Confessions of a Domestic Goddess in Training

Monday, November 12, 2012

Let's Learn Together -

I'm glad it's all pretend but it makes them look so grown up!

That's got to stop. :)

Sunday, November 11, 2012

The Mamacita -

BDUEFRFR - THESE ARE LETTERS TYPED IN SNEAKILY BY RUCKUS.

We recently had the honor of celebrating my mom's birthday.

She and I had a little girls night to start the evening out, buying too many things at Deseret Book and then dining at a delicious Thai restaurant.

We then gathered at my abode for a little family favorite, boiled raisin cake. (This cakes name doesn't provide it justice - it should be named "the most glorious cake of love" or something of the like - it's magnificent- plus sister #1 and I created it, with many a phone call to our surrogate mother Teri K for instructions. It's a toughy but I am a little prideful in the turnout. ft58;'98dddddjjjjjjjj - more found letters typed by Ruckus)

I have referenced my mom many times in the categories of service, beauty,valiant, kindness, gossip-free, dependable, oober intelligent, best mom/grandma ever - but let me share another side of her -

She is F.U.N, has a great sense of humor, and loves a good laugh.

When I was growing up my sister and I were lounging around the house when in races my mom and dad loaded with water guns. They attacked us like crazy.

We were completely unprepared.

They demolished us and the house -
and we all laughed hysterically.

A couple of months ago my mom and sister #2 were at my house and I talked them into a game of HORSE. My mom was the first one to go outside and when I arrived she was jumping her highest on the trampoline.
How cool is that - would you find your mom jumping on the trampoline?
I hope so.
She invited my sister and I to join her but I guess she had done more kegals than us so we weren't as successful.

We then ventured forth to begin our b-ball game.

She informed us around the time she received the letter S that she was actually playing DONKEY and the rules are completely different, and she was basically ruling at that game.

Some of the rules are:

You go whenever you want.

If the ball hits the rim it counts as a shot.

If you make too many baskets in a row you transfer over to the game HORSE again.

When you get too warm in the hot sun people playing DONKEY can lay by the air conditioning unit in the shade but if you're playing HORSE you're not allowed to.

I was completely entertained by this new invention of hers.
Lastly, a couple decades back one of my sisters was having some health problems. She felt horrible all the time. Her loving, sensitive sisters drove her nuts by teasing her she had chronic-gaseous-poopus.
The doctors thought possibly she had kidney stones but weren't sure.
After numerous tests and weeks of pain the doctor finally called my mom with the diagnose.
My mom hung up the phone, looking grave, and told my sister that she'd better sit down. The news was serious and life altering.
My mom looked her in the eyes and said something like,
"Honey, I'm sorry. The doctor called and informed me... that you have...
chronic-gaseous-poopus."
Hilarious-
Maybe not for my sister but the rest of us were completely loving the moment.
My mom is cool.
I love her guts!
Happy Birthday!
Thanks for being everthing your wonderful self consists of!

Women's Walk

The cutest running/chill in the stroller mates alive.

Thanks dear friend Rami for participating in this 5K stroll with us!

Always love your company.

They're Closer!

One of my sisters moved closer than her previous 18 hours away! More like 6 now- hurray - we accept!

My sister will not like the below photo of herself but it is the perfect capture of her laugh - Eyes closed, head leaning back with mouth exuding the most delightful, infectious laugh alive.

For some reason learning about the new gifted bread maker is hilarious to her and the unseen photographer, me.

My parentals along with my kiddos and I journeyed north-ish (I'm geographically/directionally challenged) to help her and her family unpack. Thank you brother-in-law for getting a job so close!

Below Papa is taking care of the babies.

Cute grandchildren ready to party -

Cuddling with their pillow pets Papa surprised them with.

More pillow pet love.

The following are more photos of our mother trying to share her knowledge of the new bread maker with my sister.

This is her.... hmmmmm... how exciting is this moment face :)

(Mom, she really did appreciate it and thinks the bread maker is the coolest gift ever. Because it is! We are just dorks and rapidly digress in age back to the time of our teenage hood.
But, I promise your schooling is mostly always desired.)

This is my mom's "Come on now daughter, pay attention face" accompanied with the "let's focus arm on the back gesture".

She still loves her obnoxious children. Thank you Mom.

Me with my cute daddy-O

A little decorating -

And it wouldn't be a visit without cute baby/cousin bath time!

Being together with just my parents and this one sister is an easy role to fall back into. I have three older sisters and we were all born in 4 year increments. Me, being the baby and this sister being the one directly older than me - so basically for the second decade of my life it was just the four of us in the household.

There's a certain dynamic that's familiar and fun.

So - Sister #3 - so glad your closer!... and this ones for you.

Luke, I am your father.

O B 1.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Normal or Too Much of a Coincidence?

I promise not every post will be about politics - tis true. I have adorable fam vacation posts ready and rearing to go. I do enjoy politics a bit but more so I try to stay aware out of a love for my country. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by my powerlessness. Here's a recent article I found re: Jobs since the election. Since I'm not an economist I don't know if this type of thing is normal or too much of a coincidence.... What I do know is, more knowledge and information can never hurt a person - therefore I share:

By - Mike Opelka

Do elections have consequences? If you have been paying attention to the financial markets, you might think so. Wall Street has had two horrible days since President Obama won a second term.
However, stock prices are not the only thing taking a hit. It appears that the job market is also suffering. In the last 48 hours, the following major corporations have announced layoffs in America (links take you to news stories about the layoffs – with details from the companies):
• Energizer -

The St. Louis-based company said Thursday that it expects to shed about 1,500 employees. When finished, the restructuring should lead to $200 million in pretax yearly savings, Energizer said. It aims to have most of its restructuring steps finished by the end of September 2014.

• Exide Technologies -

Exide Technologies announced Thursday that it will be idling its lead-recycling operations in Laureldale and laying off 150 workers, effective no later than March 31.

• Westinghouse -

Westinghouse Anniston, the contractor responsible for shutting down Anniston’s chemical weapons incinerator, has reduced its workforce by another 50 employees.

• Research in Motion Limited -

Research in Motion Ltd., the maker of BlackBerry smartphones, laid off about 200 people at its U.S. headquarters in Irving on Wednesday, according to a source close to the company who did not want to be named

• Lightyear Network Solutions -

More than one dozen employees at a Pikeville company lost their jobs this week. Officials with Lightyear Network Solutions said they are consolidating offices in Louisville and Pikeville to save money.

• Providence Journal -

The Providence Journal Co. laid off 23 full-time workers Wednesday as part of a cost-cutting effort, including 16 members of the Providence Newspaper Guild and 7 non-union employees.

• Hawker Beechcraft -

The company says 240 employees will lose their jobs with the closing of Hawker Beechcraft Services facilities in Little Rock, Ark.; Mesa, Ariz.; and San Antonio, Texas.

• Boeing (30% of their management staff) -

Boeing Co. said Wednesday it plans to employ 30% fewer executives at its Boeing Defense, Space & Security unit by the end of 2012 compared to 2010 levels.

• CVPH Medical Center -

CVPH Medical Center has handed pink slips to 17 employees. The layoffs — nine in management and eight hourly staffers — are part of an effort to “help bolster the hospital’s financial position in 2013 and beyond,” a press release said.

• US Cellular -

The move will result in 980 job cuts at U.S. Cellular, with 640 in the Chicago area, according to a spokeswoman. The cuts are slightly under 12 percent of the approximately 8,400 total employees U.S. Cellular had at the end of the third quarter.

• Momentive Performance Materials -

About 150 workers at Sistersville’s Momentive Performance Materials plant will be temporarily laid off later this month, officials said this week.

• Rocketdyne -

About 100 employees at Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, most of whom work in the San Fernando Valley, were laid off Wednesday in response to dwindling government spending on space exploration, the company said. The layoffs were effective immediately, and 75 percent of them came at the facilities on Canoga and De Soto avenues, which employ about 1,100 people. The company has six sites across the Valley.

• Brake Parts -

The leader of an automotive parts plant in Lincoln County has told state officials that there are plans to lay off 75 workers starting in late December…The layoffs are expected to start Dec. 28 and continue in the first quarter of 2013

• Vestas Wind Systems -

Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS) is seeking to sell a stake of as much as 20 percent and said it’s reducing headcount by 3,000 to raise the staff cuts by the biggest wind turbine maker to almost a third over two years

Husqvarna -

Husqvarna AB (HUSQB), the world’s biggest maker of powered garden tools, plans to cut about 600 jobs in a move that will save 220 million kronor ($33 million) a year by 2014.

• Center for Hospice New York -

The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care plans to temporarily lay off as many as 40 employees next year as it embarks on a major renovation of the inpatient unit at its Cheektowaga campus.

• Bristol-Meyers -

Bristol-Myers Squibb is following up its lackluster third-quarter results with almost 480 layoffs. As Pharmalot reports, the company notified the New Jersey government that it would scale back in Plainsboro, which means the cuts will hit its sales operations.

• OCE North America -

Trumbull printer- and scanning-equipment provider Oce North America, Inc. will lay off 135 workers in three Connecticut communities, including East Hartford, according to its notice with the state Labor Department.

• Darden Restaurants -

The company, which was among those who had received an Obamacare waiver in the past, is looking to limit workers to 28 hours per week. A full time employee that is required to have health insurance (lest the employer pay a fine) works 30 hours per week, as defined by the Obamacare law

•West Ridge Mine -

In its statement, UtahAmerican Energy blames the Obama administration for instituting policies that will close down “204 American coal-fired power plants by 2014″ and for drastically reducing the market for coal.

• United Blood Services Gulf -

United Blood Services Gulf South region, the non-profit blood service provider for much of south Louisiana and Mississippi, will lay off approximately 10 percent of its workforce. It was a hard decision to make according to Susan Begnaud, Regional Center Director for the Gulf South region.

A layoff is tough enough for employees to deal with, imagine hearing the crushing news that your office is shutting down just before Thanksgiving and Christmas… Here are some of the business closings that were announced in just the past two days:

To see even more companies that announced layoffs since the election, visit the Daily Job Cuts page.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Kind of Feel Like Crying...

I finally shut off my television that had been running since 7:30 this morning.

I woke up with such extreme hope and excitement for this election day and now my heart has sunk.

Oh America...

I don't understand the attraction to this president.

My desire is to wake up on the morrow and the media will report that corruption has been found in the counting of votes and announce Mitt Romney victorious.

How will we dig ourselves out of this hole?

I truly don't see an end in sight.

My personal game plan -

stock up on food storage galore

get completely out of debt

buy a gun (and learn how to shoot it)

and strive to be an example of virtue.

Because I feel like we've lost that - virtue.

Samuel Adams said,

"I thank God that I have lived to see my country independent and free. She may long enjoy her independence and freedom if she will. It depends on her virtue."

We must work on retaining it -

Jefferson said,

"Virtue is not hereditary."

I love, love, love my country - I truly hope the man we put back into office today is a patriot for our magnificent US of A and not against it.

The Beloved just walked in with scrumptious maple bars from Albertsons.

How did he know that would be the immediate gratification to dull my sadness?

Love that kid.

God Bless this country.

I'm going to go pig out.

I Did It -

WE VOTED!

MY SISTER SENT ME A TEXT MESSAGE TODAY THAT SAID,

"VOTE AND PRAY."

I WANT TO REITERATE THAT PERFECT REQUEST -

VOTE AND PRAY.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Remember!!!!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE TOMORROW!

My Favorite Read -

Love it -

more than

Twilight

Hunger Games

and Eragon

and the 4th/last book just came out!

Hurray!

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Knowing vs Becoming

As I was preparing my lesson this week for the young women a comment stood out to me from one of our apostles, Elder Oaks.

"We all know someone who has a strong testimony but does not act upon it so as to be converted."

To me having a

Testimony vs. Being Converted

is similar to

Knowing vs. Becoming

When I use a youth I KNEW the gospel of Jesus Christ was true (aka having a testimony)

but I failed at being converted because I didn't work at maintaining attributes to BECOME like the Savior.

That's the goal right?

To Become.

To be Converted.

To be like Him.

Then Elder Oaks asks a question,

"For example, returned missionaries, are you still seeking to be converted, or are you caught up in the ways of the world?"

Some Returned Missionaries that Know it's true but have forgotten to Become?

Obviously I'm not a returned missionary but this question again reminded me of my youth.

I was born with a testimony yet for a little less then a decade was seeking out the ways of the world.

What a waste - and how unfair to those around me.

I say this because,

a few weeks ago I ran into one of my old friends from my home ward when I was growing up. We starting chatting about some of the other girls that were also in our ward, a few who had become inactive in church. Some who flat out didn't believe in the gospel and felt as if it wasn't what provided happiness.

And my sad thought was,

I thought they knew.

I thought they knew it was true - because I knew.

And at that time I thought everyone thought like me.

I could have been a better example.

Been an example of the believers.

These were girls that looked the part.

They were in the young women presidencies, attend seminary, dressed modestly, had the right friends and I assumed...

they were safe. I assumed they had testimonies.

They probably could have used mine to lean on.

But I wasn't available.

How unfair for those who Know not to seek out to Become.

Because there are others who are trying to become, who look like they fit the part, but they don't "know" yet, they haven't yet developed a testimony.

And they need us to be available.

So, here's the invitation (to you and especially myself),

I invite you to Become like the Savior.

A starting point is to pick one of His attributes to work on -

Faith, Virtue, Hope, Charity and Love, Knowledge, Patience, Humility, Diligence, or Obedience.

https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/36617_eng.pdf?lang=eng#page=129

The link above can help you with this goal.

Elder Oaks says,

"Christlike attributes are gifts from God. They come as you use your agency righteously. Ask your Heavenly Father to bless you with these attributes.."

For yourself -

and for others.

If I Hear the Words "healthy snack" One More Time...

in re: to what will be eaten at the "Harvest Party" - which we all know is a prettied up title for Halloween Party - I may ambush the festivities with brownies, rice crispy treats, and cookies for all - plus maybe even a little soda pop.

That's right - I said it -

SODA POP.

My son is so looking forward to attending his harvest party where broccoli and dip will be served to all -

Seriously - every kids dream.

I understand healthy eating is important.

I know it obviously affects weight and truly your overall health - including personality.

But - for the love!

Let the poor children indulge. We've already taken the name Halloween out of the party to be courteous and kind, do we also have to torture them with Broccoli and dip?

Watch out if you see me on the news as the stranger giving out candy. I promise I am nice and mean no harm. It's only that my sugar loving heart is breaking piece by piece every time I hear the words....

healthy snack.

Boo.
And...
Happy Halloween,
I mean..
Harvest.