life in general

bags are (almost) packed

It's moving week.

Lots to do tonight.  Movers come in the morning.

Just wanted to check in before I go dark.  (After posting this I'm packing up the computer.)

Life is crazy, but good at the same time.  

Feeling blessed by the thoughtfulness and help of friends.  Big and small.  (Even though we're both the oldest child and have that independent I-can-do-everything-myself spirit running through our veins, I am more and more happily accepting help.)

Hard to realize this is actually, finally happening.

Scott started his job in Las Vegas on September 6, 2011.  We will load all of our belongings into a moving truck on March 6, 2012.

I haven't come right out and said it on this blog -- but Scott has been living in Vegas while we've been here in Oregon these past 6 months as the house-hunting and house-waiting has been dragging on.  (Although, I've hinted and alluded to it several times.)  He has been home on the weekends, a lot of the time just every other weekend.

It's time to be back together every day.

We are very much looking forward to that.

So until the dust settles, my friends, I leave you with this . . . 

find joy in the journey

have faith in the unknown, it can be even better than your heart can imagine

surprise nomination

Popping in here real quick today because I have mucho packing and moving-related stuff to attend to . . . but this is something I have to share.

I'm pulling out of my driveway this morning to take the kids to school when I got a phone call from my mom.  She goes on to inform me that I am on the nominated list of "Best Family Blogs" on Apartment Therapy.  Wha-at?!  Wow!

So surprising and really, just crazy.

This is the part where I ask a favor of my dear blog readers and friends . . . . if you have a moment today or any day before March 2nd at 11:59pm EST (that's when the voting ends), I would love it if you would hop on over and submit your vote.  Obviously you don't have to vote for me, but it might be kinda nice.

GO TO THIS LINK, scroll way down and look for Life in General: Find Joy in the Journey.  Right now I have 3 votes.  

I really have no idea what the "winner" receives.  Maybe a cool button you can put in your sidebar?  Like they say at the Oscars, it's an honor just to be nominated.

*******************************

In other news,

I got LASIK surgery this weekend.

(after awakening from my 4-hour, post-LASIK nap)

Everything went really well.  I can see improvement in my vision, although there is a bit of a haze around things.  I'm told that improves with time.  I had the procedure done in just my left eye, so I'm trying to get used to having 2 functioning eyes.  Hopefully soon they will learn to cooperate and work together.  

Since the surgery I have been missing a bit of my "pep".  Things are still happening and progressing around the house, I just don't have a whole lot of enthusiasm about it all.  Crazy, right?  Packing up a 2400 sq ft house should be all kinds of fun!

This could be due to the poor sleep I've been getting lately (wearing goggles at night to protect my eyes - not so comfortable.)  Or the emotional toll of going through our last Sunday in our ward.  Whatever it is, I'm trying to will my "pep", my enthusiasm, my joy back into my system.  If for nothing else than to just fully enjoy the last few days we have here.  

Okay, I got to get back to work!  And put in some eye drops.  I'll leave you with this.  I'll be repeating it to myself all day.

Source: lilblueboo.com via Shannon on Pinterest

link: on becoming

I'm not really sure what to title this post.  Basically I just want to share & bookmark a few blog posts and articles I have read recently.  Things that made me think about little adjustments I should make on this path to becoming.  Things that have enlightened and inspired.

Source: simplemom.net via Shannon on Pinterest

 

10 Steps to Courageous Hospitality -- About putting fears aside, stop worrying about perfection, and just invite people into your home.  I'm not afraid to invite people into my home, but I love what she says about the relationship building that happens when we do.

Quote:   "#2 Know that you are unique and that people want to know you more."

Take home:  Take the risk to get to know new people.

Source: myshineproject.com via Shannon on Pinterest

 

Shyness, or whatever --  She shares how she, once a very shy person, made a choice to become more outgoing.  Reading her backstory (kindergarten to college) I felt like she was writing about me!  Just eery the similiarity of experiences and thoughts/feelings.

Quote:  "I knew that being shy was trapping my talents inside me, I wanted to change."  "Sometimes you have to pack your bags and bid farewell to the thing you have become comfortable with that you know holds you back."

Take home:  Say hi & talk to the old lady walking by, it just might make her day.  Break out of your comfort zone.

 

Source: lilblueboo.com via Shannon on Pinterest

little blue boo - comfort shower

A Comfort Shower:  I found Lil Blue Boo earlier this week, and it is my new favorite.  This gorgeous young mom is battling cancer, going through chemotherapy, and has the best attitude.  "Choose Joy".  So inspirational.  Her MIL and SIL threw a comfort shower for her - a gathering for her closest family & friends to celebrate love, friendship, encouragement, laughter.  And she was showered with gifts of comfort: magazines, pjs, comfy clothes, books, tea, essential oils, scarves, sharpies, snacks, comfy quilts....even frozen meals.

Quote:  "I'm truly blessed to be surrounded by such love.  I've never once felt alone in this journey."

Take home:  Deep, sincere, thoughtful, supportive, with-you-through-highs-and-lows friendship is absolutely beautiful.

His Grace Is Sufficient:  As I read through the Winter 2012 issue of BYU Magazine this past month I came across this article.  It was originally a BYU Devotional given by Brad Wilcox.  I once took a religion course from him at BYU and he has the most amazing talent for speaking, teaching, engaging his class/audience, and every subject he touches suddenly becomes clear and makes perfect sense.  This article was just wonderful.  Go to the link and you can listen or download a free PDF.

Quote:  "When learning the piano, are the only options performing in Carnegie Hall or quitting?  No.  Growth and development take time.  When we understand grace we understand that we never have to face challenges alone, that Christ's strength is perfect in our weakness and that he offers us his enabling power."

Take home:  The blessings of the Atonement don't come to us just at the end of our lives, but rather they are continuous, constant, right here, right now.

embrace the camera: february 9th

Today I'm embracing the camera with Payton.

On his birthday I handed the camera over to Conner and asked him to take a photo.

Love this boy.

He's popping up in a lot of blog posts lately, I know.  And I've got 2 more in my head that will make it onto the blog when I have time.

Embrace the Camera

just so you know . . .

. . . I am planning to win the HGTV Dream Home in Park City, Utah.  I think it will make a great vacation home.

. . . the Momento app for iphone rocks my world.  It's like a scrapbook/journal in the palm of my hand.  {contented sigh}.  Lately, it's been so helpful as I put together the weekly layouts in my project life album.  I jot a few notes during the day about things we did, my feelings, observations . . . I write down funny quotes from the kids (from Conner:  "While I wait I think I'll just do some planking") . . . and it automatically slurps in my FB status updates and instagram posts and displays everything in lovely chronological order.

. . . without a doubt "embrace" is the right word for me this year.  Sometimes learning to embrace change also means embracing the change within the change that gets thrown on top of the change.  Lost?  Ya, me too sometimes.

. . . Scott just finished a 24 week nutrition/exercise program with a trainer and has lost 42 pounds!  He looks smokin'.  The other day he shared that Rick (his trainer) says this is usually the point in the program when he gets a thank you from the wife.  Well then, maybe I need to send a thank you.

. . . we are moving in 4 weeks.  Yes, it is real.  28 days people!  Enough is enough with waiting around for this short sale to happen.  Scott signed a lease on a 3-bedroom apartment, we're getting bids from moving companies, and I'm selling stuff on Craigslist and amassing a pile for Goodwill.  I'm sure there are going to be a flurry of emotions over the next few weeks.  After my first blubbering cry over Facetime (as we talked actual moving dates which made it very real) I let Scott know that this is just going to be part of the process for me.  I think he understands. 

. . . I am getting LASIK at the end of this month.  I'm not too nervous.  Should I be?  I'm only having it done on one eye (the other one is 20/20) so even if they botch it I still have one good eye to fall back on.

. . . I love this photo of Payton.  (found while digging through the digital photo archives to write Payton's birthday post)

13 things about my trip to las vegas

1.  While Scott worked for a few hours each morning he set me up in an empty corner office where I was able to blog, attend to facebook and google reader, browse pinterest to my heart's delight, and enjoy my Wee Brie (isn't that the cutest?) and crackers.  What a thoughtful guy . . . he picked up some snacks for me before my arrival.  The free time and quiet was wonderful.

2.  Lunch at the Cheesecake Factory to meet the homeowners.  We learned a little more about the area from these long-time Las Vegas residents (all positive).

 

3.  I got to see the house for the first time ever!  A little nervous because we've invested so much time in this process already, but it was great.  The space is great, just needs some cosmetic TLC (we are making a prioritized list of projects).  The location is wonderful.  The schools are top-rated.  It's in the ward we wanted.  An easy commute for Scott.  Altogether it's a pretty amazing package.

4.  Late aftenoon view from Scott's office.

5.  We decided to take advantage of the dining options in Vegas and celebrate our 13th anniversary a few days early.  Dinner reservations at Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant in the Bellagio.  

6.  Big smiles when the hostess led us to our booth.  Our view . . . 

A front row seat to the fountains at the Bellagio.  We had no idea that we were in for this!  What a great surprise!  

7.  I tried sushi for the first time ever.  We ordered Cucumber Salad, a California roll, a Popping Spicy Crab roll, and tuna.  You know what?  I liked it all!  

8.  drumroll please . . . I ate the entire meal with chopsticks!!  This was also a first for me - no fingers, no asking the waiter for a fork.  From plate to my belly, allll chopsticks.  I was so proud of myself!  As was Scott.

9.  Oh, and those lovely fountains.  Almost everytime they went off, we got up from our seats and stepped out on the veranda to watch.  Absolutely mesmerizing!

We kept looking at each other, in awe of what a fantastic dining experience this was turning out to be.  Great food, great view.

10. Ordering a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3 in New York City has always been on my bucket list.  When we happened upon a Serendipity 3 outside Caesar's Palace I was thrilled!  And on our anniversary date, what luck!  What . . . . serendipity.  :)

And oh my.  The frrrozen hot chocolate did not disappoint.

I ordered the original.  Scott ordered Orrreo.

11. Flying home together was a special treat.  I'm so used to dropping off and picking up at the airport . . . it was so nice to come home together.  And when I dozed off on the plane and maybe snored just a little, I didn't have to be embarrassed that the passenger next to me had witnessed this.  ;)

12. We landed in Portland, sat down for dinner at a Thai restaurant, changed our clothes in the bathroom, and headed to the temple for a really wonderful, peaceful, meaningful evening.  It was the perfect way to end the week.

13.  Seeing my husband in action at work & all he has to manage, knowing his excitement over my arrival, the way he prepared for my visit (cleaning, stocking up on my favorites), the way he spoiled me, never having to open my own door (ever), feeling so connected, knowing he understands and supports my desires/needs . . . . I've determined that I am one amazingly blessed woman.  

In my book, 13 is a lucky number.

p.s.  special thanks to my mom for holding down the fort and loving the kids while I was away.

best friends

My kids are amazing little gift-givers.  Scott takes them Christmas shopping for me and I always love hearing the stories behind the presents, the stories of the hunt, and their adventures in the mall (taking turns in the Hurricane chamber).  A lot of the time they know exactly what they want to get me before they head out to the stores.  And the gifts usually fall into one of 3 categories:  1) something perfect  2) something thoughtful  3) something As Seen on TV.

A few examples from past years . . . 

something perfect:  a thermos for my hot chocolate (I love my hot chocolate)

something thoughtful:  a treasure chest full of love notes (Payton originally wanted to fill it with jewels, but that wasn't quite in the budget)

something As Seen on TV: Aqua Globes (because they were sure that I needed them)

This year Anna's gift falls into category 1 and 2.

When I opened her gift I was dumb-struck . . . how did she know?

It's an interlocking heart necklace (one for her, one for me) that reads I love you.  As I sat there surprised and smiling she said, "we both wear a necklace and then when I sit on your lap we can put our hearts together and it says 'I love you.'"

So sweet.

When I was in 5th and 6th grade there were a slew of girls who began donning similar necklaces with the words "best friends".  It always made me a bit sad because I didn't have a friend to share a shiny silver necklace with.  Then to see them show up on the last day of school before Christmas break with gifts in hand to exchange with their besties . . . I wished that I had someone to share that special BFF connection with.  But, that's just part of growing up that I'm sure everyone has experienced.  The good news:  things get better.

And the best news:  I have a sweet, beautiful daughter who loves me and will be my friend forever.

embrace the camera: dec. 22nd

99% of the time my morning hair routine is shampoo, conditioner, blow-dry, flat iron, done. Every once in a while I get in the mood to go curly.  Sunday was one of those days.  And after watching several online video tutorials the last few months I think I've finally figured out how to do it.

And when I've gone to the effort of doing up my hair and happen to be wearing a new dress I think that a photo is requirement.  Not doing so would be a waste.  See this pin.

And the next morning, it still looks somewhat done.  Albeit a little frizzy.  

(Anna and I after morning scriptures, in my robe, taken with my iPad & edited with Instagram)

I am anxiously awaiting Christmas morning when I get to unwrap a new little toy and I'll be instagram-ing all over the place.  Watch out.  For now, here's another one from my iPad.  

a foggy morning today

**********************************************************

 

let's go on a date: august

the date envelope

contents   gift certificate for 2 nine-hole rounds of golf with golf cart

cost  $48

the plan

Scott loves to golf but doesn't get to do it very often.  I want to learn to golf.  I thought this would be a perfect date idea for the both of us.  We are one year away from the kids being in school full-day so I thought this would be good timing to start practicing the golf here and there.  Maybe in the future we could do more golf dates every so often while the kids are in school.

the date afternoon

This was my first time playing on a golf course since our engagement or early marriage.  We started having kids and schedules suddenly weren't so flexible for things like this.  For our date I used Conner's new clubs, a little short, but almost my size.

It was a beautiful day to be on a beautiful course!  When we sat back and thought about it, what better surroundings (picturesque, quiet, calming) to be in for a lovely date.  It was so nice to cuddle up in the golf cart as we drove from hole to hole, sometimes having to sit there and wait for our turn.  But that was perfectly fine with me.

As far as my golf game . . . I got somewhere around an 82-ish.  I think I lost 3 balls.  :)  Scott did pretty good considering the distractions (me) with a 40 - just 4 over par.

We both really enjoyed this date and are looking forward to when we can do it again!

Afterwards Scott took me to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant.  Fore!  Score!

the scrapbook page

next month

picnic - hike - dessert

To see each of our monthly dates in 2011, go here

embrace the camera: dec 1st

after the kids were tucked into bed (which couldn't come soon enough), I put on my flannel victoria secret pajamas, turned to a christmas station on pandora, prepared a bowl of honeycrisp apple slices and caramel sauce for dipping, and began my christmas ritual of decorating the tree.

I usually end up doing this by myself in the evening.  Lights low.  Scott on the couch to keep me company, only letting one or two comments slip (with a smile) regarding my OCD in this culmination of christmas decor.

  

And don't worry that the kids are being left out.  They have a smaller tree in the playroom which they get free reign on.  As well as an even smaller tree in each of their rooms.  They will be decorated and re-decorated about 20 times this month.

It's a soothing process and I enjoy it.  I love unwrapping the ornaments from tissue paper, one by one, and being reminded how much I love the reds and silvers and sparkles.  And yes, I even love Darth Vader.  He puts a smile on my face all month long.

****************************************

Embrace the Camera

what's on your bucket list?

The people at Just Ask want you to stay around for a good long while so you can cross activities and achievements off that bucket list of yours.  That's why they've developed a test that could save your life -- the BRACAnalysis test - by warning you about your chances of getting breast or ovarian cancer.

I want to be around for as long as I can too!  (But if you ask Scott, he'd be happy to have a cut-off date around age 75.)  If you share your list you'll have a shot of winning a trip of a lifetime.  The grand prizes are:

• a family vacation of a lifetime to Universal Orlando Resort
• A Las Olas Surf Camp Safari in Mexico
• Ski Lessons and stay at Park City Mountain Resort

Here are 15 things I want to enjoy in my lifetime:

1. take a real-life, in person, photography class.  The Blue Lily's GoPro workshop looks like an awesome bundle of information.

2. go to South Africa and stay in a luxury safari resort of course

3. go to Ireland - my name is Shannon after all.  I am drooling over this trip.  Ireland + photography + scrapbooking + ali edwards + karen russell = my dream come true.

4. go to China & Hong Kong.  Marjorie Hinckley said that Hong Kong was her favorite place to visit in the whole world, and I think she was a pretty smart lady.

5. go to Greece - I can't get enough of these photos of pristine white cliffside homes

6. go to Australia

7. serve a mission with Scott for the church when we're old(er).  Any of the above locations would be just fine.

8. visit NYC during Christmas time

9. have a caricature drawn (like they do at theme parks)

10. ride in a limo

11. ride in a hot air balloon.  I might have a heart attack, but it would be fun!

12. sell something on etsy

13. attend general conference in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City

14. learn how to make caramels

15. buy a nice house in Las Vegas.  Preferably with a pool.

And that is my list today.  It could change tomorrow.  I think it's good to include several do-able things along with the big fantasy items.

What's on your bucket list?

 ---------------------------------------

This is my entry in the Just Ask Bucket List Getaway Giveaway.  Just Ask offers a breast and ovarian cancer screening and is encouraging people to share 15 things that I want to enjoy in my lifetime as a reminder to be aware of my health.  Want to enter?  Head over to TodaysMama.com to get the details.

let's go on a date: july

the date envelope

contents  $15 Blockbuster gift card, 2 Do You Know Your Husband/Wife Quiz books

cost  $27

the plan

It's a slumber party for two!  I also grabbed this idea from Love Actually.  My little note above explains it all -- get comfy & cozy in front of the tv, order in some pizza, fill out the Do You Know? quiz books, pop in a movie, enjoy some popcorn, and stay up all night talking or whatever.  

the date night

July was a busy month.  We were on vacation half the month, and Scott was out of town for the other half of the month.  So when we planned a spur of the moment weekend in the city, we decided to bring along the date envelope.  Yay for separate / adjoining hotel rooms!  But . . . I got food poisoning that night so nothing fun was going to happen.

Just goes to show that sometimes your best laid plans go awry.

We tried again a few weeks later.  I put together a fun date basket

There was so much to do -- 2 movies, quizzes, discussion, treats . . . . We ended up spreading it out over an entire weekend.  We ditched the living room floor idea (because that would mean we'd have to walk downstairs) and chose the comfort of our bedroom instead for movie watching and late-night talks.  

The quiz books . . . so. much. fun.  And I can truthfully tell you that Scott really enjoyed it too.  There are 100 questions in each book so we worked in 20 question increments.  We'd quietly jot down our answers about the other person and then go through it together one by one.  I have to say that we know each other very well!  Very few wrong answers in there. Some of the questions were totally random (like, what pocket does he put his wallet in?), some were good "what would he/she do in this situation?" questions, and others asked about their childhood, personality, and habits.  I highly recommend it as a fun activity to do together.

the scrapbook layout

no photos this month.  I cut out some of our answers from the quiz books to include on this month's layout.  (click on the photo to see it larger)

next month

drive, chip, putt

To see each of our monthly dates from 2011, click here.

let's go on a date: june

the date envelope

contents  Restaurant.com voucher to local restaurant, deck of cards, list of 2-player cards games & instructions for play (not seen)

cost  $5

the plan

As the note says, this month marks 13 years since our first date.  We dated over that summer and spent quite a bit of time outside.  I wanted this month's date to be slightly reminiscent of that.

My idea was to get some dinner at a local Hawaiian restaurant (I was able to buy a $10 voucher on Restaurant.com for just $2 -- you can find great promo codes from time to time).  And then we would stroll across the parking lot and sit at one of the picnic benches in the park on the river.  Pull out a deck of cards and enjoy a nice summer evening playing some card games.

the date night

Dinner at our local Hawaiian place was great, as usual.  But the weather was a bit overcast and nippy outside -- not the greatest conditions for sitting outside for an extended period of time.  So no card games for us.

Instead, we walked down to the docks to get a closer view of the river and boats -- the river was the highest we have ever seen it.  Then we took a nice walk up and down historic mainstreet, peeking in the shop windows, with me essentially giving Scott a tour of the town we've lived in for the last 9 years.  :)  

Then we decided to go to Burgerville for fresh strawberry milkshakes (yum!) and use their free wi-fi to play around on our ipads.  In the photo below we look pretty lame - sucking on a milkshake, zoned out on our ipads.  But really it was just perfect to get to sit together, surrounded by quiet, piddling around on our devices.  It's the little things.

Before leaving home Scott had downloaded a 2-player card game (Speed, I think?) and we had a really fun time playing that together.  Yep that's us . . .  just a couple of 30-something parents, out on a friday night, playing card games in Burgerville.

the scrapbook layout

next month

getting to know you

to see each of our monthly dates in 2011, go here

let's go on a date: may

the date envelope

Sorry, no picture.  This date falls into the category of "for our eyes only".  If you're putting together a year of dates, be sure to include one at-home date that he is sure to enjoy.  I found a creative idea on the Love Actually blog (scroll down to see a list)

Cost:  $0

the plan

Instead I'll share another date we went on in May.  It doubled as a birthday present for Scott.

the date night

I got tickets to see Riverdance!  In his college days Scott had several people tell him he looked like Michael Flatley, of the Lord of the Dance.  Since then, whenever we flip through tv channels and happen to come across Riverdance on PBS or wherever we always stop and watch for a few minutes.

Before the show Scott suggested that we go to dinner at Mexican restaurant.  This is ground-breaking people because he doesn't care all that much for Mexican food.  But apparently he had visited this restaurant with co-workers and enjoyed it, so he knew I would too.  Yay for me!

The show was great.  We loved the dancers and the Celtic soloist & instrumentalists.  There was also a dance-off between tap dancers and Celtic dancers that was pretty darn amazing.

Afterwards we had a serious hankering for a treat.  Ice cream or frozen yogurt.  We managed to find a frozen yogurt place just a few blocks away.  The kind that offers self-serve yogurt and toppings and you pay by the ounce . . . . my absolute favorite.  It was the perfect ending to a great evening out.

the scrapbook page

(forgive the photo quality -- it is an especially grey morning.)

next month

summer lovin'

to see all of our monthly dates in 2011, go here

let's go on a date: april

the date envelope

cost: $20

the plan

A pretty simple, straightforward date this month.  Dinner at a favorite Thai restaurant and a session at the Portland Temple.  We're always trying to be better about going to the temple more often so I made sure that this was included in one of our pre-planned dates for the year.  

the date night

Like I said, it was pretty straightforward.  We ate Thai food.  We went to the temple.  It was perfect!

the scrapbook page

We always joke about the stark differences in our Thai food tastes.  Scott orders it as spicy as they will make it.  And I order my pad thai with no spice whatsoever.  

next month

getting in the Celtic spirit

to see all of our monthly dates in 2011, go here