Have You Ever Felt Like That?

You know when you get new toothpaste and you're just not feeling it? We just got some Crest with SCOPE! and I just don't think I like it. Because well, I don't like the taste. And I don't feel like it gets my teeth as clean as our last toothpaste.

You know what I mean?

Yeah, I don't like that.


You know when you're sitting there with a friend chatting and they suddenly interrupt what you've been talking about to point out something weird about your face? Like the other day, my friend pointed out how one of my teeth is fairly small (she works for a dentist, so I get why she might notice these things). And you know when its okay that they asked it, except you hadn't ever thought that your tooth was weird and now you have just discovered something else not to like about your face?

Do you know? Do you know what I mean?

Yeah, I don't like that.


And do you know when your husband says he's going to switch the laundry over, but when you go to look for some nice clean underwear in the dryer, its not there, because your husband never really did switch the laundry over? And then do you know when you go to get the very large pile of laundry, you drop a piece, and when you pick it up, you drop about five more pieces, and when you pick those up, you drop a couple more pieces, and you spend about five minutes finally getting it because you refuse to just make two trips?

You know THAT right?

Yeah, I don't like that.


And you know when you get a pimple on your nose, how badly it makes you feel like you're in junior high? And then you walk around feeling young and silly and naive and thinking about junior high and all the stupid boys you loved, and how stupid you were and cringe at all the dumb things you did and said?

I hope you don't know what I mean.

Yeah, I don't like that.


And you know when your son won't keep his hands out of diaper for less than five minutes out of the entire day, which causes him to pee all over the place out the side of his diaper? And he starts spitting at you every time you tell him to get his hands out of his diaper? And then when you tell him to not spit, he laughs at you like you're just the funniest thing in the whole world? And you have dreams at night that your sweet baby is going to grow up as a big jerky pervert and you worry constantly how to fix this problem?

Please tell me you get that guys!

Yeah, I really don't like that.

And you know when you haven't posted on your blog for so long that when you finally hit "new post" it sends you to some new fangled place thats totally different from the last time you blogged and you're confused and then feel guilty you haven't blogged in like two months?

You probably don't know what that feels like, because you're all good bloggers right?

But yeah, I don't like that.

And you know when you're scared you're going through menopause and it really freaks you out because holy crap you're way too young to go through menopause?! And you have no energy, and feel emotional and crazy all day long? And you can barely drag yourself to do anything besides mindlessly stare at pinterest or facebook? And it seems like no matter how much sleep you get, you're still dead all day long? And you wake up and its freaking snowing outside? And you really need to go to the grocery store, but who wants to do that anyway? And you have no patience for anyone and everyone and then you have no patience with yourself because there's no one left to be impatient with?!?!

Yeah, you're right, I don't know what you're talking about...

Life Problems

I was at the beauty supply store Saturday evening, like most stores they play music for everyone to hear. I was browsing the hair color when "Another One Bites the Dust" came on. I was most likely singing along.

Just around the corner from me a couple of the gals who work there were trying to figure out who sings the song.

"Is it Michael Jackson?"

"No, I don't think its Michael Jackson."

The words promptly burst from my mouth: "ITS QUEEN."

"Oh yeah, its Queen."

"Yeah I didn't think it sounded anything like Michael Jackson...blah blah blah...I'm an idiot." (I may have added that last bit. Maybe.)

I mean, I knew our country was bad off but I didn't know it was THAT bad! I just don't know if I can live in a world where people don't appreciate Queen...

Validation is a Two-Edged Sword

I like validation. Validation is important, not just to me but for most people. I took a relationship class once at BYU Education Week and they said the key to good communication was: validate, validate, validate! I don't know why, but I *need* people to understand where I'm coming from and what I feel. I just do.

BUT sometimes validation is not a good thing. For example, when we lived in Utah we lived in my husband's grandpa's very old house. It was a tiny house, built in 1904, it had two bedrooms and one teeny tiny bathroom. With brown carpet. And what I mean by that is nasty brown carpet IN the bathroom. Don't worry, eventually we got rid of the carpet, but I remember having a conversation with two of my cousins: one was saying that she thought I'd done such a cute job on our little house (it was pretty gross when we moved in, the person living there before us was a bachelor and smoked), and I was saying something like how much I hated that little bathroom. The one cousin said "Oh no, its just fine! You've made it so cute!" and the other cousin started laughing and said "Yeah, not my favorite bathroom! hahaha!" And I remember thinking, yeah I know I just said I hated it but I didn't want you to agree with me. *big tear drop, sad face* (side note: I LOVE that cousin, and I get she wasn't trying to be mean, I get where she's coming from too, it still hurt though.)

So in some instances validating people is not a good thing. I hate it when you admit to something, you've already acknowledged it and someones like "You really DO do that!" Thanks, yup, already aware.

So, here's a list I thought of that you should NEVER validate someone on:

*"I always look so fat in this shirt."

*"I know I sound selfish, but..."

*"I'm really bad at..."

*"I'm a bad parent."

*"I struggle with..."

*"I'm not very nice."

*"I'm ugly."

*"I hate my hair."

*"I know this is silly to be upset over but..."

*"I have issues with..."

*"My teeth are yellow."

*"My nose looks like a rats."

*"I have muffin top."

*"I need to lose weight."

*"My husband's a jerk."

*"My kids are naughty."

*"I know I sound crazy, but bobby pins are important to me..."

Please, don't agree with someone on these kind of statements. You are not doing anyone a favor, you are not "helping" them be a better person. Usually someone says those kinds of things for you to tell them that its not true and they really are a great person. So, unless you are that person's sister and they are really truly asking you for advice, then just don't do it.

Don't. Do. It.

Adventures in... What Was That Word Again?

When you can't sleep at night, a lot of things go through your mind:

1. Go to sleep, go to sleep. GO TO SLEEP. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY LET ME SLEEP!!

2. Then you might get your ipod and look at every single Facebook status update and read each comment and look at every picture you can possibly find.

3. Sure that was boring, but not enough to put you to sleep.

4. You *think* about going downstairs and getting on the computer but no matter how bored you are, there isn't any way you would go sit in the freezing, scary downstairs where a murderer is probably waiting for you.

5. Whats that word for when you can't sleep?? Narcotic...omnipotent...aahh...ihhh something?

6. Did we have something garlicky for dinner? Why does my stomach feel so upset?!

7. Pass gas.

8. Oh yeah, we had CHILI for dinner. Duh.

9. Realize you are an idiot for staying up past midnight every night for the last two weeks. You'd think that it would make it easy to fall asleep earlier than normal since you've been exhausted. But no. Your body's all "Ha ha! Its not midnight yet, you can't sleep!!"

10. You check the clock every couple minutes. Nope, not asleep yet.

11. "I'm sexy and I know it..." replays over and over in your head.

12. Impotent...Armania...incontinence...

13. Start to finally doze.

14. Your husband rolls over and throws his big fat, heavy, hairy, fat arm on your back and startles you back awake.

15. Curse the day you ever got married.

16. Armoire? Insipid? Start to doze again.

16. Your baby wakes up crying.

17. Curse the day you ever had children.

18. Get baby and bring them back to your bed, hoping to get some sleep.

19. Baby coughs in your face every few minutes.

20. Punch yourself in the face so you can finally sleep.

21. Oh yeah: Insomnia!

Because I Just Can't Let This Go

Okay People.

I will be honest with you. I can admit that I have a somewhat obsessive personality. Sometimes its just whatever, and sometimes its really hard to deal with. Something gets under my skin and it just itches and itches and ITCHES until--I don't know--I've scratched it until it bleeds? (Thats metaphorical. I don't actually scratch an itch until it bleeds. Usually.)

So I've talked before of the addictive qualities of Pinterest. One of the things I've seen repinned quite a few times is this one lady's hairstyles. So I clicked on the link and started browsing through her hair blog. When I came upon this post.

Let me just preface this by saying, NO I am not a professional hair stylist. So YES, maybe I should just keep my mouth shut-- BUT I can't. In my defense I've been using bobby pins for a LONG time. I've done countless prom hairstyles, I've done people's hair for fun events, weddings--for both bridesmaids and BRIDES. I DO know something about hair and bobby pins whether I went to school for it or not (besides I'm POSITIVE there is not a section on the correct side of bobby pins...).

ANYWAY, if you didn't read the post, she says the the CORRECT way to wear bobby pins is the wavy side down. Where she came up with that is beyond me. Look at the package, the wavy side is UP. Why would they put it that way if it wasn't supposed to go that way in the first place? There is a little thing on the end of the wavy side that sticks up, why would you stick that into your head? It works to stick your thumbnail under that thing and open the pin up, you couldn't do it the other way. If you look at any product that has something stuck to a bobby pin, its on the WAVY side. Indicating that that is the RIGHT SIDE UP.

GRRRRR.

Okay. So now, IF she had said "Hey peeps, do you have a hard time keeping a bobby pin from sliding out your hair?! Guess what?! Put it in upside down and it works so much better at staying put! Awesome huh?!" I would have been like: cool beans.

Its just the fact that she said its SUPPOSED to go that way, it was MADE to go wavy down. Then I start reading the comments, SURE that someone was going to say, UM NO. And of course not, there are hundreds of people with their "minds blown they've been doing it wrong their WHOLE life!!!" and I don't know why it bothers me but it SO DOES.

So I left a comment. Just basically saying what I told you in a much shorter version, like: just needed to say, bobby pins really *are* meant to be zigzag side up, if you'd meant it as a tip to help people I would think thats great but it bothers me to say its wrong to put them in the other way...kind of thing.

And she left a comment back, saying in her professional experience everyone who does hair does it zigzag down and it works so much better, but keep doing it the way I feel like...

Uhhh...okay?

And so I went and looked at pictures of people with their hair done up where you can see the bobby pin, and you know what?! I COULDN'T FIND ONE where it wasn't zigzag side up. Huh. Interesting. (This is from Goody's website and this one too...AND also there's this...and I may have possibly looked up more...)

And so I replied again. Saying that it wasn't about what works better, it was about the wording of which way was actually correct. I also told her I thought she did great hair and I thought it was great she shared tutorials on how to do hair--because I'm not a total jerk.

So please, PLEASE validate me. Not whether or not it works better either way but do you think Goody made bobby pins to go zigzag side up in your hair or zigzag side down? (I don't trust big blog mindless readers who will comment on every stinking post with "I LOVE IT! THATS THE MOST BRILLIANT THING I'VE EVER SEEN!"even if its the stupidest thing I've ever read in my life, just because that blog is popular and they want them to like them. I DO trust you guys, who are awesome and honest. So do the right thing and tell me I am actually correct and she's a big fat doodie head.) ;)

Also, yes I know this is incredibly pathetic and ridiculous. I KNOW. But like I said, I can't stop scratching until it bleeds, so this is what I have to do to feel better, alright? help me.

2011- Who Know's When?

Time again for my look back at 2011 and give you my favorites! Yay!

Favorite Song:

Its a toss up between Crossfire and Only the Young by Brandon Flowers. I am OBSESSED with these two songs right now! LOVE IT!

honorable mention:

Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes

Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 (oddly those two songs both have Adam Levine singing, huh.)

Favorite Movie:

Kung Fu Panda 2 (I really loved this movie!)

honorable mention:

Thor

Sherlock Holmes 2 (I haven't seen this but I KNOW I would love it! Mmmmhmmm)

Harry Potter--so epic!

Tangled

Favorite TV Show:

The Vampire Dairies

I am obsessed with this show and can't wait for it to start again in January! Whoo!

honorable mention:

Any of the Real Housewives of course ;)

The Rachel Zoe Project

Project Runway

Favorite Book:

I Capture The Castle

I read over 60 books this year, its hard to choose a favorite!

There were a couple series I loved, Gregor the Overlander and Inheritance (which is the Eragon series), I really enjoyed those!

honorable mention:

My blog friend Melanie wrote The List and I honest to goodness LOVED it, it was hysterical, seriously had me laughing out loud and grinning stupidly. It was a fast, light read and I so enjoyed every minute. The ending was fabulous!

Favorite Vacation:

We honestly didn't take ANY trips this year. Not even a camping trip. What a lame year. My husband did take many trips to Washington DC for work and he spent a month in Korea, so lucky for him. :/

Favorite Outfit:

I'm changing this from clothes I own to ones I want ;) I discovered Pinterest this year, so there is a lot to be inspired and want from off there! haha

Yes, I realize these don't really have anything to do with 2011, except that I spent a lot of time coveting these outfits. If I had the money, I would have dressed like this in 2011. ;)

Favorite Project:

(this isn't mine, same idea but picture it in a mustardy yellow)

It would be my favorite project if I could get it to work, but I redid a coffee table into a tufted bench. Except that I've redone the top twice and need to again since Kimball's pulled half the buttons off. This time when I re-do it, it will be PERFECT! :)

Most drastic change:

I cut my hair short again, and dyed it bright red!

Highlights:

Bethany was baptized!

Kimball turned one

new family pictures

fun summer and fall

Peter Pan themed Halloween:



Maddie started kindergarden (Bethany 3rd grade)

Fun 30th birthday for my sister

Kimball started nursery!

Lowlights:

my computer crashed and I lost a LOT of pictures :(

Dave was gone for a month in Korea, that was hard :(

Definitely this was a good year, much improved from the year before, I like the thought of every year getting a little better. We grow a little more, we become a little more patient, a little more loving, a little...more. Here's hoping we can take 2012 and make it what we want it to be!

Christmas...I Don't Want to Talk About It...

There are many, MANY things on my mind about Christmas right now. But since today really IS Christmas, I'm thinking it would be bad karma to actually complain about it...right? I mean, just a few small...you know...observations about the holiday, that I absolutely LOATHE right now?!?! (*huffy breathing* and *crazy eyes darting back and forth*)

Okay, you're right. Its wrong. I won't complain about Christmas on Christmas. The only thing I'm going to say is "I don't care if I ever give presents to anyone ever again."

See, there, that wasn't so bad was it?! Naw, not at all.

So to end this post on a slightly more positive note, here's our Christmas letter! Whooey!

Well, I've tried four times to upload our family picture but blogger is a total mo fo and I hate it.(*this was said very calmly by the way*)
Since blogger won't let me upload our actual Christmas picture, this was going to be the back up:

Honestly, we had a very nice Christmas; just the stress of it about sent me into a psychiatric coma and let's face it, I will not learn anything from this and do it next year as well. And however many more Christmas's until someone begs me not to participate anymore. Sooooo...

Meeeerrry Chriiiistmaas!