Brain, Brain, Go Away

My head has amazing amounts of chatter that can not be stopped. It is making me crazy. There is so much going on right now I feel all a-flustered!

A few random thoughts: in the fashion sense, I want these ruffles and a pair of nude shoes, but I believe I would opt for a sexier heel

If you have children on Facebook, you should definitely friend their friends- so you can happenstance across a photo like this that would have otherwise never been seen

taken at a Friday night party

I love this

I am speaking with my entire family in our church this Sunday- on my favorite subject of all

this assignment humbles me and frightens me, as I tend to get emotional when speaking about something so dear to me. Now accepting positive vibes and happy thought from all.

Finally, our family is going through some big changes. Right now I am scheduled to close on a home next week, which will leave me saying goodbye to my sweet cottage of 16 years.

More on that later....

for now, I hope a run will clear my head

Live out loud today

Perfect Sugar cookie

It is a Valentines tradition to make a huge batch of sugar cookies for the holiday. I started doing this about 7 years ago, when I found the perfect recipe that even my husband, who is not a sweet tooth by any means, can't resist.

First, the frosting. This is from the Wilton classes, and will taste like a bakery style buttercream. you can tweak the flavorings if you like a different taste, but the cookie is very mellow, so a sweet frosting is perfect on these.

1 cup Crisco shortening

1/2 tsp butter flavoring

1/4 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp almond flavoring ( all flavors are the clear Wilton bran, for a white icing)

4 tbsp water

3-4 cups powder sugar

Blend the shortening, flavors, one spoonful of water and 1/2 cup powder sugar on low in a medium size bowl. It will make the frosting base. Once it is well blended alternate one tablespoon of water with 3/4 cup powder sugar, until icing peaks. A slightly softer icing is better for the base spreading, and stiffer will work best for the borders. If you use liquid coloring, more powdered sugar may be needed before decorating.

The cookie recipe is as follows

1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup milk
6 tsp baking powder
6 cups flour

Cream together first 4 ingredients, adding milk,powder and flour one at a time after.
Roll out onto floured surface to desired thickness, creating shapes with cookie cutter. Bake at 350* for 8 minutes, cookies will be light but puffy. Let cool 2 minutes and remove from sheet. Frost when cooled.

In our family, it is also tradition to give the kid's teacher a personalized super sized cookie. Our favorite secretary and principal always get a cookie, too. Apparently the secretary screamed with glee when she saw her personalized cookie this morning....that makes me smile....

A few tips:
I have treated myself to using disposable bags most of the time. By the time I am done with the process, I love just cutting off the tip to save and tossing the greasy bag away. Well worth money.
If you don't have any tips just get a good star tip, and a good round tip. You can do most anything with those two tips to pull off a cute cake or cookie.
DO NOT whip your icing. Keep it on low, and take your time, when you beat it too high you whip bubbles into the icing and they pop when you decorate.

Wrap tinfoil on a piece of cardboard cut to size for a great give away plate

You can get the Wilton extracts at most craft supply stores, and even Walmart in the wedding supply area. I buy big, because I love to frost things.

There it is. I gave away my secrets. I hope you can use them for someone you love.

We actually had cookies for breakfast this morning....
in my mind, a great way to start a day of love

Holiday Shoes and Pretty Things

It was a crazy week last week. Between calling schools, flying solo, cold air, and 'the moodiest week of the month', I was spent. I took the haydster out to find some shoes for him, and passed the clearance racks at Dillard's

I had to have them, of course. Are they too much "Dorothy"?

Do snowflake socks make these official winter wear?

Anyway, I hope I have a legitimate reason to wear them on Valentine's. They are Gianni Bini heels and I snagged them for 23 bucks.

I received a few of the valentines from my exchange. Look at this little darling one.

Looking at it makes me feel young

I made these to send out

and for around the house, peek at this adorable wall plaque from Shopko (shocking, I know)

you could drape a romantic scarf around your bedside lamp

instead of worrying about candles to enjoy a softer glow

I have also decided if it requires a dress this winter, I will also be donning my

birthday boots, leg warmers, and thick tights.

Sharing this quote a friend posted on Facebook today:

‎"Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." ~Voltaire

See something beautiful today

I am that type of parent

Forget dreams of lovely clothing and lovely kitchens (just for a minute!) as I fill you in on a crazy story.

The tickets at school. The dreaded punishment. They sit in your file indefinitely, they can keep you excluded from assemblies or parties as you lament your bad behavior. And my son came home with one.

He came in a fit of tears, with a slammed door, and red checks. He quickly proclaimed it wasn't fair (his usual battle cry) and threw his ticket to the ground. Then what he said made my blood boil...

"I got a ticket for not wearing my coat."

Here he is, WITH his coat, on a day that actually needs a coat

WHAT?

He is a big kid. He was wearing a sweater over a shirt, and was hot. He had already been out earlier and took off his jacket, so to save time he just didn't take it next recess.

School Tech " You need a coat on." Son: "No, I'm not cold."

Tech: "Well I want you to get a coat on. Go to your room and get it" Son: "But I'm not cold. I am wearing a sweater and my room is locked"

Tech "I think you need a coat" Son:(I am sure, he is angry at this point) "But I have on a sweater. And all of those kids (he points to the playground, where some hundred children play without jackets in the first sunny day in a month) are out without coats on. "

Tech:"I will take care of them later. We are talking about you" son: "But I am wearing a SWEATER!"

Tech looks at his sweater, unsatisfied. "Push your sleeves down " (they were gathered at his elbow) Son angrily pushes his sleeves down to his wrists and throws his hands up in the air, obviously mocking this ridiculous request.

Tech: "You just got a ticket." Then....as she writes the ticket she says "It's kids like you that make me hate this job."

(I have paraphrased what he paraphrased, so you will get the idea)

OUCH.

I am the mom on the phone. I have e-mailed the principal. For follow-up Daddy Bear also visited the school. We have applauded our son for standing up for himself- yes, we have talked about doing it respectfully, but if he is out with children who do not want a coat who is she to decide that for him? If she had ignored the coat issue, the whole exchange would have never happened. And she sited him for 'disrespect' while stating out of her own mouth how she hates her job. Wow. Hypocrisy.

Apparently there have been similar complaints from other parents, and this tech has been warned, but it just makes me wonder...how many kids has she belittled who don't dare speak up? Or whose parents don't care, or don't have the time to worry? This ticket has since been removed. We did find out he was playing ball against the wall and warned to move, which he and his friends were kind of ignoring.

So we have discussed respect. We have discussed listening to teachers, but we also have discussed rights. He can wear his sleeves any way he wants.

I am that kind of parent. And I am proud of my son.

Last time I checked....this was a free country

Eye Candy for 7 degree weather

Brrr. That is all I felt this morning. The thermostat was loose on the wall and so my heater shut off last night. The house sat at a cool 60 degrees- it is finally warming up, but slowly.

Due to my foul mood (I couldn't tear myself away from the news yesterday, just watching Egypt unravel before my eyes) and the foul temperature, yes, it was 7 degrees when I dropped off my teen at early morning seminary, I am escaping in photos.

The following are from the iVillage photo board by Mary Kate Frank.

It was probably warmer than 60 degrees in this lovely bedroom upon waking

and if it wasn't how about a soak in a hot bath in here

In my escape I read and create in these rooms

I wish I had the power of Mary Poppins to just jump right into these

romantic rooms this February.

And for my Style app picture of day how about some - Ralph Lauren- I love this

and now back to the reality of the morning and the comforts I actually have

my cheapy knock off warm boots which work great without socks, by the way

(I slip these on every morning upon climbing out of bed and they stay on until I am dressed for the day. It is my solace for getting out of my warm covers.)

my morning jolt, since a Diet Coke just seems wrong before 9:00 am

sip and breath.

I am probably addicted.

Weekend Finds

So, you know I was falling flat for spirit and inspiration last week. I even declared myself officially grumpy and pouted on the couch. I am not sure why. These things do happen.

But, on mommy's day out, I found some great finds that reminded me of the simple things in life

First a stop at the bakery

That lovely heart sugar cookie you see is now probably stuck somewhere between my intestines and my thighs, but it was delicious.

Then surprising find of vintage inspired Valentines

These are made by Punch Studio, and I found them at Barnes and Noble after browsing through all the Somerset Magazines. Is it just me, or is $6.95 for a box of 24 an incredibly great deal? I was a little giddy over that- but after working with my other materials I have for the Valentine swap they aren't quite right. I will hold on to them for the future.

I browsed the aisles of our local thrift store. looking for some fun mismatched china ware. At the local antique store a saucer and tea cup can run $8-$15, and I just don't want to pay that much. I noticed a man with a full cart of various goodies, rummaging the shelves and looking at labels with a magnifying glass. In spite of this "professional" I still scored some great things.

I started stacking these pretties in my cart, not yet sure if I would buy them all or not, when suddenly a woman came up to me, just raving about the plates I found, and how she used to have similar dishes, and she couldn't believe they were just on the general shelf of dishes. That caught the magnifying glass man's attention, and he, too, peered into my cart, and said. "Wow, you have some great finds".

At that point, I decided I would just buy everything I had in the cart (at 50 cents to a buck an item, why not?) and felt pretty happy (although I am not sure why). I must admit, I left them in the car until hubby left for work. He is not the biggest fan of second-hand stores. (if you are reading this i love you babe and love me for who i am)

Now I have a few more pretty pieces to mix and match with my china for our Valentines Brunch Book Club. I love a reason to host!

On the fashion front, this weekend I am drooling all over this Spring line by Chanel. I don't live a life where I would parade around in these beautiful garments, but if I did, I may show up to the next party in this

I got the new Style.com app on my iPad and so I now sit and browse the fashion shows whenever I have a minute. It is a great app, if you're into that kind of thing. Perhaps I can beg the dentist to turn up the happy gas and dream myself in the fashion world today while I get my root canal finished.

Wish me luck

and live beautifully today

Inspire Me

Today is a rare day. I have nothing...I repeat NOTHING on my calendar until tonight. Normally I schedule these days to clean up, catch up around the house, or catch up with my DVR. I don't want to do any of that.

I want to look at lovely things that make me feel romantic

I need to find inspiration for my Valentines Swap

last year's Valentines were fun and romantic

And Bergdorf Goodman is inducing day dreams of romantic hair, boots, lacy clothing, and a bike ride in the spring

So, while the house may sit untouched for today

In my mind I have been very productive

2010 you served me well

I can not move on with my blog until I take a moment to respect the year that has just passed.

It sounds silly, but every year when I look back I get a little

overwhelmed and emotional as I peek back at the days I lived.

We are all living this wonderful life!

I am hoping by jotting down a few memories I can remember them later.

I mastered a few songs on the piano ~ I saw the surf and sun in Mexico ~ I danced all night with my sisters ~ I ran and completed my first half marathon ~ I sang on stage next to my children ~ I battled, and overcame, a nasty case of depression ~ I lunched with beautiful friends~ I ran and swam with sisters ~ I voted out a senator I wildly disagreed with ~ I swapped used books ~ I laid in the sun ~ I received cards and invitations from politicians ~ I zip lined across a canyon in Mexico with my hubby cheering me on ~ I completed, and survived, my calling as Primary President ~ I tried new bakeries and restaurants with my husband ~ I learned how to do The Jerk ~ I stayed up way too late with family~ I made art and gifts for my amazing sisters ~ I was introduced to the Food Nanny and vowed to make dinner important ~ I discovered the wonder if the iPad ~ I screamed my head off on numerous roller coasters ~ I bore my testimony at church ~ I went to the temple more ~ I napped on the couch with drapes pulled ~ I ate way too much chocolate cake ~ I survived the scraping of my dysfunctional ankle ~ I sat in awe of Phantom of the Opera ~ I gave a standing ovation to David Barton, Judge Andrew Napalitano, and Glenn Beck after being blown away with a full day of lectures and reading ~ I climbed the rocks of Yosemite ~ I read 33 books ~ I completely biffed it on my new bike and suffered weeks of scabs and road rash ~ I made more lofty goals for 2011 ~

I will no doubt trot around with my camera way too much

Taking pictures of completely random moments

Life is good

Christmas with a camera

A couple of quick shots taken fresh after Santa's visit, the last shots taken in my

"life before the Rebel".

When the first gift you open, upon Santa's strict request, is a camera, the rest of a day is just a blur from behind an unfamiliar viewfinder. (Why yes.....that is my two eldest sons enjoying their new Snuggies, in lieu of Christmas Eve pajamas on Christmas morning!)

You know it's a great Christmas when you can't make it through the day without crashing for a much needed nap

and when the leftovers from the stocking suddenly look beautiful to me

the day is spent tinkering with new gadgets

(these ever cool magnetic "Bucky Balls" kept my 15 yr old busy all day....all week, actually, as he shaped them into all sorts of amazing contraptions.

And later, taking down decorations is suddenly a chance to capture a mix of beautiful tidbits

What began as a few cards pinned to a lovely bow turned into a curtain full

of Christmas greetings. Is it wrong to leave them up longer to enjoy,

although everything else is cleaned up?

Looking through the eye of a camera reminds me of something important.

Our life is full of beautiful images just waiting for us to capture them.

some of these images were inspired by challenges from the Digital Photography School website. Until I can get into a real class, it is just me, these posts, my instruction book, and my Canon Rebel working our way through the world. It is gosh darned fun, too.

The fire that's breaking my heart

A brief history as on file at BYU of the Provo Tabernacle

The Provo Tabernacle, located on the west side of University Avenue between Center and First South streets, has figured prominently in the history of Brigham Young University. It was built by the Saints of Utah Valley at a time when money was difficult to obtain. Fifteen years, from 1883 to 1898, were required for its construction, largely because of financial limitations. From 1930 to 1941, when the Joseph Smith Building was completed, BYU commencement exercises were held in the building, the procession proceeding from the Education Building to the Tabernacle, a distance of six blocks. The Tabernacle was used for lyceum concerts even into the 1950s, and organ recitals of the Music Department continued there through the 1960s. Some of the artists who have appeared there have been violinist Fritz Kreisler, pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, baritone Paul Robeson, soprano Bidu Sayao, the Minneapolis Symphony (1918), the Metropolitan Quartet (1916), opera star Emma Lucy Gates (1923), the Bach Festival (1934), and dozens of others. The dome in the center of the building was removed later because of excessive weight.

The building has been host to countless ceremonies, concerts (as a high school student I sang there with my choir) graduations, weddings, church meetings and more over the years. Just last Saturday I marveled over the beauty of the building. It was my second concert of the season with my son singing.

And this morning we woke to this

It hard to believe that beautiful organ, woodwork, stained glass, and detailing that I captured with my silly little camera is gone.

For the record I must say that building had a spirit about it.

I performed and listened to others perform there.

It was place beyond many you might step foot in.

I am so sad at this historical lost, yet feel blessed we were there just days ago, and my son got a final chance, that we did not know was final, to be a part of that great heritage.

If you have a few minutes, I invite you to share in the spirit of music and Christmas by watching this song my son performed with the choir when we were last there. Merry Christmas. May the Lord bless you and keep you.