Table for Eight

Janae's creation: thrift store plates, hardware from Amazon, a special drill bit, and I think a little special glue to secure. For today's post I wanted to share this awesome DYI project my friend Janae completed. (*I think she originally saw it on etsy?) Anyway, my point! Janae came across this cake/dessert stand online one day. And when she looked at the price, she decided they were insanely kinda pricey, so she did some research and figured she could make her own for a pretty affordable price. And that's exactly what she did.  With some help from her kiddos and next door neighbor--who is a jack-of-all-trades, s he found the hardware on Amazon, picked out old plates at thrift stores, and then bought a special drill bit that made it possible to drill through the plates without cracking them. (PS: She bought some extra plates for practice with the drilling part.)  Sidenote: The kids helped pick out the plates and Russ-the-neighbor was tasked with the drill...

First of all, I need to mention how excited Dave is to see The Sound of Music LIVE this Thursday on NBC. It's literally cracking me up. He's typically not a musicals kinda guy, but for some reason this one has him hooked. I think his excitement is half in-jest--because I played Marta in my high school's version of the musical when I was just 8 years old (they cast some kiddos for the younger roles). So there's a good possibility he may be mocking me.  But no matter what, he's into it and it's funny. And it's made me want to post My Favorite Photos This Week : This photo of the SNOW we received yesterday. (I swear it never snows when my warm-weather family visits ... until the day after they leave. Ugh!) This photo of the holiday outfit Bam bought for her cat Whitney--and the expression on Whitney's face. Whitney's pretty much against clothing for pets. She thinks it's "just not right." I half...

Jr's new Halloween mask: a Thoroughbred Horse. SO FUNNY. (This morning he came out from the shower with his robe and this on!) Zu made this awesome pumpkin centerpiece after reading a craft section in The Friend magazine: http://www.lds.org/friend/2013/10/pumpkin-fun?lang=eng Jr did an art assignment/report on this piece of public art--outside at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art. (Artist = Michael Whiting) Lu grew these pumpkins--ALL on her own. (Like, we didn't even know she planted the seeds until the vine started growing!)

Yesterday while we were out shopping for school supplies, we happened upon this this little fella: University of Utah Gnome And with just one quick glance, I knew what I had to do-- message our friends Liz and Whittney and tell them I couldn't wait for fall football season and the rivalry between The University of Utah (Utes) and Brigham Young University (Cougars) to begin. Translation: I told them to watch their backs--because this guy was gonna kick that gnome's can this year. BYU Cougar mask. What is it about athletic rivalry that makes grown women (moms!) TP each others' homes, stick plastic forks in their lawns, and plaster our teams' merchandise ALL OVER one anothers' porches? I have no idea. But I love it. And I have Liz and Whittney to thank for that--because they are the ones who gave our neighborhood the "Spirit Of Prank." I mean I wouldn't admit this to them, but I'm not really that invested in any one spo...

I have had bronchitis for 20+ days now. And I'll tell ya, it's close to cracking me. (If there's anything Survivor taught me, it's that a healthy body is a major blessing.) So when I'm sick, I try my best to focus on the good vs. being crabby. And that's what I'm doing today--I'm focusing on the good with a list of My Favorite Things: July 2013 Edition. Because even amidst this incessant cough and fever, there's good all around.  I know that. For sure. My Favorite Things: July 2013 Edition 1. Hearing from Elder Meehan after his first week in Indiana! (Photo taken with Jay and Mission President/wife: The Clevelands) www.elderjonahmeehan.wordpress.com 2. The kids at Dave's work for "Kidday 2013." (Dave works for an incredible company! Face-paintings, treats, etc.) 3. Family Night at Buca di Beppos.   4. Bam and her friend at our ward/congregation Taco Party Saturday night. 5. Whitney t...

Celebrating Valentine's Day. This was a crazy-fun week. (Maybe a little heavy on the crazy.) But fi rst and for emost, guess who got engaged yesterday? Whitney and Keith fro m Survivor South Pacific ! Is that the sweetest thing ever ? ( Y e s!) . They fe ll in love on the island during Survivor South Pacific , and have been to g e the r ever since. It's really incredible. And here's her ring. Isn't it beautiful? (PS: I've asked if I can be the f lower girl. Stay tuned. Ha !) We are so happy for them ! Our family loves Ms. Whit and Keith! Ms. Whitney Duncan's engagement ring (soon to be Whitney Tollefson!).   Whitney Duncan, (c) CBS, 2011. Second, our guinea pig, Amelia Valentine Pond (named for Dr. Who) cele brated her bday yesterday. And our kids SPOILED her . They made her cake out of ruffage, guinea pig pellets, and water. She loved it, but it looked like Vegemite!   Then, our oldest daugh ter h ad a...

I was telling Dave this yesterday ... Our lives aren't perfect. We have lots and lots--and lots--of "challenges" to face. And often, once we tackle/WIN a challenge, the next one is just waiting for us around the corner (to kick our butts). BUT ... even in the midst of these challenges, I feel grateful for each day on Planet E. Maybe I'm having a mid-life crisis?  Or maybe I'm just finally getting what life's all about? Either way, what I'm trying to say is, I'm grateful for each day. And, I'm grateful to all of you who read this blog. It means a lot to me. The End. Zu, Lu, Jr., and Papaya with the "finished" experiment. We're making stalactites. (Baking soda, water, food coloring, string, paperclips, and a now we wait.) We got the Star Wars Cookbook at the library yesterday. It's been checked out forever. How cool is this? We looked at Ukuleles yesterday. Our daughter Papaya (Who...

Fall in Utah is incredible. It seriously makes me so happy. The colors are changing on the mountains, leaves are falling, football is starting, Allred Orchards is selling my favorite apples and peaches, the mornings are crisp--but not cold, and the kids can still play outside without shoes. I love it. And to celebrate, I'm making a pumpkin wild rice soup today. (I know, CrazyTown over here. Can you tell I'm over 40? Making soup tops my list of exciting things. Ha! If it makes you feel any better, making soup topped my list of exciting things when I was 30 ... and 20, too. ABCs of me, baby.) Happy Labor Day to you and your family. Safe travels if you are heading out to boat, camp, fish, etc. (Our fam? We are staying here, boating--if the rain lets up, eating soup, and BBQ'ing. Period.) ******* (c) MommyApolis.com, 2012. Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup Ingredients: 3 carrot, sliced 3 potatoes, peeled and cubed 1/2 cup wild rice, rinsed 1 tablespoon oliv...

Sunday night I spoke at a church meeting for college students in Provo.  And on my way into the church building, I noticed a flyer for one of their upcoming socials. In big NACHO-COLORED font it read: "Wa wa wa wa wa wah ... NACHO FOUNTAIN !" And that my friends, was all it took:  I could barely focus my thoughts from that point on. What in the what? Could there be anything BETTER than a social with a nacho fountain? I think not. The End. *** PS:  Survivor tonight! We're down to 8 players remaining in the game.  Who do you think is heading home next?  Me?  I'm trying to imagine how I'd vote if I were playing and not emotionally attached to anyone. And if that were the case, I'd vote out Troy. He's too big a threat to keep in the game much longer.

Here are a few of  My Favorite Things this month: 1. The Library. Granted, I am the only person I know who can find a way to PAY for a FREE service (ahem, fines), but I still love the library! (And yesterday our kids earned free In-n-Out Burgers by being part of our library's current reading program--love that!) My current books on loan. (And yes, I'm like a teenager when I see a book with a swearword in the title. Of course I'm going to check THAT out!) 2. At-Home Manicures. Bam got these as a bday present from a girlfriend. (They're scented, too. Hello!) 3. Our 14 Year-Old's (Bam) Creativity. (This is my next polish plan.) Love this. 4. My Lunch Dates (at the Deli on 9th in SLC, Utah). We had pastrami on rye and my husband said he was going to write the deli a thank you note--he loved it THAT much! 5. Energy Bites (from TheRHouse.com). It's basically an unbaked cookie. LOV...