These Are a Few of My Favorite Things!!

I walked to work this morning, and the BEAUTIFUL and warm spring morning made me feel happy, and got me thinking about a few of my favorite things.

So here is my list (in no particular order):

1. Flowers

2. Freshly laundered crisp sheets

3. Nice smelling soap and lotion

4. Smell of freshly mowed grass

5. Smell of a summer barbecue

6. Dogs/puppies

7. Farmers markets

8. Trees blowing in the wind

9. The sound of rain

10. Chocolate molten lava cake

11. Strawberries

12. Being with my family

13. Going on evening walks in the summer time

14. Watching movies on a laptop at a park with Kent

15. Marshmallow/hotdog roasts in the canyons

16. Laughing

17. Listening to Kent play the guitar

18. Playing Tetris or an equivalent game

19. Watermelon

20. Moon lift rides at Sundance in the summertime

21. Baby chicks, or as the babies call them "chicky bocks"

22. This is the Place State Park, or any historical site

23. Sees candies

24. Lazy summer evenings on the porch visiting with family/friends

25. Hearing birds singing

26. Fireworks!

27. Pleasant surprises

28. The sound of a dishwasher running

29. Gardens (not to be confused with gardening)

30. A clean house

I think I've got spring fever!!

My New Hobby: Couponing

So now that I run my own household, I've finally taken up the hobby of couponing, and I've been having fun with it. I like not spending moneys that I don't have to spend.

We went grocery shopping on Saturday, and saved $15 on coupons alone (that doesn't take into account all of the 'on sale' items that we bought in lieu of the regularly priced items that we may have purchased instead -- the $15 number is purely how much we saved on coupons).

The way I see it, if we save $15 off our grocery bill a week, that's $60/month and $720/year.

Anyhoo hoo-- I made this HANDY little paper accordian to put all of my coupons in. It categorizes my coupons for easy finding, and it folds up and fits right into my purse or my hot little hand at the grocery store.

SO! If you want to be a coupon shopper, but don't want to look like a coupon shopper, follow this link <http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/howto/ideas/envaccordion.html> and build one of your own. :)

Happy shopping! :)

Really Good Item #2: Martha's on a roll

So another 'dur' idea (meaning, 'Dur! I can't believe I didn't think of that myself!).

I don't know about you, but I hate that my boxspring shows. In fact, I think it's tacky. However, I strongly dislike bedskirts; not because of the look of the bedskirt, but because they always get bunched up, and involve so much straightening and fidgeting with. This would not produce good karma for a person who has behaviors that suggest obsessive-compulsive disorder. ;)

Solution of the tacky visable boxspring? FITTED SHEET.

Yes, my friends. It IS that easy.

Martha says: "If you want to dress up your bed but find dust ruffles a bit fussy, consider slipping a fitted sheet over your box spring for a streamlined look. Use a sheet that matches those on the bed, or set off a coverlet or duvet by choosing one in a matching pattern or contrasting hue."

Thanks http://www.marthastewart.com/ for your fabulous daily emails!

Homemade Duvet Cover - It's a Good Thing

So ... I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner on my own. It might have to do with the fact that I don't sew, but I digress. Anyhoo, check this idea out - it's SO economical, and SO brilliant!

To make your own duvet cover:

- pick out 2 flat sheets (using the same size as your comforter - twin, full, queen, king)

- Place sheets right sides together, and sew around the perimeter with a 1/2-inch seam allowance, leaving an opening along the bottom that extends to 24 inches from each corner

- Turn right side out

- To fasten cover shut once the comforter is inside, sew twill-tape ties, buttons and buttonholes, or Velcro tape along the two inside edges of the opening.

Compliments of MarthaStewart.com

Lucas Grabeel

Here is proof that I got to meet Lucas Grabeel. He's a fabulous singer and performer, and I'm a HUGE fan. He was very kind, humble and so graciously took a photo with us.

Note: this is an AWFUL picture of me, unfortunately. So just look at Lucas. ;)

Appropriateness is Just Good Taste

A gal in our ward gave a great talk on Sunday in Sacrament meeting. It was on the 13th article of faith. She focused specifically on the last sentance of the 13th article:

"... if there is anything lovely or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

I was quite impressed with her talk, because it is so important to seek after the lovely and praiseworthy things in life. After all, they are all around us!

She kept repeating a phrase over and over that I just LOVED. She said, "Appropriateness is just good taste".

I loved this because that's what my parents taught us kids growing up. There is nothing more inviting, warm and welcoming than a kind person who is appropriate in their actions, words, jokes, thoughts, and indulgences. And there is nothing less inviting, warm and welcoming than a person who is crass and inappropriate in their actions, words, jokes, thoughts and indulgences.

Not only do we need to seek after that which is lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, but we need to seek to BE a person which is lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy.

SO! My new motto is "Appropriateness is just good taste".

Husband Tag

Note: This was originally titled "Hubby Tag", but I'd just like to note that I'm opposed to the
word 'hubby', just as I'm opposed to the words "pregers" and "Mo Tab choir". HUGE pet peeves...

Anyway, I was tagged by my cousin so here goes:

Where we met: BYU - cliche I know, but what do you do?

How long we dated before we got hitched: 2 years, 5 months

How long have we been married: almost 4 whole months

What's my favorite feature about him: His warm smile

What's my favorite quality about him: His love of doing our taxes! His humor (he gets my jokes), his intelligence (he understands when I use 'big words', which I've been criticized of in past relationships - lol), his wisdom and sense of responsibility and honesty. He is also constantly looking for ways he can serve and help me throughout the day - making the bed, running the dishwasher, going to the grocery store, taking out the garbage, doing the dishes after dinner; all without ever having to be asked. What a sweetheart.

What's his nickname for me: we don't stick with just one at any given time - it's kind of a game of what new funny names we can come up with

His favorite color: blue

His favorite food: I'd say sushi, steak and chocolate. He'd say he doesn't have a favorite - why pick just one?

His favorite sport: UofI basketball and football

Who said the L word first: I'm assuming this means "Love". Kent.

First kiss when and where: June 2007 - Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Favorite couple thing to do: critique new restaurants

How many kids: 0

His age: 27

His favorite music: bluegrass, folk, classical

What I admire most about him: his constant desire to be better, to do better and to work harder (although he already is such a hard worker)

His favorite pastimes: camping, traveling, music

Will he read his: When I tell him that I wrote a new post he will

Tag: Kent (only it will be Wife tag!) ;)