Strawberry Blonde

Playability!

2009-02-16T11:15:00.000-08:00

Very recent conversation between my 3-year-old niece and her grandma:

Grandma: "Hey, Em, I'm going to get dressed and you should too!"

Em: "Why?!"

Grandma: "So we can go to the grocery store! Do you want to go with me in a little bit?"

Em: "Yeah!! But not right now. Right now I'm too playable!"

Making Sugar Cookies with Em!

2009-01-25T21:04:00.001-08:00

Hanging out with baby M

2009-01-25T14:58:00.001-08:00

M's beautiful eyes!! The dark part of this picture is Thomas the Train, driving toward the camera.

Exciting!

2009-01-22T02:21:00.001-08:00

My Etsy shop is officially UP and RUNNING!

Head over to my Lazy Daisy Marie blog for details!

First to the Finish Line

2009-01-15T10:16:00.001-08:00

Last night, I had a dream about running. I know, right? RUNNING.

I was in this race. I don't know how long it was supposed to be. You know where it took place? At my house. Yup. Started in the back yard, went through the family room, hallway, kitchen, dining room, living room, up the stairs, down the hall, into my room and back. There were tons of people running laps through my house.

And I was winning! I was winning without being totally tired or sweaty or anything.

And you know who was there cheering me on? BARACK OBAMA. He totally wanted me to win.

Weird, huh? Someone who's good at interpreting dreams please tell me what this means!

My Delicious Breakfast Burritos

2009-01-13T13:30:00.001-08:00

I need to suspend humility for a minute and declare that I make the best breakfast burritos.

Curious? Do I have your attention? Here's how to experience pure culinary joy for yourself.

The following directions will make 3-4 burritos, but can easily be adjusted for however many people are being fed. Leftovers reheat well, too. These are super yummy and very filling!

You'll need the following:

Burrito Size Flour Tortillas
Eggs
Milk
Spicy Pepper Jack Cheese (grated)
Bacon
Frozen Tater Tots
Salt and Pepper
Hot Sauce (Your favorite!)

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Spread out enough tater tots to on a cookie sheet to cover about half the length of the pan. Once the oven's heated, bake the tater tots. They usually take about 15 minutes to become gold and crispy.
Trim the fat off of 5 pieces of raw bacon. Lay them on a piece of paper towel on a microwaveable plate. Microwave on high for 6 minutes.
To make the scrambled eggs, melt 1 tablespoon butter into a nonstick skillet on medium heat. crack 6 large eggs into a bowl. Mix in about 2/3 cups of milk. Add some salt and pepper. Mix together. Pour egg mixture into pan. I've found that scrambling eggs is a tradeoff between fluffiness and scrambled-ness. The less you mess with eggs, the fluffier they will be. When the eggs are 90% done, add a big handful of grated pepper jack cheese and turn the skillet to low to melt cheese and keep eggs warm til time to assemble the burrito.
By now, the tater tots and bacon should be done and out of the oven and microwave. Once cooled, break bacon and tots into bite-size pieces.
Lay a flour tortilla flat on a plate and spread some grated cheese in the middle. Microwave on high for 45 seconds to heat the tortilla and melt the cheese.
Scoop some eggs and tater tots into the middle of the tortilla. add some bacon pieces and some of your favorite hot sauce. Fold in ends of the tortilla and roll the sides tightly.
Enjoy your yummy breakfast burrito!

As you might have inferred from the directions, multitasking is important. It took me a few times to get the timing of each step down.

This is not a call to action.

2009-01-12T08:20:00.001-08:00

The only way I'm going to go run . . .

. . . is if someone is chasing me.

You may or may not know.

2009-01-06T19:30:00.000-08:00

Here are a few things about me that not quite everyone may know. . .

I don't like exercise. Now, I don't mind activity but I really really hate the idea of working out for the sake of working out. I like things like playing games or going on hikes to get a workout, but the only reason I'd go running is if someone was chasing me.
I am a chronic multitasker. I simply cannot just sit and do one thing. If a movie is on, I need to keep my hands busy, so I'll knit, blog, or facebook chat. I can't just sit and read a book, so instead I'll listen to audiobooks while I work on a project that still allows me to focus on what I hear.
I am a neat freak. I think cleaning is fun and therapeutic. Organization is great. I'm pretty much always purging my room and closet of things that I don't need. I am the opposite of a clutterbug. Oh, and I think Feng Shui is pretty legit.
Sometimes, I lie. Not about important things, but sometimes I think it's fun to try to convince someone that something absolutely absurd is true. I once spent a while explaining to a friend how if you want your hair to grow faster, you need to take down all the mirrors in your house. I usually end up telling the truth afterwards, though. This might be my compensation for never trying acting.
My hair hasn't been it's "natural color" since eighth grade.
If money didn't matter, I would be a professional student. I would rather get a bunch of degrees in completely different areas of study rather than use the degree I already have to go get my master's. There's so much out there to take in, and I wish it could be my job to just learn as much as I could.

That's all I can think of for now. If there's anything else you'd like to know, just ask! =)

Uh oh.

2009-01-05T17:49:00.001-08:00

A Lesson From the NICU

2009-01-05T16:16:00.001-08:00

A while back, I was interning in a child life program and I was assigned to hold a little baby girl in the NICU. She was only 4 months old and had already had many surgeries, with many more to come. As I held her, trying to maneuver around the many tubes and wires connected to her tiny body, I felt the spirit touch my heart, and remind me of what we agree to when we choose to come to Earth.

Not long ago, Heavenly Father told her Spirit that she would come to Earth with all of these trials, that doctors would be fighting to keep her alive, and that the very act of breathing and living would be a struggle. And she still, knowing the difficulties of the calling, chose to come here anyway. Because mortality is that much of a blessing, that it's worth the hard times to gain the experience. It's such an important journey to take, that she was willing to temporarily leave the presence of her Heavenly Father, even though a life of pain and struggle awaited her.

That baby girl reminded me that I, too, was presented with a calling, and that I chose mortality despite the trials that I would encounter. My trials were put into perspective, and I realized that the things I face can not lessen the value of this mortal experience. I, too, told Heavenly Father that I would happily take those troubles upon me to be able to live on Earth and to return to live with Him again.

That baby girl taught me so much in an hour, and she had only been on this Earth for 4 months. I hope and pray that I always remember her and that experience.

Big Picture Restlessness

2009-01-01T15:37:00.001-08:00

What do I want to do with myself?! I have some good ideas. I'm pretty sure any of them would work and I'm sure I'd be able to live in a just fine existence if I went with any one of them.

But I don't want something that just works and would provide a just fine existence. I want something exciting and engaging. I don't want a career where I address Problem A with Solution A. I want to do something where I can continue to grow and thrive and learn ALWAYS.

I call this a case of "Big Picture Restlessness". I've had this plan for a while that I'd take the degree I received into a grad school program that I've always been attracted to, and after hiding out in school for 2 more years I'd enter that job field and be happy camper working lady. But lately I've realized I'm not sure enough to commit the time and resources necessary to master a field that I feel good about but not CERTAIN about.

So, now what?

I want to take classes I haven't taken before and try new things. I want to see what inspires me and what could make me happy in the long run. And none of it has to do with money. There's just so much out there in the world to learn and explore. I don't want to cop out by thinking I've found my niche when I've found a pretty good fit.

So my new plan is a lack of a plan. And I know that by saying that, I risk being accused of lacking direction. But to that I say, "I have a direction. I'm going forward." And as for plans, I think I will plan to be surprised.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T21:58:00.001-08:00

Hope you all are having a great time ringing in the New Year! Thanks for reading my blog and paying attention to my silly life =)

One of my favorite New Year's Eve movie scenes is from "When Harry Met Sally" and includes this memorable quote:

I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

Cutie Pie!

2008-12-30T17:34:00.001-08:00

How cute is this kitty?!?!?!

Product RAVE!

2008-12-30T15:56:00.001-08:00

I. LOVE. OLIVE OIL!

I really love it with balsamic vinegar, garlic, and french bread. YUM. However, EVOO is an incredible beauty product.

Yep. Just plain extra virgin olive oil. The stuff you buy at the grocery store. The on sale discount stuff. It's all FANTASTIC for a myriad of beauty uses. Here's my list of my favorite uses for a product you probably have sitting in your cupboard right now:

Moisturizer - for face and body, EVOO is great. Paula Begoun recently discussed the benefits of olive oil as a moisturizer and offers some great information.
Conditioner - olive oil makes hair super silky! Sometimes I'll put olive oil in my hair, put it up in a towel, and hang out for a while before washing it off in the shower. It's a great way to add shine and softness to dry hair!
Anti-Frizz - Post-shower, applying a little olive oil to the ends of hair helps keep frizz away! Careful not to get it too close to the roots though!
Shaving Moisturizer - My skin is irritated by many shave gels and the whole shaving process, but olive oil is a great substitute! I'll rub some in to my skin before hopping in the shower and when it's time to shave, I don't have to apply anything else! My skin ends up silky smooth, soft, and I don't have to deal with the itchiness I sometimes face post-shave.
The Oil Cleansing Method - I can't explain this as well as the site I linked to here, but I will say that I LOVE oil cleansing. If you're feeling adventurous and want a totally new skin-cleansing experience, try it out!

While these are my favorite uses for olive oil as a beauty product, you can find a lot of other uses from the EVOO reviews at MakeUpAlley. (You may have to register to view the page, but registration is free!)

Work in Progress!

2008-12-29T05:17:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I've been working a whole lot lately on getting things ready so that I can start an Etsy shop to sell some of my handmade creations!

I need to ask you friends and family to do me a few favors to help me get things going! Please go check out and bookmark my new craft blog over at http://lazydaisymarie.blogspot.com and let me know what you think of the layout and the posts I've done so far.

The point of that blog is for me to gather some information so I can be more successful in marketing my products when I start selling things. Over time, the blog will probably become more of a showcasing point for current projects and other things that will soon show up for sale in my Etsy shop.

BTW, the only reason I'm not linking to said shop right now is that I haven't listed anything yet, so it's just a sad page with my very cool banner on it =)

I appreciate any help and support you're willing to lend, and I'll try to return the favor when needed. Thanks again!

Finally, these won't be spoiling anything!

2008-12-25T23:18:00.000-08:00

As I warned everyone, I was pretty much giving only handmade gifts this year for Christmas. I didn't really plan well, so I have a few things I still have to finish before giving them to people, but here's the artsy stuff I gave people today that I want to document. This cartoonish fish painting was my gift for baby nephew M.

Here on the right is the painting I gave to niece Em. I think it matches some of the stuff in her room. That's what I was going for at least.
Last of the paintings (for now) are these little handprint canvases. I gave these to my sister and bro-in-law. I painted the patchwork background and then helped each of the kids get their handprints on them (counter-clockwise from the top: E, Em, and M). M was a little too young to get to not smear the paint, but I think it turned out cute lol.

So true. Learn this.

2008-12-23T16:41:00.000-08:00

I say it "Shamp-Oo"

2008-12-18T17:25:00.000-08:00

Here's my current favorite shampoo and conditioner products. I'm including my favorite low-cost, drug store brand and a higher-end product for whenever we get out of this recession. =)

(P.S. the links will take you to the Makeup Alley review page for the product, just in case you don't trust me.) ;)

Aussie Moist

Shampoo and Conditioner
(Around $3/bottle, depending on where you shop)

I really love this stuff! It smells delicious, and even the shampoo helps detangle my hair from whatever mess I got it into since I last washed it. I'm one of those bad people who shampoos daily (don't hate), and this doesn't strip my hair at all. The conditioner is also great! It leaves my long hair well hydrated and easy to comb through. It's really important to me that I don't have to fight my products to get volume in my hair, and this doesn't weigh down or look greasy. And best of all, you can't argue with the price.

Aveda Dry Remedy
Shampoo and Conditioner
($22/bottle on Amazon.com)

I've been a fan of Aveda products ever since I started going to an Aveda concept salon back in high school, where I found the best hair dresser EVER. As for the Aveda fragrances there's pretty much people who hate them, and people who love them. I LOVE them. And that's why, if I'm ever feeling rich, I splurge on Aveda. This shampoo and conditioner work just about as well as Aussie Moist, for about 7 times the price. The way I see it, it's paying 7 times as much for the smell. It's up to you if it's worth it. This shampoo and conditioner leave my hair shiny, lightweight, and untangled, and I haven't had a bad hair day on them yet =)

Amazon.com Widgets

So there's my first review. How'd I do?!

Putting my limited knowledge to use...

2008-12-18T15:57:00.000-08:00

I, JessicaMarie, am a cosmetics junkie.

But I'm not addicted. I could quit anytime, I swear.

As an avid cosmetics/hair/makeup/beauty collector, I recently decided that if I'm going to blog about stuff I know, I can safely review and recommend products that i've tried, just in case any of you care about my opinion or happen to be looking for something new.

Most of my friends and family already get doses of my opinion pretty much anytime they mention anything about makeup, their current skin malady, or some outrageously expensive product they just bought to make their dreams come true. I absolutely require of myself that I be an informed consumer for these things, because the truth is, there is a LOT of crap out there. And the crap can cost just as much or even more than the stuff that actually works. And even worse (as far as I'm concerned) is that products claiming to treat a problem can actually exacerbate the issue you're shelling out money to treat. LAME!

Oh, and by the way, when I talk about a product that "works", I mean that the product is effective for what you buy it for after your own investigation, not necessarily that the product does what it claims. For example, one product I use claims that it "is a nightly moisturizing cream clinically proven to start to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and age spots in one week for healthier, younger-looking skin", and (doy) i'm not very wrinkly or age-spotted. Why do I use it? Because it has an effective amount of Retinol as an active ingredient, which helps me with my acne problems. Savvy?

Being an informed consumer of these specific products is very important because cosmetic companies can make all sorts of silly claims and show off results from their independent, clinical *coughsuper-biased* studies and nobody regulates them! The exception to this rule is products containing SPF. The sun-protective content has to be legit. But, that doesn't mean anything else they claim is backed by the FDA. Don't look at what the people who make money if you buy the product say. Look at ingredients and reviews from competent people who have actually tried the product.

Another important thing to point out is that these things can be CHEAP! There are only so many active ingredients that work for each condition, and they can mostly be found in just as many quality drugstore products as they can in department stores or higher-end shops. And, most of the department store brands out there are actually owned and manufactured by the same people who own those cheaper brands. So a lot of the time, the only difference between the products is the price while the formulations are almost IDENTICAL!

Anyway, how have I come to know all this information? I've read up on a few great websites and books. If you're interested in becoming more beauty-product-savvy, I suggest checking them out! One of the best ways I use my iPhone is checking every product out before I buy it to avoid having to return the dang thing (though I do like returning stuff, probably because of getting money back that I thought was gone forever).

Paula's Choice is where I got started with this whole shindig. Paula Begoun pretty much saved me from my struggle with acne for the past decade. Once you get to the site, the best place to start is under the "Learn" heading in the left sidebar. You can see how she rates products in her reviews, and she cuts through a lot of the ridiculous claims made by cosmetic companies. She has great information for people with all sorts of different skin issues and sensitivities. However, poking around this free site, you don't get to see her exhaustive collection of product reviews... for that, you need a subscription to Beautypedia. A subscription is currently $24.95/year, which is definitely worth it, as you can save far more than that by educating yourself before going out and impulse-buying products.

Makeup Alley has product reviews for just about anything you've ever seen at the store that might be used cosmetically. Membership is free, and you can post your own reviews for products, read other people's reviews, and even participate in Swapping products that you don't like for products that you do (GREAT alternative to throwing stuff out years after the fact). Also, because regular cosmetics junkies like me are the ones adding reviews, a product will often be reviewed very soon after hitting the shelves, which isn't necessarily the case with some of the other links I'm putting here. BTW, HERE is my personal MUA profile!

So, there you have it. Now you can expect to see more reviews and information as I actually get posting about these things! =)

New Stuff!

2008-12-15T11:03:00.000-08:00

So, as many of you know, I did a little redesigning of the blog a little while back. Here's a little bit of info about stuff you'll see here, mainly in the sidebar over on the left.

First, I link to blogs of my family and friends. Doy. I think you get it.

Then, I link to other blogs that are on my google reader. The majority of these cater to the LDS people, women, or people interested in cool, cute, or funny stuff. It just so happens that I fit all of these categories.

Also, I have a link to the blog for my sister's store, Tender Cargo. You definitely should check it out if you shop for things relating to pregnancy, nursing, babies, etc. Not only would you be supporting a good company, but the stuff there is all way high quality.

Seriously, So Blessed is a hilarious blog. 'Nuf said.

Then I have two links to Paula's Choice, a company that sells GREAT skincare and makeup. I'm going to do a whole post about this soon, so check back for more info.

The rest is just stuff that offers a little insight on me, like my GoodReads widget, Amazon wishlist, etc.

That's all, just wanted to draw your attention over there! =)

Go check this out!

2008-12-12T21:32:00.001-08:00

Lots of giveaways at SERIOUSLY SO BLESSED!! Go see!

Update!

2008-12-04T17:05:00.000-08:00

I've been making changes to my Amazon wishlist. I'm changing most things related to an apartment to lower priority, cuz I'm probably going to be moving into a house with other girls who already have most of that stuff. I don't mind building a collection for when I need it, but it's just not as critical as it seemed originally. Anyway! Check it out =)

Notes for my talk.

2008-11-30T20:41:00.000-08:00

Here are the notes I used for the talk I gave today, in case you missed it. These notes don't contain my obligatory opening joke or my testimony, but I never strayed too far from these for the body of my talk. Enjoy.

"You are here to enable the divine purpose of the Universe to unfold. That is how important you are."
Eckhart Tolle - Writer, Spiritual Teacher

"You are here..."

Speaking about the purpose of the Earth...
Alma 42:26 "And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes, which were prepared from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh about the salvation and the redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery."

Mortality and life on Earth is an absolutely critical part of Heavenly Father's plan. It is through this mortality that we will come upon salvation and redemption, or destruction and misery. This mortal probation allows us to use our agency and choose our fate.

"You are here to enable..."

Heavenly Father's Holy, most perfect plan could NOT be carried out without you. It is only through each and every individual that this plan can come to pass. You enable God's plan to unfold. There is not a soul that you will ever meet whose importance is less than infinite in this plan.

Thinking this way can help us to treat one another better. I feel like I am better able to act with love and respect towards people I meet when I remember that we are ALL sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, and His plan includes each of these souls. Our baptismal covenants bind our promise to uphold the Lord's plan, and to do so requires the utmost respect for every single individual's divine purpose. Just as you and I are here to enable His plan to unfold, so is everyone you encounter.

"enable the divine purpose of the Universe"

Heavenly Father has a plan for his children, for the Earth, for everything. Every single person you meet is a CRITICAL piece of his plan. Nobody here is just coasting or taking up space.

Some people of certain faiths take God's plan and purpose for the Universe as a means to believe in predetermination - that what they do doesn't matter because they have no effect on the outcome - their fate is prewritten into the plan.

However, knowing that the Lord has a plan does not free us of responsibility. It means that we should be making a conscious effort to seek to know our place in his plan. We can consecrate our efforts to help his plan unfold.

D&C 123:17 - "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."
Do you do all that lies in your power to help further the Lord's divine purposes?

It's interesting to relate this to your day-to-day life. Think if what you're doing fits with your place in the Lord's plan. If I did more time reflecting this way, I'd probably be a little more driven to do good works. After all, I hope that Heavenly Father, who knows me better than anyone, has more for me to do and accomplish in his plan than be lazy, watch movies, or shop. Whatever your vice is that takes time away from carrying out the will of the Lord, ask yourself if the one who knows you better than yourself might expect more.

From our Heavenly Parents, we have inherited Divine Nature, with divine qualities that are our responsibility to develop.

2 Peter 1:4-7 : "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."

Here we are given the list of divine qualities we are to strive to develop. I know that as we try our very best to develop these qualities, we will be more aware of our divine purpose in Heavenly Father's plan. By living with more faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity, not only will we be instruments in the Lord's hands to bring about His work and His purposes, but we will also partake of wonderful fruits of our efforts.

2 Nephi 2:25 - "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy"

Define this by noticing what it's not. It's not "men are, that they might have pride/things/glory/easy lives/PLEASURE"

Eckhart Tolle: "Pleasure is always derived from something outside you, whereas joy arises from within"
Rightly so, joy arises from these deep, inherited, divine qualities that lie within each of us. Our Heavenly Father, through his Great plan of Happiness, has a monopoly on true, lasting joy. The world will often try to sell us pleasure and market it as joy, but things outside of us can only bring cheap knockoffs of joy. We need to be careful, as the adversary has many carefully placed and cunning salespeople trying to market us these pleasures as sources for lasting joy.

If I'm giving you something for Christmas . . .

2008-11-19T20:39:00.000-08:00

Just a little FYI: I'm really not spending money right now. That means that if I'm giving you (or your children) things for Christmas, they're going to be limited to things I can make. That would include the following:

Paintings
Drawings
Knit stuff
Jewelry

If none of these things appeal to you, it would probably be best for you to hint something cheap I could get you! Also, if you like the idea that I'll be making you stuff but hate certain things (scarves, landscapes, necklaces, etc.) please let me know ASAP in some way, seeing as I'm already working on things and am trying to plan out everything else. Thanks! =)

BabyCats

2008-11-19T19:46:00.000-08:00

When I found Zoey like this, it looked like she was actually reading the voting guide. She moved around a little bit by the time I grabbed the camera, but this is still pretty cute. She's still our B.A. kitty. Toby doesn't really try to mess with her at all. She defends herself well and doesn't take no crap from nobody. In terms of snuggle-factor, she likes to nap and hang out nearby people, but only comes up for some loving every now and then.

I caught Roxy in this very funny position on their scratching/play post one day. She fell asleep like this for a good 20 minutes. She's definitely keeping the title of funniest sleeper. Roxy's a little daintier and more fragile than her sistercat. She's a little clumsy and seems to get confused sometimes, but we don't care cuz she's so sweet and pretty =) Shes a little more snuggly than Zoey when it comes to laying with people, though the kitties do cuddle with each other a LOT.

The kittens both have actually discovered the fun of playing with the bathroom faucets. Every morning and night when I go to get cleaned up, they rush in ready for me to turn on the drip for them to play. Roxy will get all up in the sink and get her whole head wet, while Zoey's a little more careful and prissy about the water and stays a little bit further back.

Anywho, they're super cute and we love them. Toby's definitely more used to them and a little bit big brotherly sometimes. Come play with the kitties! They're happymakers.