Friday, February 29, 2008

Genius Under 2

My friend showed this to me and I had to share. This girl is so cute and amazing. I would only be concerned about her social development. Often precocious kids like this have a hard time fitting in with their peers. Let's hope for the best!

Saturday, February 23, 2008

My Turn

Where were you born? Phoenix
Middle name: Marie
How old will you be this year? 26
When is your birthday? February 23rd - Today!
Nicknames: Chels, Chely, Turd Ferguson
Are you taller than your mother or father? mummy dearest
Do you cry often during movies? Only if they're sad movies. And only if I'm watching them alone. Sometimes with Ryan if we're watching it at home, but not so much in the theater. Oh, but this one time my sisters and I saw Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants in the theater and we were all bawling by the end...and then looking at each other and laughing because we're crying at a stupid movie.
What is your biggest pet peeve? this is really weird, but I hate it when cupboard doors are left open and also when one (or more) of the shower hooks falls off the rod and *someone* doesn't put it back on. drives me bonkers.
Favorite color: Pink
Favorite foods: My Riscuits and cinnamon rolls, Aunt Lorie's grilled chicken and Alfredo sauce (oh, another pet peeve is canned Alfredo sauce. It's not that hard to make. ew!)
Favorite beverage: LOVE Diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper and Diet Pepsi Max.
Favorite cold cereal: I haven't really had one I didn't like. besides puffed rice. that stuff is inhumane.
Favorite smells: Ryan's armpits. He wears awesome smelling deodorant.
Favorite time of day: 5pm - quitting time.
Favorite make-up products? I wasn't a believer of liquid foundation until I used my Clinique foundation. Also, can't live without eyeliner. My fave to use is a cheapo bonne bell black pencil, but I haven't been able to find it the last 3 times I've needed some so I'm guessing it's been discontinued. I don't know which one I use now.
What is your favorite article of clothing? my gap yoga pants that I immediately toss on when I get home from work. If i don't put those on I just strip down and walk around in my skivvies. So if my car is here and you for some reason come over and i don't answer right away, it's because I'm running my arse to the bedroom to put some sort of clothing on.
Favorite clothing brand? don't have one as of now.
How many pillows do you sleep with? start the night with 2 but wake up with 1.
Do you play an instrument? nope.
Have you ever been skinny dipping? yup
Did you do any sports in high school? nope. in fact, I hated high school. Let's not talk about it.
What was the last movie you saw in the theater? 27 Dresses. I went on a Monday night by myself thinking it wouldn't be that crowded but the theater was packed. I'd started watching the movie online (someone had handycammed it and it was terrible) and had to know what happened so I went to see it. I also saw Juno (I think I've seen it 5 times now) but that wasn't in the theater...it's on my iPod (this is one doodle that can't be undid, Homeskillet).
What is your dream vacation? Um, dunno. We love watching Cash and Treasures together, so I think it would be awesome to go on a treasure hunting vacation. We're hoping to get to Europe as soon as Ryan gets his PhD - he wants to visit Portugal again and I want to go to Spain.
What was your first impression of your spouse? So funny story. He was in my ward a good year before we even talked. But I wasn't all that into going to church with my roommates (they were clinically crazy) and I was totally apostate then and I remember seeing Ryan with this one girl and thinking, I bet he's a cool guy. He looks smart and like he has a lot of fun stories. AND I totally thought he was 26 (I was 22/23 when I thought this). Little did I know he was only 22/23 also AND I'm 6 wks older than him.
If you were an animal what would you be? elephant. they have good memories.
What is your favorite "me-time" activity? i have too much me time, i think. I love finishing projects and starting new ones, shopping, sleeping, baking.
Favorite tv shows? Lost, Bones, Notes from the Underbelly, Psych (this show is so so funny), Flight of the Conchords
Favorite candy/treat? I love Reisens, chocolate chip cookies, brownie sundaes...notice the trend?
Favorite flower? gerbera daisies and cherry blossoms
Favorite restaurant? Love Mimi's cafe, but don't get there too often because my husband isn't a fan. Okay, he downright hates it. We eat at SmokeHouse ALL the time and at Jason's Deli a lot recently.
What is your dream car? not sure. I love the look of the Chrysler 300 - they look gangster. want one. I actually think I want a hybrid, but I love the car I have now, I just wish it had more power. Oh, ultimately my dream car will be any car that's PAID OFF.
What is one of your weaknesses? anything sweet. sleeping in. I have all the good intentions of getting up early to workout but the temptation to hit snooze until i don't have enough time has won out this past week.
What do you fix for dinner when there's nothing to fix? Since it's usually just me for dinner and if I don't want to cook anything, I totally have cold cereal and popcorn. Sometimes together.
If you could live in a different decade/era which one would it be? the one where being overweight was a good thing.
What is the emotion you feel the most? silliness.
Do you consider yourself outgoing? um, only when I'm in the mood.
What is something you are constantly working on? housekeeping & weight. Ryan's a better housekeeper than I am.
Any hidden talents? They shall remain hidden
What is a word or phrase you overuse? For the LOVE
What did you do last night? watched LOST, went to sleep at 9:30 - it was fabulous.
Any new & exciting news to share? Ryan thinks he might have gotten accepted into Indiana! wahoo! It's on the list now.
How many years at your current job? 2 as of yesterday
What are you afraid of? Losing Ryan or not being able to have children
What is one thing you hope to accomplish this year? I really really want to get skinny and pregnant. Contradictory statements, I know, but I think if I lose weight first, the second will happen.
The best piece of advice you've recently heard? Stop stressing so much. AND ...okay, I thought I had another one but now I can't think of it.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Birthday Fortune

Today I walked into my office with this on my desk:

The office manager usually makes b-day cards for everyone but she knew I'd appreciate how cute and crafty this was. It was filled with paper fortune cookies and she had each of my coworkers write something on a strip of paper and she sealed it inside.


Some are hilarious:

Help! I'm being held prisoner in a Chinese bakery!

I'm glad there isn't a subspecies of honeybees that gathers urine, because man...their collection methods would probably hurt!

Chelsea, here's your fortune: You will have a happy b-day and be annoyed by Dave at least once today. Happy Birthday!

It's about time I got out of that cookie.

I work with funny people.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Kansas

Ryan was accepted into University of Kansas last week. Such a relief for him and me.

He's since interviewed with University of Kentucky, Kent State University, and University of Utah, however he wasn't impressed with Kentucky's program or facilities in the slightest, so even if he's accepted he said he's not interested.

This weekend he's heading to Indiana for Indiana State University and next weekend we're heading to Colorado.

********
So as I've been looking into houses for Lawrence, Kansas, I decided to look at pictures of campus. Look how beautiful!

Natural History Museum

aerial view of Univ. of KS

It's going to be so hard to decide where to move!

Valentine for a Man


Ryan's not much for candy, cookies, or sweets in general (I'd love to have that problem), so making him heart-shaped sugar cookies -- what'd I'd like to do -- really wouldn't be as much appreciated.

Instead I found the little sheets of beef jerky they sell in convenience stores and cut them into hearts and tied with baker's twine.

The tag has something written on the back that I won't share to protect the innocent. Ask me if you're really that interested.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Luminaire

you REALLY have to click on the pictures to see how brilliant these are

More colors to come. These sparkle and shine like delicious pink diamonds.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Rest In Peace, Blowdryer...

I had to part with a friend yesterday. One I've known for almost 9 years now. My beloved hair dryer decided to throw me a curve ball --and a few sparks-- and die. So now it lies in the garbage, strangled by its own cord.

This is my new hair dryer - I sure hope it lasts more than 2 yrs (the avg time my sis' say theirs last).



found here

I know this is weird, but I loved my old hair dryer. I had it since high school and it still worked beautifully. Then it suddenly had a hair attack and died. Sheesh.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Project Time

Someone mentioned it's been awhile since I've posted any new crafts I've done, so I thought I'd share this one I just finished putting together (sans ribbon in this photo).

red peach and natural wool felt; stitch-witchery

Also, I found a picture I used to remember the layout of Evonne's baby blanket. It's cute, huh? I think I want to make another one. I just need to tinker with my sewing machine a little bit more and figure out my thread tensions. The last 3 times I've gone to sew up a quilt square it keeps being either too tight or too loose and it's driving me batty.

faux suede fabric (found at wal*mart), blue Peas & Carrots line by American Jane for Moda; not sure what the red one is, I got it from the Quilting Cottage in AF; Michael Miller's Lil' Cowpoke; white chenille; Warm & Natural cotton batting

Also, family related, Ryan heard back from Nebraska and wasn't accepted. I think I was more devastated than he was! Actually, possibly equal. I just can't believe he wasn't accepted. When we found out I, of course being the baby I am, cried and he was at work but I could tell he was totally bummed. I ended up taking the next morning off of work to hang out with him because I didn't want him sitting at home by himself being upset and sad. I think what helped was later that same morning he received a call from a different University inviting him to interview! and then 2 more that afternoon! Thus far, we've heard from 8 out of 10 schools and he's been invited to interview at 7 of them. Praying he gets accepted to 3 or 4 so we have a few options.

Over the next few weeks he'll be rigorously preparing and interviewing for these 6 schools. Luckily, one of them is local (UofU) and two are over the phone interviews (awesome on our savings account) so he'll be flying to Kentucky and Indiana on Valentine's day and my birthday, and then the following weekend we'll both be driving to Colorado for his last (known) meeting. Busy month and I get the raw end of the deal for both holidays - yes, my birthday is a holiday. take the day off of work, all!

Wish him luck!

Monday, February 04, 2008

Baby Shower and Thrifty Weekend

My crafty-friend Evonne is 6 weeks from delivering her first baby boy and her awesome friends threw her a fun baby shower this weekend. I finished my WIP blanket, just barely. Minutes before I dashed out the door, I pulled the blanket from the dryer and didn't even think about getting a picture of it, dang it. It's so cute and I hope she really likes it.

I love hanging out with girls like that. I think I need to do it more often instead of being a loner. I'm not saying I don't like being alone, but for my social well-being, I probably ought to hang out with girls more. The shower was until 1 but most ended up staying until almost 2. She's going to have one cute cute boy.

Later that night Ryan headed off to work while Kayleigh moved stuff into her new apartment and she and I headed to DI in search of a bed frame or futon for her. She found neither, but instead scored an awesome nightstand for $5 in the yard section (which I'd never been out to before - totally has better stuff. I found this really cool cottage-y looking sideboard that had a built in turntable and old school radio that I would love to have...although, in order to make it functional I'd have to rip out the radio and recordplayer...) and I think she and I will have a furniture refinishing party and make it look new. I picked up a couple books, one somewhat new and this awesome Wedding Etiquette Guide from the 1940s. I originally got the old book to tear apart and use the pages in craft projects, but now I'm thinking I'll just photocopy the pages I want and keep the book intact....not sure yet.

Yesterday Ryan's alarm didn't go off at the time we set it for church so we woke up 20 min before meetings started and there was NO way we'd make it in time. I would have had to shower, do my hair, everything, PLUS iron my skirt. So I enjoyed sleeping until 10:45 and doing nothing all day except sweep and vacuum, a couple loads of dishes and make some awesome beef stew. Such a lazy Sunday, which, oddly enough, I'm exhausted this morning.

Winner

My blog giveaway winner was #42, which happens to be Robin. I'll be dropping her winnings in an envelope this evening!

Thanks everyone for playing. I ended up with around 265 entries. Awesome.