Gadget FANATIC

I LOVE this thing!

The Clarisonic MD is the one that I got.

My skin is so smooth and feels SO clean and fresh.

Here's the hype:

6 times more makeup removal
Leaves skin feeling and looking younger and smoother
Cleanses so well that products absorb better
Gentle enough for twice daily use
Helps reduce oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes
Helps reduce the appearance of visible pores
Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

The brush was developed by the people who brought you the famous Sonicare toothbrush which is NOT the best brush nowadays - I prefer the Triumph!

I read that many aestheticians use the clarisonic brush in their offices, that's how amazing this product is! It's easy to use, portable, simple to clean, you can take it in the shower with you, use whatever cleanser you like with it and it delivers results. The Clarisonic Brush has thus far lived up to the hype, I'm looking forward to more GLOWING skin! It has won a permanent spot near my sink in the bathroom. I LOVE it, and I love this thing~ I don't know what it's called, but it's made by Tweezerman.

I'm enjoying my Fabulous gadgets...actually I think I'm off to go buff my skin right this very minute. Ciao!

My Birthday Boy

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

One Week/One Person

Tuesday Tell All ~ VACATION

Where would you go and who would you take? No limits. The beach sippin' pina colodas, a cozy cabin to ski out of, touring Europe, a cruise? What's vacation to you?
Well, today I think it's just simple - I'd like to go somewhere - anywhere - where there are no phones or computers. I'd like to stay in my pajamas and not have to cook or clean. I'd like for someone to care for my children if they needed anything besides hugs, snuggles or kisses...because those would be still be allowed. I'd like gourmet meals prepared for me with delicious desserts that are calorie free. I'd like to catch up on all the shows that are hibernating on my TIVO. Netflix would be able to send the million movies on my queue because I haven't been to the theater in like YEARS! I'd like for my husband to be with me because he has a good ear for listening and he gives fairly good back rubs. I need to detox from the SAHM's that I aspire to be like. I being the self-proclaimed overachiever that can never seem to fit in all the projects and "stuff" that I would like to accomplish into my LIFE truly need this vacation in order to avoid having to take prescription anti-anxiety meds. I think that after Caiden's birthday party this weekend I am going to hole myself up in my bedroom for this mini VACATION! Anyone willing to babysit?

Pro and Cons

Things that suck:
UPS terminating Adam AGAIN without merit or any type of notice.

Mornings on any given day that I have to get up before 6 am.

Ill children - we came home from Utah with 3 of them - Raistlyn's hacking cough which I can hear at night from across the house, Caiden's runny nose that he HATES to have wiped and Rowan's goopy eye that was actually fused shut this morning with crusty junk!
Laundry - the never ending piles - both clean and dirty.
A house that is never clean enough.
Exercising - I need to do it - need to find the time.
Big boobs - I HATE THEM - 8 more months of breastfeeding - UGH!

Things that don't suck:
My husband - he's patient, sexy and puts me in my place when I need to be.
The weather - a projected high of 60 degrees today.
2008 Calendar Pages - new blank pages, I LOVE adding birthdays and special things to remember each year
New skincare products that seem to be working - thanks Lottie.
Melissa's photography - she has amazing ablities! check her out at http://www.melissafullmer.com/ can't wait for family pics later this month!
Soda - black, sweet, sweet poison for your veins - maybe this should be on the cons list??
Happy, adorable children.
Oh, all right. I have nothing to complain about today.
The pros have it.

2008...when did that happen?

2008

It snuck up on me. December flew by with a flash. I'll blog in more detail about December when I have access to my pictures - haven't even taken the card out of the camera yet!

~RESOLUTIONS~

When I think about my purpose in life, it makes me really want to evaluate the way I spend my time. I don't feel like I have a lot of major things I need to change, but I feel like I have a lot of little changes I need to make for the better.

"Perfection is a process and not an event, and you will come to appreciate that perfection is an internal matter, not external. It is a process by which you and I learn to eliminate the things in life that are not good, replace them with the things in life that are eternal in nature, with the objective and thought that perfection is obtainable, but it must be earned." -Elder Ballard

"The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life." - William Morris

I'm ALWAY SO BUSY. I just want to slow down and enjoy our crazy little life. My kids are growing up so fast I feel like I'm missing so many of the details. I want to treasure them like they deserve. They are such amazing little people.

My spiritual goals:
Scripture study.
Don't neglect prayers.
Prepare spiritually before church. Church is at 8:30 am now..so I have to prepare my primary lesson the night before (I teach 4 year olds - yeah!)
Start getting ready early enough on Sunday that we don't have to rush and yell in the mornings.
Work on developing a positive, spiritual atmosphere in our home.
Treasure time with my kids, record as many of them as I can either on my blog or in my journal.
Eat better. Drink more water - I never want another kidney stone!
Work on food storage and disaster preparedness, included wiping out debt.
Make smart financial decisions - plan for the future.
Be more patient, especially with my kids.
Learn to delegate - I don't have to always be in control - it's ok if it's not PERFECT right?
Ensure that Adam can focus and make straight A's - the sooner he's done with school the better!

Give in to Greed

Holiday excess? Let it go, let it go, let it go.

The last couple of nights my telivision has been displaying the animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas which Raistlyn so kindly Tivo'd for us. It's very nostalgic for me. Even more meaningful for me now that I am a parent. In the Who fashion it states: "Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more! This year we are attempting to make Christmas all the more about charitable and spritual values and it will be much easier since we are going to Utah for most of the Holiday Season. Christmas is still a time of excess for our family. We are greatly blessed with an abundance of toys & food and decorations that have been collected over the years. I want my children to have a hightened sense of excitement this time of year so they will create memories that they will always cherish.

I remember all the effort my mother put into obtaining that perfect toy for us each year. Cabbage Patch Dolls, Raggedy Ann & Andy, Strawberry Shortcake and the year I got the elephant that I wanted, albeit it wasn't pink like I had requested. I cherish the pictures of me on Christmas morning where I am gleefully posing in front of all my loot!
We always had a HUGE spread of food for Christmas Eve and tons of family members over to celebrate. Dad would read from the Bible and we would sing carols. Fa, la, la.

I get such great joy now in surprising my children & spouse with the most lavish gifts they could truly imagine and I can afford. Adam....maybe you'll be getting your wish after all. This year, I have Melissa to thank for the gift I gave myself...the digital SLR I have been dreaming of for years! Last year Caiden's favorite gift was the sack of potatoes that he crawled over and pulled out of the pantry. This year he'll love the colored Scotch tape I found for him to peel and stick EVERYWHERE! Raistlyn is a little harder....because she almost has just about EVERYTHING. She'll be a little disappointed when Santa doesn't leave a real horse under the Christmas tree.

I hope to alter the sense of materialism by adding in MANY stories of the true reason for celebration...the birth of Jesus Christ. But Christmas is the time for YES. It's the one time of year I want my kids to get what they are wishing for.

This Christmas....Let's eat too much, get too much, and especially give too much (except that's not really possible).
MERRY CHRISTMAS.

a Ter 'Ruff' ic Party

Raistlyn turned 7 on November 18th

We had the most amazing

PUPPY PARTY

The Pinata was a big hit - it was a bull that sort of looked like a dog - thanks Annette for the last minute help getting it.

The kids got to decorate collars for the puppies they adopted.

They picked cute names for their puppies and got an adoption certificate to take home.












They played Red Rover












got their faces painted












made Kibbles n' Bits that looked just like dog food












ate hot dogs & chips























and of course birthday cake.
























Each friend sat with Raistlyn while she opened the present they gave her.

Can you believe all this loot? Her friends sure know what she likes !

Raistlyn wrote in her journal about how wonderful her birthday was. She told me this was the 1st year she really liked the theme I picked. Thank you all SO much! More to come......