Quote of the Week

"He was just one sport short of the perfect guy!"

--Vanessa Nielsen Schmidt

Haha still laughing about that one, V! Thanks for the memories that we are still reliving....every single one of them!

Would You Rather Wednesday

I am officially reinstating Would You Rather Wednesday!!!! And this weekend is Valentine's Day...so how appropriate to have a new movie with the same name!!!

So here you go....two Valentine's Day hunks to choose from...as usual I tried to make this a difficult decision but there are very few that could rival one of these (at least according to me). Let's see if you agree....

Bradley Cooper:

....and one more....how could I resist posting a pic of him lookin a little WT?

Or Ashton Kutcher:

and one to equal the WT playing field...

.

My Leti

Last weekend I got to go to Fort Collins, Colorado on a business trip. We had an awesome event but I didn't manage to ever get my camera out...which was sad b/c I had a great time w/Donna--it's such a relief to like the ppl I work with because it makes traveling soooooo much fun!

In fact, we got upgraded to first class both coming and going! Now if that isn't fun, I don't know what is!?! Unlimited Diet Coke and Biscoff cookies anyone?

Anyway, on Friday night, I got to see my Leti....

Too bad my camera only took a crappy picture. :(

Why did my text just turn blue? Anyway Leti was my mission companion over 13 years ago. I know, you are shocked by that, wondering how I could possibly be that old! :)

In a year and half, there were only 2 times when I had one of those moments--the kind of moment where everything is right in the world and you know you were meant to be there. I can't really explain it properly besides that....

One of those moments was with Leti and I can remember exactly where we were, what we were doing, and what it felt like. This is a friendship that has truly enriched my life in ways that I didn't even know were possible. I love this girl to the core! I loved her even before I met her!

And of course I took a 2nd picture--had to make sure to get at least one good one! :) Actually I think they are both cute...

Leti thank you for being so amazing!

Book #2

Whoot woooooo! January is barely over and I've got book #2 under my belt. I finally finished Breaking Dawn.

It was like lifting a huge burden when I finished this book because I've been reading it for so long. I was already 150 pgs. into the book so I actually didn't read the entire thing this month. But since there are 750 pgs. total, I figure I can count it.

The story had some good moments--definitely liked it better than New Moon and Eclipse. I totally wish New Moon and Eclipse didn't exist and instead the story went straight from Twilight to this....and now there were still a couple more books left of the cool lives of vampires!!

Biggest annoyance: 250 of the most boring pages of my life reading about Bella pregnant and everyone just hovering over her. Blah that was torture!!!

Anyway that's about all I've been doing lately....I've been sick for a couple weeks but am better now. My Zoey turned 7 on Sunday (yikes! 7!!!) Other than that, I'm off to a regional this weekend: Fort Collins, Colorado!

New Year's Resolution

This year I've made a new and very different resolution. I had a presentation in January that was on goal setting--and the lady I worked with taught me that goals should be something that you are excited about!!

I don't think I've ever set one goal in my life that I was very excited about. :)

So this year that has changed! My goal in 2010 is to read 12 books. I've gone though my whole life reading maybe one or two books a year so that will be an AMAZING accomplishment! The cool thing is--as soon as I made the goal, I wanted to read all the time!!! It's a very weird feeling for me.

So my January book wass the Sleeping Beauty proposal...

I was very excited about this b/c I loved the Cinderella Pact by the same author (which was one of the most fun and clever chick lit books I've read). But there were very few traces of similarity, if any. I didn't really like this book and struggled to get through it.

But I finished it and I still have 10 days of January left to get going on another. Next up: The Help and I still need to finish Breaking Dawn....

Leadership 2010

This year, Stampin' Up! Leadership was in Phoenix. So I headed there last Monday, for the show that ran Wed-Fri. Then on Saturday, we had a Regional event--some of the same demonstrators, some different....

This was truly one of my favorite weeks of work....ever!

But I am still wondering when I will return to normal since I've done nothing but sleep and veg since I got home on Sunday. :)

Here are a few highlights:

Brian....

We went to see Nine one night and basically it was an expensive nap for me (or rather for Andrea since I forgot my credit card! ha!).

We couldn't figure out what Nine stood for since there were only 7 women in the movie. Brian suggested either Nine hours long or Nine confirmed cases of lung cancer after filming...both very likely. :)

Hands down, it was my favorite stage yet....

...and with a blue background...so awesome!
Always a favorite to be w/my coworkers...Me, Carrie, Shiloh and Lisa...

And then almost the same group but w/Amanda...

Prize Patrol is for sure my favorite part of events! :) (Pope, Carrie, me, Angie)

And this picture has become a tradition for me and Amanda at each of our events....
I got to teach a class w/Natalie Travis....it was much more than a class to me....more like a wonderful blessing and experience!
So many demonstrators....so little time....I wish I could have a picture with every one of them! This is Cindy Major from Quebec City....
Georgia Giguere and Lisa Fast (from the mid-west)....
Winona Semler (Edmonton)....

Vegas

OK so forever ago--in September--my Kiwi coworker Emma came to the states. We met up in Vegas and had the most fantastic weekend!!!!! And I've never posted because well, I don't really have a good excuse! :) Sorry for the delay of picture sharing, Em!

I will start by saying that i SERIOUSLY love Vegas!!! This was my first time staying on the strip and it is for sure the best way to go!

One night we went to the Wynn to see La Reve and it was for sure one of my very favorite shows ever!!! Not to mention the amazing theater and hotel, etc...

We shopped til we dropped...Emma is one of the few that can shop with the best (meaning me. ha!). Of course besides me and my sisters, there are few who really do want to shop and shop and shop until there is no more money or energy. That's when it's time for a little Diet Coke so we can keep going for several more hours. :)

We stayed at Treasure Island. It was so perfect, super swanky....

...including an awesome slutty pirate/siren show each night.

We took a break from shopping for a few minutes....

Awesome food with an awesome person....

The Bellagio never disappoints....

It was the perfect weekend!

Italy etc.

There are still a few more things about Italy that I didn't get documented... funny things that I definitely want to remember....


This picture was up in our Rome hotel....so hilarious b/c it was made of fabric and the medals, sunglasses and other details were stuck right on the canvas! They are the hotel owners. :)

The first day in Florence, Luciano & Luciana made us hot cocoa--which they had never made before. The first time I took a sip, I nearly choked!!! So after adding about 4 packets of sugar and a dollop of Nutella I was able to get it down.


The funny part came when they asked us how it tastes? Pope and I said "Oh it's great--thank you so much!" And then Luciano poured the remainder in a mug to give it a try...we were thinking "oh no now he will see how nasty it tastes!" But instead he just said "um...very good!" hahaha


But we had it every day anyway because it was endearing that they were willing to make it for us. :)

Naturally, Italian men are one of my favorite things!! Some might think they are more forward but I just think they are honest. :) haha Even the ones that had nothing to gain would still say things that would shock us.

This man wanted to be my slave....

...and I am not really sure why I didn't jump at that proposal!!

This man said his heart would never forget us....(seriously who says that kind of stuff?)

This man...well I call him my boss because he gave me a standing invitation to work for him...

And one last shot of Francesca....with Florence in view. :)