Makings

There has been lots of making going on around here. Please remember that I don't have a cool camera, I'm not a self-proclaimed photographer, and that my android phone camera is as good as it's going to get. Just keep that in mind :)

Lovely forever friend (whether she likes it or not) had a birthday on Saturday. Of course she was out of town, which was rude, but when she flew in Sunday night this little lovely was waiting for her. Making your own whiteboards is the best idea ever. It's WAAAAY better than an actual white board which is...well...white. Blah.

For Father's Day I got to make a shirt for my brother-in-law with my beautiful nieces profile. I love it. Maily kept pointing to the shirt and informing everyone that it was her. Of course she still says her own name "MyMee" but we got the idea.

I can't get my computer to switch around the order of the pictures right now. Annoying. Anyway, this is the hallway white board I made for our house! It is perfect for the trillions of wedding announcements we are getting in the mail. It will come in handy when chore charts need to be written for the children.

And here is the proud papa and the star of the t-shirt. She was thrilled to have her picture.

Sorry this is so out of order. Wow. Not my best post.

I just...

• I just wish I were lovely all the time.
• I often wish I hadn't said that thing...as funny as it may have been.
• I just want to be a woman who is always caught up on the laundry, the ironing, and the dirty counter tops.
• I just want to look pretty every day. Why is it that some days, no matter how hard I try, it's just not possible?
• I wish I didn't turn into a sweaty mess so often these days.
• I really really really wish I had two great legs. I shouldn't complain, I've got one great one, which is more than many people can say, but I really miss running, jumping, leaping, and turning like I used to. I miss it really bad on days like today where I have to teach dance for 4 hours. It's like a ton of bricks that yell "HELLO I just wanted you to remember that you can't do all you used to do". Thanks for the reminder.
• I just wish I could keep an indoor plant alive. The one I told you about, from Aaron's funeral, is still hanging on...by a thread. Pray for it. I drowned it tonight...hopefully that will help.
• I just wish that my iPod would reappear in my life.
• I just wish the throw pillows could stay neatly on the couch and that there weren't always beverage rings on the glass of the coffee table.
• I just think it would be really thoughtful of the bed if it would make itself in the morning. That would be thrilling.

BUT

• My house smells like Pine Sol, which means it's clean, and I really like that smell.
• The new dance studio has the fastest and best ever Air Conditioning system which is a wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles.
• Scrapbook paper is 40% off at Hobby Lobby this week. Obviously I restocked my stash and will probably never need to buy scrapbook paper ever again.
• I got to observe a dance class for adults who have down's syndrome today and I think it was the happiest thing I have ever seen.
• Mister surprised me with a new cell phone case which was so thoughtful and it is very very cute. It's pink and flowery. Naturally.
• The Seven Peaks Pass of All Passes is proving to be very fun and useful. It has already created three friend reunions and I've only had it one week! Lots of fun in the sun.
• I got to spend last night and tonight with a whole bunch of wonderful teenage girls and it was awesome. I love that age...maybe because I feel like I still am that age.

So, anyway, I guess life is pretty darn good even though the bed has yet to learn how to make itself and my leg is killing me. I'll take it.

Dear Aaron,

It's days like today that the sting of you actually being gone is deep. Javi and I went over to Mom and Dad's to lay sod in the space that used to have the basketball court. I remember seeing you out the window in our back yard for hours on end shooting, dribbling, and hanging on the hoop. I guess that's part of why you're so good at basketball. When we ripped out the basketball court we gave the hoop to a little boy down the street. Maybe someday he'll be as good as you. On a night like tonight, when we're all outside in the yard, you normally would have made an appearance. It probably would have started with a "hello" and then before we knew it you would have dug in and helped us till the ground, pull the weeds, and redistribute the dirt. Your mom and dad really taught you how to work hard like that. I remember lots of Saturday mornings of mowing the lawn. You would be mowing your lawn too and we'd try not to do the imaginary line separating our houses at the same time. It was always weird because we could never quite figure out where that line was anyway. Sometimes you even edged our lawn which I always thought was so nice. Heaven knows my lawn care skills start and end with the mower.

It was especially weird when your dad and little brother walked over to mom and dad's house tonight and you didn't come with them. I wonder what you were doing while we were all there laughing really hard as Dad was being controlled by the tiller. Maybe you were there laughing too. I wish you had laughed louder.

Anyway, just know that it was weird and it will always be weird. Your absence is ridiculously noticeable on warm summer nights in our little hometown.

I really really really hope you're happy.

-the girl next door

Holiday Prep

I saw this on Pinterest and knew I had to make one for myself...but more homemade.

Source: landeeseelandeedo.blogspot.com via Annalece on Pinterest

Here's my stitched version. I love the lace tied around the frame. It adds a little femininity :)

Happy Holiday Preparations to you and yours!

For the beauty of the earth

On this morning's bike ride of exploration, I turned a corner to find a huge patch of wildflowers just growing right off the sidewalk. It was such a beautiful sight! There are times when I wish I could just call up Heavenly Father and tell him He did a really good job.

Speaking of Heavenly Father, I saw this yesterday and it made my prayers last night LOTS more inclusive :)

Source: None via Annalece on Pinterest

The view from here

This is my rear view mirror's favorite view.

RVM (rear view mirror) and I love the pink cruiser :)

10 Things I Can Control

I feel as if my life is somewhat lacking control lately. Actually this has been going on for quite some time. I think that it is simple to forget what things we control about our lives and all too often we find ourselves muttering the words (either verbally or in our minds) "Because of _____ I couldn't do ____." and "It's not my fault I consumed 3,000 calories today, I had to eat out with my friends." and "I woke up late so I didn't exercise/read the scriptures/make my bed/fold the laundry/pick up my bath towel/start dinner before I left for work/this list could go on and on."

So here is my list in hopes that this will subliminally help me regain control.

10 THINGS I CAN CONTROL EVERY SINGLE DAY

1. I can control what goes into my body. No one is forcing that diet coke down my throat and no one made the nutella jump out of the cupboard at me and into my mouth. I control whether I drink 64 oz of H2O today.

2. I control whether I say morning and night prayers.

3. I control if I exercise each day. Feeling the sunshine on my face while riding my bike or taking a walk/jog means the world for my happiness levels.

4. I control whether or not I take time to study the Book of Mormon, Bible, and/or words of the prophets each and every day.

5. I control what time I wake up. No one is forcing me to hit the snooze button three times.

6. I control how happy my interactions are with my husband. Just because his dirty dishes never made it to the dishwasher doesn't mean that I am handed a coupon "good for one snide remark."

7. I control how happy ALL of my interactions are with ALL people that I come in contact with. I can largely control how each person feels as they walk away from me.

8. I control my money and every single purchase.

9. I control my time. And yes, I control the time I waste too.

10. I control my own growth each and every day. I control whether I am better today than I was yesterday. I control whether I will become better tomorrow or if I will revert back to yesterday.

So friends, this is me regaining control of my life.

Ready, Set, Go.

P.S. This post inspired by this

Absent

Sorry friends. I've been a very absent blogger lately because I have been so busy sewing myself a new summer wardrobe. Remember how during the summer all I want to wear is dresses? Well, I've been busy. Pictures coming soon!

That's a GOOD sign!

Do you see that sign? That is correct...TOMS HALF OFF! You bet your bottom dollar. Chloe bought the gold glitters and my foot is sporting the maroon ones. (super conservative of me, no?) Toms for $29? Couldn't be happier.

Wednesday nights

Around here, on Wednesday nights, you can find me hanging out with the coolest teenagers in town. They really are so fun. Tonight was a night to pass off some Personal Progress value experiences so we decided to pass of THREE under the "Individual Worth" section (found on pages 30-31 of the PP book). We started by having a little devotional about how we can know that Heavenly Father loves us. We looked up some scriptures found in the Bible and the Book of Mormon and wrote about what we learned (passing off Value Experience #1)

Then we passed off another Value Experience (# 6) by creating these darling family trees inspired by this.

And then came the best part. Value Experience #5 says this: "Participate in a dance, speech, music, or drama performance at school, in your community, or at church. How did your participation in this activity strengthen your feelings of individual worth and self-confidence? Record your thoughts in your journal."

So naturally, we had a dance class and I taught hip hop dance to perform for the other leaders in a makeshift dance concert! We had the best time...here's the proof: (ignore my screaming...I couldn't help myself)

Ladies and Gentlemen: the newly formed B7 DANCE CREW! There IS more where that came from...you just wait.