Friendship and Feelings...

Have you ever had a friendship that just fizzled out? You can't put your finger on the exact reason/reasons it's fizzled, but you lay awake at night and in your heart hope and pray that it wasn't something you said or did. OR...have you ever had a great friend move away and slowly watch your friendship change as the years go by and your connection fades. I am having both of those experiences right now. A friendship that has just fizzled out and another friendship that has changed with distance. Frankly, I am sad about both of them. I miss a dear friend that moved away but sense that she is content with the changes in her life and has made new friends in her new home. I miss a dear friend who is still here but no longer feels the need for our friendship like I do. And I am sad that at my age I am still feeling insecure about fitting in...like I am 13 years old and back in junior high.

Scapbooking and chocolate...

I like chocolate a lot more than I like scrapbooking! But if I can eat chocolate while I am scrapbooking it makes the time spent worthwhile and really enjoyable! Sometimes I can eat a whole large chocolate bar because it takes me so long to put a layout together. It's like a man we hired years ago to tape and texture our basement. He would tape and texture for awhile and then have a little swig out of his thermos! Straight from the thermos, mind you, and I don't believe it was coffee in there. I do believe that it made the time spent taping and texturing..well, more worthwhile, if you get my meaning! He and I have a lot in common. Here is a little layout I have been working on for the past few days. The best part about it is that 2 of my grandchildren are in the pictures. Cute, cute kids!

Some of My Favorite Things...

I have never been a huge Oprah fan. I feel a bit witchy saying this. After all she did just build a 40Mil. school for "young women of promise" in Africa AND wore a fabulous hot pink gown to the opening. Sheesh, maybe that's why I don't like her. Who wears a designer gown to a school opening? Oh yeah..Oprah! And the earrings! Did you see them? They probably cost another 40Mil. Seriously, the biggest diamonds I have ever see dangling from someone's ears. Gianormous!!!! Anywhoo...with that said I am now going to steal an idea from her and her gianormous earrings. And since I am pretty certain she is never going to read my blog, I won't get into any copy-right infringement...lawsuits...men in black at my door...issues. So with out further delay...Ta-Da...introducing my very own favorite things list! Honestly, these are things that I cannot live without! And at the end of the blog I am going to give each of you each of these for your very own! Oh, I almost forgot...I AM NOT OPRAH and you are getting nothing!

Oil of Olay...That's right! Simply Oil of Olay. Believe me when I say this--I have tried a lot of expensive skin care products over the past 20 years. But my daughter, Shelly, got my started on Oil of Olay Regenerist products and I can not live without them. You can get them anywhere, no ordering from an independent consultant, making a trip to the mall,etc. When you are buying groceries at your local Walmart pick up a few of these products. Just try the Moisturizing cleansing cloths and you'll be hooked. Heck, try all of the Regenerist products. They're reasonably priced, and folks, they really work. My skin has never looked or felt better. Seriously!

My Bathroom Sink...This sink is a dream. When we added onto our home last year we put this new sink in our bathroom. It is large rectangle shape and very, very, deep. It is so great. It is a Kohler brand and we bought ours at Home Depot. Every woman needs a sink like this! Super big...super great. AND your husband will love it too!

White dishes...I am in love with white dishes! Why? Because they go with everything. Every holiday/celebration, every tablecloth/placemat, just everything. White dishes are timeless. I own 3 different sets and they mix and match so well. You can feed 30 people at a sit-down dinner and your tables look coordinated and put-together even though there are different dishes on each table.

L. Claiborne Handbags...The best handbag investment I have ever made was about 15 years ago when I bought a Liz Claiborne handbag in SLC. I have been hooked ever since. They are so well made and so classy. Currently I have a black and a red one. This red one is my absolute favorite. Believe me, I will get sick of it long, long, long before it wears out! They are worth every penny you pay and if you watch for them, sometimes you can pick up a bargain at TJ Maxx or Ross.

Lampe Berger...This beautiful bottle comes from France and every women should have one in her kitchen, bedroom, and bath! :) It works just like a candle but without the constant worry of an open flame. You fill it with oil and an alcohol neutralizer, light it and within minutes your home smells heavenly. The oil comes in different flavors but one of my favorites is the orange-cinnamon. My daughters gave this to me as a gift and I have them to thank for the simple pleasure of good smells!

Well, that's about it. I have a few more things that I couldn't live without (like a huge roasting pan that we inherited from my husband's aunt) but I am sure you have heard enough from me for today! What are your favorite things?

Sneak Peek...

We are reworking our spare bedroom. I can't say redecorating because we are using the same beds and armoire that have been in the room for awhile. What I am going to do is repaint the walls in the yummiest green you have ever dreamed of; make new quilts for the beds; and bring together some other elements to make the room feel cozy and inviting!

As you can see the fabric for the quilts is divine (beyond divine really) and I have a bunch of darling things to put on top of the armoire. I have a collection of Boyd's bears that I am going to put away in the armoire for awhile. I sure hope it doesn't hurt the poor bears feelings, but they just aren't what I am looking for in this room. I am also going to display some pictures of my three oldest daughters in their wedding dresses in a fabulous antique-ish frame(meaning it isn't really an antique just looks like one). I can't wait for you to see the room when it is finished along with some other things I am sewing to make it the yummiest room ever...but for now here is just the sneak peek!

Cinnamon Bears...

You gotta love 'em! I know I do. In fact I can't remember a time in my life when I haven't loved them. But for the month of January...none. I will not be eating any cinnamon bears. NOT EVEN THE CHOCOLATE COVERED ONES or any candy at all! Why? Because my friend Jamie and her sister started this "give up something for a month thing" and I decided in a "french pancake instead of oatmeal moment" that it was a good idea. I swear it was the whipped cream and strawberries on top of the french pancakes that muddled my brain and therefore my good judgement. There is no other explanation. AND I made a commitment in front of 4 other women that for 2007 I would give up something every month! Mind you, these are not things that are necessarily bad for you, these are just things that might be bad for you(like cinnamon bears) or not bad for you at all(like reading a novel). The point is to give them up for a month and contemplate their value in your life. Can you live without it for a whole month? Do you appreciate it more because you lived without it for a month? That sort of thing. Oh no, I can't type any longer...my hands are shaking...my face is sweaty...my head is spinning...cinnamon bear withdrawal...help me...pleasssse....

"Do Over" Day!

Remember when you were a child and the game wasn't going your way so you would shout, "Do Overs" and get a second chance? Well, January 1st is a "do over" day for me. Mistakes made during the past year can be learned from, goals and resolutions for the coming year can be made and life can move forward in both a postive and exciting way! I just love it! I feel so powerful! In 2007 I have made some goal/resolutions to be a better wife, mother, grandmother and friend. I also want to take better care of both my spiritual and physical needs. Oh and cook more. I have become a lazy homemaker! So let the new year begin...I'm ready!