Craft it Forward

The first 5 people to leave a comment on this blog will receive something made by me. However there are some limitations:
1. I make no guarantee that you will like what I make.
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It will be done this year (a calendar year that is... no promises for the end of 2009!)
4. You have not a clue what it is going to be; poetry, bags, something a little crafty, or a little invention of my own. I may even bake something and mail it you! Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange. It may blow your mind!

Here's the catch... if you choose to do this, you must post this on your blog and be ready to make something for five people, too. This will be fun! (and like how you have to be reminded of this!) And, when you receive the fabulous item I make you, you must post a picture of it on your blog. Or if you don't have a blog, send me a photo and I will post it!

Ready....Set....Comment!

Weebly

I discovered this great website that lets you create a website for free - Weebly.com. It's pretty fun to play around with... so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm going to maintain my blog here still, and use my Weebly site for pictures. Blogger kind of bogs down my picture posts...
Check it out!
http://quotidianpix.weebly.com/
Also, if you're a teacher, you can create a site for your class, and create student accounts so they can create sites as well. I thought I'd try it... I'll let you know how it goes!

What fills YOUR cup?

I've been thinking a lot about this topic lately (never a good thing, thinking), and it all kind of came to a head in the last few weeks when I was confronted with it full force in the outer world. To make a long story short, I've been spending way too much time at school, and way too much time at home doing school things. Which leaves me not a lot of time to do things that I enjoy. I don't mean to sound selfish with my time - but there are just some things that I need to make myself be a happier camper, especially at school, and especially with 33 10-11-year-olds (and whichever mood they decide to be in any given day). During professional development a few Mondays ago, we watched a video that talked about loving what we do, and doing what we love. Sometimes, it's easy to love what you do - there is enough in what you do that makes it worthwhile. Other times, it's not so easy, and you have to have some external things in your life to fill up your cup while you're at work.

So what things fill your cup? Enjoy my list. :)


Battle of the Bad 80's Bands - the Chunga morning show
hearing a good song on the radio
singing to a great cd in my car
traveling - and remembering the great time I had and good people I was with
crocheting
scrapbooking
reading books that I want to read
sleeping in
getting to bed a little early
getting a Facebook message
cherry limeades from Sonic
having a good time at a Utah football game
long weekends
getting all my papers graded (which happens only toward the end of May...)
going shopping with my mom - especially when she's buying!
taking pictures
editing pictures
blogging
cleaning (I say this one with a grain of salt... I like the end result of cleaning... not before, and not after I get things messy again)
having things to look forward to - classes, projects
funny things that kids do and say at school
my grade team
text messages and phone calls that are pleasant and unexpected
lovely weather
thinking about past and future adventures

A True Blue Tale...

Holly and I went to Vegas this weekend to go to the Utah/UNLV game. More on that later... However, here's the story of the weekend:

The scene: A downward-heading elevator at the Excalibur. Holly and I had just returned to our hotel room to change into our U shirts (more on that later), and were heading back down to the strip. There are 4 college-age boys in the elevator. Just one talked to us... the others tried not to laugh.

cab (college-age boy): Oh, hey, you guys bleed red, huh? I bleed blue.
me: Oh, that's too bad.
(awkward pause, other cabs trying not to laugh)
me: So, you should have been down here last week for the game.
cab: Uh, yeah, I had midterms last week.
me: So?
cab: I didn't pass as it was.
me: Well, then, you could have come and the outcome would have been the same!
cab: Yeah, ha ha...
cab: So, who do you guys play this week, anyway?
(Holly and I exchange a look - really, is this what he's asking? The city is crawling with Utes! Where has he been all morning?)
me: UNLV...
cab: Oh. OH...
(other cabs trying not to laugh.)
Elevator door opens, and we all exit and go our separate ways.

Whew.
No wonder he failed his midterms!
Go Utes!

Sample 5: Hair Growing Skills

I grew out my hair a few summers for the Hill Cumorah Pageant. I figured that I'd rather deal with my own ball of fuzz, rather than with having a wig or an elaborate head wrap. The first summer, I chopped it off as soon as school started up again, and then started the growing process again. The second summer, I kept it long until November, and then decided that it was, indeed, time to part with it. I went to my trusty hair dresser, put it in a pony tail, and whacked it off. 11.5 inches went to Locks of Love! I haven't had the patience or desire to grow it out again... though I have applied to the pageant for next summer, so I suppose that I'd better get a move on. Good thing it grows back!


Looking at this pic, I can't believe it was ever that long! How did I deal with it? What did I do with it every day? Oh yeah... ponytails, buns, and braids! 'Do' my hair? I don't think so...

Sampe 4: Macro Camera Setting

So... that little flower icon on your digital camera? I found out not long ago what it was for. Now I'm a macro-setting freak. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't... here are some instances when it did work.


U of U campus, fall 2008




Bellagio's garden, Las Vegas, spring 2009



Sacred Grove, Palmyra NY, summer 2009

Feels Like Today

I saw this on Rikki and Rochelle's blog (a loooong time ago). Looked fun, so here you go!

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a song title.

Your Artist: Rascal Flatts
Are you male or female: Dry County Girl
Describe yourself: Unstoppable
How do you feel about yourself: Better Now
Describe where you currently live: Life is a Highway
The first thing you think of when you wake up: Help Me Remember
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: She'd Be California
Your favorite form of transportation: Fast Cars and Freedom
Your best friend is: Like I Am
Your favorite color is: Shine On
What’s the weather like: Cool Thing
If your life were a TV show, what would it be called: Secret Smile
What is life to you: Still Feels Good
What is the best advice you have to give: Bob That Head
If you could change your name, what would it be: Ellsworth
Your favorite food is: Mayberry
How I would like to die: Holdin' On
My soul’s present condition: Backwards
The faults I can bear: No Reins
How would you describe your love life: Love Who You Love
What are you going to post this as: Feels Like Today