Donations...for a great cause

So I am feeling conflicted about this post, but since it is my blog I can put on it what I want...right?

So the company I work for Rise, is having a bbq appriciation lunch in August for our foster families and the kids we support. I have to find people to donate either gift certificates to give as prizes, or things to eat at this bbq. I haven't had a lot of luck and am wondering if anyone has any contacts. It is a tax right off so maybe it wouldn't be a huge deal. Let me know. Thanks you guys are the BEST!!!

Family and the 4th

So I don't know if any of you know this, but I pretty much was born into the perfect family. What?? WHY??? HOW??? you ask....well because we are all so NOT perfect.

I LOVE my family, I love our differences, I love our similarities, I love that we all love each other. Its a pretty amazing thing when you think about it. We didn't always do this well together, but as we have gotten older we have gotten better. :)

My family is funny in that we are very much the type that if something bad happened the year before on a holiday or around a holiday its like we have to make it amazing the following year, and we did just that this year.

I went home on Wednesday night late and stayed up to watch a movie with my sister. Then Thursday my niece Narae got to have me all to herself. We watched some Ace of Cakes episodes (a favorite show of mine) And some Jon and Kate plus 8 (my other favorite show). Then the real treat was going to play at Wild Waters, just me and my Rae Rae girl. (Except for the whole swimsuit thing it was great.) And I didn't even get a bad sunburn. (first time for everything) :) We did whatever Narae wanted, it was truly a day for her. I hope she had as much fun as I did. After Wild Waters we went to dinner with the whole family. It was great. We went to Marie Callender's, and had yummy food and even yummier (is that a word??) pie. I love fresh strawberry pie. yum Then we all went to my sisters and hung out, played games etc.

Then it was the 4th. We got up kind of early and went and saw WALL E...I thought it was cute, my mom didn't so much. :) Then we had lunch, hung out, and then a YUMMY BBQ with my favorite macaroni salad...my moms is the BEST! We ate it the whole weekend, lets be honest we just ATE the whole weekend, I think I gained 5 more pounds. Then it was firework time. my mom lives really close to down town sparks so we just went to her place to watch them. They were pretty amazing.

Saturday was more fun....well I mean we still had more fun things to do.....We went miniature golfing early (it got pretty hot) Then we went and had lunch at a YUMMY Mexican restaurant. Then we went to ANOTHER movie, 2 in one weekend...I can't remember the last time I did that. Whew. GOOD Times.

Then Sunday was a nice relaxing day...church etc. All too soon it was Monday morning and I had to leave to come back to Utah and live my normal life.

I just want to thank my family for such an amazing and fun time. They ROCK. I sure do love them...wish Sparks wasn't so far away....

Growing up....

So whenever I make a big purchase or do some home improvement I say I am growing up. So this weekend I did some more growing up.....
I have been needing to upgrade a lot of things in my place. I of course as you all know did my hardwood floors a while ago. My next plan was to update the kitchen. But no I didn't get to do that yet. I instead got to get stuff to upgrade my "guest" bathroom. (Mindy's) So I went to Lowe's and bought a faucet, and a toilet. WHEW HEW. :)
The only problem is that i am a girl and I DO live on the 3rd floor. So we had to bring the toilet up...who you ask brought the toilet up...me and my roommate. It wasn't tooo terribly heavy, but THREE flights of stairs, that wasn't the smartest thing I could have done. Also it was really awkward trying to get it up. I have been scolded by a few of my guy friends already so don't scold me.
Don't worry I am NOT the person who is going to install it, I have paid for professional help. Sometimes it is worth it to spend a little money to make sure you don't have to spend a TON of money to fix the mistakes you make.
So I am growing up....wow sometimes I want to not grow up....but I guess it is for the best.

Race for the Cure

So this morning I did a good thing. I went and did the 5k Race for the Cure. There was 17,000 people signed up to run, walk, jog, be pushed in a stroller, wheelchair, or be pulled in a wheelbarrow.

It was so awesome to see SO many people out there. It is amazing to me how many people are affected by cancer. Everyone knows someone who was either affected personally or knows someone who was affected by it. And these people were doing it for a specific cancer. Its nice to be a part of something good.

My friend and I just walked it, but we did it and it was great. I love that there are so many opportunities to do something for others. It isn't much, but it is something. I am always wanting to do something but never sure what. So this is where it can start for me. It isn't much, but it is something.

"Olives and Dates"

Okay so last night I was doing a double date with a friend. I know first shocking thing is that I had a date. But that isn't the funniest part of the story. Please read on.....
We decided we were going to make Hawaiian haystacks. Now I am a purest...meaning i am boring and don't put all the things on the haystacks that others do. So I went to the store and got a few toppings....not enough....So I had to go BACK to the store (I went to a different store the second time) So I put another list together to get more toppings. (celery, bamboo shoots, and OLIVES) Plus some other things that I wanted.
There I am at the store searching for these items. OK first I wasn't REALLY going to get the bamboo things...I didn't think I would be able to find them, however as I was looking for the OLIVES and turned around and there was the bamboo shoots, since I saw them I got them. Then I was looking for the OLIVES. Up and down this one isle I thought for sure they would be. (during this time I was talking to my sister on the phone, so I was a little distracted). As I was going up and down this isle and I find funky olives (stuffed ones, flavored ones) NO BLACK OLIVES. So I went to look for the other things I needed and maybe I would find them after I was done finding everything else. I find all I need and still CAN NOT find the OLIVES.
I am back on the phone with my sister and she is telling me to just ask someone. At this point I can't find anyone TO ask so I am at my whits end. I have NO idea where these olives are. So I am going down that same isle that I found the funky olives at and I look up. (you know at the isle numbers and stuff) and right in the isle next to me up in the air there is the sign....ketsup, Mayonnaise, Chips, and at the bottom of this sign in huge letters: OLIVES. Yes its true, all i had to do was look up and the answer was right there.
I was SO glad I never found someone to help me....Oh the joy of being me. :)
So then we had our date. And the olives were a big hit....its a good thing i didn't just give up. And then I got to tell everyone about my Olive search. Fun times, we played monopoly...I have never been so go at that game before. Seriously I crushed everyone. AND the game didn't even last that long. I was the big winner. I actually felt a little bad about how I took all the money and they lost everything. I kept wanting to give them loans and not make them pay me. Its a sign I will never be rich.
For those of you wondering, no I did not find the love of my life last night. He was very nice and I had a good time, but nope no sparks. But at least I had a date, and at least I found olives. Really in life what more could you want then Olives and a date?

Update on job

So my friends have told me it would be nice if I actually updated this thing once in a while. So here it goes.....

I have been at my job for a little over a month. It is so awesome. The only thing I don't like about it is that I can't seem to keep staff for my weekend kiddo's. NO ONE wants to work weekends. I remember when I was younger I thought it would be great to work a weekend job...apparently people are spoiled now and no one wants to. (I do understand the Sunday, but NOT the Saturday) So I may have to start putting more of my weekends on hold (without pay) to take care of the shifts. I wouldn't mind it at all if I got paid...but it is just part of being a salaried position. :( But if that is the only complaint then this is a GREAT job. YAY!!!!

I really want to start selling Pampered Chef, but I am afraid no one will be able to have parties and then I won't make any money and then it won't be worth it. So now I am looking at other part time jobs (not that I have a ton of time, but I need a little more money). I don't think I have worked only one job at a time for more then 6 months since I have lived here in Utah....do you think that is a sign???

OK so there is the update on job life. Maybe I will post something again soon and it will talk about other aspects of my oh so important life. :)

Conference...Me being churchy...

So this weekend was conference....I love conference weekend...who wouldn't???

So the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had the privilege to sustain the NEW Prophet. What an amazing experience. The last time we got to do that was 13 years ago...I pretty much don't remember it. But it was amazing this time. I am sure it was last time too. :)

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for it in my life. I loved the words that were spoken, and I will strive to be better and apply the things I have learned this weekend. It is amazing that they do this every six months and we can have direction and counsel. It isn't really new things, but it is important things, and things we need to be reminded of. I love it....did I mention that I love it???