Mmmm Fabric!

My fabric booty!

Unfinished projects here I come!

"Esc-a -pay". Hey, it's spelled just like escape!

I ran away with my mother in law and my sisters in law to St. George a couple of weeks ago for a sisters' retreat! It was Betta's brilliant idea and she paid for the condo, gas, and food for the four days we were down there! We stayed at the Las Palmas Resort and enjoyed the warm weather of southern Utah! It was weird not having to wear a coat and snow boots in the middle of January! It was really nice to have a break from the snow of Colorado! Friday I stopped in Cedar City on my way to St. George to visit my good friend Kyle at college. He made me dinner at his apartment. It was your typical college meal of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It is amazing how a simple pb&j sandwich tastes better when you don't have to make it!

Friday night, my sister in law Denise was itching to play or do something wild and crazy. We got dressed up and headed out for a night out on the town, but to our shock and dismay, we discovered that St. George doesn't have much of a night life. I guess it kind of makes sense when you think of the thousands of senior citizens that flock down there for the winter! That town shuts down when those old folks are finished with their early bird specials at Village Inn! So at 11:30 pm Cami and Denise suggested we head to Mesquite. I was game! I have never gambled and I had a few bucks to throw away! I had no idea that my sisters in law were so much fun! Especially Denise! Give her a Monster energy drink and she is the life of the party! Everything we said that night was turned into a dirty joke! Denise killed it at the roulette table! She won a hundred and forty bucks and only put twenty bucks into it! My luck was not so good and I am pretty sure that I will never gamble again. All I kept thinking was " I could be buying fabric with this money!" but it was a blast hanging out with my sistas! We drove through three states in one night and technically I drove through four. Colorado,Utah, Arizona, and Nevada! We found this sign on our way to Mesquite and we couldn't pass up the picture opportunity! We didn't get back to St. George until three in the morning!

Yes those are tampons! If you have a dirty mind you will get it!

I crossed four states in one day! Yup I get around!

The next day we had our spa appointments! I settled for a pedicure but it was much needed and well deserved! I was saving my money for more important things like fabric!!! After a day at the spa we went out lunch at a quaint little Mediterranean restaurant. The food was really yummy and the dessert was even better! They had a baklava that was to die for!

Flaming cheese!!! OPA!!!

Cami thought she would be funny and put the phone book on top of my excursion the night before after our adventure in Mesquite and it stayed there as I drove all around town the next day! We all got a kick out of that! Silly Cami! We also did some shopping at the mall and we bought groceries for Sunday. I got a ton of new shirts for super cheap!

Sexy bi#@$es ha ha!

Sunday was so relaxing! Betta, Kathy, and I attended a ward nearby and it was packed to the back of the gym with vacationers while the others enjoyed the pool. we took long uninterrupted sunday naps too,which is huge for me! we also made a really good dinner. Cami made this amazing Parmesan chicken and we had couscous and steamed veggies and frozen yogurt pie! I met up later with my friend Kyle and his new love interest for dinner. We had a good time eating and catching up. I came back to the condo and watched movies with all of my lovely sisters in law.

Monday we packed up and parted ways with Cami, Randi, and Denise. Betta, Kathy, and I planned on going to a session at the St. George temple but got there twenty minute too late. We settled for pictures and a walk around the temple grounds. We went to the distribution center where I picked out a new set of scriptures. I have had the same set since I was eight and they are ready to be retired. I have grown so attached to those things over the years. It will be hard to use the replacements but I was thinking that it will be nice to read brand new scriptures because your eyes aren't drawn to the marked verses and past spiritual experiences. I won't go "Oh I remember when I had that experience in seminary or institute." I can have new insight and revelation with new scriptures and that I look forward to.

Betta and Kathy took off after lunch and I was left by my lonesome to hunt for quilt and fabric shops! I got some fabric so that I can finish my Shaggy Star quilt and a few other projects I am working on! I also went bra shopping and found some very supportive yet sexy ones at Lane Bryant. Who knew that a plus size store would have good bras for big boobed women?! I just can't believe I never thought of going there! DUH!

This really was such a great idea and I hope that we make it an annual tradition! I have learned so much about each of my sisters and feel like we are all closer for the trip!

Where to next sisters?!

OCHO!

8 Things About Me
Here are the rules:
1)post these on your blog.
2)answer the six "8" items.
3)let each person know by leaving them a comment on their blog.



8 Favorite tv shows

1) Masterpiece Theatre
2) So You Think You Can Dance
3) American Idol
4) Chuck
5) Pushing Daisies
6) The Office
7) My Name Is Earl
8) Project Runway


8 things I look forward to

1) Getting to the temple with Hallie. It is driving me INSANE that this isn't taken care of yet!
2) Being trim, healthy, and athletic.
3) The safe arrival of my new nephew Miles! (My sissy in law is due next month with her first!)
4) My 10 year anniversary. It better be a good one! (HiNt hInT Michael! Like he even reads this!)
5) No more nasty health issues in my nethers!
6) Madse experiencing kindergarten.
7) Being debt free.
8) Mikie's baptism.

8 favorite places to eat

1) At friends' houses
2) Olive Garden
3) Wendy's (I'm addicted to jr. bacon cheeseburgers)
4) picnics in the mountains
5) Los Jilberto's mmm ceviche!
6) Il Bistro Italiano
7) Al Forno's
8) Burger King (I am a sucker for a whopper!)

8 Things on my wish list

1) The ability to slow down time so that my little ones could stay little for just a little while longer!
2) A photographic memory because I forget little precious moments too easily.
3) Participate in a triathlon.
4) A flatish stomach.
5) To finish all of my unfinished quilting projects.
6) Mad house cleaning skills
7) To be a scriptorian
8) the opportunity to experience the beauty of pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, and the newness of an infant at least one more time, preferably twins. I really want twins!

8 People I tag

1)So many of you have already done this one.
2)If you haven't yet, you are welcome to do it.
3)Randi (because you need to blog more.)
4)Tracey
5)Christine
6)Jen R.
7)Liza
8)Tami

IT'S GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TIME!...

And that means carmely, coconutty, chocolatey goodness of a Samoa!

(My ultimate, all time favorite and I don't even share these at my house! They're mine!! All mine! muahahahaha!)

Or the minty, crunchy chocolate deliciousness of a Thin Mint!


You just can't go wrong with Girl Scout cookies!

You just can't go wrong with Girl Scout cookies!

I don't know if I mentioned the fact that I am a Brownie Troop Leader and my Ashley is in my troop and my little Mikie is in a Daisy Troop. I wasn't sure at first if I really would enjoy committing myself to another thing that takes so much of my time but I really do enjoy it and our cute little girls! We are raising money for troop activities and community service projects and you can totally help with that by buying tons of Girls Scout Cookies!




How can you say no to such adorable little Girl Scouts?!











I might even be delivering cookies to the Vernal area if I get enough interest from my generous friends and family!!!

Email me at ramandan@gmail.com if you are interested in ordering!

HoLy ShOeS BaTmAn!!!!!

Michael got this wild hair you know where and decided that every shoe in the house had to be found and organized into pairs and if they did not have a pair they were to be thrown away and ones that were too small were to be given to Lift Up (A second hand store. Man I really miss DI! It is just so much nicer.) I guess he was sick of the kids whining that they could never find any shoes to wear. I am pretty sure they won't be able to use that as an excuse anymore!

Michael's Work Christmas Party

A free meal, a free picture, time together without the children... priceless!

(Katie L. I am waiting to see your picture!)

It's About Time... For ME!

I head to the gym to have my first meeting with my personal trainer this afternoon. She told me to wear underwear or a bikini so that we could do before photos and since I don't have a bikini I guess I am wearing undies. Do they even make bikinis in my size? I sure hope not! I don't think I will be posting my before picture unless I am totally successful at the weight loss I want to achieve. Then I might think about it...maybe.
I feel like it is time for myself. The past eight plus years have been devoted wholly to everyone BUT me and my body has definitely suffered for it. I am ready to take care of myself. I realize that I have a lot of work ahead of me. A LOT OF HARD WORK! I have neglected this body for so long that it has mutated into a rolly, lumpy, saggy, 200lb mess! Yep that is right, 200lbs! Last night I had to buy some new pants because I only have one pair that actually fit. I have always told myself that I would never ever weigh that much. The problem, for me, is that I can feel the extra weight like when I bend down to pick up toys and my gut is in the way and my legs don't bend as far as they should or when I am doing average everyday activities and I am breathless and sweaty. It just isn't right! I know that my body vaguely remembers a more active and healthier life. As I drive down the street in the summer, I see a bunch of guys playing soccer and every part of me wants to get out there and play but then I remember that I couldn't even make it the length of the field without dying first. I don't feel like I think about myself in a negative light. I do love my body. I love what it has accomplished. Bringing children into this world is not an easy task. My body has created and sustained life, my breasts have given nourishment, my arms have held and loved the ones I care most about, I don't know what my back fat has ever done for anyone... well I take that back, it is cold and soft and Madse loves to feel it ha ha! I just know that my body is capable of more than I have been allowing it.
I want this change and I am ready for it. I am ready to start paying my body some much needed attention. I deserve it!