Christmas Blues

Ok...so I hate to be a humbug, but I'm just not into it this year. Not sure why...I don't have the excitement or the warm fuzzy Christmas feeling like I usually do. I've been trying to figure it out.

One thing I know is that I have spent more time thinking about Christ and all He does for us. I've come closer to Him than I have been in a while which I suppose is what Christmas is all about.

Life has been pretty full of stress over the past few months and it really has been my Savior who has gotten me through. I'm grateful for that. .)

Hot Chocolate Time!

So I decided to go a little overboard with our office treat this year. I came across this awesome little hot chocolate maker from Bed Bath and Beyond. With a coupon it was only $25 with tax. It heats it up and keeps it warm and even froths it when you dispense it. Amazing!

We had four kinds of chocolate, marshmallows (Michello's as someone calls them), nutmeg, cinnamon and chocolate chips. It was delicious but we were all on sugar overload...but man it was great! Hooray for Christmas treats!

Crafty Christmas

So I decided I was feeling a little domestic this Christmas Season...first off, I made a countdown calendar (thanks to Jennie Ferguson for this cute project)...


A very Grinchy colored apron that I just love...thanks to Charisse Medico...




And a cupcake hotpad, which pattern I'm sure will transform into many amazing designs through the year.

And I found out yet again that being crafty is pricey!! Its a blast though and I think I'll do it more often!

Pirates and Pirate Booty

Arrr! It be International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Since church goin' is past I don't have to hide me adopted dialect for the day. On Wednesday me coworker remembered (good lad) that today be ITLPD, so we, bein' sucker for any type grog fest put together quite the to do in the breakroom. It was any land lubber's delight. Pizza, pirate movie watchin' and even a pirate picture opportunity fit for any swashbuckler. Tharrrs were much better, but since we be partyin' at work off shore I best not be postin' any of tharrrr pictures. I posted my pic but it was receivin' way too much traffic on me blog, I thought I was bein' mocked so it be removed but...no pirate lass should be missin' a pink bandana or pink eyepatch.

An' now for the pirate booty. We hit the mother load of treasure. We be servicin' a gent's vehicle at work and he brought us these lovely little delights. Arrr. They be the purdiest bloody cupcakes this pirate ever laid eyes on. In fact, several folk brought us some treats during the day, at random. I told me coworker we're the worst pirates in history because we ain't takin' anything. It's all being given to us. The life of a pirate isn't complete without plunderin.'

Yes, they really be cupcakes. They were amazing! Arrr...I know when the title said "Pirate Booty" ye got all excited. Don't be too disappointed I was only talking about cupcakes. They were worth every calorie.

And now me task of the evening is to be viewin' as many pirate movies as possible before the sun be settin on this fine Pirate Day. Arr.

4th of July Rocks My Socks

Ah the 4th...I mean 3rd of July. Gotta love America. Seriously! I am so grateful for the freedoms I enjoy.

I found out that one of my ancestors served in the Civil War on BOTH Confederate and Union sides...weird...he was a Confederate first and was captured. He had to take the oath and fought for the Union.

Also, one of his ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War. It's because of him that I get to live in this awesome country...despite some leadership that well, you know...CHANGE...blah blah. Anyway, I won't let that be my little storm cloud.

I realized that I am a second generation American.

With that, comes the right to paint my toes patriotic colors as shown below.

I think they are very nice. ;)

Here we are at the Murray Fun Days Parade.

There is something that I must get off my chest...I drove by the night before and people had all sectioned off their viewing areas with chairs and cords.

So...we show up and this is one of the last remaining spots on the grass. It's about 30x30 feet. Quite the large area. I hope they're bringing their grandchildrens' childrens' dogs. So I saw the nice pirate booty of parade spots and commented on how they took such a large area. I didn't notice that one of the chairs was occupied by an "owner" of the plot of land. Well, she heard me. Had I known she was one of them I probably would have glared and moved on. So...she's a real peach. She got her two big dumb buddies in on it and they went on about it in their little corner for about 15 minutes.

I recall before I left my mom told me not to get into a fight...oops. Mom and Dad showed up and they thought their reservation was a bit generous as well and were slightly passive aggresively vocal about it. The parade starts and these people are loud. I'm waiting for the rest of the burly crew, but about a half hour into this thing, only 4 of them show. Then they take what few chairs they have and spread them out on "their" area to make it look like they needed the room. They took down their cording and no one else showed up. Joke is on YOU. Morons. See below.

On with the parade! Thanks for indulging my soapbox...

This is Mom and Dad, subdued from the earlier events...

I love this float. The fish was fantastic!

I though this one was quite nice as well. I love the covered wagon. I totally want to climb up into it.

This one was quite clever too, but check out the catcher. He's sitting on a long green stick. That would be slightly uncomfortable. ;) Yes I know it's a support. I like to make something of nothing.

This makes my day everytime I see it.

I

Love

Jeeps.

End of story.

Yes I know they have a crappy reject Mercedes motor, but I love them and one day I will have one. Sigh. They are amazing! Plus I am going down to Moab next week so it just heightens the excitement. ;)

Ok...who called the WAAAAmbulance? I think that's how you get invited to the Pac 10. U fans can be really proud of this fine display. ;)

This is the AMAZING float that my parents' Stake worked on tirelessly. My friend's dad worked on it day in and day out welding the crickets. Wow. Oh and the phrase "Turning Trials into Treats" is pure genius. I'm excited to see if it wins awards at the Days of 47.

After the parade we went to VI for breakfast and I spent some time with some friends and watched the fireworks at Murray Park.

Oh how I love the 4th of July!

A Little Luck 'O The Irish

One of my very favorite events of the year is the St. Patty's Day parade at the Gateway. You haven't been to a parade until you go to this one. It's kind of like a super-tame Mardi Gras. A variety of people like you've never seen. Here's part of my attire for the occasion:
Notice the amazing, green eye shadow? Yeah...I also had Kelly Green Converse All-Stars to go along with the ensemble. It seems like I keep collecting more and more green just for this little parade.

This is one of the very unique entries. Yes, it is a coffin. Wait for it, this just gets better....

Oh yeah, that's right. A nice ride for the dearly departed, complete with green flower arrangement on top. Um...beware the Ides of March?

It was pouring the entire time, but we found a nice place under a bridge to keep nice and toasty with a fleece blanket specially made for the parade. Yup, you guessed it. A green blanket. :)