Since I’m in somewhat of a blogging slump right now and can’t think of anything clever to post about, I will answer my sister’s request to blog about 7 Things You May Not Know About Me.  I did a list of 100 random facts awhile ago so I’m not sure I can come up with more, but I’ll try.

7 Things I Plan to do Before I Die:

I’m not big on planning so none of these are likely to ever be done, but perhaps if I sit down and PLAN them, I may have a shot.

• Become a fantastic photographer
• Bike across Europe with Ralf
• Start Ralf’s genealogy
• Become a fantastic writer
• Go on a mission with Ralf
• Catch up on my food storage
• Own a beach house somewhere

7 Things I Do Now

• Get up at 4:45 most days to hit the gym.  (I’ve been making it 4 days a week lately)
• Read every night before bed
• Spend time on the computer doing my church job, PhotoShopping, blogging, and Facebooking.
• Watch Biggest Loser with my older kids, Word World with my little one, and The Office with my husband.
• Go to the library every week with Will and read, read, read.
• Answer a billion and one questions from Will all. day. long.
• Cook and Bake.  Thus, the frequent trips to the gym. I love getting my newest copy of Everyday Food in the mail.

7 Things I Can’t Do:

• Sing well.
• Play make-believe.  I must have lost my imagination somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd kid.
• Pass up a bowl of ice cream.  Thus the frequent trips to the gym.
• Remember names.  Only if I write it down or see it written down can I remember a name.
• Keep my car clean.  It is a perpetual war zone of crumbs, crayons, papers, wrappers, books, shoes, socks, jackets, cups, and change.  And honestly, I hardly ever notice anymore.
• Remember birthdays.
• Make pie crust.  I think I’m missing that gene or I just don’t care enough to figure out the secret.

Things That Attract Me To the Opposite Sex:

• Humor – Someone who doesn’t take himself too seriously.
• Sincerity – Don’t like fakers
• Humility – Arrogance is a turnoff
• Eyes – Tell a lot about a person
• Smile – Must have nice teeth
• Hands and Feet – Strong hands,  well groomed  toenails.
• Intelligence – Can carry on a conversation no matter the subject

Things I Say Most Often

• Did you brush your teeth?
• How was school?
• Put your shoes and socks on/away
• Love ya
• Hey! That’s enough!
• Awesome!
• That dumb dog!

7 Celebrities I admire.

Since I can’t think of any celebrities I admire I decided to change this one to:

7 Celebrities I’ve met or run into:

• Andre Agassi – Ran into him at a BYU Football game in the early 90s before he cut his hair.
• Wilford Brimley (the Quaker Oatmeal, Cocoon, diabetes commercial guy)- His brother was married to my aunt so we spent one July 4th at his house watching movies and doing fireworks.
• Steve Young – Met him and his family several times at our good friend’s house when we lived in California.  They played together for the 49ers.
• Jim Belushi – Saw him this past July in the Dallas airport.
• Nia Vardalos – Shopping on Rodeo Drive when we went to LA to see Wicked last year.
• Molly Shannon, Regina King, John C. Reilly -  We sat behind them at the screening of Year of the Dog at the Sundance Film festival 2 years ago.
• Huey Lewis – Was sitting at a table across from us at Lark Creek Cafe in Walnut Creek a couple of years ago.  His daughter now works at my little sister’s boutique.

7 Favorite Foods:

• ice cream – Peanut butter and chocolate to be specific
• donuts – Krispy Kremes (fresh and hot)
• pumpkin pie – with real whipped cream
• Good n Plenty – must have for the movies
• Whipped cream – a shot straight from the can is best
• Cupcakes – Sprinkles in Newport Beach
• Edamame – With salt. Unfortunately I haven’t found anywhere to buy fresh ones here in Idaho.

Gee, looking at this list, it’s no wonder I’ve never been able to go off sugar for longer than a week.

Now I’m supposed to tag 7 people for this post but, I’m not going to.  I’ll leave it up to you.  If you’re in a blogging slump like me and feel the pressure to post SOMETHING, but having no inspiration for ANYTHING, use this as a writing prompt.

Have a great day!

Have a great weekend!

This is Will.  Will is 4.  Will is a running fountain of questions.  Will likes to be answered.  If you don’t answer immediately, Will repeats his question.  A little louder every time.  Until you answer him.

Will is obsessed with letters.  Will likes to know how to spell words.  Will likes you to draw each letter in the air for him so he can copy you.

Will and I sometimes venture out of our little tiny town in search of civilization.  Our drive goes something like this:

Will:  Mom, Mom, Mom, what that letter says?

Mom:  That sign says “For Sale”

Will:  What letter is “For Sale”?

Mom:  There are lots of letters on that sign, but it starts with an F.

Will:  How you make an F?

Mom:  Like this (Makes an F in the air)

Will:  Oh, like this?  Like this mom?  Like this?

Mom:  Yes, yes, yes Will.  Like that.

Will:  What that letter says? (pointing)

Mom:  That sign says, “Fresh Nectoren For Sell”

Will:  What a nectoren is?

Mom:  Well, I think it’s supposed to be nectarine.

Will:  How you spell nectoren?

Mom:  Well, I don’t think you need to know how to spell nectoren unless someday you find yourself living in a tiny Idaho town on a farm, without spell check and a proper spelling education, selling “fresh” summer fruit from the side of the road in the middle of October.  Then maybe I’ll teach you how to spell nectoren.

Will: What you said?  What you said Mom? How you spell noctoren?

Mom:  Never mind.  It starts with an N and you make it like this…

I’m just a day late getting to this post.  Yesterday was a little too crazy to even sit down to think.  I did at least talk to my mom on the phone to wish her a happy birthday yesterday.  She’s probably been too busy to read this blog anyway.  She’s hosting a “Sisters Week” with, who else but her 2 sisters, right now.  So, when you get around to reading this, Mom, I hope you had a great day shopping, eating, crafting, and laughing.

As a birthday tribute to her, I listed a few things that make my mom unique:

1.  Her favorite color is yellow

2.  She never learned how to swim or how to whistle

3.  She doesn’t like Halloween

4.  She was once a Home Ec teacher

5.  She has an uncanny knack for making things beautiful

6.  She loves a good bargain

7.  She weighs the same now as on her wedding day

8.  She is super organized; her closet is color coded, EVERYTHING in her house is labeled, her life is planned out months in advance so if you want her to be somewhere, make sure to give her a few months notice.

9.  She got engaged during high school.  (Luckily ended up marrying my dad instead)

10.  She has a sweet tooth and can appreciate a warm, gooey cinnamon roll with raisins and nuts.

11.  Has a propensity for collecting unique, quirky, and eccentric friends.

12.  Likes to be warm.

13.  Likes to finish what she starts.  She once refused to join us kids in the storm cellar during a tornado because she wanted to wait until her cake was done baking.

14.  Appreciates a timely thank you note.

15.  Has gift giving down to a science.  Her gifts are personal, well thought out, unique, and memorable.  (Except for men.  They get gift certificates.  And that’s just as well).

16.  Doesn’t like chinese food, drafty rooms, horror movies, handing out Halloween candy, creepy old men leering at her, or uncomfortable shoes.

17.  Since opening Flaunt with our little sister several years ago, she is always dressed in the cutest, hippest clothes.

18.  Is generous with her time, talents, and gifts.

19.  Since my dad passed away, she has paid tribute to him every year on his birthday by gathering the family together and focusing on one of his many qualities.  It’s a time to remember, laugh, cry, and challenge each other to focus on that quality throughout the year.  This year it is ‘generosity’.

20.  She is an awesome mom and Grandma who is always ready to lend an ear, a shoulder, a glue gun, some rice pudding, a serving platter, or just some good sage advice.

Happy Birthday Mom!