Hip Hop Has Saved My Life

I thought of this idea as I was jamming to the new Kanye West/Jay-Z CD, "Watch the Throne." (Which, by the way, is an AWESOME album. I highly recommend it.)

I really think that people sell rap and hip-hop music short. Many don't give it a chance, because they can't see past the bumping bass. But for me, that's what draws me in. I love the beat, I love the words, and I love the emotion behind it all.

In my recent musings, there is one lesson in particular that has really stood out to me. I don't care who you're talking about, but it seems that all rappers know how to give respect, where respect is due. They honor the memory of fallen friends and fallen heroes.

My latest example is Michael Jackson. Since his death, several people have sung/rapped about him, by throwing one liner shout outs. I think that in the "Watch the Throne" album there are at least three homages to the King of Pop. So, I LOVE Michael Jackson. But not everyone does. Not everyone can see thru or see past the drama, the craziness. Would I expect an MJ shout out from Jay-Z? Or even Kanye? Honestly, no. That's why I've definitely noticed it.

In "Welcome to the Jungle," Jay-Z raps,

"I'm a tortured soul, I live in disguise.                 Rest in peace to the leader of the Jackson 5." 

And how many rap songs reference grandma, 2-Pac, Notorious B.I.G, mamas, and more? SO MANY.

One of my all-time jams is Kayne West's, "Hey Mama." Below is his live Grammy performance (awesome), but definitely check out the album version-- it's a little more rockin, but still full of soul.



And guess what? His mom was still alive when he wrote and recorded this song! You do not have to be dead to get props and respect. And guess who else he mentions in this song? MJ. :)

I feel like so many people are quick to judge others,celebrity or non-celebrity... and it bugs me. People may be different from you, doing different things than you, but everybody deserves respect. Show a little love, and it will go a long way.

Quote of the Week:

Sunny days wouldn't be special, if it wasn't for rain

Joy wouldn't feel so good, if it wasn't for pain.       -50 Cent, "Many Men"

It's in a book... "The Good Thief"

So, I pretty much finished "The Good Thief" the day after I initially started my book club blogging! This book has a lot of build up, but it is DEFINITELY worth it! Once you get in, you should not give up, because the story ties itself up in the craziest bow you've ever seen.

Found this book in the recommended section of the library!

The story is about an orphan, Ren, who gets adopted by a thief, Benjamin Nab, and his partner in crime, Tom. [I'm laughing to myself... because in this case, he really is his PIC!] Benjamin is GREAT at coming up with colorful and surprisingly believable stories to get himself out of every jam they come upon. He tells a great tale to be able to adopt Ren in the first place, and you almost believe that they are brothers. Almost.

Benjamin and Tom use Ren to help them in their schemes to steal and earn money. Ren is very honest and would sometimes rather be back at the orphanage. Pretty much until about the last fourth of the book, I figured that the reader does not find out where Ren really came from, because how could anyone really know-- especially in that period of time. He was pushed through the gate at the orphanage, in a little basket, and was left in the rain. The only unique thing about him is that he was missing a hand, and no one knew why.

So many robberies later, the reader gets to the GOOD stuff. You find out that these guys are the occasional gravediggers, and on the first night that Ren helps them, one of the bodies is NOT DEAD. And the author did such a great job of painting this picture. I was FREAKED OUT! This un-dead character actually turns out to be one of  the soft spots of this book, despite his crusty exterior.

The story is set in New England, several years after the Revolutionary War. I thought this was a very interesting setting, and added to my interest in the book. There are a handful of interesting supporting characters, and my favorite is the landlady that they happen upon. She made me laugh out loud, and is also a real warm spot in the book. Ren definitely deserves all of the love and care that she gives him.

Overall, I don't think that everyone would enjoy this book. It is a little hard to get into, but I am glad that I finished it. It is kind of a dark tale, but ends on a very bright note. The characters are colorful and the story is a little creepy, but the author does a great job at depicting all of the details that make this novel rich and entertaining.

Let me know if you've read it or if you're going to!

M

Sailing

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

I've had a bout of inspiration. 

I hope it lasts! 

Spying on someone, I got the inspiration to travel! Josh and I have always talked about the traveling we want to do-- Disney Cruise, travel through Europe... and of course visit all of the Disney theme parks. My ultimate would also be to go on a Mediterranean cruise... oh, someday! 

But seeing someone else, in our same time in life, travel through Europe really reminded me-- we need to do this! We need to do this before we can't do this! 

What's one of things I want to do while in Europe? Be able to speak more French then I currently do! Fluently is definitely a goal, but a lofty one. I wouldn't neccessarily want to be able to strike up a conversation with a stranger, but I would like to be able to say, "Hey, Josh, this is what that sign says..." You know, be all handy like that. 

SO! Here are my BIG goals for 2012: 

LEARN FRENCH. Use my free library hookups and just do it! 

EXERCISE. Seriously, this is getting ridiculous. Just do it! 

And continue to work hard at achieving my career goals! I am woman hear me roar. :D

Picture a Christmas

Take a Look... It's in a Book!

I have decided that since I am not in a book club and I like to read what I want to read, I'll have my own book club here. Win win! I have recently realized that I need to read for my own sanity. Sometimes reality is overwhelming, and non-fiction books, reality tv, and real life just don't help. Life can just get a little too non-fiction. ;) I love to escape into another world, and I often like to do it through television shows or movies, but there is something about reading a book that take me to a different place. I am able to fully relax and check in to another world. I love it! 

And so, in the past few months, I have read several books: 

Everything on a Waffle, by Polly Horvath: My cousin recommended this book to me, and she was right- I loved it! It's a very cute story that keeps you interested the entire time. I love all of the characters, especially the main girl. There are also recipes at the end of each chapter. Fun! This book is  a real treat! 

No More Dead Dogs, by Gordon Korman: As you can tell, I was on a little bit of a young adult book kick. The basic premise of this story is that the boy in the story is tired of reading books where the dog dies. I thought that was hilarious, and true, so I picked this book up at the library. Another cute, fun story, with colorful characters. There is one part I want to give away, but I won't... Let's just say it involves Julia Roberts and made me happy as a clam! 

The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows: Most everyone I know has read this book, and they have all loved it and raved about it. I sincerely can't help but do the same. I loved every minute of reading this book. I love how it is written in letters, and just sucks you right in. The characters are all very charming, likeable, and funny. I definitely laughed out loud while I read this one. The story is also very serious and has many interesting historical insights. And I was sad when I finished! I wished there was more to read... If you haven't read this, do it! 

And right now I'm reading "The Good Thief" by Hannah Tinti. I haven't finished it quite yet, but I'm close, so I don't have a complete review. All I can say is, this book is crazy! It is all over the place, but I really want to find out what happens to the main boy. I definitely think the last half is better than the first half... I have been reading it a lot more because it has finally gotten exciting. Maybe with this one, I'll do a little more in depth review! 

Til next time!

M

Do Ya Thang

Just a brief update... I'm sure I have loads to blog about, but I'm never sure what is really important or interesting enough to share. But I was looking over what I last posted, and decided this blog needs to hang on a positive note for a minute!

I had the privilege of attending the International Association of Fairs & Expos Annual Convention in Las Vegas this past week. It is always a grand time, and my hubby even got to come! Best vacation ever folks! And one thing that we kept noticing-- how nice everyone was in Vegas! The servers were all excellent, helpful, and nice. They did not give us a sideways look when we told them we were sharing one entree. All of the people, the random people, chatted on the elevator, or looked you in the eye and said "Hello" while they opened the door for you. So great! I'm sure everyone is pretty happy there for their own reason. I even told Josh, "I wonder what brings all of these people to Las Vegas." I'm sure no one would expect us to have so much fun there, and everyone keeps asking, "So what did you do??" We had a great time! Explored new hotels, and new to us hotels, had fabulous food, and more. And while we did it, we had a great time because everyone was so friendly and courteous. I love that feeling. It just makes you want to pass it on and share the good vibes.

And we had oh, so many excellent customer service experiences at various eating establishments. Our food adventures will be posted on www.spicethat.blogspot.com SOON! With pictures! We came prepared. :)

HAPPY SATURDAY!
M

At the Crystals/Aria

Treat Me Nice

I have a problem. And it concerns customer service. I know the economy sucks and people are getting whatever jobs they can, but I believe that customer service is seriously lacking because of it. Customer service jobs are often not highly paid positions, and therefore attract anyone in need of a job-- people lovers or not. 

I love good customer service and I am passionate about good customer service. I love giving it, and recently I have realized that I love receiving it. When you get served by an awesome waiter, or speak with someone very helpful on the phone, your day is brighter and you feel lighter. You can tell when someone would rather be talking to Darth Vadar then to you, and that just makes me irritated. Do you understand that I am part of the reason you have a job? Your welcome. Now stop having that sassy/sleepy/annoyed tone in your voice. Even if you are having a bad day, you can fake it, but you choose not to. Recent bad customer experiences have caused Josh and I to swear off Chili's and Mimi's Cafe. We're pretty easy going people, but if you treat us badly, we take the hint, and never grace you with our presence again. 

Customer services is essential to the success of a business. Look at Disney and In-N-Out-- always on top of the leader board in all aspects, and I believe it all stems back to their customer service. People are happy to see you, happy to help you, happy to go the extra mile. When someone makes you feel special, you thank them by rewarding them. You can reward them with a tip, your loyalty, your endorsement... all of those things lead to happy employees, more business, more money, and more stability. What a happy cycle! 

Dealing with customers is not easy. Everyone knows this-- we've all been on the receiving end of an unrelenting customer, been in the same room as one, or perhaps we have been one! Because customer service is floundering, people think they have to be mean to be heard, or to get what they want. Threats work well, too. I am here to say that nice people, who communicate in a mature fashion, often get more than those with the whiny tantrum. Who wants to reward someone being indignant and belittling? A manager, who just wants you to go away. It is much more valuable to voice your concern in a calm manner, which will lead it to be taken more seriously, and perhaps incur a positive change within an organization. 

And that's it for my soapbox! Good customer service rocks. The end. :)

Thriller Night!

So, we had a bomb.com party on Saturday, and it was really a success because of all of the great people who came! I have to say, my inner party planner... well, I don't really keep it inside very well... had a lot of fun planning and scheming for this surprise occasion. And the nicest thing was everybody loved it! I used to throw parties like this ALL THE TIME at BYU- some could call them my glory days. My last summer living in P-town, I got all new roommates, and they said, "Hey! We heard from the girls upstairs that you throw the best dance parties!" My reputation precedes me. :)

Anywhooo, there was a lot of good Halloween loving going on at this par-tay. I had mucho help from my neighbor-- what a blessing! She helped turn our living room into a huge spider web and helped Josh believe that I would actually go to a haunted house (yeah, right). But boy, did I play it good. The funniest part about this whole thing... Josh does not like Halloween. Yeah, I know-- what?! And we're married? ;) I just have to say, I forget every year that he doesn't like Halloween, because I love it enough for the both of us. That would apply to all foods that have to do with pumpkin or pumpkin spice as well. I got ya covered, Joshy!

Josh's birthday is on November 2nd, and I really wanted to have a Halloween party. I was talking to my neighbor, who thought we should have a surprise party for Josh's b-day, but thought we should do it a few weeks beforehand so he wouldn't even suspect it. BAM!

Halloween Birthday Surpise Party= Josh's Birthday BOO-nanza! 

We live so far away, that I wanted to make sure that people came to show Josh their love by making the party totally worth it. I needed to have awesome tunes, a cool activity, and lots of fabulous food. Check, check, check. It all turned out so great, and Josh was SO HAPPY. That was the best part! 

We got to see the "Thriller" music video set to many new songs. Some of the favorites on our list were, "Loca" by Shakira, "Telephone" by Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce... and I heard Michael's sweet dance moves were on beat with almost every song. Classics never die. 

We played live action CLUE! Everyone rocked it-- my suspects hammed it up and the detectives were feverishly trying to figure out, who kidnapped Reese?! Well folks, it was Kris (the neighbor), at the Poop Patch, with the Bubble Gun. :)

I got ooodles of compliments about the food, which made me feel super good. I wanted to share some of the recipes with y'all. I have most of the recipes posted on my PINTEREST as well. Yes, I have a new addiction, and I LOVE IT. 

I got the most comments and compliments about Paula Deen's Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake. It turned out perfectly! And it was super easy... and it really did have two sticks of butter in it. I'm going to make this again fo sho, because I only got a few finger licks of it. :) 

Mmmmm...

For Josh's birthday cake, I made a Nutella Bundt Cake. Boy, does this guy love Nutella. And boy, was this cake GOOD. I am eating the leftovers at work today. HURRAH. 

I just covered mine with powdered sugar! 

We also had some old stand-bys: 

Cream Cheese with Jalepeno Jelly, eaten with crackers. I don't know why, but it is so good. I'm not even sure what else you would use Jalepeno Jelly for. Thanks to Miss T for providing the goods!

Lil' Smokies in Crescent Rolls. I love hot dogs... so what?!

Chili Cream Cheese Dip. I gotta say, the crock pot was EMPTY at the end of the night. You have one part cream cheese to one party chili... BAM! For this large crowd, I revised, and used two blocks of cream cheese, one big fat can of regular chili, one normal can of chunky chili, and one normal can of jalapeno chili. SPICE IT UP! 

Teri, my lover, also provided us with her Orange Meatballs. I heart them. RECIPE PLEASE! :) 

I just keep smiling when I think about the party. Thank you so much for coming!!! And I know that some people weren't able to make it, and we love you madly no matter what. 

Now, have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

P.S. After rocking the crimson/black fake eyelashes on Saturday, I will be wearing fake eyelashes for every Halloween hereafter. They are HOT. 

P.P.S. I'll be posting party pics on Facebook!!! 

Friends Forever

I wrote this several weeks ago, intending it for blog publication... so here it is! Just spreading the love. And whilst you read this, I hope that you are singing, "Friends forever, always we'll be friends, talking 'bout friends forever..." from my beloved Saved by the Bell. (**If you don't know it, look it up!**)

I am grateful for good friends. I have so many good friends that I don't get to see very often. I think the beautiful thing about friendship is that it lasts over space and time.

 

I like that you don't have to see someone everyday in order for them to be qualified as your "best friend." I know that most of my friends see their other friends a lot more than they see me, but they still keep a special place for me in their heart. And they always make me feel that way. What a great thing!

 

As I've gotten older, I've realized how hard it can be to make friends. When you're a kid, it's easy! When you're an adult, I feel like it can be difficult to "click" with someone. It's harder to find that same connection that you have with some of your oldest friends, and that can be sad. You just don't get to take your favorite people with you wherever you go. Although, I wish this was the case. If my life was a sitcom, I would have a great cast of characters. :) You know who you are!

 

Lovey loves, 

M

I'm Alright

So tonight was AWESOME!

Worth every penny.

Every second was jam packed with awesomeness.

It was something I've been waiting for ALL SUMMER...

KENNY LOGGINS! 

No, I did not take this picture. :) 

If you didn't know that I LOVE KENNY LOGGINS... now you know. It's one of my many secrets, but one that I am not afraid to shout to the world. I do it in a high pitch slur... 'KENNYLOGGINS!' Just ask Josh or Teri, my sister-in-law. :)

I have my mom to thank for instilling this undying love for Kenny Loggins in me. I've been hearing his sweet tuneage since before I can remember, and I've held onto it into my adult years. 

While I was at BYU, Loggins & Messina performed at UVSC/UVU/whatever, and I bought two tickets and made Jason Jones come with me because he was the only one I could think of who would appreciate it. It was fabulous! But of course it was all Loggins & Messina songs, and everyone in the crowd would periodically yell "Danger Zone!" ... "Footloose!" 

In the past four years, Kenny has come nearby at least three times, and every time I couldn't go, due to whatever job I had at the time. LAME! And then I saw the schedule for the Davis Arts Council's SUMMER OF THE STARS and BOOM! I had plans for September 10th. 

Teri and I went this evening, and it was GREAT! He has a new band called Blue Sky Riders, comprised of good ol' Kenny and two awesome songwriters from Nashville. They are so good and the songs were beautiful-- great lyrics and great messages. What more can a girl ask for?

Then Kenny sang THE JAMS. Man, can that guy SING! His voice sounds just the same as his records, and just the same as it did years ago. He sang all of my favorites-- "Whenever I Call You Friend," "Conviction of the Heart," "I'm Alright," "Footloose," and "Forever." Did he sing "Danger Zone" you ask? Heck yea! And it was AWESOME! 

So the evening was already fabulous, but the guy next to us was HILARIOUS! He kept yelling "YEAH!" in the style of Lil Jon in Usher's "Yeah"... and this guy did not look like someone who would be doing that. We ended up dancing with him to "Footloose," he yelled 'ROCK ON' at the top of his lungs, and "FOREVER" during "Forever"-- oh man, I almost peed myself. I LOVE when people get passionate and excited at concerts-- that is what they are all about! Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one screaming, but I don't care. I sing along and cheer to my heart's content. But man, did this guy have me beat. In his Harley-Davidson shirt and scraggly beard, he was a Kenny Loggins fan through and through. 

And that is why I LOVE LIVE MUSIC and love Kenny Loggins more than I ever did before. He can play a guitar til it falls apart and riff with the best of 'em. 

Oh, and did I get a shirt? YOU KNOW IT! 

Worth every penny :)

Thought of the week:  

"Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand." ~Stevie Wonder. 

These are my confessions...

As I jam to USHER, baby, I am buying this little nugget for our poochie:


CUTE! I thought to myself, why spend $10 on a BORING tag at Pet Smart, when I can get something cute on etsy.com. BAM! Great idea! Alas, I was wanting to get a more expensive one, but Dave Ramsey did not approve. But I think this one is super cute!

We are also getting a new collar and leash for Miss Reese, so that we can have more control over her, without choking her. She is growing FAST, but she is a lot of fun. At the fair she even got to jump in the pool for American Diving Dogs, and the head guy was impressed by her. Folks, we may have a future champion on our hands. :)

Since I am confessing... I must confess that I cannot have mismatching collar/leash colors. I can't do it. Also, I had to make sure the dog tag color coordinated well with the collar and leash I ordered today. Seriously, if we weren't matchy matchy up in here, it would irritate me to no end. So, don't worry! We are all coordinated, and I even have plans for future collars when she grows out of this current one. HAHA!

While I was staring at the screen, choosing between two dog tags, Josh commented, "Wow, you are really interested in this stuff." It's what I do, baby. It's what I do. :)

In other news... I'm sure I will make a fair post, but check out this FLASH MOB VIDEO! Yup, my fair flash mob dreams came true, and it was amazing. I also had some professional video taken of it, so that will be shared shortly!!

Enjoy!

This is How We Do It

Wanna know what I'm up to this week?? Wanna know what pays the bills over here in the metropolis of Syracuse, UT?

Check out WWW.DAVISFAIR.COM!

Yeah, we're pretty pimp, and pretty controversial. Who knew a Mormon girl like me could shake up Davis County?! Imma be all over the morning news shows and radio this week, so check it out!!!

Oh, and like us on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/daviscountyfair!

Just another shameless plug. ;)

Imma Do Whatever

My blog post title comes from Rihanna's song "Hard" -- a serious hard-rockin jam-- and it's what I thought of for my QUOTE OF THE WEEK! 
I saw someone else do this on their blog, and now Imma be a copy machine. :)

Without further ado... the quote of the week:

‎"If for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart. So it has been with the best people who ever lived."                        — Jeffrey R. Holland

Dreams Are My Reality...

Well, I can't hide my love any longer. I LOVE AMES from this season of the Bachelorette!

SWOONAGE!

I was truly yelling at my laptop while Ashley was NOT choosing Ames at the rose ceremony last week, even though I knew it was inevitable. They barely ever touched, and you could just tell that she was not feeling the passion. But I was! When they were under the pictured magnolia tree, he made my heart skip a beat when he said the following:

"It’s the best when the ordinary is extraordinary, I think. There’s this Italian Renaissance way of being romantic: they call it ‘sprezzatura’. It is where you try to be as romantic as possible - but through your ordinary life. There’s so much more magic in the ordinary. Life isn’t all fireworks. Romantic things come from inside you.”

Hello!!! Thanks for the inspiration, Ames. Even Mr. Hatch liked what he said. :)

What he said really resonated with me. We've kind of been feeling the blahs (even with our new puppy-- deets coming soon!), and I have definitely been wanting to break out of this Utah shell for a while.

The ordinary is extraordinary... or at least it can be if we make it. That is my goal friends!

Also, "SPREZZATURA?!" Swoon! How easy is it to be boring and unromantic after being married for three years, let alone eternity?? What a refreshing, and much needed thought. I just love these romantic ideas, these grand thoughts of life. I hate getting stuck in the mundane rituals.

At the end, when he was sitting in the car, even though my heart was broken, I loved how he talked about having life adventures. What a unique guy!! I was like, JOSH! LET'S HAVE LIFE ADVENTURES!!! And so we shall, friends. And you'll probably be invited to a few!!!

And so, it is with a heavy heart that I say farewell to Ames, although I am intrigued to see him in Bachelor Pad 2...cuz y'all know I will be watching that!

To making the ordinary extraordinary... CHEERS!

Schoolin' Life

I canNOT get ENOUGH of this song!



I like to think that I'm "schoolin' life." SUCKAAAAHS! :)

Happy 4th of July! Celebrate!

Run It... Run It

I went to a Women In Business luncheon today (part of the Davis Chamber of Commerce) and got to hear from Mrs. Utah 2011, Carol Guest. She was great! She talked a lot about the power of affirmations and the power of positive thinking. I like this idea of affirmations. Sometimes I think that I subconsciously try to sabotage myself. You want to get up and exercise in the morning? You're gonna be too tired! And then I am! You want to lose 5 pounds? There are too many family celebrations and other excuses. It doesn't happen. And I'm used to it. I don't push myself to my limits... like most of us, I like to be comfortable. But I don't like to be comfortable... right? That's the problem! If you are unhappy with a situation, then change it! When it comes to your everyday habits, I think that can be easier said then done.

I like the idea of using affirmations. Kind of like "fake it 'til you make it," but without so much fake. :) Mrs. Utah said in high school she thought she wasn't pretty, and people made fun of her. So, she wrote on her mirror, "I am beautiful" and she said it to herself 10 times each morning. And now, she does think she is beautiful (and seriously, she is). She accepts it and says it. She doesn't hide away from who she is, and she does not hide away from her talents.

I've been thinking a lot about the confusion between confidence and arrogance. Most times, we tend to think someone is arrogant or conceited if they proclaim something like, "I AM beautiful" or "I AM a great writer." Why can't we own up to who we are? Why do we feel like we can't celebrate it? Maybe it's just me, but I don't want people to think I am full of myself. But why should I let that cause me to cover up who I am?

Well, I shouldn't! I know who I am and I know what is great about me. Other people don't, and that may be why they think something that is incorrect about you. I need to learn to let it roll off my back more, and let my light shine!(Cheese ball moment!) 

Moral of the story, I'm going to really use affirmations in my life. I AM succeeding. I AM a great fair coordinator. I'll come up with some good ones. :)

We have been blessed with talents so that we can share them, so let's let it all hang out! We will all be better off for it.

And those are my musings for today!

Who Says You're Not Worth It

Quote for consideration:

"One of the greatest moments in anybody's developing experience is when he no longer tries to hide from himself." 

-Norman Vincent Peale

I feel like he is calling life our "developing experience." I think that is so cool, and so true. This isn't the end all be all, and there is so much room for us to grow, to develop.

Embracing who you are can be scary, I feel like I've been embracing me  recently, but there are always weak spots. Like that one person, who you can't help but think that they think about you negatively. Does it matter? Do they really know who you are, about your personal situation? No, but it certainly feels like it matters.

Another nugget:

"Do not look for approval except for the consciousness of doing your best." 

-Andrew Carnegie

These thoughts were just what I needed today! Courtesy of my favorite daily email, from www.thedailylove.com. :D HAPPY SUNDAY!

Who's Bad?

This is a random post, for the random at heart. I just posted about this on Facebook, but I want to share my heart-felt feelings about the "The Fast and the Furious" films. Truly, I have only seen two of them, but I still feel like a big fan. And for that, I'm going to have a marathon, watch them all, and wait for the 5th to make it to the dollar theater! A die hard fan if I ever heard of one.

There is definitely something about the mix of Vin Diesel, Tyrese, and of course, Mr. Paul Walker (swooning). It also takes me back to freshman/sophomore year of high school. We knew who to crush on back then!

Consider yourself invited to a true PAR-TAY. :)

On a musical note-- if you need a jam... a speed demon song... some "I don't take crap from nobody" music... here is my all-time favorite: Jay-Z and Linkin Park. Oh, what a match made in heaven! This song actually made me think of the "Fast Five." Now we know who to thank for this random post!

LaLaLa... Whatever

OMG. I might be losing my marbles! But things are going good!

First, my blog post title comes from a new song that I am DIGGING. Here it is:


We DID find a place to live-- in good ol' Syracuse, Utah! Nice. :)

I DID set the security alarm off at work today. That was really awesome!

And on a different note...

After a FABULOUS culinary experience with some of my main ladies, we were inspired to start our own food blog, because we are DIE HARD foodies! Therefore, you should check it out, add it to your list, follow us... all that friendly stuff!

www.spicethat.blogspot.com

And my fabulous husband Josh Hatch has been trying to get his music out there even more, which is why you can listen to some of his tuneage to the right. There are several songs on there, so check them out! And be his friend on Facebook. He will sing to you there! Was that a shameless plug, or what? 

We may be in limbo, but things are going well. Graduation is coming, and I think we will actually get to move in 4-5 days before that. YES! It would be nice to have a home and stop impeding on my gracious in-laws. The cats are now keeping it real in the garage, in two cat crates. Considering the circumstances, they are doing really well! Our cats are troopers. I just love them! 

After a weekend of weddings, it was reaffirmed to me how much I love PLANNING WEDDINGS! Oh, it just warms my soul. I even got to pin boutinnieres on people and I volunteered to cut the cake. Am I nuts or what? Somehow I am going to turn this skill into a business/dream fulfillment. I really want to get my master's degree, and I'm going to get the wheels in motion. First things first, GMAT! Now, doesn't that sound fun? Actually, it does. :) I can't wait! 

(You Drive Me)...CRAZY!

Well, I think you all deserve a little update on our crazy life! We are homeless! But we are being sheltered by the fabulous Matt & Teri Hatch family. Last week was the longest week of my life, but we survived.

We had to be out of our place by the 31st, and we had a great place we planned on moving into. Due to some WHACK communication, we ended up deciding not to live where we originally planned, and we are currently looking for a new place to live. Our fabulous belongings are in a warm and cozy storage unit, and our beloved kitties are living with my generous co-worker.

Crazy, right?!

The story is much longer than that, but I'm feeling really good about where we are at. We are so blessed!

Here is a nice quote that has helped me out through this koo koo time:

"Because no matter where you are, you are exactly where you are supposed to be, at this moment. I encourage you to be true to yourself, at all times. When you honor yourself, things follow suit.

Sometimes you have to take a moment to pat

yourself on the back for your journey, thus far."

~Lauren London

Fuzzy Wuzzy

I have been surrounding myself with warm/fuzzy feel goods, and I just have to share. I don't know if it's the last dregs of winter (bleh!) or what, but I have needed some happy, springy thoughts these past few weeks!

First, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song! Selena Gomez is a winner.


I've also been getting uplifting thoughts in my email every day from this cool website called The Daily Love. I am really enjoying it! Each email comes with "Daily Affirmations," which I really like. When you're feeling down, blah, or frustrated, repeating a daily affirmation in your mind is really nice.

Today's were:

I believe!

I determine my destiny!

The choice is mine! I choose my dreams over my fear!

The ones on St. Patty's Day were:
I embrace the challenges of my life.

I welcome the pain of growth.

I become stronger as I face my fears every day.

At Hobby Lobby (LOVE) I picked up this cute journal that says, "It's a Wonderful Life" on the cover. At a cute boutique I recently saw this cute, "Gratitude Journal" that had quotes and prompts for you to put in what you are grateful for. Well, rather then spending $15 bones, I spent $3, and I'm making my own! I wrote some of the daily affirmations and the recent thing I've been grateful for: late night runs to Rancheritos. Josh and I know how to LIVE IT UP!!! Five rolled tacos with cheese and guacamole! :) I'm going to put some happy quotes, and random inserts of what I'm grateful for. Gratitude keeps you sane, and it's healthy. Win win.

So there are some warm fuzzies for you to have, while we wait for Spring to spring!!!

Only Girl in the World

Part of this blog is a shout out to my girl Holly "Luxurious" F. <3

I really enjoyed her recent blog post on getting the help you need, and being ready to change. I've been feeling the change vibes lately, in a different area. I love to be comfortable-- snuggled in my bed, with a pillow on the couch, even down to the clothes I'm wearing-- I need to feel comfortable to function. Sometimes this can be bad-- I don't want to be comfortable in life, although that's where I automatically retreat.

I have so many goals/dreams, and all of them require a little stretching on my part, and that can be so scary! But when I look back at all that I have already done, I realized I have survived a lot of tough stretching and putting myself out there, and I can do more! My current, ultimate dream, is to do event planning at Disneyland. Hello! Magical! But it's tough.

A. It's a tough business.

B. It's tough to get into Disney.

Sometimes I get so scared that I won't make it, that I think I want another dream. False. I always go back to my Disney dreams.

But to get there, I gotta succeed here-- at the Davis County Fair (in sponsorship goals, increasing revenue, schmoozing with the who's who in Davis County, all that craziness!) & with any personal education goals (Masters? Event Planning Certificate?). Money is always an issue, and I hate how it can hold us back. But I also dislike debt. It stinks.

Josh and I had a great conversation the other night about this very thing. We only have one life, one life to do everything we want to do here on Earth-- so why should I waste it because I don't have enough money to get a Master's, travel to Europe, take voice lessons, etc.? I firmly believe that no one should do that. No one should be content and complacent with settling. Is that fun? No! And I, my friends, am all about fun. Work hard, and figure out a way to get that cold hard cash. :) Lately I feel like everyday I've been having to tell myself, "Remember what you want to do. Remember your dreams. Push yourself." Deep down inside, I really do want to push myself, and I am. But it's still hard!

.....

And in other news--- this has been the BEST WEEK EVER!

Beginning: VIVA LAS VEGAS! Surprise trip to Vegas, From Josh to Megan. HOLLA. (pics to come!)

Middle: BIEBER FEVER! Hello, lots of my favorite people in one well-done, entertaining film: The Biebs (I'm in it for the long haul), Usher Baby, and Boyz II Men. Yes, we screamed out loud in the theater.

End: SHUT UP WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU! Linkin Park, as always, was AWESOME! And ROCKIN! I can't believe those guys. It was a great show!

In the end, I am such a lucky girl, and this week helped me feel like the "Only Girl in the World"... in a good way. :)