GOODBYE 2008...

GoodBye 2008..

I can pretend I am sad to see you go but I am not!

But I am very much looking forward to a fine 2009.

I am so happy for the small and simple things that have come my way...I look forward to many more..

New Post Below...but here is a photo montage...

Please ignore the fact that I look..well chubby..

Toddler Travels...

On the road again...lost..carsick..traffic..but on the road again...the Hyundai is on the the road again...

So it has been a whirlwind month and tomorrow is December. I do not even want to think about that! But our tree is up and Jeff has gone crazy with the outdoor lights per usual...

We traveled over Thanksgiving..and let me tell you thoughts of National Lampoon were going round and round in my head..except we weren't headed anywhere near as cool as Wally World...

So we leave at about 9 am as always on Schmier Standard Time..doh...and things are going smoothly for 22 minutes until Jeff said I need to go to the restroom..we haven;t even gotten out of the state at this point..so we go to Primm..where Jeff takes care of his business and then I kid you not gets lost in Primm, yes the small border town with like two exits..the conversation was

Me: The freeway is that way!"
He says" No there must be one this way.."
Me: "No, there isn't"
Jeff: Well Primm is stupid then!"
Me: "Apparently, Primm is only stupid because you cannot figure it out!"

Sigh...we did eventually make it to our destination but not before Logan got carsick all over his clothes which are now residing on the side of the road somewhere outside of Baker.

All in all, it was a good holiday. Ikea and Togo's were visited. Also, the LA Zoo. We love the zoo! I will post some pictures from our fun outing...

On our way out we went to a store called "Its a wrap!" It is where the studios sell back clothes and accessories from TV shows. I got a wool pleated skirt for $5.00 that was originally $394.00 at Barneys! SCORE! I will wear it tomorow to work with my funky boots...

All in all, A good trip

But it is nice to be home sweet home...

27 in 27...

I am noticing a pattern here..I only post on Saturdays? Hmm..

So I had a birthday this week, yes that right, and I turned 27. So long to even my mid twenties...sigh..though everyone at work tells me to quit my complaining since most of them are past even the mid forties...

So unlike most people who make resolutions during New Years..I use my birthday..so below are 27 things I wish to accomplish during my 27th year....in no particular order

1. Read all of Doctrine and Covenants

2. Go to New Orleans to discover my heritage

3. Find a New OB

4. Start learning Chinese

5. Begin Yoga classes or at home

6. Get a signature recipe..one here looks particularly promising...crockpot365.blogspot.com

7. 1 hour a week of ME time

8. Volunteer 27 Hours

9. Read two classic novels

10. Take a sewing or knitting course

11. Use the Temple

12. Visit Calico Ghost Town

13. Splurge on something from http://www.etsy.com/

14. Reinstate Holiday Baking

15. Six massages this year..well on my way thanks to Lisa!

16. Session in St. George temple

17. Try two new to me foods

18. Get something published..somewhere

19. Go to Springs Preserve

20. Get a makeup lesson

Seven More to Come..I need to make them very significant..lucky 7! For now..here is a Logan picture from the archive...

So Tired...

I am so tired! I was in Reno yesterday for six hours, flew up in the morning and back at night. I am sorry if I offend anyone who reads my blog whose is from Reno, but that place is a hole! Like aside from my arch rival UNR and Amazon.com what is even there? Really..it makes Vegas exciting to come home to and that's just pitiful...

Other than that my students registered for Spring 2009 courses today. So while I wish I could say something profound I am so tired! My boss and I saw 45 students between us today! Do you know how crazy that is? I normally see maybe 45 students a month! But hey its OK, they are family. I have 579 children and counting. I mean that with love and sincerity but for the last time: 1. No you can not petition to get out of your foreign language. 2 No you can not take 25 credits as a freshman and 3. Yes! I will email you back, so please do not send me an email, then call me and when I do not answer because I am answering your email please do not send me an email asking why I do not answer the phone!

Now that that is off my chest we can focus on important things, like the election. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve today. Either way it is a historic election, but I am so excited for it! However, I really hope I voted for a winner this time, for the first time ever at least..and if I didn't, you, my fine readers I supposedly have will hear my exclamation of I am emigrating to Canada and yes I have a Canadian Sponsor loud and clear on Wednesday morning! (I have students from Canada, Eh! and Its A-boat, Dont'cha know!) However, I know why I vote but being as that my husband and I vote completely opposite we cancel each other out! Which is maddening I tell you!

Like Pinky and Brain, I too will take over the world or at least my husband's world and make him a hippie even if he doesn't know it ha ha! I already have him drinking organic milk, using dye free detergent and cleaning with vinegar.. infiltrate slowly and it is only a matter of time!

Here's to the hippies! I love trees AND I am from Southern California...

How is that for Irony?

Now I muss scuttle off as Logan is calling from his crib..that kid is pretty fun talking and singing to himself I tell you..and besides who is going to eat all his Halloween Candy?

Oops..did I say that;)

For your viewing pleasure:

Time Flies...

Time Flies..my last post was a month ago. What have I done in that time? Worked, a lot! De cluttered my house throwing away bags of junk, took my little one three places to enjoy the Halloween Haunts, voted in this historic election, found out what was wrong with Jeff, pondered having our second child sooner rather than later, though it will still be later, and picked a paint color for my house overhaul come winter break. My house courtesy of Jeff and my dad will be painted bran muffin over break. Yes bran muffin, funny how the hippy in me always comes out!

I have also come up with a list for my birthday, yes in a little over a week I will begin the downhill slide to thirty. Joy. So I want some presents, however I have declared November a No Buy month because really I don't need more stuff, but if you do feel so inclined to get me a gift feel free to see the list below:

I would like this in a size medium from downeastbasics.com

I like this from clutterbags on etsy.com...

Also, gift cards to Cafe Rio are always welcome in my book! I wouldm't mind a massage either...I know I'm spoiled...

Anyhow, ta ta for now! Have a wonderful week and just for some cute eye candy:

Chicago Part 2!

So Wednesday morning I manage to get myself to a session bright and early that is being put on by the National Collegiate Honors Council. It was pretty ok, I guess I was expecting more. Interacting with colleagues from all across the country and the world even was enlightening. It was interesting but I think I was hoping for more application and less theory.

After that it was lunch time and so a few of us meandered over to Corner Bakery and Cafe. (Note: This will become a very, very frequent habit, My wallet did not thank me, but I am sure the company's stock did...) It was yummy. The place is kind of like if Einstein Bagels and Panera Bread had a love child...

After that I had the whole afternoon free since I only had pre-conference sessions in the morning. I did a lot of walking, but it was fabulous to see so much and be outside getting fresh air. I came back to work yesterday and I saw the sun at 7:30am and 5:30pm. Yeah, that's it.

First up was the Art Institute of Chicago. No, I am not talking about the slightly shady school that seems to pop up in every metropolis( Did I say that??? Lol...) Though I did think that was what every was referring to when the mentioned it at first. No, it is a fabulous Art Museum. It is so amazing to me that these things, i.e paintings, vases, glasses, survived so long and through so much. Very enlightening.

Next up we decided to walk further down and we happened upon the Shedd aquarium. So cool, so many neat things to look at. I particularly liked the giant Starfish and even better the HUGE stingrays. I mean huge, they reminded me of giant pancakes or flying black saucers. They were fascinating, seeing a snake so large you could not find its head was not. That was absolutely frightening. It makes me shudder to think those are somewhere in the sea..but since all I have is Lake Mead I apparently have no worries...because I don't even know if fish can survive in that ever shrinking lake. Want lake front property move to Las Vegas.. we get new islands appearing every minute..

Ok that was bad and I have work to do..so i will update about the evening at a later time...

Tah Tah for now...

Chicago Part 1 of ?

I have yet to upload my photos but I want to say that Chicago is an amazing city! I got home early last night and the last week has been a whirlwind. Aside from conference meetings, I was able to explore the city in the late afternoon and early evenings and it was so fabulous. My friend Aaron, who used to live in Chicago made an excellent tour guide!

Day 1: Tuesday: Arrival Day

So after arriving at the Midway Airport at like 2pm, I proceeded along with a lot of my other UNLV colleagues to take perhaps the scariest shuttle ride of my young life! The guy was a madman, I kid you not he almost ran a guy off the road who was in a wheel chair. When we got to our destination, both myself and another advisors proceeded to jump out and proclaim LAND! If you have ever seen the movie The Pacifier, it was like that exactly like that!

Then we checked in and our rooms were really nice. I had a view of part of the city and a really modern room which is so my style.

So after that, some of us were hungry and proceeded to the Billy Goat Tavern. So I did not know much of the history here other than it is a legend among Chicago and was part of an SNL skit. The place was like the classic hole in the wall, but so neat! The guy at the grill was old and I know I have some older readers..but yes OLD! He said he had been working their 70 years. At first I was like Nah...but now I am not so sure.

Then it was off to WICKED! SOOOO Amazing. I loved it so much. In fact, I can not get the song "Popular" out of my head now. I encourage anyone to go see it. It was so so good! Chicago is a nice city to walk around and before we had left the hotel I had seen an ad for the Redhead Piano Bar and being a redhead I was naturally interested in anything even remotely my namesake. So with a little, OK a lot of help from Aaron's I-phone. We found it! I was skeptical about I-phones before but now I am truly in awe of their prowess. It makes my Moto Q look like its from the stone age, OK maybe not that bad, but a bad 80's knockoff at the most...

So we proceed to hang out there, marvel at the lady who ran it and the guy who sat at the bar alone..drinking water..I don't think we went as far as pitying him..but it was definitely..shall we say..we think he has a story!

All in all a great kickoff to the trip and now I think I am forever in love with the Wizard of Oz and Broadway Musicals...it only took me 26 years to get "it"..but hey at least I got it...finally...

Lessons..Lessons

So as I was preparing my lesson for Young Women's tomorrow, I reflected on the lessons I have learned and how I have changed since I have converted. It will be three years on October 1st.

1. I am comfortable with the circle of life now. Do I miss my close friends and family who have passed on, sure. That's natural, but I truly know that they are with Heavenly Father and that they are having the opportunity to learn, grow and help us mere mortals out on occasion.

2. I know that we can have families forever. That we don't go on after this life and forget, we keep growing, TOGETHER. The comfort in knowing this is so strong, it was hard work to get to the temple to be sealed, and it is hard work to stay worthy of the blessings some days, but it is
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

3. I have learned that service is a blessing, even when your tired, its early, and you are chasing a 15 month old around the building, your example and your decorum make a difference, whether you are aware of it or not.

One of my 16 year old young women told me last Sunday that she looks up to me and gave me a hug. That was worth all the late nights and early mornings.

4. I have become closer to my family, I have researched my ancestors and have found out I am a true Southern Belle, whether I knew it or not, or whether I like it or not. Four Generations of family, born, and bread in New Orleans is hard to argue with. Perhaps that is why giving up tea is so horribly, horribly difficult. It does explain my fascination with bread and red beans and rice, however.

5. Last, but not least. Prayer changes things and I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.

It is not always easy being a Mormon, people talk, say I have changed, that we do weird things, etc. But I truly believe it is for the better and it will be worth it.

Blessings,
Tiffany

Busy..Busy

So this week has gone by in a whirlwind. Lots of appointments and meetings at work, and something after work almost every night. I even skipped a few things because I am tired..and I need to pack. I leave for Chicago on Tuesday for work. A National Advising Conference. Supposedly I am put up at a swanky hotel in the "loop" as locals say! Yahoo! I am so excited though because Tuesday night I am going to see Wicked, the Musical. Should be a great time! I also get to meet a friend from Glitter which will be fantastic! I am looking forward to it immensely!

In other news, I am in redecorating mode for my house. The site theinspiredroom.net has been insturmental in this nesting phase. Also, with all the scary things going on in the economy, both locally and nationally I need a comforting haven. I am kicking myself for buying the comforting haven at the point in which I did, but nonetheless I am greatful for the little things, a hot bed, snuggling in bed reading scriptures, plopping down on the couch to watch family guy, etc.

The little things, really are the BIG things.

Also, please pray or if you are not religious think good thoughts for the Nielson family of Mesa, Arizona. I do not know them personally, but I feel so touched by their family and their story. I truly believe prayer changes thngs.

For more information, check out http://cjanerun.blogspot.com and http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

Have a wonderful day and remember Rodin's Quote :

"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely."

Baby Drama..

So, lets say yesterday I go to my lovley well woman exam, that every woman has to go through only once a year, if there lucky. While I was there I proceeded to ask my doctor if I have to have a C-section the next time I have a child. He says if you are going to be in Nevada, yes you have to have a C-section. (Another reason to move, aside from like 100+ other reasons!)The look on my face was either utter disbelief or who the heck came up with that asine policy, obviously not a woman who suffered through pregnancy in the heat of a Las Vegas summer, 21 hours of labor and then had a c-section at the last minute, thats for damn sure!

He followed up by saying.."Oh but it is so much easier, we set it up for a week before your due date. Its like getting your nails done"

OBVIOUSLY, he has never got his nails done! Maybe I will send him a salon gift card for christmas...

Play Weekend

This weekend has been full of playing in all sense of the word. First, Logan and I took our normal Saturday morning park jaunt. We felt a little like Goldilocks trying to find one that was just right...the first was WAY to BIG for Logan, I am talking slides that scare this momma! The second was just right and I got lots of pictures, I am hoping to add here..the third we visited with my mom and lets say their was RED Ant hills that scared the dickens out of me! Ants can sure be industrious!

Then Logan and I visited Krispy Kreme and watched donuts being made, quite yummy if I do say so myself. We got a kids pack which came with a sprinkle donut and milk..and get this a krsipy kreme hat! I tried to make him where it...to no avail..but then again can you really make an almost 15 month old cutting four molars do anything! Hardly I tell you..

I then went shopping, but on the way stopped at the thrift store and was so happy to find a teal knot cardigan among all the halloween costumes and yucky elastic waistband pants.. I am so thrilled to wear it and am hoping to get a cool skit or necklace from Etsy to complement it!

Later that night after scrambling to find a babysitter after the first one canceled, Jeff and I went to King Lear at UNLV. It was pretty good, we left at intermission because we didn't want to put out our emergency babysitter by staying too late. We did stop for frozen yogurt on the way home. Can I just say chocolate yogurt swirled with Peanut Butter Yogurt is heavenly! No topping needed!

Off to church to teach my lesson..more later! Hopefully I can figure out how to add pictures..if not thats what husbands are for!

Lazy Sunday...

Today has been prettyy lazy. Its stake conference so we stayed home as church is hard enough with a 15 month old, I shudder at the thought of him attempting to sit through Stake Conference. A good weekend overall..a birthday dnner at Chevys for Dad..he seemed to enjoy it. Logan had his first kids meal every..a queso and fries w/ fruit. He got a mini kiddie cone for desseret and was over the moon..he declared it yummy! Not bad for a 14 month old! He also charmed the girls behind us..seriously if my brother ever needs a date I think he just needs to take Logan somewhere..that kid charms more people for more things...myself included!

Logan and I adventured to another park this Saturday and had a great time, he figured out the big boy slide all by himself..and proceeded to do it 5 times in a row! I need a camera to record all these moments..which I am working on..nothing beets your kid coming down the slide with crazy static hair..Ill take that at 9 am instead if sleeping in anyday!

I also got him a Halloween costume for $2.00 I was so proud! He is going to be Dash from the Incredibles..we love that movie!

Speaking of Dash...I need to dash now..I am being called!

Silly Saturday...

I love Saturday mornings..I take Logan to a different park and we play outside, sipping on drinks and sharing Teddy Grahams. Its my bonding time with my little guy, since I work so much and it gives Jeff a chance to sleep in. I don't think we have hit up the same park twice..I wonder how long it will be till we have repeats?!

We also stopped by my new favorite store..the Super K..I used to despise the store as a child, but the one by us is pleasant. I got a bunch of clothes for Logan for 40% off clearance. Some pants and shorts were 90 cents! Can NOT beat that..too bad they didn't have some in my size..a good deal consdiering the money goes out faster than it comes in!

I also got a suit today for half off at Macy's...still painful in the pocketbook..but I look super cute in it if I do say so myself..and thats good since I have so many recruitment functions coming up which means suits are in my future..

Funny when I was a rebelious teenager I swore I would never be a suit..and look at me now..my has the time flown by!

Will get Logan pictures up soon here..