Hair Update-The New Tool

Fred decided that he wanted to help his poor wife have good hair. That and I think he's a little embarrassed of my chunks of short burnt off hair.
So he surprised me with a new blowdryer. It's beautiful! This morning was the first time I used it and wow! there's a huge difference! I kept the air on medium and my hair was still dry in barely five minutes! Wow!

It's a babybliss ceramic blow dryer. I love it and soon my hair will be beautiful again! Thanks babe!

Basketball

Fred loves to play sports. Pretty much if it's active then he'll do it. This Spring he is playing on a couple of different basketball teams.

One of his teams is a USU Intermural team. His team is really good. He plays with a bunch of buddies that are really good!

Tonight was the first game of the tournament. His team won by 22. Woot!

Unfortunately, there was a tiny injury right before half time. Fred was playing defense and while running down the court one of the LAME members of the other team (and I mean LAME because they were all ghetto frat boys) tripped him and he rolled his ankle.

Does this look normal?

His ankle is roughly the size of one and half golf balls...maybe even two. It's huge. The pictures don't do it justice!

He's pretty tough. He played the rest of the game barely limping!

Girls Night

This past Saturday night, a few of my very best friends came over for a night of chips and salsa, margaritas, gossip and laughs. It was so fun! We had every intention of watching a movie but there was just too much to talk about to get around to that!

We hardly ever get to hang out without husbands or kids so Saturday was a nice change!
We've decided to make this a monthly thing. On top of the craft nights, cooking classes and aerobics that we want to do as well!
Here is picture of us girls:

Amber, Abbey, Me and Aubrei

Sick

I'm home sick today. I hate it. Especially because I have a ton to do at work!
Everyone at Fred's work has been getting sick lately, last week Fred was home for two days and now I have it.
It's crappy. I'm even debating about going to work because I think I could handle it for about an hour or so before I get too ill again. Or about running to the store to get some ice cream. I know that would make me feel better.
So stay away from me for a couple of days!

Note: I almost took a picture of myself in my current state but I decided that would be more scary then it would be funny. Just imagine it. Crazier hair this morning, eye mask around my forehead, mascara under my eyes and in mismatched PJ's. I'm hot.

Business Trips

So in about a week in a half I am going on another business trip. While I'm excited about it I'm also a little nervous. I've never travelled by myself unless you count getting on a plane and being picked up my family.
The last time I travelled by myself I went to Colorado to visit my sister and on the way home missed my flight because I couldn't figure out how to get to the terminals in the Denver Airport so I ran (literallly) around the baggage claim area only to find the terminal checkpoint right where I started.

Then I was in such a hurry to I ran UP a DOWN escalator. After figuring out why in the H I wasn't moving I got on the right one. By this point my plane was long gone.
So I'm a little nervous about travelling on my own.

For this trip I am going to St. Louis for three days and then to Chattanooga, TN for another four days. All by myself.
I don't feel old enough to do this yet.

So this is my brillant plan: The pillows on our bed suck but the pillows in these nice hotels pillows are amazing...so I'm debating about taking one pillow in my suitcase and slowly switching one out on every trip. I think that I could possibly get away with this. Has anyone ever tried this??

Oh and if anyone has gone to either of these places and has ideas of what I can do while flying solo let me know!!

Bad Hair Year

So lately I've taken a lot of guff for my hair.

I don't have very good luck with my hair nor do I have a ton of common sense so when you put the two together it isn't always pretty.

A couple of years ago, in an attempt to create the perfect poof in the front I blow dryed my hair using a round brush backed by a metal plate. I didn't think anything of holding the blow dryer directly to the hair for a minute. I left it there in order to achieve the perfect poof with the right amount of body. When I removed the brush, I also removed a large chunk of hair, right off the top of my head.

This past summer while in Europe, we were sometimes lucky enough to stay in a hotel with a blow dryer. So on the days that I actually washed and dryed my hair, it was with one of those teeny tiny doll size blow dryers. My hair was a little longer than my shoulders so when I threw my head to the side to blow dry the roots, my hair was sucked up the back of this little contraption and unfortunately had to be ripped out in order to remove the blow dryer from my scalp. This left me with a bunch of tiny hairs about 2 1/2-3 inches long that would stand up in the wind.

My europe strands are beginning to grow back but there is now new breakage. It must be because of the chemicals that recently brought me back to my blonde life and my crappy blow drying jobs.

If anyone has any tips I am all ears and small fly aways.

My current regime is leave in conditioner followed by brutal blow drying and a straight iron.

Ps. Fly away help: Clear mascara does an amazing job at holding the little guys down.

One Big Crazy Happy Family

This past weekend we were able to go down to my parents house. We decided to go down because the whole fam-dam was going to be there and we have recently had a new addition to the family.

My oldest brother Jason and his wife Jen adopted a little girl two weeks ago. This was the first time that we were actually able to meet them at my parents house and see all three of their children. The whole story is pretty amazing and I couldn't imagine their family any less crazy! With the addition of sweet Isabelle, they now have Addison 16 months, Isabelle 4 months and Cooper 4 months. If you haven't already read their incredible adoption story, you should read their blog.

My sister Sydney was also in town with her two boys. Combine all seven grandkids 3 and under and you get one crazy household controlled by Buzz and Woody, dirty diapers, bottles, formula, toys, and one naked little boy who was taught by his uncle to throw his clothes at the monsters.

It was really fun to see everyone. We loved being able to play with all the kids, especially because when they cry or get poopy we just have to give them back.

We're lucky to live so close to my family. We are now trying to get Fred's family out here. Any takers?? The apartment across the way just opened up!

This is a picture of some elk up toward the mouth of the canyon. These are taken through a spoting scope...or whatever it's called.

Not pictured: Kaydan because he wouldn't pose! Isabelle & Cooper because we really didn't take pictures except at tw0 different times, and all other little ones!

We took a bunch of pictures...on Sydney's camera.

Love Love Love

So this past Valentines was our first. So of course we're going to go all out. I was put in charge of the festivities so being a girl I decided to surprise him with a steak dinner, then while he was in class I would do something cutesy and romantical.

Here's how it all played out:

Wednesday Night: I made chocolate dipped strawberries. Yummy yummy yummy. He made the comment that he didn't like them very much but that he would eat some so I didn't feel bad. Awesome.

V-Day 3:30: I leave work to go home and clean the house, make dinner, etc before he gets off at 5:00.

3:35: He texts me and asks when I'm getting off. I do the right thing and lie telling him I'll be leaving work around 5. He tells me that he is getting off as we speak. CRAP!

So he gets home. He stays in one room while I make dinner and do my best to try and surprise him even though he's in the same house. (Note: This was my first time making steaks. Good job me. They were great. Thank You Macey's Man for flirting with me enough to teach me how to do it).

When dinner is finally ready, I go get him and he's asleep. Dead asleep.

We eat dinner, where he tells me that he isn't going to class. Umm....what about the rest of my surprises?? CRAP #2.

After dinner, we take a nap. Yes a nap. No I'm not editing what I say. We literally crawled into bed and slept for a good couple of hours. Then I woke up, went and watched Ace of Cakes (excellent show) and he slept for another hour.

I finally woke him up. He was so tired that he couldn't function. He literally couldn't open his eyes. So instead of kicking him out of the house to go get ice cream so I had a chance to salvage my romantic plans, we just decided to cancel them CRAP #3. So the rest of the night was spent on seperate couches, watching Batman Begins. We were in bed by 11PM and DEAD asleep by 11:01.

The next morning he was all recooperated and went downstairs to our neighbors where he had hid a bear for me. He brought that up telling me about his grand plans that were ruined by a long day at work.
We both had great intentions. At least the bar is set REALLY REALLY low so next year we don't have to try too hard.

Love you babe!

The best chocolate chip cookies

This is my FAVORITE chocolate chip cookie recipe. Most of the time I have to double it because the dough is so good!

Remember these cookies CRAC 9?

Kurt Palmer Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup margrin (I use half a stick instead)

1/2 cup BUTTER flavored crisco

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients together, then add between 2-2 1/2 cups flour (to desired consistancy) then add one bag of your favorite chocolate chips.

Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees. Bake until golden brown.

Take them out just as they are being to brown around the ages. As they cool they will cook more.

Enjoy!!

Proof I'm a nerd

Okay I'm a dork and while I was on my trip I had to take full advantage of my king size bed and jumping abilities.

So here are some pictures-

Note: Jumping on the bed messes up the sheets really bad and it makes it hard to sleep in.

It's about time!

The writers strike is over!! YAY!
Finally NEW episodes of all of my favorite shows!
The writers went back to work today...do you think Grey's will be new this week then?

It's a little late...

Maybe it is a little late for a 2008 goal but hey I'm going to make one now anyway.

My friend Christy has vowed to read at least 50 books this year. I think that this is one of the best resolutions so I decided to make it my own (except maybe not 50 books--we'll just have to see!).

Books I've read to date this year: 2...I think.

I just finished reading The Kite Runner.
this book was really good. It was a pretty difficult read and at times I didn't want to finish but I did and now I actually like it.

The story is about a young boy in Afghanistan. It tells his story of growing up with social structures of that society.

My next book will be A Thousand Splendid Suns. I've heard it is the sequel to this book or is related in some way. I'll let you know how it goes.

If you have any suggestions on good books to read let me know!

Yes I've already read all the Twilight Books.

The Boise Highlights

Here are just a few of the highlights of my trip:

· One of the ladies with the organizations had to take her little puggle, Chili to the ER one night during one of the after parties. He’s okay now, he just swallowed a little plastic. She is taking donations to pay for his $700 doctor bill though please let me know if you would like to donate and I’ll get you her email address. She brought him in for all of us to see, he was really really cute.
· One of the attendee's Adrienne (age 54?) was my favorite person to watch at the conference. Day one: plaid mini skirt held together with the appropriate industrial size safety pin, tights, knee high boots, and punk rocker hair. Day two: Tight jeans, studded black belt, button up shirt, and punk rock hair. Day Three: Black mini skirt held together with the same safety pin, tights, knee high boots and punk rock hair. She’s my hero.
·We have a strong dislike for Progressive who gave away our car before we picked it up. The worker man said they tried to call except that he had my cell phone number and whoops there were no incoming calls. Luckily, the weather wasn’t bad so we were able to take my boss's car.
·Steve and Barry’s is my new favorite store. I picked up two pairs of Sarah Jessica Parker jeans for $8.98 each. They were having a grand opening sale in which Sydney and I took full advantage of. However when they aren't having a sale nothing is ever over $20. Note: There is one in Murray.
·When staying at the Grove Hotel do not expect any good TV stations. VH1 and MTV are not included. How lame.
·Oh and the Grove Hotel is a cheap hotel parading as an upscale place to stay. How do I know this? 1. The marble on the night stands: glued on or in the case of one of mine…not glued. 2. The bed linens do not stay in place nor are they easy to put back into place after jumping on the bed. 3. The marble surrounding my sink was not actually all connected. It was obviously left to dry without the proper supports. Best part about hotel: their pillows. They were freaking amazing. I debated whether they would notice the absence of one.

- Oh and Idaho if you're listening... work on your news anchors. Chester the Molester for Weather Man is a bit on the creepy bald guy with a comb over side. But hey if you're out there thinking that you want to go into broadcast journalism but don't think you have the face for television... They might be hiring in Idaho and from the looks of it...looks don't matter!

Tsk Tsk Tsk

I just left my hotel room (can you tell how busy I am when all the attendees are in class??)
As I was leaving, I grabbed a piece of gum out of my BRAND NEW pack of Stride. Note: I have previously eaten 2 pieces.
However, Upon opening the pack that was sitting on the tv stand (first mistake), I discovered that more than four EXTRA pieces were now gone.
One of the housekeepers STOLE my gum! Yes I am positive! How do I know?
Because: I am the only one in the room, no one else has entered my room except my boss on one occasion for less than 1 minutes.
tsk tsk tsk. So when people tell you that housekeepers don't steal people's stuff...don't believe them because up here at the Grove Hotel, housekeepers steal gum.
I'll be doing a full sweep when I get back up there in an hour or so to determine whether anything else has disappeared.

Also: my lappy no likey the internet. It freaks out after I close the program down and try to run my demo. How lame. Oh well. It'll have to suffer because I'm doing more sitting and staring at this conference then talking since they are always in class.

All grown up

Here I sit in my hotel room in the booming metropolis of Boise, ID. It's lunch break for the conference that I am attending. So what better to do then sprawl out on my king sized bed and watch the tube.
I'm here showcasing our product. I'm with my boss but she has mostly stayed in her room to work and I've done all the showcasing.
I just got the internet...5 minutes ago so now I will be online again! Wahoo!
Expect a full update with pictures and more about my adventures as a business woman.

This past weekend we were able to go to the Utah State Basketball game vs. Nevada.

The game was really good, but the half time was even better.

The Golden Girls is a dance group of women ranging from the age of 50-91. There is a group like this at Dixie and I must say, dance groups like this are WAY better than younger girls strutting their stuff!

Someday I want to be this lady:

The never ending inbox

Do you ever have days where you just don't feel like working? Today is almost one of those days.

I want to be at work. I do. I want to get stuff done. However, the stuff on my To Do list doesn't look appealing. It looks boring and like it will take some brain power. Which I left home.

Not to mention that a campaign was just launched and my inbox now has a total of 1356 unread emails. Awesome. I have...no GET to go through and take care of all unsubscribes, bounces, etc.

Love it.

Note: my inbox now has 1400 unread emails.

It's ALIVE!!

It was touch and go for a minute but Fred fixed our dryer!!
He took the back off...twisted, tightened, dusted, cleaned, ate a snack, and put it all back together again and it works!!
My husband is one smart cookie!