My Weakness for Mint.

Driving to work this morning was was rummaging through my purse for a "lil lip balm." After dissecting my purse (girls, you know what I'm talking about)I couldn't find the chapstick I was looking for but I did pull out this long lost beauty:

I love me some mint--OK, a lot of mint; especially around this time of the year. I couldn't stop putting it on today because I'm so obsessed with its Christmasy feel. It's bad though because it's reminding me of all of the mint things that I love...which happen to be my all time favorites:

Of course it's all junk...Moral of the story is--I best be tuckin' the mint lip shine some place else, because these delicious mint thoughts and cravings are rude!

Be gone mint goodness--For now at least. I will see you during Christmas break :)

(get real--you can't have Christmas without some mint!)

Yes Please!

A few of these are must buys for me tomorrow :)

Friends in the Strangest places.

Julene was in Utah last night so she came and stayed the night with me. We went to dinner and decided to drop by the mall since it was open for another hour. Julene was looking at some shoes and for some reason this girl dressed head to toe in AE was kind of following us around. It wasn't really creepy she just engaged herself in our enticing conversation about flats, boots and heels. She would recommend shoes for Julene to try on and well, she wouldn't stop talking to me. Long story short, right there in Forever Young shoes, I ended up inviting her to come to singles ward with me and got her number. HAHA. She didn't end up coming but we've been texting and she said she wants to come next week. She's a nice girl. We'll see.

Today at the YSA it was interesting as always. Actually, I'm feeling so much better about the whole ward/social thing. Today a girl came up to me after church and she asked if I could give her a ride back to her home at the Job Corps in South Weber. She had the cutest/thickest Russian accent. Of course I wasn't going to turn her down. I made small talk on the drive to drop her off and she kept saying "ohhh tank you, tank you." She was so polite. She probably said "thank you" about 15 times in 5 minutes. It was refreshing. (this is the same girl who a couple of weeks ago said the prayer in Relief Society and she even blessed the "bugs and every creature." It was funny at the time but really she is just the sweetest, kindest girl!) As I dropped her off she said, "Ooh I jus luv you so mush" (that was supposed to be her russian accent..haha.) It was the nicest thing. I don't know her and she doesn't know me but she is just so full of love. I want to be just like that!

Hands down. I love people. I do my fair share of judging but it's moments like today that make you think. You come across new people everyday. You may not know what they are going through or where they've been but the cool thing is that they are children of God. You can find friends in the strangest places; even if it just for a moment.

Grandpa Sherm

It's weird to think about how fast time really goes by. In a couple of days it will be one year since the passing of my Grandpa, Sherman Henry Stump Jr.

Today, Jamie and I went to Denny's for breakfast and we saw a cute little old man eating breakfast by himself. Well, I'm a sucker for the old people and for some reason, I couldn't stop looking at him and thinking about him and my own Grandpas. We stood behind him in line to pay for our meal and I noticed that as he left, he grabbed a tooth pick from the dispenser on the counter and stuck it in his mouth in a Papa Sherm way.. needless to say, I got a little choked up.

I miss him, but most importantly I'm extremely blessed to have the knowledge I have to know that Families can be together forever. I'm eternally grateful for grandparents who raised such a wonderful daughter in the church and taught her to be the great mother that she is. I can't wait to continue the legacy.

After his funeral last year there were tons of flowers that people had sent to my grandma for the funeral. Of course grandma couldn't keep them all so she let each of us choose one. I loved all of the flowers but I knew that in time, they would die. I'm partial to the greenery so I chose a Peace Lily! My mom had to babysit it for a couple of months but here it is a year later. I have it on my dining room table so I can see it everyday. I love it.

We tell it like it is.

I love catching up with:

He keeps it real.

Don't Give Me That Look!

Driving 30 minutes to and from work everyday can be a drag, especially if you are working long hours like I have been lately. I'm not the only one who likes to make their phone calls on the drive home to pass the time. Plus, it's efficient. It's called multitasking; deal with it. (Note-I don't think this is smart to do on busy streets or in town)

Tonight on my drive home, minding my own business, I lifted up my cell phone, preparing to make a call when I looked over to my left to see a bearded old man in a camry vigorously shaking is head back and forth with a mean scowl on his face--He was disgusted with the fact that I was on my cell phone while driving.

You know what I did? I gave him a scowl right back. This dude was holding a big gulp in one hand and a cigarette in the other. As if the cig wasn't enough for me to point a finger in his direction...

So listen up, "Puff the Magic Dragon,"..I may be putting my life on the line by making a quick call but you are slowly killing yourself with that nasty smoke stick hanging from our mouth. So you don't judge me, and I won't judge you.

Thanks.

Sure, Dress up your Baby..

I love Halloween. I love the colors, the candy, the pumpkins, the fall smells, the scary movies, the decorations and even enjoy the fact that the number of creepy people in Wal*Mart double...I haven't figured out why that is yet but I enjoy it. It's so festive!

One thing that I really love is seeing little babies in their cutelittle beady costumes. The Lady Bugs, baby monkeys, cute lions and of course the Pea Pod!!

...Yeah, these parents understood the cute factor or dressing up their babies for Halloween:

I thought these were a little more interesting...Funny.. but interesting:

(Omg.. Not going to lie,I would soooo do this one if I had a fat little baby.)

These have to be a few of the worst baby costumes ever... poor children:

The fatty cheeseburger was funny.. but this.. is so mean. It's garnished and everything..

EW. Disgust.

And for the runner up for the "What Were my Parents thinking" award:

yeah... there's more than one out there. Grand Prize:

Sure, dress up your baby. Just be nice, they are babies for crying out loud. If you're going to go "Crazy" on a costume, do it on yourself. Go the Lady Gaga route and wear a meat dress but don't dress up your baby as something far from cute and hated.

We'll all judge.

Real Housewives of Atlanta... Boughetto.

I don't know if any of you have even been watching Real Housewives of Atlanta this season. I'll admit it though, I still enjoy it and DVR it every week. For those of you who haven't been keeping up with the show because you have a life, that's great! I'll save you some time and touch on the highlights of tonight's episode.

Tonight was centered around a couple of key things:

1.) Nene's decision to go until the knife to reverse her pervious "lady lump" surgery.. OH and to trim down her nostrils AND for some tummy lypo. More power to ya Nene but the surgery isn't going to solve your marriage problems. Whatev.

2.) Kim is back with Big Papa who still isn't divorced--Big Surprise. Oh and as if one "hit" song (hahaha) wasn't enough, she's ready for a new hit and has asked Kandi to help her with it. Maybe this time she will pay her. Kim wants to call it "The ring don't mean a thing." REALLY? Oh, I'm so sure that you call him Big Papa because you don't care about the money. I'm sure that ring means all sorts of things. HA.

3.) I was absolutely dying with laughter at Phaedra's baby shower. She let Dwight take care of it all and maybe it's a Southern thing but they went all out for this baby shower. She kept saying that it was like her second wedding. I kid you not, she had everyone wear big hats, which I thought was actually a really cute idea, but she had her people start turning people away because they were late, had a big revealing of her self, took dance lessons, performed the waltz and had ballerina dancers at the shower... I wasn't the only one confused. Even Kim was stunned with how over-the-top Phaedra went with her shower.

(Of course Kim "didn't" get the memo about the hat dress code. Puhlease!)

Best quotes of the episode about baby showers:

"Just sit in the rocking chair, open your gifts, eat some cake and call it a day."

-Kim Zolciak

Kandi's response to the rhinestones on Phaedra's eyes--"Totally Boughetto."

For those of you wondering what Boughetto is, it's a mix of Boughie and Ghetto--It's Boughetto! Definition help courtesy of Urban Dictionary:

1. boughetto 29 up, 8 down buy boughetto mugs, tshirts and magnets is a girl that is boughie and ghetto girl that weave is boughetto ghetto murphy lee boughie boughy boojie by Maegen Nov 11, 2007 share this 1. boughie 65 up, 9 down buy boughie mugs, tshirts and magnets High Class; acting rich or used to the finer things life has to offer That hoe needs to stop actin boughie everybody knows she frontin. by John Paul Feb 28, 2005 share this

Halloween Craft!

Modge Podged Halloween Pumpkins!

Savanna found this idea online and I decided to give it a try today as well. I love me some Modge Podge:) As you can see...The project was a success!

I used fake pumpkins that I found at Michael's. They were 60% off making them only $3.19! You can use real pumpkins as well but this way you can keep it for next year! Savanna had the best idea of using fall colored papers so you can keep them out through Thanksgiving.

I love crafts.

Teens.

There are a few things that I don't quite understand about teenagers these days. Contrary to the belief of those who already consider me to be an "old hag," It really wasn't too many years ago that I was a teenager..so really, these teens have no excuse.

Recently, I received a new 14 (almost 15) year-old niece when my sister married her husband. This has been an adjustment. It's interesting because we like a lot of the same tv shows and well, I'm hip and cool and I know it so I try to help/tell her what is what! I think she appreciates it and we get along ....most of the time.

The biggest adjustment has been being sensitive to her feelings and what she is going through and being super patient. I have to tell myself, "I'm sure you were like this when you were in high school.." but sometimes I can't help it... But I guess times really have changed. These are some of the things I've noticed while interacting with these teens over the past few months:

1.) they are super awkward.
2.) they will straight up tell/ask each other anything over the phone via text. "Do you like me?" or "I like you." ...It's freakin' weird but in the end, kind of makes sense?
3.) they hate everyone. They jump from different small groups of friends all the time because there are "so many reasons" to hate each other. I swear the root of their little fights are over facebook and text. They probably don't even remember why they even hate each other...they just do.
4.) They don't really respect people my age..
5.)everything's dramatic (ok, that's not just teens)
6.) I found out that some think that Elvis was famous in the early 1900's.. OMG. REALLY? I about died when I heard that one.

...OK, so I know these don't apply to all teens but this has been my recent experience. Don't worry, I'm learning my patience. But this whole skipping to being an aunt to a teen thing is crazy but actually pretty fun in the end. I like gossip and awkwardness so.... Sure, why not!? But I am determined to not let my niece be the awkward one. (Don't tell her dad, but the main reason why her and her little crush talk on the phone now and have their little thing is because of a few tips I gave her. hahaha, like I'm experienced or something.. really I just straight up told her...don't be awkward!) She will be popular and gosh darn it, she'll know her music outside of Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga.... I'm going to start on that one tomorrow..Music Intervention.