Pampered Christmas

So since I started selling Pampered Chef, of course that is what everyone (that I am going to see) is getting for Christmas! I feel slightly safe in showing these because I have a belief that no one actually watches this blog. Hahaha... Anyway, I needed something to give to co-workers and friends...and this is what I came up with!

I am extremely proud of my little creations. I love them so much that I am tempted to keep them for myself (with the bows forever attached). But then again, that doesn't make much sense. And how many bamboo spoons wrapped in bows does a person really need anyhow...

I bought this ribbon a few Christmases ago and it's perfect! I hope people are impressed. Afterall, it is a quality product!

Bonus: Did you notice the big Pampered Chef logo on each one? Shouldn't every Christmas gift double as advertising?

I love this bouqet!

Note: if you are reading this and end up getting one of these amazing creations, act surprised! Haha.

My New Exciting Career

At the beginning of November I was invited to my very first Pampered Chef party being hosted by my co-worker Anja. I had a great time and ordered a few items. I kept thinking about how much fun I had and how I wanted so many more items. (BTW, I had been dreaming of rebuilding my kitchen from scratch and had already created some wish lists for my future). On the last page of the catalog it showed what the new consultant starter kit included, which happened to include a few major items I had ordered and some that I really wanted. I called the lady (Nancy) who had done the show to see what it would take to become a consultant and if I could cancel my order and join instead. By that night I had signed up and was on my way.

While my parents were out of town I had my first party...It was really great and I've done well so far. My director, Nancy, keeps saying how impressed she is by me. I'm really excited and feel that this is exactly what I've been looking for. I like my job, but I'm not completely fulfilled by it either. This is my new hobby, new income (maybe), I'm building my kitchen and learning new recipes and cooking knowledge/experience. I already have two more parties planned and other tentative ones. I think I can create a niche in the wedding registry/bridal shower area. Heck, I know plenty of single people and Eric already said he'd refer engaged couples to me when they come to him for DJ services. Maybe my B.S. in management and certificate in Event and Meeting planning will come in handy now.

I really am excited! It's great to be excited about something. You wanna have a party? I'll come and cook...lol!

Thanksgiving 2008

This year I went to Karina's parents new house in Corona. As Jonas says, "This house is HUGE!" There was a ton of space and lots of yummy food. I made sweet potatos with mashmellows, millionaire pie, and quacamole. Brent & Karina bought some special desserts that we enjoyed, and Ofelia's (Karina's Mom's) turkey was super yummy. After dinner we played boardgames and Rock band. Jonas joined us the next morning for more Rock band. It was a great day.

Super-Jonas

A while back (maybe more than a year ago) Brent & Karina got Jonas a Superman costume that blows up for muscles. (BTW, he thinks muscles are in your shoulders).

Just thought I'd share my little man who often confides in us that he can save the world.

Fun-doh

Have you ever played with Fun-doh? It's like play-doh but really sugar cookie dough. It comes in round containers like play-doh and in four colors (red, green, blue, and yellow). A few days before Thanksgiving Karina, Jonas and I pulled it out and started our creations. We had a great time and Karina came up with mixing colors. Look carefully and you'll be surprised what you find...

What is Equal?

Jonas plays a Reader Rabbit computer game that goes over the basics of Kindergarten curriculum. He was having difficulty understanding the concept of "Equal". So I got out the Halloween candy and pulled out a pack of mini-M&Ms.

We worked on making small piles (1-5 candies) and making them equal and un-equal. We used pink post-it-notes to show clear separation of piles. He caught on pretty quickly after that.

Then insisted on doing it himself and poured out the whole bag. I let him play...he put a few in each pile at a time and when he had used the whole bag he said, "Mom, they're equal!" Of course I was doubtful and proceeded to count. 1, 2, 3,... 25 in the first pile...1, 2, 3, ???What??? 25 in the second pile!!! I was impressed! He wasn't even putting them in the piles at the same interval.

The birth of T-Rex Flash Dino

On November 1st Brent & Karina, Eric & Heather and Jonas & I went to Downtown Disney for dinner. I wanted to take Jonas to the Rainforest Cafe because he loves animals and I had never been. When we got there it was a two hour wait so we walked around first.

Long story short, we went into Build-A-Bear and were watching them make the stuffed animals. Jonas was interested in the process and when he saw the dinosaur one he fell in love. *Side note: I don't take my child into stores like this unless I understand the possibility of walking out with one. I had been thinking about it for a while (all his cousins have one) and we were feeling it out.* Anyway, there are different sounds that you can put into the animals. They had one that roared three times. I had a better idea. We got one that you can record onto and had Jonas do his best roar. It took a while, but we got a great recording and it will live forever (until the battery dies) in the dino. He got to name it; he came up with T-Rex Flash Dino. We call him Flash for short.

Jonas loves the box/holder Flash came in and he calls it his house. At the Rainforest Cafe there are storms every 22 minutes. Jonas was pretty scared each time and said that Flash was scared in his house. Dinner was good, but do to some mishaps, we ended up getting a free Volcano dessert. Yummy! It took 6 people to eat it and had a little left over. It was a really good night and Jonas re-told the story of Flash's creation the next day for Grandma. Some other cool things: A birth certificate was printed with all of Flash's info. There is also a paper scan bar inside so if it is ever lost and then returned to Build-A-Bear, they will be able to get it back to us. I'm more impressed than I thought I'd be, plus Jonas loves it!

California On Fire

Here is a pic from my phone from about 4 pm today (11-15-08). Sorry it's not better. I quickly got a pic of the sun that was burning red like fire (more like a red neon light). Scriptural? Last days? It sure feels like it here in California.

The picture doesn't do the real image justice. It was an amazing site and I'm surprised I haven't heard others talking about it.

San Fran Weekend

In September I went to San Francisco for a Mid-Singles Conference (Ages 27ish-45ish). It was a weekend loaded with fun activities. It all started Friday night. I couldn't miss work that day 'cause my boss was going to be gone most of the month. I left work a little early, Brent drove me to the airport, and Adriana picked me up at SFO. I was going to drive up with her, but she was gracious enough to agree to pick me up. She brought along Brad "Car Pool Dummy." Just kidding. Brad was awesome. He got us a great deal on our hotel rooms and I had a blast with him. We stayed at the Airport Marriott. The beds were so nice, great sheets, big down comforter, and four huge pillows. I know it was worth way more than we paid. Go Priceline!!!

That night was a big party at the Metreon Center. There was a DJ, speed dating, amazing views off the great patio, food, and at the end of the night a double-decker bus tour of the city. I wasn't prepared for how cold it was on the bus tour and even though they had fleece blankets for us I still froze my butt off (and everything else that is attached to it.) I spent most the time trying to keep as much of my body covered that I didn't see much of what the tour guide was talking about. I felt chilled all weekend because of that night. I was still a fun night though.

Saturday was lunch and games at Crissy Field (a park at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge). This was my favorite part of the weekend (besides the hotel). Adriana, Brad, and Cheryl (Adriana's old friend) all went with a group to walk across the bridge and I stayed to play volleyball. I had a great time and surprised people with how well I played. Not that I was good, just that I didn't suck. Then I switched to Bocce ball. I had never played this before and I had a blast. Plus I met some great people from Provo (not that I remember any names). We played ladder golf and I got a chance to walk down to the water. I got a little sun burnt on my cheeks, but nothing too bad.

Saturday night was a boat cruise through the bay. I didn't want to be miserable so I opted to ignore looking fashionable for keeping my core warm. I think I had 8 layers on. 2 under layers, warm tank top, long sleeve shirt with matching tank that I wear together, thermal style sweater, corduroy jacket and a scarf. The layers made it possible for me to enjoy the beauty of the bay and the sights. Totally worth it! The wind was crazy! I had a great time and had a great conversation with a guy that gave me a lot of hope.

Sunday was a great Sacrament meeting and fireside at the Oakland Temple. I drove home with Adriana and Brad on Monday. I had a great time, made a new friend Cheryl, and got out of town. I'd go again (just not on the bus tour...lol)!

Halloween 2008

Halloween just passed. I can't believe it's November already!!! Here are some Halloween memories from this year:
The Friday before Halloween I went to a Mid-singles dance in Santa Monica. I had a blast (which I don't normally have at church dances). I played Guitar Hero, watched a bit of Rock Band, did some karaoke, hung out with friends, and actually had a blast dancing.

This is my bestest of my best friends Jennifer (Jenn), my partner in crime, and keeper of all my darkest secrets...Not that there are many. I always have a blast around her. We call each other our significant other (until we find a man..haha). My mom can always tell when I'm on the phone with her because I'll be laughing my head off. We have a long history...friends in high school, 2 Ensemble tours, she got me my first job, we lived together, helped each other through divorces, are so opposite, yet here we are. Who would have thought.

More proof of the fun...Adriana, David, Me and Jenn!

Adriana is the newest to my flock of non-feathered friends. We went to San Francisco together in September for Mid-singles conference. But that's another blog...

David is just a guy in the background...lol!

The night before Halloween we carved pumpkins. We included Karina, my sister-in-law, Jonas, and me. Jonas wanted this really difficult wolf template, but Karina found a better one online. I did the pirate scull. They turned out really well. Thanks Karina!!!

Dave & Cindy (family by choice) went to Idaho last month and brought back that awesome pumpkin Karina carved. It was perfect with a nice big stem too.

This year we decided to not let the pumpkins go to waste. After carving pumkins all night, I separated all the seeds, rinsed them off, and soaked them in salt water. A few days later I baked them up and we all enjoyed them. We also boiled the jack-o-lanterns before they went bad. Now we've got tons of pumkin pulp. The one from Idaho was far superior than the one I got at the grocery store here. So far I've made pumpkin bread that turned out great (even if I left out the cinnimon). We ate a loaf, gave one to my cousin's family next door, and I took one to work.

OK...Halloween Day...

Jonas had all day celebrations at school and was pooped by the end. We went to Trunk-or-treating (going car to car in the parking lot) at church. I love that so much more than going house-to-house and then not being able to trust what was given to my child. There are so many more options when you celebrate with people you trust and really like. The kids were all so cute! Jonas was a Dragon this year (thank you Old Navy again). I didn't get great pics of the costume, but trust me, it was darn cute.

Later I'll post the video of his costume from last year.

Slow beginnings

So...I've had this blog for a while but never wrote anything. I'm feeling the pressure as I am a late adaptor and have many other sites that I participate in. Between Facebook, Myspace, LDS Link-up, three email accounts, other sites I part-time participate in, Do I have time for a blog? Could I do it well? Do I have anything positive to write or do I only have rantings of a frustrated single-mom in me?

We'll see...

I'll try adding a picture...

Yay! It worked.