Remembering Diana

I remember the day clearly. I had just started my junior year at BYU. I remember sitting in my editing class, not concentrating on the lecture at all, and just thinking about Princess Diana. She was someone I, like many in this world, had a slight fascination with. She was elegant, graceful, and beautiful.

I stayed up late (or rather early) to watch her funeral. I remember lying on the floor of my parent’s living room, wrapped up in my quilt watching the funeral processional. It was a bit ironic, because it wasn’t that many years earlier that I was in the same position, in the same room, watching Princess Diana marry Prince Charles. The day of her wedding, I remember thinking this was just like Cinderella.

Since that day 10 years ago, I’ve watched the Royal family a bit more closely. I’ve taken an interest in books, articles, and stories about the Princess. I’ve watched the interviews with her sons, and was fascinated by the movie The Queen. Next week when I’m in London, I’ll be sure to remember Princess Diana one more time.

May she rest in peace.

Baby, It's Hot Outside!

It is really hot! And it has been an extremely hot summer. Yesterday I was checking the weather and saw this quote from the local weather guy:

"You'll be able to tell your grandchildren that you lived through the summer of 2007 and they won't believe you. This summer will go down in the records books as the hottest in Salt Lake City."

You won't find me contesting that! It's hot! And I'm ready for some cooler weather.

Love this Bed!

I am in love with this bedding. I found this on the Martha Stewart website.


I think a room like this would help me sleep better.

Dear Ken Garff of Orem,

You suck! "We back-U-up." Ya right. Maybe if you keep telling yourself that lie you'll eventually believe it.

Love,

The cute little red Saab that will never grace the presence of your dealership again

Mid-day Pick Me Up

Just when you think life couldn't get any better, you go to lunch with your 3-year-old nephew and he sings "Do as I'm doing." He quickly follows that song up with "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam." It just doesn't get much better than that.

Random Thoughts

- I've named my computer at work Britney. Why? Because she acts up, is not reliable, and randomly just shuts off. Just like Britney Spears.

- It's such a waste to pay a premium for dental insurance if I'm not going to go to the dentist. I think I better just man-up (or in my case woman-up) and go get a check up. I sure do hate the dentist.

- My brother is throwing the first pitch out at the Owlz game on Labor Day. He's so excited!

- The price of Excedrin keeps going up. If my headaches don't kill me, the price to take care of them just might.

- I'm reading "All Marketers are Liars." It's interesting, although rather random.

- I don't know what to get my friend for her birthday. Any suggestions?

- I am no longer a hostage to my office. I got my key card and can now leave whenever I want without the fear of being locked out. This also means my boss can ask me to work late or on weekends. The price I have to pay for freedom.

- Lindsay Lohan was spotted at a local grocery store. Why do I have the urge to go to the grocery store now? I don't even like LiLo.

- I think it's fun to find new blogs. However, I tend to get obsessed with the new blog and want to read everything that writer has ever written.

- I am searching for a knee-length khaki skirt. I'm starting to get the feeling that the skirt must be last season because I can't find one anywhere!

- One of the first rules of writing marketing copy is to make your writing "you" centered. This post is really "I" centered.

Things I Like

As promised, a list of things I like.

1. Rainstroms. Especially when there's a rainbow.

2. My nephews. C & M are my favorite guys in the whole world. And they are always happy to see me.

3. Books with good endings. Obviously I am still very upset over New Moon.

4. Lilies. I love lilies. Actually, I just really like fresh flowers. But I can live without roses. Way too cliche for me.

5. Traveling. I am so stinkin' excited to go to London. 14 more days!

6. The Office. Not my office, but the TV show. I am so in love with Jim!

7. Apple Cherry Crush. I'm so glad I discovered this creation.

8. Beautiful design. Seriously inspires me.

9. Making lists. I like to make lists. Grocery lists, to-do lists, reading lists...I make lists. There's a certain kind of satisfaction that comes from being able to cross items off a list.

10. My flat iron. The curly-haired girl's best friend.

Things I Dislike

1. My co-workers going on for hours about surroud sound, online games, and You Tube. When you share an office, have a little consideration please!

2. People who get in the 10 items or less line when they clearly have more than 10 items.

3. Empty promises. If you promise me you'll do something, send something, or process something, please follow through. It's just not very nice.

4. Guilt trips. Do not guilt me into something. It won't work. In fact, I'll probably just become very annoyed.

5. Sleepless nights. Especially when I'm really tired and I fall asleep on my couch at 8:30. Obviously my body wanted to sleep, so why when I went to bed did my body decide to protest!

6. Abandoned blogs. I'm guilty of this, too. But I love to read my friends' blogs!

7. Not soft tissues. My nose obviously only likes Kleenex with lotion.

8. No key card. I don't have a key card for my office and they've decided to lock the doors now. I feel like a hostage.

9. Books with stupid endings. See previous blog about New Moon.

10. Snoring co-workers. Happens at least 3 times every day.

I promise, I'll follow this negative list up with a more positive one.

I'm a Jacob Fan

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I've been reading the Twilight series. I started reading the books after I received Twlight as a gift. Besides, the author graduated from BYU so I was a bit intrigued. I liked Twilight, but had a hard time actually relating much to the book. Besides the fact that it is a young adult novel, I never could wrap my mind around the idea of a 17 year old girl falling in love with a 100 year old vampire - even if the vampire was still 17!

Nevertheless, I decided to read New Moon. The book started out slow, but the middle part got kind of interesting. But then I got to the ending. Absolutely the worst ending ever! The book just lost any excitement that had been building up, there was no resolution, and several items that got a lot of time in the middle of the book were left completely wide open. In fact, I almost forgot about Victoria at the end until she was just randomly thrown in to remind the reader she was part of the plot.

Even though I was fairly disappointed in New Moon, I'm still going to read Eclipse. I'm hoping Edward is out of the picture (sorry all you Edward fans) and that Bella finally decides to act her age! It is just completely unbelievable to me that a 17 year old high school girl would have the type of emotions that this girl has. And I was even an emotional 17 year old at one time in my life! I just don't buy it that she is so insanely in love with a vampire. Plus, how could she possibly not be afraid of a vampire. Bella's relationship with Jacob (even though he is a werewolf) is so much more believable. And, I think Bella and Jacob have a real connection.

Here's hoping Eclipse doesn't disappoint.

Maybe I should stick to the classics. I'm never disappointed there.

My Worst Nightmare

Sometimes I like to pretend that I'm an interior designer and that I actually know how to put all the prints, fabrics, and colors together. I'm known to look at design magazines, visit design websites, and basically steal design ideas from fabulously talented designers.

As I was frequenting some of the many design sites I like, I noticed a shocking trend...wallpaper! Please tell me wallpaper is not coming back! I have visions of houses all across the country with this plastered on the wall.

This really is my worst nightmare coming to life!*

*In 6-8 months, when I've put wallpaper on my walls, please disregard this post. But rest assured, the above print will never find it's way to anything that I own. If I decide to follow the wallpaper craze, it will be super cute and trendy. After all, the trendier the better because wallpaper will soon be a thing of the past and I will want to paint instead of paper.

Backing into parking spaces

Backing into a parking space is one concept that I just cannot understand.

I'm looking out my window here at work and there is a Jeep trying to back into a parking space. There's plenty of room and one car on the other side of the space the Jeep is going into. It took this driver 5 times to get into the spot straight. And while attempting said parking job, the driver drove up on the curb (while trying to get straight), was on the parking lot line at least twice (and I mean right on it), and nearly took the door off the other car in the space.

So my question is, why back into the space? I understand that at some point you have to back up, but it just seems easier to go into the parking spot and then back up when it's time to leave. Just doesn't make any sense to me.

Taking a break

I need to take a little break before I take someone's knee caps out! Therefore, I want to share some of my favorite pictures from my trip to NYC last summer.

Look at the arms on that guy! He was the beer guy at Yankee Stadium and he had the nicest arms I've ever seen in my life. His teeth on the other hand, not so nice.

This is a traffic jam in China Town. There was a police man in the middle trying to direct traffic, but these cars weren't going anywhere. I thought it was the funniest thing I've ever seen!

Angie and Kari laughed at me for taking this picture, but this is underneath the street. The actual street was torn up and these guys were working under the ground. I thought it was so cool! And the white in the picture is the plastic fence around the work area. I stuck my camera through the fence to take the picture.

And there's a sampling of some of my favorite things about NYC!

Looks like Angie was right

You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal.A good listener, you excel at helping others in practical ways.In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music.You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. In love, you express your emotions through actions.Taking care of someone is how you love them. And you do it well! At work, you do well in a structured environment. You complete tasks well and on time.You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist. How you see yourself: Competent, dependable, and detail oriented When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, dominant, and stuck in a rut

What's" Your Personality Type?

I have commitment issues

My dad has said this a million times about me and I think he might be right.

In April, I decided to buy a new car. I had looked for a new car for at least a year before I finally made a decision about what car to buy. And in the course of two months when I was really serious about buying, I had "narrowed" the choices down to about five. Once I made my decision, it was a quick process. But getting there took time.

I bought this car. Only mine is red.

The same thing happened when I bought my condo, when I was choosing a major, deciding on graduate school, and even on deciding to dye my hair dark. I take a really long time to make a decision, go back and forth 15 million times, and finally I choose. And I'm usually pretty happy with my choice.

Now, my commitment issues have moved to my blog. In the last hour, I have posted, and then promptly deleted, three different posts. I just can't make up my mind!

This could really explain a lot.

My newest obsession

This is my latest obsession.

Is there a Crystal Light Anonymous meeting I should be attending?

It's my own fault for listening to the soft rock station

Thank you, Little Texas:

"I try not to think about what might have been 'cause that was then and we have taken different roads. We can't go back again, there's no use giving in. And there's no way to know what might have been."


I will now go back to not thinking.

Dream Job

I'm a bloggin' fool lately! That's right, I be a bloggin'.

I was thinking earlier this afternoon what my "dream" job would be. You know, the job where you loved coming into the office everyday, where you could make a difference, use your talents, and actually be apprecitated. (And because I don't believe that all of those criteria will ever be met, that's why it's a "dream.") Here's my top 5 dream jobs.

1. Mom: I know, I know. It's cliche, but I would love to be a mom. I realize it's hard work, you never get a day off, and probably will never get a good night's sleep for at least 18 years (or more if you ask my mom), but think of the rewards!

2. Writer: OK, I know. I'm a writer now. But I'm not talking about being a marketing writer, or writing copy for a brochure, or even a magazine article writer. I'm talking about being the next J.K. Rowling. I could sit in my pajamas with my laptop and literally change the world...one word at a time.

3. Teacher: Again, a teacher would be a terribly demanding job. In fact, I really admire those dedicated teachers who give their all...and they do it for such little pay. But all I can say is: 3-months off.

4. Florist: I really want to be a florist. I would love to be surrounded by beautiful flowers all day long. That's my idea of heaven.

5. Interior Designer: I wish I had the talent to be a really good designer. You know the kind that can just walk into a room and instantly know where to place the furniture, what colors to paint, and exactly the right accessories. Ya, I wish that was me. And, I could maybe one day be on Trading Spaces!

In the mean time, I'll just sit in my dark, rather stinky office and type away for 8 hours.

Angie and Jeremiah

You should check out my friend Angie's blog (link to the side, "This is our story.") Their cute engagement pictures are up!

Fresh Air

I bought this for my desk today. I think it will be a permanent resident.

Baby Showers, Good Friends, and a Delicious Salad

Tuesday I went to a baby shower for my friend, E. I’ve known E for about 2 years or so now. We met my second semester of grad school. She sat next to me in our technical writing class and we quickly became friends. E is just one of those people that you connect with almost instantly and feel as if you’ve known forever.

I had a great time at the baby shower, loved seeing her little tummy (seriously, she is the littlest pregnant person I have ever seen), and had such fun catching up with post-graduation life. As we talked, ate delicious salad, and opened her super cute presents, I realized how grateful I am that I met E. She was my support during grad school. Those days I wanted to kill the professor, E was the reason I stayed sane. Or when I really wanted to skip class because I just couldn’t stand another powerpoint presentation, I thought of E and how I could chat with her and went to class. She was such a big part of my life for those years. I’m so glad I met her.

All of this got me to thinking about how lucky I’ve been in my life to have good friends. I really am blessed. And even if those friends only come into your life for a short amount of time, the footprints left will stay forever.

Question

(Please read the title of this post in the voice of Dwight Schrute.)

If you work in a shared office and your co-worker wears headphones and you can still hear his music, what's the point of the headphones?

Celebrity Crushes

Come on, admit it. We've all got a celebrity crush. I was thinking about my celebrity crushes today and thought I'd share my crushes.

In no particular order:

1. Donny Osmond. Yes, he was popular before I was born, but that man sure can sing! And he's got some dancing moves too!

2. Tony Blair. Come on, the man united Great Britain at the time of Princess Diana's death. What's not to love?

3. Matthew Macfadyen. You may be wondering who this hunk of a man is...well, he's none other than Mr. Darcy in the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice. "You have bewitched me body and soul."

4. "Jim." I admit, I have a crush on Jim from The Office. Not necessarily the actor who plays Jim, but I definitely crush on "Jim."

I expect to be fully mocked by this post. Such is life.

Numbers

4 babies born
1 wedding
5 gifts I bought yesterday
34,599 miles on my car
2 books I want to buy
29 days until I go to London
41 days until my birthday
9 hours I spent at my desk today
3 random bruises I don't know how I got


It's been a busy week couple of weeks!

29 days

I'm so excited!

Chasing Rainbows

A great quote from one of my co-workers.

We were talking about the "perfect" mate. He said, "Looking for the perfect person is like chasing a rainbow. You run and run after the rainbow, but once you get to the end there's nothing really there."

I wish all the dating prospects in my life would realize this little bit of knowledge. My co-worker is very wise.