not cheesecake or cheating…EVER! How would you feel? What if she messes up? Is it murder?
According to the author, what happens when someone’s traits and characteristics when he/she becomes a vampire?
Do Edward and Bella ever open-mouth kiss?
When was the last time Edward kissed someone?
How are the Cullens able to do what they do?
Why do vampires sparkle?
If Bella turns, is it worth giving up her human life to be with Edward? Why or why not?
Why are some transformations more painful than others?
Edward or Jacob? WHY?
If you could be a character, who would it be and why? Ask EVERYONE!
What vampire skill or trait would you most like to possess and why?
Which man in the novels would you most like to be with and why?
What do you love most about the books and why?
How would you like to see it end?
What is your LEAST favorite part of the book(s) and why?
How long will it take you to read ECLIPSE?
Would you like to kiss a vampire? Why or why not?
If you are obsessed with these books…SCREAM RIGHT NOW!!!!******(this one is epsecially fun!)
Did any of the Cullens have any family before they were changed?
What is the only fluid a vampire has?
Why is there an apple on the cover of TWILIght?
What is appealing to you about Jacob Black?
How is Jacob much more realistic than Edward?
If you had been alive for more than one hundred years, would you look for a mate? What would you do with the time?
Sunday, August 12, 2007
It's all about me!
2. Age: 25, I'll be 26 Nov. 8.
3. Married/Kids?: Married to Colton Smith, mother of Madison 3 1/2 and Brooklyn 2 months
4. Work: I am a full time mom
5. Resides: Colorado
6. Hobbies: Scrapbooking, blogging, shopping for my kids(it's seriously a problem, they have more clothes and shoes than they need, but I love little girl clothes so much I can't help myself!) , vacationing with my family, just hangin' with my family, I'm kind of a home body!
7. Loves: cuddling on the couch with Colton and watching tv at night, scrapbooking after my kids have gone to bed, chocolate, DR. PEPPER (except that I can't have any right now since I'm dieting) my family, my friends, vacations, pedicures, going to lunch with friends, shopping, FOOTBALL, listening to Madison answer her pretend cell phone (the things she says and the people she says are calling her are hilarious!)
8. I am on this blog thanks to: Shannon
9. Dreams: To have a rockin' super model body that I know makes other women look at me and say, "Damn, I wish I looked like her!" I would like to run another marathon, be the best mom I can be all the time, go on more vacations with just Colton, have lots of money to go on more vacations, for my kids to be healthy, for me to be healthy, and to always be happy.
10. Addictions: Playing on my computer, Dr. Pepper (just not recently) Amazing Race (for real,when does it start again, I'm having major Amazing Race withdrawls right now), Grey's Anatomy, and Singing Bee- love that show!
11. Biggest Dislikes: Lateness! People who are late make me insane! I'm not saying that I'm never late, but I make a HUGE effort not to be, and if I am, it's only a few minutes, bad drivers and rude people that look at you like you're a bad mom when your kid is throwing a fit in a store.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
FACEBOOK!!!
Friday, August 10, 2007
K--I finally Have a Minute Cause Stinky Reecey's sleeping.
2. Age: 28--almost 29 on October 31
3. Married/Kids?: Married to TJ Brinkerhoff and mother of Jackson-7, Natalie-5, Brady-3, and Reecey-3 1/2 weeks
4. Work: I am a full time mom.
5. Resides: sucky sucky sucky Plainfield, IL : (
6. Hobbies: Scrapbooking, reading, blogging, facebook, playing with my kids, vacationing with my family, doing picture montage DVD's
7. Loves: Date night with TJ, girls night, chocolate, DIET COKE WITH LIME, my family, my friends, vacations, pedicures, acrylic nails, going to the spa, going to lunch with friends, shopping, FOOTBALL, listening to Shannon talk about NASCAR, and lots of other things.
8. I am on this blog thanks to: Shannon
9. Dreams: I am so with you Shannon about a makeover from Stacy and Clinton, moving to Colorado, having lots and lots and lots of money so we can have WKTGS get togethers in Hawaii(my treat), have my kids be good forever, have my kids healthy and happy!
10. Addictions: Eating out, Diet Coke, my computer
11. Biggest Dislikes: Reecey screaming at me, Brady whining at me, when my kids are hurt, living in Illinois
ok--that's all for me! Can't wait to read all about you all!
Getting to Know Me
1. Full Name: Marilee Anne
2. Age: soon to be 33, on October 2nd
3. Married/Kids?: Married to Adam, mother of Spencer, Annie, Garett and Logan
4. Work: Full time mom, work a wee bit for my Trainer doing scheduling and marketing, and now have an INTENSE desire to work part time at "The Tattered Cover" so I can buy all my books 35% off :-)
5. Resides: Somewherer in the rocky mountain area of the US :-)--LOVE IT.
6. Hobbies: Reading, Planning big events like parties and stuff, Photography (someday I'll be good like Shannon), watching Reality TV (especially AMAZING RACE), Blogging, eating, working out, mountain biking, golfing, vacationing, shopping, movies, girls nights, organizing rooms and closets in my house! Playing with my kids! keepig in touch with friends!
7. Love: My hubby, my kids, my mom and dad, sisters and brother, extended family, good friends, chocolate, DIET COKE, eating brownies and ice cream, meeting famous people, Edward Cullen, Ryan Seacrest, Lava Flows in Hawaii, massages!
8. I am on this blog thanks to: Shanon and myself (Shan came up with the idea and created it, I supported it and wrote the first post! :-) Thanks Shan, I have a feeling this could someday get us all on Oprah! Could you imagine! We'll have our first "We know the good stuff" Girls Weekend and be on the Oprah show ;-0
I'm Adding one more question:
9: What are your dreams?: I love this question because I have many dreams and its fun to share them. Some of mine are: to be a guest on the Oprah show because of something amazing i've done (don't know what that is yet) and NOT because some predator found me on the internet and hunted me down, only to let me live so I could tell my story on Oprah! To be BEST friends with Faith Hill and Tim Mcgraw (three of our kids are around the same ages)! To have a "mommy makeover" (ask me about this but as a hint it involves surgery, tummys and boobs, hint hint)! To have enough money that I can treat all my closest friends and family to fabulous vacations! To have all my children, nieces and nephews be good!
Tag, you're it now! Let's hear about ya!
A non-Stephenie Meyer-related post
Also, since a few of us on here don't all know eachother, I have tagged everyone to write about themselves...I'll go first. You can copy my text, and then put in your own answers!
1. Full Name: Shannon (no middle name) Petersen
2. Age: soon to be 29, on September 20th, yikes!
3. Married/Kids?: Married to Adam, mother of Collin Jex: 2 1/2
4. Work (and yes, a mom is work!): I work full time at SOS Staffing as a Corporate Trainer of new staff, and a Software Trainer of existing computer programs, and a full time mom!
5. Resides: in good ole' Utah Valley...but someday dreaming of living in St. George, UT.
6. Hobbies: Photography (shannonpetersenphotography.blogspot.com), Scrapbooking (i love me some archivers), Cooking, Wood Painting, watching Reality TV, Ironing, BLOGGING, reading, collecting trashy gossip magazines, river rafting (don't get to do it much though), eating, gossiping with friends, and shopping!!!
7. Loves: dark chocolate, DIET COKE, baked lays, good friends, testing out new recipes, eating at Rumbi, NASCAR, the Purple baby lotion, good shampoo, getting my back scratched, loves from my husband and son, my mom, my sisters, typing fast, meeting famous people, playing around on photoshop, Edward Cullen, people with accents, volunteering, my Beehives, laying out (which i haven't done in ages), pina colada's, the beach, vacations, getting pedicures, and much much more!
8. I am on this blog thanks to: me, myself, and I!
9. Dreams: to be a stay at home mom, to also be on Oprah with the Miller girls, to have my photography published someday, to have all my kids grow up to be good and faithful, to be best friends with Stephenie Meyer so I can find out all the juicy details about book 4, to have enough money to visit my friends whenever I wanted to, to have a makeover by Stacy and Clinton, to have awesome vacations with my family, and live happily ever after!
Now you all need to post about you!
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Evan Almighty!
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
I felt 14 again...
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Lots of Books!
Oh yeah and I just picked up "Austentown" too! Can't wait to start it! Oh, and I saw "Becoming Jane" last night! It was SOOOOO good! Take tissue as it is a very tender story! Oh and I also bought 2 Jane Austen books "Emma" and "Pursuasion" today at the book store as well! I love all the movies, but have never read the books. Time to start right? I'll be busy the next few months with my nose stuffed in a lot of good books! LOVE IT!! :-)