Kelly's Christmas Countdown!

Will someone slap me! I take on way to many things and then I come up with more projects while I am out doing a million other things!! While I was at work one day I thought about doing something everyday for Kelly during December. But How?

After some Pinterest searching I got it! :)

A countdown that consists of Service, Compliments & Gifts.

Being as dumb as I am I thought oh coming up with 25 things won't be bad!

 

It wasn't bad at first because I could do the compliments & service within a snap but the gifts.. No man tells you what they want!? Especially Kelly! So, I finally searched his closet and got some ideas for things he "needed"!

 

Well enough talking here is the countdown...

 

 

 

I got the ribbon & clothespins @ Walmart for under $5

Scrapbook paper I got at a certain secret place.. (if I tell you I would have to kill you)

 

I stayed up late on November 30th to make sure that it would be ready to go the next day!

Kelly was put on the "Honor System" ..meaning, don't peak or it leaves!!!

he is better at that than me, I would of already peeked by now!

 

Now for the fonts and typing it all out took the longest because I had to make sure we could do things and didn't have anything already scheduled!

Plus, we are leaving on a cruise from December 15th to the 20th so I had to be able to take things with us so he could continue the countdown on the Cruise.

 

 

You are probably wondering well what has he got so far.. many people have asked me what I have done.

 

 

Day 1- was kickoff day and he got a bag of Hostess Powdered doughnuts!

 

Day 2- I actually snapped a picture of this one! I think this was my favorite. Nala, loves Kelly in fact I think she has a crush on him. She lightens up when she sees him or hears him getting home from work. So... we had our first art project.. Stamped her paw. (once again am I nuts)

 

She did pretty well with getting a dirty paw and stepping on the paper! I just had to do it when he wasn't home since she is always next to him when he is home. Also so she could run it off on the grass!





Paw artwork.. isn't adorable.

Day 3- Was chilvary day.. I thanked him for all the times he gets my door and treats me so kindly because he is a "Big Hunk"!


Day 4- He took his favorite treat to work. (although, he forgot to look at it before he left so he ended up getting his favorite treat after work. oops!


Day 5- We are Parks & Rec guru's we love that show! It was a night to just watch some episodes on Netflix and enjoy each other companies. Instead, Kelly worked some serious OT and didn't get home till about 10pm he's been sick with a cold. But he did bring home some Firehouse Subs. Yum!


Day 6- He got told to Drive safe to work and to not get a bad rep.. (mysterious?) yes! ..He got a violation ticket on his windshield from me..


I think he enjoys to be spoiled like this and I am really excited for the next few weeks because they are starting to get better and better!

Black Friday....did it kill us!? Yes!

 

I did some damage.. but so did Kelly!

 

Amazingly Kelly finally went and got a handgun. He has wanted one for awhile

I am glad he went and did get one!

 

Stores: Bath & Body Works- 4 bags later (so many free things uhh)

Target: I bought stuff at the store & online (love/hate relationship with that place)

Walmart: You may have already read that post but we got some good things.

Hobby Lobby: Craft central.. those places are really bad for me.

 

 

 

Can you tell who isn't feeling well?

 

 

 

 

Kelly was on call all throughout thanksgiving he got some awesome OT but, I think he almost killed himself. We both have been battling the mucus, sneezing, coughing, sore throats. Sunday night we stayed home from visiting all of his family and I was working in my mess of a craft room.

Man colds are horrible?! If you haven't had to be around it consider yourself lucky. Men are whiney when they don't feel good.. So he came and laid on the floor of my Craft whorish mess. He fell asleep and so did Nala.

He went off to bed & then got a emergency call for Olive Garden in Layton. As he was getting dressed he asked "how come there is glitter all over me"... hence why you shouldn't lay on the craft room floor! I think he learned his lesson!



Deck the Halls (Decor 2013)

 

 

...With winter comes the boxes and boxes of decorations, tree ornaments, lights for the house & projects that never were finished they year before.

Last year I didn't want to mess with taking the tree completely apart and back to a box so.. I thought well we can just carry it downstairs and leave the ornaments and everything on it. Did we do it? You bet! It has technically been up all year & I don't care it was nice to be able to just carry it back upstairs. Although, I should have waited for Kelly to get home from work before I attempted to do it.
It would of been nice if I would of wired everything on to it as well but, I didn't get around to it. Nala believes the tree is a back scratcher and that you can knock off the ornaments and chase them. I can't tell you how many chewed up ornaments have been found in the last year!

I didn't have to do much with the tree which was nice. As for the Grinch bum, we used it and my tree last year for the Ogden Christmas Parade. We thought it was hilarious, this was another thing I have just had laying around so I thought, why not use it on my tree this year! So yes, there is a green bum that has some bad cottage cheese issues (its hard to make batting look like legs.)



 





Don't touch the butt!!

 

 Now for the rest of the decorations.. I can honestly say I am so in love with all this crazy Christmas stuff..

Starting with the rest of the front room. I made these ornaments last year and barely got them up in time for Christmas. If you can tell my whole house is Grinch theme.. Am I a Grinch? Some would say yes.

Anywho lou who. (like what I did there?) This year I saw this adorable plaque and just finished it.. I love vinyl.. not in the tacky way of Mormon Graffiti on every wall but its so simple to paint, modge-podge paper on and peel the vinyl & boom your done. Plus, its the Grinch once again.

 

Next is a pillow I bought on clearance last year.. I did buy a pattern to make a pillow with elf feet, did I ever start it? No! Maybe one day when I have more time & patience. But I loved how cute "Snow" was and the fun ric rac ribbon, tulle and polka dot theme.. :)

 

Stockings.. our house has a chimney, but not a fireplace. Does anyone else think that is odd? I can't complain just because I can move my furniture all different ways in our family room but, there would be times it would be nice to have gas fireplace.

Last year, I didn't know what to do with the stockings since most the time they are hanging about a fireplace.. So they sat on my Zebra chair and I didn't like it but dealt with it... This year something clicked...

 

Command HOOKS!!! what?!

 

Kelly doesn't believe me that they won't take off paint but I love that they are hung on a wall now, it makes things seem more placed during the nutty season.



 

 

 

 

In the kitchen, you will find more Grinch-y things! Imagine that?

On my table runner I have a stuffed animal Grinch that my mom got me when I was in college. I loved it then and I still do. He just fits in our household.. :)

 



 On the counter.. I will admit in October I bought Christmas things... shoot me! But I loved this box.. "Don't get your Tinsel in a Tangle."... How could I not buy that.. I was so excited to put it up! .. These presents are one of the many things I bought on Clearance. I got the red one done last year.. the green one was painted but got left that way until today! I love this "Fa la la" paper & nothing would be complete without a dash of glitter!

... I love my white lights on the top of my cabinets! My mom made that adorable Grinch for me 2 years ago.. I remember freaking out, kind of like I did when I got the Grinch DVD for Christmas in 3rd grade!

Last year, I did the "Whoville" trees. I love how whimsy they are and how they each are unique. I love coming up with the color combos of paint, glitter and paper. In fact its very rare that I stick with how the store has them on the shelf.

Sneak peek...
This beauty of a snowman has been done for over a year. I didn't get around to ever hanging it last year! I will have more to post in January!

Miss Rodeo Utah 2013

Where do I even begin to start?! I have known Makenzie Maughan for years. We use to walk back and forth from each others houses, jump on her tramp with the sprinkler underneath us in the summer. Countless dress up and barbie playing. I remember always calling her and asking if she could play. We even would dress up her brother Dylan occasionally. 

In February of  2013, Kenzie was made Miss Rodeo Utah 2013 she was already the first attendant but, Miss Rodeo Utah 2012 was made Miss Rodeo America, it left Utah without a State Queen. They started a new lady-in-waiting program & Kenzie accepted the title. I remember being so happy for her!

In mid August, I was standing in Target with my mom we were talking about Kenz and how we wish we could do something to help her or a fun gift to give her when not even 10 seconds later my phone rang and it was Kenzie. We were both laughing.. I guess the night before they were trying to figure out how they were going to get a scrapbook done for Miss Rodeo America. As they were talking they thought of me. To be honest, I was so excited but nervous the only scrapbooks I had done were way ugly or the couple I did that were digital. But I accepted to do it, I thought it would be so neat to see all of the things she has done & to create something to show off all the things she did as MRU. 

About a month later I had everything and was a little shocked at what I should do with it all. Especially with all the other crazy things I had going on! I finally got a big dent in it done after our month of vacationing in October. Kenzie saw it & I was really not sure at how I was going to embellish and make everything flow.

You know how you can count on some people to just help.. well that would be my sister Marci. She came to visit for Thanksgiving. I showed her what I had done and that I needed some serious help. About an hour later we were tearing everything apart and started a clean slate.. not that my stuff was horrible but my sister has so many crazy and fun ideas. 

We then spent the next four nights starting at about 9pm till midnight at redoing the entire thing. I was getting nervous because Kenz was leaving soon for MRA and I knew we had to push through to get it done. After several runs to Hobby Lobby & Facetime calls to Marci on what to get we finally finished it on Friday night at midnight! 

I can't even begin to tell you how adorable it was and how thankful I am for a sister who can look at a page and just make something amazing out of it! 

Saturday morning Kenzie & Mindy came over to look at it.. I was nervous to see what they would think but after all of their nice compliments it was approved. I am so happy that I got to help with something & pick up some new skills from my sister & mom. It was an insane bonding moment with all those late nights! 

I want to thank Kenz for trusting me with something that will show so much about her. I also want to thank Marci so much for her insane skills & patient personality to help me along with it!

A big GOOD LUCK to Kenz as she competes for the Miss Rodeo America title!

I am hoping that Utah is the holder of the title once again.. it would be the first time that a state would have won back to back!

(fingers crossed)

Quite the day!

Thanksgiving morning started off with 45 text messages from my mom that was really my sister Marci. She was asking me about tickets to see the movie Frozen. 

Kelly left to go skeet shooting with friends. He is on call through the whole week, I have been getting home late from trying to work on projects and such. I told him that I bet he would get called out on Thanksgiving day. I jinxed him. He got a call after he got home from shooting. Which meant I got to go to his parents by myself. Which isn't bad besides the fact I lost track of time and was late. Luckily, the stuffing I had already made. I just was delaying on getting ready. 

Kelly showed up 20 minutes late! After the yummy green bean casserole, deep fried turkey, rolls, black olives, potatoes and of course stuffing. We sat bloated. I looked at ads but didn't think I liked anything. 

Well, it didn't last long! I suddenly was buying things online @ Target and Kohls. Then 6pm came and some of us headed off to Walmart. We are crazy. I have never experienced Black Friday. First we started off at a big DVD sale & then standing eventually in a line for tablets for some of the kids in the family. It was fun to be able to hang around Kelly's sisters Kishell and Kimmy more. They were a riot! I probably got more things than I should of but everything was okay through Santa! 

That was just one cart that we had. 

With Christmas coming I never have felt so stressed: decorating to be done, Christmas cards to be designed and sent, gifts to still buy and wrap, all before we leave on our cruise. 

I love this time of year.. I am so excited for a surprise I am doing for Kelly. I think he will love it.. I know I will. 

I will post more about it all later as for now.. I should drift off so I don't come up with more things to do! 

Get READY!!!

The hustle and bustle is about to begin!

I don't know where to start.. I tease my sisters about having Christmas shopping done and over with but, I secretly am wishing I would have done that.

Anywho. I am excited for thanksgiving and to have some time off from work. Since this cold of mine isn't leaving anytime soon. I hate being congested and the feeling of a nasty cough that makes your chest ache.

I have lots to accomplish this weekend!


Miss Rodeo Utah Scrapbook
Chalkboard Pennants/ several other projects
A surprise for Kelly
Parade Float for dance
Get out all the Christmas decor
Maybe start the vintage TV project
Hopefully get some shopping done on Black Friday
Clean the house... that never ends does it?!


I can't believe we are 18 days away from our Cruise! ... It is weird we are leaving on another vacation and doing it the week before Christmas... hopefully I will have everything done before then... ahhhh....

Where is a Coke?!

Worn. Stressed.

Ever had the feeling that you have taken on too many things all too quickly! Well, I can raise my hand for everyone! Because, in the last two weeks it has all piled on!

I started, made & finished a montage for the Young Woman Evening of Excellence night in my ward. I had wanted to do it for a while but it came faster than I thought especially after October being filled with vacations. I had 3 days to gather 2 pictures from every YW & find out their favorite temple! I worked a good 11 hours straight on it one day and another 10 between the other 2 days. It was really awesome & I loved the EFY 2013 songs I used. 

The next project I have known about but in a way procrastinated until now when I can be more diligent without so many vacations going on. 

Story time!

Makenzie Maughan has been one of my friends since I can remember. She was doing dance when I was a kid so I had to do it. Mind you I was very uncoordinated but I still did it. Makenzie stopped to do 4H and Posse. 

She has conquered her dreams and ambitions with Rodeo! I have to say it is awesome to see your friends work and succeed in their goals! 

Makenzie was crowned as Miss Rodeo Utah 2013 in February & she began the lady in waiting program since MRU 2012 made Miss Rodeo America 2013 in December. 

Okay... So in August/September Makenzie called me right as I was telling my mom how much I missed seeing her & how I want to do something to help her! I guess the night before Kenzie and her mom were trying to think of someone who could do her scrapbook for Miss Rodeo America in December! That is when I got called & I was so thrilled to do it! 

So far, I have knocked out a lot but it's not done so the crunch is happening & hoping that Kenzie will like it! Although, if one thing is certain she is such a gorgeous woman! I love looking at the pictures and the joy she naturally has about her!

Good Luck Miss Rodeo Utah!

With crazy projects there is still a house to be cleaned, a husband to be fed, a Nala to be fed & a tired Maggie at the end of it all. 

I will be honest though Kelly has asked me what my plans are on Fridays! Which secretly that means "your going to stay home & clean right!".. My response isn't always nice but he is patient with my crazy hours of dance, work and projects! 

 

Stressed.

Kelly has been worried for his promotion test that will put him back to where he was in SLC! Since he had to drop to move to Ogden. He has studied and studied! So much in fact he talks to me about vent connectors in his sleep! 

On top of his promotion is our debate about selling our home. I know I know you are probably thinking "What! Why?" Well, they are going to be widening 4000 south from 2 lanes to 5 lanes with a median. We have been flip flopping about what we should do! We know they would buy our land but it's something I was hoping wouldn't happen for another 8 years! Sadly, they have the plans and want to start construction in about 3 years.

It's hard to leave something that I have grown to love so much. We barely closed on our home a little over a year ago! We have done so much since then & have so much left that we wanted to do! In fact my heart breaks by thinking about it! Maybe because this was the place I met Kelly, the place I fell in love with him, laughed, cried, danced and sang. These walls hold too many memories & giving that up is something I don't know I am up for doing.  

It will be something that I will post more about later.. But for now I will catch some much needed Z's! 

PS. I ran tonight on the treadmill, I am so going to feel crappy tomorrow! Darn working out! Hate it! 

Happy

Last night, I finally remembered to give a gift to our niece Samantha also a card to Kimmy & Jeff!

They watched Nala for us while we were gone to the Uintas with Janae & Steve! Samantha really wanted Nala to stay over the week we were in Disneyland but that didn't happen because we knew she would be a pain and not easy to maintain for a week.

At first I don't think Nala was extremely happy she was getting left again, but by the time we went to pick her up she had wiggled her way into there home like she had always lived there. I loved the pictures of Nala & Samantha cuddling that Kimmy sent me!

Well as I gave Samantha her gift she went and showed her mom the stuffed animal puppy & card. She was so happy and wanted to know what the card said.. After she said thank you she ran past all of us on the couch to head to the play room.

While passing us she said, "Happy!" in such an excited voice!

We all giggled and laughed that she didn't make a complete sentence but, it was adorable!

It reminded me how easy it should be to find a reason to be happy, even though most of the time we find reasons we aren't happy. Thank you Samantha for teaching me to be "Happy!"

Kimmy snapped this picture of Samantha & me at Kevin & Katrina's Wedding