Ohhh the Holidays...

Ok... I wouldn't classify myself as a Grinch or a Scrooge by any means.

I actually LOVE the holidays and am feeling very festive this year.

But I have had at least 5 encounters with people this holiday season that makes me seriously question the reasons why I love Christmas.

I mean seriously, I feel as though people are meaner at this time!

Maybe it's the stress of the holidays combined with today's economy.

Or it's just the way people get around this time.

Story NUMERO 1:

There I was....

Minding MY OWN business.

Turning into a left turn lane and the lady wouldn't let me in! The light was green and I needed to get into her lane and she wouldn't let me.

So, I went anyway.

She got SOOOOO mad at me that she started to hit her head with her fingers and tell me that I'm stupid.... I guess.

I just ignored her and went on with my drive. She continued this hand hitting head motion. I'm assuming because I didn't respond to it that she just kept doing it until I got so mad at her back. But I wasn't about to let her affect me. I was having a good day. No way was I going to let this lady get to me. (Mind you she was a grown woman. I would say in her 50's. I mean really lady... do you REALLY have the time to try and make someone else upset? Seriously. Get a life.)

So then, she got in front of me somehow and decided to STOP in the middle of the road and not let me go.

I'm talking in the MIDDLE of the road. And this woman feels so inclined to not allow me to go.

I'm not kidding.

SERIOUSLY.

Story NUMERO dos:

There I was... Working at Shade.

This lady was buying some shirts.

I rang her up and told her the price.

She proceeds to tell me that that cannot be the correct price because those shirts were on sale.

I informed her that the particular shirts she was purchasing were not on sale and the sign says "select colors."

She thought that the sign was VERY deceiving and that she felt ripped off but that she would purchase them anyway.

I said that I was sorry she felt that way and we should fix our signs so that other customers would not feel the same way.

The lady got SO mad at me that this is what she said,

VERBATIM

"Ok! I got it! There is no need to just keep on talking about it! I already said I would get the shirts and you just went ON AND ON AND ON about the signs and I get it! OK!?"

um... what?

She then turns to her daughter and tells her to finish the purchase and that she was going to get the car because she doesn't want to be in the store any longer.

Seriously... what?

I just think that there is more to life than to be mean to perfectly innocent strangers.

Especially during the Holidays.

Let us rejoice.

Not be Grinches.

SHEESH!

Grateful.

I am grateful everyday... for days.

But today, being Thanksgiving and all, I am particularly grateful for this day.

I am grateful for many things.

My family.

My friends.

My sister.

Kirk.

My job.

The Gospel.

I am also thankful for these things as well...

While they may not be so deep and meaningful, I am still happy they exist.

Movie theater popcorn.

Diet Coke.

Mashed potatoes.

The Food Network.

Grey's Anatomy.

Floral fabric.

Vanilla.

My bedding.

Blankets.

Boots.

Laughter that keeps on going.

My heater.

Hand sanitizer.

Notebooks.

Dark chocolate.

Ice Cream.

Great movies.

Christmas.

You may think these are silly trivial things, but I do appreciate their existence.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had an absolutely WONDERFUL day!

SHADE Day After Thanksgiving Sale

Shade is having an AMAZING sale on Friday... BLACK Friday that is.

Everything in our store will be $30 and under and from 8am to Noon, everything will be an additional 30% off.

Then from noon to Saturday night, everything will be 15% off.

You should come!

Talk about a steal of a deal.

Check out all the sweet clothes at www.shadeclothing.com

I am working both Friday and Saturday.

And yes, I am scared.

10 Days to Touch 10 Million Lives

Ok... This is the coolest thing ever.

Kirk's good friend/professor/colleague, Clint Rogers, plus many many others, have helped with this movement to give Thanksgiving a little bit more meaning.

"While traditional media will begin their usual 'How to Prepare a Turkey' segments for millions of viewers, we wanted to take a deeper approach to this day."

Clint has asked Kirk to be the team's marketing consultant and assist in the construction of this site!

"This Thanksgiving season let’s pause from the hectic rush of life and reconnect, and especially let’s reach out together to those who currently believe they are inadequate, worthless, or “not enough”. Together we can touch 10 million lives this Thanksgiving – and reach that one person who needs it now most of all."

It just so happens that this little project has already reached its quota and touched 10 million lives before Thanksgiving by reaching

TIMES SQUARE!

Watch the Wisdom Film HERE.

Talk about inspiring.

Happy Thanksgiving.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

-Melody Beattie

(thanks trudy)

Christmas Movies

I don't know why but I have been craving Christmas ever since Halloween... It may have something to do with working in retail and all the stores getting ready for Christmas so early!
I haven't busted out any Christmas decorations or movies yet but let me tell which ones I am excited for:

-The Grinch
-The Holiday
-Dan in Real Life
-Elf
-Charlie Brown Christmas
-Home Alone
-Santa Clause
-Miracle on 34th Street
-It's a Wonderful Life
-Nightmare Before Christmas (yes, this does please my soul)
-Serendipity
-The Family Stone
-Meet Me in St. Louis
-National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

What are your favorite Christmas movies?

Eau De AMAZING

Found this scent at Anthropologie this weekend and have fallen in love with it.

Not only does it smell like heaven (or vanilla), it was a steal for only $18.

Yeah, I'm not ashamed of naming the price.

It's that good.

And I invite all of you to enjoy this heavenly scent too.

It will only bring more pep to your step and joy in your heart.

So if you see someone skipping down the sidewalk whistling a happy jingle,

It may in fact be me... wearing this divine perfume.

Or I guess, it could be someone else who has found the truth in fragrance form.

Logically.

:)

Glee.

Bonjour.

Have any of you heard of this wildly entertaining show?

Not only is it like a Broadway musical on cable television,

it is also HILARIOUS!

in a shy sort of way.

I spent all of last Sunday watching every single available episode available on Hulu.com and I fell in love with it.

Last weeks episode had this song from the Broadway musical "Wicked" which I have never seen but after hearing this I TOTALLY want to see it!

Don't even worry, I have had this song on repeat for the last week.

And yes, I do bust out in full vibrato every time.

So I highly recommend this show.

Enjoy.

And for you doubting Thomas' out there, watch this.

And try not to laugh and instantly become obsessed with this show.

I dare you.

P.S. That really is him singing. In BOTH songs.

dedication.

This is just a glimpse of how I currently feel.

Don't even worry about me.

I spent the last 11.5 hours at work today.

I am laying in bed (finally) after a 4.5 hour long inventory count... and recount.

Don't even worry I have to work at 9am.

No, I'm not tired.

Don't even worry that this summer I got so used to sleeping with a fan on that now I can't sleep without it. Even when my heater is broken and my room is 45 degrees. GOOOOOD.

However, I will tell you what I am happy about.

I am happy that the holidays are approaching. I am feeling very very festive this year. Definitely in the holiday spirit. (I have already cheated and listened to some Christmas music this weekend.)

I am happy that Kirk surprised me and took me on a little day trip to Park City (which I love.)

I am happy about my Steve Madden Boots and leggings. Very simple. Very happy.

I am happy about the furniture rearrangement in my room.

I am happy that I am going to repaint all my frames purple.

I am happy that my laundry is done.

I am happy that I carry around a notebook to write down my thoughts, to do lists and shopping lists whenever things pop into my mind.

I am happy about the vanilla perfume Ani and I found at Anthropologie.

I have been doing wonderfully. And I am happy.

That is all.

For now.

KATIE PWOAAATAHHH!!!

Hello.

Have you met Katie Porter?

Or as my mother affectionately calls her:

Katie Pwoatahhhh

She is my friend and she took a little visit to Provo and I got play with her while she was here!

Yes, we love the Snuggie too.

Every time Katie and I get together, we spend approximately 90% of the time laughing hysterically.

I just love her!

So glad I got to spend some time with this favorite friend of mine.

Snuggie!

Yup... I got one :)

And if you're wondering if I wore it on the drive home...

The answer is YES.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER DEAR!

Why is this little cheese-ball grinning a lemony grin from ear to ear you ask?

Oh,

Was it because of the delicious perfume she got from her favorite sister and Kirk?

Or maybe it had something to do with that traveling masseuse Jason hired for a day of relaxation and luxury... right in the comfort of her home.

It probably was directly related to the ceasar salad con fresh LEMON juice. (A favorite)

Combined with homemade angel food cake topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

I mean,

REALLY,

Who knows at this point.

All I know is that she may or may not kill me for posting these pictures of her.

And also that this little chica BONITA had a WONDERFULLY blissful

21st Birthday!

Spent with many laughs,

Too many diet cokes,

And great friends and family.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER!

I LOVE YOU!

SendMeScripture.com

Ladies and gentlemen,

Get excited.

There is a new website out there called, www.sendmescripture.com

This is a fabulous website that Mr. Kirk Ouimet himself designed and created because he decided he was too lazy to open his scriptures and read from them daily. It's ok, I still heart you Kirk :) This website allows you to subscribe and receive a text or email of a random scripture from any volume (Book of Mormon, Bible, etc.) You can also choose the time -- up to 5 times a day -- and there is your little spiritual thought for the day right at your fingertips.

Let me just tell you that I have already signed up for it and am taking full advantage of the features this website has to offer. I highly recommend it to those who are finding it hard to set aside the time to read the scriptures or for those who just want that little spiritual "umph" to keep the day going on a good note.

So, are you excited now?

I know I am!

Thank you Kirk.