Just how waterproof is this mascara?

I wish that they would print on the side of the tubes of mascara exactly how waterproof it really is. Like on the washable waterproof they could just say something like, "Waterproof to last 2-5 minutes of eye watering" or on the waterproof they could say, "Will last through a good allergy attack, but only one". I have been pondering this question lately because I feel like I have had a lot of days where I have had to reapply the supposed indestructable waterproofs.
Let me explain. The week before Thanksgiving, a family friend that we have known since we met upon my entering kindergarten passed away suddenly from a heart attack. It was sad to think that my dear friends have been suffering from the loss of their father. He was a part of a lot of my childhood memories as that Dad who watched over all of us always asking, "How you doin' kid?" and putting his arm around me every time he saw me. It made my heart hurt and the tears have stayed very close to the surface.
Then, in the wee small hours of the morning about two weeks later, a 27-year-old healthy male went to sleep and did not wake up. He left behind a pregnant wife and 16-month-old daughter. He was from one of those families that you grow up with in your ward and your families are intertwined for years. The kind that when you see each other, there are firm embraces all around and the catching up of everyone's lives. So, needless to say, we are sad in this house. My heart has been hurting and the tears that have been so close to the surface have spilled many times over. My heart is broken for the pain that this family is having to go through. There were over 800 people at his funeral and seeing his sweet wife walk into the chapel where her husband's casket was being wheeled in will be an image that will never be erased from my mind. I now can say that I truly know the meaning of the word devastated because I saw it on her face.
It is at times like these that we all stop to take stock in our own lives. We say to ourselves,"What do I have to complain about when people I care about are recovering from devastating events in their lives?" Luckily, I have a faith that is so rooted in who I am that I do not ask the question, "Why?" I have instead been feeling like I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and that I have been lucky enough to witness the little miracles that are going on around me. I have slowed down a little bit and just enjoyed the little moments rather than worrying about the stuff that is not so important. And I have cried. A lot.
Luckily, with my Lash Blast by my side I know that I can get through this and that each day my heart will hurt a little less. I will always be greatful to my little bright orange tube of waterproof greatness for that.

Salty AND Sweet

Okay, Okay, so I am not so good at this whole every day thing, but I have spent the week thinking of things that I am thankful for. From the big-that I have a great job and work with great people-to the small-my favorite junk food. You know that we all have our favorite goodies that we reach for in times of movie watching and in stress. For me, my go to junk food always has one key ingredient: CHOCOLATE. For a while, it was chocolate covered cinnamon bears, but alas they do not sell them in California! So, after finishing off my birthday stash of the cinnamon heaven, I have decided to switch to another bite-size goodie:If you have not tried these perfect blend of salty and sweet you are definitely missing out! I thought that the person at M&M headquarters had struck gold when they made the peanut butter version and I thought that they would never top this flavor, but I was wrong. Pretzel wrapped in chocolate with a hard candy shell. Brilliant. SO, there you have it. This week I am thankful for Pretzel M&Ms. Seriously. A party in your mouth...

Go Away Scary Witch!

I heart Halloween! I love everything about it-dressing up, candy, decorating, pumpkins and candy:) We had a giant Stake Carnival that we all got dressed up for and got to participate in the Trunk-r-Treat for even more candy than we came with!
Here is a pic of all of us in our costumes: Me, Sammie the Butterfly, Spencer the Caterpillar, Ryan as Batman and Jen as Robin.
At the end of the night as we were packing up, Sammie yelled, "Go away scary Witch!" and laughed her head off. But it got me thinking, I have dressed up the way I have been feeling inside: Witchy. I have been feeling negative lately and I do not like it at all. I am not naturally negative, but the thoughts in my mind have been...well, witchy. So, I decided to get back to doing the things that make me happy and not just accentuate, but celebrate the positive. I am taking a page from my sister Laura's book about blogging the things that I am grateful for. I am going to do the "Twelve Days of Thanksgiving" and get back into blogging, being positive and talking about the things that make me thankful for the life that I have.
So, in tradition of the last holiday we had, the first thing that I am thankful for: HALLOWEEN!
What else can be better than a holiday that lets you dress up and eat candy? Also, it kicks off my favorite time of year being the holidays. For the next couple of months we get to enjoy family parties, baking, giving presents and lots of other things that make the holidays what they are. So tune in tomorrow for the next thing that I am thankful for...

I'm Still Here...

This is not going to be my customary catch-everyone-up-on-the-daily-goings-on-in-my-life type of blog nor is it going to be a rant on something that makes me ask, "Seriously?" (although I have a few of those in my brain right now)...this is just a precurser to the catch up seriously? moments of my life to tell you that yes, I am still here. Yes, I love all of you and want to share my life. Yes, I am working and loving it and longing for the days when someone really rich dies and leaves me all their money to do whatever I want with. But mostly yes, I am still here. I will update soon. Seriously. But if you wonder who I am spending my time with these days that keeps me away from blogging, here you go:
My Favorite Girl:
And My Favorite Boy:Being an Auntie is the greatest!
To be continued...

Pick Me! Pick Me!

Job hunting is like going to PE every day knowing that there are going to be 2 captains (neither of which will be you, of course) that will divide the class into 2 teams. You wait and wait while all the rest of the class is being picked, just hoping upon hope that you won't have the embarrassment of being the last choice. Oh, little things will happen where there is a glimpse of not being left to the last, but alas when the cards fall, there you are, sitting by yourself. And you just have to go back the next day to do the same thing, knowing that the outcome will probably not change-no matter what you do. You will doubt yourself and your skills and your talents and wonder if showing up every day is actually worth it. You will even start to panic every once in a while wondering if you will ever get picked. This can go on for months...
But-just when it seems like there is no reason to hope and you consider selling one of your kidneys on the black market for some cash...the call comes. "We have seen your resume and we would like to meet with you" may be some of the most beautiful words in the English language. Then the terror sets in. I have to go and talk to someone and convince them to hire me! What?? I have to wear the perfect outfit and say the perfect thing and sell my skills as being something that no one else can bring to the table. Yikes!! So you show up and pray for a miracle. They seem to like you. They even smile while you talk about your philosophy of customer service and how you can be a big benefit to their company. Then, when you leave, they say that they will be in touch, but you have serious doubts that this will actually happen. You pray for a miracle. You even joke that it will be okay if they don't pick you. But secretly you would be devastated and start to look for ways to sell that kidney of yours so you can put gas in your car and your phone won't get shut off. Then it comes. The phone call that makes the world seem like it has started to go in slow motion. So you brace yourself. And then you hear the second most beautiful words in the english language: "We would like to offer you the position. When can you start?" And the clouds open up and the sun shines down just on you and there are actual birds chirping and you are pretty sure that you can hear a distant choir singing Hallelujah. The hunt is over. You have met your goal. For the first time since you can remember, the knot that has taken residence in your stomach has departed and you can breathe again. Not only were you not picked last, you have been selected as a captain! The happy dancing in the street can begin!
So, as you may have guessed-I GOT A JOB!! I will now be working at a law firm as the Front Office Coordinator and I could not be happier!! It is everything that I wanted and needed and really am excited. And I can breathe again and concentrate on the more important things in life. Like my renewed goal of one new pair of shoes a month...Hallelujah.