I Love....

HOORAY! The end of February is finally here. (Good riddance LOVE posts!) I over committed myself to the 'daily LOVE' posts. Funny thing is, I really thought about it everyday; but I just didn't take the time to do it. There are just too many things that I LOVE. Which is why February will not be the end of my LOVE posts. I am going to make a point to focus my blog more on random things which define who I am, people who influence me, and what I enjoy. So stay tune for more of my LOVES throughout the coming months. (Just not everyday!) I left out so many people and things that I LOVE....so I want to make sure they know of my LOVE for them....

As for now...I LOVE that I leave for New York in five days!

I LOVE....Visiting Vegas

Day #21 (Wow! What a lapse in posts! I bet you thought I've fallen out of LOVE, but the truth is I've been preoccupied, but thought I had better resume my LOVES because I have quite a few left that I really want to do before the months end.)

I LOVE visiting Vegas. HUGE emphasis placed on VISITING. I LOVE coming here to visit my parents, but I am not sure I could live here. I LOVE all the fun thing to do in Vegas (so different from being home. Five days flies right by!) I LOVE the climate (this time of year). I LOVE the time difference (getting up at 4:00 am to join my Dad at the gym feels like I get to sleep-in! Plus, Myka goes to bed at 6:30 pm here!!! Wahoo!) I LOVE my parents entertaining my kids! I LOVE the food....(lots of BBQ because the weather is so nice)! And my Dad makes the best popcorn! I LOVE just sitting around in the evening and not feeling like I need to be doing laundry, cleaning or other boring chores! I LOVE how my parents are so laid-back and let my kids destroy their house! (I bet they are so glad when we finally get out of here.)

Chad and his buddies were busy doing this (81 holes of golf in 3 days). Boring.

I didn't feel like being home alone for 3 days with 2 kids, so I hopped on this:

and headed here to visit the 'rents for five days:

I LOVE vegas for their parks! Amazing parks. My favorite park is in Aliente, which we visited almost everyday. It was great being about the only ones there (maybe it's because we arrive there about 9:00 a.m. With the time difference the kids are up by 6 and by the time we do breakfast and all the morning routine we are looking for something to do by 8:30).

Aliente Nature Park is incredible! Ducks are everywhere around the pond, and the kids loved feeding them crackers.

Myka and Carsen's favorite part was the sand pit. It's set-up to be like a Dinosaur Quarry and you have to dig for Dinosaur bones (or just eat the sand if your name is Myka).
(not my photo)!

Before visiting the park we had to stop at our favorite store to pick up some necessities for digging:

Have you been to this store? It's fantastic! I can roam around in there for at least 45 minutes finding things I don't need, but how can you pass them up for only $1. I've found fabulous jewelry there and I always stock up on hair elastics, gift bags, coloring books and piece-of-crap toys that entertain the kids on plane rides. This time we bought shovels and buckets for the kids to take to the park.

Look at this beautiful park! It's magnificent. The weather has been beautiful! I parked my rump on a bench and watched the kids run around. Huge plus with this park is it's gated--and--the slides have gates around them too so I don't have to worry about Myka falling through a side rail. And, the ground is made-up of that soft surface so when the kiddos eat it while running they don't get scrapes.

And of course I LOVE Vegas for my favorite shopping destinations.

One in particular is kind of ridiculous, but so dear to my heart. I found this store about 3 years ago and HAVE to visit it every time I am here. (If my parents ever move I will still fly here just to visit this store). It's super stylish clothing for a cheap price (however, this time I was here I thought the prices seemed higher). Here's the ridiculous part; one dressing room for everyone! Yup, it's like a girls locker room back in Middle School. Everyone just undresses and goes to town. AND to make matters worse there are mirrors lining the dressing room. The dressing room is the absolute worst part about this store, but it's all worth it to me! I laugh every time I go in there, because people just don't care...so why should I? (Uhmm...maybe because my underwear is very different!)

And one of my last Vegas LOVES is In-n-Out Burger. Oh yeah! Chad told me they are putting a couple in the Salt Lake area and quite honestly, I am not too thrilled. Eating at In-n-Out is a treat, not an everyday routine. I wait patiently for my visits to Vegas to indulge in the delicious burger, fries and chocolate milk shake. I enjoy the scarcity of it. My kids love this place too!

I LOVE visiting Vegas and look forward to my quarterly visits! Tomorrow I go back home to reality (and snow) but I'm ready. It's fun to visit, but always wonderful to go home!

I LOVE....Sweats!

Day #16....I LOVE sweats! There is something comfortable and familiar about a pair of sweats. I have a closet full of clothes, yet I find myself wearing my same sweats over and over day after day....(I did receive a cute pair of pink sweats for Christmas which I am trying to rotate in with my other sweats). I am not one to hang-out at home dressed-up, but I also don't wear my sweats out and about too often (there are some occasions when a quick WalMart run at 9 pm on a Saturday night is sweat-worthy). I see nothing wrong with wearing sweats out and about, but changing out of my sweats is my excuse to get dressed for the day, and then when I return home those comfy sweats are right back on! I LOVE being comfortable (Chad would beg to differ...I probably have way too many 'uncomfortable' items of clothing in his eyes!)

My niece Katelin was staying with me last week and she had her own take on my sweats. One afternoon (I was wearing my sweats of course) she looked at me curiously and asked, "Are you still in your pajamas?" I had to laugh at her observation!

I LOVE my comfy sweats!

I Love....Cleaning!

Day #15...I LOVE a clean house (and don't mind cleaning)...BUT...with two little munchkins running around all day, keeping my house clean feels like a never-ending project. Which is why I LOVE these cleaning products; they make my life much easier.

This little beauty (The Magic Eraser) is the reason for today's post. Myka decided this morning before church that my walls were a coloring book. I could hear her in the office talking to herself and I thought she was sitting at the little desk coloring. The coloring part I got right--just not where I though it was. Thank heavens for the Magic Eraser--the little sponge whipped that crayon right off the wall. (Of course there is the downfall to this product; it tends to take a bit of paint off the walls too...but I'm willing to deal with the paint loss as long as my walls don't have crayons on them!)

You know those sticky little messes left all over your floor after meal time....gone in a little swipe! This Don Aslett mop was an infomercial purchase back in the day when Myka was a little baby and I would wake-up in the middle of the night to feed her. I had nothing else to do [while sitting there for 40 minutes] so I would usually watch QVC or TLC. Fabulous find! I even bought my mom one and insisted she buy my sister-in-law one as well. This is much better than the 'Swiffer' because you can throw the microfiber cloths in the washing machine and re-use them over and over again. Plus, it really cleans the floor quickly and efficiently (and without a lot of residue-leaving products)! I LOVE QVC and Don Aslett!

These three dusting products go hand-in-hand. I LOVE them! I seem to be attracted to dust-producing furniture, because I always see dust. The Method dusting spray (found at Target) along with the Guardsman dusting clothes (found at Bed Bath and Beyond) are a match made in heaven. They clean my wood furniture so well! I have all black bedroom furniture, and they leave my room sparkling clean (for about 7 days).... I constantly have little fingerprints all over my computer desk and kitchen table, and these perfect cleaners wipe them away in an instant!

I LOVE the little swiffer duster for those in-between jobs when I just want to do a quick 'surface' clean.


Last but not least, I LOVE Clorox disinfectant wipes. So simple, yet so effective. These are great for cleaning up little messes or wiping off door handles, countertops and other surfaces. Plus, they smell so fresh and clean.

****On that note...anyone know how to get gum out of carpet? I found a nice little wad of gum in my basement last night, and I am trying to find the best way to get it out before I start putting too many chemicals on it. Darn kids!

I LOVE....MY Valentine!

Day #14...I LOVE my Chad. I LOVE him because he has a wonderful sense of humor. I LOVE him for his ability to make me laugh even when I really don't want too. I LOVE his ambition and determination. I LOVE the example he is to our kids. I LOVE watching him be the best father. I LOVE his LOVE for golf (not really, but that seems like a nice thing to be supportive of). I LOVE having him as my best friend. I LOVE how he LOVES me just the way I am!

Happy Valentines Day!

I LOVE...Friday!

Day # 13....I LOVE Friday. There is just simply something different about a Friday than any other day of the week; I think it's the anticipation of the weekend to follow. Hooray for Friday! (But once Friday is over it seems like the weekend zips by and before you know it Monday morning has arrived! Yuck). So for now, I'm savoring every moment of my Friday!

Why do you LOVE Friday?

I LOVE..Naps!

Day #12 I LOVE my naps! There is something about a mid-day nap that just 'does a body good.' I live for my naps. When my alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m. the first thing I think when I drag my body out of bed is, 'There will be a nap taking place later this afternoon. You can do it.' I LOVE the time of day when we have finished our lunch and the kids know what comes next. It's part of the routine, and I LOVE it! (I LOVE that my kids are good little sleepers and allow me to join in on the fun! I realize I could be doing more productive things with my nap time; but it's just a quick siesta to rejuvenate myself).

I have had my adorable niece and nephew since Sunday, and let's just say I have really been missing my naps!

My LOVE of naps will last forever, but I know the convenience of naps won't last too much longer--which is why I am going savor every pillow moment I can get!

I LOVE...Myka!

Yeah, Yeah...I know...I'm behind two days. Oh well, that's what I LOVE about me; I'm human!

Day #11 I LOVE my little Myka. It seems as though she has grown-up so much these past couple of months. Her hair is seeming longer (and adorable!) and her personality is more of a 'big girl' than that of a little baby.

This high-spirited little sweetheart is my absolute LOVE. I LOVE when she wakes up in the morning and will yell from her crib, "Momeee...Momeeee... or Da-yee..Da-yeee..." (she doesn't cry for us; she just hollers)! I LOVE her snuggles. She gives the best little hugs and kisses! I LOVE her beautiful smile. She is such a happy little girl and her crazy smile brightens my day. (Even her 'pretty smile' is such a crack-up! This is when she squints her eyes and thinks she's being 'pretty.)

I even LOVE how independent she is becoming. Myka demands that she climb in the Tahoe all by herself (and it's not easy to do). "Meee...meee...." she'll start hollering when we are even remotely close to getting in the vehicle. She also wants to pick-out her own clothes, "bue" (blue everyday...which turns into pink or purple by the time I convince her we are limited on blue clothing as a little girl). She insists on putting on her own clothes, and after she is frusturated she will finally let me help her. Her shoes are put on by herself (usually backwards) and she even insists on putting on her own socks. (Let's just say that we are usually a little late for things because of Myka's new-found Independence)! I LOVE how she's obsessed with my make-up drawer. (I finally had to put a lock on it, because I would come in my bathroom and find her covered in lipstick.) If I'm applying any sort of make-up she will want the same done to herself, "Me eyes, " she'll say if I'm putting on mascara. Then I will have to pretend to apply her make-up. She is such a little girl and LOVES to have her fingernails and toenails painted.

I LOVE Myka's messes. She is so mischievous and into everything. If I'm cleaning up one mess she is usually right in the middle of creating another one. Her favorite is lotion and LOVES to apply it to herself and her babies. Chaptstick is another obsession; and that is usually applied to a much larger area than simply the mouth! (We're talk'n cheeks, nose and if I'm lucky her clothing!)

Oh, and have I mentioned Myka's LOVE for babies? She has to go to bed with at least 10 babies (a baby is anything Myka says it is. Usually a stuffed animal or a baby doll). If she sees we have missed a baby to join her in her crib she will ask for "baby" until we find the one she is wanting! She is surrounded by a sea of babies!

I LOVE this little girl and and all her uniqueness. I LOVE that she is hollering for me right now from her nap and the fun is about to continue!

I Love...JU JU Hearts!

Day #8...I LOVE Valentine candy. My absolute favorite is Ju Ju Hearts (cinnamon lips are pretty tasty too!)

It's Sunday evening and I don't feel like blogging; but I have committed myself to blogging everyday about my LOVES. Well, these were on my mind. Since it's the week of Valentines I bought some at the store; and Sundays are my 'treat' day; so let's just say I am full of Ju Ju Hearts! (And Natalie's delicious sugar cookies which are my absolute favorite!) Thank goodness tomorrow is Monday!

If you've never tasted this divine candy; go and get yourself some (the See's brand are the best!) I LOVE Valentines specifically for this reason--my Ju Ju Hearts are in season!

I LOVE...Online Shopping!

My LOVE for day #7 is Online Shopping. I realize it is a headache to a lot of people (not knowing how things fit, or how they really look once they arrive) but I LOVE it! I have found great success (and a lot of awesome deals!) I realize paying for shipping is a waste of money, but I always try to find a free shipping code or a certain percentage off.

Maybe the reason I am so fond of making purchases online is my kids are not what I would call 'fun to take to the store.' I spend more time convincing them to get out from under the racks of clothing or to stop pulling all the books off the shelves or to stop chasing each other all over the store! I leave the store a sweaty, stressed-out, mean mom who vows to never take my kids shopping again. (Which is a vow that never lasts long!)

I LOVE to look at things on the Internet (with my kids playing rowdy around me, and nobody cares). Of course there are certain stores which are a MUST to visit the brick-and-mortar location. I just have to buck-up and only go there when I really feel like shoving my kids full of candy and bribes. (Even then we are in and out!)

My absolute favorite online shopping store: endless.com. I LOVE this store! Fabulous shoes, free OVERNIGHT shipping (and return shipping!) This store takes the guessing game out of online shopping; if the shoe doesn't fit...just return it (for free!) And it provides immediate gratification. I can order something one day and the next day it's on my doorstep. Is it bad that when the doorbell rings in the afternoon Myka runs towards it saying, "oos, oos"? (That's shoes for those of you who don't know how to understand the Myka lingo)!

I LOVE online shopping and the pleasure of opening a box to see what I have bought (a week or so ago)! Or maybe it's just plain shopping that I am in LOVE with! Either way, I LOVE it!

I love...My In-Laws!

Day #6....I LOVE my in-laws. These two people are fabulous. I don't know what my life would be like without them in it.

Robb and Kathi are Chad's aunt and uncle and they are two of the most genuine, selfless, easy-going and fun-loving people. They live in Idaho, so we aren't able to see them as much as we would like; but they never forget about us. Every holiday they send my kids' a box full of surprises. (And their gifts are always so personalized!) Yesterday the kids' Valentine presents arrived on the doorstep and my kiddos spent the evening covering my house [and their little bodies] in glitter:) Robb & Kathi are always thinking of their family and have done so their entire lives.

When Robb was 32 and Kathi 28 they took Chad and his four other brothers and sisters into their home because Chad's parents were both killed in a car accident. Robb and Kathi already had 4 kids of their own; and later another one! At one time, Robb and Kathi had 6 teenagers under one roof! This family of 10 kids were loved and brought up together as one family. I LOVE this story and it exemplifies their true devotion to family and their ability to put others first. (I honestly don't know how I would react if I were ever placed in their situation. That is a huge undertaking and the entire situation changed their lives forever!)

I LOVE Robb and Kathi for their welcoming nature. I remember the first time I went home with Chad (at the young age of 18!!!) I was greeted at the front door with a huge hug by both of them. I'm sure they were a little hesitant about Chad bringing home some 'high-maintenance' Utah girl; but they were (and always have been) warm and loving towards me. They are great conversationalists and are always genuinely interested in other peoples lives.

I LOVE going to Robb and Kathi's home. Good times are always had with Chad's side of the family. They are all so easy-going and game-playing is a favorite past-time! They have raised some wonderful kids and I feel lucky (and blessed) to be a part of this family.

I LOVE....Hats!

Day #5..I LOVE my hats! Weird love, but definitely a LOVE to me. Hats are my back-up plan for a bad hair day; or to simply add a little something to a dull outfit. I am a bit of a hat collector and have way too many hats; but I can't part with them because I just might wear it again someday:) If I'm going away on vacation the first thing I pack is a couple of hats...you just never know when you may not want to do your hair or if it's windy or sunny. Anytime I'm in a store I check out their selection of hats and see if there's a hat that I don't need! I LOVE to wear hats!

Having said that; I will not roam around my house wearing a hat. I don't really find them to be super comfortable, and upon returning home from an outing where a hat was worn; it is the first thing to shed.

I especially like hats in the summertime, because I have become a bit of a fuddy duddy and don't like the sun to be on my face. (Lou Lou, you can attest to my grandma hat that I wear to the pool! It's not exactly hip and youthful; but hopefully it will keep my skin looking youthful!)

I LOVE hats! (Today was obviously a hat day; which is why it is on my mind. The bonus to it being a hat day; I didn't have to do my hair!) I LOVE hat days!

I Love...Temples

Day #4. I LOVE Temples!

I thought this would be an appropriate post for today; since we visited the Draper Temple Open House this morning as a family. What a beautiful temple! Not only was I impressed with how magnificent the temple was decorated; but the entire process of viewing the temple right now is something else! So many wonderful people are there to show you where to park, say 'hello', and just point you in the right direction....each one of them is there simply because they want to. I LOVE people who are selfless with their time--(they make me feel guilty) and they make me want to be better!

(I asked Carsen his favorite part about the temple and he said, "The bus ride!" He was so excited that we got to ride on a bus. I had been told to possibly by-pass the bus part; but Carsen would hear nothing of it!)

How lucky I am to live so close to so many beautiful temples. I don't take advantage of this (like I should). This post is not to tell you how perfect (or imperfectly) I am about attending the temple...It is more to express my LOVE for temples and the work which takes place within the sacred walls.

I LOVE temples for my family; I LOVE temples as a retreat from the 'world' and to be reminded of what is truly is important; I LOVE temples for their beauty. I LOVE temples in that no matter where you go in the world you can always count on consistency and peace.

I love...the GYM!

Day 3, I am LOVE'N my gym.

This place is more than a gym! It's fantastic. The facility itself is gorgeous and the classes and fitness instructors are booty-kick'n amazing!

Not only do I love the Gym, but I also LOVE going with my great friends. Every morning we carpool to the gym at 5 a.m. for 1.5 hours of sweat (and laughs). I'm amazed at how well we've done since the gym opened its doors on August 4, 2006...(We were there on the opening day!) and we have been consistent and have quite the routine down together. It's great to know there's somebody waiting for you to pick them up; or knowing somebody is going to be there to pick me up. Plus, even at that wee hour of the morning we are always chatty and are able to catch-up with what everyone has been up too. The unfortunate thing about this gym is it is 9 miles away...so it's a good thing we carpool!

This morning I did one of the new classes I am in LOVE with. It's called Fitness Yoga. This challenging yoga class focuses on strength, conditioning and flexibility. In the five months that I have incorporated this class into my fitness routine; I am impressed with the results! (Great class for those of you who go to this gym and are looking for something new to try!)


I LOVE my gym and the escape it allows me everyday. I am able to come home refreshed (and stinky) and face the day knowing my work-out is complete and my body (and mind) are in good health.

I Love....My Mom!

My second day of things (and people) I LOVE is my MOM.

I have the greatest MOM--ever! She is beautiful, talented, smart, adventurous, the best grandmother (and mom) and most importantly....she puts up with my Dad! She is adored by all who know her; especially her grandchildren. She is Myka's absolute favorite! My Mom is musically gifted and can play fantastically on both the piano and the organ (I should never have stopped taking lessons). Her job is the coolest; she is the Executive Assistant to the CEO of a French Gaming Company. Her company manufactures the poker chips and dice for casinos around the world! (We have more dice and cards than I know what to do with)! Her job entails traveling to France and Mexico--what a tough job.

My mom has always been a huge supporter of all that I do. I've never heard her voice any disapproval for any of my crazy ideas or goals; she just goes along with them.

I LOVE my mom! She is so generous and giving--so much so that she is taking my sister-in-law and myself to London for a week in April. (Sorry for those of you who were under the impression I was going to London to run a marathon or something...not even. I'm going there to eat chocolates and 'mind the gap.')

I Love....

My very talented friend Nat inspired me to do something fun for the month of February. (She also made me a little more motivated to update my blog template. I need to fix some things, but I think I am finally learning a little more about Photoshop). Throughout the month of February, I am going to post something I LOVE each day.

To start off the month of LOVE here's something dear to my heart:

I LOVE....

My hot-air popcorn popper! What 8-year-old girl receives a popcorn popper for Christmas? Me. I have been a popcorn lover since my diaper days and have always owned my very own popper. I like to do it my own way (now that I am little more health conscious) I have swapped out the 'real' butter for some spray butter. Chad thinks it tastes like styrofoam, but I think it's the most delicious snack. I try to limit myself, but you can usually count on the popper being used at least three times a week in our house. (I suppose I could have worse food addictions!) Even Carsen requests "Mommy's popcorn."