Pay'n it Forward!

I've noticed this emerging in the blog world this week and was lucky enough to win on my Friend Heathers blog, looking forward to the gift!! And wondering what to create for the gifts I will be sending out.
1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me (yeah for handmade!).
2. Winners must post this challenge on their own blog, meaning that you will pay it forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!
3. The gift that you send to your 3 friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember it’s the spirit and the thought that count!
4. When you receive your gift, blog about it! If you are not one of the first three to comment on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same! It's all about paying it forward.

Tagged

I've been "tagged" by my friend Jess.
Here are the rules for the Honest Scrap Award:
The honorees are to-
A) first list 10 honest things about yourself-and make it interesting even if you have to dig deep
B) pass the award on to seven bloggers that you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap
I'm not sure if this will be interesting, I'm a bit boring but here they are:

1. I hate passing semi trucks on the free way. I suck in, hold my breath and go by, especially if the roads are snowy or wet.
2. I have bladder urgency issues. If I've had more than a sip to drink and am in the car, well I may not make it to the bathroom. I have peed my pants as an adult. I have been this way for as long as I can remember
3. I feel like I work really hard to have a clean house, something which is important to me, but honestly it is messy more often that it is clean, and this bothers me.
4. I love American Idol and think Simon Cal has serious sex appeal.
5. I often wish I had chosen a different profession. The grass is always greener syndrome where my work is concerned. Something I also wish I didn't do but being honest.
6. I wish I was better "endowed" if you know what I mean.
7. I put too much stock in what my family thinks. They are great but I'm too easily influenced by their opinions no offense is intended, you all know what I mean, I think.
8. Nothing makes me happier than my children.
9. Even amongst the chaos of my life, struggling to find balance, I want more kids, Someday.
10. I like to pop zits, gross I know.

I tag:

1. Dad
2. Nicole
3. Jessica
4. Natalie
5. Heather Lloyd
6. Mindi
7. Jocelyn

Tender Mercies

So it has been awhile since I posted. Last week was super busy and this week seems to be getting away from me as well. I hate it when this happens. I like to be busy so I feel productive, but no so scheduled that exhaustion is always just there waiting to set in when I stop moving. Anyway, amongst the busyness I have been thinking a bit, and here is what has been on mind. [I swear I did not push the publish post button, but judging by Michael's comment I must have. Par for the course yesterday, another post entirely ( but so humiliating I don't think I could publicly share.)]
Amongst all the hub bub of a bad economy, recession, unemployment and general state of things I think it is even more important to look for the simple things in life which really what bring us true joy. Sure I would love to be able to quit my job tomorrow and have plenty of discretionary income but would it really make me happier? Maybe for a few weeks, or months, I could possibly ride the high for a year, but would it last? I've come to the conclusion that the bliss I'm picturing in my imagination would be just that, imagined. The things which really make me happy on a daily basis are the little things, which I am already abundantly blessed with. The other day when I was feeling particularly blah, I saw the sunset amidst snow flurries. It was awesome, it immediately added a little pep to my step and it reminded me of the many blessings I can appreciate on a daily basis. Utah sunsets, the funny idiosyncrasies of my family. Lexie finds all sort of crap to sleep with every night and the array of things she must have by her side before going to bed changes weekly. This makes me laugh; is part of what makes Lex unique, quirky, and fun, and a tender mercy I don't want to overlook. So I am trying to find the silver lining, recognize the good, and stay optimistic.

What we've been up to...

Jason has taken to dolling Lexie up at family dinners. Lexie thinks it is great and Jason too, for putting makeup on her and painting her nails. What a good uncle. I don't think lots of uncles will paint nails, and it probably seems surprising if you know Jason, he is sort of a mans man. If the construction industry doesn't work out, I think you could have a career in a full service salon.

Lexie with "Pretzie". Pretzie is a barbie her cousin Jack gave her. She named her and spent the afternoon carrying her around pretending she was dancing saying, "I love to dance, I ever won't stop dancing." She even turned on the ipod so she had some music to dance to.

Goofy Andrew. He is a CUTEY! Good thing too.

Lexie likes to sample. She is the quality control girl.

Baking cookies with the rug rats.

Jeremy and the kids at the Draper temple open house.

Anna at the Draper temple open house. (Feb. 3 2009) I couldn't get her to hold still for the camera, or look, but isn't she a doll in this jumper. She also had a mouth full of snow.

I realize this is not the best sunset picture ever, we should of gotten all the back yards out of the picture but we couldn't get in the car and drive a couple blocks west to get all the crap out so we took it anyway to remember the beautiful sunset that day (Jan 27). It was funny cause not a minute after I took the picture, Nat called me to say, "Kim, take a picture of the sunset." You see we do share a brain. I still had the camera in hand. Also if you look on ksl's photo link everyone thought to take a picture this day, it was really a great sunset.

Anna finishing off a delicious top stop. I am not the only one who like a good beverage.

How to make a ....

MEAN baked potato. I mentioned to a friend I was going to write this blog, and she looked at me with this look and said, "Turn on the oven and put it in?" As if a good baked potato took zero skill at all. Try this next time, Joc, and see if you notice a difference.

1. Preheat oven to 325-350 somewhere in this range
2. Pick out your spuds and wash
3. Then after poking the potatoes with the tines of a fork, baste potatoes with extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkle with Kosher salt. This salt just has bigger flakes and really is a requirement for every kitchen.

4. Then bake in your oven, at a lower temperature than you are traditionally use to. You want to bake your potatoes at a lower temp for a longer length of time, 90 min., and you get a deliciously fluffy airy baked potato.

5. Top with your favorites and enjoy! I like some variety of cheese, pepper jack, cheddar, or cottage. Salt and pepper and enjoy.