Stylish Blogger Award

 

This little award was given to me by my friend Kristi of Kristi's Kitchen Kreations.

I am flattered and want to thank her for passing it along to me, she is amazing and has an AWESOME food blog.

 

When you are awarded the Stylish Blogger Award, you are required to share 7 things about yourself to your readers... Let's see if I can think of some things you may not already know about me.  Since starting this blog in 2006 I've probably over shared about myself... well let's do it again!

 

#1 I like my steak medium rare. The juicier the better. AND I don't do steak sauce. I don't care how good the steak is I will always dip it in barbecue sauce.

 

#2  I am not a big breakfast person.  I rather just skip it, unless it includes bacon or sausage links... dipped in maple syrup.

 

#3  Pizza is not my favorite thing but my favorite toppings are mushrooms, Canadian bacon and pineapple. Oh and I have to dip my pizza in Ranch dressing.

 

#4 I love winter. Sure it gets old and I wish we weren't cooped up in the house anymore but without winter I couldn't go to bed with a warm rice bag, read a book in front of my space heater, grab a blanket and seat on top of the heat vent when the heats on, enjoy a nice hot bath during nap time or fully enjoy a cup of hot cocoa every morning... in the summer none of these things are enjoyable! Well.. except maybe the cocoa!

 

#5 I will never skydive, bungee jump, cliff jump or even jump off the high dive at the pool. I have no desire, I hate the idea. I guess you could call me afraid. I know I would be fine, but that's one thrill I WILL live without.

 

#6 When I was little {grade school} I wanted to change my name to Whitney. I have no idea why.

 

#7 Annoyingly enough I am a middle squeezer of the toothpaste and always put the toilet paper on the roll the 'wrong' way {hung under not over.}

 

 

And NOW.... I award the STYLISH BLOGGER AWARD to:

 

#1 Erica Thompson

#2 Adrienne Newman

#3 Lacey Kay Ivins

#4 Chelsie Brown

#5 Alison Kincaid

#6 Evelyn Heaton

#7 Jamie Owen

 

Here are the rules!

1. Thank the person who gave you the award

2. Share 7 facts about yourself

3. Award 7 new bloggers with the award

 

And I'm Back!

'speaking alone'

Commenting is one of the most integral parts of blogging: it’s what makes blogging a conversation, not a monologue.

Now. I know I have readers. At least 53 of you.  {you are subscribed.} I may not know who you are, but you do.

I won't bite. Promise.

:)

{new}

So even though you might not care... my trusty eMac was replaced. By Asus.


Here she {my Mac} is. She's been good to me so she isn't going far... just the land of Spare Oom better known in our house as 'Meghan's Room' we always hope she {Meg} might come back...


That's all. You can go now. Bye. Mwha.

Caution: I'm in the Kitchen...

For my own use I have created a blog for the recipes I use often. I have made it available for everyone to see if you are interested...

It's is not aptly named, whereas Jason probably cooks more than I. Alas I do make the menu and he is the best and usually has dinner ready when I get home from work.

Anyhow here is the link.

kate's kitchen

The recipes will appear as I (er..Jason) use(s) them... enjoy.

8 tHinGs

8 things I am looking forward to:

1- A baby girl.
2- October. {my birthday & anniversary}
3- Saturday.
4- Lunch. Dinner. {food in general}
5- Reading my book.
6- Updating my blog.
7- Jason coming home from work. {Yes, today was his 1st day back}
8- Chocolate.

8 things I did yesterday:

1- Tried to visit new Primary children. {they weren't home}
2- Went to the movies with Kara & Meghan.
3- Ate lunch at Lebeau's. {yummy burger & fries}
4- Went to work for an hour.
5- Was grateful for a babysitting husband :)
6- Rented movies for a buck from Books of Yesterday.
7- Helped Meghan move some of her stuff to our house.
8- Put Bracken to bed and watched part of White Chicks {I fell asleep}

8 things I wish I could do:

1- Communicate my feelings without hurting others feelings.
2- ALWAYS have a clean house.
3- Play the piano like my brother.
4- Go on a romantic getaway {with Jason of course!}
5- Leave my son in nursery and have him enjoy it.
6- NOT potty train. Can't it just magically happen?
7- Have the mind set to exercise...
8- Be more motivated in my kitchen. {cleaning & cooking}

8 things I want to do before I die:

1- Attend a concert. {it's true, I've never been}
2- Go on a cruise.
3- Write a children's book.
4- Visit Guatemala.
5- Fly in a balloon.
6- See the Northern Lights.
7- Learn to play "When you say nothing at all" on the guitar.
8- Go scuba diving.

My iPod Tarot Card Reading

1. Put your iPod on shuffle
2. Use the song to answer the question
3. Hit “next”
4. NO CHEATING

1. How am I feeling today?
Just Not Today - Kenny Chesney

2. How far will I get in life?
Forever And Ever, Amen - Randy Travis

3. What is my best friend’s theme song?
Goodbye To You - Michelle Branch

4. What was high school like?
Ironic - Alanis Morissette

5. How will today be?
Rain Is Falling All Around - Primary Songs

6. What is in store for me this weekend?
The More We Get Together - Sesame Street

7. What is the best thing about me?
The Distance - Evan and Jaron

8. What song describes my parents?
Tailor Made - Colbie Caillat

9. How is my life going?
Mercies - Jenny Phillips

10. What song will they play at my funeral?
Must Be Doing Something Right - Billy Curington

11. How does the world see me?
Loosing All Control - Rooney

12. What do my friends think of me?
Vindicated - Dashboard Confessional

13. Do people secretly think I’m good looking?
From Here To Eternity - Michael Peterson

14. How can I make myself happy?
Slide - Goo Goo Dolls

15. What should I do with my life?
Open Your Eyes - Snow Patrol

16. What is some good advice?
Believe - Cherie Call

17. Where will I go in life?
Standing Outside the Fire - Garth Brooks

18. What is my current theme song?
Lonely No More - Rob Thomas

You should try it. It was a laugh!

27 IS old!!!

So according to this finding Jason is right he is as OLD as me now!!! :(

"The BBC is reporting that a new study suggests that our mental abilities start to dwindle at 27 after peaking at 22, and 27 could be seen as the 'start of old age.' The seven-year study, by Professor Timothy Salthouse of the University of Virginia, looked at 2,000 healthy people aged 18-60, and used a number of mental agility tests already used to spot signs of dementia. 'The first age at which there was any marked decline was at 27 in tests of brain speed, reasoning and visual puzzle-solving ability. Things like memory stayed intact until the age of 37, on average, while abilities based on accumulated knowledge, such as performance on tests of vocabulary or general information, increased until the age of 60.'"

makes me SO mad...

I keep getting these stupid automated calls about my current credit card debt... {which I don't have}

at least once a day.

I usually press 9 and it says my number will be removed from the list.

Yeah, right after dialing nine, nine times I figured it wasn't working.

SO.. I dialed 1 to speak with a representative. It told me my wait would be less than 15 seconds.

2 minutes later the music stopped and I heard a click. The call was disconnected.

What the? THEY CALLED ME!!!

I am so angry.

Anyone else having this issue? {The 1st thing I did when we got a new phone number was register it on the National Do Not Call List.. what else can I do?!}

UPDATE:
They just called again, thats twice today. I again dialed 1 to speak with someone, this time it rang several times and someone picked up...

THEM: May I ask with whom I am speaking?

ME: Yes, my name is Kate. I just need my number removed from your list.

THEM: Okay, I will just need you to verify your phone number, area code first.

ME: 435..

CLICK

Oh my...

I have seen this done a couple of times before and thought, "how fun!"
until I tried to do it myself. Harder than it looks...

The rules: Take pictures of each place/item exactly how it is right now. No wiping, moving things out of the way, or any other kind of cleaning up first!

The Kitchen Sink: I cheated. It was empty but for the food in the bottom, eww.
I rinsed and wiped it. {I swore not to cheat again... and DIDN'T!}

The Fridge: outside & in.
{talk about leftovers!}

Laundry: hamper & machines
{I did pull a sweatshirt up over some underwear, I didn't consider that cheating...}

Toilets: Yellow - Downstairs {I REALLY wanted to wipe the seat.. so I did, AFTER!}
& Brown - Upstairs

My Closet

Favorite Room: It is a tie between the rooms with couches! But I did just post a picture of my bench upstairs not to long ago so here is where Bracken and I chill downstairs...
{this was a good way to get the house picked up, those toys are all away now!}

My Favorite Shoes: Right where I found them, in the corner of the dining room.

{as soon as it's spring I'll have a favorite pair of flip-flops!}

What my child is doing Right Now: in actuality he is napping.
{But there is NO WAY I was going to chance him waking up by taking a picture, and these pictures of him playing hide and seek in my closet are oh so fun...}

My Dream Vacation: a resort in Indonesia
{Yeah, right. I guess that's why it's a dream.}

Bush/Obama Hybrid

Kind of creepy, huh?

My Happy Listening

It has been almost a month ago that we got to stay home {or go to our parents’ house} to watch and listen to conference instead of going to our Sunday meetings.

I ought to let you know. I love conference. It seems as if it should be more than 2 times a year that we should get to listen to our beloved prophet speak. {Maybe I should just be better at reading the Ensign…}

I was thus excited when I realized that I could subscribe to the conference talks on iTunes and listen to them over and over on my iPod! {And for FREE}

So I have been. {Listening to the talks in excess}

My favorite thing to listen to, that I have deemed my feel good talk is the message President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave at the General Relief Society Meeting, entitled “Happiness, Your Heritage.”

This is just a very small portion of what I loved about it…

“I am not suggesting that we can simply flip a switch and stop the negative feelings that distress us. This isn’t a pep talk or an attempt to encourage those sinking in quicksand to imagine instead they are relaxing on a beach. I recognize that in all of our lives there are real concerns. I know there are hearts here today that harbor deep sorrows. Others wrestle with fears that trouble the soul. For some, loneliness is their secret trial.

These things are not insignificant.

You are choice daughters of our Heavenly Father, and through the things you create and by your compassionate service, you are a great power for good. You will make the world a better place. Lift up your chin; walk tall. God loves you. We love and admire you.”

If you haven’t already read or listened to it, and you feel like you need to take a happy pill... This will do the trick!

I am what I am.

On the Just Something I Made Blog {a blog on my reader} Cathe blogged about Polyvore.com.
I must say I LOVE it. It is SO SO fun!

This is my first attempt, now I want to see yours!!
{or am I just a really big geek and everyone else thinks this is so lame?}

It was a baby shower...

Rules: Open your pictures file, go to the fourth folder, and then the fourth picture. Post the picture and write a little bit about what was going on!

Well I had to go to the fourth file a whole bunch of times but eventually I got to this picture....


It was exactly one month and one day before Bracken was born. My mom and sisters threw me a baby shower at my mom's house.

I hate the picture. Jason is feeding me. I was always hungry, I probably ate all of his food as well as my own. I look ridiculous.

BUT I got lots of good stuff, some I still use everyday!

6 Truths of Life

1. You cannot touch all your teeth with your tongue.

2. All idiots, after reading the first truth, will try it.

3. The first truth is a lie.

4. You're smiling now because you're an idiot.

5. You soon will send this to another idiot.

6. There's still a stupid smile on your face.

Sorry about this....I'm an idiot and I need the company!!!

You are invited...

Hello!

On Thursday April 17th {that is in 6 days} there will be a Usborne Books Show at my house at 7pm! An Educational Consultant will be there to talk to us about what books will help the kids in our lives fall in love with reading! There will be many books to look at so you can see them before you decide!

I am currently {this means you can log on and buy right now!}
hosting a Usborne Books e-show at
http://www.ubah.com/ecommerce/main.asp?sid=R2716&gid=42431599&HID=HOS109981
{for all of you who would like to be here but are so far away!}
This e-show will close on Monday April 21st.. so if you are interested Act now!

You are also welcome to contact Kirsten Larson Greenwood, she is the Educational Consultant for Usborne Books that will be at my house on Thursday, so if you can't be there and are interested, feel free to contact her!

Kirsten’s email is krstngrnwd@yahoo.com
or you can call her at (801) 294-7292.

Usborne offers over 1400 wonderful titles created to entertain and educate children of ALL ages. Their books are written and illustrated to help children gain a love for learning and progress in literacy.

Please visit the link above to enter the drawing for $50 in free books!

Here are some of My Favorite books for various ages that you can search for on the site, to see why I love them!!!
{remember the ages are just guidelines & often books work for older and younger ages as well}

Babies & Toddlers

That’s Not My... bear, monster, fairy... the list goes on!

Trucks

There’s a Mouse About the House

Preschool & Kindergarten

Surprise Visitors

I Can Draw Animals



Reading

Illustrated Stories for Boys, or Girls

Rumpelstiltskin

Eggs & Chicks

Puzzles & Games

1001 things to spot in the sea {SERIES}



Discovery

Trains


Natural History & Pets
World of Animals


So.. I could go on.. {I am a fanatic about books} but this is getting long.
I am only hosting this party, not becoming a consultant.. so check out the link, and come to my house on Thursday at 7pm to help me out with my one time party!!

{YES! There will be refreshments!}

More to come...

On my USBORNE Book Show!

But first I need addresses for all you local folk!!

My email is kmlthompson@gmail.com or you can leave it in a comment and I will delete it!

If you don't help me out this way I may just have to take drastic measures.. and call you!

For those of you who live hours away {sad} ... You can participate in my book show online!

check it out... Kate's USBORNE E-show

{If you don't live HOURS away... you ARE considered local!! }

What Flower Are You?

I'm a LILY!

You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist.

People see you as their rock.

And they are able to depend on you.

You are a soothing influence.

You can make people feel better with a few words.

Your caring has more of an impact than even you realize.

So they say I'm a softy...

Oh to the things I say I would do if I had a sewing machine!

I am always inspired by Kassie...
and I am not a knotter like so..

{she is simply amazing}

But I have to admit I have been walking around with a potential list of things I could do if I had a sewing machine for a long time..
like years even...

I save random scraps of material, old shirts that I loved and can no longer fit into {sad face}, little pieces from blankets made for Bracken.. lots of cool stuff can be made from this stuff I tell people and they say "okay Kate" and give me that look...

Well I am here to SHOW you what I am talking about...
in case I never get around to actually doing it!

My list:

• Softies: They don't have to be very big so they can be made up of very small pieces of fabric! ~hence my grocery bags full of scraps!~

and they can be any animal I think I can dream up and make believable looking!
( I got this picture from a softies website, NO I did not make it.
As I have mentioned I do not have a sewing machine, and NO patience to do it by hand!)

• Beanbags: they don't have to be very big either! So they can also be made up of very small pieces of fabric!

They can be any shape or size, I personally think stars would be fun..
and so fun to play with with my kiddo!
(This picture I also got from a cool website, so NO I did not make it.)

• Quiet Book: Okay so this one I could probably do without the sewing machine. You got me. I will make this one my goal to start... then maybe I will show that I would maybe possibly actaully use the sewing machine sometimes.
  

(This picture I also got from a cool website, so NO I did not make it.)

• Rice Bags: Because I use mine so much I often need new ones and because
  

they would make great gifts!

(This picture I also got from a cool website, so NO I did not make it. Although I have some that I have made {on my MIL's sewing machine} but this is not a picture of it!)

• Pillows: of two different kinds so far:

(These pictures I also got from a cool website,
so NO I did not make them.)

Okay so now that I have shown you the many things I could do, I will let you know if I ever actually do them. I have many other things I should be doing while Bracken is napping, such as washing bottles, folding all of the clean laundry or even making the bed.

But first I want to show you how
Bracken reacted to being fed Spinach today...

More Please. :)

OH! In other news.. he started rolling over yesterday!

{kassie: how did I do with my title? I am aspiring to be like you!}

County Wide Library

If you live in Cache County and are in favor of a county wide library sign the petition!!!

http://www.petitiononline.com/CACHELIB/petition.html