Halloween's Past

Some have asked what Spencer and I are dressing up as this year for Halloween. We have had a tradition since being married to dress up every year. Well, I am sorry to say that Spencer and I decided to break tradition. We were feeling bound to it and wanted to break the chains of tradition. We are not dressing up this year. But don't fret, there will be other Halloween's for us. I leave with you pictures of the costumes we've choosen (usually the week of), the past three years. Happy Halloween.

Run For Nie

This coming Saturday Las Vegan's have the chance to run/walk a 5k for a great cause. To find out more information look here. 100 percent of the proceeds go straight to Stephanie and Christian's Recovery.

Little Red Riding Hood

I got crafty on my kids this year. Show you more later.

Looking For . . .

contributors. I have had this crazy idea in my mind for some time now and I am finally ready to pursue it. I am in the works of creating a health blog. It will be mostly geared toward food choices and recipes but it will also highlight some other important aspects of health (exercise, spirituality, and any other topic that relates to living a healthy life).

So, I am on the prowl for health conscience contributors for the blog.

Are any of you interested?

Keep in mind this is a blog geared about making healthy choices not healthier choices. Let me explain, the blog is not trying to be the next Cooking Light website (instead of using whole milk in this recipe I will make a healthier choice by only using 1 percent milk). I am gearing this blog to be one to help others make healthy choices for themselves and their families on a daily basis.

Still interested or just confused? Read on.

I am looking for contributors that are already thinking outside the American food-diet box. Those who either through formal education, sickness, or just trial and error have realized different ways to live a healthy life.

For those that are interested, email me merrymarleen@gmail.com and let me know what crazy health ideas you have. Know, that I will be selective on choosing contributors - to find those who will "merry" well with the new blog. Don't let that stop you from emailing me though. I would love to hear your thoughts and I will respond to each email I receive.

Bake and Serve

I love the La Champa bakeware from The Road Less Traveled Store. It's lead free and you can microwave with it too. It is also very pretty.

{via the craft kitchen}

Leona Naess

Listening and enjoying this, this late afternoon.

Countertop Composte Bin

I've been shopping around for a composter and came across this portable kitchen composter. It would work perfectly since our living space is on the 2nd floor of our house. Which makes it hard to get to the backyard. The site to buy it from is very cool too and very green. Love it. Check it out here.

Western Style

We've been invited to a Western Harvest Festival tonight. I like dressing myself and my family up for themed events like this. While getting ready this morning I remembered a post that Darling Darleen did a while back and was inspired to put a braid in my hair (you'd think as a cosmetologist I'd do more with my hair on a daily basis). I broke out my sweet buckle I inherited from my dad too. I wish I had a cowboy hat and boots, then I'd feel my ensemble was complete. Someone once told me I have a "regal" nose (a nice way of saying your nose is big with a bump on it). The picture above I think shows it off real well.

Happy Birthday Cinderella

If you add a 2 to that 4 (meaning 42, sorry for those I confused, my writing is not always clear), in the picture that is how old the girl in the picture is now. My sweet sister Julene, just had a birthday yesterday. She is amazing. She is the oldest in our family and definitely set the tone in the right direction for all the rest of us nine kids. She is amazing and I will leave it at that of how amazing she really is because the list keeps on growing of amazingness. But here are a few pics to show you.


















She is cool and brave enough to wear jewelry in the pool.

She happily obliged to come as Cinderella to Nora's last birthday party. She even "played" Cinderella the whole time ("Why, yes I live in a castle with the prince," and, "yes, my stepmother was mean to me but I forgave her.").

Magic

I believe that my baby has magical powers. She can easily brighten my mood, melt my heart, make me laugh and then take it all away- like that (snap). She even plays on her ability like a magician plays to the audience. Lately, she hasn't been using her magical powers as much. I'm thinking a bout of illness and cutting teeth are the reasons for this. I'm hoping these reasons are short lived. In the meantime, I'm hoping my mommy magic will do the trick.

Pumpkining

Who said you couldn't grow anything in Vegas? My family and I ventured off to the local orchard here in Vegas this past weekend. It was the first day of cold and although cold (the weather dropped 30 degrees within two days), it finally feels like Fall. I am loving it. We even ate some soup that night and wore socks to sleep. Which reminds me, I still need to put some costumes together for a harvest festival this upcoming weekend (shoot!). No matter what, Halloween always seems to "creep" up on me.













Candid pictures of Aubrey and Nora.

















Nora helping Aubrey pick out her pumpkin

Nora trying to warm up.

Fall Deals

There's actually deals going on all the time over at The Children's Wear Outlet. All of these sets are $16 or cheaper (WOW!). When I have purchased off their site in the past, I end up using the sets as separates for different outfits. For those who have children in uniforms this is also a great place to purchase them.

One Day . . .

I'll finish the cathedral quilt I started when Spencer and I got married. The pillow behind it was something I made on my mission. What in the world was I doing while on my mission, you say? Sometimes, you'll do strange things to share the gospel with a family. They taught my companion and I and we taught them. I digress, as usual.

I realize there are seasons in life. My season right now is one of giving up wants and using my time for my children. In a way, I look at my unfinished quilt and am glad it is not complete. Time with my children is precious and General Conference this past weekend recommitted my efforts in creating that time because yes, it has to be created.


"Pile up too many tomorrows and you'll find that you've collected nothing but a bunch of empty yesterdays." Quoted by President Monson from the Music Man.

All-Hallow's Eve

I'm scrambling to finish a scene for my writing class about this town in the 19th century during Halloween time. It's coming along and has been a very fun project. Sorry for the lack of posts.

Forever Strong

Last Friday Spencer invited me on a date to see Forever Strong, a rugby movie. That may not seem like a typical date most normal women would want to go on, but he explained to me that the movie was about his former bishop's rugby team. This peaked my interest. We've been out to dinner with him before and he is a pretty fun guy. For those of you who have seen this movie, I am sure you would agree with me that this is a great feel good movie. One that I would like to add to my collection of family movies and that is coming from a person who does not usually have a desire to buy dvd's. Go and see it and thank me later. Find out where they are showing it here.