Tootin' Horns...

I have so many talented friends and family, that I thought I would give them a shout out, toot their horn and all that.

First off, my neighbor Mendy makes the MOST amazing Designer Bundt Cakes. I have had the best job in the world of being an official taste tester for new flavors. And I love it. Rusty does too. My waistline, not so much...but I digress.

LilyLou's is the place to check out these yummy creations. The one pictured above is the Peppermint Stick and I have crumbs of it sitting on my counter top right now. Delish. Rusty's fav is the Butterscotch and mine is the Lemon Raspberry. You may remember she made Berkley's 3rd birthday cake- Junior Mint- it was also a hit...

Next up- An old friend and fellow Heart Mom Heidi. You can read her blog here but what I think is amazing is that she has organized a run in her beautiful son Ethan's honor. I know you are all runners out there. It is for a great cause that is dear to my heart, no pun intended and if I were a runner I'd be there. Heck, for Heidi and Mr E maybe I'll become a runner.

All the info is available if you click the logo on my sidebar or from the family's blog.

Thirdly, (that so isn't a word is it?) Another amazing Mother, and friend from my ward Shawni. Now I know you all have gotten her book that she and her mother co authored, but if not, now is the perfect time to do so. You see, Shawni has an amazing daughter named Lucy. She is so special and loved so much. Her family is trying to do everything they can to do research into her rare disorder. Their blog is here and besides the amazing photography and funny real life moments you'll see on there, you'll also notice links for the "I Love Lucy Project"

Royalties from the book- which I think every Mom should have (mine got it for Mother's Day- just saying...) go towards finding a cure for this disorder. You can read all about it and see the most beautiful blue eyed girl ever, by following the link on the right. A side note, for those of you who know Shawni, just keep in mind that she was pregnant with Lucy when I was pregnant with Berkley. It was so not fair. She is so tall and skinny, even at 9 months prego. That's all I'm saying.

And next, my old friend Kim has a photography business. Which is amazing, she and her hubby are partners. And I wish I was in Utah so I could use them, but I'm not. But I can use her to design photo announcements. She did Brenner's birth announcement and my Christmas card as well as a ton of others.

I have been telling her to put them on her site, so maybe she will now...No Pressure Kim, what's ONE more blog to keep up? hee hee. Her prices are reasonable and I love everything she's done that I've seen. Plus, when we were little my sister Rhonda tried to do a fancy spin on Kim's iron railing and ended up with stitches, so I kinda love her for lots of reasons... (Rho bet you forgot that one, huh? nice) All her contact info is on her blog.

And finally, an old pal Kelli started a This & That Blog. It has tips, crafts and give aways! Who doesn't love those? Nuff said. Check it out here.

I think in my next Tootin' Horns blog I'll do recipe blogs I {heart}

A Little Reminicing...

Ever since I had Brenner, I seem to spend a lot of time in my rocking chair. Feeding him, rocking him, sleeping- I mean him not me, and watching TV. Well I noticed that my very most-est favorite show EVER Gilmore Girls was in reruns and right at the beginning of the series. So I started taping it and watching it.

After a month or two I noticed something... THEY WERE SKIPPING EPISODES! So annoying! Well, finally I dragged my lazy bum downstairs and brought up the DVD's (I have of the entire series).

Needless to say, all of my other prime time shows are on hold indefinitely while I watch Lorelei and Rory and all their crazy times again. I am almost finished with season 4 and I am already dreading it ending in season 7. This show was witty and quick and I loved it. Oh, the good old days. I swear one of my favorite compliments ever was when this cute 12 year old at church told me I reminded her of Lorelei.

Oh, Stars Hollow, Luke, Dean-Jess-Logan, Sookie, I miss you all.

And I already have an idea of who will occupy my DVD player when I finish with them... it's a toss up between Charmed, Alias and Friends or maybe I'll finally watch Heroes.

Hmmm, maybe I will be fair and just proceed in alphabetical order. What old shows do you miss? And I know one of you is wondering if you can borrow my GG dvd's...

Attention, Attention!!!

Allright, that's it.

I here by declare November the official

"If you bother to read a blog in the first place,

then take 2 seconds to leave a comment on it"

Month.

Let's face it, with google reader, and bloglines, you don't even have to blog hop to keep up on your friends blogs, but come on! Time to rejuvenate those of us who need blogs for the praise, the "hey, you're funny" and the ego. Thanks to my friend AliFinale, one of the first blogs I ever read, for this reminder and for her friend who has this cute sign on her blog. I don't know her, but I like her already...

So pass it on. I will be doing my darndest to show the love to the blogs I follow, do the same. Even if you've never commented before. Stranger or friend. Even if it's a quick "Me too!" Give us Mommy Bloggers some love... because I know you're coming and reading from my Blog Patrol. And it hurts my feelings a little that my hit counter shows 50-80 readers a week, yet I manage a lousy 5 comments- even on my best stuff? Do you know what that does to my pride???

If you agree, pass it on. Blog about it. Facebook it. Heck Tweet it- no don't really, I think Twitter is lame. But don't feel shameful about plugging yourself. Sometimes the few words we get from a comment makes our day. At least for me. And I promise, if you take the time to comment on a blog, that person will for you too sometime. It's the whole Blog Karma thing working.

Open Mouth-Insert Foot...

What is it about a woman being pregnant that causes other around them to say the first thing that comes to mind? Be it a loved one or a stranger at Target; being prego is like a magnet for stupid people comments, advice or ancient wives tales.  So, I thought I'd compile a list of things said to me in the course of my three pregnancies.  Consider it a sort of "what not to say when talking to someone expecting" list. Please feel free to comment with your personal fav's- maybe one day I'll write a book.

• Oh you just popped out in the last week.Thanks for stating the obvious...
  
• Don't worry I got really swollen in my pregnancies too. 
• Wow, are you sure there's just one? My pediatrician asked me that one. Love her.
  
• We got pregnant without even trying. This one bugs me for many reasons a) let's face it there's always some sort of "effort" involved.  And b) never say this to someone who is or has struggled with infertility. I promise they will secretly want to poke your eyes out.
• You're not supposed to lift your arms over your head. As I am closing my trunk.
• Due anytime now, huh? Actually not till August, but thanks!
  
• You're wearing flip flops to church? If you would like to squeeze my feet into more appropriate footwear, be my guest.
  
• Are you going to try for a girl? Please just let me get through this pregnancy first.
  
• You really shouldn't be drinking Coke. Oh yeah? And my 2 yr old should really be sleeping all night in his own bed too I bet.
  
• Oh just buy a few maternity clothes, everything else will stretch. No one tells you that a some point even those biggest maternity clothes won't fit.
  
• Wow, we really need to get you clothes that fit. Thanks Hon.
• So what will the baby's sign be? Really? As if I know and or care at this point.
  
• He's a little old for you to be carrying him. Well unless you're volunteering shut it.
• Be sure you drink lots of water. While I agree this is vital let's face it the more I drink the more I pee, it's a vicious cycle.
  
• Are you sleeping on your left side? Actually I just don't sleep, nasty side affect of this pregnancy but when I lay down it is on the correct side.
  
• Do you need help out with your groceries? Um duh it's 190* out and I have to get my kids in the car too. So yes of course I'd love some help.
  
• How much weight have you gained? Unless you have an MD after your name and I have your pager in my cell, that's just rude.

I plan on adding to the list. It's still early the best comments come once you hit the 30 week mark.

Sometimes I think I should have a shirt printed that says "august boy third hot tired" and on the back in smaller print " two other boys- 6&2- no name yet- yes we have a pool-no my FIL isn't my OB- yes, I'll have an epidural- I think it would solve a lot of strangers questions. And even some not so strangers as well. What's the awesomest thing that has been said to you? I love knowing I'm not the only one who gets this...

Weighed Down...

You know that feeling, after a long day you just feel really weighed down. Tired, spent- and then you put your purse down and Wa-La - not so heavy anymore! I recently thunked my purse on the counter and decided to find out just what made it so dang heavy! The contents were as follows- in no particular order of discovery...

• 4 Matchbox Cars
• 17 restaurant crayons (I save them and melt them into those cute round crayons we made as kids)
• 1 bouncy ball
• 1 'Pidermah' action figure
• $3ish dollars in loose change
• Extra camera battery and memory card
• Notepad
• Denim patches to fix Braden's pants
• A bottle of Tums
• Kids Tylenol
• A wide variety of my meds (Zofran, Tylenol, ect ect)
• 2 pens
• 1 broken pencil
• Packet of fruit snacks
• Random wrappers of various color and size
• 1 lip gloss, 2 chapsticks (girly and non), and 6 lipsticks (remember I used to be a makeup artist, old habits ad all)

Oh and then the 'essentials'

• Wallet
• Check book
• Spare diaper w/ small wet ones packet
• Ridiculously old receipts- I didn't even TRY to count those!
• Gum
• Mace

Seriously! No wonder I feel like I need a forklift every time I go somewhere! SO I have dug out an old favorite purse that is MUCH smaller. Only the 'essentials' and 1 toy car are going in it- from now on. 

Or until tomorrow when real life happens again...Obviously my OCD-ness does not apply to my handbags.

A Chip Off the Ole Block...

Well we are five days into our three week "No fun for Braden outside on bikes, scooters or anything else fun" restriction stint. It has been going okay so far. He missed school until Friday, but he is finally NOT walking like a little old man. He feels pretty good but has a nice bruise on his belly. 

The hardest thing has been keeping Berk from attacking him, or reminding him that he can't run away when he is mad, irritated at me, in trouble, breathing...(he runs around A LOT). But he is doing as well as a 6 year old should.

So we have been playing Playdough (am I the only one who tosses it once the kids mix it?), Legos (Braden previously told me "I'm not a Lego kinda guy"), new toys (lots and lots o' new toys) and board games. 

Aside from his three minute attention span, and/or interruptions by Berkley he plays pretty well indoors. He likes games so tonight we opened a new one, Hi Ho Cherry-O. I liked how easy it was and the simple math he got to practice. But after schooling him and my two year old twice I learned that Braden is a little (lot) like me when it comes to playing games.  

I noticed he spun a 2, but put 3 apples away. Next time he had to take 2 out but only took one. 

After a very mature "Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater" from moi, I have to admit I was a little proud.  You see, I may in the past have been flexible with the rules of certain games. Only like when I play Nertz, War, most any card game, Monopoly, Chutes & Ladders, and of course Bunco.  Other than that I am never inclined to help the odds in my favor.  Ever.  

At least I am coming clean, and you can consider yourself warned. But you can't blame me, I learned to cheat from my one of my grandparents at a very young age. Throw in a brother who can more or less count cards and I had awesome mentors.

Oh and don't worry, my Bunco group is well aware of my need to 'take 'advantage' of people chatting when they should be rolling. And they often try to call me out. Just watch out if I sub for you...

My Nemisis...

I hate laundry.

Okay really just the gathering part and the actual switching loads part.

I dread Monday's because that is my designated laundry day. And yes it's Tuesday but I have been procrastinating. 

But worst of all, I hate pairing up socks.

Hate it like I hate having sand all over my clean hardwoods or having it rain after I finally get my car washed. Hate it.

And why is it that all of the socks can't come back out of the laundry when you KNOW they all went in? Rusty is always asking for a pair of dark socks- good luck I say! I like the tidiness of having the laundry all folded and in baskets and ready to be put away (shoot I even started paying my little niece to help me put some of it away!) Everything is peachy, my system is set-- all except for the sock matching.  Is there a better way, any tricks? I mean besides the whole 'wear once and toss' thing which is utterly wasteful but sounds oh so good to me right now...

Home Sweet Home...

This month marks 6 years since we moved from our first home in Mesa to this home in Gilbert. Six years. It seems so crazy. Braden was only a few months old, we were weeks away from his first surgery and this house seemed so big.  Over the years you change things and adjust. You get more stuff, more people and more stuff. A once playroom gave way to a new nursery when Berk came around. A guest room was sacrificed so I would have an office of my own to 'girlify' and leave a mess if I wanted to. All white walls have been painted in the last few years so that the only white that remains is in the bathrooms- and that's just cause I can't decide how I want to paint them.  Ok really, the kids bath I want to paint in stripes-but the texture on the wall makes it impossible to get a clean line- so for now it is white. We've put crown moulding up in nearly every room, framed the windows and changed out all the light fixtures, nearly.  

Poor Rusty changed out three ceiling fans just today. About ten times. Is there some sort of law that says a box CAN'T have either a)the directions in it or b) all the parts included??? I swear we have made 10 trips to Home Depot and Lowe's today! Anyway.

And outside there are so many changes. A pool fence was one of the first additions, followed by a bigger grass area, and eventually chairs by the pool, a tramp and an ever popular sandbox. Out front we still have a list of 'eventually' to do, but we did cross a big one off early last year when we removed an UGLY tree and put in two new shade trees.  I really really really want to paint my house.  I have the color all picked out, I have a painters number- now I just need the OK from Rusty to spend the money! (hint hint)

It seems so funny how you can feel like you are bursting at the seams with toys and clothes and stuff and yet there is always something to be bought! We love this house. We thought it would be a temporary thing, only a few years at most. But we love this neighborhood, school, friends, ward and now we wonder if we can ever leave.  Now if we can just figure out where to put everything we've outgrown... I am praying for a storage unit for my anniversary, how romantic, right?

So Happy Moving Day Anniversary House- we love you. 

I've been tagged -again and again...

Ok, I am going to end the madness. I have been tagged several times and chosen to {polietly} ignore it, but no longer. I finally figured out if I do it then I can't be tagged anymore so HA!

4 Jobs I've Had
1. Barro's Pizza (first job, started the day I turned 16)
2. Foothill Place Apartments
3.Robinson's May Department Store (gotta love the employee discount)
4. Dr.'s Beck, Tutt, McNeal & Layton (the best OB's in the Valley)
4 Movies I could Watch over and over
1. National Treasure
2. Any of the "Bourne" movies
3. All things animated
4. Anything with Audrey Hepburn
4 Places I have lived
1. Sandy, Ut
2. Mesa, AZ
3. Holiday, Ut
4. Gilbert, AZ
4 guilty pleasures
1. Online Shopping
2. Blogging
3. reality TV shows
4. Dr. Pepper
4 Places I have been on vacation
1. Hawaii (Maui and the Big Island)
2. Miami Florida
3. Anywhere in Cali
4. Lake Powell
4 Favorite Foods
1. Any dessert made by my Sis in Law Jill
2. Costa Vida chicken salad
3. Coldstone- Birthday cake remix
4. Sautee (in Mesa, TRY IT)
4 places i would rather be right now
1. Sleeping
2. The Lake
3. Our cabin
4 Somewhere cooler
4 Websites I visit daily
1. Blogger- about 50 blogs, unreal
2. MSN
3. my bead suppliers
4. Amazon
6 Authors I love (there are too many books!)
1. Nicolas Sparks (I own them all)
2. JK Rowling (of course)
3. Dan Brown (read Da Vinci Code? Try Deception Point, his best ever book)
4. Claire Poulson (My Uncle, these are great LDS books)
5. Stephenie Meyers (newest Fav)
6. John Grisham (I am a sucker for his stories)
4 Things I would like to know how to do
1. Play the Piano
2. Be better with money
3. Digital Scrapbook
4. Keep my boys from tearing apart my house daily
4 things I worry about
1. Losing weight
2. Braden's lifelong health
3. Balancing my business and my kids
4. Doing a good job in my YW calling
4 happy moments
1. Marrying Rusty
2. Having my boys (mostly because the pregnancy part as OVER)
3. Seeing the reaction on clients faces when I make something for them they Love
4. Bringing Braden home from the NICU
4 Things I want to do in the next year
1. Go back to San Diego, I love it there
2. Go on a cruise
3. Build my business more
4. Add on to our house
4 People I am tagging
1. Jill P.
2. Kim S.
3. Addi R.
4. Brooke H.

I'll be watching your blogs...

Caryn Needs...

Got this from Steph's blog. What you do is google "your name needs" and see what it comes up with. Have fun google-ing!

Caryn Needs-

1.Caryn needs to remember that it rains on the rich and poor alike. (heck, I am just happy when it rains at all, unless I just washed my car)

2.Caryn needs your help. ( I do, really. I need to learn how to add about 5 hours to my day so I can get everything done I want to)

3. Caryn needs to ship a box that is 14in high, 12 inches long, and 24 inches long. (I have no idea what is in that box, or where it is going, but it had better get there on time!)

4. Caryn needs her eyes tested she has obviously been watching a different show than us (I am a pretty easy critic, but generally people don't always agree with my views --esp on reality tv and who should win!)

5. Caryn needs relief from the registrar position and would like to start training a new person sometimes before Jan. 2008. ( I mean really, between raising 2 kids, running my boutique, my calling at church, I really do need some help at the registrars office--MY PLATE IS FULL!)

And finally..

6. Caryn needs a slap because she always thinks she is right (ouch, I mean I only think that because I AM always right! ha, hopefully no one wants to smack me!)

Enjoy google-ing what you need!