If We Didn't Laugh, We'd Surely Cry!

If you have ever seen the movie He's Just Not That Into You, then you will be familiar with this clip. Being dumped is never fun, but this clip makes it SO funny! Instead of asking who can relate with this clip, I ask...who can't relate with this clip! (I am not trying to be insensitive, but seriously...can't we laugh about something during the dumping process??) It has been one of my all-time favorite clips from the movie. I just watched this movie the other day and I felt like sharing this today.

And, by the way, this is by sheer coincidence that I blog about this today ;) I've been wanting to share this funny moment with you for a while...promise!

If it doesn't work you may have to try this link! It is worth it, I promise!

Hope you laughed as much as I did! Hey, if we don't laugh we'll cry...right?

My Favorite Things Part 3

Ok, ok, by now, you are probably tired of my long lists of favorites. Sorry! But, here is my list for this year. For being a tough year, I have been very blessed. (Remember Oprah's "Favorite Things" episode? Too bad I'm not rich like her, I'd probably give Disneyland trips to the whole audience. So, apologies by blog audience. I cannot give you a trip to Disneyland...plus, I mentioned that already in my first list at number five). Anyway, enjoy!

Here is what I am posting for 2010...

1. Relief Society
2. Visiting Teaching
3. Crafts
4. Hot Glue
5. Club 33 and those who appreciate it
6. Missions
7. Letters from Missionaries (Hank & Ciara)
8. Whittier, for allowing me to come back!
9. Kathy, for being a great friend
10. Distractions (the good ones)
11. Having a wireless mouse
12. General Conference
13. Those who re-taught me how to sew
14. Finally, having a hobby
15. Blogs
16. Postcards from friends that remind you of old memories
17. Joann’s
18. Post-Its
19. Clearance Sales
20. Reflections of Christ Music
21. Working body joints (like ankles and wrists)
22. Office supplies
23. Having different colored flip flops
24. The Joseph Smith Translation
25. Testimony meetings that move you deep down inside
26. Bath & Body Works lip gloss (yummy!)
27. Planners
28. Swatting a fly on your first swing of the swatter
29. Holidays/breaks from school & work
30. Registering for classes at ASU for the last time!
31. Playing “Guess-the-Song”
32. MarioKart (yes…I am the best)
33. Finishing homework ahead of time
34. The smell of Joann’s & Michael’s
35. Yodipity (and other places like it)
36. Power naps, and finding time to take them
37. Prep time
38. Getting into bed after a long, busy day…whew…got through it!
39. My day-by-day Disney calendar
40. The Apprentice
41. Listening to past talks by our General Authorities (when they were a tad younger :)
42. Green Eggs & Ham (especially when my dad reads it)
43. LOST
44. Living in Arizona. The heat is so comforting.
45. Watching friends and family embrace and love the Gospel.
46. Joshua 1:9
47. People, like Maria, who say the right thing when others around you doubt
48. Playing (what little I know) on the piano
49. Home videos
50. Second, third, fourth, and fifth chances (and sometimes more)

You did great! Thanks for sticking through it. And, thanks for letting me post so much. Things just seem better when I vocalize (or publicize) my gratitude. I have much to be grateful for.

My Favorite Things Part 2

Here is the second list of "Favorites." I posted this in 2009. Again, you do NOT have to read them all. I am just trying to keep them all in one spot. But, I am going to post a new list of favorites this year.

Here is what I wrote in 2009...

Last year, I made a list of things that were my "favorite." Or things that I am most grateful for. I made it to 60 last year, and mentioned that I might make it to 100 soon. I have finished that list to 100. So, listed below are my favorite things #61-100. Everything that I listed last year can be found in my other note.

Again, you don't have to read them all. This is mostly for me. However, I do challenge you all to create a list for yourself. You don't have to post it if you don't want to because these things can be personal too.

I apologize that I mention a lot of Disneyland. I did this in my last note too. I could probably make a list of 100 of my favorite Disneyland things. Just look at my Disney note and you'll know.

Here they are!

61. Red hair (Thanks NaElle!)

62. “And When October Goes…” by Barry Manilow (A tradition on our family to listen to that song after every Halloween)

63. My laptop

64. Pink (the color)

65. Chapstick-the smell good sparkly kind that I don’t get very often because I’m cheap

66. Hoppin’ Music-the kind that you play while you are getting ready for something really fun!

67. My body pillow

68. The moon! I love the moon!

69. The clouds! I LOVE clouds!

70. Crossing the Arizona/California state line

71. Emails from Lucy in China

72. A clean room (like REALLY clean. After hours of cleaning out, under, and between)

73. My kindergarten class photos (they grow so fast!)

74. Buy the card game. It’s a Jackson classic.

75. The hymn “There is Sunshine in My Soul.” I even love the Singles Ward Soundtrack version.

76. Getting into bed after you’ve just cleaned the sheets and falling asleep to the smell of clean laundry

77. In N Out Animal style French fries

78. CES Firesides

79. New purses

80. I Love Lucy

81. Cooking w/ an apron. I feel so domestic!

82. Going to the temple inside and out

83. On the way to Payson the 87 goes up some hills and then opens up to a valley just before you drive down the other side of the hills. I like that part.

84. Doing Christmas break puzzles with my family

85. Seeing one of my kindergarteners outside of school and the bewilderment on their face.

86. Sense & Sensibility

87. Finding Hidden Mickeys at Disneyland

88. Rosa’s Mexican Grill

89. Panda Express

90. Flying in an airplane and looking out the window at the clouds and earth

91. Realizing that change can be great!

92. Ice skating (recently discovered in past weeks!)

93. Old photos that people post on Facebook

94. Playing Hearts on the computer

95. The completion of another semester

96. New children’s books

97. Fresh, crisp, bright days

98. When prayers are answered/knowing that they will be answered

99. My testimony of the Gospel.

100. That I can find 100 things to be grateful for and still have more in mind.

My Favorite Things Part 1

Please excuse this post if you've read it already or if you've seen it too many times now. I posted this on Facebook two years ago. I debated over it, but I have decided to put them all on my blog so that I can keep them all in one spot. So, sorry about the LONG list. You do not have to read all of these. However, I am going to add a third part this year. A brand new list of Favorites.

Here is what I wrote in 2008...

Being November, and thinking about what I am grateful for, I decided to make a list of my favorite things. Of these, I am very grateful! They help me to find joy in the journey! These are in NO particular order. Just some things that have come to my mind. As time goes on, I believe I will add more.Who knows, maybe make it to 100.

Two of my favorite things in one photo.

My family and Disneyland!

No pressure to read ALL of them, but I challenge YOU to think of things that are your favorite, and post it in a note!

1. The Gospel
2. Christmas Music
4. The smell of Crayola Crayons, and ONLY Crayola Crayons.
5. Disneyland!!
6. Google
10. Harry Potter (love it more than Twilight...sorry!)
11. Betsy Brannon Green books
12. The feeling of being dressed up...like I do THAT very often...
13. Christmas Eve
14. The smell of new cars
15. The smell of shoes stores, esp Payless
16. The temple lights
17. Summer nights
18. The Office!
19. My dad's singing voice
20. Singing Disney songs with Carla
21. Mornings that feel like Saturday
22. My room cleaning routine
23. Thunderstorms
24. Going to Fry's with my dad
25. A family chat after dinner
27. Sunday comics
28. My "reality" shows: American Idol, Amazing Race, Deal or No Deal, etc
29. Cookie Dough
30. Getting asked on a date (with someone you LIKE...rare for me :)
31. Getting emails from far away friends.
32. O Holy Night
33. Pictures
34. Thanksgiving movies
35. Bottled Purified water. I love Aquafina. No else does, but I love it
36. Toe Socks and Filp Flops
37. The story of Ammon. I love Ammon's story in the Book of Mormon, and also Lamoni's Father's story. How he said he would give up all his sins to know God.
38. Leisurely Class time
39. New Yearbooks
40. The smell of coffee
41. Flying
42. Roller Coasters.
43. Fast Trains
44. Looking at high objects or buildings
45. Licking cheeto cheese and BBQ wings sauce off my fingers. Ha Ha
45. Havasuapi
46. Car rides to California
47. My scar
48. Hot chocolate
49. My dad's hand
50. Trick or Treating
51. Pedicures
52. Our stake
53. Girls Camp
54. Teaching
55. Driving Alone and singing in the car
56. Pigtails
57. Clean Carpet
58. Card Game nights
59. Arizona sunsets
60. Disney Movies!!

Wow, I'm impressed, you've made it all the way through my list! If you start one I'll totally read about your favorite things!

Fabric Pumpkins

I found a super cute craft on Rachael's blog. I wanted to try it out and this is what I created! Disclaimer: My pumpkins are not as cute as Rachael's! Hopefully, next time, I will have better ribbon and sticks to use. But, still, they are alright for a late-night craft on a Friday, I guess.

(And, thanks to the sister-in-law who inspired these! I don't know who you are, but thanks!)

Here is what it looked like before I started:

I forgot about the newspaper part, but I wrapped it in a plastic bag. (I just know that a liquid spill is inevitable.)

Like I said, my ribbon was a problem. Too thin, too thick, too bright, too dark, etc. So, it wasn't even worthy of taking a picture of. Let's skip to the end, shall we?

Here they are!

Like I said, not cute like Rachael's...

(and if you need reminding here you go :)

But, I love 'em!

When October Goes...

It is Halloween again! When I was in high school, I remember going to a big Mountain View vs. Westwood game on Halloween. On the way home, my dad played a song by Barry Manilow. "When October Goes" has since become a Jackson family tradition. We listen to it every Halloween after everyone is home from their festivities.

You can listen to the song here, but if not, you can read these lyrics:

And when October goes

The snow begins to fly

Above the smokey roofs

I watch the planes go by

The children running home

Beneath a twilight sky

Oh, for the fun of them

When I was one of them

And when October goes

The same old dream appears

And you are in my arms

To share the happy years

I turn my head away

To hide the helpless tears

Oh how I hate to see October go

I should be over it now I know

It doesn't matter much

How old I grow

I hate to see October go

When I was in China, my dad called me and after I answered I heard this song being played. It was so special to me that my dad timed the call so that my Halloween would be ending, even though theirs was just beginning.

I am just beginning to understand the lyrics to this song, but I know that with each year I live I will appreciate them more and more.

Here is a Halloween a long time ago, when I was in kindergarten. Ciara and Hank are pictured too.

Time goes on. And here I am this Halloween with my mom.

And here I am with my dad.

I hope you've had a great Halloween! I am excited to enjoy the rest of the holidays approaching. I am also anxious to see what the rest of my future holds.

Eye Can See You!

Have you ever seen Pirates of the Caribbean? Remember the pirate who always gets his eye knocked out? This is in honor of him. Oh, and Halloween :)

This is what I was going for:

Here is the official recipe.

I have made Oreo Truffles many a time. So, I applied that recipe to this one. It is almost identical. (With the exception of the eyeball part.)

After the Oreos and cream cheese were mixed together...

Oh, I am still mixing....

I molded them into little cookie dough-like balls.

(photo taken by Jeri)

Then, while they chilled for a little while, I made the iris'. Some are sour and some are plain.

Carla called the sour ones "infected." Not only is it creepy that we are eating eyeballs, but infected ones?? That is just gross...but, hey, anything in the name of Halloween, right?

Here is 2/3 of the project.

Here is the last 1/3. Melted white chocolate. (Regular milk chocolate is used for regular Oreo Truffles. In this case, who wants a black, infected eye? Too much for me to handle this time)

And then...(drumroll) The final product!

I finally came up with a semi-easy way to coat them in chocolate. Usually, it is a challenging task. But, I figured it out! Toothpicks, a large fork, hour of chill time, and a spoon as backup. I promise, it works. That is, unless you drop it. Like I did. Don't do that.

Of course, I had to take a picture like the Disney people did. But, I am no Jeri.

Sugar Cookies

One day, I will master the art of sugar cookie making! Although I must say, these turned out much better than I anticipated.

My dough wasn't quite as cookie-cutter friendly as I'd hoped.

This required more flour (which added a teeny floury taste to the over all cookie).

Finally, I was able to make it roll-able. I was so excited to use my Frankenstein & pumpkin cookie cutters!

Do you see the perfect shapes?? Well, compared to past sugar cookie attempts...almost perfect :)

I frosted them and sprinkled them! And, with the few baking decorations we had, I attempted faces. Didn't work out as great. So, I stuck with plain for the rest of them.

Carla was my helper. As a reward, she got to decorate her own cookies. I think hers were more creative than mine. Notice my other Frankenstein face attempts.

Like I said, plain worked best. Or should I say, looked best.

So, much better than I thought! So proud of them, but I'd like it to be easier and tastier next time. Any pro sugar cookiers out there have suggestions for me?

In Review

Well, here is an update on my "fun" list from my last post...nada. Ok, ok, that isn't completely true, but it felt like it!

Here is how my last two days went:

• devotional at ASU with Sister Virginia Pierce! (loved it!)
• Krazy Sub with Kylie
• Ice Skating with David
• Sprained my ankle
• Got virtually nothing else done

So, there you have it. But, as I thought about it, I did get some fun things done this week!

Here are a few:

I started the week off by hanging up my colorful scarecrow I made during General Conference. This got me into a creative-festive mood!

Next, I found some fabric on sale and made this bulletin board.

Then, I went hiking on the Rim with my mom and sisters. For more pictures and hilarious commentary on that go here. Yay for links!

Then, I finished the middle of the week with this! Thanks to the wonderful girls of Relief Society.

And thanks to this...

I didn't get to my other projects like the one I found here. Provided by Rachael (thanks!)

All in all, it was a good week. Back to the old grind tomorrow. But, stay tuned... fall has just begun and I am determined to find time for all of my projects by their designated holidays!

October Break

When we see the word break--what does that really mean? Of course, I had to look up the definition and found this. Of the many, many definitions of break I finally found it! I found that break can be defined as "to interrupt one's activity or occupation for a brief period" and "to get away by overcoming restraints or constraints." Translation: When I see that October Break is coming, I have every right to assume that I will have a brief period to get away from my occupational constraints. So, naturally, I expect to have time for fun things. Oh, you want to definition of fun? Here you go. It only makes sense that break & fun would go hand in hand.

With this attitude, I began my one week of October Break with a 12 item list of fun things to do! These were the things I really did need to get done, but things that I wanted to get done also. No one told me that I was going to spend three of those days doing homework! Ok, ok, it was my fault that I totally underestimated (since we are defining words here is that definition) the amount of homework I really had to do. As a consequence (ahem) I had to sacrifice my fun To Do list for my necessary (click)To Do list.

Until now!

I am finished with homework this week and I refuse to do any more until next week! Time to celebrate!! I think that I will begin by finally adding another post to my blog. (Hey look, all done!) Tomorrow is Friday. That means I have two whole days (did you hear that people? Two...whole...days!) To start in on my 12 item list. Ah...the sigh of sweet relief. You may say that my break is about to end and, technically, you are right. But, I say, it is just the beginning!

And, if you haven't noticed already, I learned how to use the link feature today! Try me!