happy birthday holly!

yesterday was holly's birthday! holly is one of my dearest friends! she and i became friends while working at coppin's hallmark. we hit it off right away! we have been through so much together! we started dating our husbands around the same time, got engaged within a month of each other, had a joint bridal shower and were married exactly one month apart!

we have lunch together often and love to just sit and chat! holly is one of the most inspiring women i know. she is a terrific wife and mother. she is one of the most genuine people i have ever met. she is patient, loving, kind and incredibly funny! she is a beautiful person, inside and out!

holly mathews wright! i love ya! hope you had an incredible day!

Sweets and Sours

hello there my blog friends! i am back! i am sorry that i haven't posted in so long!

i figured since it has been so long i should do a

"sweet and sour" post...

sours:

* my birthday is over for this year... i am very bummed! it went by so fast! however, i usually am in party mode up until the end of the month...

* i didn't hear from my dad for my birthday...i am sure he is very busy... but still, kinda made me sad...

* i have to work a couple of overnight shifts next week. we are going overnights sunday and monday night! yuck! we are counting clothing. they are the worst 2 categories to count because there are a million items to count! picture yourself in a clothes store and every single item, color and size is a different number and you have to count each one!!! yuck!! big yuck!

* i am way behind with all of my tv shows! i have been so busy the last couple of weeks that i haven't been able to watch my recorded shows! thank heavens for DVR!!!

* some friends of mine are going to the scrapbook house next weekend and i can't go! i am so bummed! we all went last february and had blast! i had been looking so forward to it! that's ok... i am going to be in seattle... but still! have fun girls! i will miss you!

sweets!

* it is still october!!! ya! love it!

* went to lunch today with one of my very best friends, holly. we get together about once a month to have lunch and catch up! i love this little tradition that we have! she made me the most delicious chocolate peanut butter brownies! so good! thanks holls!

* my husband is such good man! he loves me for who i am, not who i wish i was.... he has been so good to me. spoiled me rotten! love it! and him!

* i had a great time in kansas city for a scrapbook show. i was a little out of it when we went. i was still in vacation mode from our weekend in las vegas and wasn't really wanting to be there... but the minute we started doing stuff... setting up the booth, seeing friends, going to fun places to eat, selling scrapbook supplies, running the make and take at the booth... i was so glad that i was there. i have made incredible friends there and am grateful everyday for the opportunity i have had to work in this industry as my "side job".

* i am listening to chris daughtry now... i love him!

* my team (colleen and ann) at work and i have come up with the most amazing halloween costume! i am so excited for it! i am not sure that everyone will get it, but we think it is great! i will make sure we take pictures and i will post them!

* i get to go to seattle next week for the last scrapbook show of the year. i love seattle! last year maryruth and i stayed a few extra days to sight see. it was so fun! unfortunately, i can't stay late this year, but i am still pretty stoked to go...

* i have ben wearing orange everyday the last week in one way or another... i love october, halloween and fall!!! it makes me so happy!

* next weekend is our young women's in excellence for our ward. i am helping set up the invitations, programs and name plates. our theme is "In this Very Room... " there are girls that have talents... girls that are gifted... girls who set and accomplish goals... girls that make a difference. we are having little wooden blocks with vinyl lettering made that say "In this Very Room..." for each girl to remember this great night! i am so excited! amber is making them for us! her prices are amazing and she can do just about anything that you want! love it!

* i am in the mood to scrapbook, but haven't really had the time to! i think that i am going to set some time aside tomorrow and do it! i have a few projects that i have really been wanting to do but have not been able to.

* saw my friend barbi today at work! i have not seen her since may!!! way too long! anyway, it was great to see her!

* tomorrow morning our young men/young women are going to "the best of especially for youth" at the tabernacle. i love it! it was so incredible last year! i am thrilled to be a part of it again this year! it is such a spiritual lift for me.

* last night we had our ward fall carnival! it was super fun! each organization was responsible for a different activity... the young women had the cake walk! i wasn't able to help with it because i am also on the activities committee... i was the one in charge of the costume contest. we had some great costumes! very creative!

* i LOVE celine dion! she is so great! and i thought i loved her before... now i am an even bigger fan! oh.. and kevin bought me the cd from the show!!! i can relive it any time that i want!

* i am loving working with my best friend, ann, at sam's club! it has been so great!

* how did i ever function without my DVR? it is one of my favorite inventions!

* gilmore girls season 7 will be released next month!! i am soooooooooooooooo excited! i have been waiting so (im)patiently!! see, i never saw it because i was watching season 6 on dvd when the 7th season was airing... i am hoping that when the release 7 that they will have a screaming deal on all of the seasons! cuz i really want them all!!!

* i also want to thank each of you for your kind words for my birthday! i really appreciate it!

ok... i am going to watch some of those shows that are waiting for me on my dvr.... lol!

tell me... how are you? i have missed you...

see ya soon...

so i am heading out of town again! this time to kansas city!

see ya soon!

It's my birthday!!!

ok... so all of you know that i love my birthday, and this year certainly was no exception!!!

what a great day/weekend i have had!!!

i was able to sleep in this morning! i love that! i read my favorite book by mary engelbreit... happy to you...it's your birthday! such a great book! i highly recommend it for those who love their birthday or those who should...

then i got a call from my friends at work! i am sure that they missed me!! of course i didn't go to work!!! it is against all birthday rules to go to work on your birthday!

my visiting teacher came over and gave me some flowers... so nice! i got phone calls from my mom, my good friend holly and my cute little brother!

i had lunch with ann today! what a great time we had! she was telling me about a friend of ours that got sick today and ended up in the emergency room, so we went and found her to make sure she was ok... all is well... she is going to have to take it easy for a bit... but we think she is going to be just fine!

we then headed off to walmart to get a few things for our halloween costumes! (we are going to be the coolest costumes at work... more on that later....) it was fun to just wonder around! very cool!

after stopping at sonic for some route 44 drinks... we headed back to ann's house to open presents!!!i love presents!!! by then ann's roommate, julie, was home and we enjoyed a cupcake or two with a candle... i made a wish! of course, i can't tell you what it was...

we met kevin at angie's, one of my favorite restaurants in town and had a nice dinner! when we came home i had great messages from holly ,(every year on my birthday she leaves a fun song on my answering machine!!! this year was... "only you..."! simply hilarious!) maryruth, and of course my cute mommy!!!

i also found a fun bag on my door from chelsa! love it! so cute! and.... kind emails from kris, aubrey, my cute aunt paula, angie and tonya! oh.... and holly dedicated a sweet post on her blog for me! thanks holly!

what a wonderful, marvelous, terrific very fun day!!!

i love my birthday! i really do! thanks to everyone for making it very special this year! yes... that is you!!!

only 365 more days until next year!!!! let the countdown begin!!!

Celine Dion!!!

ok... so we just got back from las vegas... and my surprise show was CELINE DION!!!!!

here is the story!!! we drove all day friday and got to las vegas around 2:45pm. we stayed at our friends, noe and chad, friday night! it was so good to see them again!


friday night we went to famous dave's for dinner. i totally love famous daves! they have the best ranch! i dip my fries in it!



that night noe and i stayed up late visiting. it was so fun! it had been way too long since we have been able to do that! thanks noe!



noe was cleaning out her scrapbook stuff and gave me oodles! it was like christmas... or my birthday!! lol! thanks so much! i love it all, noe!



kevin really wanted to go the buffet at the rio on saturday afternoon. it was really good! they have so many different kinds of food! yummy!






after a great lunch at the rio we went to our hotel. we napped for a bit and then got ready for our evening. kevin wanted me to open my birthday gifts too. he gave me a couple gift certificates too! one to michaels and seagull book! how fun! i love gift certificates!



the last one was tickets, i could tell by the shape.... i was nervous to open them. i told him that i wanted to open them as we were pulling into the parking lot, but he really wanted me to open them then. i figured since he had kept this big secret for 4 months, i could open them then!!



Celine Dion.
A new day







i was so excited!!! i cried!!!





we headed over to caesar's palace for the show!



we were super early so we wondered the forum shops and of course we HAD to go to the Celine Dion Store!!

we waited outside of the colosseum in ceasar's palace and finally we were able to go in!



we were up in the 2nd mezzanine level, but the seats were still amazing! the stage was huge and i was thrilled to be there!



the had a bar at each level so people could get drinks before the show. kevin and i got virgin margaritas! yummy! we got to keep the cups as souvenirs!

when the show started i was so excited! i am not sure how i sat still! celine in amazing! not only can she sing and dance, but she knows how to put on a show! the set/stage, dancers, musicians... overall talent was so very incredible!

i will always remember it! what an wonderful weekend!

i am so lucky to have a husband who knows me so well! this was the perfect gift! and i am so grateful! i love you kev!

i am on a birthday high... and the actual day isn't until tomorrow!!! that is the way i like it! birthday... birthweek.... birthmonth...

love it all!

viva las vegas!!!

we are going to vegas, baby!!!

it is finally here! the long awaited

"jennie's birthday vegas trip"!!!!

we are driving down tomorrow morning! we will be staying at a friends house friday night (thanks noe!) and then saturday kevin is taking me to a "show"! i don't know what show we are going to! it is a complete surprise!!!!

i totally love surprises!!!!

kevin asked me if i wanted to find out where we were going on the drive down to las vegas or if i wanted to find out when we get to the show... i said... "when we get to the show!!!!!"

i am so very very very very very excited!!! we are going to have a great time!!!

i will tell you all about it when we get home!!!!!

oh.... and have you noticed that the countdown to my birthday is getting closer and closer!!??!!

I HAVE!!!!!

tis the season...

Halloween Season!

this is really cute... try it out!

Halloween Hangman

(very addicting)

you lift me up!

a huge thanks to joy in the moment! for this nomination! what a great honor!

i have never gotten a blogger award!!!

how exciting! so so so so so nice! thanks joy!

i would now like to nominate the following blog friends:

holly

maryruth

dawn

thanks for making a difference to me and "lifting me up"!

Happy October!!!

The time has come! October is here!!!!







The Best Month of the Year!!!







Let the fun begin...


i love this time of year! pumpkins, costumes, crisp air, leaves changing their color, and warm apple cider!

this is a time of love, warmth and joy!
(at least for me...)

i hope that you enjoy this month as much as i do!

special thanks for pictures...

crazy 8's

Crazy 8's!!!

8 things I'm passionate about:

my family

the gospel of Jesus Christ

memories

love and friendship

crafting

my birthday

holidays

laughing and life!

8 things I want to do before I die:

go on a cruise

take kevin to hawaii

road trip with ann

spend a week crafting

meet more of my dad's side of the family

ensure that my family knows that i love them

own a home

be debt free

8 things I say often:

hi there!

i love you soooooooo much

are you kidding me?

i would love to...

i don't wanna...

give me that remote!

see ya...

maybe...

8 books I've recently read:

twilight

new moon

eclipse

anything by anita stansfield

jake by jack weyland

pampered chef catalog

everyone's blogs

8 songs I could listen to over and over:

your man - josh turner

i've finally found someone - bryan adams, barbara streisand

home - chris daughtry

because you loved me - celine dion

wind beneath my wings - bette midler

Jesus take the wheel - carrie underwood

brass bed - josh gracin

i am a child of God - lds children's hymnbook

8 things that attract me to my best friends:

they care about me

they listen

they appreciate me for me

they laugh at my jokes

they confide in me- let me be part of their life

they make me feel like i am important to them

i have a great time with them... doing whatever!

8 things Ive learned this past year:

i am stronger than i gave myself credit

blogging friends are important

my family is forever... whether we like it or not!

take one day at a time

cherish each day and moment that is in it

sometimes it is ok to say no

i don't enjoy cooking as much as i thought i did

i get frustrated with clutter... sometimes

8 people I think should do Crazy 8's

team francks

joy in the moment

lisa's ramblings

my days and dreams

keeping afloat...

huber family

hmmm...

random thoughts

i am feeling a little random today... so here are my thoughts...

~ i love blogs! i feel like i actually "know" all of you! (well... some of you, i do know!) isn't it great!?

~ i have to go to a corn maze tonight with the young women/young men in our ward. i am not really looking forward to it... not a fan of corn mazes...

~ kid nation... love it! have you watched it? i think it is pretty cool!

~ i could/should do a whole post on "my" tv shows! i watch several, but then again, there are lots that i don't watch...

hmmm.. another post!

~ i cannot wait until monday! october !!! i think it is the best month of the whole year! wahoo!!!!

~ i have a huge surprise for my husband for his birthday/christmas! i can't tell you now... just in case he will read this... but let me just say... it is HUGE! he will love it!

~ i love playing bunco! i never really told my story about the first bunco that we had a few weeks ago! it was really fun! there were only a few girls that knew how to play, but everyone caught on fast! i think/hope that everyone had a good time! our next one is the week before my birthday! i can't wait! bunco... so fun!

well, i think my random thoughts have come to an end...

gonna be a bear...

this sounds like one of the best ideas.... ever!!!

yup... i am gonna be a bear!

grateful...

do you ever feel so overcome with gratitude that you are brought to tears?

i do, right now. i have been thinking about friendships and the importance they play in my life. i can't help but feel grateful for the friendships that i am a part of.

i was cleaning out some things today and i came across some old cards, letters and notes. i think it started my thinking...

do you have a life-altering moment?

one moment in time that changed you forever?

i have a few...

* the moment that i met ann miller. she is someone that helped me become who i am today. i have thought about her, or talked to her everyday since i was 8 years old. i heard a quote in a movie that said... "without her, i don't make sense". i believe that.

* my decision to move to logan, utah. i never fully understood why i decided logan. i had never been here before, i just felt that i was supposed to be here. there have many times in my 11 years here that i said to myself... "this is why i am in logan".

* i chose to serve a mission. i have said many times that that choice was the best decision (in addition to marrying kevin) i have ever made. the gospel, the people, the love, the friendships.

* the moment i met kevin little. i always wondered if i was really supposed to get married. when i met him in knew i was not only supposed to get married, i was meant to marry him.

i am feeling a little sentimental tonight. gratitude, if you will...

thanks, to each of you, for making a difference to me.

i am forever grateful!

you are my "sweets" this week.

i am having a party!!!!

ok... so i am hosting a pampered chef catalog show! and all of you are invited!



the guest special this month is :

cookbooks and seasoning mixes for only $15!

if you need to get anything or can't resist the special, let me know by October 1st! this is going to be so fun!!

Check out the catalog online and let me know what you want to order!

5 whole years!

last thursday was my 5 year anniversary at sam's club. it is a pretty big accomplishment!

i just got my 5 year pin and certificate. oh.. and my new 5 year name badge! i feel pretty special!

i don't think that i have ever had a job for that long! wow! go me!!! i did work at walmart before my mission and i was there for 4 1/2 years, but never more than that!

i really enjoy my job, most of the time. i work with a great group of people and have made lasting friendships.

in the 5 years that i have worked at sam's club, i have had 3 general managers, over 20 assistant/area managers, worked in 3 areas and have cross-trained in an additional 6 departments! only 4 people out of my original 25 people orientation/training still work there! and one of them is currently on my team!

i started off as a part-time cashier. i was hired on 9/13/02 and our brand new club didn't open until 10/10/02. about 3 months into my job i was taken to full-time. after 8 months as a cashier i was promoted to a c.o.s. (check out supervisor), however, it was a part-time position. i quickly became full-time again and worked in this position for about 2 years. in april of 2005 i was offered the position of audit lead. this job was a great opportunity for me. i was now in charge of the entire inventory for the club. i came into the position at a great time. they were heading into the "inventory season".

even with the stress of that i still felt like i was the lucky one. i said often, "i was just given better hours, less stress and more money!". who could ask for anything more.

in the 2 1/2 years that i have been the audit lead i have worked with 6 different associates. it has definitely been a roller coaster ride some days, but for the most part, i am happy. i have a great team right now and i appreciate all that they do to make my job easier! thanks colleen and ann! i couldn't do it without you!

and thanks sam's club! i am proud to be a part of your team!

the final decision...

ok... down to 3 options...

which one do i choose?

sing with me now!

ok... think of the tune

"it's beginning to look alot like christmas. everywhere we go.... "

got it in your head?

good! now substitute these words...

"it's beginning to look alot like

jen-nie's birthday

everywhere we go.

the leaves are beginning to fall

the presents are being wrapped

i'll be i'll be i'll be thirty five!!! "

i have been singing this song for my birthday since i was 16 years old! of course, each year i would change the age. i am not sure where it came from, other than i just love my birthday!

the official countdown has begun!

holly, thanks for remindinig me!

come on everybody!

sing with me now!

I'm leavin...

on a jet plane!

i am on my way to phoenix, arizona for a scrapbook show with scrapbookpal.com.

i will be back on sunday afternoon and will try to post shortly there after!

hey, check out my birthday countdown! pretty cool! i am officially counting down on friday. i have to wait until after my mom's birthday before i can start counting. family "rule". hee hee!

have a great weekend!

bunco...

was amazing!!!

i will post more later...

so much fun!!!!

Sweets and Sours

what a fabulous weekend i have had! i am going to share everything in my "sweets and sours" format!

sours:

* my house is still a bit of a mess. i just am not finding the time or the energy to do anything about it.

* it is sunday afternoon, at that means that my weekend is almost over! i don't want it to be over!

* i don't really like the color of polish on my toes... (more later... on my "sweet" list)

sweets:


* my mom was here all weekend! we had so much fun! her birthday is on thursday (9/13) so she came up this weekend to celebrate with us! here is what we did!


* i bought my mom her first pair of sandals! at least the first pair in the last decade! she is not really a sandal wearer... but i wanted to get her some to show off her new pedicure!!!....


* we went and got pedicures together! it was so much fun! we sat in these comfy chairs that had little back massage things on them while our "girls" worked on our feet! so great! i got a salmon colored pink... that i don't really like (see sours), but my mom got her favorite color... purple! she had them put pink sparkles on too! she is very very cute!


* while we were waiting for our toes to dry we decided to go to the bead shop! oh my goodness! the entire shop is as big as my living room, however, my mom and i were there for over 1 1/2 hours! it was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo fun! we spent a good chunk of money, but it was worth every penny!



* of course since we bought so many beads, we had to go to michael's and get some little storage bins for all of them...

* for dinner we (mom, kevin, ann, julie and i) went to iggy's. it was really good. none of us had been there before and it was fun to try new stuff! the "chili water" that they serve with the bread is absolutely amazing! i wanted to buy some for home, but i forgot. i am going to have to go back!
* mom and i stayed up until after 11pm (for any of you who know me, that is VERY VERY LATE for me... usually in bed by 8pm!!!) making jewelry! mom loves to make earrings and she made several cool pairs. i am more of a bracelet girl, so i made about 5 bracelets! wow... love it! matter of fact, when i am done posting, that is what i am going to go do... make some more bracelets!

* oh... i also got my passport yesterday in the mail! kris, i guess we could of gone to mexico this month after all.... oh well... we will have a great time in january too! i can't wait!

* i asked my mom to be my photographer for our christmas card photo, so after church, we had a little photo shoot. i am hoping that i have a good one in the mix...


i need your help in choosing my pic... which one do you like? i will crop them and maybe change the coloring a bit... but overall picture... which one do i choose?

thanks for all of your help! hope your weekend was fun too!

check me out!

i admit...

i am very faithful about getting haircuts. not only does it keep my hair healthy, i love the feeling of a new look. well, without fail, i got a new haircut! it is cute!

anyway... just wanted to tell ya...

count down to bunco!

ok... i am getting ready for my first bunco night! i have subbed a couple of times and loved it so much i decided to start my own group!



our first night will be next tuesday night! i am getting so excited!



it will be at my home first, and that means that i am in charge of dinner and prizes. for dinner i think that i am going to do hawaiian haystacks. they are very yummy and fun to make!



i love the color lime green... so i am making everything that color for the bunco group... the travel bug is a lime green fuzzy dice. the table dice are green. plates, napkins, cups... lime green. i am going to put the treats for the tables in green bowls... etc...



but i am not sure what to do for the prizes... any ideas?



the 2 times that i subbed the prizes were really fun.... summer stuff, and bath and body works...



what are your ideas? i need to get prizes in the following price ranges:



$25

$20

$15 i need 2 of this price range

$5 i need 7 of this price range



any ideas?

happy labor day!

so what is labor day? don't get me wrong... i am not complaining... just not sure where it comes from...

anyway... my lesson went ok yesterday. i only had about 15 minutes to give it. we had lots going on yesterday....

have i mentioned that one of the guys that used to work with me at sam's club moved in with us? yup... he is trying to move home to washington soon, but needed more time to get all of the loose ends tied up here first. he will probally be here about 6-8 weeks.

i am almost done with my christmas cards! wahoo! i am going to have my mom take some pictures of us this weekend for them and that'll be it... for the most part! i like to make cards, but if i wait too long in the season i get a bit stressed and nothing gets done! so i start early every year!

all right... enjoy your holiday!

Sweets and Sours

hello my friends!

it is time for "sweets and sours"!

sours:


* i am very very tired right now! i got up at 2am in order to be at work at 3am! wow... needing some sleep.

* i have to teach a lesson tomorrow in young women's on the sacredness of procreation.... wow... great topic huh?

wish me luck....

sweets:



* i am going to bed soon.


* yesterday marked the 10 year anniversary of princess diana's death. i really liked her. i remember watching her get married when i was a little girl! it was every girls dream to be a princess and this girl did it! how cool!


what were you doing when you found out that she had died? i was working at coach house gifts with my good friend noelani. we both were so upset when we found out that we cried. it was a hard night...


anyway... i remember her with fondness, that is why she is on my sweets...

* i have lots of other good things that are going on right now, i am just so tired i can't think of them...

for now... jennie

eclipse and 2 things!

i finished!

last night i finished eclipse! oh my goodness! sooooooooooooooo good! loved it!

it was so captivating... i was going to go to bed a little early, but it was so good! i couldn't put the book down!

my heart was so involved... i felt like i was right there too! ok.... really incredible!

i am going to read them again soon! if you haven't read twilight, new moon and eclipse yet... you have to!

ok... here is another meme...

2 things!

Two names you go by:

1. jen

2. jellybean

Two things you are wearing right now:

1. blue shorts

2. old blue shirt

Two things you would want (or have) in a relationship:

1. love

2. laughter

Two things you like to do:

1. have another week of vacation
2. scrapbook/craft

Two things you want very badly at the moment:

1. a shower

2. a clean house

Two things you did last night:

1. started my christmas cards
2. finished eclipse!!!!!

Two things you ate today:

1. water...

2. nothing...

Two people you last talked to:

1. kevin

2. ann

Two things you're doing tomorrow:

1. work

2. scrapbook/craft

Two Favorite Days of the Week:

1. saturday

2. sunday

Two Favorite Holidays:

1. my birthday

2. christmas

Two favorite beverages

1. diet pepsi with vanilla

2. water

Two things about me! Things you may not have known.

1. i always wanted to be an elementary school teacher

2. i grew up in a tee pee

Two jobs I have had in my life:

1. hallmark store manager

2. pampered chef consultant

Two movies I would watch over and over:

1. count of monte cristo

2. pretty woman

Two places I have lived:

1. idaho falls, idaho

2 . la junta, colorado

Two of my favorite foods:

1. fettuccine alfredo

2. roast beef

Two places I'd rather be right now:

1. visiting family in indiana

2. on a tropical island