What I'm listening to

I am biased to Maroon 5.

I can't say that I hate any one of their songs.

But I can say that I LOOOOOOVE me some Adam and the sounds and words that come out of his mouth.

I mean.....COME ON!!!!!

OH. MY. LORD!!!!!
[so what if I sound like a 14 year old girl with posters of 'crushes' hanging on my teenage room wall.....
there are some things that I never want to grow out of!]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can also tell you WHAT I'M NOT LISTENING TO!!!!!

Prince and his new lame song!!!

Have you heard it????

Rock and Roll love affair.

The name is the most rockin thing about this song!

The beat and lyrics don't sound unique....or new....or refreshing from anything else he's made.
I had higher hopes....and you let me down Prince!
........you let me down

GAG ME WITH A RASPBERRY BERET!

And might I suggest a new hair-do along with a new sound!

They both are out dated and a bit 'frizzled'.
[this would DEFINITELY NOT be a crush poster on my wall! uck!]

Prince lost his Revolution.

Narcissist

Park City is nearing the end of their summer farmers market and 'Park Silly Street' days.

They close off the bottom part of Main Street and have unique vendors of pottery, art, jewelry, food, clothing, and beer!

It's an absolutely fabulous way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

I made sure to browse every booth and admire the variety of talents.  My eye was attracted to a tent that had displays of antique forks made into bracelets.

This particular one called to me.

It reminded me of water and I felt like it said "Aquarius" all over it!

I had to have it!

As I was paying for my new favorite piece, the designer explained the fork's history.

Silver, made in 1935, and the style of the flowers on  cutlery was named.........

 Narcissist.

Coincidence???   I think not!

Mud pie and Disneyland are equals

Jax and I spent Saturday together as River and Randy were preparing for the youth elk hunt.

We started our date at Liberty park.

At 10:00 am we joined  in a charity awareness walk with Paula's family.

It was a beautiful day and her family was able to raise over $600 for research on a disease that took the life of her niece.

Jax and I were proud to be included.

By noon the walk was over and we were FAMISHED!

Jax mentioned Red Robin and I was like,

 "Hell yah!  

They have a salad that I loooove!  

Let's do it man!"

Needless to say, the effed up my salad and as a consolation prize they gave us a free piece of mud pie.

When a single slice is bigger than your kids' ginormous head, you know you've got a dessert of your chocolate dreams!!!

It was so exciting and overwhelming, that we didn't even know where to start!!!!

This piece of mud pie ranked up there with Disneyland on Jax's happy experiences scale!

You think I'm kidding?

I would never kid you about something this serious!  

OK!?!?

And just like the rides at Disneyland.......

if you over-do it, 

you wanna puke!

I took advantage of Jax being in a food coma and talked him into going to get a haircut.

He gave in......

and I mean in a BIG WAY!!!

He looked at the hair-dresser, pointed to a picture of Adam Lavine and said, "This is what I want".

I was in shock and stumbled over my words.

"But Jax!  I thought you wanted to keep these curls.  

Are you sure you don't just want  a trim?"

"Nope, I want to look like Adam Lavine!"

And there ya have it folks.

The locks that we learned to love and hate through all of the processes, were buzzed bye bye with one quick swipe.

I looked at my handsome son when the style was complete and said,

"Awe.....Now there's the boy I remember :)"

reaping the fruits of my neighbor

My neighbor enjoys dropping off sacks full of tomatoes, apples, and peaches.  Maybe his excitement is from the thrill he sees in my eyes AND from the saliva dripping from the corners of my mouth as I receive the goods!

I am spoiled with fresh produce daily and I didn't even have to grow it myself!!!

[which would have been an oxymoron anyhow......

because the only things I can grow is old and mold]

say yes to the dress 1-2-3 times

After my previous post regarding our anniversary, Paula reminded me that I haven't yet told about the recycled dress that has  outfitted my body for three important dates in my life.

~my god!!! could we look any dorkier??~

I purchased this dress brand new in 1988 for my senior prom.

Up until that point, I had always rented my prom dresses.

Splurging the $70 on this dress was a big deal since I was still on a JC Penney's retail salary [$4.65/hr]

The dress came white with the black edging.  My friend's mom who was a seamstress, added the black lace down the middle bodice, sewed a silk and lace rose to the hip and made my black lace gloves.

Dress reconstruction #1

[I am sick that I can not find my large framed professional bridal portrait.  It's somehow gotten lost in all of my moves.]

Randy and I were married in 1989.

We paid for most of our $1000 wedding on our own with the help of family contributing food, decorations, and emotional support.

I knew my tight budget couldn't warrant an expensive gown. That is when the prom dress came out of the closet and found it's new identity!

With the help of my Auntie E and Aunt Janin, we gave our ideas to a seamstress in Lehi to transform the prom fru fru into my summer wedding dress.

All of the black was removed and pearl beading was put in it's place.  A heart shaped neck was added along with shoulder ruffles and fourth tier to the bottom of the layers for $80.

I adorned my own silk shoes, Elise bought my lace gloves and Janin generously gifted my veil.

[one of my favorite memories was shopping with Elise and Janin for the veil.]

Dress reconstruction #2

A few years after my wedding, my cousin's wife wore my dress and veil  for her special day!

[Jeremy and Tori]

She kept the dress the same, but attached the veil to a cowboy hat and wore lace up vintage boots.

This dress is a chameleon to each event it is called to!

20 years later..........

And we would be ready to celebrate our wedding anniversary with a party to remember!!!!

Of course, I called on my dress yet again to accompany me through my special memories to come.

BUT......20 years had put some eensy weensy major girth to my mid section and I would need some professional help revamping this lovely for the 3rd time!

I called on Paula, the bestest seamstress that I know, and she worked her butt off getting this dress ready in time for the celebration.

She took off the previously added fourth tier, removed the entire upper neck and shoulder ruffles and used the discarded material to add small shoulder straps and about 4 inches to the back side in a corset lace-up.

She also cleaned up my fragile veil by re-positioning the beading and adding big sunflowers hand-sewn around the crown.

Paula put much time, effort and love into this project.

Dress reconstruction #3

I wore my original wedding gloves and used the original bouquet and  garter belt.

I look forward to what the future brings between me and this dress of mine.  We have a bond that lasts through thick and thin [literally!]

Who knows....maybe a daughter in law would appreciate the 

funk, fun and form-ability in this frock?

smooth operator

~circa 1988 my senior prom~

Our 23rd wedding anniversary started this morning with a bang!

Randy snuck over to my side of the bed, kneaded my belly rolls like bread dough and then opened up his arms for me snuggle into.  I'm used to the fat massages and have been able to not be so self conscious about Rand's love for a muffin top, but where it all went a little weird was when he looked at me with love in his eyes and said, 

"come here ya big lug!"

After all these years and he still knows the right thing to say.

oy vey

Yep....that's the man I love.

Me, myself, and I......BFF's

I am a purse junkie!  

Always have been.

As far back as I can remember, I have loved purses.  I think my first one was a hand knitted, multi-colored gift from my great grandmother.  The next one I remember was a quilted Holly Hobbie design with a long strap and a flap that went over the opening with a button attached as a closure.

If I had to count, I've probably had over a hundred purses in my lifetime.  Some of them are for specific events like concerts, vegas, or bar nights.

Others are for my everyday use.

I am always on the look out for a good everyday use purse.

I have a criteria that the purse needs to meet.

1~ Only one  short shoulder strap.

[I hate the purses that open like a doctors bag with the two handles.  Don't get me wrong, I really like the looks of them and have bought MANY thinking they would work for me.  The function of the duel handles with one constantly falling off my shoulder is too much for me on an everyday basis]

2~  Big enough to hold ONLY my essentials, yet small enough to keep me not putting anything more than my essentials in it!  I like to keep it light weight and a size that I can tuck it under my pit if I need to use both of my hands.

3~  At least two inner and outer pockets to separate my lip glosses and receipts from each other.

4~  Boho-Rocker look.

I can't believe I saved this criteria for last!  The functionality is truly so important to me that it trumps aesthetics!!!

While browsing around a Sears store, 

[Who really browses in Sears???  Ok, maybe a man looking for tools or a lawn mower, but I don't think you hear of a woman boasting excitement to spend her money at Sears!

It was an off day for me that day anyway.....I questioned WTF I was even doing or how I got in this Sears store in the first place.]

My purse-radar directed me past the garage door openers to the glorious handbag department.

As I walked toward the inventory, my eyes filled with sparkle and joy!  I was overwhelmed and had to focus my thoughts and figure out where to start this adventure in shopping.

As if being in a Sears store and not knowing how I arrived there isn't bad enough, what I'm about to tell you is over the top nut-farm-crazy shit!!!!

I stopped in front of the first display rack and decided this would be my starting point.  

I then said TO MYSELF with a half smile and head nod, 

"hmmmmmmm, yeah!  

This place is looking pretty good to me.  

I'm really liking the selection I see. 

 I could possibly find my ideal purse here!

OMG!  I'm so excited!"

I said it with such sincerity and passion that made me stop, laugh at myself [apparently I enjoy talking and laughing to myself A LOT], and then be very concerned that I am having full on conversations and girl time with ME! 

 AND, why is purse shopping being taken so god damn seriously in my little world of chaos around me?!?!?

Is it just me*?

Please tell me I'm not the only coo-coo bird having a blast with the company of myself and a room full of purses!!!!!

*I already know I'm not alone in this....Am I right Elise?

BTW:  I didn't find my ideal purse at Sears Roebuck and Company.

I forget sometimes

River and I were sitting on the couch talking.

Well, there was talking combined with some pillow fighting and Riv's stinky feet trying to be shoved up my noseholes in a wrestling move.  Any time you sit with a 14 year old boy, you never really sit.....there is some sort of fidgeting, thumb war, burping, boogers or ninja action going on.  But we still managed to have a conversation!!!!  

A conversation with a teenager!!!  

Things were going swell :)

This was the convo:

Me:  This is your dad's schedule for next week.
 [I gave him the itinerary]

Riv:  Oh.  Ok.  

Guess what is happening next week.?.

Me:  What?

Riv:  Just guess!!

Me:  Hmmmm......I'm not thinking of anything.  

Does it have to do with your school?

Riv:  Geez mom!!!  

How unpatriotic and unsympathetic are you???  

Think of the dates on the calendar!

Me:  What do you mean?  The only thing that I can remember that is coming next week is me and your dad's anniversary.  

What am I missing?  

Wait!!!!  

Now I remember.

The 9.11 anniversary :(

Riv:  I would have to say the 9.11 anniversary is a bigger deal than you and dad's anniversary!
How do you forget 9.11?

Me:  How can you say that?  If it wasn't for the fact that me and your dad got married, you wouldn't even be alive!

Riv:  Um.....mom.......

I would still be alive even if you and dad never met.

Me:  Shit!!!!  You're right!!!  

I forget sometimes.

The Freshman

River started 9th grade today.

I woke him at 6:15 to get the day started.

My little love looked at me with fear and nervousness for what the hours ahead would bring.

He had many thoughts running through his head all night and couldn't sleep.

[He claims that he didn't get not even ONE wink of snooze the entire night.  

But I know different. 

 Randy and I both checked on him at wee hours and he was sawing logs!]

As he came from the basement smelling clean and looking all shiny sparkly, I could see he was low on motivation and high on anxiety.

"Mom!!!  This year, everything counts!!!  

My grades, my attendance, my EVERYTHING counts!!!  

I am feeling soooooo much pressure!!!!"

I talked him through his concerns, acknowledged his truths, and praised him for being such a good boy.

I dropped him off at the front doors of his school and let him take a piece of my heart with him.

At the end of his day, I was parked in the scheduled line up of parents waiting to hear how their children's first day of school went.

"It went good mom. 

 It's just an adjustment I'm going to have to get used to.  

But I know one thing!!! 

I CAN'T TAKE THIS HAIR ANYMORE!!!!!"

A speedy trip to the local chop shop...

and wahhhhhlahhhh!!!

A new kid!

In looks anyway.......

Because to me, no matter the clothes, the height, the age, or the hair.....

he will always be my baby

and the firsts of everything he goes through will always take a toll on both of us.

Portrait of beautiful

Katie and Scarlett

Pictures like this that are sent to me with the subject saying 

"love you", brings me to tears.

Missing my family :(

It's a long story....you had to be there!

Beerfest 2012

Saying this was off the charts fun is an understatement!

The gorgeous-large venue, the mouth watering beer, and the best group of peeps to experience it all with, made it one of the funnest Sunday's I've had this whole summer!

There are many stories to these pictures.

But the tales are long....

and it's one of those "you had to be there" 

experiences to truly get the idea of how it all came together as a whirlwind of laughter!

This post will mostly be a photo album of that day.

I think these pictures say a thousand beer saturated words.

Randy was unfortunately very sick this day and had to sit home sniffling in his NyQuil.

Lisa was unable to attend due to babysitting unavailability.

So what's two SundayFunDay  hat wearing people like Derek and I to do without their spouses????

Became each other's wingman!!!!

And sometimes we could have been considered each others wingnuts, 

but that's a long story....you had to be there!

Fortunately Paula and Jay D were on sight at the entrance gates waiting for us.

 Derek forgot his wallet and ID.

The Nazi ID people would not let him in without it.

The devilish men devised a plan to stamp-f**k Jay D's wet stamp onto Derek's hand.

It worked!  And we were on our way to redeem our beer tickets.

Katie is Jay's niece from CA.

Her and her hubs come here every year as a tradition to celebrate beerfest with the Utah clan.

Katie's husband Brian is the dude in the middle fingering the camera.

At a point in the day, he got lost on the streets of SLC staggering around without a clue of where he was.

We eventually found him.....

But that's a long story....you had to be there!

Lil momma had the perfect sized beer mug to get her a real good buzz going on!

Jay D, who isn't even a beer drinker, enjoyed the brew too!

I was real proud of him!

Derek has a noticeable red mark on his jaw from being sucker punched by a strange gal that apparently had major anger issues in her life!!!

it's a long story...you had to be there!

Fortunately, the four of us are NOT in need of anymore Planned Parenthood.

We are at the age to love and care for the chillins we have,

and still be able to enjoy life as adults.

All of us recovering Mormons lined up to get in on the 

"X-Communicated Mormon Drinking Team"

I say these things in the name of Bud Light......

Amen

 

The Shock Top beetle was a hit with everyone.

The beer tap extending out of the rear was very attractive to those experimental few.

My lovlies showing you can look sexy drinking beer!

It was as hot as hell's bells that day and we were all thankful for the 'rain tunnel' to splash our feet in.

Life is good.

Friends are love.

Beer is yummy :)

To those of you who couldn't join us this year, 

YOU WERE MISSED!!!!

Next year, add to our long story and 

BE THERE!!!!!

Twist and shout

We are still in the ongoing hair debacle.

It's taken so long for Jax to grow out his hair that I desperately want to try to make it work with some sort of style!

This was our most recent style idea.

Hair twists.

After watching many YouTube videos on the procedure, I had it down packed!!!!

Or so I thought...........

ARGH!!!!  

SCREAM!!!!!!!

SHOUT!!!!

SWEAR WORDS!!!!!

We started with a good scalp massage, hair washing and deep conditioning.

Then, as per YouTube, I parted the hair and started applying curl gel to each little strand.

A half hour into it, and I could see that this was not really looking quite like the YouTube examples.  But we are this far into it....can't stop now!!!

At the hour and 15 mark, I was halfway through the process with the results starting to look like he should be on Toddlers and Tiaras with his princess locks.

His hair has a good nap around the edges that twist up the way fro hair should.  But the middle part of his head has a different texture and wave.

A little over two hours, and this was the end result.

Nothing like I had planned, and a bit disappointing.

I still dried it and crossed my fingers that by morning it would miraculously look totally awesome!!!

NOPE!!!

It looked like shit.

A head of  nappie and un-nappie shit.

Any ideas of what style we should try next??????