Here's the Buzz:

Don't you LOVE it when one of your favorite books is made into a beautiful movie?

Mine was. The Secret Life of Bees is a beautiful story about mothers

and daughters, coming of age, discovering the healer

inside of you and yes, beekeeping.

Set in 1964, Civil Rights Movement in full-swing,

Lily is motherless and goes on a journey to find clues about why her mother is gone.

She finds healing and lessons from her 5 most unlikely mothers

and an abusive father who so loved her mother.

(be warned: lots of profanity)

Don't you just Love it when you HAVE to take time out for you?

Yes and no. But, necessary before a complete emotional

breakdown! This is where I am today.

And tomorrow.

I'm taking time off from blogging, socializing,

crafting, serving, running, doing, spinning, etc.

All things I tend to do so well until I'm a hormonal mess and I don't

know what more to do with myself. Work only amplifies this

situation for me. Did I mention that my husband works nights and sleeps

during the day? Oh, yeah, and I was sick for a month and a half.

All of these factors equal simplify.

I know it's a gift to get it figured out.

Don't you just love it when you have a break-through, share and care

more about what you think and feel than what others think?

(in a healthy way, I mean:)

Friends, this is history for me.

Thanks for listening.

"You are enough. We are enough."- August, Secret Life of Bees

Don't you just hate it when you grate your finger?

(bonus pic)

"Don't you just hate it when you grate your finger!"

Autumn showed me her mangled thumb yesterday at work.

We had a good laugh and challenged

eachother to a "Don't you hate it" blog post.

Don't you hate it when:

-thanks to Guitar Hero, your kids know the lyrics to Iron Man and not the upcoming Primary Program songs? Working on it!

-you have to honk not once, but 3 times for the car in front of you to turn on your green arrow? (Just happened)

-(Also just happened) The lady that cuts you off in traffic thinks that you were honking to let her in and her ears-wide grin tells you 'she just doesn't get it!'

When I thought about it, there are just way too many "don't you hate its"

and not enough "don't you just love it whens..."

SO

Here's where y'all come in:

Blog your "don't you just hate it whens" and "don't you just love it whens". I would love to hear all about

your crazy and happy days.

Next post for me is the loves.

Blog on!

"Take 2 Aspirin and Call me Tomorrow"

Today I visited Dr. Rosie's office:

She wrote my "siptums" down and told me what she thought I was dealing with.

This just reiterated how really lame a sinus infection

and resulting "C. Dif."due to "broad spectrum antibiotics" are-

look up C. Dif. on the net and pray

it will never be you typing this!!

Dr. Rosie's notes are some of the cutest moments in this mommy's life!

I LOVE it when my kids practice their writing skills

by sounding words out and writing.

Ivy's in this mode and writing like crazy-

for school, for fun and especially, for my entertainment.

The paper is split in half and the right column is as follows:

"Jessica symptoms:

pressure through Jessica's nose,

her ears are clogged. Her throat hurts bad."

Left column:

"She feels like her head is going to explode."

FYI: She was pressing me for some of these comments.

Isn't that just like a girl? She's noticing the details

of how others feel. I love it.

The writing, the sweetness, the care, My girl.

Moments

Ivy and some cute, cute friends.

This "meeting" in our yard went haywire

when they raided the outside freezer!

No really, they look straight out of the Saturday Evening Post.

Gorgeous, excepting a few holes....

What's in the water here in SS?
There was a 3rd snaggle tooth not even pictured!
(D made me pay him a buck for this blog pic.)

Here's my date with Harrison:

He's moving into the very touchy pre-teen phase

and our time together needs to be

fun and devoted to his likes.

We played "Skip-bo" and had sundaes.

Love him and our time together.

We took a trip to read at B & N- One of our favorite dates.

We snuggle up and read.

We laugh.

We put together a wish list.

We look at beautiful things.
We tell the little, annoying

kid pushing ALL of the musical

buttons and running, to stop.

Life is Happening!

Just guess how much area

ONE Hard-boiled EGG

covers when it explodes all over the

inside of your MICROWAVE!

Remeber Gremlins:)

We conducted the experiment unknowingly

this morning and had definite conclusive results.

It was good for a laugh anyway.

Harrison said,

"Don't you know you never put an egg in the microwave?!

It has pores that absorb water, then as it heats,

it expands. The pressure becomes too much and it explodes."

Quiz #2:

Guess which mom didn't teach him that?

Donovan says as he's peering in the microwave,

"You'll need to show your friends this

on your blog."

That's what started my fabulous Thursday.

GNO with Lakeview Babes

This Lakeview girls group

finally hooked up for a long-awaited Girl's Night!

We decided on Olive Garden for a

lovely dinner and we

didn't even lose anyone's camera!

Our waiter, Jeff practically kicked us out of there

(45 min. at each table, please)

Next......

This is Monica (say it, "Moh-nee-cu"). Monica is beautiful and super fun to be with.

She has money from Grandma

and wants to spend it being artful

and surrounded by silly,

yet creative friends.

So she picks "Color Me Mine" for our activity.

What's Color Me Mine, you ask?

It's a pottery shop where

"You paint it, we fire it."

You can personalize everything from

salt and pepper shakers to the

understated Papa Smurf Gnome

(see attached picture)

Also present is Autumn. Isn't she lovely modeling the fashionable salt and pepper shakers?

Autumn's reading "Secret Life of Bees" and loves to say one of the

notty words Lily uses all of the time (in her mind, of course). I love Autumn.

I can't wait to show our Halloween costume plan to the rest of you!

I see Papa Smurf. Maybe I just like to say that.

"Have a Smurfy day"

I know a guy who tatooed a smurf on his leg...

as an adult!

Cami. Dear, Cami. She had more fun at this painting

shop than any 2 women should have!

I enjoyed watching her gutsy pattern develop,

daisy's with a swirl pattern on the inside

of the bowl. She studied,

painted, stewed, then painted over.

In the end, she made a beautiful, original creation

to add to her amazing bowl collection.

Cami has the Midas touch as far as I'm concerned.

You should see her do a Yoga bind.

We'll be back girls, won't we?

I made this for my sis-in-law for Christmas.

Jeanetta will love my remedial

painting skills and appreciate them for what they are:

a handmade slice of love.

I like how it turned out and want to

eventually start a set of

original pieces for my home.

Everyone's stuff turned out amazing.

Monica's giant polka-dotted popcorn bowl turned out

beautiful due to the team efforts of she and Autumn.

Happy Blogiversary To Me!

1 year.

Kati teased that I would never lift-off,

but here I am, still typing away

like the crazy Blogger Mom that I am!

I'll celebrate with

something I read today in the book,

Eat Pray Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert

"...people universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it.

You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings.

And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it. If you don't you will leak away your innate contentment. It's easy enough to pray when you're in distress but continuing to pray even when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul hold tight to its good attainments."

"The search for contentment is, therefore, not merely a self-preserving and self-benefiting act, but also a generous gift to the world.

Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way.

You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to anyone else.

Only then are you free to serve and enjoy other people." -pg. 260

(Eat Pray Love has some offensive language in it. I'm whiting-out for friends;)

Love you all. Thanks for the party!

Six to 36

There sure is a

lot of life between

6 and 36.

It's been a

good one.

I am happy-

Even in my

yellow

sweater vest

and pant suit.

Tagalicious

Thanks Kati for this tag. I loved reading all of yours and I enjoyed doing it. I tag the Annas (and everyone that wants to do this)! Have fun.

I am feeling love and sharing love.

I miss high school and college life. So social, fun, free, exciting, full of education and Friday + Saturday night fun! I just said, "20 years ago I..." for the first time recently and tears spontaniously flew from my eyeballs without even being prepared for it! I was telling my kids that I've had a license for 20 years (been driving for a few more;)

I think politicians have a personal motive and couldn't possibly have my interest in-mind. But I can be an idealist too. Such a fence-sitter!

I love the 80's! Loved "waver" clothes and music and will put on those 80's mix albumns and just remember, remember.

I know working and doing hard things is good for me.

I want to decorate my house for real. Three years after moving in.

I have so many goals left to fulfill. I plan on doing them and learning all of my life.

I search inside my heart for truths daily.

I wish I could live in Europe and visit every city that catches my fancy. I wish I could speak French fluently.

I hate saying stupid things and offending others. It sticks with me and I find myself working to resolve it with them- even if I have to "clear" & tell my painful truths.

I am scared of scary movies now after watching so many crappy horror flicks with my brother, Jody growing up. I close the blinds too, Jenn C.- always feel like someone's watching me.

I fear dying and not being able to raise and be with my kids.

I always make my kids home cooked meals-notice kids. Robs hates breakfast! My mom always cooked good breakfasts and I think it's one way I can show I love my kids too.

I love cuddling with the fam.

I feel overwhelmed too much.

I hear the angels sing:)

I smell less than I used to. This comes in handy with those two puppy flavored sons of mine!

I don't always vacuum, clean windows, polish wood, dust, blah, blah, blah.

I wonder if menopause is any better than this monthly circus!

I care what people think...too much sometimes. But I'm working on it.

I regret not graduating college before marriage.

I am not afraid to try new things or do something I'm afraid of. I think I got over that years ago. In fact, I try to do things that push me out of the whimpy place I was in as a kid.

I believe one day my basement will be rid of all unneccesary junk and I will be organized. Not one of the gifts I was given, but I'm working on it too!

I dance to make me happy. I'm wild about ballroom and Latin dancing.

I sing sultry, 30's & 40's music.

I write about all of my feelings. In fact, there's probably a few journal pages that should be burned around here;)

I win lots of card games that I play. Love card games.

I lose bobby pins. Been thinking about this one. I mean, where do the things go?

I never miss eating goodies in the day.

I listen to what my father and grandmother say, carefully.

I can be found alone at the table at night working on a project.

I read for an education, not really just for pleasure. It ends up being my passion though.

I am happy when I'm blogging about memories and chatting with you babes on-line all night.

Quirks

Quirks, me? Nah, just a few OCD ticcy behaviors

more like it.

Here's six, to begin with:

1. I've played with my hair (or a feather) and tickled my face

since I was tiny. Don't know what came first, this

or sucking my thumb. Oh yeah, I was born doing that!

2. I have a trucker mouth. No really, just can't

live without "damn" and "hell".

3. Can't remember a *@#%* thing during my period!

4. I don't get bored- Just keep doing stuff.

I have to cram 10 things into every minute of the day.

Except vacuuming (not my obsession, girls).

5. Anyone ever seen my toes?

6. I am a journaling maniac. I probably have 15 types of

journals going on right now, make it 16 with my blog.

The kids have 2 each that I keep, mine, my Mother's book,

their scrapbooks, my writing journal, art

journal, blah, blah, blah.

You'd think I don't have time to talk too!

That was fun! I tag Jenn Culley, Christina, Kristin and Alexis if you're "listening"!

Poetic Salsa Sass

What's this, you ask?

The result of a salsa-making demo &

waxing poetic in front of the fridge.

Here's Cami's version:

Has a Walt Witman flair to it!

I think I want to blush deliciously.

FYI: The gum-chewing while onion cutting

is a silly myth. We all had a good cry:)

And this one: Should have been the

"Woman, woman, woman" poem.

Autumn's Toe Mourning Poem

We share your pain.

Good poetry always brings tears to my eyes.

We had so much fun.

Next activity? Dance, Dance Revolution party!

Woohoo!

Harrison's Arrow of Light

Last night we enjoyed an amazing ceremony honoring

Harrison and all of his Cub Scout

efforts.

His leaders are amazing!

His desire is inspiring.

This moment was unforgettable.

Thank you, Kati Price for capturing

these photos and memories for us.

Non- Essentials

So, I got tagged by Autumn about 3 non- essentials I would buy if I magically acquired $100.00 and I didn't have another thing that I needed to buy with that amount of money, that wouldn't go to bills or groceries or even, dun,dun,dun.....gasoline!



I was thinking of things like big bags of sugar and flour, maybe candy or shoes- sexy, comfy ones. Oh, wait! That's definitely day dreaming. Anyway, food storage is nothing to fantisize about, really. Just how uninventive can I be? So I had to shop in my mind where I'd been the last few times I was out and wanted things for me. And here's what I came up with:

There's a beautiful stationery store in Trolly Square named Tabula Rasa.

I know it well because Iworked for T.R. in the 90's in Fashion Place.

Blessed 50% discount! It's where you buy Magnetic Poetry, girls.

They sell amazing European books, jewelry, and Crabtree & Evelyn products too.

I would buy beautiful handmade papers, pen tips and a calligraphy book.

But wait, I think I could buy Jason Mraz tickets (in October, yes!)

with that unaccounted-for wad of cash!

Come to think of it, I will buy a chair for my entry- I think I choose this
Welsh stick chair. What a steal at just $100.00!

Thanks, Autumn for giving me something to think and write about today.
I'm missing my blogging time, but don't give up on me, ladies.

Top 10 Today

Who can stop at just 10, Cam!

Look for the hidden messages

#1- Best Acne gel is hands down, Differin!

#2- Best dollar pizza is Totino's pepperoni with full size pepperoni now.

#3- Best dollar brownie is the Little Debbie's Cosmic brownie. Love the perforations:)

#4- Best blog stalkers are my two favorites, Autumn and Cami! There is an award for that.

#5- Top method of watering everyday of the summer- drip system. That's a bit of an inside joke because we were just blessed with drip this week! Seriously So Blessed...

#6- Top way to access your blog? Not Net Zero.

#7- Voice Mail.

#8- Book I'm relating to right now is Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Sorry, Rudyard.

#9- Top vacation destination? Dreaming of that beach in Puerto Rico right now. You know, the kid-free one.

#10- Top job is the one in your kids' school! I love being there and I love the kids I work with. My teacher's name is Mr. Quirk and we get along smashingly. I have good friends, I get praised, paid and what more can I ask for?

Bonus: New school clothes for mommy from Kohls. I loved shopping for new professional wear AND the accessories to mix and match. Now I'm on the quest for comfy, sexy shoes. Any suggestions?

Books & Movie Review

Just started Kim by Rudyard Kipling

It looks exciting and exotic!

I am facsinated with Kipling's amazing (yet depressing) life.

I'll give you my opinion on my last read, Gulliver's Travels
by Johnathon Swift:
Interesting, repetitive and in two words, travel log!
It would have grabbed me more in its' day.
It's a Brittish satire about religion and politics. Dated really,
but super funny to laugh at ourselves as humans.

Now, my movie pic of the week is PENELOPE
Just see it!
It's a beautiful message about
loving who you are, just the way you are.
And an added bonus: James McAvoy.
I know he's not much cuter out of a goat costume (Narnia),
but he has a way about him. Slightly KidRockish
here in Penelope, but I dug his believability.
And Ricci is edible!
If you like Catherine O'Hara- she'll crack you up
the whole movie.
It's actually a family movie- Astonishing!

Let the Games Begin!

The Olympics

The last time I was really involved in the Olympics was in Salt Lake City, UT February 2002.

Why do I remember this time so vividly? Because I was GREAT with

my child, Ivy Chamberlain.

The boys and I sat on the Torch route to get a view of one of my

favorite obstetricians, Dr. Dale Hull, who had been

paralized in a trampoline accident and came back to be an inspiration & torch bearer.

We missed him and got some lady, no less important I'm sure, but

unrecognizable to us. It was freezing, I was entertaining like mad

(I seem to recall flag waving and Starburst were involved) and the biggest

Olympic memory: My cousin, Becky had her baby boy during

the month of the Olympics and the serious

swag

she brought home from the hospital, the U hospital, was astounding!

I loved the embroidered blankets, the Olympic ring onsies,

bags, etc. Did I mention she was an intern at Primary Children's Hospital?

Well, we were blessed with Ivy in March, which I'm thrilled about now.

And we didn't have to deal with some of the horrible security

issues, OR TRAFFIC, in SLC. Thank Heavens!

Oh, almost forgot; My dad brought Olympic taffy from

Taffy Town to the hospital for me. I think he was feeling my pain.

Small bandaid, but grape taffy rocks when you're stuck in a bed convalescing.

Anyone remember this cute face? Tell me all about your gymnastic dreams

following Mary Lou Retton's golds!

Memories

Here's a little game! I like games....who doesn't? Leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time, or a long time, anything you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.Ready, Set, GO

A 21 of July to Remember

Here we are just before the concert chatting with friends who

happen to be seated right behind us.

Listened to Kolbi Callet from consessions--

would rather hang-out with Rachel, Aaron & Lucy Coleman

and Ray's cousin, Jenn-while we chomped caramel popcorn,

laughed at old times and Rob jonesed for a Chicago Dog

cause the ATM machine was angry at his card:)

Don't feel bad, he got one.

I love having a good night out. I feel like we're young again.

Scratch that: younger.

So my anticipation is mounting and I'm tripping about how John Mayer is here,

at USANA with me. Soon I'll be singing all of his music WITH him.

I was totally looking forward to the things he would say.

I was describing it to Cami like this: "I know his music. It doesn't matter what he

plays- it's like a tasty little grab-bag, exciting to imagine

what's in there. I'm just waiting to hear what he'll say because I haven't heard

any of that yet."

Now, if you follow John Mayer you know that often times he's criticized for

what he says. He can pop-off and can be crude. But, hey I love him

and we forgive a lot when we love.

One of the first things Rob notices is that John's looking buff.

He wasn't crude, just silly at times. Yeah, he dropped a couple of swears, but he was fun.
And yes, I took the pictures. No bag check at USANA

Songs he played: Believe, Gravity, Waiting for the World to Change,

Daughters, Bigger than My Body* (fave),

No Such Thing*, Tom Petty's Free Falling, Say,

a George Harrison song, JJ Johnson,

and more.

Cool band and cool horn section.

Rob said he was just o.k. I asked why? Well, wasn't interesting.

No sphinx with sunglasses that bust and expose

shooing lasers and interacts with the audience. Sorry, not a KISS concert,

just a guy, his guitar and some poetic vocals that sometimes

makes me remember and cry.


I'm wish it wasn't over, but that's what happens.
So, I'll pull that bag out every-once-in-a-while and enjoy
what I was there to witness-My History:
I've been to a John Mayer concert and feel a bit more complete.

Halloween: Ghouls and Hooligans

Third eye blind

Kiss me, you fool!

What's new, Pussy Cat?

"Hal and Alice"

LOL, Ray

Best mullet ever!

Tats and Billy Idol lips

Few know how much I love Halloween and a good costume. I've been known to go to great lengths for a laugh. I bought Rob this wig (2006) and thought it was hilarious. So did the fam.

We're one motley crue and totally cracking ourselves up!

Today

My fingers are sore from planting the amazing new lavender, rosemary, russian sage and grasses my dad gave me yesterday. I weeded until I could weed no more. Yea, everything's sore, yet so satisfying to look out at the yard and know you made something better today.
Best part? 1)While you're in the yard you can't hear the phone ring and 2)When you're improving it, the yard doesn't complain. Hum. I have a few things to think about.

I'm also reviewing the quotes in my brain today and can't come up with what best defines me today:
" I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!"-Mugatu, Zoolander
"It's better to say too much then never say what you need to say again."-Say, John Mayer
"I pray to be used by a power greater than myself. It takes consistent effort to live my best life."-Oprah, Bob Greene's Best Life Diet
"A worker [bee] is just over a centimeter long and weighs only about sixty milligrams; nevertheless, she can fly with a load heavier than herself."-The Honey Bee, Secret Life of Bees
OR
"Today I accidentally stepped on a snail on the sidewalk in front of our house. And I thought I too am like that snail. I build a defensive wall around myself, a 'shell' if you will. But my shell isn't made out of a hard, protective substance. Mine is made out of tin-foil and paper bags."- Jack Handey

Poetry in Motion

Speaking of poetry...
I'm thinking of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing and the song in it:

"Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,

Men were deceivers ever,

One foot in sea and one on shore,

To one thing constant never:

Then sigh not so, but let them go,

And be you blithe and bonny,

Converting all your sounds of woe

Into Hey nonny, nonny."

(Act II, Scene III)

Now, keep in mind my thoughts differ entirely about men. I love that in the movie version, Emma Thompson opens the whole show saying this in her dreamy style and later a fabulous tenor sings to it. Fondness.

Yea, poetry is cool.

Yellowstone '08

Yellowstone 2008

We loved our vacation to wildlife and sportsman's Mecca of the West. I will spare you the copious amounts of animal & scenery snapshots and share verbal highlights instead:

Best Moments:

1. Kids' excitement describing their vacation faves.
2. Rafting the Snake!

3. Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum- further explanation: Not spectacular for the ticket price, however, children loved it and that makes it all worth it for mom and dad.

4. Kids loved tenting-it and cooking over a fire. Perhaps not Dad's preferred moments:)

5. Showers everyday. Running water and toilets. And can I say, "laundry room!"

6. Images of Nature Gallery

7. Merry Piglets Mexican restaurant.

8. Playing and laying in the park at the base of Snow King Resort.

9. The kids enjoyed stopping at the Oregon Trail Museum in Montpillier, Id on the way home.

10. Last stop: BYU Creamery for ice cream.

Thanks fam for the amazing memories and time together. Next year: We're buying a family raft and going for it!