Attention all you Crafters out there

I have always admired and appreciated those who can create Picasso's out of a little thread and some fabric. I am not a crafty person. Aside from gluing some pine cones to an already made wreath, or slapping some paint onto snowman (both made at the relief society craft night, materials included) I have never ventured so far as to make anything decorative. The reasoning behind it including:

1) I thought it took too long
2) I didn't know what I was going to DO with any of it
3) Interest level was at a zero

Well, now that I have some extra time on my hands and empty halls and walls that scream "decorate me", my desire has peaked. Or maybe I've had one too many cups of hot chocolate.

So I'm looking for ideas. Preferably Christmas/winter oriented. Remember, I am an amateur.

What are you thankful for?

"Let us give thanks for what we are and for the circumstances God has given us, for our personal journey through mortality..." Dallin H. Oaks

This beautiful Thanksgiving morning, I am grateful for the quiet moment I have been able to sit and think everything I have to be grateful for. I LOVE Thanksgiving!!! I just finished making the green bean casserole and salad and pumpkin cobbler I get to bring up to my mom's today. I gave both puppies a bath in the sink and they are now laying on a pillow in the living room warming up in the sunlight. My hard-working husband is still asleep and I am so grateful I am married to him. I am blessed in more ways than I can count. I'm thankful for a loving husband, his laughter, for my mother's love, for 2 furry friends and the company they give me, for my brothers and my dad, this absolutely gorgeous earth on which we live, sweaters, for my health, my heritage, a warm comfortable home, kisses in the morning, puppies breath, my lovely sisters, soft socks, a living prophet, music that livens, friends I can share with, the freedoms of this country, blankets, nieces and nephews, fresh roses, the temple, changing seasons, and boots.

New Moon

Platinum rented out the theatre the night New Moon came out. We got to see it a whole 3 hours before anyone else! I invited my cute mission companion Julie and her husband to come along, and it was a delight! The 4 of us shared 3 seats, and it was awesome.
So if you know anything about me, you know that I love to read. I remember when I was a kid my mom would ground me from reading. I would sit in my room for days, only coming out to use the bathroom and eat. This is not a joke. I loved books. I would stay up all night with a flashlight under my covers just to find out what was going to happen next. This wasn't a phase I grew out of...I would skip class in High School and go to the Barnes & Nobles where I would sit on those leather seats with a stack of books for hours. Talk about nerdy.
So everyone is all hyped up about Twilight this and Twilight that. But here is my opinion from a literature standpoint:
If you are the type of person who likes books that are full of action, have great character development, an intriguing plot, are imaginative, characters you can relate to, and a suspenseful story line, read Harry Potter. I promise they aren't just "kids" books. I wasn't a believer until I read them. (Also don't judge the series on the first 2 books) 3-7 will change your life forever. I compare it to eating a hamburger- all the different layers; meat, cheese, sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles...mmmm. Makes for a great meal.
The Twilight series is more like a big cheese sandwich. Its a super easy read filled with a lot of fluff. If you wonder why they are a huge teenage hit its because it was written for teenagers. Don't get me wrong, I am in awe of Edwards perfectness and fell in love with Jacobs muscles just like every other sappy girl who has read the series. And I have to give credit to a pretty creative story line. For me, it got good by about the 3rd book. It took some patience and a few snowy days for me to get through the first 2. So here is my advice. If you haven't read the Twilight books yet- just do it already. And if Harry Potter ever had to fight Edward, I would take Harry's side. You can't enjoy Twilight without life-size cardboard cutouts of Jacob and Edward staring you down

Same night, here is another pic of us at the lake! Burrrr!

Where it Happened

Exactly one year ago, Keith proposed to me. It was the surprise of a lifetime! We decided that we would come back every year as long as circumstances allowed, and come back we did. Here is a little before and after photo action for you! I loved everything about this trip. Even though its an hour and a half away from our home it was worth every second.
My husband is soooooo romantic!!!!!!

Aw!!!

Here is a picture of us last year, notice how I am flashing that diamond! ha! I had that smile on my face for months...

Enjoying our dinner at our favorite little diner! They gave us free dessert after Keith told them why we were there! They are seriously the BEST!

Last year's experience at the diner- the waitress brought me roses, and the cheff made a special dessert just for us. That entire day felt like it came right out of a movie.

Un "BELIZE" able...

Sometimes you get the opportunity to step out of your life for a minute and experience another part of the world. Through my limited experience I have discovered one commonality; the beauty of our Heavenly Fathers' creations are awe-inspiring. I think we often forget that which we understood as children. This magnificent world in which we live is full of wonder and small treasures. I felt like a little girl all over again in Belize. There were some moments where the people and their way of life even took me back to my mission in Bolivia, ah..it was incredible. Although these pictures don't really do it justice, here is a taste. Enjoy!world famous laundrymat"Submerged crocodile?" Come on people! Read the Book of Mormon already.Fresh out of the sea and into Keebes mouthGood thing we had a tarp to block the rain!

Say "cheese"!!! Necklace made of human teeth found in LamanaiOur guide picked up sting-rays and sharks for us to touch! Yikes!!This guy looks hungry...So does this guy... Where are the cinnamon rolls?!!Our guiding holding pictures of what this temple used to look like. The view from our room Our tarp group!

More of our awesome adventure to come....

Happy Hallo "weeney"

And here they are. Starring: Roscoe as the Count, (watch out for those fangs folks), and Millie plucked fresh out of the Pumpkin Patch. I wonder if having kids is as much fun as having puppies.