introduction

This is Ingrid:

This is NOT Ingrid:

When I speak of my co-worker and friend, Ingrid, I can't help but notice that most people assume she looks like Ingrid #2. Nope.

Ingrid and I have a lot in common. We both love macaroni and cheese (done right) and Dyno-Bites. The way we think is very similar. She can't hate people, and neither can I. She and her mother are best friends, and so am I and my mother. Ingrid recently got married and she now lives 5 minutes away from her and she told me, "I can't imagine living as far away from my mother as you do yours." I know. It's shocking. And might I just add that Graciella, Ingrid's mother, is a gem. Come to think of it, the only thing we absolutely don't agree on is our favorite soda's (I love Dr. Pepper and she hates it, she loves Orange soda and I hate it). Tyler always teases us and says that we just pretend to have things in common so we can be friends.

She is the perfect co-worker. PERFECT! For those of you who don't know, Cindy (the other co-worker) is no longer working here. My highlight memories of Cindy: she did slap a guy for saying shut-up to me, and we were quite a team at Ingrid's shower designing a wedding dress out of toilet paper. Yeah, we won.

Ours is the one on the left.

Wow. That was quite the tangent. Anywho, so now you have all seen Ingrid and know she is not an old woman.

**Funny side note: We had a repair man temporarily working here and he would always mix up Ingrid's name with Helga or Gertrude.

snake and the belmont girl response

History: Two days ago a snake looking a little like the one above was spotted in the parking lot. It was skinny, small, and no more than 3 feet long.

SCENE 1:

The boss and I are admiring the snake.

Belmont Girl 1: "What are you guys looking at."

Boss: " A snake."

Belmont Girl 1: "Oh my gosh!" (takes a few more steps closer) "OH MY GOSH!"

The boss and I try to ignore the awkwardness.

Belmont Girl 1: "Is it a rattle snake?"

I thought for sure my boss was going to let her have it.

Boss: "No."

Belmont Girl 1: "I thought there were only rattle snakes in Utah."

END SCENE (this is where I walked back into the office. I just couldn't take it)


SCENE 2:

Setting is inside the office the next day.

Belmont Girl 2: "There is a snake outside in the parking lot. I thought you guys should know."

I leave the office walking straight towards the snake, with Belmont Girl 2 following me.

Belmont Girl 2: "Be careful! Oh my gosh! Be careful! Don't get too close!!!"

I approach the snake and notice that it has been run over by a car. Guts. Nasty, nasty snake guts. It's dead.

Me: "gag"

Belmont Girl 2: (still standing about 10 feet away and scared of a dead snake attack) "You are so brave!"

END SCENE

SCENE 3:

Setting: driving into the parking lot for work and wondering if the snake is still there. I look and notice it has now been run over probably 50 times and is one with the asphalt.

Me: "gag"

END SCENE

dear mom and kay,

I tried.

My home teachers were over last night and one of them is the music chairman.

I was determined to let him know that I sing and actually enjoy it. That I miss singing solos in church. That I haven't sung in 10 months and my heart breaks over it. That I am scared if I don't use it, I will loose it. And that I am so sick of going to church every Sunday and singing an intermediate hymn with the congregation. Well, I wasn't going to tell him that last part, that's just for you.

So I bring it up to him and our conversation went a little something like this:

"So, I wanted you to know that I sing so if you ever need a musical number you can call me."

"Oh, do you sing solo or in small groups."

"Well, both. But I'm not scared of solo's, so don't feel hesitant to ask me."

"Our Christmas program is all small groups and choir songs, so we could use you."

"Oh, ok."

Do I have to explain how I felt rigth then? I will. You see, it's not that I don't like singing in small groups or that I think I am too good for small groups, it's just that there is something about singing solos. It's an opportunity to express your testimony and help bring the spirit to a meeting on a more personal level. It's rewarding and humbling. In my mind, I would almost catergorize it as sacred for me. Some of my most spiritual moments have been while singing from a pulpet about the Savior. I miss it. Sure, you can still convey a message in a group, but there is so much going on musically that it becomes much harder. As a soloist, you have the freedom to pause if you like, really feel and think about what the words are about with no consequence.

So I felt frustrated, a little disappointed. He is anti-solo. I threw myself at the idea and I really doubt I could have been more obvious without coming off as conceited.

Mom and Kay, I tried. Looks like I am doomed as a group singer while I remain here in Utah. Which is better than nothing, and not necessarily bad, but still.

cookies

The whole idea was Witch's Fingers. They started out like this:

They ended up like this, I mean, I knew thay would flatten some, but come on:

They look more like monster fingers.

So then we did this with the second batch:

MONSTER FEET!

Well, I used pillsbury sugar cookie dough, which I wouldn't use again. I have a recipe for sourcream sugar cookies that are fluffy and they would hold shape better and taste better. I know the browness indicates overcooking, even though it looks great for Monster Feet, but the first batch was golden on the edges and gooey in the middle. So it was either burnt a little or gooey. We have some of both.

Some day I will be a prefect chef like Liz. I am working on it.

i do wash my hair

Yesterday Tyler and I had a church meeting we needed to attend. We were running a little late so I threw my hair up in the style shown above (if you want to call it a style). We walked in the room late, as if that wasn't embarassing enough, and while Tyler is getting some chairs for us, I feel some movement in my poof (that little poof of hair on top of my head). Then, I see a little moth-like creature fly away from me. My face, I am sure, said it all.

"Did that bug just fly out of my poof? Did everyone see this? If they didn't, I am sure they are wondering why I look so upset. Quick--look normal."

Naturally, I just sat down and didn't say a word about it. I still have no idea how many people actually witnessed this bug fly out of my hair where it was obviously nesting. I have no idea how it got in there in the first place. Just a little disturbing.

For the record: I do wash my hair. And this was the first, and better be the last occurance.

the weekend

Tyler went hunting with some friends on Saturday, which left me alone. I was fine with it. I decided I would go estate selling still and venture out to the Salt Lake area where all the good ones are.

While I was out there, I remembered that Kelli now lives in Salt Lake, so I called and asked if she wanted to grab some lunch. She did! And she threw in that she had a suprise for me. I was completely confused as to why she would have a suprise for me because she didn't know I was going to call her.

I met her at a store near her house and guess what my suprise was? None other than Stacie Powell!!! I was so excited I think I damaged Stacie when I gave her a hug. Sorry, Stacie.

We met up with a few other girls and went to lunch at Stabello's, which has amazing pizza.

Kelli, me*, Bekah, Stacie, Malinda and Jade

*Please take into account, I would have looked a lot cuter had I only known my day would end up in the company of friends. And no, Bekah does not have a receiding hair line, it's just light.

Then we went and saw this movie:

It was good, and as usual, we couldn't help but laugh at all the serious moments. A lot of crying men, a lot of cheesy lines. Let's just say that we were saying Kia Kaha to eachother the rest of the day. The phrase alone is not bad, just when you say it at the end of any dramatic line for the last hour of the movie, it becomes comical.

After the movie I drove home and when I went to check the mail I found an envelope to me from my dad. Inside I found a flash drive full of pictures of my family. I may have cried a little. You see, our computer died in August and Tyler and I lost all of our pictures from 2007 and some from 2008. So that means all of our dating pictures! I was a little devistated. So for my dad to send me a bunch of pictures it makes up for it. Thanks Dad!

BOUTIQUE!

Here is what my mom and Alyse have been up to. Such cute stuff! Also, I have some things of mine (jewelry, baby booties, flower pins, vintage things...I didn't get to take pictures of them...so I had to dig out of the archives). Take a look at all the fun things:

I love the pumpkin and the skull. They are my favorite.

I am in love with that coffee table.

Hillary Goodman, if you are out there, this furniture is for you.

My mom came up with this one, so funny...like "ding" bat....but "bling" bat!!

Boutique at the Home of Bev turley

3745 E Hopi

Mesa, AZ

Near Val Vista and Southern

And look how cute my mom and my niece are. And no, Taye is not for sale. Nice try.

P.S. My mom will be in the Domestic Bliss Flea Market on Saturday. I think that's where most of my stuff will be too. Lot's of antiques and vintage pretty things. There are 50 vendors and also a carnival to benifit Nie Nie. Don't miss it. Ugh, how I wished I lived in AZ.

go see

go here and enter to win this pretty quilt!!

i love

I love this wreath idea. Obviously it's for Halloween, but there ain't no reason it couldn't be done for any other holiday. Perfect for a poor student like me. If I ever make one, I will post it. I got the idea from Design Crush ...and she got it from somewhere else. She mentions where on her blog.

Supplies:

12″ foam wreath form

24 yards 1 1/4″ black grosgrain ribbon (or less if using a wider ribbon)

Scissors
Measuring tape

Directions:

Cut 45-50 16″ pieces of ribbon. Tie one strand of ribbon in a knot around the wreath. I used a “messy knot” — right over left, then right over left again, pulling in the opposite direction. It doesn’t really matter how you do it as long as you are consistent all the way around. Repeat with the knots, pushing them close together, until you fill the wreath. Cut one long piece of ribbon (48″) and tie one end to form a knot. Leave a long loop for hanging and tie another knot onto the wreath. Trim any frayed or long ends.

i need stalkers

Ok, looks like I am going to have to explain this to you all. You see on the left column the text that says "follow this blog"? Well, I put that up there like two weeks ago and Hillary (thanks!) is the only follower. You guys are making me look loserish. If you don't have a picture icon, log in to your blogger account and click on "add profile picture". Then when you can publicly admit that you read my blog (I am ready if you are) you just click on the "follow this blog"text. That's it. Now go make me look popular. I am counting on you.

look

It's vintage* Taye!

*Aged, ancient, antiquated, antique, choice, classical, crop, dated, grapes, harvest, old, prize, rare, selected, superior, wine, archaic, bygone, dowdy, fusty, old, old-time, outdated, outmoded, out-of-date, passé...thanks Kelli.

Go here and do some of your own. It's fun.

carson's sweater complete

Here it is. One of the 10 projects in my brain completed. It was fun and easy. My only concern was the finished size of the hood...kind of large. Really large. But I double checked and they were the correct dimensions. I should have got a picture of the ginormous hood just for laughs. Oh well.

Little baby Carson looked cute in it, as long as he held his head still. If he looked to either side, his head would disappear in the hood. Mind you, the pattern is for 3-6 months, not newborn.

My second complaint is that I used a soft yarn, which would snag on my wedding ring occasionaly. So, sorry for the minor snags, Carson.

You can get the pattern here, I know you all are dying for it, since you all knit and everything.

And here is what it looks like on a 3 year old...

sad guys on trading floors

do check it out here.

the weekend review

I didn't take any pictures this weekend, so I pulled this one from the archives.

Well, this last weekend was a success. First off, Tyler's mom (Tamara) and his brother (Braden) got into town Thursday night for a visit. Tamara continued on to Idaho to visit Tyler's sister and left Braden with us for the weekend.

I got to miss work Friday, which I have to admit I felt guilty about until yesterday. Probably because when I had Broncitus 2 weeks ago I missed 3 1/2 days. Not good.

We ate delicious food. I had wings, which anyone who really knows me knows that is a treat. We went to an improv Friday night and it did not disapoint. We laughed. It was great. The announcer guy, aka Mr. Vioce was hil-ar-i-ous. As were the improv people (minus one---it was just incredibly awkward when he would speak). I highly recomend viewing the show.

On a side note--we were going to buy tickets early to view the show. We were having trouble finding the office, so we called to get directions. Easy task, right? Not exactly.

Me: "Hello. We were wondering where your office is located."

Airhead: "Okay. It's on Center Street in Provo."

Me: "What side if the street?"

Airhead: "The right."

Me: ??? "If you are facing which direction?"

Airhead: "Ummmm...you go down University Parkway (which is in Orem, not Provo) and turn right."

Me: ??? "In Orem?"

Airhead: "No, Provo. You go down University Parkway and turn right."

Hmmmm. Note to self: If I ever need to hire someone, knowing cardinal directions will be a manditory requirement. And can I just mention that the mountains are always east, always. Then when we bought the tickets Tyler asked her if we needed to bring ID. She responded, "No, your name will be on the list" ....it was uncomfortable.

Anywho, back to the fantastic weekend. Saturday was freezing. We even had a little snow fall. Lame. It was also Homecoming for BYU. We were about to leave the apartment to go play and we noticed that our parking garage was blocked off and there was a parade going down our street. Not cool. We decided we would leave anyway. We moved the cones and joined in the parade. This lady was trying to look through our tinted windows to see who was so important in our car. It was fun. I took pictures with my phone...but I am not smart enough to get them on the computer.

We ate dinner at Brick Oven Pizza (mmm.) and the BYU Cougar came and visited. He scared a baby. I guess it would be kind of traumatic to see a cougar-man at age 1.

We watched Three Amigos and The 'Burbs. We ate candy 'til we couldn't handle another piece, something I haven't done since childhood. I think I only did it because it was popular with Tyler and Braden. I'm not a huge candy fan.

Last night Tyler and I went and visited the Dent's in our ward. They just had a cute little baby boy named Carson. He was adorable. He snorts when he gets upset. We loved it. I knit him something and I took pictures of it...but I left me camera at home today, so I will show you another day.

It was good to see family and get to know Braden a little more (for me anyway, obviously Tyler already knows him...duh). Yay for weekends!

i like

you can purchase them here. And Kelli, I think these are right up your alley.

tv dinner cupcakes

Hilarious...but not exactly delicious looking. I am sure they taste fine, but I couldn't devour a cupcake that looked like mashed potatoes. It's like playing tricks on your senses.

found here.

look what i got

As many of you already know, I am addicted to Estate Sales. I love them, I mean really love them. The first time I went to one I was a little freaked out by going in a person's house who had recently died and buying their things, but I got over it quick. We went to an Estate Sale in Midvale and picked up these treasures all for $3 total.

This cute red pleated skirt in perfect condition, which I am wearing today.
This lamp, it looks perfect in my room, I just need a shade (and yes, those are knitting needles in a vase. Oh, and the vase was purchased from the sale also)

Vintage pillow cases. For some reason I am really into the patterns on old bedding. They just don't make them like they used to.

Just thought I would brag about my recent achievement.

**side note: is there another word to use besides "vintage" to describe things that are old and cool? I am getting a little annoyed with the word. It's over used and I feel silly and trendy saying it...but I have yet to find a replacement. Old doesn't work: "I got some old pillow cases"......could be gross. When I picture old sheets I picture sheets that need to hit the trash can. Any thoughts?

sweaters

So, you know how you should only wear sweaters in the fall/winter? Well, does that rule apply to houses too?

gag me

Last night, Tyler and I were brushing our teeth. Normally, we don't brush our teeth at the same time. It's a rule I created in my mind. However, last night I was distracted and started brushing my teeth while Tyler was brushing his.

I knew my time was short when I realized what had happened, so I tried to hurry and get the job done. Right as I am ready to spit, Tyler starts spitting. I am taking deep breaths and trying to prolong my desire to shove Tyler out of the way and get rid of the waste sitting in my mouth. Tyler is a very thorough spitter, a few spits and a few rinses with some gargling. The sound of him gargling is worsening my situation. Finally, Tyler is finished and I spit in the sink, I go to rinse with the knowledge that putting anything in my mouth is risky business at this point, but I go for it anyway. Needless to say, I gagged good. Tyler laughed, which made me laugh. Don't picture it, it's not very ladylike.

I have a gagging disorder. I can't leave anything in my mouth for too long, like a toothbrush. And the sound of gargling heightens my gag reflex. You see, I am a bad gargler because it makes me gag, something to do with raising my soft pallet, so listening to Tyler gargle while I was already about to gag made things so much worse. I don't expect you to understand, but here are some stories that may provide some entertainment:

1. High school. Samarai Sams for lunch. Teriyaki chicken bowl. I get one of those nasty pieces of chicken, no where to spit it out. All the napkins were gone. Kim (bless her) runs up to the counter to ask for napkins ASAP (can you tell she knows me well). I am gagging and trying to not spew in front of my piers. Kim came to my rescue. Thanks Kim.

2. Chandler Gilbert Community College. 15 minute break betwenn classes. Kim and I run to Jack in the Box (they don't have one in UT, I am sad) to grab a snack. I am eating as fast as I can so we can make it back to class on time. We are running through the parking lot and I start gagging. Aparently, eating fast does it too. Kim and I are crying laughing at how ridiculous I am. Crying, gagging, laughing, gagging. I was a mess.

3. Chandler Gilbert Communtiy College. Humanities with Dr. Kim Chupa-Cornell. Watching a french film. A kid goes to the nurse claiming he is sick. She says "open up and say ah" and places a stick on his tongue. Who gags? Me.

4. Voice lessons with Jenifer Nagy. I am doing a vocal exercise that helps to increase my range and decrease my break, which means I have to lift my soft pallet (like when you yawn). I am doing great, so we keep going. "Ahhhhhhh..gag". . . right. That's normal.

I am happy to report that since I have been married, my gagging has decreased. Now I only gag when I brush my teeth and take pills. I must have been living with nerves all my single life. Thank Tyler, for rescuing me from countless emberassing moments that could have occured if you never came into my life.

mosiac of me

Answer these 12 questions. Then search Flickr with your answers. You have to choose a photo that appears on the first page of your search. Make a mosaic here. You can attach the HTML that gives credit for the photographers, but mine didn't work.

1. What is your first name? ~ Lindsee
2. What is your favorite food? ~ Italian Food
3. What high school did you attend? ~Mesa High School
4. What is your favorite color? ~ Green
5. Who is your celebrity crush? ~ Well, don't have a "crush", but I never get sick of Steve Carell
6. Favorite Drink? ~ Dr Pepper
7. Dream Vacation? ~ Italy
8. Favorite Dessert? ~ Pumpkin Pie
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? ~ A mom
10. What do you love most in life? ~ family
11. One word to describe you? ~ Detailed
12. Your Flickr name? ~lindseemckinnon

Do it! It's fun!