Lunch

This is what Chris and I had for lunch today. Can you guess whose side is who? Hint: I am not a perfectionist. Chris sometimes isn't, but sometimes he needs things to be orderly.

To keep his neat roll-ups from getting contaminated from mine in the oven, he put aluminum foil in the middle.

The Lovely Bones

I read the book and I liked it. But the movie is kind of weird. And different. Of course the book was better, there is hardly ever a time when that isn't true. (Except with Nicholas Sparks books. In my experience (for the two books of his I read), the movie was better. Which is why I don't read Nicholas Sparks books, or se movies based on them.

I digress. The previews for The Lovely Bones are completely misleading. It makes you think it is about Suzy (the main character) helping her dad solve her murder while she is in the "in between." While the movie focuses on that a bit, it isn't really thought out well. I thought the movie had good pieces here and there, but too many of them.

If you are going to direct a movie, pick a part of the book to focus on and do it right. Don't pick every aspect and do half a job. It just ends up being an unnecessarily long movie.

That is another thing that has been bothering me. Why do all movies have to be soooo long. Unless it is Harry Potter, I really don't want to sit through a long movie unless it is at my house. I guess I am just getting too old.

Layout

I decided to do an American Crafts blog challenge. I have plenty of their products, so why not? The challenge was to use two or more minimarks products. I have tons of minimarks and usually use them on cards, but I wanted to do a layout.

I only used two minimarks. One in two corners. They were harder to incorporate than I thought. But hopefully I'll get better.

Supplies:
Cardstock: American Crafts
Patterned Paper: American Crafts, Blue Skies
Ribbon: American Crafts
Thickers: American Crafts
Minimarks: American Crafts

Reasons Why I Love You

Last year, I started a book, which I talked about briefly here.

Chris and I have about 200 pages to fill up. I think it will be nice to look back on in 20 years and something our kids can look at.

My favorite page is this one. Chris did it all by himself. It's the first page he has ever done. I know he got frustrated a couple times with it, but he was entertaining to watch.

Primary

Chris and I got called to be primary teachers. I was also called to be an assistant primary pianist. I am going to miss going to relief society (and I am serious), but it will be fun to be in primary. I was in primary the summer I came home after my freshman year, and I loved it.

We get to teach together. The primary president said that our class is "spunky." We'll see what that really means next week. However, the primary president assured us that when I need to play piano, the presidency will all be there to help Chris. It kind of sounded like the class was a bit more than spunky.

Accidental

I guess if you have google reader, you will see my mistake. I accidently posted my project 365 posts on this blog.

Also, if you don't have a google reader, you should totally get one. Sometimes I am against things making my life easier for me, but I finally gave in and started using it. It is so much better to subscribe to to all the blogs I read and have google reader tell me when they are updated.

Spoiler Alert!

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GingerBread Houses

We did decorated gingerbread houses after Christmas this year. They were 75% off, so I couldn't not get them.

We split into teams and decorated them. You can decide which one is better. I'll even leave it anonymous.

First up. You can tell that the decorators of this house had a steady hand and creative mind. Look at the beautiful gumdrop wreath over the door and the candy-stoned walkway in the front. The house looks well put together and will stand the test of time without falling over.  

The decorators of this house, must have been in a hurry. It looks as if it might topple over at any minute under the weight of all the icing. Look, the Christmas tree in the front yard has fallen backwards into the house! Just a sign of things to come with this house. And what's with the candy canes? Is no one supposed to go into the house because it is so dangerous inside?

Which one do you think is better?

Sammie and Chris

I was going through my pictures and I came across this one Charleah took. I love it.

The Cheesecake Factory

Can. You. Believe. This? This is what the couple next to us left on the table when they left. That's like $3 worth of cheesecake! Really, who cares how much it's worth, it's like half a cheesecake!

Chris and I both looked over and it was the first time I have actually ever considered taking someone else's leftover food. The thought lasted about 15 seconds.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

In Utah, I know every summer there were rodeos all over the place. When I first heard about them, I got excited and would be curious to hear who was coming.

Um, no one. Except local singing competitions winners and cattle.

But, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is unlike any rodeo in Utah. You get the rodeo and the livestock show. But you also get the concert.

The lineup was announced today. And if anyone (hint: Chris) would like to get tickets, here is who I would like to see:

Rascal Flatts
Tim McGraw
Brad Paisley
Lady Antebellum

Yep, I am good with all of those. In the past I have seen Clay Walker, Vince Gill and Reba McEntire.

Remodeling

Over Christmas we got to help remodel my parents house. In order to be warmer downstairs, Dad had us install the insulation. 

Here is before:

This required that one person get on a ladder and staple the insulation in. And the other two people, hold the insulation up with sticks.

At times, it was really entertaining. Like when Adison freaked out because his arm doesn't have the finesse Dad's does to get the stapler to work. 

Also, when we had to get the insulation up over the bed. We created our own ladder.

Sammie looks tiny, but it is pretty painful when she is standing on your back. Eventually we abandoned this method and I stood on Charleah and Sammie's thighs while I stapled, which was much more stable. We were rolling on the bed laughing at time during this part.

This is the finished product. I think we did fantastic. However, Dad probably could have done this all by himself in less time than it took us, that is how good he is.

Adison

Last week Charleah was sick and Adison kept playing with her and say that he didn't believe that she was sick. It really aggravated Charleah.

Well, today I decided to aggravate Adison since he is sick and self-prescribed to be "on his death bed."

Me: Adison, I don't believe you are sick.
Adison: Me neither. I am surprised that I got sick. My immune system is made of steel.
Me: That was supposed to be an insult, not a compliment.
Adison: I took it as a compliment.

Challenge

Here is another challenge that I did for myself. I chose these rub ons...

And made this page. This is in a book I am making called "Reasons Why I love you." I wanted a place where Chris and I could document reasons why we love each other.

Challenge

As we have already determined, I have a lot of scrapbooking crap. So I have decided to use some of the older stuff I have. I had Chris randomly draw four things out of my sticker bag. And I would chose one or more of them to use. This is what he chose. 

And this is what I created. I only three stickers off one of the sheets, but at least I stretched myself!

I plan on doing this more often and posting about it

Project 365

I am doing another resolution this year I didn't add to the list. There is a movement in scrapbooking where people take a picture everyday and journal about it. It is supposed to make scrapbooking easier. There are kits to buy where you just add pictures to a binder and then journal on premade cards. I was going to buy one, but I knew that there was no way I would be able to keep up with it and then I would get to October and struggle to get in done.

BUT, I think this is going to be an exciting year, and I wanted to document it. So I decided to do a blog, which I think I can keep up with because I don't have to worry about printing pictures so often. And then at the end of the year, I will print the blog into a book. And my sister Charleah is also going to do this, so I will have her to keep me motivated.

If you want to follow along with me the link is www.randisproject365.blogspot.com.

American Crafts

If there was ever a person who thought that I didn't have enough scrapbook stuff, you are wrong. I have a lot. This was all the stuff that I got at the American Crafts warehouse sale this last month.

I got so much stuff because I have moved from Utah and therefore will not be able to go to warehouse sales. I went to at least four this year: Making Memories (2x), Sassafrass, and American Crafts. But American Crafts will always be the best.

I got lots of cardstock, because I cannot justify spending $20 for 60 sheets. Thickers, patterned paper, ribbon, tons of stickers, and embossing powder. Plus some other things.

I am going to start to try and blog more about scrapbooking, to justify my spending. Hopefully I can get better at it.

2010 Resolutions

It's that time of year again. I didn't get all my resolutions from 2009 done, but I made good progress and actually switched some of them around. I have basically doubled the number this year and I have made myself a calendar so I can get them all done. Here are just some of them.

1. Write in a scripture journal everyday
2. Exercise 4 times a week
3. Cook a new recipe every week
4. Read or listen to 40 books
5. Make some presents for next Christmas
6. Buy a house
7. Play a piano solo in sacrament
8. Get better at photography and elements
9. Lose xx pounds
10. Cook dinner 5 times a week

All of these things are doable. I am very excited to get started.