Confession

It's not that I don't think it's a great idea for Keaton to form "The Finer Things" club.

It's just that I wonder where the eff he'll get the cashola to buy "The Finer Things."

Updates

On the job:

Still loving the work I do. Events of all sorts: weddings, company & holiday parties. Design, catering, floral, planning. It's all good. And the people I work with are particularly amazing. Really busy December with 19 straight days of events. Still a struggle for balance, but I am better at this now than in 2009.

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On the Hubs:

Jer and I still like each other and go on dates! This week we shared movie popcorn and saw Tom Cruise complete the impossible. We also performed the impossible by shopping for, wrapping and giving our family an awesome Christmas. In 48 hours. (not recommended)

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On the Grandbaby:

Finley Mae recently turned 2 (I know, right?) She is smart, sweet & completely hilarious! She recently got her first haircut-an A-line that makes her look VERY cute. She has us rolling with laughter at her requests for the "Peacock" song, Greek Yogurt & "DI/Starbucks/Grandma's work" trips. You ought to see her dance. Oh my gosh.

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On the other kids:

Lindsay completed her first year of college & took up running a few months ago. Living here with us and moving forward with life. She is editing and re-editing her second book as well as looking for eligible dates. (not actively, just passively)

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Hannah also is finishing up her first year of college. She has a new job as well as working for me part-time as my right-hand girl. (what would I do without her!?) Her boyfriend may or may not be moving his status up a rank or two. Time will tell.

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Keaton is a Christmas loving boy! Yes, he is a senior in high school but loves his carols, Christmas lights & traditions. He remains pretty uninterested in the many girls who swoon over him & for that he got an extra present from SaNta. Psyched for basketball season.

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Emma has been introduced to the world of the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter which means I have to leave the room alot now. Christmas and missing teeth means Santa & The Tooth Fairy met at our house. Best Auntie ever. Birthday party plans in full-force. (she's the true party planner)

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On Family: Love them with all my heart and want to be better because I love them.

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On Friendship: I have cherished friends in my life. Grateful to still spend time with them over a good meal, shopping, laughing, talking. Any little minute we can find.

Also my blogging/internet friends whom I love & support!

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On Faith & Testimony: Love the gospel and looking forward to different areas of study for 2012. Book of Mormon included. So blessed by a loving Heavenly Father and look to my Savior daily for strength and guidance. He's my center.

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On 2012 & Life in General: Feeling good about the upcoming year. Hopeful, excited, confident. So much to look forward to. Goodness, Faith, Love, Friendship, Laughter. It's all in store and it makes me psyched to wake up each day.

Don't You Know The Meaning of Propriety?

I looked up Wedding Fatigue on Wikipedia and it said it didn't exist.

I beg to differ but I am way too fatigued to request and create a page.

The good news is,

October is in view on my weekly calendar and for me that means that busy season is over!

Now you may or may not find me:

on a real life date with the hunky hubs

reading a book

going to the gym

helping with laundry/homework/dinner

weaning off of caffeine

watching my favorite movie

with hands that don't look like an 80 year old woman

smooching the grandbaby

looking at the sky/grass/trees/mountains

being social

Confession

Driving, when I see that little plastic yellow figure someone bought at Costco telling me to slow down because there are kids playing, I want to mow it over flat.
I mean, I'd say I was sorry about it, but yeah.

Thankful Thursday

Such goodness comes from documenting gratitude and I've been neglectful at this.

Want to express how truly happy I am these days.

Sometimes it is a choice to feel this way, other times it is a by-product of how blessed I truly am.

*Love this man of mine. I am addicted to the way he makes me feel. He's the blueberries to my yogurt. The cool breeze to my hot summer day. The sharpie pen to my paper.

*My kids have been especially awesome these days. This could change anytime, I know. ;) So thankful for their personalities, their ambitions, their quirks. Love how they treat me.

*Such great friendships. People that lift me when I desire it, a kick in the pants when I need it.

Conversations, experiences, acceptance & fun. So grateful for them.

*Changing seasons. Bidding goodbye to summer & a hello to fall. Invigorates my soul!

*A rewarding job. A boss that is truly the best person I have ever known.

* Hope & faith in the future. Do you know what this means to me? Everything.

whatcha thankful for today? please tell me!

Happiness is....

When your kid finally gets a win after 2 years of struggle, hard work & tough losses.

Early morning workouts, two-a-days, pumping iron, protein shakes.

Makes it all kind of worth it.

Here's to you, son!

3 Reasons I Love You

Dear Emma,

1. You swim like a fish in a deep ocean. Your goggles make you look hilarious & it makes me laugh! You have absolutely loved swimming lessons and I've loved taking you.

2. You quote Mr. Bean and tell me about scenes in that dumb show with all the energy & animation one can have. I still love you in spite of this.

3. You get pretty stoked when I buy you school clothes, which is great. The last thing I want to do is reenact my childhood where my mother made me model stuff in the dressing room and I cried because I hated it. Better to just wear the clothes I bring you. Way to be.

Pride AND Tea. Crap. I'm going to hell.

Sometimes as a mom I have moments where my heart is just
bursting with pride at who my children are and who they are becoming.
Today I had such a moment.
Watching these two-
Laughing their guts out, working on papers together, aceing their classes.
Talking about future plans, being best friends, sharing make-up.
Working, playing.

Hooking their mother on a certain drink at the local Starbucks.

Love being a mom to amazing women. So much better than teenagers. Or toddlers.

Can't wait to see what they do next.

Confession

My confession isn't that I sometimes make brides cry it's that I sometimes kinda like it.

Wordless Wednesday

June-This about covers it!

This is what comsumes my life right now. If you hadn't guessed, my new job (although it has been 4 months!) is still in the event coordinating field where I wear many hats!

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This is a recent wedding where everything was blissful.

In the planning-bride showed me a few photos and said do whatever you want-I trust you!

In the weather-perfect warm night for our chilly June.

In the families-gracious, lovely, so sweet. Beautiful bride.

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Details:

Vintage Rustic-Styling by me & Hannah (yes, I employ my kids!)

colors-greens, grays & ivories (& a splash of orange!)

floral-all created by me:

hydrangeas, green & Ivory roses, scabiosa pods, Ivory lisianthus,

Ivory stock, silver berzillia, variegated pittosporum, white wax flower

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catering-The Gardens Crew:

cheesecake station-

5 kinds of cheesecake slices with 4 different toppings,

mini cheesecakes rounds with lemon, amaretto, choc turtle & strawberry

cheesecake bites

vanilla cheesecake pops

Lemonade station-Mango, Strawberry & Lime Flavored water

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Wedding Cake-buttercream icing, chocolate fudge w/white choc filling, vanilla cake/raspberry filling

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First dance, daddy daughter dance, mother son dance

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Sparkler send-off

Confession

Sometimes I wish bad things on people.

Not really bad things, just maybe things like mint or English Ivy growing out of control in their precious gardens.

Or that the Sprite they just filled up at Harts is really just soda water and they don't realize it until they take a huge swig of it 3 blocks away.

Or that their pants are really, really, really tight when they get them out of the dryer tomorrow morning.

My Mushy, Gushy Mother's Day Post

With each passing year, motherhood, for me, seems to intensify in different ways.

Hard to believe that I could love my children more than I did yesterday, but it's true.

For 25 years I've been a mother.

Laughed, cried, ached, prayed, played, yelled, ran, cleaned, cooked, drove, worked.

And I'll do it all again tomorrow.

I've done my best, worked at this the hardest & want to do better.

You make me want to do better.

Watching my kids go through heartache, pain & suffering

is truly the most difficult thing I've ever experienced.

But with it comes a sanctification & grace that I have come to know as a gift.

Watching them experience joy, grow in wisdom & see even the tiniest of their

potential lived is pure heaven for me.

I hope the very best for you, every day.

But truth is, you're my dreams come true. Just the way you are, right now.

I live for my kids. Some might say in an unhealthy sort of way.

But they haven't met my children.

They are remarkable in every way. (and so, so beautiful!)

We have the best of days just being together.

Playing cards, watching shows, projects of all sorts, working out problems.

Don't forget our language of sarcasm, funny & wit.

(the thing that really counts is that we think each other witty & funny)

Knowing that you 4 are friends, have each other's backs and help each other in

every way: purely golden.

In my heart this is one of the best parts of being your mother.

Thank you for making kindness & love a part of our home.

We together can do anything. Your future is open & bright. And I consider it my greatest blessing to be a part of your life.

From the very depths of my soul I express my love to each one of you.

My heart is full of gratitude because of you. Man, I love being your mom.

Thank you!

Love forever & always

Mama

No, I'm Not the New Miss Utah...But CLOSE!

I'd like to report that I have been away on a tropical island where handsome, hunky men are catering to my every need.

But this blog speaks the truth and most of you know me in real life, so I'll have to come clean.

Mama has a new job.

And it is rewarding and amazing and is a huge blessing in my life. I can hardly put into written word what it has meant to me and my family.

Picture my face now....eyes welling up, completely grateful look, crazy-like smile and all the excitement in the world. That's what my face would tell you.

It has been a long road but: I hit the job jackpot, people.

This Kid

Is one witty son of a gun.

Is a handsome sucker.

Is polishing off another gallon of milk.

Is obsessed with all things sports.

Is a sweet, kind, playful brother & uncle.

Is a pretty good student.

Is good at making waffles.

Is a heck of a ball player.

Is a loyal friend.

Is a birthday boy.

Is my precious son.

Is now seventeen.

Deep Thoughts on Friendship

* Karen Fleschler-artist/Flower Market

I know how much my readers love the superficial. Like posts about teenage stud-muffins & fat free chips.

But this post is a little different. It's all about my feelings & people & phone calls.

You see, this evening whilst staring into space wondering if it was bedtime yet, the phone rang with the most delightful name on the caller ID.

A friend who I can pick up a conversation with where we left off last fall.

A friend who literally makes me feel like I can accomplish anything.

A friend who for over 25 years has inspired me to be a strong woman.

A friend who has taught by example to embrace the tough times.

A friend who has shown me how to shower those I love with hugs & tenderness.

A friend who believes in me, has always believed in me...even at my worst.

I will lie my head down on my pillow tonight, thank my lucky stars & hope with all my heart that I can be that kind of friend to someone else.

3 Brand New Loves

all yummy.

To Do List

1. wash my hair

2. make dinner

3. blog with a random photo that I happen to love

one outta three ain't bad.

READ THIS! yes please, the whole quote.

*photo via Tumblr

"I have just two things to say to you who are troubled about the future. I say them lovingly and from my heart.

First, we must never let fear and the father of fear (Satan himself) divert us from our faith and faithful living. Every person in every era has had to walk by faith into what has always been some uncertainty. This is the plan. Just be faithful. God is in charge. He knows your name and He knows your need.

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ—that is the first principle of the gospel. We must go forward. God expects you to have enough faith, determination, and trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. He expects you not simply to face the future; He expects you to embrace and shape the future—to love it, rejoice in it, and delight in your opportunities.

God is eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can’t if you don’t pray, and He can’t if you don’t dream. In short, He can’t if you don’t believe."

--Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Recipe for Fun

Take one terrific birthday girl turning 9 years old;

gather supplies for personalized handmade chef hats complete with cupcake paper flowers.

Add 7 kind friends with hearty appetites & imagination;


2 batches of pizza dough, toppings, cheese & sauce;

16 cupcakes & a variety of candy sprinkles.



Combine with the movie Ratatouille while pizzas cook;

play "name the kitchen tool game" if you have time.

Cook for two hours on a Saturday afternoon.

(& send the leftovers as a favor!)

*all photos by Master Chef Hannah