Updates to Previous Posts

I've kept up pretty well with the 31 day writing challenge, and I've gotten pretty pumped up about blogging again. I'm amazed that when I transitioned from the hashtags (which I thought would be just for a post or two) that I ended up continuing to write actual posts. I think part of the reason I've been able to do that is because I'm starting to feel passionate about things again. Hooray!

The month is coming to a close soon, and I probably won't keep writing at this rate, but I might write a little more often than I was prior to this challenge. I feel like I'm getting some of my blogging groove back, and as long as you, dear readers, are content to read my mindless banter, we can continue enjoying this journey.

For today, I have some updates on some of my previous posts...

On The Other Side

Connecting to people through this post was an amazing experience. I don't often share my blog posts on facebook, but for this particular post, I did. The outpouring of love I received in return was incredible. I had a few comments here and a few comments on facebook, but additionally, I had a lot of people text me, message me, call me, and approach me in person. I heard from people that I never would have thought were struggling with the same thing - people I admire and look up to and want to be like! I also had a lot of men respond to my post, which was really cool.

On Would You Rather {special confession edition}

I'm happy to report that my gross problem has cleared up really nicely. Antifungal cream is the bees knees! Who knew? (No, really, did you know? Because I really didn't know!)

I bought a new yoga mat and tried it our at PiYo for the first time today.

On Halloween Prep

Target didn't have the accessory I needed for my Halloween costume, so I had to improvise a little bit. It worked out, though, and I wore my costume to a party at my mom's house last weekend, and I won a prize!

On an Interview with Scotty

Right after I interviewed Scotty, he started interviewing me. Then he fell asleep. Right in the middle of Question 8.

So there's a draft somewhere of my interview that might be completed someday if Scotty can ever stay awake long enough to do so.

On Pack Meeting Prep

Our pack meeting the other night turned out really well. We had a lot of positive feedback. The kids really liked the science experiments, and our mad scientist brought a few bonus items - a cow heart and four cow eyes. I was a little nervous about this, but everyone thought they were really cool. The weird part, though, was when I had to leave an iced cooler on my porch while I took my girls to the dentist so the "scientist" could leave them at my house. I came home from the dentist and checked to see if I'd received a delivery, and yep - there was a bag of cow parts in the cooler on my porch.

((shudder))

(I feel like I need to add that these organs were obtained via permit for educational purposes)

Sadly, we didn't get a single photo from pack meeting. Scotty and I are both pretty busy during pack meeting, so I think I might have to find someone in the ward to be our pack meeting photo guru (our former one moved, and I thought I could fill the void myself, but it's not happening!)

On Phone Woes

There are a couple of pictures on my phone that would be really great in this post, but since I can't use my phone right now, I'll have to sneak them into another post someday.

Have a good weekend, everyone! I'll be back tomorrow...

Phone Woes

Last night my phone took a dunk in the toilet.

This isn't the first time I've dropped my phone in the potty, but it's the first time for this particular phone. I don't remember if I've mentioned it here on the blog, but in the spring, my trusty old Blackberry died (yes, that would be the spring of this current year... 2016), and I got an iPhone.

Quick side story: every time I went to the dentist, I would get my Blackberry out and set it next to me while I was in the chair in case my babysitter tried to reach me, and every time my young, trendy hygienist saw my phone, she would comment about how cute it was that I still used a Blackberry. I was really excited when I went to the dentist last month, and I got to say, "Surprise! Look what I have!"

Part of the reason I kept the Blackberry so long was because I knew once I upgraded, my phone would become a life line, and I wanted to avoid that as long as possible. I don't like the idea of being dependent on my phone, but at the same time, my phone has really enhanced my life. It's my alarm clock, it's my camera, it's my music source, it's my flashlight, and I even have my textbook for Family and Community Relations on my phone. My phone is extremely useful, and I never use it for frivolous things like making funny videos of myself or texting poop memes to my friends... ahem...

Anyway, I'm doing the trusty old rice thing, and in the mean time, since I don't have access to my reminders, I need someone to come knock on my door at 12:50 and remind me that my kids get out of school early today. How am I supposed to remember anything without my phone?!?

Currently {October 2016 Edition}

Reading: The Distant Hours by Kate Morton. I am getting through it so slowly but not due to lack of interest. 

Watching: nothing! Gasp! I am equal parts relieved and saddened that I don't currently have a show. I like to have something on while I fold and put away laundry, but I can't even handle laundry right now. If I showed you a picture of my bedroom, you would cry for me. 

Imagine this: eight baskets of laundry in stacks on the floor. In walks a three-year-old girl who wants a very specific pair of Minnie Mouse pants. The three-year-old girl empties every basket of laundry onto the floor, finds her beloved pants, and then decides to wear something completely different.

Yeah... that was on Saturday. Today is Wednesday. The mess remains.  

Procrastinating: making my children's well-child appointments for the year.

Wanting: pants that fit and look good. Is that too much to ask? I need to get about ten pounds off so I can fit in my pants from last year, but since I eat four pounds of Halloween candy every time I take a statistics quiz (which is four times a week), that ain't gonna happen any time soon.  

Craving: a big, fat cup of water.

Wearing: capris that have a crotch that's going to split any day now.  

Relieved by: having the worst of my homework for the week DONE so I'll be able to focus on pack meeting prep for the rest of the day (I have several things due on Wednesday nights, but look at me! I did it all early! Woot woot!)

Stressing about: pack meeting, November birthday poster, and a birthday.

Missing: Lost. Did I ever tell you that I finished watching it through from beginning to end? 

Well, the last season still sucks. I was hoping that changed after six years.

It didn't.

The rest of the show was really great, though.

Excited to: watch the Gilmore Girls next month. In fact, I am so excited that I'm currently coaching myself through a calming breathing technique. 

Neglecting: my appearance. I hate wasting time on hair and make-up right now. It's something I often forgo for other things. Then I go to the store and pray I don't run into anyone I know. Unless they are in over-sized sweatpants with greasy hair, too. Then, by all means, let's stop and chat for a while! 

Thankful for: my bed and pianos. 

You see, I really like my bed. I've never been a big napper, and sleep hasn't ever been one of my favorite past times until this year. I can not function without a nap anymore. And at night when I crawl in my bed, I am so happy to be there! I even pray about it and tell Heavenly Father every day that I'm thankful for my bed. No lie.

And the piano! There is something powerful about piano music. I think it's beautiful. At the Maroon 5 concert when they started singing "Sunday Morning," the piano in the song went deep into my soul. 

Looking forward to: GRADUATING!!! It is still a year away, but I'm starting to get e-mails from the school about graduation. Eek!

Pack Meeting Prep

Gasp!

I realized at 4:00 this morning that I completely forgot to post yesterday. I forgive myself, though. This week is crazy, and yesterday was the kick-off.

I don't know if I've mentioned it here, but earlier this year, Scotty and I were called (asked by our Church leaders) to serve as Cub Masters in the cub scout program. The biggest of our responsibilities is planning pack meeting once a month.

In case I'm speaking a foreign language (and in case you actually care), the cub scouts are divided by age. Each age group is called a "den." All of the dens in a unit make up a "pack." Once a month, we meet as a pack (with families invited) and give out awards and do an activity.

Scotty and I have a lot of fun planning pack meeting, but I am always a basket case the week before. A few days ago, I finally came up with something to compare pack meeting prep to - it's like planning a children's birthday party every month.

I'm not complaining by any means; I'm just acknowledging that it takes some effort to pull off this monthly event.

This week, we're doing "Adventures in the Mad Lab." We have a guy from church dressing up like a mad scientist and doing science demonstrations. Yesterday, I spent a few hours gathering supplies and costumes and doing test runs of the experiments. Then last night, the "scientist" came over to our house, and we ran through some of the experiments with him.

Hopefully it will be a fun event, but until it's done (and cleaned up), I'm a little stressed.

In trying to plan pack meeting and get the Halloween festivities out of the way, I completely forgot that I have a child with a birthday next week, so I need to get to work on an actual birthday party!

Oy!

An Interview with Scotty

As I was getting ready for the bed tonight, I realized I hadn't blogged yet today. I grabbed my lap top and brought it in my bedroom, and then I told Scotty I needed to do some quick writing. Then I interviewed him.

I don't know what kind of impression I've given you about Scotty over the years, but he is a pretty great guy. Here is our interview:

1. What is your favorite movie? 
Charlie and Chocolate Factory (the original)

2. What is the hardest thing you do each week? 
Try to eat healthy

3. What is your favorite way to exercise?
Trail running or hiking in the mountains

4. What is your favorite book? 
Into the Wild

5. What is something you've done that you're really proud of?
Supporting my family and giving you the option of staying home

6. What is your favorite Hymn? 
"Onward Christian Soldiers" and "If You Could Hie to Kolob"

8. If you could win tickets to a concert, what concert would you want to go to?
Carrie Underwood

9. If you could study anything in school without worrying about how much income it would provide later, what would you study?
Forestry or ecosystems

10. Who is someone you really look up to?
My friend, Kyle. He's so uplifting and has a great outlook on life.

11. What are three words that describe you? 
Selfless, dedicated, and funny

12. If you could play someone in a movie or play, who would you want to portray? 
 Jason Bourne

13. If you had $1,000 to go wild with, what would you spend it on?
A gas powered auger and fishing supplies

14. If you could live anywhere in the world other than here, where would you want to live?
Alaska

15. What current fashion trend bugs you?
Man buns

16. If you could be famous for something, what would you want to be known for?
Curing cancer

17. If you were asked to speak in sacrament meeting and could choose your own topic, what would you like to speak about?
The power of a positive attitude

18. If you could spend two hours one on one with a historical figure, who would you want to hang out with?
I'd like to hang out with Alexander Hamilton, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, or Benjamin Franklin.

19. What's a song that makes you want to dance?
"Can't Stop the Feeling"

20. What's something you wish you could do everyday?
Eat a royal Red Robin burger

Halloween Prep

It's been a while since I've perused the thrift store, but I usually end up there around Halloween. In preparation for my first of five bazillion Halloween events (when did Halloween become a season instead of just a day? I swear my kids dress up eight different times before the 31st even hits!), I needed to take care of the final touches on my costume.

The thrift store has always provided exactly what I need for Halloween.

When I was the lunch lady, it was like, BAM! Lunch lady dress! BAM! Lunch lady shoes!

 

{Sloppy joe... sloppy, sloppy joe!}

And when I was Mary Catherine Gallagher, it was like BAM! School girl skirt! BAM! Blazer! BAM! Tie!

(Looking back on these two photos, I can see that I have a pattern of poking the lenses out of sunglasses).

So last night I went to the thrift store looking for a dress that I wasn't sure I could find. On one hand the thrift store has yet to fail me on Halloween, but on the other hand, the dress was kind of specific, so I wouldn't have been surprised if I'd had to leave empty-handed and scope out other stores. 

But the thrift store gods provided!

I found a dress, nay, the dress!

And I am pleased. 

But that's not all I walked out with. I came home with two pairs of pajamas for Nicky, three dance leotards for my girls, a set of panel curtains, a hamper, snow pants and a jacket for Daisy, a dress for Eva, unicorn pants for Daisy, Nike high tops for me (although, for the first time ever, I was a little hesitant to buy used shoes due to the gross thing), and a little something silly that I know will come in handy someday when I find the right person to give it to. 

So I guess you could say I got a little "spendy." But wow! It was fun! I went with no kids. Can you imagine the beauty of such a thing?

Anyway, back to the Halloween costume. There is just one final thing I need to find, and I have my heart set on Target. It's my last chance. C'mon Target! You need to have my back on this one!

Would You Rather {special confession edition}

Yesterday I asked a terrible question about which you would rather have between bed bugs, athlete's foot, water warts, or lice.

I am a horrible friend for making you even think about those things, but sometimes I have boundary issues.

Anyway...

I hope no one would choose bed bugs!

That...

Is not what I have.

Phew!

And since I've never had any of them before, I don't know which is worse between water warts, lice, and athlete's foot. They're all contagious and disturbing.

As for me and my grossness...

I was a little shocked the other day when I googled a phrase that I will not repeat here and found that it was very likely that I have athlete's foot. Fortunately it's mild (as far as I know), and the over-the-counter treatment I bought the next morning has already worked wonders.

But seriously?

Athlete's foot!

To be honest, I had it coming. I go barefoot everywhere. I'm not a germaphobe, by any means, and I probably won't be now, either (ain't nobody got time for that!) but I will be getting a new yoga mat, and I plan on keeping my feet under wraps until I am fully healed so I don't pass it on to anyone.

In the meantime, I live by the mantra:

Put the FUN in FUNGUS.*

*Courtesy of my sister-in-law (the mantra, not the fungus. Although...)