Feb

Valentines is pretty low key around our house. The weekend was fun and relaxing. Scott and I don't really do anything for each other (this makes it easy, see... no expectations means no let downs. :)) so I mostly celebrate for things with the kids. They made some valentines for their friends and Sunday teachers and I made my usual blobby pink wheat pancakes. Mmmm.. still tasty. I added a little blueberry face on some but I think they were more scary than cute.
The kids were out of school that following Monday and the weather has been WONDERFUL here, so we joined some friends and went on a hike up at Red Rock. I love how close we live to those mountains. The sun, the red rock against the bright blue sky... all promises of summer to come. It was a beautiful warm day and fun to do that as a family.
Other than that, I've just been busy trying to keep my laundry under control. My dryer failed to operate last week and it's supposed to be repaired on Thursday. Gonna make it... gonna make it..... it's funny how the lack of one appliance can affect my orbit of functionality. I have felt like everything is on hold until Thursday.

And finally, the last item to report. My friend recently had a birthday so one of our pals arranged a fun night out to proper tea, modest discussion and knitting.
Um, not really. We went to a pole dancing class. Yup. I almost didn't go because I was shy to hooch it up but in spite of us all feeling that way, these girls are cool and up for adventure- so off we went. It was held in a studio within the fancy spa at the Hard Rock, which we had full use of after our class. It was one of the funniest things ever and much more interesting than a typical dinner/movie bday celebration (right?!). After some relaxing there we dressed and headed across the street to a great Indian restaurant. Nothing like a little naughty to spice up the week. I mean, I live in Vegas, there are probably statistics on this sort of thing. How long until you think I'll be wearing lucite heels? :)

I am now in the thick of trying to get my RS calling and activities under some control, finish my book club reads, try to get the garden in (!) and many little creative/design deadlines.... amid stinky socks.

Ah, Mumsy

Today is my sweet Mothers Birthday. I kept trying to call but never got through. No doubt with other well wishers competing for phone lines with me. :) A good thing.
Mom, even though I haven't had "I'm a celebrity in an emergency" phone priority today, I am looking forward to catching up tomorrow like we planned (she texts! Hooray for Mom's who text!). Until then, I hope you had a great Birthday with family that loves you so dear. I wish I could have been there with you all to celebrate! Thank you for your long talks, your creative and artistic mind that has greatly influenced who I am, your testimony and strength, your sense of humor and wit, your talents and confidence. You are an amazing, amazing mother. I am so proud to be your daughter. I LOVE YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Eyem Hopelez?

There is nothing like good friends and loved ones to make you feel really stupid.

Thanks to a friend, I was recently invited to play "Words With Friends" so I downloaded the app.
We played and I won. "Cool!", I think. Then I rematch her, invite other friends (+Scott), and next thing I know, I am a moron. I am not winning ONE game.
This "Sorry, that is not an acceptable word" notification is a very, very common pop up during my turns. And if it doesn't come up? If I see the 'sending' wheel spin hopefully around? I watch with anticipation for my score to check my tile addition skills and BAM! They are not in the double digits like I thought. Three?? Pshaw!

And yet.... I am back for more humiliation time and time again.
If you need a good friend, someone to make you feel really smart, I'm here for you. I'm good at making people feel super awesome.

Kissy Scratchy

Ah. The Valentine. Sometimes the box sets are great, other times they are tedious. Thanks to an idea my creative friend Angie recently posted, I thought this would be perfect for the kids this year. They liked the idea and I liked the reduced effort. Love all around!
I will admit that I was a bit afraid after cutting three mustaches that I would wonder what I got myself into, but I didn't. It went really fast and we slid them right on the suckers. The kids cut a few themselves- this was great for the 'staches as some uneven botches look natural. We played with a few shapes, too- like a big downward cop one and an upward villian one, but the curly was the favorite. Then I made some tags and we taped them on the end.
Scott and I went and helped in the twins class today. I now have a headache. :) One day down, two more to go. Luckily the rest is mostly fun. Frosting cookies tomorrow, a fun evening planned and then it's heart shaped pancakes for Sunday breakfast!
(more like pink blobs. But tasty blobs.)
Time to relax, eat pizza and watch a movie with the kids. Hope you're having a fun, mushy-lovey weekend!

Fash-hone

You know... there are just times in your life when you step back and take a review of yourself and think.... wow. I have been walking around like that?
I don't know if it's the recent Birthday or if I can't compute what to keep as I have been gutting my closet, but I have been wondering lately about my wardrobe. I don't have a fancy, expressive or interesting closet full of clothes. And through 'safer' choices, over time I have acquired way too many t-shirts and jeans that seem a little different to me, but really aren't to anyone else. Hence, an overall boring impression.
So I caved and called in the aid of my friend who works at Saks (not a 'staffee', but a stylist) and is a fashion consultant. She happily agreed to help me go through my closet, try everything on (yes, everything) and advise on what works (color/shapes/etc.) and how to wear some things better for ME. She was great and I highly recommend her if you are interested.
Yes... it does expose some emotional flaws and perceptions. But it's like eating celery- you get through it. And now I feel empowered to face the world looking better.
At least, I did until I went looking for a belt today... A BELT. One. Stinking. Accessory. And I doubted my judgement once again.
I nearly pulled out my velvet afro and put on my black jumpsuit with santa ankle trim yet again!

As for the rest of my week, it's been the boring yoozsh (that's my 'abbreev' for usual- get with it. Abbreev's are like so in right now). Now watch me pull "Valentines/Treats for class/Help in class/Cookies for Sunday RS" out of my hat! It's going to be a busy four days.

True Blave

February already. I was counting on that boredom, that lull, which settles in after the holidays but it never happened. We're already in month 2 of this new year. I don't have much exciting to post which is probably why it's been quiet the past week on the blog. I've been forcing myself to tackle some long overdue projects around the house, as well as some that have cluttered my office/art area.
One of said art projects were these linen hearts. I discovered something similar last year during our trip to San Francisco in a cute boutique and tucked that idea away for a year. Instead of thinking about another year, I just did it. Let's hope the new motivation will breed more motivation. After I embroidered most of the traditional heart sayings, I realized I should have made them all clever and sarcastic. Of course, not that this one here is sarcastic. It's true. At least I know a few people who would say that. Any ideas for some additional fun things to say? (You can see all the completed hearts on Academe)
Hope you're all having a swell and sappy February. Mmmmwah.