ONCE A YEAR

Why is it that I only see these friends once a year for our family dinner?!





Love them all so much!

SHOP ONLINE

I recently went to a bridal shower and what is the best thing about going to one of these parties? Watching the bride-to-be open kitchen gadget gifts, playing paper games printed off the web, or eating the mini eclairs? None of those (even though I do love mini eclairs).

It's listening to the 70 year old grandmas talk dirty and give presents full of sexy lingerie and chocolate body fondue. Maybe it's because they have been married for 50 years and have rights to give advice or just because the younger kids are embarrassed to go to the store and purchase these items, but these ladies just crack me up!

Quick solution: shop online and loosen up a bit. I'm not saying you have to sit around and talk dirty...just don't freak out when your house slippers pressie gets placed under a candy bra or something. Here's a place where you can do just that:



**PS don't open any of these links at work, in front of your parents, or on your iphone at church to avoid some potentially awkward situations**

CHRISTMAS VISIT

In December 2006, I was able to go with a wonderful bunch of college-aged people with the group Kaiizen to the El Sauzal Orphanage in Mexico. I had gone several times before just for weekend trips to play with the children living there and work on various service projects. This trip was special though. It was our Christmas visit. Many of us worked to fundraise money, went shopping for items we gathered from the children's wish lists, and wrapped the gifts. There were even a few brave guys who dressed as Santa and his elves.

After playing/working all day, it was time for Santa to bring presents! Volunteers stood in two lines facing each other and held hands to create a tunnel and after each gift was handed to the child whose name was on the tag, they went through the tunnel.

I am sure each child loved the present he/she received, however, I am more certain the look on their faces as they individually went through and received attention was priceless. The tunnel of love soon became a tradition in visits to come.

This experience helped me realize that because I have been given much, I too must give. I learned Christmas isn't just about singing carols, seeing lights, putting up decorations, making cookies, attending parties, and getting presents. Rather it is a time of reflection on the birth of the Savior, a time of celebration and generosity.

"The Grinch saw the good in Christmas when he learned to look past its worldly trappings. If we do the same, we can, with the Grinch, proclaim: “Maybe Christmas . . . doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!” (DIETER F. UCHTDORF, "Seeing Christmas through New Eyes," 2010 First Presidency Christmas Devotional)

Since that Christmas visit, I have learned to be a little more kind, a little more generous, and lot more grateful for the little things I have and the opportunity to share with others.

MAN, WE'RE PRETTY

My family just doesn't get together to take family portraits. I don't know why. The last time we were all together was in 2007 on a cruise for my parent's 100th wedding anniversary. Other than that...I think I took one with my brothers and parents when I was about..... 4 years old.

Being the best child my parent's were lucky enough to raise, I decided it would be a good Christmas present to get a shot of everyone together and put it on canvas for them (shh don't ruin the Christmas surprise).

This is what we came up with:

the whole gang

the original Watson clan

the Watson clan kids

grandkids

individual brother families

and baby Lola

Man, we're pretty.

Thanks to Torsten, Rudy, and Taylor for snapping the shots.

MR. PLOW

I want one of these when I grow up...


No, not the riding tractor, but a neighbor with one who will plow my yard.
Thank you so much, Mr. Plow...I was getting tired from shoveling.

HOLIDAY THINGS

These are a few of my favorite holiday things this year:

Santa knows...but it's always nice to put in a good word.

Nothing says Merry Christmas like a kindergarten karate program.

Her name is Lola and she's a...shopper.

Habitat for candy-manity.

TIS THE SEASON

...for really long lines at the post office.
God bless everyone (especially the really old lady I stepped up to help because people were getting angry at her for holding up the line at the self post-it machine)!

FLOWER DELIVERY MAN

I heard a knock on the door and when I answered it I saw a man holding a vase of flowers.
'I don't think I deserve flowers today, but what a special surprise for me!' was my thought.
The guy asked if I knew (insert neighbor girl's name) and if he could possibly leave her flowers at my house with a note at hers to come pick them up. Cruel cruel joke, Mr. flower delivery man.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

Some nieces and nephews slept over so we decided to decorate the Christmas tree at my parent's house that was sitting so bare in the front room. Still in our pajamas, itunes set to holiday music, two boxes of ornaments, and it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

GBP£850,000.00

My email won GBP£850,000.00 AND some kind sir/madam from Africa who had a family member pass on is willing to share their US $280,000,000 dollar inheritance with me (I'm just one western union wire away from it). What a lucky day and just in time for Christmas shopping!

Seriously email scammers...lose my address, please.

MAY I HAVE A WATER, PLEASE?

"What can I get you to drink?" is usually one of the first questions you hear when you sit down to eat at a restaurant. My answer is often water. I don't choose water because I am too cheap to buy a coke or other beverage; instead it is simply because I want water. However, sometimes I think the server seems to be less excited when they hear the phrase, "May I have a water, please?"

Don't worry, I'm still ordering food and you will get your tip. It's just that I'd rather have the healthier alternative than a soda.

THANKFUL

Around this time of year many people contemplate the things in their life that they appreciate. For this Thanksgiving holiday, I am thankful for my family. I love them. I especially love eating turkey and pumpkin pie with them.

On a different note, one thing that is too crazy for me and I might not be very thankful for this time of the year is Black Friday shopping. I don't understand why people need to wait in the cold weather at insane times in the morning or even all through the night to push each other and be rude to save a few dollars. I just don't get it.

LITTLE GIRL PROMISE

I have a dilemma: when I was 13, I made a pact with my friend that we would not watch rated R movies any more. I remember the last film I saw in the theater with that rating was True Lies. Since then, there have been several movies I have wanted to see, but have held off remembering the deal I made. Now, I have gone to some film festivals where there were no present ratings on shows and then later found out they were given the "R" rating and I have socially watched a few with friends not knowing (and probably falling asleep through) the rating. But for the most part, I have kept my promise.

It has been years since I have seen or talked with that friend and I have no way of knowing if she has kept or even remembers the commitment we made to each other. For that reason, many have told me it's ok to watch such films and that I'm being silly in my reasoning for turning down opportunities to see them because there are so many good ones out there I am missing. But I'm ok with it because, even though my friend from when I was 13 won't know if I see a film or not, I will know and want to be able to keep my word. Integrity is powerful and I want others to know they can trust I will do as I say and believe.


Back to the dilemma...once again, there is a film showing that I am kinda obsessed with called 127 Hours. It's a fantastic true story and I've heard provides a pictorial perspective of the state of Utah that is absolutely phenomenal (WATCH THE TRAILER!!). However, the film is rated R. Ugh. Should I forget the pact that may be silly and makes decisions for myself now since I'm a "big girl" in society's eyes or should I try to stay true to my "little girl" promise I made so many years ago.

AGE LIMIT

There isn't an age limit to jumping in a pile of fall leaves after raking them up, is there?!

TURKEY BOWLING

Thanksgiving is approaching so what do we do for fun around here?
We go bowling.
With turkeys.
And soda bottles.
Excellent.

DEAR RADIO DJ

Dear Radio DJ,
Since when did Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker become country singers?! Please get them off my radio stations. Yeehaw.
Thank you

DEFECTIVE

I bought some leggings just before I went to Czech and I noticed something wasn't right after washing them. When I came back to the states I tried to return them to the store, but they told me the brand had changed their logo and the specific leggings I bought weren't in the computer system anymore. I really just wanted to exchange them for another pair and didn't care what the logo on the tag looked like since they obviously were defective. The store employee told me no.


UMMM...is it just me that sees something wrong with these?!

STILL GORGEOUS

Even when everything is fading to brown for winter and construction orange can be seen for miles on most roads, my Utah is still gorgeous!

2 DOT COMs

#1 Seriously, I saw a commercial at the gym that directed me to go to www.getfreshwithafriend.com. Yeah...get fresh with a friend dot com. The company is Cottonelle and they want not only YOU to be able to enjoy Cottonelle Fresh® Flushable Moist Wipes, but also your friend. Interesting.


They even have this video with the description:
While washing the family mini-van, Debbie gets fresh with her friend Sam, and things take a hilarious turn.

#2 There was a coupon in the mail today for www.poopposse.com. Yep, if you need your yard de-pooped, then this is place to go. Because "You want to spend time playing with your dog, not cleaning up after him." Gross.

iPAD GIVEAWAY/GRASSROOTSCOUPONING.com

I just got a note from a friend about a 'daily deals / groupon ish' type site he is running in southern utah (buy $50 worth of xyz for $20...). He's asking me to help announce that it is launching this month- and he is giving away an Apple iPad to a random person who registers by Nov 11.

If you could post a link or something it would help him out...or, even better, sign up to win and get steals for yourself.
www.GrassRootsCouponing.com

SOMETHING MORE CONVENTIONAL

Do you ever think you have a clever Halloween costume and then get asked 100 times what you're supposed to be...realizing maybe you should stick to something more conventional.
It happened to Katy Perry and Elmo this year:






Come on, Elmo, don't you wanna play?!

COSTUME

I love Halloween because I enjoy trying to guess whether someone is in a costume or just normally dresses like that. Trick-or-treat!

SNACK POLICY

I took My niece and nephews to see Despicable Me last weekend. Let's just say, our "dollar theater" event turned into a $30 date. What?! I can't get enough of Phil Dunphy's philosophy on stadium snack policy.



We'll be taking our own hot dogs to the theater next time, goobers.

BUZZ CUT

"Mom, can we get my hair cut? It's in my eyes."
No reply. Five minutes later my sister-in-law walks into the kitchen and I hear, "Um...did you cut your own hair?!"


Problem solved.


...and now he's got a buzz cut.

THAT'S GONNA LEAVE A MARK

Hypothetically speaking...let's say
you find out the cute, flirty dude at the gym is actually married,
your darn cat gets sick on your new carpet and you have to clean it up,
there is an email in your inbox saying they chose someone else for the job,
and then this happens:
the little exercise thing from the chiropractor that hangs on the door flies off and hits you in the face.

That's gonna leave a mark.
If all that happens, I bet you could say it just isn't your week. And it's only Tuesday. Ugh.

IF LIFE GIVES YOU A GREEN PUMPKIN...

...paint a ninja turtle.
That's just what I did. As a group family home evening project, we were given pumpkins to paint. My table got one that was green on one half. So I painted Raphael's face on that part and some dudes helped by painting a shell on the back and two sai on the sides to make one awesome pumpkin in a half shell.