The Cookie Crumbles

Opposites Attract

2011-11-29T13:10:00.000-08:00

We have two cats: Sasha (Alexander=boy) and Dinah. We got Sasha about two and a half years ago and Dinah about seven months later. Sasha started out as an apartment cat, and when we moved into a bigger place, we decided it was time to get him a friend who he could pounce and chase and play with to his little cat-heart’s content. And, they’ve turned out to be pretty good friends. I had my

Cool as a Cucumber

2011-11-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I found myself in a bit of a pinch. I was hosting book club at my house (my turn), and I wanted to get the perfect treat to share: pumpkin spice cake donuts from a specific place. Served hot with wassail. Mmmm. Would have been perfect with the crisp fall weather we've been having. I thought I knew where to go, but still being relatively new in this neck of the woods, I

Going through the Big D

2011-10-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

And, as it goes, I don’t mean Dallas. Nor, however, do I mean Divorce. There is no judge who has anything to tell us. I’m all on my own on this one. I’m talking about the BIG D, which will not be contained by the little d -- the diaper. Much too little for the big, big mess. It’s been weeks on end, and I’m in poo poo hell. I just want to say for the record that I am not a big fan of poop

Mind Games

2011-08-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

I have an over active imagination, a la Anne Shirley. And so, I have fairly graphic dreams on a regular basis—ones that I can’t get out of my head, that seem so real that I wake up believing they actually happened for a minute. Sometimes these dreams are wonderfully pleasant, others are horrifically not-so-pleasant—you know, those heart-pounding, wake up sweating with a scream on your lips, sort

Green Things

2011-07-01T17:49:00.000-07:00

The DH and I moved into a new house about a year and a half ago. As part of the deal, our builder threw in the front yard, free of charge (so to speak), but the backyard has been a hill of rocks ever since. And the time has come to turn those rocks into a beautiful, thriving land of green. We waited until we had to, because a green backyard costs a chunk of green, too. So, here we are, ready

As the French Do

2011-05-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

When my sister was in high school, she played tennis. It was her teenager “thing.” Ya know, it’s what she was into. She read Tennis magazine and had a very defined sock tan line, the kind where it looks like you are wearing socks even when you take your socks off. If she had been a family pet, we would have named her “Socks,” like those Clintons. So, when I got into the ninth grade and found

April's Advent

2011-04-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

I used to get a card every year on my birthday. Inside was a happy wish and a little poem, usually to do with the month of April. Themes centered around rain and flowers and spring and Easter--renewal--all hand written in a halting script, denoting that whoever took the time to write it also took pains to do so. I was thinking about my great-grandmother yesterday morning as I was washing dishes.

On Writing and Other Woes

2011-04-05T17:46:00.000-07:00

So, I might as well not say, “I’m back, blogging world!” because every time I do, I take another long break for which I feel very sheepish when I try to sit down at the computer again and add to these ramblings of mine. I’m a little embarrassed to be honest. There’ve been several times in the last six months to a year where I’ve thought of something and said to myself, “I’d love to blog about

I Am, I Am

2011-01-25T12:24:00.000-08:00

This week I’ve been naughty. I’ve been taking part in another guilty pleasure, besides this one. There’s a series that Showtime produced called The Tudors about (you guessed it) the infamous King Henry the Eighth and his many wives. Well, the series in now being shown on BBC America, some random channel in the 200s that I came across, so I taped them. They weren’t so neatly spliced and edited

The Real McCo[ok]y

2011-01-11T13:06:00.000-08:00

I tried to read Julie & Julia when I heard they were making it into a movie. I got a little past chapter two and gave up. I can’t recall now exactly why I couldn’t stand it, but I remember it had something to do with the author’s spastic personality. When the movie came out, I decided to go see it anyway, even though I hadn’t been that impressed by the book. So, while I didn’t find the “Julie

My Little Surprise

2010-10-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

Very little – 6 pounds, 5 ounces, 20 inches long to be exact! Although I’m not sure how little she’ll stay since she’s gained 4 ounces in one week. She’s sure to hit a growth spurt momentarily! And I’m not sure how much of a “surprise” it is anymore since I was too slow to post! =) We’ve had a little addition to our family. We have a daughter, and her name is Shayla. She’s got tons of hair

I Have Thoughts

2010-05-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

Hello friends. I know, it's been awhile. I suffer from these spells of Noblogitis, (similar to School of Rock's Stikitodaman disease), but I'm trying to overcome it with large amounts of powerful medication (not really). I've been trying to kick my book blog off the ground, but I too have lost motivation in that department. And now I've decided to add something new to my plate that is sure to

It's Forbidden!

2010-04-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

Recently, I finished Looking for Alaska by John Green, and I really enjoyed it. (Read forthcoming review at my book blog.) I went looking at his website afterwards to get an idea of what John Green is all about. Interesting fellow. I ran across, in his archives, a post he wrote two years ago about a school in New York that was planning on teaching his book, but had an outcry from the community.

Holiday from Heaven

2010-02-05T11:31:00.000-08:00

On an evening in November, the people of Mexico and other Central and South American countries gather to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. You may be thinking, sure--just like we have Halloween, a night when the dead rise from their graves to terrify and torment the living. Well, you would be wrong. Like Halloween, on the Day of the Dead people get together and have a good time,

Give, Oh Give

2010-01-21T13:17:00.000-08:00

Well, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, but for some reason, I haven’t been able to get it out on “virtual” paper. So, I guess I’ll just start here. I started a new section in my sidebar awhile ago to highlight some of the charities or other worthy causes that I like. It seems only appropriate to keep adding to that list. Soon, I’ll have to turn it into a feature because there won’t be any

A Day in SLC

2009-12-28T15:02:00.000-08:00

I had big plans for how I would re-enter the blogging world after my short-ish blog break. But alas, this is all I could come up with and so I hope it will be interesting enough for you, faithful readers. Since I'm sure by now, no one will ever come and back and read my blatherings. But oh well, I like writing, so I'll just keep doing it. =)I didn't quite make it back to my keyboard before the

Reflection

2009-09-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

I’ve always enjoyed a good book. But there are times in my life where I enjoyed them more than others. There are times when books are my saving grace. Sometimes, they are what gets me through the day. One of those times was the summer after I graduated college.My husband was still in school—madly trying to finish his undergrad so he could study for and take the LSAT that fall and apply for

Runaway

2009-09-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it’s happened. And not once--but TWICE, people! I think I will write a screenplay about this inspirational story and sell it to the Hallmark Channel or Lifetime. Something along the lines of Tyler, A Real Hero. Ok, perhaps that’s taking it a little too far, but it feels like an accomplishment of enormous proportions in my case. And here’s why: I like running about as much as oil likes water

To the Silver Screen

2009-07-20T15:44:00.000-07:00

If you’ve never had the pleasure to check out the Weekly Geeks, this is a good time to start. With the opening of the sixth Harry Potter extravaganza, this week's challenge is to discuss some of the best movie adaptations of beloved books. This is definitely a topic I can get into. I love watching movies just a little bit less than I love reading books. Although a horrid Hollywood massacre of a

Lessons from a Teenager

2009-07-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, a young kid from California, Zac Sunderland, became the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the globe—by himself. How old was he, you ask? Seventeen. He started out at sixteen and celebrated his birthday about halfway through. He bought a well-used 36-foot sailboat for 6 grand, and, with some help, set it up with equipment to become a world-wide sea voyaging vessel. He set off in

Are You Sure?

2009-07-09T14:04:00.000-07:00

I ask this question a lot. Really a lot. It bothers the people I love. It usually comes out of my mouth after someone else has locked a door of some kind: front door, garage door, car door. I'll ask whether it's locked, DH will reply in the affirmative, and, since it's important to me to be certain he heard me right, I'll say "Are you sure?" Then he gives me this blank stare with his eyebrows

Dressed to Chill

2009-06-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Summer has arrived late this year. We've been experiencing an uncharacteristic downpour in June, which has been fun for me, honestly. I like the rain. But, the sun finally made an appearance, and the temperature is escalating, as it should. Today, while I was driving to work, with the A/C blowing in my face and the summer sun shining down, a Meadow Gold truck lumbered along in front of me. On

Don't Fight the Tide, Come Along for the Ride

2009-05-30T15:31:00.000-07:00

I've started a little experiment, inspired by a book I've read recently. Whether I will blog about it is yet to be seen, but I wanted to share a few thoughts on the subject.When I was a kid, my older sister used to love watching an episode of the Brady Bunch after school while we snacked on crackers or pickles. As I was thinking about and planning my experiment, I remembered this episode, where

My Guilty Pleasure, Take 2

2009-05-18T14:12:00.000-07:00

I’ve already admitted, shamefully, in this past post how I like to watch MTV’s the Hills for entertainment value. Yes, I did in fact say “entertainment,” because, despite you disbelievers out there, it is hilarious. And, since this will be the concluding season of the show, I couldn’t help myself but to share with you a second installment of episode recaps. This past episode goes down in history

Book Awards Challenge

2009-05-14T16:06:00.001-07:00

I've decided to take part in my first ever online book challenge. This one sort of intrigued me because I've never really paid much attention to book awards as a way of finding reading material. I don't know why; it seems obvious that I would, in a way. But I never have. In this challenge, I must read five books from five different award-giving institutions.As I was browsing through the options,

Imagine All the People

2009-05-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

As many of you may already know, DH and I met in a summer class in college. When I met him, he very smoothly and slyly invited himself into my exclusive study group where we diligently picked apart each lesson and committed it to memory. And by exclusive, I mean me and another girl (Alicia), and by diligently studying, I mean slacking off, spending most of our time talking about music or men or

Idiomatic Englophone

2009-05-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

Sounds like a good name for a band right? I started this post awhile ago but have debated whether to post it. At long last, here it is, and I hope you don't find it boring. My DH loves this kind of stuff, pretty much salivates over it (that, and Cool Ranch Doritos), and it's become a little bit of a game. "Did you know such-and-such-a-word came from such-and-such-a-background? Amazing, right?" I

Where's the Beef?

2009-04-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

I happened across an article lately that made me laugh and got me thinking. The journalist asserts in the article that the fashion market is shifting it's view of the ideal man, from metro-twig to beefy beefcake. And, she claims the reason for this shift stems from the economic crisis we are now facing. She says, and I quote:"Metrosexual twigmen who admire your shoes are all very well in good

It's the End of the World as We Know It

2009-04-17T14:18:00.001-07:00

There’s this thing that happens every spring in this place I live. The birds start chirping, green starts to seep out on tree branches and lawns, and the air feels thick with impending heat for about a week or two, and then it snows—full on blizzard style. The sky turns gray as do all of our hopes, as we gasp and stare with horror into the great white. Somehow, every year, I am still surprised by

How D'ya Like Them Apples

2009-04-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

I’ve never been a big apple fan, and no I’m not talking about the teenage dude versus the nerdy, portlier guy with glasses. I’m talking about actual apples—the kind that grow on trees.I’m not sure what it was that made them drop to the bottom of my “preferred fruit” list. I think I always found them to be too tart, and I hated getting pieces of apple skin stuck in my teeth. I always liked the

It's a Crap Shoot

2009-04-08T11:17:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was watching a rerun and something the characters said was surprisingly profound for me. There were two people debating about a decision between two solutions. The one said to the other that it was too much of a crap shoot. So the other responded, that pretty much his whole dang life was one big crap shoot, so what can you do? Is there really a difference? No matter what you choose,

Got a Dime?

2009-03-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

UPDATE:Obviously, this event has already taken place, but March of Dimes fundraising of course does not come to an end. There are always new events happening. Visit their website to find out how you can help!Today, I'm getting excited. On May 16th at 9:30 a.m., some coworkers and I are hitting the street for little feet! Would you like to join us? If you can't join us and you'd like to contribute

Vanity of Vanities

2009-03-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it’s my permanent aversion to making codes out of misspelled words and replacing sounds with numbers. This is probably the reason I’ve never gotten into texting . . . well, that and the fact that I haven’t yet joined the happy ranks of those who are able to be contacted at any time, in almost every place.I’ve never seen so many vanity plates as I do here. I don’t understand why that would

I Dream of Cartoon Hair

2009-02-18T15:30:00.000-08:00

I have hair issues. I’ll be the first one to admit it. I think most people in this world have a hate/hate relationship with their hair. I am definitely one of those people. DH is so incredibly sick of hearing about it by now.Ok, rewind about a billion years. I’m 2 years old on our silent family videos. The only ones we have where I’m a child and I’m not all elbows and knees, trying to push in

Romance Is in the Air

2009-02-12T14:41:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, Valentine's day is one of my least favorite holidays. Contrary to what you may think that says about me: no, I do not hate love, and no, I am not a bitter and cynical woman. I happen to be a huge supporter of love, and I am also blissfully married. I just wish I could get more excited about Valentine's day. There doesn't seem to be a lot of anticipation for it. And, since my

Paper Dolls Anyone?

2009-01-13T14:44:00.000-08:00

Awhile back, I expressed my liking for playing "grown up" paper dolls with Instyle magazine's online section called instant style. Well, I've discovered something a few light years better. Meet Polyvore! It's a fantastic website where you can register (it's free!) and put together little outfits. Ok, when I explain it like that it sounds stupid, but cross my heart, I swear it's fun--and

Make Your Mark

2009-01-12T11:12:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the hiatus—things have been swimming along and I’ve been having a bit of a time keeping my head above water. But, not to worry: such is life, this too shall pass, etc., etc. I’m getting there. =)So, I’ve had several requests in the last little while for blog template advice. I thought maybe I’d just post some hints here for those of you who would be interested. (For those of you who are

Goodbye 2008

2008-12-19T13:35:00.000-08:00

I love to play around on my blog. It’s a terrible, time-wasting habit, but I’m completely obsessed. I’ll think up something new to blog about, and I’ll scour the internet for just the right pictures to go with it, or I’ll get an idea about something new to put in the sidebar, and I just won’t be able to concentrate on anything else until I figure out how to do it and it looks just right. Just ask

To Become a Well-Adjusted Adult

2008-12-11T10:26:00.000-08:00

I’ve got some sad news. Remember my first Weekly Geeks post where I promised to try and do a post once a month? Well, it turns out that the blog author, Dewey (nickname), of The Hidden Side of the Leaf had a terminal illness, and she passed away. I guess it came as a shock to her readers because she didn’t discuss her personal life on the blog. Unfortunately, I had only recently discovered her

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

2008-12-08T09:12:00.000-08:00

DH and I were having a conversation the other day about my sandals. Don't ask me how we got onto that topic; I'm pretty sure it was me going off on a tangent as always with him listening patiently as he usually does. As I was telling him their long and interesting history, he commented, “You know, that means you’ve had those shoes longer than you’ve not had them.”What?I know, he was actually

Please Do This!

2008-12-04T13:52:00.000-08:00

Apparently, if you link enough times to someone's name, it becomes searchable on Google—go figure.So, if any of you out there link to my blog using my first and last name, could you please change it? I will love you forever if you would be so kind. =)Please link instead to "The Cookie Crumbles," or just my first name, or some other random word like Bafflegab or Sockdolager. Whatever you feel

A New Kind of Warning Label

2008-12-02T16:20:00.000-08:00

Today, I was wondering around Spark People, when I ran across this article. I thought it was interesting, and the way Brockenbrough writes just makes me laugh. I wanted to share.There’s been a lot of hype the past few years over mommy celebrities, and how they got their buff bods back. A quick return to their little “routines” and the baby belly is gone in no time, leaving behind a perfectly

Musical Horizons

2008-11-21T15:34:00.001-08:00

I ran across this first video from a new group out of Quebec, and I thought it was charming. It got me thinking about other music markets besides the American one. I figured, if songs like this one exist in French that I like, eventhough I don't understand the words, then there must be others out there. And when I started to take a look, there were lots to choose from. It was interesting to look

Fun Facts About an Author

2008-11-17T15:57:00.000-08:00

I have a habit of browsing through book blogs to see what’s new and happening. I’m not as much of a bibliophile as some, but I’d like to think of myself as an avid reader. (Except for those days when I don’t even have the energy to unwrap myself a granola bar for dinner, let alone crack a book, which unfortunately, happens more often than it should. Anyway.) But, I do like looking through what

Peacock Pride

2008-11-11T12:21:00.000-08:00

I’m a little bit tired of this these days. Do you know what I’m talking about? Peacocks use their feathers to draw attention to themselves. They parade back and forth, fanning their feathers until someone takes notice, hopefully a female. I imagine in the peacock brain, he thinks that if he doesn’t fan just the right way or enough times, then no females will think he’s cool enough. This makes it

Great Moments in Presidential History

2008-11-05T10:28:00.001-08:00

DH and I used to like watching this segment of David Letterman’s Friday night Late Show. He would show a few clips of important presidential speeches, and then he would show a short clip of President Bush, stumbling over himself or saying something stupid. It was funny; it was harmless.Last night, we saw another great moment in presidential history. One thing I appreciated was both leaders'

UPDATE on Book Group

2008-11-03T15:04:00.000-08:00

Introducing http://www.atuningforkandasoundingboard.blogspot.com/!If you'd like to join our book group, please email me at cambookclub@gmail.comand I'll send you an invite! We'd love to have as many people as would like to join!Hope to hear from you soon . . . =)And now, back to regular programming--

Anyone Interested?

2008-10-31T14:28:00.001-07:00

Ok, random thought here . . .Anyone interested in forming an online book group? Just a blog I thought we could post to with thrilling and intellectually stimilating conversation about books we are reading. I thought that might be kind of fun!Would it help if I said it would not only be fun, but also freaking awesome?Anyone?Bueller . . . Bueller . . .(leave a comment~)

It's Cool To Pee Your Pants

2008-10-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

So, it’s been awhile since I’ve posted. I apologize. There hasn’t been a lot going on lately that I’ve been able to deem blog-worthy, hence the hesitation. I’m providing this disclaimer now to warn you. I’m not sure what is about to follow is actually blog-worthy either, but it’s all I can come up with right now, so I hope you will find it entertaining, even if it’s completely stupid.The other

The Mahatma

2008-09-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sorrow and suffering make for character if they are voluntarily borne, but not if they are imposed.Mohandas Gandhi’s example of non-violent civil disobedience has had a profound effect on the world. His life has set into motion other fights for freedom and equality. DH and I recently watched Gandhi, the 1982 award-winning film. And yes, the kudos were a good measuring tool. I was very impressed.

Skin Poems

2008-09-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

I ran across a site when I was browsing through the nominees for the Book Blogger Appreciation Week awards. The blog is called Literary Tattoos, and it is dedicated to exactly that. People can get on the site and post a picture of their tattoo and the excerpt it refers to. I thought, “That’s interesting, I’ll bite!” I was in no way prepared for what I was about to see!Maybe it’s my aversion to

My Guilty Pleasure

2008-09-02T16:52:00.000-07:00

So, I don’t know why I feel compelled to write this blog. But, somehow, I just want to share these little gems with the rest of the world (or at least the few people who actually read this rubbish I write a few times a month!). This is one of my guilty pleasures that, I’m sorry to say, I am horrifyingly embarrassed of. And, honestly, I can’t believe I am willing to actually admit to it. But, this

O Fortuna!

2008-08-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

Giddy Fortune's furious fickle wheel, That goddess blind, That stands upon the rolling restless stone.~ William Shakespeare, Henry VSo, this week I’ve just about had it up to here. And if you could see where I’m pointing to, you would know how fed up I am! We received notice yesterday that our brand new apartment complex might be foreclosed in the near future. Doesn’t really matter much, except

Sleuthing Plaid!

2008-08-21T16:12:00.000-07:00

I think that will be my newest catch phrase when I happen to stub my toe. I’ve tried to rent the Nancy Drew movie since it came out on video, but I had a nay-saying DH, and he wouldn’t allow it. Or, I guess I should say that he wouldn’t watch it with me! (I know, big surprise.) But, I just thought it looked cute and would be a fun little movie.Well, my big chance finally came, and I got to

Falling In and Out of Love with Twilight

2008-08-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

*No spoilers here. Although, I must warn you, if you haven't read the book yet, you better get on it before some loud mouth in a public place ruins it for you, as my co-worker just related today at lunch!* I can’t believe I’m allowing myself to dedicate two blog entries to this topic especially since I’ve devoted precious little time to other books that I really love and deserve blog

Adventures of Loud Girl and Dangling Foot Boy

2008-07-31T11:52:00.001-07:00

"Genius may have it's limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped." ~Elbert HubbardTraveling is always an interesting experience, I’ve found. I have run into the most peculiar people and their strange habits on an airplane or a bus than any other public venue. From the overly friendly man who wants to share his candy bars and tell me his life story, even though I am oh-so-subtly sticking

Movie Tunes

2008-07-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

I was browsing through a music enthusiast’s blog when I came across a post she put together of some of her favorite songs from movie soundtracks. I thought that was a great idea! As I read through her thoughts on the subject, it occurred to me that there are a lot of songs that I really like simply because they were in a movie. Somehow, those songs get forever linked to that moment in time, so

Happy Birthday, Dear America

2008-07-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

We decided to brave the crowds for the Fourth of July, since we are in the nation’s capital and all. I was rather pessimistic about it, honestly, because I hate being in close proximity to millions of stinky, sweaty people, but it wasn’t actually that bad. It turned out to be pretty great!Fancy that.We went to the Folklife Festival (And yes, this proves that Texas, in and of itself, has its own

Ode to the Short Story

2008-06-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about a creative writing class I took my senior year of college as kind of a little treat. I had finished almost all of my credits, and there weren’t enough classes being offered in the summer semester as I needed to fill my schedule. So, I supplemented with a little literary dessert.The class was taught by Myrna Marler, a name and personality I still remember

When It Rains

2008-06-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

So, in case you didn’t know, it rains a ton in Washington, D.C. This, I did not even think about before we moved here for the summer. Right now, I’m sitting in our little studio, listening to the deafening claps of thunder and watching the lighting flash thinking about how exciting a good rain storm can be. It’s one of those things that you don’t realize you miss until you experience it again.I

Your Art was the Best Art of All the Art

2008-05-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

DH and I got the opportunity to head out to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Portrait Gallery this week. (We snuck it in between paella and Ironman.) As we got there, a guided tour was just kicking off, so we decided to join in. At first, I thought we might as well just wander the halls ourselves and go at our own pace, but after the tour, I was really glad we declined the self-guided

Speaking of Carrie Bradshaw . . .

2008-05-27T13:46:00.001-07:00

Alright, I couldn’t help myself. Now that the inevitable Sex and the City movie release climbs closer and closer, I can’t hardly watch anything without seeing the preview a billion times. I can’t say I’ve been a frequenter of the show, but it’s a much-known fact that “Carrie Bradshaw” has become somewhat of a fashion icon. And, even though I’m not sure I’d ever wear anything she does, I think her

Closet Living

2008-05-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

Published monthly and focused on the homes of the “cramped and confined,” this magazine is one of the oldest print resources for closet decorating professionals and serious closet-owners. Closet Living features classic and eclectic décor ideas for any closet apartment, complete with kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom corners. The magazine offers tips and suggestions for remodeling and renovating your

The Desert Blooms

2008-05-07T12:31:00.001-07:00

Recently, I got to see my sister get married in sunny Arizona. It was really wonderful, and everything went well, thankfully. I’ve been to Arizona a couple of times now in recent years, and I’m glad to say that I’m starting to get more used to it; hence, I have a growing attraction to it. This time, I tried to be smart, so I wouldn’t become a dried-up, sun-fried version of myself like those times

Bandelle Inspiration

2008-04-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

I hate decorating. Hate it. Mostly because I'm not that great at it. I love to peruse blogs to try to get inspired by other people's creativity. I ran across an awesome blog yesterday put together by Kylie Surley, a jewelry designer from Australia. She posts about all kinds of style topics from home decor to art to fashion. She always has great pictures, which is my favorite part. She posts a

Internet Me, Google

2008-04-07T13:04:00.001-07:00

This is amazing. Simply amazing. I don't know how I never came across it before. I was reading through some old posts of a friend's blog, and I found one she'd written on Google Reader. When you sign up for it (as you inevitably will after you read this), you, too, will gasp in amazement and say, "Yes. Yes, it is amazing." I swear, those google people think of everything.So, this is how it works.

The World is My Classroom

2008-03-31T12:27:00.001-07:00

As part of my job, I have to edit a glossary for a cultural product. This task includes looking through many foreign words: greetings, foods, customs, common phrases, and colloquialisms. Although sometimes a little boring, editing the glossary can also be interesting because I get a closer look at some of these terms and the people who use them.There are some that strike my funny bone. Several

Cityscape

2008-03-20T16:42:00.000-07:00

In just a couple months now, DH and I will be settled in our new place in Washington, D.C., for the summer. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately; feeling the trepidation of impending change. A few nights ago, I watched a show, with the DH, about Russia on the travel channel. They started out in a rural setting and slowly made their way to urban life. They showed the development that has taken

Three Down: Infinity To Go

2008-03-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

Three years. It’s almost an entire college education, it’s two of my missions, it’s a fortnight worth of cartons of ice cream, it’s at least 20 slurpies, it’s a few dozen tries at making me learn to like running, it’s over 100 back pops, it’s 144 sacrament meetings, it’s approximately 288 episodes of Law and Order, and endless, endless trips to the grocery store and restaurants. 1096 (including

Water, Water Everywhere, Nor Any Drop to Drink

2008-02-29T07:49:00.001-08:00

I have to admit, I used to be a little bit of a book snob. Being an English major, I didn’t find it necessary to read anything but classic literature. Not only because that’s all I had time for, but also because I thought other books not “worthy” enough, as strange as that sounds. I took an editing class where we had to just go to the bookstore and pick out a bestseller at random and read it. I

Cool Feelings

2008-02-22T14:51:00.000-08:00

Once I was having dinner with a family. They had two little boys who were just a couple years apart. They chatted on all through the meal about their soccer teams and how they really loved to play. Afterwards, I got to talking with their mother about it. She told me that her younger son was pretty good. He could follow the game and could keep up pretty well. However, her older son, the one with

For the Love of a Comforter

2008-02-04T14:12:00.000-08:00

‘Twas the eve before Super Bowl, when out of the house,I was busily shopping, without the spouse.With friends, I searched and rummaged with care,In hopes that I’d find a great bargain there;When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,But a beautiful comforter, with eight pieces to share!More rapid than eagles, I ran to the shelf,And I whistled, and shouted, and called to myself;“Now, how can

Just Sing—Sing a Song

2008-01-17T13:12:00.001-08:00

When my family moved to Boston the summer after my first year of college, I got a job at a daycare center about 20 minutes from home. We lived in a sort of rural area, and I didn’t get great reception on my car radio. Plus, we’d just moved from Texas. In those days, I was listening to a lot of country, of which there wasn’t much to be had over there. So, instead of trying to get something else

Knit One, Purl One

2008-01-16T14:54:00.000-08:00

Over the last month or so, I’ve finally become serious about a needlecraft habit that I’ve been meaning to form for quite some time now: knitting. It all started when I uncovered some old pink knitting needles I found in a disorganized closet. I thought they were charming, and I wanted to use them. I went to the bookstore and picked out the best looking learn-to-knit-it’s-easy-as-pie book I could

Something Old, Something New

2007-12-10T13:49:00.000-08:00

The other night, we went to a benefit concert for a local foundation that supports orphanages in foreign countries. They put on a Christmas concert of sorts, with many different genres of music: a classical violinist to a jazz band to a children’s choir. It was very well put together, and we had a great time.One song that seemed to be out of place, however, was a montage from West Side Story that

Aussie-ism

2007-11-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

The great Australia trip came to a close, and now I have only the pictures to show for it. Ha! This blog entry has been a long time coming. I gave up on it a couple of times because I just thought I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. But, here’s what I’ve come up with and it will just have to do. =)First of all, the Gold Coast is a dream. But, before I make you any more jealous, I just have to

Bite Me?

2007-10-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

I never did understand the allure that vampires were supposed to have in movies . . . not that I’ve really seen that many vampire movies. But, I just never could really “get it.” Enter a hideous, widow-peak hairlined, pasty white skinned, monstrous fang-toothed, hunched over man with his curled out-stretched finger, “I vant to suck your blood!” Evil smile. Enter a beautiful woman, unable to keep

Australia Zoo

2007-07-15T23:30:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple moments from the Australia Zoo.This is when they brought out the elephants. Listen to the Kookaburra song here.If you click on the "Laugh, Kookaburra" you will hear the distinctive laugh the bird has.

Australian Treasures

2007-07-08T19:51:00.000-07:00

I've taken a bit of a hiatus from this blog, since I don't have much time of connectivity every week... however, I wanted to post these video clips! Enjoy! (The footy ones came out a bit small when I uploaded them... sorry.)A little joey in the pouch! So precious. I'm not a very good "filmmaker," so sorry about that. Here's a rare moment! We caught this one our way out after many of the

From the Footy

2007-07-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

Here are some moments from the footy game.This first shot I took because I thought the little stretching people just looked too funny. Hopefully you will think so too! Here's a shot of what we consider the extra point after a touchdown. This is worth 2 points. (The goal is worth 4 points.) The kicker has to kick the ball from whatever point on the field the goal, or "try" as they call it, was

The Irresistible Avocado

2007-02-16T08:39:00.000-08:00

What is it that is so alluring about the avocado? I ask myself this question every time I pass these funny-looking, dimpled things in the grocery store. This fruit (Yes, fruit! Perhaps somewhat akin to the tomato veggie/fruit debate—it just doesn’t seem to fit.) originates from Central America and grows on a tree. It has most in common with berries, although you can hardly call it that. It is

Winter Wonderland

2006-12-19T08:10:00.000-08:00

Association: Winter . . . Snow. We've been experiencing a lot of snow lately, and I mean A LOT! Why is snow so magical? I love it when I don't even look out the window until it's time to hit the road. Then, I open the door and am completely surprised! At first, I feel annoyance and fear, because I might have to drive in it, which I am deathly afraid of. But, I can't help but feel like I'm in a

Turkey Trot, Trot, Trot

2006-11-29T07:55:00.000-08:00

Another holiday has come and gone . . . but it was a good one. There’s nothing like Thanksgiving turkey, just nothing like it. Why is eating food so darn enjoyable??While the folks were here, we rented Over the Hedge one night, and I started thinking about this when we watched the part about how the animals perceive human interactions with food. (“That’s what they exercise on so they can eat more

Book of . . . ME?

2006-11-17T10:30:00.000-08:00

Scrapbooking is really fun. Although, I spend much more time looking at other people's creations than I do actually creating things myself. Hopefully someday it will be the other way around! As I looked through galleries at Scrapbook.com, I came across this quite often, "This is for my BOM." Huh? (Nope! Not the acronymn you are familiar with!) It stands for Book of Me. I thought it was kind of an

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

2006-11-10T08:23:00.000-08:00

The battle of the tresses, which has raged for many generations, is still fought today on many fronts. The biggest contenders: Blonde vs. Brunette. The school behind blondes say that blondes have more fun; therefore, blonde is better. But brunette theorists beg to differ; to them, brunettes are best—preferably mysterious ones. Just from my seemingly limited experience (I have hair and it does

With Two You Get Doxie

2006-11-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

I have completely fallen in love with a four-legged creature, the dachshund. (Thanks, Kara!) I am simply beside myself with arduous adoration. These sweet little dogs are where it’s at. I mean really—How can you resist this little face!!Dachshunds originate from Germany (ahhh . . . Deutschland). The name means “badger dog,” which comes from the dachshund’s hunting

Royal Reflections

2006-10-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

I dragged DH to see Marie Antoinette last weekend; he was a really good sport! It was an interesting movie, and I’d say overall I enjoyed it. It was a bit slow and somewhat too “artsy” for my taste, but I liked it in the end. But, as I watched the movie and from what I know of her life, it made me think of what a perfect foil Marie Antointte is of another influential

New Year's Resolution?

2006-10-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

It’s not quite the New Year, but we’ve decided to get a head start on the resolution that will inevitably come . . . fitness. So, we decided to re-adjust our budget and cut out unhealthy things, like going out to eat so often, in order to afford joining a gym, which turned out to have a much cheaper price tag than I imagined.Of course, they tried to get us to buy the more expensive plan--“And you

By Divine Design

2006-10-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

Last night, DH and I had a little discussion that I've been thinking about all afternoon. He told me about some of his thoughts concerning a talk from General Conference. This talk was about the true meaning of manhood, or in other words, what makes up a manly man. He told me a few things about why he agreed with what was said, and I commented on the shame of our society’s projection of what it

Ostensible Austen

2006-10-09T14:45:00.000-07:00

I’m not sure what happened to me this weekend. I got completely sucked into 18th century England, Jane Austen-style. And I have yet to escape its white-knuckled grasp! I had barely begun reading Persuasion, which I’ve never picked up since I bought it years ago, when by happen chance, I discovered a friend owned A&E’s six hour Pride and Prejudice—Heaven! She had

All About Cheese

2006-10-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

What is it about cheese? It's curdled milk and mold. Who came along and decided that was a good idea for food?? I wonder if cheese was somehow discovered by accident. Perhaps by a starving peasant or serf rumaging through thrown out leftovers, stumbling upon a gold mine: moldy, old milk curds--yummy.But I have to admit: I love cheese. It is so incredibly delicious. Grated, sliced, crumbled,

Welcome!

2006-08-29T10:44:00.001-07:00

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoy what you read. =) Remember to check back for more silly updates!

Reading

2006-08-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

I love reading. I love books. I love reading books.That being said, I need a place to keep all my book-ish things, and I’ve decided to deem this page the book page. Here I'm listing recommendations for your reading pleasure, challenges I'm working on, my book club news, and my complete bookshelf. Enjoy!Looking for a good read? Try one of these:My Antonia by Willa CatherGirl with a Pearl Earring

First Lines

2006-08-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

I got this idea from a fellow book-lover, who also had a healthy appreciation for first lines. I started to pay attention to first lines a little more after that, and my love of a good one grew. Here I pay homage to them; I hope one or two will inspire you to read the work in entirety. Enjoy!On the pleasant shore of the French Riviera, about half way between Marseilles and the Italian border,

Just for Fun

2006-08-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

Looking to waste some time? You've come to the right place! Double Takes from Bandelle Web Games Craft Ideas from Orange Other Blogs People I Know Aaron, Andrea, Angela & Brent, Angie, Angie & Luke, Ben, Brittani, Briton & Luke, Cami & Juan, Candice & Ryan, Carolyn, Cheree, Cheryl, Dana, Diane, Dore, Erica, Erin & Chris, Esther, Felicia & Brandon, Holly, Janelle & Brad, Jason &

Playlists

2006-08-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

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Quotables

2006-08-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

To be quoted can be either good or bad. Certain quotes can ruin a politican's career or get someone fired. But then there are others that enlighten the mind with a few concise words. The latter is what I'd like to focus on, although some will be more concise than others. And since this blog is mostly a homage to words, here are some more words to carry with you:Where there is an open mind, there