Something Creative

Proud to present my first completed dare: something creative.  If you don't know what I'm talking about click here.  I collage-covered a notebook as a graduation gift to my little sister and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out! 

 I've made quite a few of these for myself over the years and it's just something I really like to do.  It makes my notebooks a lot more personal, unique and fun.  I just buy a blank-covered sketchbook from Michaels or Barnes & Noble, glue magazine clippings to the cover with Mod Podge, and then give it a couple coats of Mod podge over the top when I'm all done so it's smooth and none of the clippings start to peel off.  I used to have a huge stash of magazines under my bed, but I decided I needed to throw it away during this last move and I'm cursing myself for it!  You can never have too many magazines to attack with that pair of scissors. . . Luckily I still had a stash of clippings. 

The quote on the front I borrowed from Corrie, I hope she doesn't mind!

Next Dare:  I dare you to grow something.  Edible or beautiful, it doesn't matter.  If you have a lot of garden space, great.  But if you're in a tiny apartment like me, that doesn't mean you can't grow anything!  Try planting a vegetable in a bucket or other container by your door, or hanging a basket--inspiration here.  If nothing else,  get a little indoor houseplant that you can set on the windowsill.  I have about 100 little baby plants growing off of my spider baby plant all ready to pot, so if you want, call me and you can come get one!

Kettlecorn

I may or may not have made a batch of this kettle corn about once a day for the past week. . . and eaten the whole thing myself.  It kind of has the most amazing texture of any kettle corn I've ever eaten and only takes about 5 minutes.  Here is a link to the recipe.  You're welcome.
Click here for amazing Kettlecorn recipe

It's from OurBestBites and f you have their book it's on Page 256!

Today

Today I took a scooter ride!  which I don't normally get to do since the scooter is Tanner's method of transportation and anytime I go anywhere it's usually with Camryn or somewhere too far to use the scooter.  I loooove our scooter.

Today I did a little grocery shopping forgetting that I had brought the scooter (I do this every single time) and probably looked like a fool trying to get all the food to fit.  And was successful.

Today Tanner made me breakfast!  Blueberry muffins and a smoothie, before heading off to school to take yet another practice MCAT.

Today I did some laundry at the Wash Hut.  Was going to wait until Friday and do it at my parents house, but Camryn made absolutely sure that that was not a possibility but completely saturating just about every piece of fabric in the entire house with spit up (and a few things that aren't fabric. . . )

Today I bought a can of Strawberry Fanta out of the vending machine at the Wash Hut.  I'm not really much of a soda person, and really not a pay-quadruple-price-for-something-just-cuz-it's-convenient-and-I'm-desperate kind of person, but it was calling my name and I had a pocketful of quarters.

Today I finished (I think) a story for Heather to illustrate! (more on this later maybe)

Today I blew bubbles outside with my baby.  Don't really know if she liked it, since she was in the baby sling facing away from me, but--what kid doesn't like bubbles?

Today I am being paid for 8 hours of work, even though I'm not working.  Yay for National holidays and paid time off. 

Today I'm looking forward to the day when my husband works somewhere that recognizes National holidays (which may never actually happen, since he aspires to work at a hospital).

That's all.  I'd wish you happy Memorial Day but that doesn't really seem appropriate, so. . . have a good day!

I Dare You

I've been thinking about this for a while (which you'll understand in a little bit is kind of ironic).  I've been thinking about how there are a lot of things that I think about that I never actually do.  Things that I want to happen in my life, or things that I want to accomplish.  Things that I pin, people I mean to call, hairstyles I mean to try, dreams I mean to follow, gifts I mean to give, trips I mean to take, DIY projects I mean to try, races I mean to run, bucket list items I mean to cross off, you get the picture.  Intentions you might call them--good intentions.  We all have them.  Some of you may be at a time in your life when your entire existence is so consumed by one intention that there is no space for side projects (i.e. graduate from college, raise 5 kids) and that is 100% acceptable.  Not that I'm not busy, but right now I do not have such an all consuming task at hand you might say.  Obviously, I take care of Camryn, but she's a good baby and let's be honest--sleeps a lot.  And I work too, but I have a lot of down time at work that I probably could be really productive during but instead I really just waste that time (that down time is the whole reason I even started a blog, because I have to be at a computer then anyway) when I could probably do something a lot more productive.
Bottom line is I've been kind of down on myself lately about lots of things I'm not doing.  I want to be someone who pursues their passions and doesn't just sit around thinking about it.  SO.  I decided to start something of a blog series where I dare myself to do things.  Initially, I thought I'd pick something to dare myself to do, then do it, then write a blog post about it daring all 10 of you that read this thing to do it too.  But--that cheesy saying that says 'it's not a goal until you write it down' is kind of true, and a few weeks have passed without me doing anything about the things I've been thinking about due to lack of motivation.  I think, then, that I will dare myself (along with you) in a blog post first, which will then hopefully give me motivation to follow up!  Some things will be very small, and some hopefully big.  So, follow me if you'd like and get inspired to do a thing or two with your life and turn it into what you want!

First dare:  I dare you to do something creative this week.  Anything at all.  Paint it, sew it, write it, bake it--whatever.  Just get your creative juices flowing, make a big mess, and create something.  Go!

Photos for the Aunts

Camryn hit 4 months yesterday! And took her shots this morning like a champ.  She weighed in at 12 lbs. 15 0z., which puts her in the 25th percentile and I think makes her bigger than her older cousin Ruby and smaller than her younger cousin Nolan!  She's 25 inches long (90th percentile)  Tall and skinny!  Here is a little photo gallery for your viewing pleasure.  What do you think, am I a little snap happy?  Will I ever regret taking too many pictures of my kid?

Just so you know, she's a lot happier of a baby than these pictures give her credit for.  Like I said before, as soon as we whip out the camera, all we get are wide eyes and blank stares.

She's SO close to rolling over.  Well get there.  (and yes, there is a blowout occurring in this photo.  We took care of it.)

Loving these ruffle butt pants!

She found her toes this week, was completely fascinated for about a day, and then seemed to forget all about it

We're getting a LOT of this lately

If you look really closely you can see her first little loop of a curl on the top of her head :)

Workin' Man

My husband walked in the door today after a walk with Camryn that lasted approximately 3 minutes and said (a little melodramatically, let's be honest) "I'm not going outside again until next winter!  It is SO dang hot outside!"  So. . . that makes him the only person I know who wishes for a longer Provo winter. (see more on his crazy weather preferences here)  Make that the only person in Provo who isn't half depressed and desperate for sunshine by mid March.  It was something like 85 degrees and I don't even know what he's going to do when we hit 100.   I think it's kind of adorable though that he is such a never-summer kind of guy. 

Speaking of this adorable man, he just got a job serving at the Outback steakhouse and loves it.  He's got a great personality for being a good waiter, right?  His word on it:  "I finally found a home for my voice!" (his loud voice) and: "Maybe I should just stop trying to get into medical school and do this for the rest of my  life" (which, don't worry, we had a little chat and I brought him over to my way of thinking that that is not a good life choice right now).  I think he loves having a productive break from studying organic chemistry and pathophysiology! (I thank heaven every day I see his books that I went for an English degree)

I made him let me take this picture of him on his way out the door for his first day of work.  He said he feels really dorky on his way to work on the scooter in the uniform, but I think you'll all agree with me here, the man looks gooooood!

Monday began the 30 countdown/intense review until Tanner takes the MCAT.  Yikes!  So, those of you that are accustomed to seeing us on any kind of regular basis. . . don't count on it until after June 21 and keep this guy in your prayers.  Thanks.  That's all. 

Have a good day!

Photos for the Aunts

She started actually responding to stories, it's fun.  She'll get all wide-eyed and  kick like crazy every time we turn the page

We tried introducing her to toys this week.  Not way impressed. . . 

Bald spot!  it's more like a ring actually