These are a few of my favorite things...

Remember how teenage magazines often show the contents of celebrity handbags? A very basic marketing ploy, but effective none-the-less. Well, I'm no celeb but I thought I'd share my beloveds with you. Keep in mind, some of these things don't actually go in my handbag (i.e. the item that melts), I am just glad I don't have to live without them.

I.love.this.stuff. I constantly have at least one, oftentimes two, containers of this on my person. As winter began, my lips felt like they were falling off of my face. I got a couple containers of this for FREE and I will be happy to pay whatever they ask me to when I run out.

We all know how much I love TOMS. We all know that some of our engagement photos revolved around HIS burlap pair and HER silver sparkly pair. Then the Mister went out and bought the gold sparkles for the Lady. "So they'll match your ring" he says. Love him.

My hair would break off into tiny little frizzy pieces without this bottle. I actually need it.

SONIC ICE! I am definitely the kind of girl to go to Sonic Drive through just to get a Route 44 full of pebble ice. Wow. Love.

Ok. Ok. These aren't really MY favorite things because I don't actually have either one of these, but I like to dream about the day when I will have a fancy-schmancy phone that does more that just makes phone calls. It sounds fun.

Finally, my current favorite things are my books. If I had the chance, I would sit in the big chair, named 'the throne' in the living room and never move all day all in the name of a good book. I thought that I would only be appropriate to share my current favorites in case you are in need of a good read.

Did I mention I've taken up stitching? I have no idea what I'm doing. Never been taught so I just make lots of stitches to make it look neat. In my typical "I-can't-follow-a-pattern-or-recipe-or-any-instructions" style, I obviously don't have a pattern so I just drew one up. Typical.

No. I did not stitch this. This is hilarious and oh so not true.

And this is another favorite. My actual handbag. I had my eye on this puppy almost a whole year ago but would never spend the $ on it. Out of the goodness of my dear friends heart, I received it as a gift during the summer time and it hasn't had a day off since. Give me ruffles and metallics and I'm content. This lovely does both.

So, anyway, that's my handbag of necessities. (Actually, not really necessities, just things that make me smile) Don't be surprised when you see me and I really do have a pair of shoes, a couple books, a bag of stitching, and two containers of lip gloss in my purse. A cup of Sonic ice in my hand, leave-in-conditioner on my head, and dreams of fancy gadgets circling my little brain. It happens more than you might imagine.

P.S. Clicking on the pictures will take you to the websites where each item is available MUCH cheaper than I bought them for. Happy Shopping!

Dear You,

I have got to think of a different way to say ¨Dear Journal.¨ It just feels incredibly elementary to me. So today, it´s ¨dear you.¨

I could drink a gallon of orange juice right now which is odd because I´ve never been a huge orange juice fan. I may have to go to the store as soon as the current gallon is gone.

Everytime I see the preview of Piers Morgan, on CNN, ask Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian ¨when people say you´re untalented, how do you respond to that?¨ I laugh really hard.

I guess that until we work hard to make changes in the world, we have no right to complain about it´s current condition.

This last weekend was one of those that made me realize how grateful I am for my life, love, human relationships, a warm bed, and the problems that I have.

I think I´ll make my own throw pillows since I can´t find any that match that blasted pink/red color in the bedspread.

I LOOOOVE when a new student walks in the studio and can sing on pitch AND belt. Oh mama. I´m in love.

I can´t wait for the new painting from Em to arrive at my door. I´ve been waiting very patiently and laughing every time I remember what the painting says.

My mouth is still full of angst needing more orange juice but my current gallon is now gone. That´s a terrible thing.

As professional as they may seem, black graduation gowns aren´t all that flattering on the new legislators (or the old ones, for that matter).

Husband finally just walked in the door, so I´m out.

Love, me

Dear Journal,

Image via propitching.com

I'm going to tell you something. There are a lot of things that I just can't figure out. Daily I'm stopped in my tracks to try to figure out how and why things happen or people do things. I bet people wonder the same things about me too. So here you have it, the top things that I just don't get.

• I really don't understand the minds of kidnappers. What in the world makes someone feel that they have the right to TAKE someone else. How in the world does that seem ok?
• Road rage. Explain to me the point of yelling really loud, making obscene signs, and being angry at someone that you don't even know. We thought talking to ourselves was weird? How about YELLING by ourselves in our cars? Hilarious.
• Perhaps my top misunderstanding is the creation of "the list". Remember how people make a list of what they want in a spouse? This is completely unbelievable to me. How dare we make a list of things that someone else has to be! As far as I'm concerned, the only person we have the right to make a "list" about is yours truly. It is so important to know what you want and what you don't want, BUT it is silly beyond belief to make a check list of how someone else has to be. That cracks me up.
• Finally, I do not understand my need to shop. I just want to every day. I don't even feel the need to buy something everyday, I just want to wander around stores. That is weird.

Ok. There you have it. I don't get it. Not at all.

Dear Journal,

If I were a photographer, I would always have the loveliest pictures on my blog.

If I were a chef, I'd be really chubby.

If I had to start a reality t.v. show, it would have something to do with "The Real Housewives" and it would have something to do with Utah and it would be brilliant.

If I had loads of money, I would give lots to research a new need I just found out about last night. Read more by clicking on the "I Love Lucy Project" button on the left.

If I had to leave the country tomorrow, I would get on the first flight to Spain to visit the Mister's hometown. Directly following it, I'd nab momma and we'd head to Rio. She loves that place.

If I had the chance, I'd be in school for the rest of my life...minus the tests.

If I could be be really athletic, I'd practice really hard at soccer. The Mister would like that.

If I had to have a dog, I'd have a little one (probably a yorkie) and I would DEFINITELY dress it up and put bows in its hair. But I won't have a dog ESPECIALLY if it wakes me up like Mister's alarm.

If it weren't weird, one of my dearest friends, "L", who frequents our apartment, would probably just move in with the Mister and myself. We love it when she's here. We have loads of good times.

But instead, I'm a teacher. I teach kids to feel good about themselves via their voices and performing. And today, I was brought to tears three different times because I was so proud of those sweet, darling, vulnerable little people. I love to teach. I love those little peeps. They probably think I'm crazy for crying when they do wonderful things, but I can't help it. It just happens.

Anyway, I just really love what I am. I'm quite thrilled about my job and my life and my relationships.

So, goodnight dear journal. Maybe this journal thing won't be so bad after all.

Retracing my steps

Since being called into the Young Women Organization at church, I've joined forces with the wild teenagers and begun my Personal Progress Program all over again. You see, P.P. is something that teenage girls who are a part of our religion work on from the time they are 12-18. We focus on "values" which are FAITH, DIVINE NATURE, INDIVIDUAL WORTH, KNOWLEDGE, CHOICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, GOOD WORKS, INTEGRITY, AND VIRTUE. Click HERE for more information on the program. The program centers around study, goal setting, and service and what three things could I need more of right now? Anyhow, the idea that I am struggling with the very most is that I have to keep a JOURNAL.

REALLY??

I swear that when I first completed P.P. when I was a wee lass that the whole journal thing wasn't required. Was it? Did I honestly keep a journal at some point of my life? That just really doesn't sound like me.

January 17, 2011

I was awakened this morning by my FAVORITE sound. Actually there are not many sounds that I dislike more than this one. The barking of a dog. Hold up, we don't have a dog. Luckily, the Mister has a dog barking alarm on his phone which he proceeded to hit snooze on every five minutes for an hour and a half. By the time I had been awoken 19 different times by the same non-existent dog, I was ready to bust a cap on the next furry creature that crossed my path. (Is that how the kids say that? "Bust a cap?") So I stormed over to the dresser to get ready for the gym while Mister got out of bed. Mister then proceeded to trip over a drawer that I had left open and cut his leg. Isn't it amazing how we always break even?

Mister: 1 / Lady: 1

Maybe these kinds of entries aren't exactly what the Personal Progress people had in mind.