SPT--Au Naturel

I feel like a bit of an "au naturel" poser since I'm not so great about having veggie snacks around, but I did run into Wal-Mart yesterday specifically to buy a bag of carrots. After years of buying bags of baby carrots only to let them dry out over a month's time in the fridge so I could throw them away, I have discovered that full-sized carrots taste better! They're sweeter and have a better flavor, though they require washing and peeling, they're much more alluring to me than the bags of baby carrots I've scorned in days gone by.

So though it was yesterday's crazy, winter weather that sparked my desire to make beef stew, thus requiring me to buy carrots, I am happy to have them and won't be letting them go the way of their shriveled cousins.

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: Only 3 more days of school, what in the world?!

SPT--Fudged Assignment

Since I didn't see Lelly's assignment until late Tuesday night and because I don't have an idea for it I'm just posting a picture of what my Tuesday looked like.

{Umbrella Self-Portrait}

Rather than going out to freakin Eagle Mountain to work on our photo project, my mom and I went to the temple (then to lunch and to run errands). I have long wanted to be better about going to the temple regularly, especially since it's right up the street from me and something I see daily, but it has never become an easy habit for me.

But I have been thinking so much about Sister Beck's great talk at Women's Conference and have been wanting to make sure my list of "Essentials" is being taken care of, so this was a great step in the right direction for me.

**Did you do SPT?
Ever taken a self-portrait under an umbrella?
How's your list of Essentials?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I'm cleaning out our laundry room closet right now and it is making me so mad that I feel like I'm going to freak out! I'm keeping those feelings on the inside, but oh my goodness, how did we manage to get so much crap into one tiny closet? It's embarrassing!

SPT--I ShouldaWouldaCoulda

I end almost every day thinking "I ShouldaWouldaCoulda cleaned my studio". It's the only room in the house that I allow to remain messy (most likely because it's out of sight, ALL my mess, and is full of fun items) but it still baffles me that I let it be this way. Possibly it's because it's the one mess I don't dread cleaning...it's almost like I'm saving it for the perfect day's activity, but that never seems to happen. So it's usually as I'm winding down for the night, checking my email for the last time of the day that I think "Oh yeah, I ShouldaWouldaCoulda cleaned my studio." Maybe tomorrow...

**What's your ShouldaWouldaCoulda?**

Comment Window Tidbit: Tonight was Whitney's first softball game of the season and we got to freeze our nards off in the rain! What the heck? It's May 11th for Pete's sake, what is going on?

SPT--No Assignment Week

Lelly doesn't have an SPT assignment posted for this week, but I don't want to lose momentum with my weekly SPT posts, so I give you this...what I look like at this moment.


I have just finished getting ready for the day (yes it's 5:00pm) because we're heading to Salt Lake to watch Whitney perform 2 songs with her school choir at Abravanel Hall; we're even missing a soccer game to do it. I am excited for her to have this opportunity and am glad that despite having to get dressed up and have to go out this late in the day (I'm usually shutting down around now) we get to go support her as a family.

**What did you do today?
Do you usually shut down around now?**

Comment Window Tidbit: The lower right side of my back is hurting me and causing me to walk like an old lady. Good Hell! I can't get in to the chiropractor until Thursday. I need some radical change or I'm going to be geriatric at 39.

SPT--NonExtreme Makeover

I was going to do a before and after shot of my nonmade-up face and my made-up face, but the "before"shot was so frightening that I couldn't bear to have it out there for all to see. This is rather upsetting considering I often go about town in that nonmade-up state. Apparently I've been cutting myself too much slack.

So, my nonextreme makeover is the difference in my face when I wear lipstick. It is the last part of my beauty routine when I get ready for the day, and sometimes it's hard to wait to put it on, but if I'm going to be eating something or if I haven't brushed my teeth yet, then I wait so it can be unblemished.

Before Lipstick

After Lipstick

I think I'm nearing the need for an extreme makeover for real though...damn forehead fissures!

**What's your nonextreme makeover technique?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I am no longer sick, but I am not all the way well either. I am still weak (what a nuisance, especially while preparing for house guests) and am quite sure something is amiss in my intestines. They are loud! I don't know what's happening in there, but they want to be heard...gurgling internally, nothing external thank heaven!

SPT--Give Me A Break

This will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever read my blog, but my go-to place when I need a breather is "the cozy" (a term coined by Whitney years ago) to read. On really busy days when I'm running all over the place I sometimes find myself yearning for some time in the cozy. But even on regular, stay-at-home-mom kind of days I need time there too.

I am literally taking the load off my feet and relaxing back into the pillows for physical relief, and then have the added bonus of escaping to the comfort of a good book. It is often difficult to pull myself away from this spot, but even if I must, I'm still glad for the little dose I got. And really, it's better for everyone around here when I've had that time. Hee.

**What do you do when you need a breather?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I have had a wonderful day outside and am so happy that I made the time to take advantage of the weather and to finally go to the Tulip Festival!

SPT--Weather or Not

I like to think I go along with whatever weather comes my way, and some days I really do. But that's my optimistic spring-weather self talking. My Eeyore-like winter-weather self would disagree. I love the feeling of hibernation I get in the winter because I love being cozy at home, but after so many dreary days of dull, gray light I begin to feel like I am dull and gray too.

So spring is a welcome reprieve and I enjoy the variety that comes our way. Yesterday was sunny and beautiful most of the day then we had rain showers at night. Today we had a storm of snowy-type hail and rain, then clearing and sun, now clouds and cold. Perhaps it's the cheery daffodils that make it all okay for me, because they're an indication of hope and that things are changing.

**Are you affected by the weather?
Did you do this SPT?**

Comment Window Tidbit: Tonight was our first soccer game of the spring season and I yelled myself hoarse...good times!

SPT--Snap That Photo

Hooray for the return of Self-Portrait Tuesdays!!! I am committed to doing each and every one of Lelly's challenges no matter how busy I am or how challenging I find the topic. After making SPT photo books for me and Michelle, I understand what a gift these weekly challenges are and how they capture many facets of our lives which would be lost otherwise...I'm an SPT believer!


This is what my Tuesday looked like. We're on spring break, so there were kids a plenty around here. Robyn's 3 were here while she was at a doctor's appointment, Lucas and Eva were here while Michelle was flying home from Denver, Landon and Whitney were here of course, then Landon's friend Baylor and Whitney's friend Madison were here as well. That's 9 kids! Good times.

**Are you an SPT believer?
Will you do this challenge,
even if it's late? (Say yes!)**

Comment Window Tidbit: We're supposed to have nice weather the rest of the week, woohoo!!

SPT--Something New

I had a lawn mowing epiphany last summer, and ended up mowing the lawn a couple more times, but Randy still held onto it as one of his duties.


But 3 weeks ago, when it was time to mow the lawn for the first time this year, I found myself itching to do it. Part of it was because it was ridiculously long and I was preparing for Michelle and Kristi to come and stay with me, but part of it was because I really wanted to do it.

I have decided that it's like really satisfying vacuuming with results that last about a week. I love being outside (unless it's beastly hot), love the smell of it, love zoning out in my thoughts, and love the finished product. This is definitely a new love for me!

**Will you do this SPT?
Do you like mowing the lawn?
Do you ever wonder what else you
might love that you haven't discovered yet?**

SPT--Something Old

I have missed the last 2 months of Self-Portrait Tuesdays, but am happy to be returning with this month's themes.

{It was really hard to take a picture of my own earring.}

It took me awhile (hence Self-Portrait Saturday) but I finally came up with my "something old" idea. These little, silver hoop earrings are about 9 years old. Randy gave them to me, along with a matching ring for Mother's Day back in 2000. They used to have a little blue bead that hung down off them (I really need to try to find a photo somewhere, but that was predigital technology), and I just loved them.

I dropped the ring on Thanksgiving Day in my aunt's couch about 6 years ago and was never able to find it (Bermuda Triangle-like no?).

Then one of the dangling blue beads from the earrings fell down the bathroom sink, so I just wore the hoops from then on. I miss the little, dangling blue beads, but I still love these earrings. They're so simple, but they're my favorites and they're my oldest pair of earrings.

**Did you do this SPT?
Do you like simple earrings?
Have you ever tried to take a
picture of your own earrings?**

SPT--The First Thing That Attracted Me To You

I've written about this before so it feels redundant to me, but the first thing that attracted me to Randy was his sense of humor.


It's a good thing our senses of humor are compatible or we never would have made it through these 15 years of marriage.

**Thoughts?**

SPT--I Think It Would Be Romantic To...

I think it would be romantic to...have dinner at sunset on the beach in Hawaii. This would mean we were actually on a trip in Hawaii and were alone. A girl can dream...

**What about you?**

SPT--I Love It When You...

Is it wrong that the first thing that came to mind for this SPT topic was "I Love It When You...Bring Me Food!" Maybe it's not wrong, just embarrassing. But Randy is great about doing late-night runs to get food for us or even just for me if I'm craving something.


On Sunday afternoons when we get home from church he always makes me a perfect, little sandwich and brings it to me at the computer so I can eat while I type my Sunday Thoughts post. This act of service is something I really love and appreciate.

So the "self" part of this Self-Portrait Tuesday is my writing, because I didn't think to pose for a picture with this Sunday's perfect, little sandwich.

**Was this topic hard for you?
What do you think?**

SPT--I Resolve Week 4

"I resolve to take more self-portraits doing things I enjoy"

It turns out I'm pretty good at taking self-portraits of me doing things I enjoy because as I tried to think of what to do for this week's challenge I realized I've taken pictures of it all before. (I decided that's a good thing.) This photo represents not only my love of reading in the cozy, but of being home alone because if I hadn't been home alone, my bedroom door would have been partially or completely shut while I was reading.

The things that came to mind...
Creative Friday--Check
Book club gatherings--Check
Blogging--Check
Working in my studio--Check
Cleaning my house--Check
Working on good mail--Check
Time with the family--Check

Reading in the Cozy--Check
Eating Sonic ice--Check

**Was this challenge easy for you?
What things would be on your list?

SPT--I Resolve Week 3

Since this week's SPT topic is "I resolve to take more self-portraits while trying new things" that meant I needed to try something new, and has got me thinking that perhaps I don't do that often enough.


It worked out nicely that the kids and I had plans to spend Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Amie and her kids, because this gave me the chance to have Amie teach me some of her Coupon Lady ways (shown here at her computer thanks to her tripod and my self-timer) AND teach me how to make bread as well.

Not too shabby eh, it's nice to have talented friends.

**Do you know how to make bread?
Are you coupon savvy?
If I came over to your house,
what would you teach me to do?**

SPT--I Resolve Week 1

This week's SPT topic is "I resolve to take more self-portraits", but since I'm already addicted to taking self-portraits this isn't a resolution I need to make. I've taken self-portraits in the dentist's chair, on an airplane, at the grocery store, at the movie theater, in my car, in my kids' classrooms, under my dryer and on and on.


I think there is a greatness to taking self-portraits and here are just a few reasons I can think of right off the top of my head.

1. Being documented in my own life and blog.
2. Finding humor in things that otherwise might not be funny.
3. Seeing different sides of myself. (It's eye opening for sure.)
4. Making peace with aging.
5. Finding beauty in daily life.
6. Documenting changes in myself.
7. Recognizing a huge difference in my face when I smile.
8. Becoming quite strategic with the camera so as to minimized my chins.
9. Writing about self-portraits often leads to epiphanies.
10. I have lots of pictures with my friends because of it.

Thanks Lelly for helping me cultivate this great habit!!

**Are you indicated to self-portraits?
What have you learned?
Will you join Self-Portrait Tuesday this year?**

SPT--Holiday Hope

Approaching a New Year can be an exciting, hopeful time or a cynical, depressing time. I choose exciting and hopeful with a touch of cynicism...is that so wrong?

**Are you hopeful about 2009?**

Happy Birthday
Faye, Melinda & Sarah!!!

P.S. Today is my 3rd Blogging Anniversary
and this was my 1, 272nd post!

SPT--Holiday Peace

I didn't do this SPT yesterday because I was feeling so inexplicably grumpy and that just didn't jive with the topic of peace. Well today I'm not feeling much better and I'm pretty bugged about it. I have no reason for feeling irritable, yet I seem to be snippy with the kids (particularly Whitney and her many messes) and am not feeling excited and joyful about our Christmas festivities (which start today at my parents' house).


So I had to turn where I always turn when I need real peace and not something masquerading as peace. I closed my bedroom door, knelt down beside my bed and prayed. I'm sure just the act of praying is restorative, but something about turning over my irrational feelings and asking to be filled with love is instantly beneficial and makes me want to try harder. I feel more at peace and ready to enjoy the blessing of Christmas.

**Do you ever pray for peace?
Are you full of holiday cheer or
are you inexplicably irritable?**

SPT--Holiday Comfort

This SPT was a no-brainer for me, as soon as I thought about it I pictured myself sitting on the couch at night snuggled under the awesome quilt Michelle made me for Christmas several years ago. I do this nightly throughout the winter, but I especially love it during December when the Christmas tree is there being sparkly and beautiful. There are many levels to my holiday comfort and I appreciate them all.

**What gives you holiday comfort?**

SPT--Holiday Joy

Tonight I hosted our Relief Society Book Club, so today was spent feeling the joy of cleaning my house for guests, planning and preparing menu items, and experimenting with 3 new recipes (unprecedented!). I wrote last year at this time about being an accidental hostess and that is most definitely what I am.


Sure the two bathrooms I cleaned didn't end up getting used, the extra seating involved wheeling in two office chairs and some floor pillows, and there were some dishes in the sink (I ran out of time because I had to finish the book) but it was a good night and I felt joy. Woohoo!

**Are you an accidental hostess too?
Do you like trying new recipes?
Is seating at your house lacking?**