deanna time

YEAR OF THE DRAGON

2012-01-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

Thank you Chinese New Year for an excuse to eat fried rice today.

SAFE WINTER DRIVING

2012-01-26T11:09:00.004-07:00

As I was driving up Provo Canyon to the Sundance Film Festival last Saturday, Old Man Winter was working in full force. The snow was falling, visibility was diminishing, and the roads were quickly icing over. Never fear...I made it up safely (maybe with the help of a few prayers and in time to hang with the hottest celebs), but I saw numerous cars around me both north and south bound sliding off the road.

On the trip back home through Parley's canyon, winter storm warnings were in effect and drivers were advised to use caution if traveling. We made it down at a mighty speed of 25mph, while big trucks and so-called 4 wheel drive vehicles blew past us. I later saw many of those cars covered in snow banks and I even saw a Jeep on its side off the highway. I'm not gonna lie, I pictured myself sleeping in an ice cave a few times and was worried I didn't have a winter car safety kit in the trunk. But then I snapped out of it.

If you haven't seen this video of cars sliding and crashing on just one street in Bountiful, UT, that same day, you should check it out:

So now that the winter weather is finally here (the snow gods have heard your pleadings snowboarders/skiers), it's time to talk about safe driving tips. Because the way you drive not only affects your trip, but the trips of those around you.

On the Esurance Blog, I found some good driving tips that I thought I should share. It addresses the topics of ice/snow/hail, rain, floods, avoiding deer, and safe driving to get you to your destination (hopefully) without any problems.

On the post there is a list of items you should keep in your car in the winter. They call it a winter car kit and it includes:
1. A small bag of sand or cat litter to use under your tires for traction
2. A shovel to clear snow from around your tires
3. Tire chains or cables
4. A large flashlight and batteries
5. A blanket or sleeping bag (several if there are more than one or two people in the car)
6. Waterproof matches and votive candles with stable bases
7. Non-perishable food items (like high-energy protein bars, trail mixes with nuts, and raisins)
8. A coffee can, which can be used to melt snow for water if help is a really long time away

In addition to those items, you should carry the following items in your car year-round:
1. A first aid kit
2. A properly inflated spare tire
3. Jumper cables, signal flares, and other car emergency items

Don't worry, if you don't have those things in your car like me, you can buy pre-packaged roadside emergency kits with most of those items at the store.

Stormy weather happens EVERY year in Utah, so check out the post and let's be ready for it by driving safely.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Esurance blogging program for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

SUNDANCE 2012

2012-01-21T15:39:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again...time for the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT.

Utah's annual little Hollywood event.

There's plenty of parties to try to get in

cool schwag every where you go

Famous people walking down the street and celebrity gawkers

oh...and films to watch & producers to meet

UGG...THIS FASHION TREND MUST DIE

2012-01-19T12:10:00.002-07:00

I've mentioned this before, but why do girls insist on wearing pajamas with slippers or sweat pants with UGGs to the store?! It doesn't matter if the pants cost you $50 and say something pink across the butt, it looks bad. I guess they forgot to tell you in the catalog that those clothes are meant to be worn at home NOT in public.

Seriously, please help stop this tacky trend.

EASY CANVAS PRINTS GIVEAWAY

2012-01-11T22:01:00.002-07:00

I'm kinda obsessed with canvas lately. Not shoes or tote bags (although those are cool), but prints. Some of you may know I like to travel a little bit and I like to take photos. So I recently ordered some photos on canvas of my favorite spots (this one is Prague) to decorate my walls. I'm swooning. I have only printed one so far from the company Easy Canvas Prints, but don't worry another is on it's way! It was easy to create and the canvas was delivered to my house super fast.

The color quality is fantastic

Nice wrapped edges (you can choose from several border and thickness options)

You can choose to have it made with a wall hanger on back or with a stand (depending on whether you want to hang it on the wall or stand it on flat surfaces like desks or shelves)

You can also easily turn your typography, drawings, or digital artwork into canvas prints with step by step instructions and help from the site's design idea gallery.

If you go to the Easy Canvas Prints Facebook page and like them, you can get 50% off and free shipping on your order!

Anyone interested in winning a professional-quality canvas of your own?! The nice folks at Easy Canvas Prints have offered to give away an 8X10 to one awesome blog reader!

Just use the rafflecopter form below to enter. (Feel free to do as many entries as you like, but the more you do the more chances you get to win.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RESOLUTIONS

2012-01-08T16:16:00.003-07:00

I'm not the best at sending out holiday cards to friends. I either send them too late or too early just to avoid being late.

Two years ago I sent Valentine's Day cards, last year I sent Thanksgiving notes, and this year I had to adjust the prewritten wording a little and inform the recipients it wasn't a Christmas card but rather a New Year card with the resolution not to procrastinate anymore.

It's the thought that counts, right?!

GET SOME

2012-01-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

You can bet if I need some guns or ammo in the near future, I'm for sure going to buy it from this place:

Get some!

WHEN YOU'RE A CELEBRITY

2012-01-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

It seems as if celebrities marrying/dating celebrities doesn't really work out. So maybe you hollywood hunks should take me out on a date. Just a suggestion...

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HoHoHo....

2012-01-02T16:27:00.002-07:00

The holidays are over and the cheer is pretty much gone. It might be due to the long lines at the retail stores, people cutting you off to steal your parking spot, or places being sold out of the ONLY thing your special someone wants because you waited too long to buy it.

So I thought I'd share a few little treasures to brighten your spirits I noticed this holiday that added a chuckle to my season.

The very Cornhole Christmas at the festival of trees

The all too often seen shopping cart (exposed hairy butt crack) lean

Angry kitty in his santa shirt

And this one I saw on the customer service counter at a bookstore. Really?! This book has been red flagged...hope it doesn't end up in anyone's stocking.

POP FULL OF FUN

2012-01-01T21:26:00.001-07:00

What would make a night of babysitting 5 little ones more fun than watching Mr. Popper's Penguins together?

Watching Mr. Popper's Penguins while making penguin shaped ice cubes and eating popcorn!

Best auntie award goes to...ME...tonight.

There's A WHITE ELEPHANT In The Room

2011-12-21T23:15:00.001-07:00

One thing I despise about Christmas parties:

white elephant gift exchanges.

Ohmygosh, I have NEVER received a good prize from a white elephant gift exchange. NEVER. Honestly, at the last party I went to some of the prizes up for grabs were a roll of toilet paper, a box of matches, a poster size photo of a person at the party (who was not necessarily the model type), and a bag of cinnamon hard candies (you know the ones that your grandparents have had in their candy dish at their house for like 29 years because nobody wants them). Last year at one I took home an XL jock strap...I'm a girl. Why do people want to get together and trade crap? I don't understand and vow to never participate in another one.

GIFT CARDS

2011-12-21T22:54:00.001-07:00

Is there anyone on your list who is super hard to buy for? A person that either has everything or only wants items that are super expensive and there is no way you are buying them for them (even though you love them bunches...your bank account might night not be able to love them that much). For me these people are my dad and my brothers. Why my dad? Because it seems like he already has everything and I'm too old to still give him tacky ties and "World's Greatest Dad" mugs and t-shirts.

Or do you find you get lame presents from others? I mean, any present is nice and Christmas isn't just about giving/getting gifts. But it is part of the tradition and you know if you don't give any gifts you will be in BIG trouble. So instead of getting stuck with chia heads, the clapper, or some framed inspirational quote that gets stuck in your closet until you get invited to a white elephant party, why not give a gift card?!

I love gift cards because it let's me (or the person I give one to) choose what I want. Yes, what I really want. Then you don't have to hear about bad gifts for years to come. It also makes it easier for me because I don't have to try to be sneaky and ask about specific teams, colors, or sizes without giving it away that I'm buying that specific item for the person. Easy peasy. The only thing I have to worry about is selecting the cutest card.

You might be thinking giving a card is boring. But it doesn't have to be. You can put the gift certificate inside a greeting card, special card box, or reusable coin purse. Or you can be creative and hide the gift card inside something cool like a stuffed animal, a jacket pocket, or tie it around your dog and have the pooch run in and deliver it. One time I wrapped up the biggest box I could find (thankfully my parents had just bought a refrigerator) and then wrapped smaller boxes inside it and hid the gift certificate in one of them. It was like a big gift scavenger hunt and my friend LOVED it.

During the holidays, many restaurants offer bonus meals and gift cards for you to keep when you buy a card for your loved one (that's either a score for you to dine on or another pressie to give away for free). Join the Gift Cards Rock community on Facebook to learn more about great gift cards deals, share exciting tips, and enter amazing giveaways! *Gift Cards Rock is an online community for people who love to give and receive gift cards.

So next time you are struggling to find a gift, let your loved one get MY favorite present of a gift card and you're sure to make everyone happy.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Gift Cards Rock blogging program, for 6,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

I CAUGHT SANTA

2011-12-21T10:44:00.003-07:00

Imagine the look of wonder and surprise when a child receives a photo of Santa caught in the act in his or her very own home. iCaughtSanta.com is a unique website that helps visitors create those memorable keepsake photos.

In just 3 simple steps anyone can upload a holiday photo, add Santa Claus, and print it as proof… or share it via Facebook and Twitter. Last-minute shoppers can purchase Gift Cards and eGift Certificates for friends with children, making iCaughtSanta.com a great gift idea even if you don't have kids or are a big kid yourself.

Merry Christmas!

BONUS: The folks at icaughtsanta.com have offered a 50% off code for you! Just enter: SANTA50 and get your entire order for 1/2 price.

THE JOYS OF HOLIDAY SHOPPING

2011-12-20T18:07:00.002-07:00

I don't really like shopping. Add the holidays and I really don't like shopping!

Things I wish I could get rid of:

1. People wearing sweats or pajamas with their slippers to the store. Remember when your parents were young and they dressed up when going out in public. I kinda wish those days were back. There is nothing wrong with wearing sweats, as long as you are at home (even if you spent $50 on them and they say something cute on the butt). I don't care if you are catching a red eye flight or midnight movie...it's time to get dressed.

2. Store employees munching away on food while at work. I know everyone has to eat, but that is why you are given breaks/lunches/dinners. It totally grosses me out to see someone chomping on pizza then try to shake my hand or hold merchandise they want me to buy.

3. Big trucks driving in the fast lane. I am aware we need them to deliver goods for us to purchase (or maybe they are the construction trucks here in Utah), but please don't create road blocks by driving in all 3 lanes.

4. Some people are capable of working retail and some are not. I am not. I've tried, but I cannot stand customers who make messes in the store because they think someone else can clean up after them. Have some respect! In the words of Depeche Mode "People are people," so what makes you better than a store employee?! Nothing...so quit acting like it.

OK that's all. Happy Holidays!

GINGERBREAD BUILDINGS

2011-12-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

Nothing says Christmas is coming like an annual gingerbread house design competition at Brother Tim's house.

Some were serious about building winning houses

Some created junkyards

And some were more interested in eating the candy

But all of us had a good time!

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AT TEMPLE SQUARE

2011-12-18T13:54:00.001-07:00

If you've never been to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, UT, you are missing out.

If you've never been to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights, you are REALLY missing out.

It'll make all of your Christmas light dreams come true.

The light display is usually turned on the Friday after Thanksgiving and off on Jan 1 (the new year).

UM...BRELLA

2011-12-17T13:38:00.001-07:00

I hate umbrellas. Why? Because most people don't pay attention to others around them when they use one. Yeah, you, with the umbrella who keeps hitting things when you walk by. And you who tries to share and hits my head and almost pokes my eye out. Please, if you can't use an umbrella responsibly, don't use one at all...maybe just buy a rain coat.

DECORATIVE CEILING TILES

2011-12-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

I've been a good friend lately (I'll blame it on the holiday season). A friend asked me to help them move recently. They said they would get ready the night before and then asked if I could come over the next morning to help them load a truck. I was there in the morning and nothing had been packed. So not only did I help box up their stuff, but I also helped load the truck, drive the stuff over, and unload the truck at the new apartment. Ahem.
Anyway, I was then asked to help give decorating ideas on the new place. I helped find a cool clock and then I discovered the coolest thing. DECORATIVE CEILING TILES. These are the coolest things! You can of course use the drop ceiling tiles as tiles for your ceiling, but they also look good by themselves on a wall as decoration.

The faux tin ceiling tiles are easy to install.

For my indoor photography friends, they make super cute backdrops you should check out.

And I got a foam tile from them that I plan on using my artistic abilities (along with some paint) to make a cool art piece. I'll post an update about that one later.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

CHRISTMAS MOMENTS

2011-12-15T14:53:00.001-07:00

Is it just me who automatically replays the talent show scene from the movie Mean Girls with the red fuzzy santa outfits EVERY time you hear the song Jingle Bell Rock?
Or who wants to buy something similar to that lingerie piece in the movie Elf and give it as A Gift for that Special Someone?
It happens every Christmas for me.

Well, I've found the perfect outfits to recreate both scenes from EdenFantasys. Seriously, if you are looking for a cute Santa outfit to wear for a party or just to make your holiday more festive, you should check these out:

The Santas Sweetie dress is perfect as can be

this santa apron can also be worn over your clothes while you prepare your holiday treats to add a festive touch.

There is a search box at the top of the site page where you can enter your keyword (like Santa), hit Go, and then you will be directed to these cute outfits and much more holiday fun. The site is super easy to navigate through (just be careful who is around when you search because other things might pop up that aren't intended for certain eyes). Hurry and order before the season passes you by!

This post brought to you by EdenFantasys, an online sex toys retailer...you've been warned.

9/11

2011-11-29T19:34:00.001-07:00

What's a girl to do with a 10 hour layover at JFK

besides eat pizza

by really tall buildings

that isn't a waste of time (ah jeez, people).

I grabbed some tickets to the 9/11 memorial preview site

I remember being in the city for NYE 2000 and taking photos of the twin towers in this spot.

9/11 Memorial - World Trade Center - North Pool - Ground Zero

South Pool

Kiosks that allow visitors to look for location of names at the memorial pools.

These signs posted outside the construction zone pretty much sum up the feeling you get from visiting the site. God bless America, the innocent who lost their lives, and the heros who protect our country.

FENWAY PARK

2011-11-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

There was one place in Boston we didn't visit yesterday that was on my list so we went back today.

Fenway Park...America's most beloved ballpark.

Home of the Boston Red Sox.

This is what it looks like during the off-season.

Celebrating 100 years in just a few months.

Green monster seats

oldest seats in the house

We were able to tour the park (Yankees jokes included in price)

I was almost as excited as Jimmy Fallon's character in the movie Fever Pitch.

POLITICS

2011-11-27T17:27:00.001-07:00

It seems Bostonians are very serious about their political stance.

I found this bench inside an Uno (PS I know I'm not in Chicago, but their deep dish pizzas are pretty much AMAZING).

In town I found this gem.

I didn't stand here...

instead I rode the donkey.

Still not sure which party that is in favor of though.

**No democrats or republicans were hurt in the photographing of this event**

An afternoon in BEAN TOWN

2011-11-26T18:56:00.003-07:00

A quick morning trip to Boston, Mass, brought us this fun in Beacon Hill:

A stop at the Cheers bar. Where nobody really knew my name (except the people I walked in with).

Really old statues

History

(Paul) Revere bells

surviving brick walkways in heels (how'd the pioneers do this?!) at the Faneuil Hall marketplace.

to see New England's largest holiday tree

and dine on tasty treats.

(cannoli from Mike's Pastry, Celtic carmel hot chocolate, and Bruegger's Bagels)

Perfection.

THANKFUL

2011-11-25T09:02:00.002-07:00

This thanksgiving I'm thankful for my family in New Hampshire.

And for heated blankets and slippers...it sure is cold on this side of the country!

*Oh, and for you...because you read my blog.

BLACK FRIDAY CAMP OUT

2011-11-20T16:11:00.000-07:00

Remember when it seemed ridiculous for people to wake up at 4am to get the doorbuster deal at stores the day after Thanksgiving?

Next, when it seemed ridiculous for the lines to start at 2am?

Then, when camping out overnight was ridiculous?

But many of us did it.

Well, I have a new ridiculous: this photo was taken last night...5 nights before the "Black Friday" sale doors open. Seriously?!

What is in that ad that could be more important than being with your family for a week and enjoying a Thanksgiving day feast?

PARAGLIDING

2011-11-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

Want something fun to do if you're not at the theater this weekend battling lines to see the latest sparkly vampire movie? Try paragliding.

There was a hawk flying with us. How many times have you looked down on a hawk?! It was incredible!

Hello Draper Valley

Coming in for a landing

Thank you Cloud 9 Toys for fun-filled, incredibly windy morning with a new perspective.

(UT LOCAL) GOOD EATS

2011-11-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

Once in awhile, I like a good eat. Here are a few delicious items I have recently found and want to share with my Utah pals.

1. Charlie's Hotdog King - Orem, UT

For those of ya'll who like a good hotdog, I recommend the Panini dog (not pictured).

2. Beyond Glaze - Draper, UT

I like bacon. I like donuts. Why not combine them with some maple frosting?! If that doesn't sound like it's your bag, there are plenty of other pretty and yummy tasting donuts to choose from.

3. Ridley's family market bakery - your local grocer, UT

Three words: coconut pecan cookies. Best I've ever had.

EBATES

2011-11-10T12:14:00.003-07:00

If you're going to do your shopping online anyway, why not get rewarded for doing it?!
On top of using your rewards credit cards, you can sign up with ebates. All you have to do is choose your favorite store (GAP, Victoria's Secret, Sports Authority, Apple store, Toys R Us, Walmart, etc - there are over 1,200) and you will be directed to a page with coupons and links to that store. Click a link and you will be directed to your store where you can shop away like normal! As long as you go to the store through a link from this page, you will be eligible for cash back (and right now is the season for double cash back!) So hurry and join. Click the logo below or this link here.

There are no rebate forms to fill out, no points or miles to redeem, and you get paid in cash.
You get access to over 5,000 online coupons and free shipping offers which are updated daily.
Cash back on clothing & accessories, electronics, travel, books, games & toys, baby supplies, appliances, and more.

Join for free today and you'll get a bonus $10 gift card!

**I've honestly used this site and have received 2 checks already. It's not like winning the lottery, but any money earned by getting my normal purchases is worth the savings!

LOVE TO EAT

2011-11-02T17:55:00.004-06:00

Ever since high school, I have loved holidays and reasons to party. My friends and I would plan the party from decorations to entertainment, and most importantly...FOOD.

Celebrating fun times with yummy treats is what I'm all about! My sister-in-law is super fun this way too. We have had gingerbread house making competitions, decorated caramel apples a few weeks ago for Halloween, and green eggs and ham for St. Patrick's day. We don't have to feel bad about our treats because they look cute and are pretty healthy!

I found this cool book called Real Moms Love to Eat. It's written by SocialMom and certified health counselor Beth Aldrich. The book is written with an easy-to-follow 10-part plan for moms (and cooks alike) to implement to make gradual, life-long changes in their approach to food. I've spoken with so many friends who want to cut their kids from fast food "happy meals" or give healthy snacks instead of candy as treats to their young ones.

Eating healthy isn't just a phase, it should be a lifestyle change. You can learn how the food you eat affects your body. Don't worry...you won't have to start eating cardboard and water! I believe there is no reason to not eat foods you like. It is possible to do that and still look fabulous...and this book offers teaches you how to do that by providing tips, recipes, and 21 days of meal suggestions! I have to say the recipes look delicious.

I have looked over the tips and they are simple and useful for both those who have hours to cook or need something fast because they have 1 billion other things to do (like soccer practice, violin, laundry, cleaning, etc etc etc.) So the Watsons can still have gangs of fun celebrating every holiday and trying out new festive foods and not feel guilty!

For fellow bloggers, Beth has a unique Food Affairiate program. For more information and ways to win prizes go here.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Beth Aldrich - Real Moms Love to Eat blogging program, for a chance to get 3,000 My SocialMoms Rewards points. For more information on how you can participate,click here.

POTTY TIME

2011-10-29T20:21:00.001-06:00

I'm not sure, but I think they just called me fat.

Seriously. why is the ladies so much bigger?

ZOMBIE LAND

2011-10-26T07:53:00.003-06:00

It's been awhile since I've been to a Provo Meetup photo shoot. Lots of dead people at the salt flats just in time for Halloween.

SPELL CHECK

2011-10-25T16:19:00.000-06:00

North Orem needs to spell check themselves before they wreck themselves. Yikes.

Interchangeable Beaded Watch GIVEAWAY (ChunkyBling.com) - CLOSED

2011-10-24T14:59:00.003-06:00

Remember when I wrote this post about buying a watch while in the Czech Republic because I wanted to exercise my brain? Well, I loved that watch while I was traveling, but now I have found a new place to get a watch that will also allow me to match it to my wardrobe (when I'm not living out of a suitcase and have a few more options to wear).

It's an online shop called ChunkyBling.com. Chunky Bling started out in northern California and recently relocated to Utah (shout out for my local readers).

What I'm saying is instead of wearing the same boring watch each day, you can shop here for an interchangeable watch and change your style as often as you like.

Let me explain it a little:

The first step is to choose an interchangeable watch band. You can choose from pretty much any color and 3 styles (casual, funky, or elegant).

The Second step allows you to choose an interchangeable watch face. Again you have lots of color options and the faces range in size small, medium, or large.

Easy peasy.

They also offer cute Swarovski rings, charm cluster necklaces, and mother's birthstone bracelets (perfect gift just in time for Christmas).

COUPON CODE:

The nice people at ChunkyBling.com have offered to giveaway an interchangeable beaded watch to one of my readers. The winner may choose any combination of band and face!

If you can't wait for the giveaway to end, you can use the coupon code DEANN286 to get any watch set for just $24.95 until November 14, 2011. This is a really good deal!

IDAHOsers

2011-10-23T23:59:00.001-06:00

I took a quick little vacation with the parental unit to McCall, Idaho.

Cool finds on the drive

Hanging out with the locals

Took a scenic drive though Hells Canyon

Crossing the last dam in Hells Canyon

Visited Gold Fork hot springs

4th annual McCall Pumpkin lighting festival

Shoshone Falls

Evel Knievel Snake River Gorge jump site

Nearly didn't make the hike...

Creepy friends found on the path (I almost peed my pants trying to get close enough to take this photo.

WallQuotes.com by Belvedere Designs

2011-10-22T22:31:00.002-06:00

These are the walls of my dear friend. No, he did not just move in. Boring, isn't it?!

I suggested to add some Vinyl Wall Art or Wall Decals. The only question now is where to find them. I discovered WallQuotes.com by Belvedre Designs.

They have super cute designs that are totally affordable, easy to apply (tool included), and customizable (color/size). They have Vinyl Wall Quotes (for every room of your house) and Wall Art that are pre-designed or you can create your own custom Vinyl Lettering. How cool is that?!

Here are some examples of my favorites:

I know what you're asking because we had the same thoughts...

Will vinyl wall quotes damage the paint or texture on my walls? No.

Can I put vinyl wall words on textured walls? Yes.

Does the company have a guarantee? Yes.

Does Belvedere Designs ship internationally or to a PO Box? Double yes.

Are these totally fun to have on your walls? Of course!

Side note: They even have the ever-so-popular Custom Vinyl Family Stickers available for your car. Check em out.

If you love these Wall Quotes, you can also check them out on facebook and their blog for special discounts and fun contests. Another bonus: you have a chance to win a $50 gift certificate in their monthly contest by submitting photos of your wall quotes.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

UP House

2011-10-12T12:25:00.004-06:00

I recently discovered there is a house in Herriman, Utah, that was built to resemble the house imagined for the Disney Pixar movie Up. So I watched the movie (I'm a little behind) and headed over to see it.

When I say it is just like the house (which plays a key role in the movie), I mean pretty much EVERY detail you can see is recreated.

Not all rooms were shown in the movie and had to be created.

The furniture, handrails, CLOSETS, retro kitchen appliances, home theater room...this place is beautiful on the inside and if you don't mind the pastel colors on the exterior you could live in it. That's right, it's for sale. If you have a spare $400,000 in your pocket, you can own the Up house.

Directions: Going northbound on Bangerter Highway, turn left on 126th South. Travel straight for a few blocks. Turn left at the light at Herriman/Main Street. You'll pass a rec center and school and if you keep an eye out on the left hand side, you'll see the brightly colored house. Turn left and the house is on the right on the corner.

LAUGHING GAS

2011-10-10T12:40:00.001-06:00

I have a new dentist who offers laughing gas to patients at no extra charge.
Deanna on gas can get a little funny...and I've been visiting him a lot lately.

1st visit
Dentist to assistant: I need a diamond.
deanna: A diamond?!
Dentist: it's a drill.
deanna: a grill?! Like a black person?!
*The assistant said she would make a note in my file to not give me gas on my next visit.

2nd visit
After leaving the office, I went through a 2 hour series of laughing hysterically and then crying (tears included) because I didn't know why I was laughing. I'm pretty sure that happened 5 times. I might have even walked into a wall or two trying to walk out of the office.
*The dentist told me he gave me 15% more oxygen and turned it on earlier to bring me back to normal faster.

3rd visit
*A new assistant asked if I wanted the gas. My head said no, but my mouth told her yes.
The dentist put some sort of rubber piece over my mouth which I later found out is called a rubber dam.
deanna: Is that a whoopee cushion on my face?
assistant: No, it's just there to help keep things from getting in our work space.
deanna: Ok...so why is there a whoopee cushion on my face?

*The new assistant said she's never seen it affect someone as much as it does when I come in. Lucky me!
I have at least one more visit coming up. I'll let you know how it goes.

EVERY HEAD NEEDS A GOOD PILLOW

2011-10-08T16:22:00.039-06:00

I just can't shake this root canal thing so the dentist keeps giving me medicine that makes me sleep. A LOT. I learned that the root of the tooth hangs out near the sinus line so I decided to try bedding for allergies to make my situation a little more bearable. I was told my pillow was a truly allergy free pillow, made with a shell using the certified 100% cotton Allersoft. Trust me, good sleep comes when you have a good pillow!
Quality benefits of the allergy pillow are:

With a mean flow pore size diameter of 5 microns, this fabric is one of the most effective barriers against pet dander, dust mites, bed bugs and other harmful allergens.

A much tighter weave and higher thread count offers the best in durability from laundering.

4 oz per square yard with 280 threads stitched per square inch.

Air permeability reading of 5 which indicates a wonderfully cool fabric.

All covers are sewn with a "safety" double stitch and at least 12 stitches/inch.

Latex free

Hypoallergenic polyfiber fill with no added chemicals

Machine washable

I received the product mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

LASER HAIR REMOVAL...LAME

2011-10-03T18:44:00.000-06:00

I'm pretty sure laser hair removal is a scam (unless, of course you work at a place and can do it to yourself 1,724 times).

Instead of calling it laser hair REMOVAL, it should be called laser hair it will probably just take longer to grow back.

LAME.

CELL PHONES & FREE MP3s

2011-09-29T16:36:00.005-06:00

It is NOT ok to cut me off or drive like a dummy while you're talking on your cell phone. I'm a girl, but I must report this has been done to me recently by SEVERAL girl drivers. Quit talking and PAY ATTENTION, please.

Ahem...

It is OK, however, to listen to sweet tunes while you're driving. So why not go Amazon free MP3 page right now where you can use the code FALLMP3S to score a FREE $2 credit to download some sweet tunes (which can go straight into your iTunes if you wish).

YELLOWSTONE

2011-09-26T23:46:00.003-06:00

I arrived in Utah after 3 flights from Prague, slept a few hours, and then jumped in the car for a road trip to Yellowstone. Why not?!

Who usually always has a camera with her at all times?
THIS GIRL.

Who had this new lens waiting for her at home upon her arrival?
THIS GIRL.

Who got in the car and started driving without her camera?
Sadly...THIS GIRL.

I'll blame it on Mr. Jetlag...even though he didn't have much on me this time around.
So here is my version of Yellowstone via Android camera phone.

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Petrified National Park monster

Why'd the Buffalo cross the road?

Not all Tetons are Grand...taken in Grand Teton National Park.

SCHOOL CARNIVAL

2011-09-26T13:02:00.002-06:00

"Who knew the carnival could be so much fun?!"

Yes, Jacq spent her entire $10 carnival punch card on sweets. Look at that cotton candy beard!

Brother Tim and I couldn't resist the sno cones

And I think Alexander and Barrett came home with 4 goldfish.

Thank you Northridge Elementary PTA for the awesome school carnival!

MIXBOOK

2011-09-13T08:12:00.002-06:00

I'm cute. Why do I say this? Because I make a souvenir photo book for my Czech family every summer I come to visit. The family doesn't take nearly as many photos as I do...I bet a lot of people don't if you want the truth...so they love to get these little gems in the mail from me. AND GUESS WHAT...it's just about that time for me to head back to the states.

Back on subject, ahem, you don't like to scrapbook? Well, neither do I. But I found this site called mixbook that makes it so easy to create these masterpieces. You can choose to create your own or do as I do and load photos into an existing template (digital scrapbook type of thing). I really only upload photos, drag them where I want them to go, and then I'm done. Mixbook does all the work, my CZ family gets all of the memories, and I get all of the credit. Easy peasy and the quality is fantastic.

To find out more about Mixbook, you can check them out on Facebook, twitter, or email subscribe. Hint: They often send out exclusive discount codes like 20% off your first order or free shipping (trust me free shipping to Europe saves me a bundle).

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

UKRAINE. Ikraine. Weallkraine...for at least a weekend

2011-09-12T16:23:00.002-06:00

I had a free weekend and an invitation to visit Ukraine...so I took it, naturally.

Things I will carry with me from Kiev:

Their letters are funny, but their bathrooms are even funnier.
(I'm a girl; I do NOT stand to use a toilet.)

*The girls are pretty and seem to have flawless skin. I mean no fine lines or wrinkles anywhere. It's probably because they never smile.

*The men are cute, but their Russian sounding accent and the nonchalant way they talk makes them seem shady.

*If you have the chance to take public transportation and aren't very religious, you might want to start praying. It's an adventure!
-The conductor who collects your money for a ticket is allowed to say rude things to you.
But you are allowed to be rude right back.
-Men will not offer their seat to an older woman. Heck, he might even push her out of his way to get the seat.
-You must yell at the driver if you want him to stop at a bus stop.
-The driver sometimes takes payment and gives change while driving.
-You don't necessarily have to be all the way in the bus or have the doors closed before the driver will pull away from a stop.
-If you get in his way, the driver WILL honk at you.
-There are many times the bus jerks as the driver is shifting gears or slams on the breaks because he isn't watching and almost hits something/someone.

*Ukrainian eggs aren't for eating, but borscht is good any time of the day.

*If you drive a car in the city, you are pretty much allowed to park anywhere you want
(yes, these cars are on the sidewalk and in a crosswalk) and you should learn the Ukrainian words for both "traffic jam" and "road rage."

*Be prepared to be WOWed by fantastic rooftops (which for some reason made me want to eat Hershey's kisses), grand statues, lots of gold, and beautiful panoramic views!

EDENFANTASYS GIVEAWAY - CLOSED

2011-09-07T00:01:00.007-06:00

Remember a few years ago when I am pretty sure my Czech family thought I was crazy for cutting up my umbrella to make "bat wings" for halloween?!

Well, it's that time of year again! You don't have time to make a costume? Well, may I suggest looking at costumes at EdenFantasys.

WARNING: Other things besides costumes might pop up when you click the link so make sure you hide little eyes or don't click em at your mom's house. Fair enough.

Back on subject, ahem, I personally think this flapper costume is super cute and you can put a tshirt underneath if you think it's too risky for your church party in the gym.

Please give me your honest opinion... I am considering getting this one for myself:

It reminds me of the musical CATS and I am SO intrigued by Broadway shows right now (let me know if you want to plan a trip to NYC or London any time soon).

I also bought an old military hat in Germany that would go great with this army mini skirt.

You might be thinking "I'm not buying my costume from this online shop because I don't want anyone to know where I got it." Have no fear...it will come in a discreet box with NO huge return address labels. You can take advantage of $5.95 flat shipping or get free shipping on all orders over $59.

Want to win a $25 gift card to get your own costume?
Use the Rafflecopter below to enter.

FUNNY STORE SIGNS

2011-09-06T13:58:00.002-06:00

Sometimes I think I'm funny. Really funny actually. But I'm guessing these store signs won't make you laugh as hard as I did.

First, I don't want to shop in any store called stress. There is also a HUSKY outdoor shop and never, I repeat never, do I want my name and the word husky to be used in the same sentence...even if it is just about the store I walked by one time.

This will be where I shop one day after I grab hot wife status.

This one gets me giggling every summer I come to visit. (And it was a snowbitch for me to get the words in this shot without me covering them...took a few tries.)

VEGAS anyone?!

2011-09-03T15:14:00.002-06:00

Check this out:
This deal gets 4 days and 3 nights at the Luxor or Stratosphere Hotel and a free sightseeing tour to the Hoover Dam (buffet lunch included) for only $99.

Why such a good deal? It's a coupon site called Plum District. You know, it's kinda like Groupon and City Deals. By clicking this code:

http://www.plumdistrict.com/three_for_free/a76f6c4b47/click

you'll get $5 off and you can use promo code: fabulous to get an additional 15% off (this makes your total like $84 and change.) But you only have 3 days to purchase this deal.
SO who wants to go to Vegas?!

BEES LIKE BEER

2011-09-02T23:07:00.000-06:00

What do you do if you have a big wasp problem in the Czech Forest? Give them (pivo) beer.

So we put out containers with a beer mixture as a trap.

Who knew it'd work?!

I swear I even found a few tipsy pests flapping around outside the bucket...they must've grabbed a drink and escaped.

So next time you have a wasp/bee problem, give them beer...they love it and it'll get them to stop bothering you!

Pâté

2011-08-29T07:30:00.003-06:00

It is just me, or does anybody think paté looks and smells like canned cat food. (I've never tasted either so I can't adds tastes to the list thank goodness).

Toast and paté?
Thanks, but I think I'll just stick to yogurt for breakfast.

UPDATE:
**To be fair (to an inanimate object and my readers), I tasted it. It's bad...and not bad as in good.**

HEELYS

2011-08-25T02:29:00.000-06:00

*What's a Heelys?
They are a pair of stylish shoes. But wait...pop in some wheels in the heel and your Heelys shoes transform into a pair of stealth skates.

*How easy are Heelys to use?

You can easily transition from a walk to a roll by shifting the weight to the heel. Then you can turn them into street shoes by removing the wheels.

Once you get the basics down, (it might take a few tries, but you will get it) you can start doing tricks to WOW your friends.

For those concerned with safety, Heelys provides you with a safety playbook to follow.

*Why Heelys?
1. They just look stylish (there are so many options with colors, laces vs velcro, number of wheels, etc).
2. They are tough shoes that will last a lot longer than others through the roughness this boy can provide them.
3. It's a cool way to get the kids out of the house (and give the electronics a break) for some exercise.

*What did Heelys do for us?

INSTANT COOLNESS!

for Max: they made him the envy of his brothers and friends on the block.

for me: since I chose to give these shoes to Max, I got favorite aunt status (LOVE that).

**Heelys do not come with an official instant coolness guarantee**

*Want a pair for a little one you know or one for you (yes, they come in adult sizes too)?

Heelys is throwing a Labor Day/Back-to-School special!! Between Sept 2-Sept 5, Buy one pair of Heelys, get the second pair for only $30!

*Where do I find Heelys?

http://shop.heelys.com

www.facebook.com/heelys

www.twitter.com/heelysworldwide

www.youtube.com/heelysworldwide

I received no monetary compensation for this review. I received a product sample for the purpose of my review. All opinions expressed are mine--all mine. Thank you B2B and Heelys.

BLOWING GLASS

2011-08-23T13:24:00.002-06:00

Another weekend in the forest. So what did we do to keep it interesting? William and I went to a glass house and made hanging glass ball things (I don't really know what else to call them).

Mauth Germany is the home of Glasbläser kunst...a small shop where you can buy various handmade glass items OR with the help of Pavel and Vaclav, you can blow your own souvenir glass ball for 9 euro.

Here we are creating our masterpieces:

The final products

*Granny didn't go with us, but she wanted to hold my ball for a photo. And yes, she isn't wearing any pants. Love her.

MATERNITY LEAVE

2011-08-22T13:38:00.003-06:00

Just a little interesting fact for my readers who are moms or might want to be moms:

A lot of Czechs are stay-at-home-mothers. Why? Because they get 3 years maternity leave. Yes, you read correctly, and I didn't make a mistake in my translation from Czech to English on this topic. 3 YEARS! So you can have 3 children within 3 years of each other and get 9 years of paid maternity time.

Who wants to move to the Czech Republic now?

POSER PROBLEM

2011-08-20T17:33:00.000-06:00

I have a problem:
Photos of "things" are nice, but photos of me or a person I know with said "things" add so much more value sometimes.

Example:
creepy lady statue

Posing like creepy lady statue

(kinda love this)

LAY OVER BONUS

2011-08-20T16:35:00.003-06:00

We had the option to get a flight ticket from Riga to Prague with a 10 hour layover to see Warsaw Poland or have just barely enough time to change planes and be on our way. So we decided to stay and check it out.

Warsaw in a nutshell:

I'd describe this town as old meets new (it was practically rebuilt after being destroyed in WWII)

Kielbasa (eating Polish sausage in Poland)

Tomb of the (polish) unknown soldier & lots of war monuments

Swanky things that made MY day a little brighter at least (with lots of random nuns walking around town)

And my new favorite shopping mall

(beautiful design and furniture inside, fantastic architecture outside, and a 2-story H&M)

Another 1 hour flight, local bus, student agency bus from Prague to Plzen, tram ride, 2 block walk...and the trip was officially over. Think I'm going to stay at home for a day or two!

THERE ARE A LAT-VIA THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THIS CITY

2011-08-20T15:55:00.001-06:00

After enjoying a complimentary breakfast of green water, cheese, toast with jam, and ham slices, our final bus ride together took us to Riga Latvia. After a mere 4 hours, we arrived in Riga. I was in love. I am pretty sure I said, "This is beautiful!" about every street I looked down. It's just simply amazing and was my favorite place of the trip by far.
We had the best food

Fantastic markets (glad we didn't get shot by some strong Russian speaking man)

Wonderful mosaic art

Fabulous buildings

Fantastic stuff

I think I could go on and on about this city. Riga is definitely a must see place (even if you have never heard of Latvia before)!

TAKING IT TALL-INN

2011-08-20T14:59:00.003-06:00

Instead of sleeping in Vilnius, I had the brilliant idea of taking a night bus to Tallinn Estonia. I mean, we only had 4 days and I wanted to get 4 countries under our belts. A little less than the first bus; this bus ride was only 9 hours long (9pm-6am). Perfect. Unless you have unruly bus drivers who insult you in other languages, but we won't go into that.
TALLINN
We found exercise equipment in the local park (interesting)

Sat on lots of statues/monuments/cool finds around the city

Enjoyed breakfast (which felt like dinner because we arrived in the city so early) with a cute British couple at the Boca Pott cafe (loved that).

Learned that you WILL get pushed out of the way of an 83 year old lady if you take too long in line at the market.

Slept in a bed for the first time = heavenly.
I enjoyed this city just a tad bit better than the first.
Thank you Estonia.

BALTIC COUNTRIES

2011-08-20T13:59:00.001-06:00

You might think I'm crazy for passing up option #1 in the previous post, but my pal Katherine who went on the journey with me was already in Italy and had seen some stops I wanted to visit so I didn't want her to have to repeat.

Here goes my Baltic journey to see 4 countries in 4 days:

Day #1

Student Agency bus from Plzen to Prague to meet Kat.

20 hour bus ride which stopped at THE WORST toilet facilities along the way. (Side note: I'm pretty sure western european women pee standing up because I have no idea how else the toilet seat gets sprayed with urine EVERY time I found one).
Made it to Vilnius Lithuania.
Learned they LOVE their basketball right now

Took photos outside and inside the cathedral square

Hiked a hill to the 3 crosses for a wonderful view of the city (and nearly died along the way)

Danced around the city center.
Bought certified baltic amber souvenirs.
Ordered Kvas, tasted kvas, and learned to never get kvas again...with no help from the waitress at all.

Great day Vilnius.

CHOICES

2011-08-18T17:09:00.002-06:00

I found myself with 4 days free, a friend to accompany me, and 2 options:

1) fly on a private jet to Tuscany, have a personal driver take us to Florence, and then enjoy the rest of the time discovering Italy on our own using local transportation and eating gelato with plenty of sunshine

OR

2) take a 20 hour bus to visit countries most people might not know where they are on a map or possibly that they existed in the first place (Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia) with 2 other long bus trips in between and possibly chance of rain showers for a good part of the trip

Which do you think I chose?

PRAGUE AQUAPALACE

2011-08-12T01:04:00.001-06:00

The next episode of 'What NOT to Wear' should stop by the Prague aqua park. I have never seen so many horrible man thongs in one place.

You might spot hairy legs, bikini tops that touch the bikini bottoms (due to lack of support or high waisted bottoms), and suits with no liner whatsoever on the women. OHGOSH.

But all in all, besides the 1 outdoor concrete water slide of death, the place is loads of fun for everyone.

BEAUTY & THE BUILDER

2011-08-10T12:26:00.003-06:00

I learned a very important lesson from William's uncle Petr that will stick with me for a long time.
I was busy one afternoon building a wooden train track with Petr's son Kaja. I mean, we made this track awesome. There was a bridge the track went under, trees and stones by the "lake" we designed, loops, figure 8's...you name it. We finished and were driving the trains on it when Petr walked in the room, stood above the track, stared for a few minutes, and remarked, "This is really great!"
"Yeah, a nice way to spend a rainy afternoon, right?"
"No, this is really great!" Keep in mind Petr is a pilot for Czech Airlines. "It is beautiful. If I were to build this track it would go from point A to point B the most effective way possible because that is how I see things in the plane. But this, you have created a piece of art."
(Go back and read his lines with a Czech accent...it's more fun. I'm paraphrasing by the way).

The we discussed how we need 2 kinds of people in the world: the engineers who build and put things together and then the designers who beautify such things. This thought is so beautiful to me. I want to make the world pretty...every way possible.

Which type of person are you: beauty or the builder?

MUSHROOMKA

2011-08-09T13:09:00.000-06:00

During my first Czech stay, I was on a train with my friend Marc from England and our train hit someone. Don't worry--I didn't see it. We were stuck in a cabin on the train forever with one other Czech passenger who spoke some English. So the 3 of us decided to see the village we were stuck in and got off the train for an adventure. I exchanged phone numbers with my new friend from the train and she invited us for dumplings the next afternoon. After the dumpling feast, she TOLD us to do the dishes. This is the story of how I met Mushroomka.

I visit my Mushroomka friend every time I come to Czech. So I decided to see her on my birthday. Nothing has changed. She still lives in a tiny village. She still made me lunch. And she didn't necessarily ASK me to help pick cucumbers from her garden for a salad...instead she handed me a bucket, pointed to some rubber boots, and told me to watch out for the prickly pumpkin plants. Bless her heart.

THE DENTIST'S CHAIR

2011-08-08T01:12:00.003-06:00

I never understood why people on tv or in real life dreaded having a dentist appointment so much...until recently. I am used to dentists telling me I have pretty teeth and haven't had a cavity since I was a little girl (knock on wood). But just before I left the states I went in for a filling.

Then it turned into more: more work, more money, and more pain.

Yes, they were nice and tried to make it as comfortable as possible for me, but it still hurts like a mother (and if you know my mother you know she hurts a lot). I now have sympathy for those who dread sitting in the dentist's chair.

FREE ENGLISH LESSON

2011-08-04T15:54:00.002-06:00

This was a conversation between William (a 6 year old boy who is fluent in both Czech & English) and his grandma's boyfriend (who only speaks Czech):

*It was all spoken in the Czech language except a few words in English which are represented by "..."

BF: William, teach me some English.
William: OK. Say "Hello"
BF: "Hello"
William: Now say "deanna"
BF: "deanna"
William: "Hello deanna" now you speak English!

Love that kid.

RIP chi

2011-08-02T16:14:00.001-06:00

My chi hair straightener passed on to that flat iron heaven in the sky this past week.
You were good to me. You didn't get too hot. You traveled from the states to Canada, Mexico, and most of Europe by my side. You were there for me through blonde, brown, short, long, clean, dirty, good, and bad hair days. Thank you for your valiant service. Job well done. You will be missed.

Guess that means I'm stuck with "beach hair" for the next 2 months.

**Side note: It is August...that means if anyone wants to get me a birthday present (ahem) a new one of these would suffice or a pair of those shoes with the pockets.

WEEKEND IN FOREST

2011-08-01T15:47:00.005-06:00

Not a bad weekend in the Šumava forest at all, if I do say so myself.

It was full of:

Rainy but pleasant hikes

Picking blueberries

and a giant inflatable slide in the backyard

Loving my Czech Republic.

CARNIVAL RIDES

2011-07-28T03:14:00.002-06:00

I've got a great idea: Let's build some carnival rides for small children and then paint hot chicks wearing as little or no clothing as possible. That'll get the kindergartners out to ride!

Maybe I'm not European enough to understand, but I think this one with Winnie the Pooh is a little more age appropriate:

GET TO THE CHOPPER!

2011-07-25T05:29:00.000-06:00

My Czech family: Deanna, is it ok if we arrange a helicopter ride to get a nice view of the Šumava forest this weekend?
Deanna: Umm...I guess so.

Are you kidding me?! This first timer in a helicopter was SO excited.

TREE TOP WALK

2011-07-23T21:20:00.001-06:00

We spent the weekend in Borová Lada (which I was told is the coldest place in the Czech Republic) and decided to take an afternoon trip to Germany. No big deal. So we loaded the Mercedes and went to baumwipelpfad.

This is home of the world´s longest tree top walk located in the Bavarian Forest National Park. It is an egg shaped structure made of pure genius and wood. The path inside is 1300 meters long and winds up to a tower with and impressive view at a height of 44 meters.

Along the path to the structure are fun, safe obstacles you can choose to take or avoid. Just makes the walk a little more fun.

The view of Germany at the top is breathtaking.

ANALOG WATCH

2011-07-21T10:05:00.002-06:00

I need to admit something: I'm afraid of getting older and losing my mind...literally. I mean, I want to stay on top of my game for as long as possible. SO I decided to buy a watch. The analog kind (which means I have to exercise my brain a little bit more to count by fives instead of just looking at the digital clock on my mobile device).
Here she is:

Not bad for 79Kč huh?!
I'm also thinking this new addition to my daily wardrobe might make me seem more responsible.

But then again maybe not when I get caught wearing it while drinking from the carton...baby steps.

THINGS I LEARNED FROM ITALY

2011-07-19T17:58:00.002-06:00

We spent a week in Sardinia. Here is a list of things I learned during that stay:

It's ok to eat salami for breakfast.

A unibrow is NOT hot.

The beach is fabulous--day or night.

There's no wrong way to say spaghetti.

And I am pretty sure falling asleep in the sand has and will always be in my top five favorite things to do EVER...even though you might find sand in places it has no business being for the next two days.

VIEW FROM MY WINDOW

2011-07-17T22:25:00.000-06:00

So what if this is the view from my window in Prague...

Meet Orloj. He was made back in the 1400's and sits in the Old Town Square. He has a clock, a calender, figures that move around 2 small windows and a guy who blows a trumpet at the very top of the tower every hour from 9am to 9pm. Orloj makes me smile.

DUH! SWIMMING!

2011-07-08T18:34:00.002-06:00

My first real full day in Czech and what did William and I do (twice)?

Duh! Swimming...of course!

WELL TRAVELED

2011-07-07T15:01:00.004-06:00

I was checking my bag at the airport when the lady at the counter commented with, "You can tell a well-traveled person by their luggage."
To which I quickly replied, "Or you can spot an airline that doesn't give a darn about customer service."
Thank you, Delta Airlines.
I want my $50 back!

PS I left to the Czech Republic for a bit.

LOVE MY AMERICA

2011-07-05T20:49:00.000-06:00

I just want to say, after 4 years of missing it, I am SO excited to be in the states for July 4. I sure do love my America!

I especially loved spending it with these kids:

CRUISING DAY 10: DEBARKATION

2011-07-02T23:59:00.000-06:00

Our wonderful cruise was officially over after one final breakfast. So we all headed to the airport together to save on shuttle charges. Too bad we didn't know we would have 7 hours to kill in the Orlando airport. So...what is there to do at MCO?

PLENTY! I just don't want to have to do it again any time soon.

CRUISING DAY 8 & 9: BIRTHDAY AT SEA

2011-07-01T21:56:00.001-06:00

Day 8: The Dream was supposed to port in Costa Maya this morning, but our cruise director Gary (whom I loved listening to each morning with his adorable British accent) and ship captain decided it was too windy and so we had and extra day at sea.

My uncle Duane celebrated his "hoppy birsaday" (sung by the beloved asian staff members) onboard today.

DAY 9: with plenty of time at sea now we were able to say bye to our favorite crew members, learn how to fold some towel animals, work on our tan lines, play some bingo, enjoy shows, and eat some buffet food.

CRUISING DAY 7: BELIZE me

2011-06-29T23:41:00.000-06:00

The port of the day today: Belize. That is correct, the place Madonna mentions when she sings about La Isla Bonita.
Excursion of the day: ghetto cave tubing with the locals who call themselves x-stream.
Food of the day: plantains.
Word of the day: love.

CRUISING DAY 6: row row ROATAN

2011-06-28T21:16:00.001-06:00

Our ship seemed to be following a storm, but that wasn't going to stop us from a day of zip lining through the trees in Honduras. You heard me, it was way better than the date Brad had on the Bachelor last season because we got to play with monkeys and snorkel on the island with rum punch (minus the rum).

Oh, and then I ate iguana for lunch!

Tastes like chicken.

CRUISING DAYS 4 & 5: COZUMELt my heart

2011-06-27T22:04:00.001-06:00

Day 4 was a day at sea, meaning we spent it on the ship going down water slides, laying on the deck under the sun, eating food, watching shows, and sharing a room with snorers (ugh).

Day 5 was our first stop at a port in Cozumel Mexico. Sadly, we got off the boat a little too late and missed the ferry to the Yucatan Peninsula.

Luckily, we were able to take a taxi around the island to explore some Mayan ruins. At first, we were being eaten alive by mosquitoes when, out of nowhere, the fertility gods smiled upon us with an outpour of rain. No more pesky bugs, but soaking jean shorts equals fair trade to me.

After leaving the ruins, we enjoyed some local mexican dining, bargain shopping, and charging of the gringos for using the public toilets (no me gusta).

CRUISING DAY 3: CARNIVAL DREAMing

2011-06-25T20:44:00.000-06:00

Boarding the cruise was easy. Everybody in our group had a gold sign & sail card...except for the 1 virgin cruiser.
We all made our selves at home in our assigned cabins, ate some food, and got ready to cruise it up onboard the Carnival Dream ship for the week.

CRUISING DAY 2: I NEED MY SPACE

2011-06-24T22:31:00.000-06:00

I suppose technically we arrived 1 and 1/2 days early before boarding the cruise ship. So today we visited Kennedy Space Center for a day filled with rockets, astronaut food, and a trip through space history. (Funny...I didn't see Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, or Kevin Bacon's photos anywhere when they talked about the Apollos and such.)

CRUISING DAY 1: SLC to MCO

2011-06-23T22:19:00.001-06:00

I returned to Utah for a few days before leaving with some family on a cruise. woot woot!

Day 1:

We arrived in Orlando a day early to make sure our luggage arrives with us before the cruise this time (long, hot story from 4 years previous). Hit Ron Jon's, showed off my maple leaf in honor of upcoming Canada Day, met up with the Renstrom family, and sunned it up at Cocoa Beach.

NO, THANKS

2011-06-21T08:08:00.002-06:00

If there was such a thing as a 'No, Thanks' card, I would definitely send one to Enlighten Laser in Bountiful for the burns and Marienello School of Beauty in Provo for a bad hair color. Yeah, no thank you bad business!

FORT MCMURRAY-->SALT LAKE CITY

2011-06-19T23:50:00.000-06:00

12+ hours traveling
11 dollar airport food court sandwiches
10 min straight of babies crying on plane
9 security checks
8 flight attendants
7 moving walkways
‎6 miles credit card reps chasing me
5 hour delay
4 plane changes
3 layovers
2 inflight beverages
and a cell phone turned on after 3 months...
And I finally made it to Utah!

SMARTIES

2011-06-16T19:22:00.000-06:00

Every time I eat these Canadian/European/for sure not from the States Smarties I feel like I am getting a cavity instantly. Too bad they taste so yummy.

MR. STANLEY CUP

2011-06-13T19:35:00.001-06:00

Low scoring sports games are usually not very interesting to me. Yes, this includes hockey.

BUT, when in Canada...

WEST EDMONTON MALL

2011-06-11T15:58:00.000-06:00

The West Edmonton Mall, located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is said to be the largest shopping mall in North America and the fifth largest in the world.
Inside there are lots of treats such as an ice skating rink, fire breathing dragon in the IMAX theater, water park, amusement park, mini golf, sea lion show stage, bowling alley, gym, food courts galore, hotel, chapel, and of course shops ( with my fave H&M!!!)

So we took a little trip to shop, dine, and roller coaster it up. West Edmonton Mall: check.

LAY SOD

2011-06-06T09:35:00.001-06:00

Just one more skill to add to my future hot wife status:
I know how to lay sod.

And I'm NOT just saying I HELPED lay sod....

I am master sod layer.

LEARN DRIVING

2011-05-30T20:23:00.001-06:00

Raj is opening a new school next week:
TO LEARN SPEAKING.

LEGS

2011-05-26T21:37:00.003-06:00

I'll admit I watched a few episodes of American Idol this season. The finale was last night and I'm just wondering if anybody else was thinking what I was thinking....

I would trade legs with Carrie Underwood any day!
(Photo by Vince Bucci/Fox/PictureGroup)

RIVER BREAK

2011-05-25T17:57:00.002-06:00

Some years the Athabasca River provides cool views for residents here during a phenomenon called River Break. Some years they experience a dynamic river break — which didn't happen this year — where the ice piles up and pushes through the Fort McMurray area as one giant glacier, bouncing off the sides of the river. Pretty cool. This means Spring is coming. Here was my river break experience.

Now we are enjoying spring with beautiful blossoms around the city...and no more ice.

NATURE'S BASIN

2011-05-24T18:28:00.000-06:00

I'm not gonna lie, the weather conditions here are wreaking havoc on my skin. It's windy. It's dry. It's dusty. Luckily, I found an amazing online retail store called Nature's Basin that specializes in selling natural/organic skin care. *For all my hippie friends, that means this certified natural facial care is free of synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colorants, and is derived from mineral oils.*

I ordered the Weleda Cold Cream. The box says it is for dry and very-dry skin...that's me right now. I put it on at night and my face is so happy in the morning. It seriously adds a huge amount of much needed moisture without causing break-outs (yeah my face still breaks out sometimes....what the heck am I not done with my teenage years?!)

The site offers more than just face cream though. They have 20 organic brands with over 400 products to choose from including beauty products, natural make up, and organic makeup. They offer 30 day lowest price guarantee, 90 day unconditional money back guarantee, Free shipping on orders over $49, and free samples with every order (2 samples, 5 samples for orders $90+).

Pretty sweet, eh. So you can check them out on facebook or just find out more about them at their site here.

AIR QUALITY

2011-05-20T15:13:00.002-06:00

If only people would listen to Smokey the Bear...

I will never take clean air for granted...I will never take clean air for granted...

DRIVERS LICENSE

2011-05-17T16:31:00.001-06:00

I am not saying I am perfect, but I am pretty sure
some DMVs give out drivers licenses like a bank hands out lollipops.

DAY TIME HUNKS

2011-05-11T19:08:00.000-06:00

There are SO many ridiculously good-looking actors on day time television. Too bad they have to be on during my gym time and for the fact that soap operas are lame.

MOTHER'S DAY

2011-05-10T18:52:00.002-06:00

It's was just Mother's Day. While being pregnant is an incredibly awesome thing, skimping on purchasing maternity clothes is not so awesome sometimes.

I wish I could take credit for having taken this photo (instead I found it here).

I mean, just because you're expecting doesn't mean you should settle for outdated or poorly fitting clothes.

A cool place to shop for cheap maternity clothes at affordable prices is Kiki's Fashions. Go ahead and like them on facebook (where you can often find deals to shop their online store.)

Don't worry, I have no reason to shop for maternity clothes yet...I just wanted to pass the fashion tip. While the lady pictured above might think she is looking the best she can in her maternal bliss, there are better alternatives like this photo.

Happy Mother's Day.

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CARBOHYDRATE HEAVEN

2011-05-06T12:27:00.001-06:00

I'm pretty sure my heaven will be full of carbs. But I'll still have a rockin hot bod and walk around in a bikini all day because well...it's heaven!

ROYAL WEDDING

2011-04-27T18:54:00.000-06:00

Dear Prince Harry,
Let's make it a double Royal Wedding!
(wink wink. Nudge nudge. Say no more say no more).
They'd never expect an American bird in the Royal Family.
xoxoxo

Easter MONDAY

2011-04-25T23:59:00.000-06:00

Boxing Day... Easter Monday... You're always celebrating one day too late, Canada.

But Seriously, Easter MONDAY?! That's totally a bogus holiday.

IT'S WIN TIME

2011-04-23T19:23:00.000-06:00

The winner of the Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil (that was a mouthful) is...

comment #164: Thabal

Congratulations and thank you to everyone for entering. I love you. Don't forget if you didn't win and still want to try it out (and I totally recommend it) you can do so here.