TAKE ACTION: VOTE GRACYN!

My friend’s darling little girl is in a baby contest at www.sassybabies.com If you get a chance go to the website, scroll down, click on the 5^th brown box from the bottom on the left hand side that says “Baby Contest Voting”. Then, scroll all the way down at the bottom. No need to look at any other photos of cute children. Vote Gracyn.

TOP 10 REASONS TO VOTE GRACYN:

10. Big Challenges. Real Solutions! 2008

9. Gracyn has been making the world a better place since 2007.

8. If voting for Gracyn is wrong, then you don’t want to be right!

7. One Goal. One Passion. Gracyn!

6. You want results? Take Action!

5. If you want success! Vote for the best!

4. Obama/Clinton: Democratic Party

McCain: Republican Party

Gracyn: Toga Partay

3. She is the “Change we can REALLY believe in”

2. Yes she can! And Yes she will!

1. Victoria’s REAL Secret: She votes for Gracyn!

Green We Be!

It’s time! We (Ok so I’ve decided this and Tim will have to go along with it) have decided to be more environmentally friendly. I know this is not a new thought and we already do a little, but I would like to kick it up a notch.

Ideas:

1. Recycle paper, plastics and glass (some of you are lucky to have your city help pay for the picking up of your recycling, but if you live in NSL or B-town you are not so lucky. FYI—there is a huge recycling garbage at 950 S. 200 W. in Bountiful. Or if you feel so inclined, go to this website and sign a petition for curbside recycling) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/bring-residential-curbside-recycling-to-davis-county-utah
2. Buy organic vegetables and fruits. It really doesn’t cost that much more and it’s better for you.
3. Buy environmentally friendly household products. Some of the stuff is actually kind of cool. You can also find green products at your local grocery store. Most places are trying to carry more, but there is not a huge demand for it currently. Also, purchase those reusable shopping bags and keep them in your car so you don’t have to use those plastic grocery bags. http://www.greenhome.com/
4. For those moms out there, use environmentally friendly diapers. They are a bit more money, but they are chlorine-free! You will have to buy these puppies online or at Wild Oats. http://www.seventhgeneration.com/ Seventh Generation is just one of the many companies that sell these diapers, but they also have great cleaning products and I’ve seen my local grocery store carry those items.
5. Ride your bike or walk instead of drive. I’m guilty of this one because my work is sooooo far away and once I get there I have to drive to kingdom come and back during a typical work day.
6. Buy energy-saving appliances. Tim and I just bought a new washer and dryer that uses significantly less water and energy to run. Not to mention using less laundry detergent. In addition, wear your jeans a couple of times before washing them, unless you really have to.
7. Use less paper-products. I know it’s a pain to always have to do your dishes, but think of how much paper you waste by eating on a paper plate once before you toss it.
8. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. I know everyone has seen these. The bulbs initially cost more, but they last longer and save you money in the long end.
9. Carrying a refillable water bottle. Think of how many water bottles are in the landfill and all we have to do is use our own reusable bottles. AND… furthermore, if you are always carrying water you drink more and this is a good thing. :)
10. Make household improvements. This one is a bit more expensive and could take longer.
• Install solar panels on your roof to help offset the cost of electricity
• Check your home for leaky faucets and get them fixed
• Install low-flow shower heads
• Clean out your air-conditioning filters and replace them regularly. A dirty filter will hinder your airflow. Therefore, costing your more to run the system.
• Install an automated thermostat so you can turn down the heat/air conditioning when no-one is home.
• Use power strips with your computer
• Install more fans in your home

Kim di Compleanno felice! (get Sam to translate)

Kim is one of my dearest friends. Her and I grew up ice skating together, but it wasn’t until later in life that we actually became better friends. We actually became attached at the hip when the 2002 winter Olympics were in town. We did the open and closing ceremonies together and realized that we had a blast together. Some of my most fun memories with Kim are:

-Walking around the streets of Seattle and visiting the fish market in Pike’s Place. I didn’t dare touch the slimy fish and we really wanted to take a picture so instead one of the fish mongrels/workers threw a rubber chicken at me and scared the living crap out of me. In turn, we now have some hilarious pictures of me holding a rubber chicken by it’s neck, while Kim braves the actual fish (of which was almost the size of her entire body).

-Watching our husbands feed off of each other (they act so silly when they get together…and I’m so grateful they are such good friends, because we have SOOOO much fun when we get together)

- Playing board games late into the evenings

- Randomly getting together on a whim (we would usually call each other up and 5 minutes later we were hanging out…that was until they moved to Arizona) :(

- Visiting her in Arizona three weeks after her little baby was born (we spent the entire week working out, cooking, watching sappy love story movies, playing with her newborn babe, and laughing)

- Swimming in her parents lap pool into the wee hours of the night

- Having summer BBQ’s

- Just chilling and watching movies

- Going up into the mountains and cooking tin foil din dins (of which, on multiple occasions, ended fleeing the campsite fast because of the stinky skunks and mean raccoons that were after our food…hilarious times)

- Just chilling and hanging out with her family. We just love their parents and feel so comfortable just sitting and chatting with them.

- Going to Sun Valley on our Girls only weekend

- Crying together over romantic movies and looking at each other in the middle of our cry-fest and just laughing because we both look ridiculous. :)

- And watching her be a mommy. I just love observing her and learning from her. She is a great example to me and I’m so glad she’s such a great friend. We love you Kimmy and we can’t wait to live closer to you guys (whenever that might be). Happy 29^th Birthday! Il tatto libera per andare today…it di commando il suo giorno…fa che lei vuole. (get Sam to translate again) :)

READ THIS!

WOW! I randomly picked this book up from Barnes and Noble about a week ago and I wasn't able to put it down until I finished a few days ago. It's about the awful reality of modern day slavery in Sudan and other areas of the world. This young girl was kidnapped at the age of 12 from her village, raped and sold into slavery--later to escape when she was 22 years old. I was horrified to hear of some of the brutalities this woman faced. It was hard to read at times because of the details of her abuse, but yet I wanted to read it to fully understand what she went through. It's also amazing to read about her enlightenment to modern day electricity and technology. Coming from a small tribal community in Africa she was not exposed to what we all are and it was amazing to hear her describe her first encounters with everything. It made me realize how I take advantage of my freedom when others are not so fortunate. I highly recommend reading this book!

Happy 29th

Today is my sweet hubby's birthday so I thought I would tell you how wonderful he is. Despite his chiseled abs and stunning facial features, he has the most tender heart EVER! :)

Let me just brag for a minute how wonderful my hubby is…Tim has always been a romantic dude, but this last week he gave me little gifts and cards that had notes attached saying, “do not open until Saturday.” When Saturday arrived, I felt quite guilty because his birthday was just around the corner and I felt as if I should be doing all of this for him, but instead he was doing it for me. He surprised me with a night out at The Melting Pot and each card had a sweet message. That is what kind of guy he is. He randomly surprises me with flowers and notes for no good reason. Below are just a few more things I adore about him.

- He’s super shy and doesn’t come out of his shell until you get to know him better

- Our first kiss was on a friend’s couch and he actually was in the middle of speaking and just planted one on me and then continued to finish his sentence afterwards. Just another example of how shy he is.

- He’s extremely animated and gets excited very easily

- He loves to do all of the things I love to do (i.e. biking, running, hiking, climbing)

- He’s just about the best skier I know and used to race competitively. In fact in his peak years he was invited to a Worlds Cup race in Australia.

- He loves Gus and Tug as much as I do (I know totally cheesy, because they are only dogs, right?) Not a lot of people appreciate our animals as much as we do.

- He loves to cook with me and try new things

- He always tells me my food good, even though I know sometimes he probably doesn’t like it.

- He does the dishes 90% of the time (I hate doing dishes)

- He was extremely supportive of me getting my master’s degree and always told me how proud he was of me for doing so.

- He’s extremely intelligent! Education and knowledge comes easy to him.

- He can fix just about ANYTHING. He’s my own little handy-dandy man.

- All of his professors ADORE him and in fact he was asked to teach a graduate level class this summer that is usually only taught by a PhD post doctorate or an associate professor.

- He’s extremely spiritual and takes notes in his journal during sacrament meeting and other conferences so he can remember what people say.

- He’s always striving to become a better husband and person. When given advice on how to become better, he takes it to heart and really tries.

- He has the best sense of humor and I find myself laughing just about every day with him (sometimes at him)

- He loves trying new and authentic restaurants with me

- He doesn’t look at me crazy when I get on my emergency preparedness and food storage kicks.

- He enjoys cuddling with me on the couch and most of the time initiates it.

- Although he’s not a crier, I still know that things touch him. He’s a softy

- He’s supportive of my career choice and is constantly telling me how worthwhile my job is.

- He makes family vacations and outings that much more enjoyable and my dad says that a family vacation is not as fun without him.

- My family LOVE LOVE LOVES him

- It’s fun to watch him play with my little sister Kailee. He’s such a great older brother to her

- He’s always willing to help tend and watch Kailee when my mom is in a pinch and I’m unable to.

- He loves his little beat up Honda civic. I’ve told him on numerous occasions to get a new car, but he told me he’s going to drive that sucker into the ground.

- He will occasionally take off a day from work to clean the house from top to bottom just to see me smile when I get home from work.

- He loves his parents and would do anything for them

- He loves his siblings and would do anything for them too.

- He’s the favorite uncle (because he acts like a kid with them)

- He is constantly telling me how beautiful he thinks I am and how lucky he thinks he is to be married to me, and I feel the same about him. I could go on and on, but I’ll spare you all from reading a novel. I feel very fortunate to have met him and to be married to him. I know everyone thinks they are married to their true soul mate, but I think I’m ULTIMATELY married to mine. I love him with all of my heart.

Happy Birthday babe!