Mack's Halloween Costume!

Nintendo Mario Deluxe Halloween Costume - Child Size Small - Buyseasons - Toys "R" Us

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Thoughts for this week...

Wow--this was a hard week for me. Work was sooooo grueling. Can't remember the last time I have felt so stressed and exhausted after every day. It seems never ending in challenges, but I know it is all worth it. I am SO excited about the staffing progress I have made at Riverton and Park City. I am getting so close to filling the jobs I need to. I just need a bit of luck over the next few months to get it all done.

I have been trying to practice some better self care this week. I met with one of our darling EAP counselors this week on her comfy microfiber couch to go over a presentation she is going to do for our UAHCR group next year. She went over a presentation on self care and how it relates to stress. So, I am working on incorporating some of her ideas into my daily life in hopes it will help make a dent in my seemingly never ending stress. One of the tips I tried to work on this week was a gratitude journal. Heard this one a million times, but have never really done it. Here are some of my thoughts for this week:}

Nie Nie Dialogues
I was reading a zillion tweets this week about a girl from Provo that was going to be on Oprah this week. I DVR'd it, and really came away amazed at her tenacity after a near fatal airplane crash. I went to her blog a few days later, and I have been non stop reading. She is a gifted writer, observer and so painfully honest it takes your breathe away. Since reading, it has been making me just stop and think about those little things I take for granted--getting dressed, showering, making a lunch--my job stress seemed so small in comparison. Made me appreciate ME! All the things I want to change I am going to stop worrying about so much. I am just going to love who I am this week--regardless of my shortcomings. I realized how lucky I am. Yes, truly anything is possible.

Greg Laswell Covers EP
This has been a relaxing balm after those insane days. Download it. The best $4.49 I spent all week.

Muscle Milk {Chocolate}
I have been drinking this for breakfast and snacks a bunch. It seriously makes me feel so happy and relaxed after I drink it. Little magic minerals or something. Yummers for a quick snack/meal if you need it. Much more satisfying than the stale vending machine stuff.

A Surprise Porch Decoration and a Day Off
So my cute mother-in-law surprised me with some Halloween decorations and offered to take Mack today. Shane and I went on a much needed date--just us. We went to the Red Iguana and then took in a movie. We couldn't believe this would be our life soon. Just us. We are so excited--but so excited to keep seeing Mack progress. Talked about his future mission, college. All the things we want for him. How proud we are of him. How BLESSED we are to have him. Not trying to wish away his childhood, but loved talking about all of our dreams for him & for us. St George, we will be there soon!
So You Think You Can Dance
Ahhh. It's back:} I so appreciate mind blowing talent--especially talent I don't even remotely possess. Getting so excited for the live show in November with my sisters, Amanda and her family. We are going to have so much fun!!!

JCrew Ribbon Coat
I have been getting so apprehensive about winter. I don't know why. The dark, cold and snow just sound so awful. I am looking for ways to cheer me up about it. Trying to channel twinkly Christmas lights, hot chocolate, and THIS for my closet. So beautiful. So perfect. So coveting.
And lastly, a thought from General Conference from last weekend. Such a gem.

We’ve all felt anger. It can come when things don’t turn out the way we want. It might be a reaction to something which is said of us or to us. We may experience it when people don’t behave the way we want them to behave. Perhaps it comes when we have to wait for something longer than we expected. We might feel angry when others can’t see things from our perspective. There seem to be countless possible reasons for anger…To be angry is to yield to the influence of Satan. No one can make us angry. It is our choice. If we desire to have a proper spirit with us at all times, we must choose to refrain from becoming angry. I testify that such is possible.

~President Thomas S. Monson, School Thy Feelings, Oh My Brother, Oct 2009 General Conference

Creative Getaway

This weekend was such a fabulous start to fall. I have been a little apprehensive about the approaching cold, so definitely needed something to get me excited about the cooling temps & darker nights. This did the trick for sure!

We left on our road trip on Friday afternoon and headed up to Rigby, Idaho. I have been up that way a bunch for campus recruiting trips to BYU-I, but never just for fun, so a total treat. The drive was so nice. Sunny and fallish. That night, we went to a Heidi Swapp Family Mini Book class at the most darling little fudge shop ever. Amazing samples of carmel apples, chocolate pretzels and peanut butter fudge. Couple that with making total creative art, and I was in heaven! I love going to classes by Heidi Swapp--they are super inspirational in every way. I walk away feeling so full of ideas and excitement about creating cute stuff & preserving my family memories. We learned how to use this cool tool to make your own mini books, and painted with this awesome paint from Claudine Hellmuth.

After our class, we checked into my favorite bed & breakfast we usually always stay at for work, The Blue Heron. It is a massive lodge decked out in pine, a river rock fireplace and views of the Snake River that take your breathe away. There is no TV, so we sat in the hot tub, laughed a bunch, FROZE getting out of the hot tub, and slept in the best bed ever.

Breakfast was this! Fab! We then hit the fudge store again for a few yummies to take home and the scrapbook store. Perfect drive home:}

So fun going with my BFF. We had so much fun chatting, eating and creating cool stuff together. Promise we can do it again soon?:}

No apologies

My blogging has been seriously lacking. A massive understatement, but I wanted to get back on track. These little photo templates gave me cause to want to start remembering our stories again. So, am going to start with January. A fitting place to start in August:}

January

You'd be so lean, that blast of January
Would blow you through and through. Now, my fair'st friend,
I would I had some flowers o' the spring that might
Become your time of day

William Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale, Act IV Scene 4

{Starting with the top left hand picture}

Car Accident
I got rear ended by a cute girl that had had her license all of three weeks. It did some major damage to my car, and I was stuck with a rental for about six weeks while my car got re-sculpted. Getting it back after being without it for so long made me realize how much I love that car. Totally shallow, but I don't even care. Driving it home from the dealership that night was pure bliss. It made every single second spent crying over college finals and living in cinder block hell for five years at the U worth it. Yes, it is the ultimate driving machine and worth every single penny:}

Day out at the Gateway
Mack & I spent a day down at Gateway one Saturday. We went to the Apple Store to take an iPhone class, saw a 3-D Dinosaur movie at the Planetarium, browsed Barnes & Noble & had ice cream at Ben & Jerry's. Love spending time with Mack. I realize I am biased, but he is just such a fun person to be with. His little jokes and stories kept me entertained all afternoon. We have been really lucky to have a lot of one on one time. Memories I will remember forever!

Quilts
Amanda's uber generous Mom made Shane & I some super soft quilts. Shane got a U of U quilt, and I got a really cute Hershey's kiss pink quilt. They are so amazing to wrap up in--they just take all of your troubles away:} Thank you Janet!!!!

Game nights
Discovered Time's Up at the Broughs. Made for lots of laughs and major competition. Richard & Joey are the game people of the family--they always have the latest and greatest board game. Excited for our annual family trip to Park City in a few weeks to see what they have in store!

The Car Show
So we LOvE the car show. We have gone every year since I can remember. Love dreaming of the fabulous cars and smelling all that new leather! Mack & Shane were partial to the Bentleys, I had a crush on the new Audi.

Pete
Shane's police dog for the last five years, Pete, passed away this month. He was 9 years old, and had been sick for a few months before he passed away. Shane had so many memories with Pete. Tons of apprehensions, Officer of the Year, drug finds and just all around K-9 awesomeness. It was a really hard day. This picture was taken the night before he passed away. He had a stroke the day before, and was unable to walk, so got to be pushed around in this shopping cart at training. Shane said he was still totally into training that night--barking and wanting to be right in the center of everything. He had an amazing work ethic--he really loved his job. He got his customary cheeseburger that night (basically a tradition of the K-9 dog's last meal), and Shane said he went out fighting. He is missed:}

Lava Hot Springs
Gunderson's invited us to a weekend at Lava Hot Springs. Had never been there before--and it was definitely an adventure! The hot pots were awesome--so relaxing. Super fun to people watch too. There was basically every representation of race, social economic status and some questionable gender. We had a blast hanging out with the Gunderson's and getting away for a few days. Loved these steamy pictures!

Happy Birthday Amanda!

My BFF's birthday is today! So lucky to have her in my life. Here goes a new spin on my birthday shout outs:}

A - Stands for aMazINg. She never ceases to amaze me with her kindness and compassion.
M - Stands for MiLd. Amanda seems to counterbalance my exuberance. She is the voice of reason, the voice of calm. I seem just to relax & my stress is diffused when I am around her.
A - Stands for aRdENt. Amanda is one of the most loyal and unfailing people I know. I know she has my back and will bend over backwards to help me in any way she can. So few people in my life like this. Lucky.
N - Stands for NiCE. Okay, many people are described as nice, but really, Amanda is so nice to people. She thinks of people in ways I can't even begin to explain. Meals, cards, quilts, babysitting, homemade gifts, treats, etc., etc., etc,. Her service to others always makes me want to reach a little higher to be a little kinder to people.
D - Stands for discOUrse. Love, love, love talking to Amanda. My fun gossip friend that I can talk to for hours. She is such an amazing listener, helper, my own personal therapist:}
A - Stands for avANt-GArde. Amanda is so creative, resourceful, always showing me something new and different. She inspires me with cooking, crafting and decorating.

Love you A! I hope you have an incredible day!

For today

Love this simple documentation idea from The Simple Woman's Day Book :

FOR.TODAY June 23, 2009

Outside my window...it is the perfect summer evening. My neighbor is mowing his lawn. All is right with the world on nights such as these.

I am thinking...I need to make a zillion offers tomorrow for Park City Medical Center. Have had such amazing candidates for these jobs. Praying Mack feels good tomorrow about his Spelling Bee!! He is so excited he made it to the school finals. Thinking how I can package Amanda's birthday gift just right.

I am thankful for...the basics--my home, car, central air. Bigger stuff--happiness, upcoming travel, new books.

From the kitchen...Chick-Fil-A tonight in between studying spelling words and practicing piano. Have been making some amazing smoothies though lately for breakfast.

I am wearing...a massive pj dress thing. My house got cold and my work clothes were bugging me today.

I am creating...Whitney's pay it forward gift and a birthday card for Amanda.

I am going...to book a trip to the Four Seasons Scottsdale

I am reading... The Sweet Life in Paris: Delicious Adventures in the World's Most Glorious - and Perplexing - City (Kindle Edition) by David Lebovitz

I am hoping...Mack has fun at his Spelling Bee

I am hearing...the new Pete Yorn album and Mack now resting and playing his DSi.

Around the house...my dog is finally being allowed to be by himself at short intervals in the house. He has done great so far. Fun coming home today to see him sleeping on the couch with no one else around.

One of my favorite things...is that Mack and I were somewhat productive tonight. We did watch a DVR'd episode of Wipeout though. Why do I love that show so much?!?!

A few plans for the rest of the week...A's birthday, Raingutter Regatta, Transformers, Spelling Bee, piano recital, WestFest, fireworks

A picture to share...