Twisted Sisters and Tasks Completed

What is this? This is my to-do list from today. I know, I know, it's really blurry and you can't read what any of it says....but look how much is crossed out! For some reason, knowing today was my only shot at productivity really lit a fire under me; I haven't accomplished this much in a long time! I even hung a few pictures and squeezed in a Twister death-match with my sister.





We are hard-core.

Halloween

Lauryl, you are such a smart (cute) pregnant lady....I was Medusa for Halloween!

Andrea and I had the most fun last week making our Halloween costumes -- we are so crafty. :) We made her "corpse bride" dress from what must have been an angel costume, which we found at Saver's. I trimmed and tucked, added trims and a sash, then she went at it with the scissors, dye, and dirt to make it look like she'd been buried in it. I tried to make my dress look Grecian, modeling it after some costumes I found online, and using the colorful iridescent fabric because I thought it looked maybe a little reptilian. My hair was supposed to sort of resemble this:



But of course it's a lot shorter than that, so I went a little wilder with it. It was all nasty and ratted, with little braids and almost two dozen snakes weaving in and out. I only wish I'd gotten better pictures of it. In fact, for future reference, never ask a Harmon's employee to take pictures for you. This one would have been my best shot with my co-workers, darn it:



I learned my lesson, and had Kara shoot Andi and me; now all I have to blame is my non-photogenic-ness....



Happy Halloween!

I think fall is my favorite

I tend to get really excited this time of year. The changing weather is exciting (as long as it's not too nasty), and I love the warm, rich colors of the changing leaves. I think fall brings out the domestic diva-wannabe in me, too. The rich, warm colors are my favorite for decorating, and the chilly weather gives me an excuse to make soups and breads to my heart's content.

Halloween, for me, is the perfect kick-off to all of this. I guess I'm just a kid at heart, but I get really into this holiday. I love to dress up -- mostly, I think, because I enjoy making cool costumes. I'm actually a little self-conscious to wear them in public, but I really love to be creative so I bear with the awkwardness. My costume this year is no exception to that -- in fact, I'm probably a little more apprehensive of peoples' reactions than usual, because it may seem a little out of character for me. Still, I'm pretty excited to be a little crazy for a day. I just finished my costume tonight; I won't tell you what it is, but here's a little clue:

Anywhere but here....please!

Well, I don't get sick often, but when I do -- ka-BLAM! I've been lying on the couch since Monday, just going crazy. Colby's been so sweet and attentive, but seriously....I've gotta get up or I'm gonna LOSE it! Hehe, I definitely have a hard time "wasting" time. But the doctor says until I've gone 24 hours without a fever, I'm stuck like this.

So here I am. I think I've now seen every ANTM episode ever shot, and have eaten a whole bag of menthol cough drops. Spurred by the delirium from my unrelenting 102-degree fever, I put on my makeup at 9:30 tonight....just to feel human. Tomorrow I may attempt to shave my legs....or at least bathe. I wish I was anywhere else, doing anything else.

Like maybe here, loving the incredible view and the most amazing lightning storms every night....


Or here, Latin dancing with the locals in the Pto. Vallarta town square....


Or enjoying a random pirate ship and sand sculpture of the Virgin Mary from the boardwalk...




Or playing with the most adorable orphans I've ever met....




It's sad that it's taken this long for me to write about my trip to Mexico; it was so long ago it hardly feels like I ever went. By looking at my already pasty-white skin you'd never guess I'd gotten the nastiest, blisteriest sunburn ever, and Colby's still got a beautiful golden tan. Ha. There's too much to write in just one post, though, so I guess there'll be more to come. I'll post some videos, too, when I can get them to work.

As for right now, my nighttime cold medicine is kicking in and I'm going cross-eyed. I'm going to cuddle up with my hubby and sleep some more.

Reconstructive Surgery

I have a confession: There is a box under my bed, full of clothes that no longer fit me. Old pairs of favorite jeans, the green argyle sweater I got for Christmas in 2006 -- why do I do this to myself? I pull them out occasionally, gaze longingly at the beautiful fabrics, and try to will myself to be ten pounds thinner. Still, with great agony I am gradually emptying the box; I'll let go of all the clothes soon enough, and some lucky bargain shopper will pick them up at the D.I.

Just let me keep these pants...puh-leeze!



I can't give them up. Never mind the fact that they're a smidge too short, and a leetle tight around my thighs. They've managed to avoid the thrift store fate on multiple occasions, and will likely remain in my tender care forever.

Of course, since I can't wear them anymore they will have to find another purpose in life. Too many episodes of Project Runway, and I'm suddenly an aspiring fashion designer....my favorite pants are chopped to pieces; what have I done?!



Ta-da!



That was fun; what else is in that box?

My Little Missionary Man

I missed Swiss Days this year, and I was really bummed. I've only been once since we moved to Utah, and I was really looking forward to it. Other than that, I hadn't planned to go during Labor Day weekend; I really just wanted to hunker down in my apartment and sew. I didn't end up doing that, either. What I did do was way more awesome....

Andi and I took the world's shortest road trip to Boise so I could hang out with this dude:



My awesome little brother Matt postponed his temple appointment so I could be there with him; it was an amazing experience. He's leaving in two weeks for his mission, and I think I might die -- I'm going to miss him so much! I guess that means I will have to send him a lot of packages -- anyone have any good ideas?

I Heart IHC

Today we got a 60-page print-out from the pharmacy, listing all 274 of the prescriptions we've filled there in the past 16 months. Time after time I've waited, dejected, in the Walgreen's drive-through for the little boxes and bottles I've come to loathe. Thus I was acutely aware that they'd cost us more than $5300 -- nearly as much as we pay for 16 months' rent. What astounded me, though, was this: Since May 2008, our insurance company has actually saved us $46,081.05.

Whaaaa--?

Wow, what was I complaining about? And how much does IHC hate us? Because I don't hate them, I love them. They are my new best friend.

How do people survive without health insurance?