Blast from the Past

At work, one of the girls and I we were tapping along to the Muzak playing throughout the center . . . it was a classic Olivia Newton John song from Xanadu. One of the other girls had never even heard of the song! Appalling!! Then we were talking about Neil Diamond week on American Idol . . . she had never heard his songs either! I was also shocked to learn that she had never watched the Jazz Singer! She looked at me like I was crazy when I was describing the scene where the father tears his shirt because he doesn't approve of his son. I was in shock and in disbelief . . . what is happening to kids today! Kristen likes her old classic moves . . . and I like mine. Don't even get me started on my affinity for Ice Castles. :) - Julie

I'm Diggin' on You...

So it turns out that I have some strange celebrity crushes. I am inviting you into the inner sanctum here, so don’t judge me! I also love lists, so I have sub-categorized said crushes into a handy reference guide:

Crushes from when I was a young lass:

- Captain Stubing from the Love Boat. There was something about those sassy white knee socks and short shorts, his witty one liners exchanged with guests like Meredith Baxter Birney and Charo, and his ability to guide that large ship to all sorts of exotic locations.

-The Pillsbury Doughboy. Is this weird? I just always thought he was real cute, and I liked that he giggled on command.

Shorties:

-Jeremy Piven. He is a small man, but he can deliver a punchline, yet can also deliver an earnest speech as seen in Serendipity.
-Bon Jovi. I saw his wax statue once, and he is very tiny. I think he came up to my shoulders, but he can wail, finally has a nice head of hair, and has been married to Dorthea for 23 years. Pretty impressive Jon Bon Jovi.
-Bob Costas. I have no explanation for this, but I kind of dig him.

Silver Foxes:

-Bob Barker. He can wield a Plinko chip as well as a golf club, and keeps $100 bills in his suit pockets. I miss him.
-Sean Connery. ‘Nuf said.

Complete Randoms:

-Simon Cowell. There is something about his sheer honesty, ugly haircut and devlish grin that combine to make a surprisingly attractive package.
-K-Fed. I’m sorry, but he’s strangely attractive. Popozao indeed!

Dierks and Bucky and Boots - Oh, My!

So this weekend I went to the Dierks Bentley concert. Now, I am not normally a country fan, so I didn't know any of his songs. But it was really good. Here are my observations:

I have a huge crush on Dierks Bentley. Look why:

I also liked that he stayed out after his performance to sign autographs instead of just running backstage.

Bucky Covington thinks he's Mick Jagger.

I have never seen a man with so much energy onstage. He didn't quit dancing the entire time! He also loves his backside. At one point he turned around and bent over whilst singing! I remember thinking, "Did he really just do that?" Yes, he did. Also, I would very much like to give him a haircut. And shave him.

I hate encores! I am reminded of this every time I go to a concert. This one only had one encore, but I have been to several concerts where they will do two and even three encores. Please admit you want to feel wanted by me clapping you back onstage. You and I both know you're coming back. For once, just play your set, and let's call it good!

A few of Kristen's favorite things

Alright, Julie, rather than going to bed like I should, I'm sitting on my couch watching "Honey" and responding to your post on "new" favorite things. I would humbly submit the following:

• My iPod. I was a really late adopter to the whole iPod thing, using a Sony mp3 player for the past several years. Well, I love my iPod. I like seeing the cover art of the music I'm playing, I like the cute slim design, I like how it automatically syncs, and I especially love...


• Playing Tetris on my iPod. Now 30 minutes on the bike at the gym doesn't seem so long, because I'm trying to beat my record!


• Waking up to the sun streaming in my room - and knowing I don't have to be up for anything. Here's to those lazy spring and summer mornings where the sun's pouring in and I don't have to go to work! It's been a long and bleak winter, so any sign of spring is a great thing.


• Wearing shorts. I don't know what it is about shorts, but I love wearing them. I wear them every day in the summer.


• Ashlee Simpson's new CD. Say what you will about her nose job, lack of talent, and lip-synching ho-down on SNL. This girl knows how to churn out the catchy, mindless pop hits that I eat up.

Save it for the blog!

I saw this on another blog and thought it was funny! - Julie

These are a few of my new favorite things

These are a few of my new favorite things:

1. Crystal Light White Grape juice water bottle packets. Melinda turned me on to these. I was a little skeptical of her recommendation because she loves the orange flavor and I do not. The orange powder never completely mixes in the water and leaves little clumps. I, on the otherhand, am a lemonade lover - it's delicious and mixes nicely. This new white grape juice does exactly that. Not only does it taste delicious, but it mixes well in the water . . . and often WalMart has the little boxes of 10 packets on sale 2 for $5. Who can resist that! You'll have to give it a try.

2. The Body Shop Vanilla spray - I went in to the Body Shop recently for a gift. While at the register purchasing my item, they mentioned that I could get another item a at a sale price - and of course I get sucked in by that and had to get something. I perused the shelves and decided on the Vanilla Body Spray. It's delightful! Not only does it smell yummy . . . but I've gotten many compliments on the scent.


3. Bath and Body Works Soaps - I'm a big fan of vanilla and stock up on this flavor regularly. Recently I've been introduced to two new favorites . . . the Cucumber (which I would have never picked on my own) and the Exotic Coconut. I love having my hands smell so good!

What are some of your new favorite things??? -Julie

Happy Birthday Melinda!

In honor of her day of birthday, here's a few of the things that are loved about Melinda.

1. She’s well-rounded with her interests. Kristen goes along with the athletic stuff . . . running and tennis. I’m there to support her in a marathon of shopping and eating good food.

2. We share a love of all things pop culture. Go ahead . . . quiz us on the latest and greatest of Britney Spears.

3. She’s handy to have on a trip. Dad never likes to stop for breaks or food. With Melinda with us, we need to regularly stop for food breaks to keep everyone upbeat . . . and it’s appreciated.

4. She’s very dependable and reliable. A quality that you don’t find very often anymore.

5. She’s always up for a trip. And on those trips we share a love for getting the important things planned out ahead of time . . . what snacks do we need, what magazines should we get, where are we shopping so we can get it “mapquested” before we head out, and best of all . . . allow plenty of time for some R&R at the pool.

6. Loves to play with our nieces and nephews. Whether it’s reading a story, playing soccer in the side-yard, or just talking to them - she takes a genuine interest in them and participates with them.

7. Funny . . . have you read her posts? She should be a comedy writer.

8. Enjoys a good cheese fry run with me. This was especially important when we were “ward-hopping” several years ago trying to find a home in a singles ward. I won’t divulge too much information about this or it may taint our image . . . such as it is.

9. She takes her turn driving and she provides a lovely ride. Her car always smells great. She always has some great new scent . . . not to mention her car is always clean. You have to try the backseat with the cushy pillow headrests.

10. She has a great laugh and sometimes when she gets going you just can’t stop her.

Happy Birthday . . . Love, Julie

Never Leave Your Wingman

So I know that this picture is not very cute of me, but I had to post it to show that I did in fact survive the half marathon this weekend. Because believe me, it was pretty iffy there for awhile. You'll note that Kristen is holding me up, as walking and standing are still quite painful. So while Kristen presented a lovely recap of our adventure on Saturday, I felt like I needed to break down my race experience as well:

Miles 1-3: Hey, this isn't too bad. I'm feeling pretty good, and that 13 miles won't get the best of me! My spirits are boosted as we pass a cute little lady playing castanets on Foothill Blvd. to encourage the passing runners. A little strange, but we go with it. Kristen and I notice a woman running beside us who is probably 80 years old. Kristen informs me that we must finish ahead of her, but it takes us a good mile to shake her.

Miles 4-8: I'm still feeling good. The wind is getting mildly annoying, but I am able to brush these thoughts aside as we run through the lovely Sugarhouse neighborhoods with their very cheery residents. They are playing loud music, shaking cowbells, and displaying signs such as, "Go, your name here, go!" And go I did.

Mile 9: Wow, this is a long race. Why the crap is it so windy?

Miles 10-13: Why have I stopped running? My legs have officially quit on me. They have been my trusted companions for years, and we've been through a lot, but they chose Liberty Park to abandon me. With 3 miles left to go. You know who didn't quit on me? That would be that little steam engine, Kristen Bird. She never left my side, even though she could have shaved 30 minutes off her time if she had. What a gal! At mile 12, my good friends, Betsy and Ericka, had braved TRAX to come down and cheer us on. Their high kicks give me and my legs the extra boost that I needed to go another 30 feet. At mile 12.5 I gimp into the Gateway, and my calves cramp up on me, rendering me unable to move. This is awkward. Kristen basically has to piggy back me to the finish line, but somehow I finish. I now cannot walk.

Sunday: I have never been this sore in my life. Every step hurts, and my blistered feet scream out with every painful step. But I realize that this is a great metaphor for life: Put one foot in front of the other, never leave your wingman, and you can overcome all of the gale force winds and crippling leg cramps that life throws at you!

Half Marathon Hotties

Melinda and I completed our very first (and perhaps last) half-marathon on Saturday! That's right, we ran 13.1 miles! Below are some highlights and lowlights of our experience:

-The lines for the port-a-potties were crazy!! We were near the front of the line with about 5 minutes to go before the race, so everyone was on edge. I thought a riot was going to break out in the line next to me when the 3 guys at the front of the line were too busy talking and missed their chance to go in the next available johns. But wait – another opens! They still don't see it! While the people behind them are trying to get their attention, a girl from the middle of the line literally sprints in the port-a-potty and steals it! What a breach of decorum, but you have to admire her gumption.

-We loved all the onlookers cheering us on – particularly the cute old women who lived along the marathon route. It really helps to have people tell you you're doing great.

-We don't understand why people have so much gear for a race! Melinda and I brought only our essentials, but we saw people with jackets (these were immediately doffed within the first two miles), gloves discarded off to the side of the road, and one man running with a knapsack. Thunk-a-thunk on his back the entire time.

-I think the low point of the race was around mile 10 when the “elite” marathoners started passing us at a blistering pace. There's something innately depressing about the fact that someone did twice over what you've done, and in less time.

-Running into the Gateway is always fun – with people lining both sides of the street cheering you on. Nothing beats it!

-A shout-out to our friend Brooke who got us into the Huntsman Hometown Heroes tent, where Melinda promptly took advantage of the free massage.

All in all, you can't beat the feeling of accomplishment that comes after a race like this. It feels good to achieve something you've been preparing for the last few months.

Lessons from Michael Scott

Oh, how I have missed new episodes of TV. Thursday's "Office" was hilarious and I figured out why I am still single. I haven't asked all of my friends and co-workers to fill out a "love card" within the hour of someone they know they could set me up with or they are "toast". ''What's it like being single?'' Michael Scott asks the camera crew. ''I like it. I like starting each day with a sense of possibility. And I'm optimistic, because every day I get a little more desperate and desperate situations yield the quickest results.'' Clearly I've got to start passing out some cards. If anyone knows where I can find a real Jim Halpert, get me the information tout de suite!!! -Julie

Do you recognize this man?

So. Today I was at the tower of Rice Eccles stadium to receive an award. Yes, you read that right. UTA gave me a "Commuter Vision Award" because I do a lot with vanpools at work. First of all, I was there alone to receive my award. Both my bosses were out of town and I felt weird asking random coworkers if they wanted to go to this ceremony to watch me get an award. So I already feel a bit dumb and slightly self-conscious. Just setting the scene.

So I sit down at a table near the front. There are only two others at the table, but eventually this man comes by and asks if "we" can sit down (he's alone). A few minutes go by and no one was talking to him, so I asked what company he was with. He says "Murray City." Well, okay. Another few minutes go by and I ask him if he is from Murray or if that's just his day job. He informs me he's from Murray. Well, soon some other people start sitting down and calling this man "Mayor." Yep, sure enough I've just asked the mayor of Murray is he's from Murray.

Then in walks Mayor Peter Coroon of Salt Lake County, our keynote speaker, and he comes and sits next to this guy (which means he's also sitting next to me). So somehow at this awards breakfast I ended up sandwiched between two mayors, a city councilman, a chair on UTA's board, and two people from JC Penny who didn't say a word. Um, awkward?

Would YOU have recognized this man? He's Dan Snarr, the mayor of Murray. Important note: in real life he has the kind of moustachue that swirls and makes a fine coil on the ends. Not very mayor-ial!

Tag, I'm It!

A- Age: Never you mind!

B- Book(s) you enjoy: Oh boy. Unfortunately, I am also a magazine girl. I have read books before though, and have even filled a bookshelf with them. Like Julie, I love cook books, and also enjoy everything I’ve read from Sheri Dew—she’s so wise!

C- Chore(s) you do at home: I do them all! Someday I’m going to get a maid.

D- Dessert you love: What don’t I love? I love going to restaurants and trying new desserts. A recent discovery was the desserts at Acme Burger Co. We liked them so much, we ordered five. I'm not kidding.
E- Essential start of your day: Hmm. I am usually running late in the morning, because it is essential that I get to work at 7:30am. I’m with Kristen though; reading the paper before starting work is a must! I can’t be expected to just dive into work. I used to read three online papers before 8:00, but now I can barely get through one before my phone starts ringing.
F- Favorite type of music: Anything that has a good beat. I enjoy what I call Hip Hop lite. I download clean versions of anything with a nasty beat, and it makes me happy. I am currently in love with “Headsprung” by LL Cool J. Give it a try—you won’t be able to stop shaking it!
G- Greatest vacation: Hawaii!! Going there was like the mother ship calling me home. It has everything I love: sun, beaches, good food and frothy drinks.

H- Have to have: I'm never without a watch. I always have to know what time it is! Brent thinks it’s liberating to not wear a watch, but that’s just crazy talk.

I- Instrument(s) you play: I have a long list of instruments I wish I played: the drums, the piano and the triangle to name a few. I am the proud owner of a tambourine, and also used to play a mean clarinet in the 5th grade.

J- Job title at your home: According to a recent solicitor: Lady of the house. Needless to say, I was insulted.
K-Kids in your family: 5

L- Last movie you watched: Leatherheads. I was so disappointed! Between this and Solaris, that’s two strikes, George Clooney!

M- Month you love the most: April of course, and May-August. Bring on the sunshine! The rest of the months are basically countdowns to summer.

N- Nickname(s): Mel, Melly B, Melicious, Melignant (I never approved of this one), Melba and Mim, which is a shortened version of what my Jr. High French name should have been.

O- Opportunity that you want: In the words of dad, to get my MRS degree.

P- Phobia: Spiders! I’m sorry, but anything with eight legs is just creepy.
Q- Quote you love: “DOn’t quIT.”—Spencer W. Kimball

R- Right or Left handed: Right

S- Scripture you love: D&C 82:3 “For of him unto much is given, much is required;…” Pretty simple, right?
T- Temple you want to be married in: Hawaii. Julie, we should really have a double wedding to cut down on travel expenses.
U- Unique talent: I know the correct spelling and usage of their, there and they’re. Thank you Mrs. Aaron!
V- Veggie you love: I sound kind of ghetto compared to my sisters, but I still love a nice baby carrot dipped in Hidden Valley Ranch BUTTERMILK dressing.

W- Want to accomplish: How much time do you have?X- Extra fun hobby you have: I love playing tennis. It honestly makes me so happy.

Y- Yummy food you make: I got a great recipe a few years ago for soft ginger cookies, and they kill at work!
Z- Zoo animal you most resemble: Elephant! I love to eat, have a tough, thick skin, and have a pretty good memory.

Melinda's It!

A- Age: 26 and getting older every minute...
B- Book(s) you enjoy: I like older books, and enjoy a nice period romance a la Jane Austen. I also like a good mystery and have read practically all Agatha Christie's books (I'm pretty good at figuring out who the murderer is, but sometimes she throws me for a loop!).
C- Chore(s) you do at home: Boo, chores! I don't mind doing dishes, taking out the trash, and generally cleaning up after myself. Anything more labor-intensive such as bathrooms I put off as long as possible.
D- Dessert you love: Ben's Cookie's from the Gateway! Trivia: Ben's Cookies are found only in England (where I first discovered them) and here in good old SLC!! Whoever Ben is, his dark chocolate cookie has found a way into my heart forever.
E- Essential start of your day: I am so distraught if I can't have my cereal in the morning. I had Cheerios for YEARS. Now it's Special K with strawberries. Life without it would be bleak. Another essential start of the day: I have to ease into work in the morning by reading the newspaper online before I start work. I don't do well when I have to start working immediately.
F- Favorite type of music: Anything I can dance to. I mean the kind of dancing where you're alone in the house, just you and the sweet joy of the music. Example: Michael Jackson's “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough.” I can never have enough of that song.
G- Greatest vacation: My study abroad in London was a whole lot of vacation with a little school thrown in. Loved it.
H- Have to have: I'm a bit of an impulse shopper as well, but no more so than when it comes to shoes and downloading music from iTunes.
I- Instrument(s) you play: Nothing. I had a brief fling with the violin, but it wanted more out of the relationship than I did. I had an even briefer stint with the guitar and have now regressed to the point that I no longer know which strings are which.
J- Job title at your home: Renter/Favorite Roommate
K- Kids in your family: 5
L- Last movie you watched: The Great Debaters. It was two hours and felt like three.
M- Month you love the most: I like the May/June timeframe the best. It's just starting summer, and the nights are getting warmer – none of the “impending “summer's almost over” mindset of, say, August.
N- Nickname(s): Bird, KrisKross, Squirt, Kriss-sayyy
O- Opportunity that you want: A loving husband, and to be on the Price is Right (I miss you, Bob!).
P- Phobia: I'm always paranoid there's someone in the house when I'm alone.
Q- Quote you love:
“Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace.” -Ezra Taft Benson
R- Right or Left handed: Right
S- Scripture you love: I like the story of Abish. God put her in the right place at the right time and she totally made the most of her opportunity. Also when Mordecai tells Esther “
Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:11). We've been put here at the right time to do work we are suited to do.
T- Temple you want to be married in: Salt Lake, like every other woman in Utah.
U- Unique talent: Hiking-boot throwing, tuning people out whilst reading
V- Veggie you love: I loved sweet potatoes and yams cut into fries, sprinkled with olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper, then roasted.
W- Want to accomplish: Too much!
X- Extra fun hobby you have: Puttering. I am a master of the late-night putter. Why go to bed when I can imdb movies I've seen, or pay those bills I've been meaning to get to?
Y- Yummy food you make: I love homemade guacamole. Nothing like the real thing!
Z- Zoo animal you most resemble: I'll say a monkey. They seem to be having a good time, right? Also I took sign language in high school and monkeys can use sign language. And we both have furry legs right now.

ABC Tag . . . You're It

Okay, so here's a little tag for everyone to try. I got the idea from another blog and thought it would be fun to do.

The ABC's of Julie

A- Age: Thirtysomething . . . just like the show.

B- Book(s) you enjoy: I’m more of a magazine girl, but also love a great cookbook or reference book. I love to collect books with handout ideas, object lessons, lesson ideas, etc.

C- Chore(s) you do at home: It’s pretty much all me – from the toilet cleaning to the washing.

D- Dessert you love: One of my all time favorites is the chocolate layered cake at Tuscany . . . yummm!!!

E- Essential start of your day: Before my daily meeting, I scurry into the office with my quarters in hand to stop by the vending machine for my Coke and then I’m off.

F- Favorite type of music: Top 40 . . . I’m having fun getting the American Idols songs off of Itunes.

G- Greatest vacation: It was fun to have Kristen open our eyes to London. And, of course, anywhere warm near the water with a tropical drink by my side.

H- Have to have: So many things. I am an impulse shopper and if I see something I love . . . then I must have it!

I- Instrument(s) you play: This is a blackmail question . . . both Brent and I learned the accordion at the Larry Pino studio when we were younger. I even had my name in rhinestones down the front.

J- Job title at your home: Owner/Bill-Payer

K- Kids in your family: 5

L- Last movie you watched: Must Love Dogs on the DVR . . . love that John Cusack!

M- Month you love the most: I love when it starts getting warm outside . . . but not too hot. I keep waiting for it to start this year.

N- Nickname(s): Jules, Juleta (ala Sharifa), JBird

O- Opportunity that you want: Still waiting for the dreamy guy in the red car to sweep me off my feet . . . totally realistic, right? Okay, so the car doesn't have to be red.

P- Phobia: Animals! I don't care if your dog is nice or friendly, I still don't want them licking my toes!

Q- Quote you love: “Are you as close to the Lord today as you were yesterday . . . if not, who moved?”

R- Right or Left handed: Right

S- Scripture you love: Helaman 5:12 with the keyword for me being focused on “If”.

T- Temple you want to be married in: Hawaii . . . my family is on 30 days notice should anyone ask.

U- Unique talent: Apparently I’m a pretty good leg wrestler J

V- Veggie you love: Asparagus roasted with olive oil, salt and pepper.

W- Want to accomplish: Lots of things still.

X- Extra fun hobby you have: I love making things with clip art. Extra point if you know my favorite.

Y- Yummy food you make: I try not to make anything that isn’t yummy . . . last week it was chocolate fondue for YW and I’ve been snacking on the leftovers . . .delish!

Z- Zoo animal you most resemble: I’ve always been partial to the penguins . . . but unlike them, I am not partial to the cold nor do I wear a tuxedo every day . . . so I really just think they are cute.

I'm Not Twitter-Pated

Now, I am by means techno-savvy, and as such I've been having a few techno-problems:

• Facebook "friends" - Yes. I have recently joined Facebook. Perhaps the thing that surprised me most was how many people located me, then added me as their friend. Now, I have to "confirm" their friend request before they can see my profile. At first it was flattering. Look at all the people who want to be my friend! Then I realized it's like those kids in high school who wanted everyone (inlcuding teachers!) to sign their yearbook. I'm just a tool to up their friend count. Yes, in my naive Facebook state I have confirmed some "friends" that I now regret. Worse, I am constantly being updated on what these people are doing (more on this below). I haven't found the option to "unfriend" - plus, that's kind of mean. So I feel like I just have to stick it out.


• Twitter - Have ya'll heard of this Twitter thing? Apparently it's a way for you to write mini-posts of what you're doing all throughout the day. I first learned of this because one of my facebook "friends" is constantly twittering. Now, whenever I log on to Facebook, I see this person at the top of my friend list, with messages like this:
  
  

  A.L. (name protected) is twittering: On my way home ... Late night at the office. Going to make Meatball Sandwiches for dinner tonight ... So much fun

I haven't seen this person since high school (8 years ago!!!), but now I know what she's having for dinner, when she's waiting to catch a flight, if she has a cold, and the list goes on (and on). It's too much! If I were to get on this Twitter thing (which I'm not), I think I would bore people to death. A sample post:
Kristen is eating
Kristen is watching TV
Now she's wasting time on the internet
Yep...still on the internet
Kristen is eating again

I think you get the picture. Am I way off base? Too old to appreciate technological progress? Or am I not the only one experiencing these techno-problems?

I'm Breaking Up with Oprah!

Dear Oprah:

I'm breaking up with you. We've had a nice relationship over the last several years, but I need to see other talk show hosts. It's not me, it's you. Don't get me wrong, you do a lot of good, and have helped many people. You introduced me to Nate Berkus, for which I will be forever grateful. And let's be honest, you do the best makeover shows of anyone.

But it's over. My mild disenchantment with you started when you celebrated your 50th birthday...for one month. I'm all about birthday week, but I think having two ridiculously lavish celebrations, costing millions of dollars is a bit much. Now that's a big give. I started getting slightly annoyed when I noticed that you were on the cover of your magazine each and every month. Look, there's Oprah in a field of flowers. Ooh, there she is in front of a fan. Look at my shiny blouse! Then the rage started to simmer below the surface as I realized that you repeat virtually everything that you say on your show. From, "We'll be right back. We'll be right back," to, "How do we love that? How do we love that?," to my favorite, "Heyooo. Heyooo." And then came the deal-breaker...your road trip with Gayle. This was the first time that I had seen who you really are. From admitting that you hadn't pumped gas in over 20 years, to leaving that quaint wig-wam hotel because there were no windows in your room, to not letting Gayle sing in the car. Who does that? I think Gayle has a nice singing voice! This made me realize that we are moving in different directions, and I need some space.

You'll be fine. You can continue to pretend to date Steadman, dispense your own psychiatric advice even though you're not a doctor, and talk over your guests. But I hope we can still be friends.

As ever,

Melinda

P.S. Can I get tickets to the Favorite Things Show?

Journal in a Jar

I've created many different "Journal in a Jar" activities through the years for various Enrichment projects. I pulled one that Mom and I worked on - for her ward and for mine - and thought that I would answer different questions from time to time. Today in honor of the snow that I woke up to . . . adding quite a bit of time to my fun commute . . . I pose the following:

Question: "Did it snow where you lived as a child? What kinds of things did you do in it?" Of course
My Answer: Of course, I grew up in Salt Lake proper, so lots of snow. We used to love it when it snowed overnight and then would listen to all news and radio broadcasts in hope that a snow day would be called . . . it rarely was . . . because then we would have to make up the day. I remember doing everything in our snow outfits from making snow angels to creating snow forts. We had a great mold - a plastic red one with a handle - that would fashion bricks out of packed snow. We would spend lots of time carefully creating walled forts with these snow bricks and then would hide and have snowball fights in the side yard. We have the best yard for activities! Another thing we did was go sledding. We were remembering this with Dad this year as Brian's kids like to go sledding too. We would go to Murray Park and slide down the big hill. Nothing was better than fresh snow on the hill that not too many people had gone down yet. Once we were down, though, we were too tired to go up the hill. So Dad would put us in our sleds - we had a great red one and the boys had orange ones with steering wheels - and he would run up the hill pulling us in our sleds and then get us ready to come down again. It was so fun! Now, looking back, I have no idea how he was able to do this. I would be completely winded and let the kids fend for themselves. Thanks, Dad for some fun snow memories. - Julie

P.S. My latest and greatest download that is always fun when I hear it come on the radio in the car is, "Shake It" by MetroStation. I dedicate that title to Kristen who always makes me giggle with her shimmy.

Wrestle-Mania!

So everyone thinks that Julie is fancy, sophisticated and classy. While she is all of these things, she also has a hidden talent that might be a surprise...LEG WRESTLING! That's right folks, Julie is our family champion at this event. We have analyzed her technique, and have determined that her winning record can be attributed to the initial "Ya!" that she yells which catches her opponent off guard. Simultaneously, she propels her leg in one quick shot, rendering her opponent helpless. Though not undefeated, she has beaten both Brent and Brian, which is very impressive, as they both have very powerful flanks (well, except for Brent who has those famous chicken legs!) She is also able to do this while rocking a fierce pedicure. I don't know what her off-season training program is, but she's doing something right because it is a sight to behold. So if you are quick as a cat, incredibly limber, and think you can take a shot at the title, come on down!

Celebrity Morph by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities

Celebrity Morph by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Morph - Family tree search - Family search

Celebrity Morph by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities

Floss Frustrations

I am constantly amazed by the price of dental floss! It's something I forget about it until I have to buy some. Today I paid a hefty $2.50 for one roll! Sure, I splurged on the satin floss, but that was still one of my cheaper options. Why is it so expensive? It's a roll of string with a minty glaze - what's so hard about that? Some of the "specialty" dental floss options were around $6.00! I would like to contact someone about my suspicion of price fixing in the floss family, but then I would be someone who actually wrote a letter upset about floss. I can't be that girl. You win, Oral B. You win.

A Little Nummy

So for Young Women's this week, we thought we needed to do a little class bonding with just the Laurel's. We started with visiting a new girl and another girl who doesn't come out . . . we stalked her at her work. I had found a cute little tag on the internet (what did I do before this!) that said, "We're "soda-lighted" to get to know you better, Love the Laurel Class" and attached it to a bottle of soda . . . with real ribbon, of course. :) I hate to come empty-handed - then if they aren't home - we can leave a little something to let them know we were thinking of them. Then the plan was to come back to my casa for treats and games - so I had gotten some yummy cookie dough and breadsticks from Papa Murphys. Since one of our girls' work was "all the way" in city central - we decided to stay there and stop for a fry run instead. Luckily . . . I always get treats that I love as well (a fun coincidence) so guess what I've been snacking on tonight?? I've never actually made cookies with the cookie dough . . . it never makes it that far! -Julie

P.S. I downloaded Carly Smithson's version of "Here You Come Again" and am loving it! Who knew that you could make a Dolly song sound so great! Another song I'm loving is Trace Adkins', "You're Gonna Miss This". I'm not a big country music fan, but I saw him perform this song on the Celebrity Apprentice finale last week about how life goes by quickly and you don't want to miss it. I played the performance back a couple of times on the DVR . . . it's a goody!

The Shoe Whisperer

So a couple of weeks ago, Kristen and I needed some new running shoes. Lilli is kind of a rock star runner, so she recommended Ossine's as a good place to get a nice shoe at a fair price. Upon arrival, we realized that not only was it a shoe emporium, but they also sold gifts! I wasn't able to immediately locate said gifts, but it was nice to have the option. Anyhoo, we then got to have a foot analysis to ensure that we got proper shoes. We were immediately instructed to remove our shoes AND socks and to start walking. Ooookay. We also had to jog while the high school workers evaluated our "form," aka butts. We completed this, and the little guys were going to get some shoes for us to try on. The owner of the store (our shoe whisperer) promptly came over and asked the workers if I pronated or supinated. The worker responded that I supinated. The S.W. asked me to walk again, and he informed his employee that I actually pronated. Oh dear. He then started firing off names of shoes for the workers to pull for me. We ended up with three selections, and S.W. predicted that I would need the Asics 2130. I tried them all on, and he had me run again, and sure enough, that brilliant man had picked the most comfy shoe I have ever worn. It was truly a sight to see, and one that I won't soon forget. So if you need some new kicks, or just want totry to stump the Shoe Whisperer, please feel free to visit Ossine Shoe AND Gift!