A New Blog

Tiffany had the brilliant idea to start a blog with wonderful quotes that we read. Are you a reader? Come join us!

Quick Quotes Without The Quill

Why I Am Dangerous To Have Around: Reason 3,457

I pour pots of boiling water on my stomach. Not on purpose, and only when I am trying to drain the pasta.

Now I look funny.

Perks of Being Mormon

Last night, I met David Archuleta. This is for reals. Because when he comes to town, we sometimes get him for a fireside. (For those who have no clue what that means, a fireside is an extra meeting, besides our typical Sunday worship, that was originally held around a fireside. The name stuck. Even though we have them in our church buildings now.)


Anyways, I had his cd before. Meaning, Tyler had bought it and put it on my ipod. But when I was informed that I could only have 5 itunes accounts on my ipod, David Archuleta was the first to go. But then he sang last night. And it was incredible. He didn't sing Crush, or anything. He sang We'll Bring the World His Truth. And Be Still My Soul. And The Spirit of God. And his How Great Thou Art blew Carrie Underwood's out of the water. No contest.




(This is a video I found on Youtube. Which is why it is awful sound.)

It was true love.

Or, it would have been, but then I met him. And he is pocket-sized (but still oh so cute). And he is only 18. And there was an amazingly adorable missionary sitting 2 rows in front of me. Don't worry, Mindy. I don't ever talk to him. I know the rules. But I do stare. His face is so cute, I could eat it. Why oh why do they put boys as cute as he is in the Singles Ward? It is not wise.

Why Samuel Is Going To Make A Great Vet

...because he gives the nasty bunny with flies on his bottom a bath.

Piratey Girls That Rock

Coeur de Pirate || Comme des enfants from Dare To Care Records on Vimeo.

Why am I taking Spanish? Why not French?

Much love, Coeur de Pirate. You are amazing.

Notes

Dear Tiffany,

Please hurry and get your phone back. No consistently texts me but you.
And it makes me sad.
But not sadder than those creepy texts the guy who stole your phone sent me.
Love,
Mulder

Dear Tiffani,
Do not go to Nicaragua.
I will miss you too much.
Love,
Rainster

Dear Elfie,
Have you found a place to live yet?
And please never ever ever write a post like that last one.
I am still throwing up.
Love,
bReyna

Dear Kenzie,
I love that wedding dress. I love those suits. I love those flowers. I love everything.
Expect Jason to return tomorrow. He will need nursing. I shot him, you see.
Enjoy.
Reyna

Dear Taza of the Rockstar Diaries,
You have two options:
1. Hide your husband, and hide him well. I might steal him.
B. Send his brother my way.
Love,
Reyna

Dear Sugarland,
Come to me. Do not wait until September 25th. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
Just come.
Love,
One of your biggest fans

Dear Jessica,
You are awesome with all your service work in Fiji.
One day, I will be like you.
I can't wait.
Love,
Ray-Ray

Dear Momma,
I wish that it was Donny Osmond coming to the fireside tonight instead of David Archuleta.
But only for you.
Love,
Flossie

Dear Tavi,
Cute shoes. I have a pair myself.
Love,
Weena

Book of the Week

Is it ok that I love Forever Amber? It has been one of my favorite books for so long. My mother has had a beautiful little shelf with all of her special books. You know, the set of Oxford classics, the 100+ year old Jane Austen books, Dante, Charles Dickens, all those wonderful ones. I always wanted to read all of them. I obviously got a little bit stuck with Thomas Wolfe's Of Time and the River, but then I found Forever Amber. And I began a love affair. The massive length of the book was what first recommended me to it's charm. For we all know that the longer the book, the better. I can't stand it when I love a book, but it simply doesn't last more than a day. But Amber has 746 pages to her name. And even though Amber is not the best of role models, nor Lord Carleton the most desirable of all lovers, her ridiculous efforts to climb the ladders of society and her undying, passionate love for the man who will never give her what she wants, is fantastically written and keeps drawing me back, every single summer.

And it was good.

Tree Houses

Once upon a time there was a lovely blogger. And I sometimes got confused because she wrote things that were in my head. And I started getting suspicious. Was I writing these posts in my sleep? Is Laura of the wonderous Gypsea Tree my alter ego? Or just a long lost twin of sorts? Because, believe it or not, a few days ago I was about to write about tree houses. Then I looked on Gypsea Tree and she had beat me to it. Weird. Head over and check it out. And be thankful. For I'm sure that there is no way that I could have found all those awesome pictures.



ps Do you like my new header? Say thank you to Picasa. Because I get to proud when I see it, and a strange feeling of bliss enters my heart as I begin to dream of the Outback. Ya know.

Lazy Days

Today was lazy. And when I say lazy, I mean lazy. I didn't put on any makeup. And for those of you who know me, that never happens. Even on a completely lazy Saturday with nothing to do but clean, I will still wash my face and put on my mascara. At least I took a shower. That has to count for something, right? I felt a little bit like this. And that was when I realized, I have got to do something with my life. So I came up with a few little goals.

1. Brush up on my Spanish. After all, school starts in just a little over a month, and I passed Span 101 by barely 2%. So I might maybe should start up on that.

2. Finish 3 classics before school starts.
Anna Karenina is the first on my list. Have you any suggestions? I am working on Forever Amber, but I enjoy it so much and I'm not sure if it's really a classic. More of an old, incredibly well written beach read.

3. Start saving to go on a walkabout in Australia the summer after I graduate.

4. Finish my bureau that I started to refinish.

5. Organize my room. Because, trust me, it needs it. Desperately.


What are your summer goals and plans? Is there anything you're thinking of accomplishing in the next few weeks?

p.s. Do you know who Rosie Hardy is? Incredible! I am finding myself mesmerized. Darn Flickr. It's like when I found Peonies and Polaroids page all over again...


.credit Rosie Hardy via The English Muse

Soundtrack to My Life

I need one. I need the soft music swelling in the distance. I need ominous music when I am about to do something stupid. I need a romantic love theme that plays when a certain wonderful boy walks into my life.

My mother might have looked at me like I was crazy when I tried to tell her about it this morning.

Devestation

I am depressed. So so depressed. Because Kings was cancelled. The one good show that they put on in forever. I mean, I love my 30 Rock, Grey's, and all the other ones, like Samantha Who? (cancelled) and Brothers and Sisters. But Kings was so so good. It was David and Saul. Yep, from the Bible. Only in a modern kingdom. And it was incredible. I dare you to watch it. Or, you can choose to not get depressed by getting hooked and only having like 12 episodes to watch. But you would be missing out. Promise.


And since I am not going to have a whole post just dedicated to t.v. (no, X-Files did not count. It was on dvd), I am going to include a movie. About me. Or my life goals. Guess what it is? Oh, that was too easy. Yes, it is Australia. Please don't give away the ending. I am in the middle of enjoying this epic adventure (hey, it's super long. Like 3 hours 45 minutes. For reals.) Oh Baz Lurmann, you know how to tug my heartstrings.


Also, I am very tan. I have great tan lines. I can't wait to show you.

Confession

I did something wrong today.

I was bored and needing something to read. Something light and slightly trashy. Not trashy-in-a-bad-way, but trashy-in-an-easy-read-way. Something light and entertaining. I'm reading Anna Karenina (Tolstoy is genius!), but it is a little heavy for my mood of the moment.

Confession time: I might have resurrected a Twilight book. You know, the ones that I used to enjoy before they became famous, before all the hype. I'm not ashamed of this. I was desperate. However, the glitter was lost to my enlightened eyes (sorry for the pathetic reference, my dear die hard Twilight fans).
But this is not the worst of it. The worst of it is that I, not wanting anyone to see me carrying around a vampire book by Stephanie Meyers, might possibly have taken the cover off of Anna and placed it over the black and red ribbons of Eclipse. I have sullied one of the greatest Russian authors. I am shamed beyond recognition, for this is a sin for which there is no forgiveness. Please do not shun me forever.

Quote of the Week

"People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading."

~ Logan Pearsall Smith

Adventures in Hairland

Thursday night, I was finally sick of my roots. My 3 inch roots. Now, they weren't that bad, because my hair is pretty dark and was blending in well. But I could see them and it was enough. After I picked up Tiff from the airport (YAY! She's finally home!) we watched Amelie and she dyed my hair. And she did a great job. She was precise and efficient. And then I rinsed it out. My roots were an orangey, brassy color, and the rest of my hair looked fried. It was bad. Especially since I had used that particular product before and we followed the instructions. Ugh.

So Friday morning, I set an appointment at a cute salon near my house to have it fixed. And the place was very nice, the girls very posh, and it smelled heavenly. Like lavender and a million other lovely, natural and earthy scents. I fell in love. And the product! I didn't know that there were so many hair products out there!

My hair dresser, Jessica, looked like Jessica Rabbit. Except she was wearing black and had the most perfect hair I have ever seen. Seriously. And then she dyed mine about 2 shades darker than I would have liked, but promised that the sun would lighten it nicely. So I believed her. And left happy. My wallet was happy to, because it was not nearly as much as I expected. I mean, my hair is very long. And it took 2 1/2 hours with two people putting in the dye. So, ya know. I was impressed.

But then I woke up this morning. And it is very dark. Like, almost a purpley black. What does this mean? It means I am going to the beach soon. And possibly pouring lemon juice in my hair and laying out. And I am rinsing it out everyday and washing in twice every other day. Until it fades to the color I want. Or, I could be simple and cut bangs. Because the first time I went dark, bangs made me love it. On the other hand, they are a hassle. Hmmmm....

Pictures to come. I promise. Because Tiff and I are taking lots and Sam loves the camera too.

Samuel Quotes

"I wonder who the genius was that came up with the toilet." (after an extensive monologue about the gallons per flush capacities of certain models)

"I like knives and bows and arrows and fishing and things like that. What do girls like?"At this point, my father proceeded to tell him that girls like things like lipstick, and clothes, and romantic things. Sam's reply? "That's just weird."

Sam. "You know, you could stand to do a few squats."
Me. "Why? What do you mean?"
Sam. "Well, your legs are looking a little jiggly. Come to think of it, you should probably do some sit ups and lift weights too. It will help you look a little better."
Me. !!!!!!!



Oh to be an eleven year old boy.

Ghostly Flowers

I ran across this picture and was reminded of my old love for Indian Pipes. Lovely and enchanting, no?

Real Love

I had to buy new tweezers today. Because my little brother's Rabbit has fly strike. That is where flies lay eggs on animals when the weather is hot and the animal has a damp spot. The eggs hatch and the maggots make their way into the animal and kill them. It is painful and gross. Poor beasts. And Sam's Rabbit is getting old. Ya know. He can't clean his...*ahem* ...bottom so well. And Sam, being the dutiful pet owner that he is, checks the poor thing over for problems (yes, he wants to be a vet). And then he finds maggots on a very sensitive area. And comes inside with wild eyes, looking for tweezers and iodine. And since my tweezers are the easiest to find, he uses them. And I let him. And support him in his maggot picking endeavors. (By the way, he pulled off about 50 of those nasty little things.)

This is real love. Sacraficing your personal grooming for a bunny's bottom.

P.S. Remember how the Rabbit has to be held upside down for this procedure? And how he let's Samuel pick maggots off of a very sensitive area, holding still the whole time? And he endures iodine being poured on him? What a Rabbit!

Books

I need something to read. You know that empty feeling in the pit of your stomach when you forget to eat breakfast? That is how I feel without something to read.

I've read several books in the past month, including The River Wife and Fragile Eternity, and I am currently reading Anna Karenina. But I need some more. I need something a bit less heavy, but well written. I bought a book about the Elizabethan court that I've been trying to read, but it is too fantastical and not well written. I had to put it down.

Do you have any light, fun reading that I simply have to read? Please share! I'm dying here.

Turtle Turtle!!

We found turtle eggs in our yard today. Something had dug them up and cracked a few, leaving ants to swarm the area. We Googled it and found that if we left them alone, the ants would kill them. Don't ask me how they were going to crack the eggs, what with their tiny little ant legs. But, choosing to believe the internet, we created a little habitat for these eggs. Did you know that you have to hold them the way that they were in the ground? Apparently they attatch to the top of the egg, whichever way the mother lays them. Moving them about brings death. And I don't want baby turtle death on my hands. So we marked the top with a Crayola marker. And we await their hatching day. I just hope that it's before I leave for Utah. I would love to see their cute little faces. Pictures of the event to come. For now, here is a picture of a baby turtle to satiate your need for all things cute. My underlying motive is to make you jealous that you do not have turtle eggs in a basket on your fireplace.
Do they look grumpy to you? Because they look grumpy to me. Like they want to kill something. Maybe Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles wasn't all lies. Maybe they do have a bit of violence in them.

Illegal Immigration

Excuse me as I get political for just a moment. Heather, this is for you. Because Twitter only gives me 140 characters to respond. Obviously not enough.

No, it is not okay to mock those who are not as fortunate as those of us born in the United States of America. That isn't why I found Martina's statement funny. I found her mocking of political correctness to be funny.

For the record, I love immigrants. That is what America is made of. All of us here have progenitors that immigrated here from other lands. Our diversity and welcome to those who are looking to escape demeaning situations is what makes our country special. That is what America is.
That being said, I think it is important to go through the proper, legal channels when entering a new land. The drain that illegal immigration causes to our school systems, our health care, our law enforcement and criminal justice system is unacceptable. Not to mention the effect that these things have on taxpayers. I would love to be involved in helping those less fortunate than I to be included in the wonderful benefits that our country has to offer, whether it be welcoming them to our land or helping them build the same kind of beneficial government in their own lands. I understand the hard times that Mexico is enduring right now with gangs, drug lords, and their own version of the mafia taking over innocent civilians lives and rights. That is not a good environment for anyone to have to endure and I would welcome them to escape. But legally. I believe in obeying the laws of the land.

That's all.