Dog days of summer. . . .

(1) What is the usual summer high temperature where you live?
Too damn hot!  Easily 100 and hotter for the most part of the summer.

(2) How do you keep cool? Do you have central air?
Funny story.  3 years ago my bishop asked me to speak in church.  I did not want to.  But, I convinced myself of all the wonderful blessings I would receive.  So as I'm preparing my talk I'm thinking "self, it is warm in this house".  My a/c had blown up.  After several repairs it still was not fixed and I was told it needed to be replaced (thanks for telling me that $1000 ago).  Here I am 3 summers later and I still can't afford to replace it so I have 3 window units trying to keep it cool and it sucks.  They are noisy but at least I can sleep at night.

(3) Do you swim? If you get in the water do you get your hair and make-up wet?
I do swim.  There is a lovely pool in the condominium complex where I live and I enjoy taking my nephews who don't yet know how to swim but LOVE jumping in.  I've never understood people who go swimming expecting to not get their hair wet.  Ridiculous.

(4) What is your favorite summer look? As far as outfit , shoe choice and hairstyle? (Pics are rad or just describe it.) Do you wear less make-up in the summer?
Anything but jeans.  It is so dang hot here I can't stand to wear any kind of heavy material.  Flip flops are standard everyday.  I wear very little make up.  Make up and 100 weather just do not go together.

(5) What is your favorite summer meal to make or eat, either way? (Score extra cool points for a recipe.)
I love chicken salad sandwiches and cold salads during the summer.  I keep my chicken salad very basic.  Chicken, pecans, green onion, mayo.  I don't like the fancy stuff with grapes or apple chunks.

{one} If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose?

If you did not see my previous post about this man, let me introduce you. 

This is Damon.  Damon is a vampire.  He bites people.  You can enjoy him on 'Vampire Diaries'.  I want him.

 
{two} If you could be guaranteed one thing in life besides money, what would you ask for?

Health.  I'm really hating getting older and feeling every pain.  It sucks.

 
{three} If you had to name the most terrifying event in your life thus far, what would it be?

Not really sure.  I mean I'm 33 and that's a lot of life to live and I've done some pretty stupid stuff.  I would have to say the most recent terrifying experience was when my mother called me to tell me my nephew had been rushed to the hospital because he was not breathing.  

 I was definitely not ready to live without that face!  Thankfully after a couple days in the hospital for a bad case of the flu, he and his sister were able to go home.

{four} If you could possess one supernatural ability, what would it be?

Teleporting.  There are so many places I would love to visit but I hate the actual traveling aspect.  I'm not talking short road trips where you jam out to good tunes.  But like a 5 hour flight to Florida or you could teleport and be there in 5 seconds.

 
{five} If you could "uninvent" one thing in the world , so that it would no longer exist, what would you choose?

Alcohol.  I agree with Mamarazzi on the whole cigarette thing, but alcohol alters your personality.  It destroys families and people do things they wouldn't normal do if they were not hindered by it.

Beef, its what's for dinner. . . .

{1} What is for dinner tonight (bonus for sharing the recipe)?
Tator tot casserole.  It's amazing I actually have this planned because being single and childless I don't usually plan my meals I eat whatever I feel like it.  And yes, that sometimes means oreo's for dinner. 
Brown 1 lb. hamburger and onion, put in casserole dish, mix in green beans (or whatever veggies you want, I use corn if I'm making for my brother), mix in a can of cream of chicken soup, 1 cup of milk, arrange tator tots on top of mixture.  Bake on 350 for about 45 minutes, add cheese the last 5 minutes.

{2} Share something you are currently looking forward to.
NASCAR!!!  Our yearly trip to Las Vegas Motor Speedway is about a month away.  Could NOT be happier! 

{3} What are your thoughts on re-gifting?
I see no problem with it.  So long as you still act appreciative to the gift giver, even though you know you aren't keeping it.  As an adult I have grown to loathe buying gifts for people, except kids.  You could buy a kid a pack of gum or an Xbox.  They don't know the difference, they love you just the same no matter how much you spent.  "Adults" (I am referring to age, not their maturity) on the other hand, sometimes really tick me off!  You either spend too much, not enough, it's the wrong color, it's the wrong type, WHATEVER!!  Then when you get fed up and give them a card with cash they give you this look like "really, you couldn't even put enough thought into it to get an actual gift".  Nope!  I have one family member I absolutely refuse to buy for even if they pick out the gift.

{4} How often do you rearrange your furniture?
Never.  My house is too small.  It fits one way or it doesn't fit at all.

{5} Share a picture from your cellphone or camera.
The most recent photo on my cellphone.  Love those cheeks!

It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it. . . .

{1} Fantasy style, money is no object, if you could pick one type of help which would it be? Why?
A. maid
B. nanny
C. personal chef
Soooo easy.  Maid!  Don't have kids and I love to cook!

{2} What is your least favorite household chore?
Cleaning behind the toilet.  Which won't be a problem now with my new maid and all.  I have 2 little nephews who love aunt Erin's house.  You know none of that is making it in the toilet.

{3} What is your least loathed (or favorite) household task/ daily chore?
Cooking.  I probably wouldn't like it so much if I had more than myself to please. 
 

{4} What is your favorite cleaning supply? Do you have any magic cleaning tips to share with your readers?
Anything with a lemon fresh scent.


{5} What is your usual housework avoidance activity?
Laundry.  I hate all of it.  I hate washing.  I hate drying.  I hate folding.  I hate putting it away.

{1} What do you love about blogging?
I love having an outlet to vent (Hello Friday Confessional - I'm looking at you).  But what I love the most is reading up on what my friends are doing across the country and all the ideas that are shared/learned. 


{2} What is your favorite scent of candle/air freshener?
Pomegranate mango. . . .oh yum!

{3} How would you describe your style?
Pretty much non-existant.  Look, I'm gonna real here, if it's clean, it fits, and I don't look absolutely horrid, I'm wearing it.  I don't have money to be able to buy new clothes all the time and keep up on whatever fashion trends are happening this season.

{4} What are 3 things your dream home would have that your current home doesn't have?
Space, space, and space.  My dream home would be huge yet lived in small sections.  I really want a home that has a large garage for storage and a large craft / laundry room. 

{5} Do you look at your keyboard when you type?
Nope.  Thanks Aunt Teddi, I did not cheat in your class.

It's that time of year. . . .

Welcome back Mamarazzi, welcome back!




It's that time of year when we all have to take a good, hard look at ourselves and determine to change all the things that we don't like.  Don't worry next week you can go back to normal.

{1} What was the best part of 2011?
My brother got married.  None of us ever thought he would but he surprised us!

{2} What do you look forward to in 2012?
What is it about a new year that looks so exciting.  I'm just hoping to make this year better than the last year. 

{3} Do you actually keep your New Year resolutions?
I don't usually do New Year resolutions.  I may set a few short term goals this year.  I've really been trying to make some small positive changes.

{4} What are your top 3 resolutions for the new year?
*Day trips....For a while my family use to go on these day trips once a month.  Rules are it has to be somewhere you can go to and back in one day.  The idea was to have a mini vacation without spending a lot of money.  Of course it gets harder as the kids get older and get more involved with things and money is tight.  One month we went to Lehman Caves, then another month to the Lost City Museum, and once hiked the Temple Quarry Trail here in town.  It doesn't have to be a big event just something we all do together and its always really fun.

*Take a vacation....I want to travel to somewhere far off.  I haven't traveled in over 6 years when I went to Alaska and it was quite literally one of the highlights of my life.  I always talk about somewhere I want to go or something I want to see but never have the time or money.
*Budget....I do pretty good with my money but sometimes I get fed up with having to be a responsible adult and go off the deep end and purchase something completely useless and unnecessary.  Well not this year.  Obviously resolution # 1&2 are going to take money so I have to make some better financial decisions this year.

{5} Do you have any fun new years traditions or plans?
Nope and nope.  I'm still trying to put together a last ditch plan to head to Vegas for New Years but I think we procrastinated too long and its going to cost too much (see I am responsible) so we may shoot for next year.  As long as I end up on a dark dance floor kissing a handsome stranger I won't care where I am!

Shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist.

1. Do you shop til you drop, or are you in and out as quick as possible?
It really just depends on how deep my pockets are that day.  If I have a little extra cash to blow I like to peruse and buy something I don't really need and will most likely never use.  Because really nothing kicks in my endorphins like disposable income.

2. Are you a price conscious shopper?
Yes and no.  For large items, yes.  I shop around for a loooong time watching prices and waiting for a good deal until sometimes I talk myself out of the purchase all together.  However, I'm not going to waste a gallon of gas to drive all the way to Wal-Mart so I can save a $1 on toilet paper.

3. What store could you spend HOURS in?
Ikea.  And I would buy 8 of everything.

4. What is the most frivolous purchase you have ever made?

Sweet mother of mercy I cannot get rid of this thing! I bought it because I have a bad back and I like to sit in bed and read so obviously my next step would be to buy a massaging back rest with a cup holder....Uhm NO!  I hate it and have given it away several times even tried to throw it away only to have someone say "Oh I'll take it" then somehow it ends up back with me!

 
5. What was the last thing you bought for yourself?
I'm guessing by "bought for yourself" you mean something fun, not Coke and leave in conditioner, because those are essentials!  Uhm...............yeah...................wow...........I can't remember.  Does that mean I get an A+ in not-pampering-yourself-because-your-job-sucks-and-you-haven't-got-a-raise-in-over-a-year?  Yep passed that class with flying colors.  Usually my feel good shopping item is clothes but I have put the kibosh on that until I drop a few lb's.  So don't expect to see me in anything new for a decade.... or until Del Taco goes out of business, whichever is sooner.

TV: It's the menace that everyone loves to hate but can't seem to live without.

Hosted by Mamarazzi and Queso




Disclaimer:  I don't currently have cable or satellite programming so if it's not on DVD or online I'm not watching it.  Also, I have been very surprised, although good surprise, at how much content is available for free online.  Best part limited to no commercials.

{1} What is your MUST SEE show?
Heartland.  I watch it every Wednesday and Thursday while my boss is out of town and it's been on for like 7 seasons so I have a lot to catch up.

{2} What shows are you most excited to watch this season?
I love CW!  They have all their shows online (including Gossip Girl).  Luckily I get tv time at my brother's once in a while and caught this commercial for a new show. 

Looks good!

{3} How many hours a week do you actually watch TV?
During the work week I watch about 5-6 hours.  Don't worry I make up for it on Saturday, college football.  All. Day. Long.

{4} Do you think TV has gotten too "racy" (vulgar, pushing the limit, etc) ?
Yes, yes, and yes.  And I will admit that I watch some of the racy stuff, but I do have my limits.

{5} How many TVs do you have in your house?
One.

Wherever you go, there you are. . . .

{1} What are 3 must haves for a long road trip?
Music, puzzle book, shoes off.

{2} What was the destination of your most recent road trip?
Holi Festival. (damn that was in April, I need to get out more)

{3} What do you miss most about home when on a trip?
Lacie

{4} What is the furthest you have traveled on a road trip?
Once when I was younger my family drove to Michigan (we also drove from Michigan when we moved but I was too little to remember much about that).  It was awful.  I had the kind of dad that never stops for the bathroom and I was in the back seat between my 2 older brothers with my feet on the hump.

{5} Will you "stop for the largest ball of twine, etc" or are you a "hurry and get there" road tripper?
Totally stop!  You never know when you will be back.

Can you hear me now. . . .

{1}Do you prefer to text or call?
Text.  I like that I can take time to think about my response.  My brother text me something a few months ago that, unintentionally, really hurt my feelings and if he had called I would have said a lot of things I didn't mean.  Instead I was able to cool off and handle the situation rationally, even if I still don't agree.  Also, if I don't want to talk to them texts are a lot easier to ignore.

{2}What is the last text message in your phone and who is it from?
"One ring, ten rings what difference does it make?  U still don't answer my calls"
My friend Nick who thinks I ignore his phone calls even after I explained it only rang once before going to voicemail.


{3}What are your favorite phone apps?
My new photo editor I just downloaded last week.

{4}At what age do you think kids are ready for a cell phone?
I would say if you can afford it, early teen.  My nieces are almost 14 and it has been quite convenient.  Now if I could just train them that "tell Melyssa to get off the computer" is not an emergency and don't disturb Aunt Erin at work!!

{5}Share a current pic or video taken with your phone.
I took this photo on Saturday after the Cornfest we were walking back to my mom's house and I had asked Mckenzie to hold Tayson's hand to make sure he didn't stop walking.  There were red ants all over the trail and I was afraid he'd stop right on an ant hill or hold still long enough for one to bite him.

I walked to school, up hill, both ways. . . .

WWTK with Mamarazzi and Queso

{1} Did you live in the same town or move around a lot as a child?
We only moved once.  When I was 4 my family moved from Michigan to a small town in Utah.  I feel so blessed to have grown up in a small town and to now only be an hour away.  Whether it's been a day, a week, or a month, it always feels good to go home.

{2} What were your parents like?
Both of my parents worked full time jobs while I was growing up.  My mom is the perfect balance between friend and parent.  She was not afraid to whip my butt when I deserved it but she also took me and my friends "cruisin' main" and taught me how to sneak the car out of the driveway.  My dad was a true blue collar worker.  He would come home from work everyday and ask me to take his boots off, which I always complained about but secretly I loved because we would talk about our day.  When I was little he would play Kenny Rogers vinyl records, I would stand on the fireplace, and we would dance.  I remember going to the movies one time with my parents and I was so embarrassed that they were holding hands! 

{3} Do you have any siblings? What were they like growing up?
I have 4 brothers and 1 sister.  We laughed a lot!  Mostly at each other.  There was a lot of teasing.  We are still that way today which is probably why I'm not as open about some stuff or introduce them to any guys in my life because I would never hear the end of it. 

{4} Share a short story from your childhood.
About a block from our house was a wash that frequently had water running through it.  Normally this was the way we walked to school but if there was water running we had to take a different route where there was a bridge to cross, but this alternate route took an extra long time.  So we would tell my mom that we would take said route and then really we would try to hop scotch across some rocks where the water wasn't too deep.  Inevitable one of us always fell in and ended up having to go home to change.  My mom would be so mad, then we do it again the very next day. 

{5} What did you look like?

Watching tv often means fighting, violence, and foul language and that's just deciding who gets the remote. . . .

 

Hosted by Mamarazzi and Queso

1. If you could be on any game show what would it be?

I'm pretty sure we already had this question, or something similar, but it's still 'Press Your Luck'

2. If you could stay any certain age forever, what would it be?
26. . . .Old enough to know better but still too young to care.

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
I was standing in line at Kneaders baker because I have the kind of boss who forgets people's birthdays and then sends me to pick up the cake.  

4. What would I find in your fridge right now?
Milk, eggs, tortilla shells, cheese, and of course the most important food group. . . .a butterfinger.

5. If you were a piece of furniture what would you be? Why?

Definitely a tv.  Everyone loves the tv and everyone wants to be around the tv.  Plus I would mess with people and turn on/off or switch channels randomly.

WWTK, Superhero edition....

 

{1} Who would you call if you had to get bailed out of jail?
Depends on what I was in jail for.  If it was something insignificant or a misunderstanding then I'd call my mom.  If I really messed up big time (which is soooo unlike me) then I'd probably just sit in jail until someone finally volunteered to come bail my worthless butt out.

{2} If you were a superhero what would your hero name be?
Hmmmm....I don't know what my name would be, but.... I would be a Nascar superhero.  My costume would be a fire suit.  My sidekick would be my dog.  My super powers would be to be invisible, communicate with the animal kingdom, and obviously skilled at driving fast cars.  My ride would be Dale Jr's grey ghost car.

Not that I've thought about that or anything....

{3} What do you think is one of your best qualities?
I think I'm pretty level headed.  I attribute this to my mother who would never fight with me.  When I was a teenager and would get mad and throw a fit yelling and screaming because I wasn't getting my way, she never fought back.  She would just laugh at me.  Which would royally tick me off to no end!!  But then, I learned I could do that to other people.  Let them carry the anger around because I don't have the time to deal with it. 

{4} What song would you pick to be your own personal theme song? 
Just in case my whole Nascar superhero plan materializes, this would be my theme song.

{5} What celebrity do you think is most over rated?
Paris Hilton.  It gives me joy when I see that her new reality show is tanking (does this make me a bad person?).  That's one show I'll never watch.  I saw a few episodes of the show she and Nicole Richie did a long time ago and thought she was so conceited and took advantage of those people who took her in.  And there's just something not right about a person whose catch phrase is "That's hot"....and they say it All. The. Freaking. Time.  

You spilled the haterade ~ Pauly D

{1} What was the last thing you searched for online? 
"business sample letters" My boss thinks I'm a genius at writing letters but really it's all google.
 
{2} If we visit your home state, what is one MUST we should do before leaving?
Cafe Rio pork burrito.  You will never look at mexican food the same again.
 
{3} What do you think pharmaceutical companies should invent a pill for that isn't on the market yet?
A cure all.  Whatever ails you, take this pill and everything will be all right.  Cancer, no worries just pop a cure all.  Weight issues, cure all.  Annoying neighbors, Cure. All.
 
{4} When was your first kiss? Was it good or bad?
5th grade....It was....5th grade, how good could it be?
 
{5} What is your guilty pleasure tv show that you can not miss?
Jersey Shore....I know Bethany, stop judging me now! 

Let's try this again. . . .

 

I don't know what the duck happened but it erased my post on Wednesday so I'll try to recreate:

{1} What game show have you always thought you could be on and totally WIN!

Press Your Luck.   I don't think I would win but it looks fun saying "No whammies, no whammies!!"

 

{2} Do you have a tattoo(s)? What are they and what made you chose them? If not, would you get one, yes/no/why?
No and No.  I just don't think I could commit to something so permanent.  And there's that whole your body is a temple issue and what not.
 
{3} What is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own?
My lucky 88 earrings.  Not that I've ever gotten lucky while wearing them but still. . . .
 
{4} What is your driving pet peeve(s)?
People who speed up so you cannot change lanes.
People in the next car staring at me while I jam to my awesome tunes.
Passengers who touch the radio.
Passengers who sing with the radio but don't actually know the words. Passengers who talk too much.
Back seat drivers.
{5} What was your favorite sitcom growing up that you wish was still on?
Growing Pains.

A person often meets their destiny on the road they took to avoid it. . . .

{1} If money didn't matter, where would your perfect vacation take place? Briefly describe.

Charlotte, North Carolina.  I want to tour all the race shops and drive a stock car, not a ride-along-while-the-experienced-driver-goes-fast, oh no no,give me the keys.

{2}What's a bad habit that you have (or had) that is/was hard to break?

Coca-Cola you devil!  I know pop is bad and the root of all evil and all that stuff....but I love it!  And I hate when people say "after you've quit for a while it doesn't even taste good"....uhm NO!  Pretty sure it is still delicious and calls to me in my sleep.

{3} If you weren't on a diet or counting calories, what would you like to have for dinner tonight?

Please!  Counting calories is for rich people who hate them selves.  I'll probably have whatever is being served up at Harmon's deli because I still haven't unpacked....it's a long story about cockroaches that I'm not ready to talk about.

{4} If you had the chance to interview anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and what's one question that you would ask?

Enrique Iglesias - Would you give me one of those famous kisses you are always giving strange women at your concerts?

{5} Describe yourself in 6 words.

 Not who I thought I'd be.

True friends stab you in the front. . . .

Mamarazzi has a new linky party on Wednesday's.  While I'll never love it like I love 'Friday Confessional'  I had nothing better to do at work today than fill out a questionaire. . . .right?

The theme of the Q&A this week is Friendship:

{1} Do you make friends easily?

       No.  In fact it's extremely difficult for me.  It's very rare for me to add someone to my circle of friends.  But, once you're in the circle, you're a lifer.   

{2} What 3 qualities are a must in a friend?

       Sense of humor - If you can't make me laugh or don't laugh at my jokes (gasp! that NEVER happens) we aren't going to be friends for long.

       Confidence (not cocky) - I absolutely hate, hate when someone nees constant reassurance that their somebody special.

       Have a life - My family will always be more important to me than you. . . .learn to deal with that.  

{3} What makes you a good friend?

       I think I'm a good listener.  I try to listen more than give advice.  While I consider myself to be an honest person, I'm not the kind of person that believes honesty is always the best policy.  If you wear a pair of pants that make your butt look so big you look like one of those rap guys girlfriends, I'm probably not going to tell you.  You own a mirror, don't make me be the one to crush your soul.   However, if I think it's a serious enough issue such as: "your boyfriends a total jerk off" you better believe I'm gonna tell you and I'm NOT gonna sugar coat it.  

I'm a go with the flow kinda girl, so if you cancel on me last minute or your 15 minutes late to our lunch date, don't sweat it!  It happens to the best of us, I won't rip your head off and remind you every 5 minutes how late you were.

{4} Have you ever met a bloggy friend in real life? 

       I have a few friends that follow my blog that I've known for a while, and 1 for life (Hi Beth!).  However, I've never met any of my bloggy friends that I've met through my blog.

{5} Who is your best friend? Tell us about them.

       I'm lucky enough to have 2!  Sorry I can't pick a #1 but if I'm forced to, it's got to be Bethany if only because I know April doesn't read my blog.

This is me and Bethany, in our HS days, at the US/Mexico border waiting for them to search our bus and determine we don't have any contraband that we are trying to sneak back into the US.

I like to call her my "built in BFF".  See we are also family, so it's like. . . . she has to love me. 

And this is April and me, again in my HS days (they're so BFF that I have no recent photos of us, that's just how we roll).  Every summer April's family would invite me (or I hid in the trailer either way I got to go) to go camping with them for a whole week on Boulder Mountain.  It is beautiful!  The mountains, the rivers, the lakes, the fishing, the boys!

So many fun memories!