Sweet Caroline

Friday night my mom and I went to the Neil Diamond concert at the Arco Arena. This was her mother's day gift from me and my little family. I have fond memories of Neil Diamond blarring from the radio and my mom singing along with a bandana in her hair as we cleaned the house. She has always liked Neil and I couldn't wait to go with her (I do enjoy his music, but can't say I'm one of his greatest fans). 
I was surprised to see the number of younger people there and in fact, just a few rows in front of us was a young teenage boy who was dancing and singing along to nearly every song! He was having a blast! 
It was a good concert, except at the end while we were trying to leave the arena and we got stuck in a human traffic jam, not good when you are only 5'2" and you are in the middle!
Intersting Facts:
Neil Leslie Diamond, (born January 24, 1941), is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actor.

As of 2001, he claimed worldwide record sales of 115 million copies, and as of 2002 he was ranked third, behind only Elton John and Barbra Streisand, on the list of the most successful adult contemporary artists in the history of the Billboard chart." As of May 2005 Diamond had sold 120 million records worldwide, including 48 million records in the U.S.

Though his record sales declined somewhat after the 1980s, Diamond continues to tour successfully, and maintains a very loyal following. Diamond's songs have been recorded by a vast array of performers from many different musical genres.

Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984, and in 2000 received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award.
Interesting Facts:
* He has been married 2 times.
* He has two daughters
* In 1979 he had a tumor removed from his back and was wheelchair bound for 3 months.

My Color Based Personality Career

So I saw this on my friend Jenni's blog and I took  two different quizes and here are my results - pretty dang accurate if I do say so myself. Try it out here!

Quiz #1:

The Dewey Color System® is the world's first and only validated, color-based personality career testing instrument. Based on our experience and your interests, your best suited occupations are listed below. 

Best Occupational Category
You're an ORGANIZER 
Key Words:
Self-Control, Practical, Self-Contained, Orderly, Systematic, Precise, and Accurate 

These conservative appearing, plotting-types enjoy organizing, data systems, accounting, detail, and accuracy. They often enjoy mathematics and data management activities such as accounting and investment management. Persistence and patience allows them to do detailed paperwork, operate office machines, write business reports, and make charts and graphs.

ORGANIZER CAREERS
Suggested careers are Administrator, Secretary, Printer, Paralegal, Building Inspector, Bank Cashier, Private Secretary, Statistician, Operations Manager, Financial Analyst, Bookkeeper, Medical Records Technician, Developer of Business or Computer Systems, Clerical Worker, Proofreader, Accountant, Administrative Assistant, Banker, Certified Public Accountant, Credit Manager, Store Salesperson, Actuary, Dental Assistant, Business Education Teacher, Food Service Manager, IRS Agent, Budget Analyst, and Underwriter.

ORGANIZER WORKPLACES
Your very careful, conscientious, conservative nature gives others the confidence to trust you with handling money and material possessions. Structured organizations that have well-ordered chains of command work best for you.

Suggested Organizer workplaces are large corporations, business offices, financial lending institutions, banks, insurance companies, accounting firms, and quality control and inspection departments.

2nd Best Occupational Category
You're a CREATOR 
Key Words:
Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional 

These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or whether they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.

Quiz #2:

Your Career Planner Quiz results appear below, grouped under "Interests" and "Style." "Interests" are activities you enjoy, regardless of your skills. "Style" refers to the behaviors you use to get results.

Career Quiz Results 
 
People with Blue interests like activities that allow them to be creative. This can be through more traditional visual arts, writing or musical pursuits although not limited to these. The creativity is often expressed in thinking of new ideas or strategies that can have a broad range of applications. Blue interests often like thinking about the future and planning for long term benefits. Hobbies include: performing or listening to music, attending theater, story telling, journaling, decorative arts, painting. Career choice often are: Editor, Journalist, Teacher, Strategic Planner, Consultant, Performing Arts, Marketing, Communications, Research and Development. 
 
People with Yellow strengths are good at managing details and creating sophisticated processes that allow them to get complex work done. Once a game plan has been put in place, it is implemented. Their decisions are based on facts and carefully reasoned. When working with other people, they are fair and democratic and always can be counted on to deliver what they commit to. 

There are four possible ratings categories organized by color.

RED indicates
Expediting

GREEN indicates
Communicating

BLUE indicates
Planning

YELLOW indicates
Administrating

Make your voice heard!

Now I don't consider myself to be a politically active person. I mean, I vote at each election and I have my feelings about the major issues and even the minor issues, but I have not been one to really rally around a particular candidate or issue. I have always been involved in student government from Elementary School all the way through College. I have served as a student representative on my home towns School Board. I have been involved, just not walking the precients, making phone calls, attending fundraisers, etc... Well this year is different. I was asked to help with a pretty hot topic proposition here in CA and Ryan and I have a dear friend who is running for school board and he has asked me to be his campaign/event scheduler.

My post today is really meant to introduce my friend, Lance Christensen, who is running for San Juan Unified School District School Board.

I appreciate his desires to really make change and that he is passionate about making our public education system a place that will be a benefit to those who learn there, teach there, and volunteer there.I fully endorse him as a trustworthy and knowledgeable candidate and I hope that you will take a few minutes to check out his website at www.lancechristensen.com 

Alka Seltzer Rockets

I am so lucky to be the science docent for Dallin's class again this year. I love science and was so excited to expand on the lessons they've had about the states of matter (solids, liquids, and gas). So today we made Alka Seltzer Rockets! 

This is a great lesson to show how a solid can be mixed with a liquid to make a gas. 

The Experiment: (Please note – this experiement should be done out side).

• Fill a small container (think of something like a clear 35mm film canister) about half full with water.
• Add alka seltzer tablets to the water
• Quickly put the lid on the container
• Quickly place the container on a stable surface with the lid on the ground.
• Stand Back! The container will pop open  and you will have lift off (well at least a few inches of lift off)

(The alka seltzer tablet is made out of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate and when they react they release CO2, Carbon Dioxide, which creates the pressure in the container).

No lesson would be complete without food being brought into the mix somehow. So here is a cool way to show the same reaction with rootbeer floats!

Enjoy rootbeer floats – ice cream or frozen yogurt (solid) and rootbeer (liquid) mixed together make foam (gas) on the top. 

Followers

I really like this new feature...

Look to the right and see the thing that says "Sometimes you feel like a nut - an Orange Peanut that is"?? See my friends who are there?Well I don't have as many as the picture below.

I am still in the process of entering the blog sites that I want to follow but this is so cool.
When I log on and go to my dashboard, I can read down through and see who posted while I was away. If I want to leave them a comment I just click on the blog name and it takes me straight to their site.

I love reading what my friends are up to and this will be a nice way to keep up. I can read through and easily see who's posted and who hasn't today. No more stalking websites waiting on a post.

Yippee for Google - cool feature and thanks to Stefanie and Pikes Pickles for the Hot Tip! 

(Don't forget to click on my follower box and become a follower -that way I can see the little tiny thumbnail of your face!)

Blog Template Websites

I have happened upon some great websites with darling backgrounds to decorate blogs. Enjoy!

The Cutest Blog on the Block

Lee Lou Blogs

Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates

SJH Blog Design

{The ABCs of Megan}

Me in Playa del Carmen, MX

A is for age: 31 years old

B is for burger of choice: I enjoy Blue Cheese hamburgers. Red Robin's makes this one Blue Cheese hamburger that is amazing!

C is for the car I drive: a 2007 Saturn Outlook (oh it is so pretty), and a 1997 Lexus (love the sound system and the giddy up)

D is for your dog's name: We don't have a dog. You know, the older I get the less I really want any pets!

E is for essential item you use every day: Toothbrush - very important and everyone should use one! I could name a gazillion other essential items, but that's the one that I want to highlight today!

F is for favorite TV show at the moment:I actually haven't been watching TV all that much. I have been more interested in reading.

G is for favorite game: Games are great and I love them all!!!! Let the good times roll!

H is for home state: California.

I is for instruments you play: Played is more like it - I used to play the Violin.

J is for favorite juice: Passion Fruit or Lime

K is for whose bum you'd like to kick: Not really the fighting type. I think I'm harder on myself than anyone else!

L is for last restaurant at which you ate: La Rosa Blanca - yummmmm

M is for your favorite Muppet: I always liked the Crazy Chef. Interesting that he would be my favorite, because I do not enjoy cooking. I just loved how he threw things everywhere.

N is for number of piercings: Just 2, one on my left ear and one on my right ear. I did have the top of my ear pierced, but that was some dumb college thing. That came out my Sophomore year in college.

O is for overnight hospital stays: I have had several surgeries and only had to stay over night with the 2 c-sections. (6 days in total).

P is for people you were with today: My boys and my honey.

Q is for what you do with your quiet time: Blog, Read, Yoga, Family History research, rest, sew, to name a few....

R is for biggest regret: I do have things that I would do or say differently, but I can't think of anything I regret. Everything I have been through has made me who I am - a quirky, opinionated, nutty - daughter of God.

S is for status: Happily married for 10 years!

T is for time you woke up today: 7:05am

U is for what you consider unique about yourself: Hmmmm - I can fit my whole fist in my mouth, I don't know. Maybe you can help - let me know what you think is unique about me!

V is for vegetable you love: I love veggies - my favorite would have to be..... sweet potatoes (baked like potatoes with butter and brown sugar in them, yummm).

W is for worst habit: worrying... I worry about EVERYTHING and drive myself crazy! I am constantly thinking of the worst case scenario for anything we are doing. It is annoying and exhausting.

X is for x-rays you've had: I've had a few on my legs and arms, turned out to be sprained. I've had many in the dentist office, over the years, and lots of ultra sounds.

Y is for yummy food you ate today: applesauce pancake with Cinnamon-sugar garnishing the top. You know you want some....

Z is for zodiac: Cancer and yeah I get crabby and I need my alone time!

Stretch Marks

My very clever and smart sister, Bethanne (technically sister-in-law, but I love her as my own blood) has created an informational blog which will feature references and activities that she uses with her children's school-time and lessons for her Sunbeam class (3-4 year olds at church). 

She is very knowledgeable in the field of pedagogy (The art or science of being a teacher. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction). I often wonder why she didn't pursue this while she was in college, but am so grateful she has found this to be a joy and talent of hers. She has had the opportunity to serve in the Primary (a church organization for children ages 18 months - 12 years of age) for many years and has developed fun activities and lessons.

I too share a love for all things educational (I have a BA in Child Development/Elementary Education), but she really uses her ideas everyday with her family - she celebrates her own classroom at home. I have so much to learn from her.

She has asked me to be a contributor and I am thrilled to include FHE lessons, crafts, activites, etc... 

So check out Stretch Marks and come back often. I hope you find the tips, games, lessons, etc... helpful as you gather your little ones around and teach them about things on Earth and in Heaven too.

HELP!!!

I have two sewing machines (I am so grateful for them), and I have created many fun things on them (pillows, aprons, purses, toothfairy pillows, skirts, pants, etc...). I am sad to report that they are both having issues and are in the shop being cleaned and repaired. So I am preparing myself for the inevitable - the cost of repairs may be as much as getting a new machine.  Which leads me to my HELP!!!!!

If you sew and have a machine that you just love or wish you had, please leave me a comment and let me know what brand, model number, and what you like about it.

Preferably not one as old as this darling Singer...

Something more modern would be great!

As you may know, there are so many machines on the market with so many functions to choose from - it can be quiet overwhelming and since my sewing machines were given to me, I have never had to search for one. Any tips you might have will be much appreciated! 

Roller Skating!

Last night was our opening social for our youth (young men and young women ages 12-18). I look forward to this activity every year, and am so glad that I was able to go! I am happy to report I did not fall (no repeats of last year). 

The kids wanted a disco night and boy am I glad that they did because the music was AWESOME!!!!

I will post some pictures once I get them!

Look who was on TV!

Peanut #1's teacher, Mr. Barnes, was choosen as News 10 Teacher of the Month. We are pleased to have him as our son's teacher and look forward to this year. He is new to our school, but has been teaching for 10 years. The News 10 camera crew went to the school yesterday and filmed the kids in the class. Check out the video clip!



You can also check it out at www.news10.net

Free Giveaways from Pike's Pickles

You should mosey on over to Pike's Pickles to check out her free giveaway for today! She is putting together a Family Home Evening box that will include a lesson, a treat, and this game:

I have never played this game, but Stefanie says it's one of her families favorite games. 

Nie Nie is in my prayers!

Have you heard about this darling couple in Arizona?

From the Nie Reovery website: "On Saturday, August 16, 2008, Stephanie Nielson was in a plane crash with her husband, Christian Nielson, and his flight instructor, Doug Kinnear, near St. Johns, Arizona. Doug Kinnear passed away soon after arriving at the Maricopa County Hospital.

Christian & Stephanie remain in critical condition at Maricopa Burn Center. Christian has sustained burns on over 30% of his body. His wife Stephanie’s body was burned over 80%.  

For the past four years, Stephanie has welcomed us into her charming abode through the NieNie Dialogues. Far from being a product of creative editing, the Nielson’s don’t just shine through the selective lens of a blog. They are ingenuous examples of family devotion, eternal romance, and Christ centered faith. This site is dedicated to their welfare & recovery."

*Their story has touched my heart and my prayers and well wishes are with them and their family. Their 4 children are being cared for by their loving extended family! So tragic! Everytime I think of them, I give my little guys an extra hug and kiss. May we never take for granted the time we have with out loved ones!

Chalkboard Napkin Rings

These are so darling! Check them out at MoMa! They are expensive, but being the fugal decorator that I am, I will just make them myself! I can't wait!

Ugggghhhh!

Look what I found while I was on the phone:

Near the end of my phone conversation I started to smell something clean and fresh and I knew it wasn't from the dishsoap. I walked into the family room and found Little C making the room "smell clean!"

What's that white powder all over the tv?

The TV remote - betcha' couldn't tell with it being buried under all that white stuff!

An action figure in the snow? Nope.

Baby Powder, EVERYWHERE! Not only was it on the TV, TV remote, action figure, and my adorable son; it was also found inside a sand pail, sprinkled on a blanket, covering pj bottoms, the floor, etc... Little C told me he was making it smell good and that he did. He also helped me vacume it up! I tell you - beware if you are on the phone, hide the baby powder!

Sunday Cookies

Our Sunday was a nice relaxing day! We went to church and then came home and spent a nice evening together. Neither Ryan nor I had meetings before or after church, a rare occurence.

So I took advantage of that and we made yummy chocolate chip cookies, thanks to this recipe from my friend Debbie! (Just note that the baking soda is 1 1/2 tsp).

Free Giveaways - PacNaks

My blogging friend, Pike's Pickles, is hosting free giveaways on her blog. Today is the giveaway of the cute decals and charms from PakNaks. They velcro to just about everything - no sewing, ironing, etc.... A nice way to dress up a backpack, headband, dress, and so on! 

Some of my favorites are: Sola, Donny, Lola, Homer, and Grant. (Normally I would include a photo, but I have to convert them from gif's so that I can upload them, so for now go check out their site).