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.

COMING SOON

I am pretty sure the person who puts up the messages on the marquee for the Fellowship Bible Church off State Street in Lindon, UT, should have a "Go to Heaven. Go directly to Heaven..." card because they are just so darn clever.


They really are constructing a new building...

and the other...well.... you better be on your best behavior!

NIGHTMARE MANSION

I went to a haunted house this weekend and I literally thought my heart was going to explode.
It's official...I'm a scaredy cat!


The ticket came with a pass to another haunted house. Am I gonna go to that one too? You betcha! I love Halloween.

CHICKEN SOUP

Bob Dylan wrote a song with these lyrics:

You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls.

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side
You may be workin’ in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody’s mistress, may be somebody’s heir.

And the song goes on. It's pretty cool. Click here to read the rest.

Anyway, hearing this and seeing a new "Chicken Soup for the 'blah blah' Soul" book got me thinking. What would my chicken soup book be?
For instance, my cousin Kelly would read Chicken Soup for the Volleyball player's Soul.
My Dad would read the Father's soul.


My brother would read Chicken Soup for the farter's Soul.
I have several friends that would read for the runner's Soul.
Ansel Adams would have read for the photographer's soul.
My niece Lauren would read for the emo kid's soul.
Ashton Kutcher would read for the super hunky actor's soul.
Brother Jeff would read for the police officer's soul.
Shauna would read for the zombie killer's soul.
Etcetera etcetera.

So what is my Chicken Soup book? What is my passion? What do I do well in life? Yes, I'm trying to make this an interactive post...answer for me or write what you think your Chicken Soup might be. Come on...it'll be fun.

OH, HELLO FALL COLORS

I have really enjoyed it being in the upper 80's & 90's all the way to October, but I think Mother Nature is ready for Fall. I went for a drive up Provo Canyon to say hello to the fall colors and this is what I found:






Pretty fall colors also mean rubber-neckers looking at pretty fall colors. Please don't drive stupid.

SALT FLATS

A gang of photographers
A few "models"
Miles of salt
Many different perspectives
and here's what you get:

ANNIVERSARY ROSE GIVEAWAY winner

WINNING COMMENT:
Keleigh, Cecilia and Family said...
of course i'm a follower already!!! even before you got so popular.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2010 2:47 PM

Big thanks to everyone who entered!

I KISSED A GHOUL...

A great eye treat to end my night:

Katy Perry would be so proud...especially after her recent Sesame Street mishap. Thank you, Wal*mart.

Speaking of Katy Perry...I'll be honest, if you send me a FWD email I usually delete it without even opening it. But since my brother never sends me anything, I knew this one was special. I don't know who this girl is, but it made me laugh so much. I'm still laughing.

Proof That Men Have Not Evolved All That Much

LINDON CANNERY

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (you know, the Mormons) is big on service and helping people around the world. One way they help out is providing food to those in need. They have a cannery nearby in Lindon, UT, where I was able to volunteer. The whole process was pretty amazing.


Peaches come from a can. They were put there by a (wo)man in a factory...
That woman was me last week!


My time spent there was just peachy...literally. Service is cool.

FAIR PLAY

Going to the Utah State Fair is like going to a Wal*mart in Utah County on a Sunday. I have no idea where these people come from...BUT I loved EVERY minute of it!

LOOK ALIKE

Not 1...not 2...not 3, but 4 people have told me I remind them of Zooey Deschanel this week.


I'm not sure if it's totally true, but I'll take the compliment because I think she is so darn cute.

ANNIVERSARY ROSE GIVEAWAY

Remember that last giveaway from Dakota's Personalized Gifts? Well, I've got another for you from The Anniversary Rose Gifts. You can find cute things to give as an anniversary or wedding pressie (for your main squeeze or as a gift to your grandparents). These are my personal faves:


There are gifts for him, for her, for both, and actual anniversary roses made from whatever the special gift is for each year (pictured are a dozen 1st year paper roses). Fun, right?!

The Anniversary Rose has offered a $50 GC to one lucky winner.
TO ENTER: (each is worth a separate comment entry)

1. Visit the site and tell me what you might choose if you win (you can change your mind later if you want).
2. Follow my blog via google friend connect (on the right side of blog)
3. List as many anniversary year presents you know by heart (no cheating). ie I mentioned year 1 is paper.

Last day to enter will be October 1, 2010. Winner will be chosen by random. Buena suerte!

PARIS

I went to Paris today. No big deal.


Of course, it was Paris, Idaho.

PRIMA PRINCESSA

Jacq and I got our tutus on for a morning of dancing fun with Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker DVD. It will be released September 7, 2010, but we were lucky enough to get a little preview.
The DVD features the best companies around the world performing the classic Christmas ballet “The Nutcracker” live at the theater. It is filled with snow fairies, waltzing flowers, and (our favorite) toy soldiers.
The first time through, the dancing queen was satisfied watching the performance with her little ponies.


And then she was ready to get up and try the moves demonstrated by students from the NYC School of American ballet as well as little dancers her age.


You can find out where to purchase this DVD or the Prima Princessa Swan Lake DVD for your own little dancer (as well as enjoy coloring pages and fun childrens games) at PrimaPrincessa.com.

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE PAVEMENT

I don't show emotion in my blog very often. Unless it's about people driving really slow in the far left/carpool lanes. Dear Sir, sign says: no trucks or trailers in left two lanes. OK, don't get me started on that one.


But it's funny how maybe a few tears or hours of tears, long nap, and then a conversation with yourself (I'm not crazy) helps you think straight. My friend Michelle gave me some advice, in her own sort of way, almost two years ago. I was kinda like, "What's she talking about?!" and even had the "How Rude!" attitude of Stephanie from Full House.


But wow! today I realized it's time to wake up and smell the pavement!



I love you; you're my friend.

I'M COMMITTING MYSELF TO HIM

For those of ya'll who think I'm afraid of commitment, you read correctly...
I'm going for it.
I have decided to commit myself to a wonderful man.
A commitment I know will so be worth it in the future.


You see, this is what I'm told a normal curve in your neck should look like.


This is what mine looks like.
Thus, I have committed to 3 months with the entire staff at Lindon Family Chiropractic.
For all of you math nerds, you might have deducted this conditional statement:
If deanna has committed to see the chiropractor for 3 months, then she will be staying in Utah. Correct--Deanna will be in Utah for at least a 3 month time period.

TRUE BLUE

I was talked into going to a University of Utah football game tonight.
I attended, but I stood true blue among the sea of red that filled the stadium. (Luckily, no beer was thrown on me.)

WINNER WINNER

The Dakota's Personalized Gifts contest has ended.
I'd like to give a super big thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway!
Here is the result:

And the winning comment is:
Molly said...
The Engraved Key To My Heart Necklace

winning things is cool!
Congrats, Molly.
xoxoxo

FOREVER

I went to a John Michael Montgomery concert at the Scera Shell with my friend Joe Saturday night and, first, I want to say it was fantastic! Mr. JMM has 20 number 1 hits that I personally LOVE to sing along with and he seemed so humble about it on stage. If you haven't heard his new song Forever, you need to.



During the first song, I did notice that his voice might not be able to hit all of the ranges it used to and this made me sad. I think sometimes I imagine super stars are supposed to stay young and awesome forever. I mean Dick Clark will never look a day over 35 and Betty White will always stay golden in my mind. It shocks me to see men turning gray and chubby with age or movie screen beauties get wrinkles. But it happens...as strange as it seems to me.

I PROMISE

You'll want to try these. I promise.


No, I did NOT eat the whole bag by myself!

WORTH IT?

7:30pm launch time.


Used 20 minutes trying to jump-start a boat stranded in the water.

Barely enough sun for 3 runs each.


Choppy water.

Arm already sore from donating blood earlier in the day.

Dent in forehead from face plant and board flying up and hitting me.

Towing stranded boat back to harbor.


1,749 mosquito bites while trying to dock the boat.


WAS IT WORTH IT??
You betcha!