Goosefraba

Whew, the last of five finals in the bag ... breathe in and enjoy this moment.

If you ever watched "Anger Mangement" with Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson, I'm sure you remember "Don't lose your cool, remember goosefraba."

Little did I know it is a real-life word. Eskimo mothers whisper it to calm their babies. I guess you do learn something new every day :)

So now it is time to head to the mall and start Christmas shopping ....
eek. I thought I enjoyed shopping but NOT REALLY.

Peace be with you during this crazy holiday season.
As I anticipate long lines, no parking, and my endless search for "MindFlex" ...
as my anxiety peaks before I even leave the house ...
as I kick myself [literally] for not taking care of this months ago ....
ahhhhh goosefraba ...
because it is really not the gifts [or lack] of,
it is about spending time and celebrating life with those you love.

merry merry :)

... on a personal note ...

My 94-year old grandfather recently fractured his hip and spent some time in the hospital.
Good news! He is out and both he and my Mom are living with us temporarily.

With radiation taking a toll on him to begin with,
I know his recovery will be long and hard.
(It was so cute to see him come home with his diploma from graduating from treatment. He wanted to make sure my husband saw it and knew he wasn't a baby!)

Patience. Love. Strength.
I know it must be so hard to lose your independence and have to rely on others for help.
We are all learning valuable life lessons together ...
and there are days where my heart breaks but why?
I should continue to celebrate with him and just remember, this is all part of his journey.
Our journey.

My Grandpa
My Hero

The first man I ever saw make googly-eyes at the bikini girls in the commercials.
The first man who ever taught me about initiative, hard work, and perseverance.
I am forever grateful for every life lesson he has taught me and continues to teach me.

a Ninja Hello

Just a hello from our fur kid ~ Ninja.

Oh the things he let's Bubbles* get him into.

Looks like they will be going golfing today :)

*side note: Rayli decided she wants to change her name.  

We must call her Bubbles from now on.

I remember when Jazzy wanted to be called Stefanie ...

kids are so funny.

Have a great weekend :)

Turkey & MakeUp

I hope everyone had a great Turkey Day!
Here's a shot of my hubby's deep fried turkey. Yum!
I still can't believe this year is almost over ...
I'm so ready to say goodbye to 2009 and hello to 2010!

I've been meaning to blog about my "eyeshadow strike" for a while now so here it goes.
Several months ago, I decided to give up eyeshadow and cut down on makeup period.
Why would I do such a thing?

1) I realized I had no "going out" look. It was smokey eyes 24/7.
2) Adult onset acne. Boo.
3) I want to learn how to be comfortable in my own skin.

So it has been black liner only ... just like this.
A lot of people didn't even notice the change ... and now, I don't even remember how to apply eyeshadow when I do have a special night out! Eek!

No big deal right?
Well aside from my bead/crafty things addiction, I kinda have a small obsession with makeup.
Here's my cute *pink* Sephora train case.
Like an upscale Caboodle, remember those? I can't find them anywhere!


Look how much makeup fits in it! Three tiers of awesomeness!
Can you tell I'm a MAC-head?
There's also some Shu Uemuera, Urban Decay, and other random goodies.

I also found a great etsy shop (MixologyMakeup) that offers great mineral makeup. Fun stuff and excellent customer service :)

And today I totally caved in at MAC (Macy's Pearlridge) ...
here's my loot from today's trip to the mall.
Guess I will start wearing eyeshadow again ay?

That wasn't so bad right? Everyone owns this much stuff right?

Until next time blogworld ~ xO

Study, Work, Sleep ... and Smile :)

Wow, I am such a blog-slacker. Boo me.
Things have been so busy with school lately but I must remember to SMILE and enjoy life!
Thankfully, my kids provide me with an ample amount of free entertainment :)

My lil' ham loves to make up random songs and sing them on the webcam.
This keeps her busy while I attempt to clean up my bead room.
No I am not hiding, I am on the floor picking up 3mm crystals. Grrrr.

This song is dedicated to her preschool physical appointment.
Kids say the funniest things!

Creative Juice

Okay so it's finally time for a *crafty* post. Woop woop!

The yummy ingredients:
Vintage lucite discs
Shell flowers
Gold-filled & vermeil beads, wire, chain, & findings

Technique:
Binding (a super duper easy way to jazzy up any jewelry project or component)


I'm pretty happy about how they turned out and I have some ideas for a similar necklace project. I will definitely post pics if it works out ... if not, it will end up in my jewelry graveyard :(

and since we are talking *creative juice,* I must share my daughter's work-in-progress. She's sketching a mural on her bedroom door based on Ed Hardy's tattoo designs. Right now it's in pencil but Grandma took her on a Ben Franklin run for paint so it will be in color soon. I'm glad she's enjoying this creative outlet and I am totally letting her do her own thing on this.


Until next time blog world ...
enjoy life and remember to do things that make you happy :)

Smile :)

I promise to post some new things soon!
It's been a busy month ... anniversary, birthday, fun guest instructor at The Bead Gallery.

Then the not-so-fun busy stuff ... homework, papers, exams!
Just let me survive my Tax exam tomorrow and it will be smooth sailing for at least a week (maybe).

In the mean time, here's a video that makes me smile :)
I had no clue Rayli loved Angelina Ballerina (www.pbskids.org) this much!

Rayli's Jewels

So even though I should have been studying or cleaning house ...

Rayli convinced me it was time to make some jewelry!

[YAY says Rayli!]

So she designed three bracelets that I whipped out for her.

I must say, she likes her jewelry big & chunky (well, for a petite 4-yo) and she insisted on wearing all three bracelets on one arm.

[she must get it from her mama ha!]

Rayli's Charm Bracelet

I chose the chain but she cherry picked all her charms from my stash.

Did I tell you I had a bead/charm/shopping habit?

The fun part was making sure I jump-ringed all the charms onto the chain so they would sit facing the same direction :/

Next were two bracelets made with Swarovski crystals.

Light Rose 6mm cubes (which I was happy to give up since they are my least favorite shape) and my new favorite, the 8mm-ish Graphic Cube. They look like chunks of ice.

Some basic wire wrap, charms and chain ...

I wonder if her older sisters will be interested when they get home.

I must say it was nice making something easy. A majority of my time is spent attempting to work on intricate projects that tend to involve 8,000 feet of wire and a ton of patience. This can explain why I have a drawer full of unfinished pieces. But guess what? I still felt a sense of accomplishment (that "Yay Me!" feeling) finishing these three bracelets. Rayli loved them and that's all that really mattered. So it doesn't always have to be about the level of difficulty ... as long as love and heart are there to back it up - it will always be fabulous :)

Sadly, it's time to head to class and work but I will get those pliers out again soon!

Want to look younger?

Buy a backpack :) Yes, I swear it makes me look 20 years younger ha!

I finally caved in and bought myself a backpack for my school books. The kids got tired of sharing their bags with me and my purse is on the verge of exploding. Eek!

So although we walked into Border's for some Pokemon books for Jazzy, I walked out with this cutesy backpack (and a matching pencil case, big & small notebook and folder). Anyone that knows me can guess why I chose it ...


I am obsessed with skulls!!!
Doesn't it make my school books look fun? NOT! Hey, it's cute but it's no miracle worker.

(and BTW, I now want my kids to become text book distributors when they grow up. Can you believe that's $700 worth of books pictured above?)


So now for my Labor Day AIO wrap-up ...

Bellows Beach was cold and rainy! Here's proof that it's not always warm & sunny here.

Fun but not so much.


So we made up by going to the Mall for some retail therapy and dinner at Sizzlers :)
Steak & Scampi ... sorry, photos of my hives not included.
The things I go through to eat seafood. It could be worse, I could be allergic to coffee.


I promise to post jewelry/crafty pics soon!

Hope everyone had a fabulous 09/09/09.
What a special day especially because Jamie & Jason celebrated their 10th Wedding Anniversary today! A very special occasion for two extra-wonderful people ♥

Through the eyes of a child ...

So I am finally getting around to uploading the pictures Aiyanna took during her Big Island field trip (last school year). It's funny to see life through the eyes of a 5th grader!

Wooden statue butts were a must-see when I was that age too ;)

But she did take some nice shots and it almost makes me wish I had let her borrow the "good" camera. I think photography is such an awesome way for kids (and adults) to express themselves. There's no better way to capture a memory or feeling forever.

The coolest thing about putting a kiddo behind the lens is ... an untainted point-of-view. It's so refreshing to see things with the sense of awe, wonderment, and admiration of a child. If we really took the time to step back, we would also see how amazing & photography-worthy every little piece of this world is :) That makes me want to get my "good" camera fixed right now or at least charge the battery for my not-so-good camera.

So that's my little blurb for today ~ off to school now! Maybe my next picture will be of my textbooks ergh!

Here are a few more of Aiyanna's pictures of the Big Island ...

Have a Beautiful Day ♥

After the kids are tucked in ...

I get to watch all of my recorded shows.  Honestly, it's been a while since I really followed a show.  I usually catch whatever the kids are watching (Aiyanna's been hooked on the Food Network and Animal Planet lately).  

Surprisingly, James found this new series on HBO called Hung while channel surfing.  Now, we make sure the new Sunday episodes are recorded.  It's nice that there's something we can both watch together :) ... not to mention Ray Dreker is a hottie!  

Hung in a nutshell...

I am also hearing a lot about the True Blood series which I have yet to see.  There's only Season 2 episodes on HBO-on-Demand, so I am holding out until I can get Season 1.

Let me know if there are any other must-see TV that I'm missing!  I feel so out of touch since I hardly watch TV, listen to the radio, or read the paper.  Please fill me in ... don't let me enjoy this state of ignorant bliss ;) 

New Hair Cut!!!

For Mrs. Yum Yum! It's funny how a "puppy cut" actually seems to melt the dog years away. We got Mrs. Yum Yum in 2002 (she's the same age as Jazzy) and Aiyanna got to name her.
It was either Mrs. Yum Yum or Fuzzy Gingersnap Cracker.

(grooming by Yuppie Puppie at Salt Lake Shopping Center)

Check out Aiyanna's new grill!
The tween has been begging for braces since the 2nd grade. When I say begging, I mean BEGGING! Every Christmas, birthday, special occasion, allowance payday = BRACES! So, she finally got them and she is thrilled! She even takes pictures with me now :)

And I know I may be late on this trend but I am loving plaid lately!
At first I thought I may be too round to wear anything patterned but I'm trying to get over it. Those who know me would be shocked to see me in something other than a black tee and jeans
... oh how I wish I were fashionable!

Yes, I do still love making jewelry!
But no, I haven't had time ... phooey!

I did manage to use these awesome pendant charms that J&J brought back from Cali. The star was a gift from cupcake Jamie :) and the two keys were just too cute not to get.
I love the layered look ... and I love baby rolo chain too!

These are the only kinds of projects I have been able to squeeze in lately. I did wire wrap the clasp and ring on... so that counts right ;) ?

Dear Bloggie ...

Dear Bloggie,
I'm sorry I've been neglecting you yet again.
It's not you, it's me.
Not only has the misplaced camera battery charger put a strain on our relationship.
I have also met someone else.
Please forgive me and...
blame the
Banzai Roaring Rapids Water Park!

It's awesome to not have to spend a gazillion hours packing up for a beach trip.
(Although beach days are priceless!)
And like lil' Rayli says, "Heyyyyy guys! There's no sand in my booty, this thing is aweeesome!"
Gotta love kids.

It's also nice to see the "tween" out and playing with her younger sibs.
She's even smiling :) Yay!

Who said you can't swim on your front porch and have grilled hot dogs under the carport?
Nothing beats fun, sun, and a clean restroom nearby. Ha!

*side note: notice that orange & white motorcycle in the background. that's J's new baby (I've been replaced). Now he has two bikes ... but yet only one butt to ride them with.
I better not hear a peep about how many beads (or shoes) I have.
Not a single peep.

YouTube-a-holic

I've caught the YouTube bug again!
With all those clickable links, what's a girl to do???

... dream she could dance like this ...



... and sing like this ...



I could watch these videos for days!

Creative Chaos?

Maybe I like to call it that because it makes it sound purposeful.

But the truth is, nothing creative has been going on in my bead-room/office for a while. Sadly, the only thing I do when I come in this room is clean, work (on non-fun stuff), and occasionally cry.

So maybe by forcing myself to post "before" pictures, I will feel more inclined to get organized so I can happily post "after" pictures. I would also love to hear your tips on organization &/or de-cluttering. I have soooooo many beads, it's ridiculous!

*** WARNING: serious chaos pictured below (this chick needs help) ***


Okay, so I warned you. I will surely keep you updated on any progress I make. My goal is to get organized so the only thing I can think of when I'm in this room is ... making jewelry or just being creative.

... and since we are on the topic of posting scary pics ... here's one of James getting captured by Jason (from Friday the 13th) haa!

I ♥ Photo Booth

Ever since I bought our Mac, PhotoBooth has been a household favorite!

With the click of the mouse ... I can be "normal" Mommy ...


... or "take me to your leader, I come in peace" Mommy.


You know the kids have a blast and I've learned a lot about them through this process. For example, I didn't know Rayli was secretly an evil genius ...


... and that Jazzy was the "brains" behind her operation to take over the world!


Awesome :)

Fairs are fun ... for who?

Definitely not everyone! Here I am cracking up at 3am looking through some old pictures I took at the fair. I am convinced this ride provides the best entertainment there. Why??? Let's take a closer look at this picture (click on the pic to super size it) ...


I love how the Dads (my husband is the one in the hat) are having a blast and the kids ... well, not so much lol! I'm sure Rayli will appreciate that Mommy captured 30 shots of her finest moment at the fair!

but she wasn't alone ... can you spot the unhappy kid?




I guess Rayli and Jydon take after their motion-sick Mommy. Yes, take me to Six Flags with you. I'm great at holding purses/bags, taking pictures, and grabbing refreshments :) It's always nice to have a ride-phobic friend like me!

I'm here :)

Wow, has it really taken me over two months to post my first "real" blog entry?!! I guess I was waiting for time ... free time .. to learn everything I need to know about blogging before jumping in. It has always been this "I'm gonna suck at this" fear that holds me back. Ergh! I still don't know a thing about blogging but I just want to let loose ... and post away :)

(It also helps that I found my camera charger, actually took some pictures, and semi-fixed my internet connectivity) ... things are looking better already.

Thought I would post a fun summer beach pic of my four kids. They are headed back to school tomorrow ... yes, already! This officially makes me Mommy to a 6th, 2nd, and 1st grader.


Lil' Rayli (or "Way-li" as she says) will be an only child tomorrow when the kids are in school. She has two reactions when this normally happens: 1) bounce off the walls screaming "the only child rocks" or 2) angelic ... meek as a mouse. For those that know Rayli, I know #2 seems difficult to believe! We will see :)