The Bachelor Re-Cap

Thanks Ali, you ruined EVERYTHING!!!!

That is my re-cap! Hope you enjoyed it... Now, if you want to get to know a REAL BACHELOR (that I am trying to hook-up) GO HERE!

MEET MY BACHELOR

You know, I am obsessed with The Bachelor. And secretly, haven't you ALLLLLLLLL dreamt in your head that you wished there was an LDS Bachelor on BYU TV? Oh come on... I know you have... Here is the thing... I HAVE GOT HIM! A BACHELOR! And his name is Jimmy.

Ok, you can call him Jim, but to me, he is Jimmy. We go back about 10 years back to post graduation days in SLC. He hung with me and my girls at the condo all the time... Was a regular fixture and just recently, I found him on the FB and he was... SINGLE. Never married, and SINGLE.

I found it hard to believe, I mean, IT'S JIMMY! One of the most likable, lovable guys on the planet! I had to find out his scoop, so I messaged him. I told him I thought I could hook him up with some chicks.. because EVERYONE knows SOMEONE... So, I am coming to YOU people. YOU, my readers. And just in case you are skeptical, remember, I met my husband on-line 10 years ago.. So, it can work. TRUST ME.

Do you know a lady? A 30 something lady who is looking for a man? It's almost Valentines Day and I KNOW you are all in the mood to play match-maker, so, let's do it. Here is a few of Jimmy's dets:

From: Thousand Oaks, CA. (Ventura County) Grew up near by and after a stint at BYU and SLC moved back there and has been there for the past 9 years. [You do NOT have to live locally to apply! It never hurts to meet someone long-distance. Peter was in Seattle when I was in SLC! Let's face it, you can't always meet someone locally!]

Likes to: Travel to watch sports (i.e. go to a Dodgers game or travel to a bowl game), go out to eat, go to movies, host parties (no wonder I liked him!) and cook for a crowd.

Graduated: from BYU in '97 in Sociology with a Minor in Business and is currently working as a Manufacturing Sales Rep. Has been doing so for the past 5 years and owns his own house in the Thousand Oaks area. . . Has won sales awards for the past few years and sadly, has to take buddies to Hawaii with him...

If he does get married: He wants a few kids...

He thinks that humor, openness, and GENUINE kindness make a good relationship. And Jimmy just doesn't mean, "NICE", He means, someone who is genuinely KIND to others and seeks their welfare (aw--he is sweet). Being easy going (Jimmy is) and fun loving (Jimmy is) is also a major plus and he would prefer to stay away from any D.R.A.M.A. nice and steady does the trick.

On dates he likes to: Do lots! Go on a bit of a marathon date! Try something new like Whale watching, going to the pier and catching a bite to eat.

The kind of girl Jimmy is looking for is

• Genuinely Kind


• a little spice is GOOD


• affectionate (catching up for lost time)


• grounded in the gospel-- gotta know it girls!


• attractive - (come on, we all know you HAVE to be attracted to someone)


• good with money-- I used the word frugal, and he stayed away from that, but likes to follow a BUDGET.

IF YOU KNOW A SINGLE LADY IN HER 30'S THAT MEETS THIS DESCRIPTION, PLEASE HAVE HER E-MAIL ME AT LINDZSTEWATHOTMAILDOTCOM. I will forward your info on to Jimbo.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW A SINGLE LADY IN HER MID-30'S PLEASE COPY THIS POST, OR PUT A LINK TO IT ON YOUR BLOG. HELP A BACHELOR OUT! LET'S MAKE A CONNECTION!

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

I HAVE A WINNER FOR MY BANNER! YIPEE! Thanks for participating ya'll. I even scored a few new followers YAY!

Thanks to RANDOM.ORG for my "random number selection" and the random number generator picked LUCKY NUMBER 13! If you didn't think that number is lucky, you got proven wrong today! I counted down to the 13th comment, and lo-and behold... IT IS SOMEONE I DON'T KNOW PERSONALLY!

A de-lurked lurker... and I TOTALLY believe that a de-lurker SHOULD be a winner because I love it when people de-lurk. :)

So to "THE PLATT'S" Please e-mail me with your info and I will sent the banner to you forth-with! You can e-mail me at lindzstew(at)hotmail(dot)com. Thanks soooooooooooooo much for playing... just for fun ms. platt, can you tell me how you found me? I would love to know. Thanks!

And just because I had so much fun, I am going to have ANOTHER giveaway... Stay tuned!

Someone Turns 1 TODAY!

Wow. What a crazy year. I can hardly believe it has been a whole year. When I woke up this morning, I tried to remember the day she was born. I couldn't. So, how is it possible that it seems like it was just yesterday, but I can't remember yesterday. Yeah. I know. My life.


**I TOLD YOU WE WERE CELEBRATING! SEE GIVEAWAY HERE!

ANYWAY,

The day wouldn't be complete without wishing Kaylin a

VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Life with Kaylie has not been....how do I put this gently. *Easy* We still love her lots, and are surprised that she is even in our family, but pleasantly surprised, nonetheless.

She came into this world with a BANG! A BIG BANG.
She was monsterishly big... ans she still is. I mean, who wears a 2T at 12 months.. WHO? Kaylie, that is who.

She has had many adventures in looking like an "accident victim" although, she never was... thankfully. *See above, and below.

She doesn't like to sleep much... although, this picture coulda fooled me. . .





She likes to get DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRTY.

She doesn't smile much, but when she does, it can just about light up the whole room!


She likes to cry... that one we know FOR SURE.


She had a short stint as a model. (Just for my blog of course) She is VERY good at handling PEAS.

And she is OURS, and we love her LOTS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAYLIN!

EVERYONE is feeling the love

Especially ME!

Thanks Honey, they are beautiful. :)

Don't forget.. I am doing a GIVEAWAY.. Not beautiful flowers, but something else just as PURTY!

***WANT ANOTHER ENTRY INTO MY GIVEAWAY?? ADD YOURSELF AS A FOLLOWER AND YOU CAN POST ANOTHER COMMENT LETTING ME KNOW YOU DID!

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DOUBLE YOUR CHANCES!

** If you are already a follower, link me on your blog and I will count that too!

Bachelor Re-Cap

Alright, since everyone's fav is The Bachelor re-caps.. here you go. [I am GIVING AWAY SOMETHING! GO SEE!]

I am in trouble. BIG TROUBLE.

I an not rooting for anyone. NO ONE.

BIG FAT ZERO.

Because everyone is starting to drive me CRAZY!!!

Let's start with Gia- I am just not a fan. I never have been, but I don't know! It doesn't seem to me like there is much to her personality. Ok, there is NOTHING to her personality! And it is starting to drive me crazy that her upper lip does not move. Did anyone else notice that? Sorry, it has just started to bug me and it is all I can think about when I see her.

Ali- Honestly, she has been my favorite from the beginning she seems "for real" and not "crazy" and she SEMI redeemed herself for backing off of Vienna and saying she was over it. *sigh* GOOD. But in the mean time, she is lookin' pretty um, well, let's just use the word snotty. Ok? I just wish she would wipe that smirk off her face because it makes it U.G.L.Y. and I don't mean just on the outside.

Tenley- I know there are a LOT of you Tenley fans out there. And look, I think she is sweet as pie too, but I am thinking: DOOR MAT. And sometimes, when she is talking... and her pitch goes a bit higher... and higher and then she throws a little baby talk in there and.........fffffffffsttttttttp. I am out. The second she starts to do that, I just can't cut it. I want to scratch her off the list.

Corrie: Who? Ok, I totally respect that you are a virgin, and so does Jake, but virgin doesn't have to mean, BORING. ok?

Jake. Oooooooooooooooooooooooh Jakey. What are we going to do with you. Really. I have read the spoilers Jake.. You know, the ones that say who you choose? I am am not pleased. And I FOR SURE hope that those spoilers are DEAD WRONG. But, I guess it doesn't matter super much because I don't like the girls anyway. I mean, they just all have their "issues", and I am not saying there is one that got away, because, there probably wasn't.. but I am going to stand by my original thought and HOPE that you don't choose any. That would make me the most happy I am thinking. (AND IT IS AAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL ABOUT MAKING ME HAPPY, RIGHT?) no, it isn't, because I would watch the show no matter WHAT happens. (*sucker*)

Can't wait to see who is trying to stir up DRAMA, but I bet it is old Vienna at the door. Oh wait, I didn't even mention her!! BECAUSE WHAT IS THERE TO SAY BUT AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

There... hope you liked it.

PS- I think I WILL add a little Pampered Chef goodie to my giveaway. I was thinkin' of makin' it a little sweeter anyway! :)

A GIVE . .(some love). AWAY

Hello? Anybody out there? *tink* tink* tink* Is this thing ON?



Anywho.. WHO is ready for a GIVEAWAY??? Oh! ME! ME! ME! ME!



Lovely.


So, WHO IS FEELING VALENTINEY?




Oh! ME! ME! ME! ME!





Not too long ago my mom called and said, "Hey! I want to make a banner for Valentines Day!" And me being a total follower (just kidding-I am so not..Ok, maybe I am) said, Ya! ME TOO! So, I found a cute little banner on-line that I could knock off (thank you etsy) and I DID! And it was cute! And then, I decided to make one for you!





And guess what?






Because I had already made one? And learned from my mistakes? THE one I made for you is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY cuter.



So, put your name down.. and say you want it, and tell me which of my posts you LOVE the most (you have almost three years of them to choose from!) And you might just win... My banner.






So, this is mine.... Up close,

and hanging, (Hopefully you have a very cute mantel to hang yours on... I do not)

It says, BE MINE... cuz, could you be mine, would you be mine, won't you be, MY BABY!

And THIS is YOURS! (Don't worry, I will be attaching cute ribbons to it too, but I was just so excited I couldn't wait until going to Michaels for more ribbon tomorrow!)

But it will have some, and it will be CUTE!

Come on... Your chances are GOOD! :) Enter until Friday, Feb 5th.

** JUST ADDED! A PAMPERED CHEF GOODIE!!! Now, get the banner AND a Pampered Chef tool!

Hope Floats

*Pictures taken by MOI. Yesterday.

I started to HATE the phrase, "Everything happens for a reason". Because when you venture out on your own, and then, lose everything, it seems like a slap in the face.

I mean, you are SUPPOSED to lose everything "for a reason"? Have your hopes and dreams dashed for a "reason" and then, like, be happy about it?
And then, be stuck away from family, friends and everyone else and dealing with the biggest struggle in your life?

Cause, that doesn't seem quite right. Especially for people who tried hard, gave much, and did their best to choose the right. It is not like we were perfect. But we tried.
But, then again, there is Job.

But, sometimes, when things are going the OTHER direction, the phrase, "Everything happens for a reason" is a lot more hopeful. Because maybe there was a reason my husband had a break in his master's program this month.

Maybe there is a reason he met someone's husband who is out of work.

Or maybe even a reason we didn't get that job promotion we wanted. I mean, could there be a good reason for that?

Here is to HOPE.

Re-new

A little while ago I posted about my room re-do. Ok, well, I didn't re-do it. Just spruced it up a bit. . . It needed a facelift, and I STILL love looking down the hall way at it! It got my creative juices flowing SO MUCH that I have been BEGGING people to let me help them spruce up their homes!! (Any excuse to go to Home Fabrics!)




My friend Wendy finally took pitty on me (Did you see my button for her website here?----------------->) and let me go with her to Home Fabrics last week. She didn't need my sewing skills (she has them in spades) so, I just assisted in some spending money. . . I mean, picking out new fabric for her home! We had so much fun oooooooohing and aaaaaaaaaaahing over fabrics in the store. (We are easily entertained) and I had the VERY guily pleasure of helping her go from THIS:

TO THIS!!!

oh sorry, that button is HERE!--------------------------------------->

We went a little bold but it sure paid off! Her new look is FANTASTIC! And I had waaaaaaaaaay too much fun convincing her to GO BOLD! (Check out that green and brown check!) Love it Wendy! And thanks for letting me go to the fabric store with you! (See MORE of her make-over here!)

Now, who is next?
I need another trip to the fabric store!

(I even offered to sew for you people!)

Mud Rat (a new term similar to "Rug" Rat)

Sometimes when yer baby is drivin' ye crazy,

The only thing ye can do is let 'em do what comes natural.

Which, I guess for Kaylie is playin' in dat der mud.

It's SOOOOOOOOO fun.
And the joy the comes from it, I guess, is jist kinda indescribable.

I guess.

A Mini Obsession

I have created a monster..



And that monster, has re-created me...



Because I introduced my bloggy friend Stephanie to Mini's when I was in Utah... and then she went out, and made her OWN.



And now, I have yet ANOTHER obsession with my favorite food, but now, it is in a different form.

A Mini.

(Curse you Stephanie)

So, now? Since they are pint sized? Can I eat like 10? Does that make it count as 1? If not, I have 48 new problems around the house. I'll have to see who I can pawn these off on to. . . any volunteers?

Coco

I have seen a few blog posts about Team Coco this week... I'll be honest, I didn't care. I don't watch Leno, or CoCo, or Letterman.. well, sometimes I watch Letterman because my husband DVR's it and wants me to watch a clip, but for the most part, I just don't watch late night TV. [Because I have a DVR that is already busting at the seams with recorded shows and somethin's gotta give mkay?]

But, I decided to set a recording for last nights last episode because I was SURE something monumental would happen or be said, and, I was right. But it wasn't what I expected.

Conan surprised me and said that he is not a cynic (I thought all comedians were by nature). And that you get places in the world by being nice and doing good.

To be honest, I was completely caught off guard by this message from someone who was being canned on a 10 year contract after 7 months. To say the least, I was impressed. Impressed that someone like him could actually say something positive and encourage OTHERS to be positive and tried to instill a sense of goodness in the world.

Kudos CoCo. Way to stay on a high note.

The Animals are Acting Up Again . . .

Looks like we are having ANOTHER problem with the animals in our house. They get OUT OF CONTROL from time to time. Right now, seems to be another one of those times... they are rough.

I would feel bad for 'em, but this one musta done somethin' REAL bad.

This place is a ZOO!

A new Look.

I posted my latest obsession in decorating... and my "makeover" came back to me a little sooner than I had thought! Meet: MY NEW LOVE.

Remember her before?

Well, this is her, AFTER


VAVAVOOM!

Doesn't she just look a whole lot happier?? That is what I hear anyway, after people have their "procedure" done. She definitely looks like she has gotten a LIFT.


And now, she looks good at ANY angle.

And isn't that what we ALL want.

Now, when she is in a room, it really adds some UMPH!!

I even like staring at her from down the hallway... she looks so good.

Now, there is just one thing in that room that doesn't look so hot...

My $100 piano.. .and although she isn't very good looking... I still love her. But I still think she would look better with a little make-over too... How about a BUTTER YELLOW?

Check back. :)

Bachelor Re-cap

Did anyone miss my bachelor re-cap last week? I kinda did, but Jeanelle more than made up for it. Believe it or not, you almost didn't get one this week either because my DVR didn't record it! GAH!

It always happens once a season with a show that I love when the priority isn't set just right... So, I had to watch it this morning on-line... which is so not fun. . Anyway, here is my take on Jake.

VIENNA??? Seriously? I just don't see it. Although I will state a few things I am noticing about Vienna.. A- she is not as bad as her "package" was.. in her package she was very "Elle Woods" from Legally Blonde and I didn't think I was going to like her from one second. I still don't particularly think she is AWESOME (hi Ali!--But quit complaining k?) BUT B- I don't really think she is as bad as the girls in the house think she is either!!! I mean, I have seen plenty of girls in other seasons talk about their dates and no one gets as bent out of shape as these ladies!

And Jake.. I know he has been getting a lot of crap.. people don't like him, say he is weird and I don't even know how else they describe him, but seriously, he had some serious cajones last night for calling Michelle's bluff. (Seriously girl? You can only pull that kinda thing once, mkay?) And walking her crazy hiney ho right out the Do'! THANK HEAVENS!

And he did it again when he kicked Elizabeth out the door... A guy doesn't like a tease.... Ask my husband.. too bad we are already married!! Note to Elizabeth.. save that stuff for AFTER marriage... guys don't like it before-hand. Oh wait, they don't like it... EVER!!!! DUH! She got what she deserved.. but honestly, if she didn't get to go out that way, she couldn't have shown her "cry on screen" skills. Let's be honest, she probably had a boyfriend back home and she told him she wouldn't kiss the bach if he let her come on to improve her career... Ok, Nanny from some dull place who currently resides in L.A.!!!!

That is all I got for you this week, besides... Who the heck was VALISHA?? I swear, I never saw her until she got a close up for NOT getting the rose!

OUT.

If you wanna read more funny re-caps, visit my friends! Jeanelle, and Hollyween!

Making me HAPPY! + DEAL FOR YOU!

A few years ago on my blog, I did an ODE TO YELLOW and a demo on making the cutest Spring Wreath. I haven't felt so "domestic" since I have lived in AZ. Don't get me wrong, I did do a little something to spruce up Kaylie's room before she arrived, but, since we have been here, I have just been in survival mode. . . just. keep. head. above. water.


I love to be crafty and I love to make my home a better place to be, and I have learned, from moving so many times, that you can make ANYPLACE feel like home. I rejected doing this for a while in our latest home because, I will be honest, it is hard to feel all "homey" when you are renting.


But, since I unpacked not too long ago, the "creative" juices have started flowing again and it feels good. I like to be "working on something"... not just to keep busy (I am still kinda house bound with two napping kids at home) but it makes me feel accomplished... in a weird sorta way.

You KNOW the sewing machine is going to make a debut when my MIL is in town. And, it did. We visited a store called Home Fabrics in Mesa.. It is a discount decorator fabric store and the minute I stepped through the doors, the juices started flowing. It has been too long. Really.


I found two amazing fabrics.. one that would be PERFECT in my living room. I have had my drapes done for a long time, but have wanted another fabric for throw pillows. . It was $4 a yard, and if you know decorator fabrics they are anywhere between $18 -$25 per yard, so, this was a steal!!! (All the fabrics there are deeply discounted)


HELLO LOVER...

this is totally me. . .

and I am in love with it.

I pretty much had to make pillows for my couch on the spot... I look in this room now and it makes my heart go pitter-pat. (Ok, so, I get excited about fabric. Weird, I know)

LOVE.
And see this lonely little chair? I think it needs a new look.. Something a little more splashy.. Don't you think? I will show you its' make-over soon.

Now, I didn't want my family room to feel left out... and I couldn't resist when I saw this happy flower fabric that I knew would just blend right in... and if you don't think a few little throw pillow will make the difference, I beg to differ... here is the proof.

BEFORE

boring. ho hum. blech.

AFTER

Your eyes go straigh to the cuteness, don't they?? And doesn't it just bring a smile to your face?

Well, here is my offer... If you are looking to spruce up your look, I will happily go to Home Fabrics with you and if you don't know how, I WILL MAKE YOUR PILLOWS! They are easy and fast and if you take me to lunch I will consider us EVEN. Deal?