Season's "MUST HAVES!"

Happy Holidays Everyone!

This Christmas season I've seen a lot of really great ideas for gifts, starting with!

Animal print anything! Even though we live in America, it's never too late to whip out your African inspired faux-fur cheetah print foot warmers! *Caution! Do NOT try to walk in foot warmer thing...Your feet ARE attached together. Well, maybe it will be fun. Kind of like walking like a mermaid.

I'm sure you're thinking this must be a famous, expensive! landscape painting. You'd be WRONG! It's actually from my own personal collection...from the boarder around my living room! Bring the outdoors indoors, with a mountain scene boarder. Any woman would be jealous.

Next on the list of great gift ideas! Chinese scroll with PUPPIES! Brighten any kitchen with those cute faces! *Again, from my own personal collection*

Satisfaction guaranteed ;)

And WHAT is Kelly's secret? THE BOOTY POP! Padded panties to make any booty a beauty! I trusted this product so much I got a pair for my GRANDMA! (totally serious). Her review: A+. She loved them so much she asked for a second pair! Why you ask? For those long days of sitting around! Without a caboose, your tush is kaput! Add this cushion to your tushin, and you'll be great for hours!

Now, this idea was mine. Sometimes I get swept away with watching shopping networks, and the AMAZING things they say and do (I rarely actually pay attention to the product). NOW, I say they need to have a season series available on DVD! Enjoy hours of previous recorded live air home shopping, without the temptation to buy a thing!

Hope these ideas are a HUGE help in getting someone special the PERFECT gift! If you've got great gift ideas, let me know. I'd love to know about it ;)

Hold Me Now

This morning I was driving to work in what I would consider a blizzard (to the Idahoans it was probably more like a light love dusting from the clouds). While sliding all over the road, this song saved my life. It encouraged me to keep going and believe in myself, as I sang as loud as I could going 45 mph down the highway. 

This Christmas season I've noticed a lot of great things (what I would consider "MUST HAVES!"), so tomorrow I'll be sharing a few of them.

Get ready.

The Katz Next Door

 So, in my house I have internet access in select places (much like I did HERE, only much more accessible and legal). My usual spot in at the kitchen table, looking out the window. This is turning me into, not a bird watcher, but a cat watcher (which probably explains the lack of birds).

I'm pretty sure my new hobby will stay at just taking a couple pictures, but don't be surprised if I start shooting video and narrating the cats interactions in their natural habitat.

Thankful Even After The GRE

 The GRE was DUMB...and I (of course, considering I haven't even had to do a thing on the test since my high school days) did terribly. But thankfully I got to spend the rest of the day with some of my closest friends. The man of the Hour was Ashton, who we haven't had the pleasure of seeing for quite some time. Accompanying him would be the beautiful Anna. Whit and Aaron fortunately were able to grace us with their beauty. And CHRISTYN drove down for the event, after returning home the day before from being a Disney princess for the past eight or so months. I am so grateful I got to see such great friends.

 

Once my trip to Utah was supposed to end, a blizzard "hit". Apparently up north was getting hammered, so we decided to wait for it to pass...although it never really arrived. 

On our way back it took us a couple of extra hours to get there. Oh so slow going, but at least it was in good company (Jeff, Miranda and Ben). It was nice to have a couple guys in the back seat to jump out whenever we needed a push out of the snow, and wash of the windshield every hour or so.

It was beautiful after the sun slowly started to go down, and there was some almost-rainbow light caught in the sky. 

 

It was a VERY long drive, but we made it back in time to prepare for Thanksgiving. 

I was blessed to have a great co-worker who was out of town, and wanted someone to house-sit. It was the perfect place to be when we couldn't be with our whole families. Jeff's roommate joined us, and we had a wonderful evening of stuffing ourselves to the brim, and lounging around watching movies and playing Wii.

My first turkey turned out golden and juicy.

I'm grateful for so much, and this whole week reminded me of each of my blessings.

Friends

Family

Food

Shelter

BOOTS 

Sunshine

Employment 

Music

Pumpkin Milkshakes 

(^my new Thanksgiving tradition^)

The Arts 

Etc. Etc. Etc.

And is it just me, or does the formation of the above writings look like a cake platter?

Anyways, happy holidays! Three weeks until I am back in the homeland. :)

My Worst Enemy

You know what I think testing centers should be called?

I'm off this weekend to take the GRE in Utah. 

YUCK

Office Pet

 

I feel like I remove a lot of staples at work...

A staple remover has always looked like a mean, vicious mini monster to me.

Turns out it's kinda nice.

The Houze

 

 Welcome to my dining room, 

which happens to be directly across (next to, inside...it's all the same) from the kitchen.

 Through an archway is the bedroom/kinda living room, sorta a studio.

 And through the hallway...

 into the bathroom.

Then down into the basement.

 I'm loving my little home. 

This was just a quick tour, but I'm sure you'll see more of its whimsy over time (such as the lack of shower, and the elk in the mountains boarder in the bedroom).

And next time you come, try not to bring the snow with you. 

I've got foot long icicles hanging outside. Here's a little of the front yard.

That's Idaho for you. I'm itching for the ocean again...and that tends to lead to good things. Nothing in the works yet, but that doesn't mean there wont be...

Until then, I'll enjoy living up north.

Little Angel

Yesterday was a tough day, but it was all okay because a beautiful little girl entered our family. My brother, Brad, and sister-in-law, Bekah, were blessed with an 8lb 3oz and 22 inch angel. After several hours of Cora being without a middle name, I got a text around 12:30 last night saying "Hi Mal- just wanted to tell you we decided on Cora Ann after you and your mom. Love you and wish you were here!"

I got a little teary eyed from that, after already being a little teary eyed for not being able to be there. I wish I could have, and can't wait to meet her at Christmas! And anyone with a middle name like that is going to do great things. :)

Falling from October

Before I'm too late, Halloween was a good time. Jeff and I carved pumpkins (that's his; some reason I didn't take a picture of mine). The people who lived in this house before me had a cat, Gus (whom they claim to belong to the neighbors). He really "helped" us carve. :) 

We also went to a little murder mystery dinner our friends put together. Jeff and I went as cruise ship UNsurvivors. We looked pretty nerdy, and had fun. 

 One thing about Idaho I love is that when you live next to people with a garden you're guaranteed some goods. Last place I lived I got corn-on-the-cob, and this place I've gotten potatoes, flower bulbs for planting next year, and sunflower seeds. For a couple of days my free time was spent roasting sunflower and pumpkin seeds...which are all already all gone.

And to wrap up October, I got a new do. Not a huge change, but it makes me happy. :)

New house pictures comin' up next.

Laterz.

Ordinary Day Corny Highlights

 Just another day on the trail.

Giant Cow

 Wednesday Surprise 

 The wall is the same color as my purse.

 It should be illegal to be this cute. Guess that's why it's behind bars.

 Somebody better go catch it.

Sprinkler Malfunction

I like me.

A couple days ago I wrote kind of a long blog about how tough it is to live here, in reference to the people...It was a venting session, and I'm not tons keen on blubber blogging...so I nixed it. Instead of writing about how hard it is for lil' ol' mez, I'm going to go on about how awesome I am.


Point 1- I think I'm ridiculously funny. (key word is probably 'think')


Point 2-I don't care what others think of me, as long as I'm doing what I feel is right, and am treating people the way they deserve to be treated (and I think everyone deserves to be treated with kindness).

Over a course of 5 years I made so many AMAZING, WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, KIND and GENUINE friends rather quickly, because I love people (a lot). In the 7 or 8 months of living here I can barely count the # of people I would consider good friends on one hand...And people think I'm SHY here. I think my interactions with people have to do mostly with my situation, and I need to keep in mind this is not a representation of the entire city. This is just my luck. (ok, ok...I said I wasn't going to vent about how tough life is for me here)


Point 3-I love plants


Point 4- I love animals


Point 5- I love cooking, eating, experimenting and appreciating food.


Point 6- I'm a conservative hippie. I think "all natural" products are a lie, and make most of my own. I think all the world's problems could be solved with the power of love. I'm a bit of an eco nut, and even live in a tiny home (by pure blessing)....etc...


Point 7- I LOVE creativity in just about any form.


Point 8-I get a thrill from living within my means.


Point 9- I have many passions in life. I am a jack-of-all treads, master of none. And I like that :)


Point 10- I believe in myself. Despite my trials I'm in a place where I'm happy. This is a good place for me in life. Not where I always want to be, but it is good for right now.


Ok. This was a longer post than my venting un-published one..and there still is venting in it, but like I said, I don't really interact with many close friends here, so I've got to tell someone. Might as well be the whole world.


I am grateful every morning to live in a cute little home (at least it's cute to me). I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father who will ALWAYS love and care about me. I'm grateful for food, and water, and shelter, and my space heater, and finding a way to make my crummy European mattress comfy, and for Jeff being my bestest friend who cares about me too. I'm grateful for out of the blue letters and texts and emails and calls from my wonderful friends.

I promise to never go on again like this again...(fingers crossed behind my back)...But be encouraged to find things you like about yourself, because no one deserves not to. And when you interact with people, don't think of a single negative thing about them. Find the beauty in all, because they deserve it too.  


peace.

going on's from the past couple weeks

Remember how I've moved 3 times since moving to Idaho in late April? Make it 4. And this time I'm here to stay :) At least until the end of my service. I've got a real contract and everything to prove it.

I REALLY like where I live now. Not that the other places weren't good. This one just suits me just about perfectly. The only thing I've got a problem with is it's the end of the growing season, and I've finally got a tiny yard. A YARD :) (Approximately 5x8 feet of a yard).

I'll post pictures as soon as I have the new place the way I like it. It's getting there.

I love my job. Every few days it kind of starts to look like it's not going well, and then something great happens to totally turn it around.

It's nice outside...and yet everyone is getting sick...including me. I do not like this.

 
I'll update you soon, and hope you're having a great week! And...
 

Happy Hagfish Day!

The Celebration of the Beauty of Ugly

I found this recipe for slime if you really want to celebrate :) 

Slime Recipe

-1/4 cup White Glue
-1 1/4 cup Water, divided
-1 tbsp. Borax (in the laundry detergent aisle)
-Food Coloring

>Add 1 tbsp. Borax to one cup of warm water. Stir until completely dissolved.
>Make a 50% water 50% white glue solution by taking 1/4 cup of each and mix thoroughly.
>In a ziploc bag, add equal parts of the borax solution to equal parts of the glue solution. (Half cup of each will make a cup of slime.)
>Add a couple drops of food coloring. Seal bag and knead the mixture.
>If slime is too sticky, add a little more borax. If slime is too slippery, add a little more white glue solution.


Laterz.

Dressin' Up

I have always been a bit of a collector. If I find something I can make something else out of, it's hard for me not to keep it. When I was little it was dress-up clothes. I'd keep old clothes from anything, and turn something that wasn't even clothing into something "fashionable". Kind of an odd hobby for being a huge tomboy, but I loved it.

This was supposed to be a serious picture, like the ones in the olden days...I still remember not being happy with my friend, Audrey for not being serious enough.

And here she is again! Right before we go out TPing, she's got my sombrero, purple spandex pants, and red high heels on for the occasion. Last time I was annoyed by her, but this time I admired her. :)

I'm pretty sure my friends mainly wanted to come over for my dress-up box. I wish I had more pictures of all our fashionable adventures, because they're pretty great.

 I'm fairly curtain I know where I got my flair for fashion, though. Starts with a G and ends in randma. She was my main dealer when it came to wigs, dresses, props and purses. Here's me, my older sister, brother, and cousins caught in the act. (I'm the redhead).

 Now, despite my gift for costuming it out, Halloween has never been my strong point. I think it's because you can't pressure a gift like mine. It has to come out when it's ready. Halloween is just too much pressure. But this year! This year I hope to change that. I hope this year to be different. It's been over 5 years since I've put on a costume...and that needs to change.

Hope I can come up with something...Oh...THE PRESSURE!

Autumn

It's Autumn. I have a feeling it's not going to be like the ones back home, considering the lack of trees in this state. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to celebrate...hmm, what to do on the first day of fall?????

PS- This is really what fall should look like (I love Ohio):

lots-o-less

I've been simplifying my possessions lately, and am making room for space. This means I've got three full bags of clothes. I want to sell everything, but that takes time...which I have little of anymore. If you know anyone interested in size medium attire, send them my way. I'll sell the whole shebang for $70, or like $3.00 on each item.

I've also switched back to all natural, homemade products, cuz I'm a bit of a hippie nerd like that. I hate wasting $$$, so I've waited until I've run out of whatever I bought (like shampoo), and then learned how to make my own. Silly, I know, but I have sensitive skin, and a slight phobia of chemicals. Baking soda and vinegar are my top two household ingredients. Growing up, my grandma always put vinegar in our baths, so I actually like the smell. Brings back fond memories.

What's great about using these products, is they are all found in the grocery store. For those with a tight budget like mine, spending $3.00 on a months supply of laundry detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and general cleaning supplies all together is a pretty fantastic deal...Just sayin'. And if you're wondering if it actually works, I've been doing this for about a month and am still happy.

With getting rid of unneeded things, learning to make do with basic items, and living on a budget I can attest to a simple lifestyle being quite a  happy one...if not happier than one filled with the latest gadgets and products. Take my laptop I'm typing on right now. I got it my freshman year of college (5yrs ago...yikes). It's still kickin' and does everything I need it to do. That's all I need, and all I want. :) 

If you're interested in a simpler lifestyle, I've got lost of resources. Just let me know.

Side Note: At the moment I'm reading Around the World in 80 Days and yes, I'm getting ideas...or a travel itch...

Anyways, it being Friday, I'm off to the Farmers Market! 

Have a great weekend!!!

Idaho Loves to Get Down

Oh my. Good things going down. I've been excited for Spud Day to come..and it's coming...on a day with even more festivaliness than expected! Harvest Fest happens to be the same day (of which I'm helping with a booth). Oh Idaho. You and your festivities. You'd think the state would be a bit more bitter about the cold coming...I know I am.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Don't you hate it when you fall asleep in the late evening hours...making it impossible to fall back asleep at a descent time? I'd say I do. Take last night for example. I was up until the wee hours of the morn thinking about what I'd do if somehow $2mil just came into my possession; in consequence to my 7-9pm nap...But what would I do if I had $2,000,000 just sitting around?

• I'd pay off everything for my parents
• Buy 70 acres and start my dream business (an art studio/gallery/homegrown cafe/store/pet adoption/camp/horseback riding/etc/etc ranch...name and focus still in the works)
• I'd start my dream non-profit
• Continue my education
• Invest the rest in a future kids college fund/retirement fund/fun fund...:)

That's my dream, but if I could buy anything I ever wanted it would be the property behind my childhood home, back in Ohio. All of it. It's not a fancy fantasy, or anything too special, but it's what my heart desires.

Speaking of rainbows, have you seen this?
Because you need to:

What would you buy if you could have anything you wanted?...besides world peace..or a double rainbow all the way...

Ocean Side

Whit and I headed south to catch up with a great friend, Kayci. After a great night's sleep we were running to the beach.

There weren't many shells, but there were tons of pebbles. A secret habit of mine is to take color swatches from the store that fit my mood; and just like the swatches, I spent a long time picking out the ones that made me happy...when I stumbled upon this sight: 

There's so much love surrounding the ocean

We got swept up in the time, and ended up getting a cute little motel room, about a 1/4mile from the most glorious beach we would see. Once night came, we found ways to entertain ourselves:

On our adventure we saw breathtaking views, 

 and sidetracking flower fields.

...And Whit was definitely the flower diving mastermind... 

Then we were off to see lighthouses!

 Then we headed back to Ashland, OR for the rest of our trip...Oregon is...

entertaining...

Driving all around OR made me miss OH, because I was expecting it to be green...It's not, and I still need a green fix for the summer (like I would get in OH). OR is nice, but the coast is really the nicest part. That is were I'd return, if I go back.