Smart Cookie

So I am holding Olivia and Claudio responsible for the possible weight gain I'll have tomorrow at my Weight Watcher's meeting. Why you ask? I'll tell you why, they introduced me to the SMART COOKIE! Probably the best sugar cookie I have EVER had. No not probably, it is the best sugar cookie I have ever had. I have been craving one every day since I left their house Thursday night and yes I did go there Friday night with Amy and Melanie, to get a box of cookies hoping it would subdue this craving. Did it work, you ask? That would be a negatory!! I am still dreaming about these dang cookies!

Halo

It is 10:35 pm and I am sitting in front of my computer crying my eyes out. Every night before I hit the sack, I read a little Perez Hilton and the first post was about Beyonce. During her show in Australia, Beyonce pulled up on stage a young girl named Chelsie who is suffering from lukemia. Beyonce sang Halo to her and the tears immediately began to fall! What a beautiful moment in music. Like Perez said at the end of his post, "music heals."

Slight Gripe

So I've heard three times today that I'm too nice! That people take advantage of me because I'm too nice. Is there not something seriously wrong with that statement???

Roll with me on this one, if someone is nice to you why would you want to reciprocate the opposite? Kindness and gratitude should not receive rudeness and laziness. Now I have my inner beast, but I've learned over the years that it is better to be sweet than mean. Not only for those around you (family, friends, coworkers) but for yourself. When one is constantly a B*%@H, those feelings of contention reside within and happiness is always a step ahead. Some of the moments in my life when I released that inner meanness are ones that make me cringe. How awful was I? Why would I treat another human being like that? There is a scene in the movie You've Got Mail that explains it best.

Joe Fox: Do you ever feel you've become the worst version of yourself? That a Pandora's box of all the secret, hateful parts - your arrogance, your spite, your condescension - has sprung open? Someone upsets you and instead of smiling and walking away, you zing them? "Hello, it's Mr Nasty."
Kathleen Kelly: No, I know exactly what you mean, and I'm completely jealous. What happens to me when I'm provoked is that I get tongue-tied and my mind goes blank. Then I spend all night tossing and turning trying to figure out what I should have said.
Joe Fox: Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could pass all my zingers to you? And then I would never behave badly and you could behave badly all the time, and we'd both be happy. But then, on the other hand, I must warn you that when you finally have the pleasure of saying the thing you mean to say at the moment you mean to say it, remorse inevitably follows.

So there you have it, I'm nice because I choose to avoid the remorse. I never say what I mean to say the moment I say it because 89% of the time what I want to say is not what I should say. I need a day to think the situation over, ponder what words should be used and then I can confront a person, coworker, etc. If that makes me a target for those who are less enlightened, so be it!

The Scream by Edvard Munch

Welcome Back Whitney!!

Oooooo, I just love Whitney Houston! My childhood wouldn't have been the same without her music; Greatest Love of All, I'm Every Woman, I'm Your Baby Tonight! Woo!! Now she is back, sans the drugs and Bobby, thank goodness! She is looking fabulous, sounding fabulous and killing it on her new album. I'm telling you I love the whole thing! Here is her newest video Million Dollar Bill.

Ha ha, Pink You're so Funny!

I love how she goes off on Kanye (zero filter) and then when Matt Lauer asked her what she was singing, I about peed my pants. More importantly, I loved her performance.

Stride Gum Commercial

We got a good laugh out of this commercial tonight. We actually watched the commercial three times in a row, it was that funny!

The Volturi

There is a another New Moon trailer!! Yay, this one is about the Volturi. I really need to stop watching these, I'm going to ruin the movie for myself! Oooo, but the graphics, make-up and costuming look so GREAT!! Let's hope that some of the acting is a bit better. Oh and Vita, there is a lot of Alice in this trailer! LOL! Click here to watch the trailer!

Pirate Island

Mr D had a GREAT night at Pirate Island while Mom went to dinner with her dear friend Peggy! That pirate is semi cute, but he is NO Johnny Depp!

Thanks Mel for taking him out for a fun night and for the picture!!

Geology

Geology is SUPER cool! I never liked science, it always went right over my head, but I've been loving it. Have you ever checked out Google Earth or even Google Mars. Yikes, I'm turning into a Science nerd!! LOVE IT!! You can actually view the entire planet and with your mouse, rotate the Earth to see parts that you want to.

Some cool things I learned last night in my Geology class:

Did you know that...

~ the Earth's core is made up of purely Iron and Nickel. Nothing else, just Iron and Nickel.

~ that several times during the Earth's life, the polar caps have switched. Meaning the South Pole became the North Pole. It didn't rotate, it flipped. Plus, did you know that scientists think we may experience one in our lifetime? OMG, what does that mean? Craziness!!

~ the San Andreas Fault (running along California) shifts seven inches a year! Seven inches people!! How long till part of California is an island in the ocean?

~ that the crust consists of "sheet"ed dikes, "pillow" basalt and a "blanket" of sedement.

Picture taken by Red Alder Ranch

One thing...

Really the only thing that brought a smile to my face today.



Ooo, and Daniel!! He always brings a smile to my face!

It's Fundraising Time!

Oh, my poor mom used to have a panic attack everytime we came home with the new fundraising kit. Looking back on it, I can imagine just how daunting it must have been to recieve three to four packets at once. As the child, all you want to do is sell as many items as you could so that you can get that cool glow in the dark gadget. Isn't it interesting how life circles around. Now, I have a little one who is excited to sell items so that he could get his own glow-n-the-dark toy. Yippee! So I am going to do this one bit to help the little guy sell items. We are NOT going door to door and I'm NOT taking this into work. I will however share the details with all of you:

Daniel is selling items from Sally Foster to help Westridge Elementary. We have made it super easy by creating an online account that will credit the school and Daniel for the sale.

Just click on this link: http://www.sallyfoster.com/

Once you have decided on what items you would like to buy, it will ask you for Daniel's Seller number. This number is 402870.

I breezed through the catalog and of course the chocolates always look delish! There was a cute snowman kit and some fun eco friendly shopping bags. Other than that, it's mainly wrapping paper and cute little gift bags/boxes.

Do any of you know when Girl Scout cookies go on sale? If so let me know!! Also, if any of you have children selling the county discount cards (Bulldog Card, etc), please let me know!

Is it really...

...over?? I can't believe that summer is officially over. What a great summer Mr. D and I had. Here are a few pics, compliments of Fia. Thanks sis!







All that beautiful hair is now gone. Daniel looks so little in these pictures. The time is flying by so fast!!!

I want to be ...

Daniel: I want to be a football player when I grow up.
Me: Really, that is great. I think you'll be a great football player.
Daniel: As good as Naki?
Me: Absolutely, maybe even better!
Daniel: Mommy, that's not nice!
Me: What's not nice?
Daniel: Maybe is a bad word!
Me: Huh? No it's not!
Daniel: Oh, that's not what I mean?
Me: Then what do you mean?
Daniel: I want to be Iron Man when I grow up. Silly me, I forgot!
Me: *completely dazed and confused*

All About Steve

I highly recommend this! I absolutely loved Sandra Bullock in this film, she was so refreshing and HELLO Bradley Cooper was fabulously HOT! Go see it and then tell me what you think!!



Note: You know how a majority of trailers show all the funny parts and the movie is lame. Not the case here! Some of the clips in the trailer aren't even in the movie and the movie is SO funny!

2nd Note: I can not wait for Sandra Bullock's next film, The Blind Side! It's going to be a tear jerker!

Thank you!

I just wanted to take a second and thank all of you who took a moment or two out of your day to send me a birthday wish. All of your love, support, friendship and kindness has meant more than you know. You know, birthdays have always been a big deal to me, ever since I was little. The idea of growing one year older and one year wiser was always a cause for celebration. It's a day dedicated to celebrating the beautiful person you have become, the lessons that you have learned, the triumph over tragedy, the blessings and the chance to celebrate it with people whom you love.

Turning 30 hasn't been the easiest because looking back, I can't help but wonder why I haven't gotten more done. Why I have waited so long to get my schooling done, why at 30 I haven't met Mr. Right and why I am still carrying around this extra weight. I just couldn't shake the fact that I have a lot of goals and dreams that have yet to be realized. However, and this is a big however, there are no time for regrets. A change has been made, I'm no longer going to look back and mourn all the goals and dreams I have yet to realize. NOPE, the time I have is now and that is reason for celebration. I am 30 now, I'm wiser and that knowledge is going to help me reach those goals! I'm braver and that strength will put me into moments where dreams come true. I'm happier and that happiness stems from people who over time have become true and loyal figures in my life. I'm going to have a great year and I can't help but thank my troop of supporters (family & friends, new & old) for helping me along the path of discovery! I love you all, thank you for being you!

Picture by Master Danny

Go Aggies!!

Sadly, we didn't win. However, they had an AMAZING touchdown right at the beginning of the game and they played with so much heart. Naki, did a WONDERFUL job. Daniel and I love him so much! Go #76! Chin up, we'll win the next game FOR SURE!!!

Birthday Wish List

I've been asked by several people, "What do you want for your birthday?" I don't like this question, because when I say I really don't need a present, I mean it. Now, being on the giving end of things, I understand how annoying it is when you want to give someone something and they won't tell you what they want. So to appease all, I've come up with a top 5 list of items I would like for my birthday. Idea stolen from the rockstar diaries!

1 - Pearls. I was inspired by Carrie Bradshaw in the Sex in the City movie. I loved that she went to bed with pearls on! So stylish! :) Nie Nie (love our Nie Nie) posted a link about a necklace she recieved. When I clicked on the link, I was thrilled to see these beautiful vintage pearl necklaces.

2 - This adorable outfit from Lane Bryant!

3 - Gerard Butler!! Not only would I be indebted to you for all of eternity if you showed up to my party with Gerard Butler, but I would name every child after you! I would even consider changing Daniel's name!

4 - I absolutely love the Barefoot Contessa and I hope to one day own a house in the Hamptons and cook fabulous meals for my not bald and short husband, but for Gerard instead. Until then, I would love any of her fabulous cookbooks!

5 - Just having you at my birthday shindig!!!

12:00 pm - Lunch at Sushi Ya, 1545 S State in Orem.
1:40 pm - Cinemark Theatre Lobby near the University Mall in Orem. I'll be attending the 2:00 showing of All About Steve with Sandra Bullock.
6:30 pm - Dinner at The Pizza Factory on University Pkwy in Provo.
Immediately following dinner, we will be having cupcakes and ice cream at the Asisi residence! (1521 South 680 West, Provo)

My birthday month!

Today, I cried when I thought of all the things I had on my plate. It was overwhelming and while talking to my dear mother about it, I found peace in her words. I can do this! In her email to me, she said:

Hang in there. You can do it. After it is over, you are going to be stronger and wonder how on earth you ever accomplished this. Believe me, there are times that I look back and think I can’t believe that I did that, but I did!

Aren't mamas the greatest? Thanks mom, I love you!

I've decided that for the month of September I'm going to publish one post a day. It is my birthday month after all! More importantly, the goal is to see if I can come up with one special moment out of each day to share.