Good Bye 2009!

Ahhh.... the last day of the year. There is something so refreshing about a new year. It's just another day- but for some reason it feels as if things are starting all over.  And I can't say I'm sad to see it go.  Although, sitting here thinking about all the crappy things that happened in 2009, it was in fact, a pretty awesome year. Here are some things that happened- the good the bad and the unattractive:

• I went to Disneyland with my ENTIRE family- on a bus!
• I got to see the ocean for the first time in years!
• I went to Seaworld for the first time ever.
• I went to girls camp and survived.
• Amy came to see me. I haven't seen her in forever!
• I went to a MoTab concert at Red Rocks and cried when they played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.
• I learned how to blog.
• I was introduced to Big Fat Cupcake. Oh. My. Gosh.
• I met with a literary agent and she said I didn't suck!
• I *sort of* participated in Relay for Life.
• Cindy came to visit me and tried out for American Idol.
• I edited a whole novel.
• Dianne and I went to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! It was totally awesome! I giggled like a little girl.
• My parents *finally* came for a visit!
• Lisa and I went to Seattle and stayed in the most ghetto hotel ever imagined.
• I drove with my favorite travel buddy to Port Angeles and Forks
• I spent a couple of hours at First Beach in LaPush.
• I wore a sweatshirt to the beach for the first time in my life.
• I spent time in the hospital with a sweet little girl who was diagnosed with Leukemia.
• I shared what is most important to me with someone who *was* important to me and never heard from him again.
• I got fired from a job I hated.
• I cried a lot.
• Jessica came to see me and we had the absolute best time ever!
• I laughed a lot.
• Jessica introduced me to garlic cheese spread which may lead to my demise.
• I went on a Jane Austen scavenger hunt.
• Came home for a visit and ate Nutella for the first time.
• My friends took me to the circus for my birthday- first circus ever! I have awesome friends.
• My uncle died.
• Two of my sisters and one niece came to see me.
• We saw Wicked (absolutely indescribably fabulous).
• Went to the Hammond Candy Factory and watched them make Lollipops.
• Hanna and I went to Hawaii (with a friend of hers).
• I laid on the beach and fried like an egg.
• Jona was in Hawaii the same time as me so I got to spend some time with her!
• I lost my camera.
• I bawled my eyes out at Pearl Harbor.
• I made Thanksgiving dinner and no one died.
• I got a job and worked for five days over a series of three weeks then quit.
• I came home and spent the Holidays with my Idaho friends and family.
• I got a cute new baby nephew! He's so darn sweet!

See, It's been an eventful year- and I must be in a good mood because I remembered mostly good things!  Here's to a fabulous 2010! *clink glasses*

I'm ready for my close up, Food Network!

A few weeks ago I stupidly entered a ward cake decorating contest.  My friend and her mom bailed me out by helping me make this.  The theme for my ward party was Whobilation so I had a Who-ish cake in mind, but they really took the cake (if you'll parden the pun).  I made the doors and the door knobs. I also made the present hanging from Mount Crumpit.  That's about all I contributed to this absolutely fabulous cake.  Of course, everyone in my ward now thinks I'm a cake genius. Oh how wrong they are.  I really just wanted them to teach me how to use fondant.  I grew up in a buttercream home and have never even seen the fondant process- besides on TV (Ace of Cakes RULES!).

I came to Idaho just in time for my sister's birthday and decided to strike out on my own.  This is my very first solo attempt at fondant- which I made myself. I didn't get the store bought kind!

The little fairy on top was made by my 10 year old niece.  She was so excited to give her mom an awesome birthday cake!

As you can see, there is lots of room for improvement (you cant see all the oopsies on the back), but I think for a first attempt that it's not half bad. I can see why fondant cakes are twice the price. This sucker was so time consuming. My sister thought I was kidding when I told her it took six hours- just for the decorating. Of course, I didn't know what I was doing. I'm sure with practice I'll be able to shave time off... and make it look better.

So many movies

I am one of those weird people who can only watch Christmas movies after Thanksgiving and before New Year's.  January 1 hits and the movies get put away till next year.  I don't know why. I've tried to get a head start on my list for the year.  But I still have tons to go. 

So far I've watched:

*Extremely weird movie, but somehow it turned into a Christmas staple*

*Who doesn't love this movie, seriously?*

*Oh how grateful I am they came out with this version. I liked the cartoon, but this is amazing!*

*One of the few Will Farrell Movies I actually like!*

*There is no Christmas without Bing*

*Only because I too am a misfit*

*Oh... I LOVE the music. This is my "put up the tree" movie*

*again, totally identify with the character.  I am the "victim of unrequited love.  The walking wounded. The handicapped without the advantage of a great parking spot"*

*I just like to sing the Miser Brother song (and Blue Christmas at the end)*

*HAHAHAHAHAHAH*

*It never ceases to amaze me how tiny Vera Ellen's waist is... and her neck. Did she ever eat, seriously?*

 

*I can't always afford the stage play- and it doesn't come near me now anyway, so this is the best alternative. make sure you watch the encore in the special features.*

*Bawl your eyes out and remember that even though it sucks to be "alone" on Christmas, we never are really alone.  We have been given the greatest gift anyone has ever offered.

I still have yet to watch:

 

*This is probably my favorite Rankin/Bass cartoon (although the Santa creeps me out a tad)*

Yes, I chose this one on purpose.  As much as I *adore* Patrick Stewart, I'm afraid Mr Magoo is my favorite Ebenezer Scrooge.  This was my first contact with Dickens as a kid and it's stuck with me.

*An obscure made for TV movie but it feeds my imagination that some fabulous rich man will fall for me- the unfabulously ordinary girl next door*

This is my all time favorite.  Not only do I love Charlie Brown (ok, and I identify a little with Lucy) but who can make it dry eyed through Linus bravely telling the world what "Christmas is all about?" One of the best moments in TV history.

*bad acting and kind of lame, but rather a tradition*

This is the only Frosty I like, I've seen others try, but they fail.

 

*This is the only Christmas sequal I like.  "We're gonna have a weddin!"*

*I pray all the time for a George Bailey experience.  It would be so nice to know whether or not I serve a purpose.*

*I always thought Jessica was so pretty.  I like knowing the romantic story behind Santa.*

*I like this one but it makes me sad, he loves her but...*

*We're getting scammed by a kindy-gartner*

I'm sure there are more, but this is all I can think of. Although some you may think are missing I left them off on purpose (i.e A Christmas Story, Yes Virginia There is a Santa Claus, Miracle on 34th street, Christmas Vacation) because though entertaining- for the most part- they are not essential to the completion of my Christmas Experience.

I need to get out more.

Settle a Score

My friend and I have come to a stalemate.  Please help us out.

WHO IS HOTTER?

Alan

OR

Richard

????

Let the Season Begin!

I have been overwhelmingly filled wtih Christmas Spirit today. I'm just happy.  Here are a list of things that are making me smile today.

• The lady at Khols who was wearing a fur coat... and flip flops
• Christmas Music on the radio
• Singing along with said music
• Really good literature (I'm reading the Chronicles of Narnia)
• Spaghetti for breakfast
• Watching a three year old boy hold the door for his mom
• Free internet at the library
• Waking up after having dreams of Hawaii (that may sound sad, but at least I can dream about it now, where before even the idea was beyond my dreams)
• Texting my little brother
• Knowing that around 5:00 Jess will text me and ask me how my day was
• Getting excited to go home for Christmas
• Paying rent (weird, I know, but it's not borrowed money!)
• Thinking about what I want to get people for Christmas
• Trying to decide which Chrstmas movie to watch first tonight
• Rehearsing for my singing group's debut performance this Saturday!
• My new Purple Shamrock that a funny old guy in my ward brought me... planted in an egg shell.

I really could go on.  It's just a lovely day. I have so many things to smile about, this list doesn't make a dent.