Note to self.

Self, next time you're trying to take a sneaky picture of your "helper".... DON'T call his name hoping to get a smile out of him. Because he may or may not get really excited, forget where he's at and try to crawl to you, and fall flat on his face. And you, watching all of this through your camera peephole may or may not drop your expensive camera on the ground and jump to his rescue. You'll most likely be too late, and will hit your head on the cutting board that was pulled out directly above you.

Just sayin'.

A job update.

 

Graduating in this job market is more than scary... it's a little terrifying. After coming home from Christmas Vacation, Randy and I hit the job hunting hard. After about a week or so, it became apparent that there were next to zero (no, probably just zero) job opportunities pertaining to his major- so we started expanding our search.

I was getting very overwhelmed, very fast. It seemed like having a degree meant nothing in this economy! Randy did have a couple of job interviews, but the jobs never turned out to be what we thought they were and they weren't worth our time.

One day Randy posted his resume on monster.com and within a couple of hours got a few responses from recruiters for insurance agencies. This peaked his interest so he called one of them to chat. He ended up going in for 2 different interviews with Farmer's Insurance and got really excited at the prospect. He hit it off very well with the boss and appreciated the fact that the boss didn't try to sugar coat things.We also called a couple of friends who are agents and got the dirt and asked any questions we could think of.  After a lot of prayer, thought, and consideration, we decided to go with it. The boss is very confident in Randy. He said that he has the personality that it takes. It also helps immensely that Randy has some sales background under his belt. He knows just how hard it can be and what has to be done to make it.

So that's where we're at. He had to take a background check that took a week to clear and now he's working on getting certified. He has to take 2 tests (a lot of studying... it's like coming back home, he said) and then he has to prove himself worthy by obtaining some policies before he is considered a 'go agent'. It'll take a while to get started... but we are both very excited and feel pretty lucky for the opportunity.

So... if all of you could just cancel your current insurance policies and switch them over to Randy that'd be greeeaaat. Mmmm k. Thanks. Haha. Just kidding. He told me the only soliciting he is going to do with family and friends is send out a mass e-mail just letting them know that he's an agent now and I was all whatever! I'm going to call everyone I know every day and hound them until they switch over! Luckily for you Idaho peeps, he is just getting his Utah license. For all you Utah SUCKAS... better answer your phone when I call! ;)

Chompers.

See Collin's new teef? And the drool that is about to drip? It's never-ending.

About 10 minutes after this picture was taken I was on my back playing with him and letting him crawl and jump all over me when all of the sudden he slaps one slimy hand down on my forehead, then slaps the other hand on my chin and plants the biggest, slobbery-est kiss on my mouth that I've ever had. I about melted.

And then he bit me, really, really hard.

My new love.

So, it's the new year. I decided to do something that I've never done before. No, I'm not talking about exercising. Believe it or not I HAVE exercised before (twice). I'm talking about refinishing furniture! I've always been intrigued by the idea of buying something for dirt cheap and making it look fab, but never thought I had the know-how let alone patience to do it. After reading blog after blog, and seeing these ugly pieces being turned into pure AWESOMENESS I just had to try. And try I did, my friends. I stalked the classifieds and D.I. like our old dog Bridger sniffed butts. (A lot). I was starting to get discouraged when one day I was browsing KSL's classifieds and found this poor creature:

 It was just begging for some TLC. And for $25, how could I turn her down? I couldn't. The next day she was in my garage... where she stayed for a week. After the kids were in bed I would sneak out to the garage and spend hours priming, painting, antiquing and finishing. The whole project took a week from start to finish. It could have been a lot faster if it wasn't NEGATIVE INFINITY in my garage. But the end result was so worth it! Are you ready?! ARE YOU READY?! Behold...

Before (again... is for fun):

And AFTER: *AAAAAA* <-- angels singing

I know, right? Pretty much the coolest thing you've ever seen. It was a lot of fun, I think I found a new hobby to add into the mix. The lighting is awful in the picture, but I couldn't wait until daytime tomorrow to show it off! There are a few things that I learned NOT to do the next time I refinish something, but overall I'm pleased with how it turned out. The mistakes I made aren't bad enough to make me want to redo.

And, just for kicks, here's the view where it'll be seen from most often.... coming in from the front door:

Ohhh I can't WAIT to spruce it up with some Valentine's Day decor! WOOHOO for a new place to decorate!

Ever have one of those days...

where you're like... man, I feel like crap.

And then you find something REALLY funny on the internets?

And it made your day all better?

Yeah... me too.

Enjoy.

Taste of my own medicine.

Today I was getting impatient with Macey. I kept asking her to come help me pick up her toys and put them away. She was ignoring me, watching tv. I finally lost it and turned off the tv and looked her square in the eyes and asked her once more. She calmly looked at me and said:

I don't even know what that means.

I was flabbergasted. I say that phrase to her all the time when she's asking me to do something over and over and I either don't want to, or I really don't know what she is trying to tell me. HA! Darn, I need some new tricks.

We like the happy babies.

Yeah... we'll keep 'em.

Macey and Collin sporting their new jammies and slippers on Christmas Eve.

We had to place Collin like so because he kept going for Macey's hair.  Out of sight out of mind.

DaNae's Top Picks: 2009

Here are some highlights of random things I dug this year:

TV (Thank you DVR)
My new top pick goes to Modern Family
BYU football... boo-ya!

Bachelor

Bachelorette

Friday Night Lights

24

30 Rock

Office (although I admit I'm getting burnt out on it)

48 Hour Mystery

Cake Boss

18 Kids and counting

Toddler and Tiaras

 The Soup

Best Week Ever

Music

My top pick this year goes to Taylor Swift. (Randy would roll his eyes at that one.)

Michael Buble

Daughtry (I am his biggest fan)

Kelly Clarkson

All American Rejects, specifically Gives you Hell 

Pink's song, Rockstar

I can't believe I'm saying this, but... Miley Cyrus

Nickelback

Coldplay

Green Day

Weezer

Owl City

Relient K

Movies (Thank you Redbox)
Top pick this year would have to be UP. I was thoroughly surprised and impressed.

Star Trek (and I am not a Trekkie.. but still dug this movie)

17 Again

The Proposal

The Taking of Pelham123

Pink Panther 2 (Macey loved)

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Princess and the Frog

Still on my list that I want to see:

Sherlock Holmes

Avatar

Notice that New Moon isn't on my list? I can't decide if I want to see it or not. I am a closet Twilight fan. I LOVE the books but haven't been impressed with the movies. 

Clothes

My top pick this year goes to Kohl's, hands down. Their girl Jumping Bean line has been adorable and I love the stretchiness in them! Also, their sales have been great for Carter's stuff for Collin. Apt 9 stretchy shirts have won my love from Kohl's as well. I pick them over Gap's!

Old Navy seems to be taking it up a notch with cuteness and quality. Collin's winter stuff is pretty much all from there.

Gap. What can I say, this store has been my weakness for 4 years now.

Costco. I've scored some sweet clothes this past year from Costco! Including Lucky jeans for $39!

Shoutout to Walmart's Carter's line. The pajamas are dang cute, and for $7 a good deal!

And of course... Target. The shoes there are great for kids, and they always seem to have some cute dress or something that I'm tempted to buy for Macey.

Lastly, Crazy 8 and Gymboree... but I only shop there when they're having sales AND a gymbucks/crazy cash thing goin' on.

Home

My top pick goes to IKEA and their sweet dish scrubbers that have a suction cup at the bottom. These are mine and Randy's favorite! We get all giddy when they have them there (sometimes they are sold out).

Target for cute seasonal decor that make it fun for the kids

Tai Pan

Roberts (love their 50% coupon)

And ALL the do-it-yourself blogs... oh my, too many to name. But LOVE them.

Kitchenaids. Ok, I've had mine for 5 years so technically this doesn't count... but my, how it makes my life easier... plus it's so pretty. :)

Entertainment

Top pick goes to Tiger Woods's wife. You go girl. I love how instead of cowering in the shadows behind her man (Hilary Clinton, anyone?) she got the friggin' golf clubs and went to town on his car. Hoo boy! I love it. That's what you get, Tiger!

The train wreck that is Jon Gosselin. Ok, so let me get this straight... you hate the media, but yet you move to NEW YORK CITY, and vacation in LOS ANGELES regularly? Moron. 

Jimmy Fallon getting his own Late Night show. We've been fans of Fallon ever since he hosted the MTV Movie Awards back in 2005. His spoofs were HILAR. You can view here and here.

Aaaand Michael Jackson dying. I wasn't going to put this since it didn't impact me as much as others... I was never really in to MJ. But, he is the King of Pop afterall. And I love me some Pop. :)

Did I miss anything?