Annie Traynor

Thanks!

2009-02-20T09:22:00.000-08:00

I would first like to say thanks to my beyond awesome sister, Emily, who created a new blog banner for me. Yes, I was a big fan of the Backstreet Boys and no, I will not tell you any embarrassing stories connected to the Backstreet Boys that Emily previously alluded to. Sorry for the disappointment but you know how much I love to tell a good story so if I hold back then it is definitely for a good reason.

I also want to send a big "Thank You" shout out to those who signed up for my homemade gift tag. That means you - Star, Ashley Shawcroft, Kelly, Ashley Blair, and Charlet! You can look forward to something handmade and personal to you sometime this year.

Way more fun than freeze tag

2009-01-31T16:47:00.000-08:00

My feelings toward blog tagging are fairly neutral: I love to read them but I hate to write them. However, I found a fun version of tagging on my friend Lauren's blog and it made me want to join in. This tag game involves a few of my favorite things: handmade goods, creativity, and gift-giving. So, without further ado, here are the tagging instructions:

Lucky you! The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year. (might be a little while)
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange. The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.

The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Good luck!

And that, Mr. Tuttle, is how you blog.

2009-01-30T10:40:00.000-08:00

Hello. It's Emily. Annie's older sister. I've been telling her for a while that her blog needs some serious help. That's where I come in.

I have been given some instructions, however. I am not allowed to write about the following stories: the one about Annie's school project about referees, two different but equally embarrassing stories having to do with the Backstreet boys, how she once insisted my 1981 Baby's 1st Christmas ornament was hers (she was born in '83), prom stories, etc. My guess is that with enough pressure that she'll cave and let me tell them anyway. So bug her about it and then this blog will get really good.

Hey, Annie, here's a deal...if you give me carte blanche to tell whatever story I want, I'll tell about my most embarrassing story. The one where I told you I'd punch you square in the face if you told anyone. That's a deal if I ever heard one.

So, in honor of my new authorship on Annie's blog (which could also use a cool header, by the way) here's two rad videos to make your life worth living. I've got a hundred babies at home and it's a lot of work, but seeing these videos yesterday made me feel like it was all going to be okay. And it was.

I don't know how to post videos, so I'll just send you to where I found them. Oh, and this blog I'm directing you to should become a daily read. It's wonderful.

Go here for a good laugh.

and go here for something beautiful and daydreamy and magical.

Oh, and the picture at the top? That's just because no good post is complete without a picture (a main symptom of Annie's anemic blog) and because I just moved into our new house and I'm currently obsessed with finding the just right pieces of furniture on craigslist and then I'm going to paint and recover them. The chair above is upholstered with Joel Dewberry fabric. Love it. For those with even bolder, bohemian taste...check out Anna Maria Horner (this post from her blog shows all the fabrics of her home decor line, her blog is definitely worth adding to your favorites tab). You can buy these lines (and more cool ones like Heather Bailey and Amy Butler) online, this shop's a good one.

If...

2009-01-29T19:14:00.000-08:00

...your only complaint at the end of the day is that you mistakenly chose to buy the Reduced Fat Cheezits instead of the normal (full fat) kind then life must be pretty good.

I'm Happy Right About Now

2009-01-22T20:23:00.000-08:00

Why, you ask? I have a job and it is a job that I genuinely love. I don't know that everyone can say both of those things right now so I consider myself very lucky. So much to be grateful for...

I'm Back!

2009-01-19T21:35:00.000-08:00

Dear Faithful Blog Readers,

After a three month absence I am returning to the world of blogging and I have my friend Fayer to thank for it (hi Fayer!). I promised her that I would start updating my blog again and I mean to make good on that promise. So, look forward to some more funny stories, random bits of useless knowledge, and hopefully some comments that will put a smile on your face.

Love,

Annie

Twenty-five

2008-10-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

Lately I have had lots of things I thought about posting but I have been lazy and never got around to it. Don't worry, you didn't miss much. But, if you want to hear about my conversion from fat free yogurt to 99% fat free yogurt because of my fear of aspartame then I'll be happy to give you the full details later.

I thought I should ward off my laziness for this post because I legitimately want your help with something. I am turning 25 soon and I decided that I want to make goals/resolutions on my birthday every year instead of at New Years. I want to have 25 goals for when I'm 25. Some of them will be big (like running a marathon) and some will be little (like driving Alpine loop in the fall...finally). I've got a pretty good list going but, as my dear loved ones who know me well, what are some things that I've always talked about doing that I should include this year? The last thing I want is to be one of those people that is all talk. I think I have a slight problem with attention-span and I often have exciting ideas that end up getting lost in the shuffle. Please remind me of things I have mentioned or, even better, offer some of your own awesome suggestions. Isn't this fun?

What Did I Do?

2008-10-04T12:06:00.001-07:00

I wanted a new look for my blog and after one frustrating hour of trying to create a new template I gave up and decided to go the ultra simple route with grayscale and no title bar. Sorry if the new design (or serious lack thereof) bugs but I actually kind of like it and it will only be temporary. Oh, how I wish I had any photoshop skills so I could do this stuff myself.

Happy Birthday Emily!

2008-09-14T19:32:00.000-07:00

I wanted to send a big shout out to Emily on her birthday (the big 2-7)! I know that since you are just reading this that you can't tell that I'm getting a teensy bit emotional but just thinking about how much she means to me really makes me get sappy. There are about a million reasons why I love her but here are 27, in honor of her age:

She is a fabulous mom to Reid and is now pregnant with twins.
She taught me how to hide a jumbo bag of Skittles under my shirt and not get caught by Mom (and no, we weren't stealing anything...we got the Skittles from our storage room in the garage, it's a long story).
She knows how to dish out tough love to help knock some sense into me when I am acting stupid.
She introduced me to Express Editor pants - the best fitting pants in America.
She convinced me to give a dry humor speech to a bunch of elementary school kids when I ran for Student Council Vice President in the 5th Grade. It did not turn out well.
She also loves Martha.
She is beautiful.
She is an example to me of how to be a good wife/mother/daughter/sister.
She bears her testimony to me. I remember one time in high school when she was driving us home and she stopped to tell me how important it is that I read the Book of Mormon and really have a testimony of its truthfulness.
She doesn't steal my chapstick anymore.
She can speak movie quote language with me.
She is fun to have girl talk with.
She introduced me to Stampin' Up!
She is crazy smart.
She is crazy creative.
She taught me how to make cupcake pops.
She likes to talk about new business ideas.
She is turning into our Mom...which is a good thing.
She isn't materialistic at all.
She always has good suggestions for when I ask her how I should cut my hair. She even provides pictures.
She does a dang good job manning "the booth."
She introduced me to America's Next Top Model, Project Runway, What Not To Wear, and The Office.
She lets me vent and whine to her.
She makes a killer Chipotle burrito.
She accepts my apologies.
She has a magnetic personality which makes everybody adore her.
She sympathizes with the plight of those with big teeth, Arnett Self-Assured Syndrome, basketball syndrome, etc.

Happy Birthday Sissy! I love you!

No Bake

2008-09-14T13:17:00.000-07:00

Today I felt like baking something but what actually sounded good were no bake cookies (you know the kind I'm talking about). So, I made the cookies as per the recipe but my cookies didn't turn out anything like what they are supposed to. How does that happen? These things are so easy that a two-year-old could make them. And, now that I think about it, the last time I made these in the last ten years was one time in college and I actually managed to burn them. Again, how does that happen? I'm no Martha Stewart but I swear I know how to bake. Maybe I'm just not good at not baking. Yes, I think that must be it.

Let's Talk Politics

2008-09-08T07:13:00.000-07:00

Have any of you seen the marquee on the corner of 3300 South and Highland Drive for a Mr. Horiuchi that is running for some city government position? It is fabulous! This guy made a deal with the Tres Hombres restaurant and now cartoon drawings of Mr. Horiuchi in various sports uniforms are covering the mechanical dancing hombre figures on their marquee with the slogan that "He's Got Game." I love his creativity but I would also love it if I knew what he was running for and what "he's got game" has to do with anything. Even still, when I see his name on the ballot I will be slightly more inclined to vote for him solely based on his clever advertising which, I well know, is a ridiculous reason to vote for someone. I mean, I'm in marketing for crying out loud! I should know better than to fall for that type of gimmick and instead base my opinion on facts...which leads me to my next point.

I'll be the first to admit that right now I am nowhere near as educated as I should be on the political issues and the candidates' platforms, specifically in regards to Obama and McCain. I figure I now have two months left to get educated and I am looking for any sources of information that you have found helpful in your research. I have found that the official websites for Barack Obama and John McCain offer good information but I would love to find some literature or websites that compare their platforms with as little bias as possible. I know that I may be asking for the moon with that request but I have hope that such sources can exist. Also, I would love to read postings on personal blogs that offer viewpoints that might "expand my horizons" so to speak. As my intent is to find out as much information as possible, please do not do me the injustice of assuming what I do or do not believe/support/want to know, and censoring your comments or information sources according to those assumptions. That said, I'm not interested in flashy, overly-emotional, or degrading material that does little to relate to the issues. As evidenced by my experience with the Horiuchi marquee, I want to not let surface impressions dictate my stance but instead be grounded in the facts.

Thanks everyone if you feel inclined to offer information for me. I really appreciate it!

My Trip to Wisconsin

2008-09-06T07:21:00.000-07:00

This week I went on a business trip to Wisconsin and I'm just going to cut to the chase and give you the highlights in a bullet point list:

Business conversations seem more interesting when the person on the other end of the conversation looks exactly like Mike Ditka.
Cheese curd is disgusting but FRIED cheese curd is delicious. (That isn't really a surprise. I'll bet that fried anything is delicious)
Not having a company laptop can have its perks. For instance, it allows you to take naps or watch Transformers on HBO in your hotel room without feeling completely guilty that you are wasting time.
I went to dinner at some great little restaurants that had gorgeous serving pieces and lovely food presentation. I got to have steak two nights in a row...not the healthiest idea but I wasn't going to turn down Wisconsin steaks.
Escargot is not appetizing. I felt like being adventurous so I tried it when it was offered to me. The only redeeming part was the taste of the melted butter and parmesan that it was soaked in. I think I have a new motto: If something is edible only if soaked in fat then it probably isn't worth eating. But, aren't you proud of me for even trying it?
Despite my best intentions, I didn't make use of the running gear that I packed. I'm going to blame it on the fact that it isn't safe for a single girl to run alone at night in an unknown area. Nevermind the fact that the hotel had a treadmill somewhere.
Hockey is no laughing matter in those parts. I spoke to one hockey mom that actually floods her backyard in the winter to create an ice rink for her kids. This process involves running water then unhooking the hose and taking it inside to thaw with a cycle of once every hour for 48 hours straight. That is one dedicated mom...and a very expensive water bill.
Finally, Stampin' Up! is awesome. Enough said.

...and I lived to tell the tale

2008-08-24T19:46:00.001-07:00

So, yesterday I participated in the Jordanelle Triathlon with some of my co-workers. Lauren, Patti, and I decided to form a relay team with me swimming, Lauren biking, and Patti running. As you probably know, I grew up swimming competitively (well, in the exhibition heats) so I wasn't too worried about my serious lack of training prior to the race. However, it only took about 20 seconds into my 1/2 mile course before I realized that swimming freestyle in open water is actually really scary. If you are swimming with your head down you feel claustrophobic because you can't see more than one foot into the murky abyss in any direction and when you take a breath there is no guarantee that a little wave won't overtake your air supply. So, after quickly deciding that freestyle just wasn't going to work for me, I instinctively flipped over on my back and swam backstroke the whole way. Now, swimming backstroke in open water has its drawbacks as your kicking pretty much gets lost in the water and you end up swimming way more than you need to because you can easily veer off course. Another drawback that I didn't notice until today is that your neck gets really sore from trying to hold your head above water to compensate for the little waves. I'm not kidding when I say my neck muscles are sore...I mean, I chose not to go to choir today because I thought that singing would make it hurt too much.

All in all, that was probably the longest half-mile I have ever had to swim but it was a good learning experience. Someday I would like to actually train for and compete in triathlons so I'm grateful that I could try out the swimming thing so it won't be so new to me when I do a whole race. And, the relay was actually a really fun way to get involved in a race with your friends because you have someone to talk to when it's not your turn, you get to be close to the action and watch the other athletes, and you get to cheer on your teammates. I want to send a big shout out to Lauren and Patti for doing such a good job and inspiring me to not throw in the towel and have one of the rescue kayaks tow me in. Go Team Snack Pack!

Oh, how I love the Olympics!

2008-08-08T20:01:00.000-07:00

Don't you? I am watching the opening ceremonies and I have goosebumps. It may sound cheesy but there is something so touching, humbling, and almost sacred about an event that can bring the world together in such a fashion. I am not naive to the presence of threats, scandals, and negativity that often surround the games. Even so, it is hard to deny the unity the Olympics bring, even if just for a few days. Wow, USA just walked out and I started to tear up...when did I turn into such a sap? Anyway, I have added a new life goal to my list and it is to attend an Olympic opening ceremony. That may be really hard to accomplish but I've got plenty of time so I have confidence that I can do it. In the last six months alone I was able to accomplish two of my other life goals so I'm sure that given the allowance of fifty or so future years I can make it happen. Speaking of, does anybody know if any of Mitt Romney's sons are still single? If so then that could really be helpful, and for more than just the opening ceremony goal, I'm sure. Well, I can't wait to watch the swimming events as they are my favorite. Which events are you excited to watch?

What?

2008-08-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

So, what was up with the creepy rabbit dance on So You Think You Can Dance? That Wade Robson is sometimes too creative for his own good. I think I am going to have nightmares for a week after watching that.

What's Going On?

2008-07-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! In the past few weeks there have been several exciting things going on in the life of Annie:

1) Emily and Erik found out that their identical twins aren't mono/mono and instead are mono/di (look it up on wikipedia or go to Emily's blog for an explanation) which means that the twins aren't super high risk anymore and she can hopefully carry them a lot longer. Yay! That is super great news and a serious answer to prayer.

2) I went to the gym yesterday and I chose a machine that was in front of the TV that was showing the Food Network. The show that was playing was an episode of "The Next Food Network Star" and I was super surprised to see my own cousin, Rob, on the TV screen. Apparently the contestants each had to make a buffet spread and serve it to a group of various Vegas performers and chefs and Rob and the other knights from Spamalot were part of that group. How random is that? I'm not as excited for him that he got to be on TV as I am that he got to meet Bobby Flay and critique Food Network food...that would be awesome!

3) The Dark Knight is awesome. I think I need to see it again because I'm a little slow and I didn't pick up on all of the intricate details of the plot. I want to see it in the IMAX theater so let me know if you are interested and we can get a group together.

4) The John Mayer concert was a little disappointing. Don't get me wrong, I was there with some great company and he is still an awesome performer but it just seemed to be lacking something. I think he is getting a little too comfortable in his popularity and he sort of shows off too much. You might think that showing off your skills is the point of a concert but in some cases I disagree. Anyway, it was good, not great and I miss his old ways...oh, and I really want him to come out with a new CD.

5) Today I felt uber-domestic because I made bread using wheat that I actually ground myself this morning. I followed it up by making some strawberry freezer jam which is quite literally 1 part strawberry to 2 parts sugar...awesome. The bread turned out decently well but my ultimate goal is to fine-tune my skills so that someday my bread will somewhat resemble my Grannie's bread. It may take a while but I'll keep trying. I also want to someday recreate her famous gingersnaps.

6) Stampin' Up! is trying out a new flex schedule so I am working 4 10-hour days and I have Mondays off. This has been pretty awesome so far because I finally have time to do all the things that I have been putting off like getting a Utah license, going to the eye doctor, finishing various craft projects, etc.

Good Times to Come at the John Mayer Concert

2008-07-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

I'm going to see John Mayer in concert in 2 weeks and I'm really excited. I know that some of you make fun of me because I love his music so much but I don't care because I think he is awesome. One of the things I love most about his music is his insightful and often poignant lyrics such as this one from his last single:

When you're dreaming with a broken heart
The waking up is the hardest part.

Word.

A-Ha!

2008-06-29T20:52:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not talking about the artist that recorded that catchy 80's tune "Take On Me." I'm talking about those awesome moments when you come to an unexpected realization about something that has been nestled in the back of your mind for years. One time I had a movie quote stuck in my head and for the life of me I couldn't figure out what movie it was from. A few years later I was watching "While You Were Sleeping" and I recognized that the stupid quote was from that movie and I felt so relieved that I finally figured it out. Today I had one of those moments except it was a bit more insightful than your average movie quote.

BSC, JTT, and other such nonsense

2008-06-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

THE THREE CONFESSIONS QUIZ

Rules: Post three (3) confessions in your blog or journal. They can be as personal as you want them to be, so use your discretion. Write about your habits or idiosyncrasies, or something you did as a child… Anything at all. Most importantly, however, they must be something you’ve never written about in your blog or journal before. Once finished, tag/invite three different readers to do the quiz on their blog or journal.

Susan tagged me in a "confessions" post. I have been taking my sweet time in responding because I honestly can't think of many things that would qualify as a confession or something that most of you don't know about me. I used to keep most of my feelings/deep thoughts/stories to myself but nowadays I think I am pretty open about things. So, what memories or thoughts can I unearth from the storage of my mind that would be interesting to anyone besides me? Here's my attempt:

1) I really like to read and it started at an early age. I can remember several nights when I literally read into the night with a flashlight under the cover of my bedspread. In elementary school I really liked reading books in the Baby-Sitter's Club series and I even proposed the idea to some of my friends that we start our own club. How embarrassing. I even wrote a letter to the author of the books informing her of an error in several of the books (there is a character named Mary Anne and sometimes the Anne was mistakenly spelled as Ann). I know, that is even more embarrassing and it shows just how nerdy I actually am.

2) I once had big crushes on Jonathan Taylor Thomas (JTT), John Travolta, some guy named Blaine from the Mickey Mouse Club, Gilbert Blythe (not so much the actor as the actual character), and the Backstreet Boys. I was going to post pictures of these guys but after Googling a picture of JTT I decided that I will already be made fun of enough for just telling you about these crushes and that posting their pictures would only make it worse.

3) I absolutely HATE the sound of cardboard rubbing against cardboard. It is one of the top 3 sounds that make me cringe. I don't even know what the other 2 are I just know that the cardboard one is definitely up there and I'll leave a bit of buffer room in case I come across something even worse. So please, if you love me at all, try to remember not to build a box around me or ask me to do the folding thing where the 4 top flaps fold/fan into each other. I will gladly do anything else for you but please, please don't ask me to do that.

Instead of tagging more people, I invite all of you to leave a comment with your own little "confession" or to post one on your own blog.

How Good Things Really Are

2008-06-26T06:51:00.000-07:00

Real Simple has some free new computer wallpaper images that have lovely pictures with even lovelier quotes. Here is one of my favorites:

Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.
— Marianne Williamson

I don't know who Marianne Williamson is but I think she is one smart lady and I like the way she thinks.

Lightning Strikes

2008-06-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday this was the National Geographic picture of the day and it made me miss Tucson at this time of year. This picture was taken at the Grand Canyon but it looks the same as the monsoons that sweep over Tucson in July and August. Tucson is the lightning capital of the world and I remember spending a lot of late summer afternoons and evenings standing on the porch and watching the storms. They are very beautiful.

The Master Pyrotechnician

2008-06-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

Amber and I were just watching the news and we found out that our neighborhood is NOT in the new "restricted" zone for fireworks. Awesome! I sure do love fireworks and back in the day I was even called "The Master Pyrotechnician."

Actually, I am kind of full of it because I'm really an idiot when it comes to fireworks. I never seem to choose the cool ones and instead I waste my money on different varieties of Black Cats and Ground Bloom Flowers. For the last two years the Spransy family has been kind enough to invite me along on their Firework Extravaganza trip to Evanston. Trust me, this family knows how to have a good time...especially with fireworks.

Third Place

2008-06-09T20:47:00.000-07:00

I know what you are thinking, "Three posts in one week?! This girl deserves a prize for all her hard work"...but don't worry, I'm one step ahead of you. Unfortunately, the new Strawberry Milkshake Creme Oreos are nothing to write home about and are actually borderline disgusting. I think I may try turning them into truffles instead (see the inspiration from my good friend Bakerella) and hopefully that will redeem them. If not then I'm pretty sure I'll end up eating them anyway.

In other news, I am slowly recovering from my latest bout with stupidity/soreness. On Saturday I went to the gym and since the marathon my trips to the gym have been few and far between. Needless to say, I wasn't in peak physical condition. However, my gym recently added a line of really cool new weight machines and I couldn't resist trying them...all. I'm not the type to halfway do anything so I went all out and really pushed myself as hard as I could. Ten+ machines, a bunch of lunges, and 2 miles later I was feeling the burn and I slowly ambled out of the gym. Now, I know better than to lift more than I should when I haven't done anything substantial in weeks but sometimes I latch on to a crazy idea and my common sense just goes right out the window. Sort of like the time that I attempted to fit my new craft desk in the backseat of my Chevy Prizm. Anyway, today I am paying for my stupidity at the gym...big time. This ranks as third place in the times that my muscles have felt the most sore. First place was after the marathon and second was during cheerleading tryouts my junior year in high school. Today at work I avoided stairs at all costs and when walking to the art room with my co-worker I had to ask her to slow down. If you didn't know me already and you saw me walking you would probably think that I was recovering from some painful leg injury or that I am much too young to have needed those double-knee replacements. The good news is that I am feeling a little better and I know at least one person got a good chuckle out of the experience. Honestly, what good would life be if we couldn't smile and laugh at ourselves every now and then?

Top Ten Indicators That The Employees At Your Company Are Predominately Female

2008-06-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

10. The company mission statement has the word love in it...twice.
9. You have seen your CEO cry on more than one occasion and it sometimes makes you start crying too.
8. Your boss announces to your team that she is pregnant and instantly everyone gasps, speaks at a higher decibel, and gives her a hug.
7. Your co-worker admits that she knew 2 months ago not because your boss told her but because she has crazy intuition...and it is scary because she really does.
6. Over half of the sodas in the vending machine are diet and the other vending machine sometimes has 100 Calorie Packs.
5. After sitting for 2 hours in a scheduled 3-hour meeting the VP suggests that we all take a quick chocolate break and reconvene in 5 minutes.
4. Your company has a choir.
3. The CEO sends you a hand-made card on your birthday and leaves a treat on your desk on Valentine's Day.
2. You hear the word "cute" at least 10 times a day.
1. Someone always notices when you get a haircut, new shoes, or basically any new addition to your wardrobe.

Ok, all joking aside, I absolutely love where I work and I couldn't work with better people. They are hard-working, innovative, and have really helped me learn a lot about pretty much everything. Right now I wouldn't trade my predominately-female company for anything!

Good News Minute Part II

2008-06-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

1. First of all, there must be something in the water because in the last week three people have told me that they are pregnant. I'm not allowed to talk about two of them (oh, the rumors this could start) but I am totally allowed to talk about the third. I am so excited to announce to anyone that reads my blog (although I think everybody who actually reads this already knows) that Susan and Jeremy Child are expecting their first baby! I could not be more excited for them! I consider them to be the closest thing to family that I have in Salt Lake and I know that they will be AWESOME parents. I also feel honored that sort of by default I got to choose the name that we will all use to refer to the little bun in the oven until he/she is born...Rigatoni Rocket Child. Yes, you read that right. That name came about during a conversation that happened on our Disneyland trip last year and I'm glad it can be put to use. Best wishes to your growing family and I love you guys!

2. In other news, I am also happy to report that William Traynor is officially a dentist! I went to LA last weekend to attend his graduation and I am so proud of him. He is such a hard worker and he genuinely has a heart of gold. I thought I would try to win good sister points by flying out for the graduation but then he totally showed me up when he surprised me and my parents with tickets to see Wicked. The seats were so incredible that even with my bad eyesight I could clearly see the expressions on the actors' faces. I also got spoiled by my parents who treated us to great meals at famous local eateries and a trip to the Huntington Gardens. For those of you who have not visited Huntington Gardens you must put it on your list of things to do in southern California. It is basically a huge estate that has been transformed into museums, libraries, and beautiful landscaping. In the library they literally have millions of books and printed works and among them are a Gutenberg Bible, first editions of several of Shakespeare's works, famous American revolutionary propaganda, and the original 13th Amendment to the Constitution which abolished slavery. Needless to say, I think I'll try to be a good sister more often because it is well worth the return on my investment.

3. Third, speaking of babies, my brother Matt and his wife Ann recently welcomed a new baby boy into their family. Max Jensen Traynor is just as cute as can be and I can already tell that he and I are going to be tight. I haven't had much luck in the favorite-aunt department but I have a feeling that baby Max and I are already buds.

4. Fourth, the burn lines on my hand from when I grabbed the flat-iron have mostly healed and I only cut a small chunk out of my thumb during a run-in with a kitchen knife tonight. I don't think I am a klutz but I sure do have a knack for incurring minor hand injuries. It is sad thing when you can point out 5 or so scars on one hand that are all due to burns.

5. Do you have anything to add? Leave a comment with your good news if you have anything exciting going on that I don't know about.

Meeting Motives

2008-05-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

Today at work I attended a boring meeting solely because I knew there would be donuts. Don't lie...you would have done it too.

Things I Take for Granted...

2008-05-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

...Air Conditioning. My A/C died sometime this week and it hasn't really been a problem until the last few days when it has been crazy hot. You would think that an Arizona girl would know better than to take A/C for granted but I guess stranger things have happened. While I wait for my appointment with the A/C man on Wednesday I have resorted to opening all the windows and (pause for dramatic effect) NOT sleeping with The Blanket. I know, I know, such dark times have never yet existed in this house but drastic times call for drastic measures. What makes it worse is that with my window open I can hear the parking gate every time it opens/closes and it is in desperate need of some WD-40.

...Books. Every time I get back into reading I wonder why I usually waste my time watching hours of America's Next Top Model and baking challenges on the Food Network. I just started reading Freakonomics and I have been wanting to read it for a few years so hopefully it will be good.

...Roommates. Amber has been gone for almost two weeks now and I am excited for her to be back. I don't tell her enough how good of a roommate she is or how much I appreciate her friendship. Anyone that can put up with my crazy ideas, strong views, and loads of craft stuff is definitely worthy of a little more kindness and consideration from me.

...Extended Family. My immediate family may be very far away but that doesn't mean that I should forget that I have some wonderful cousins and an aunt and uncle that are somewhat nearby. I got to spend a lot of time with them in the last two weekends and I can't believe that I went over 6 months without stopping by for a visit. My Aunt Donna let me host a bridal shower at her house and if you don't have your Mom around or have access to her serving stuff then I tell you the next best thing is to have an Aunt like my Aunt Donna.

...Girl Hangout Time with Kelly & Star (& Allison if she lived here). Kelly and I went with Star on Saturday to check out a wedding dress and even though we weren't together that long it reminded me of how much I miss spending time with those girls and how great of friends they are. They have been with me through pretty much everything since Freshman year and they are the best! I really like Bryant and Russ but I'm not going to lie that I miss the old days when I got to live with those girls.

...Slurpees. It has already been over 85 degrees this sprummer and I have not yet had a Slurpee. At work they posted a sign by the water cooler that says how many teaspoons of sugar are in a 20 oz. bottle of various beverages and it was shocking! It didn't list Slurpees but all I have to say is if there are over 21 teaspoons of sugar in 20 ounces of orange soda then I don't even want to know how many teaspoons are in a 32 oz. (or more, depending on the day) suicide Slurpee. I'm going to tell myself that there are only 5 and I'll feel so much better about it.

I Must Be Crazy

2008-04-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

I know that I have been MIA for a while but I hope you will all forgive me and that you will accept this embarrassing/funny story as a peace offering.

As you may know, I am planning on running the Salt Lake City Marathon this Saturday, April 19th. I have been very lax about my training for the last month so I haven't been feeling too confident knowing that the race is now just one week away (don't judge, you wouldn't want to train while on a cruise to Bermuda either). I decided that yesterday I would attempt a 20 mile run and see how I did to determine if I really could be ready to do this thing. I know that in the last few weeks you are supposed to taper down your workouts so I really shouldn't have even attempted but I am stubborn and anyway it is too late now. So, yesterday I set out at about 1:15 pm (probably the worst time choice possible) and after running for about 4 miles I was so hot and dehydrated that I started walking. I was wearing my Camelback so I did have water but I knew that I didn't have the endurance or the water supply to last for another 16 miles so I had to make a choice to either walk it or cut it short. I decided to walk it and I would use this as an experiment to see if I could finish the 20 in 6 hours. So, I did it. I walked and walked and walked. I got a lot of weird looks from people gawking at the crazy girl walking with her own water supply but I just brushed it off. I reached my house at 7:45pm and I wasn't really exhausted but my feet were KILLING ME!

All in all, I think that the experiment was successful because I now know that I can cover 20 miles, even if 80% of the distance is walking, in about 6 hours (I am taking out the extra 30 minutes that was caused by waiting at traffic lights and the trip to the Tesoro station to buy a Snickers Marathon bar). So, if I can utilize the early start on Saturday and if I run more than 20% of the distance then I totally will be able to finish the marathon by 1 pm. That little detail is critical because they start opening up the roads for traffic after that time and there isn't as much hoopla at the finish line if you are one of the stragglers.

As a side note to this story, while I was out walking I didn't realize how much sun I was getting or that I was getting burned. I was wearing shorts and a long sleeved shirt that I pushed up on my forearms so I now have a wicked ankle sock and 3/4 sleeve burn line. Awesome. Also, when I was lying down and "recovering" I had not yet realized that I was sunburnt but I did notice that my legs were burning. I had a minor freak-out moment when I thought that I had done something to my leg muscles and now they were burning and were about to swell. I then took a shower and realized that it was just a sunburn. I think I was overly paranoid because Jeremy keeps reminding me that P. Diddy's foot pads separated from his foot bones after he ran a marathon without proper training. Thank goodness for sunburns, I guess.

Happiness is...

2008-03-08T19:28:00.000-08:00

...running along Holladay Blvd while listening to John Mayer's "Say" and watching several Land Rovers and Mercedes drive by against the backdrop of the mountains

...catching up with a great friend over dinner, a sleepover, and breakfast

...getting excited for next week when your sister, brother-in-law, and nephew come into town

...the frozen strawberries in the freezer that you can use to make sorbet with your Magic Bullet since you've gone off sugar for the next 6 weeks

...watching "Shop Around the Corner" that you got from Netflix since that movie reminds you of when you watched it years ago with your Grannie on her old school TV set

...thinking about the future and the different options you have

...The Blanket

Some new additions

2008-03-02T08:34:00.000-08:00

So, I have acquired a few new toys in the last week or so and I am really excited about them. First, I bought my first ever Camelback. I have always wanted one but I never thought that I actually did enough hard-core hiking to justify buying one. But, I recently realized that I need one for running because planting water on my training runs is SUPER annoying. So, I went to REI on Friday and I got this little baby.

I used it for the first time yesterday and it was fantastic. It is made for cyclists so I can also use it if I decide to train for a triathlon. It is also small enough that I could take it on short hikes that don't require more gear/food. I highly recommend this item.

The next new addition is my first set of knitting supplies. Yesterday, I went to a knitting class at Soul Spun Yarn with Susan, Amber, and Venessa. Susan and Jeremy hooked me up with the supplies and class as a Christmas present. Aren't they the best?! We learned to knit and purl (or rather, I learned to knit and already forgot how to purl) and we got enough yarn to make a scarf. We all decided on Blizzard yarn and we chose different colors. I got the ivory color.

I am so excited! I have this bug in me that wants to learn everything about pretty much everything...especially if it relates to domestic arts of any kind. I wish now that I had paid more attention when my Mom was sewing or when my Grannie was crocheting. What a tragedy that I didn't take the time to learn from what I would deem the masters when I had the chance. It reminds me of one of my favorite talks, or rather an article, that was written by President Eyring. The good news is that Mom is still very much a sewer so when I visit her I can still try to learn from her even if it is in short and random installments.

Finally, last week I bought a project desk that I put in my bedroom with hopes that it can house the majority of my craft supplies. My front room has been a disaster zone for months and it literally looks like Stampin' Up! threw up in there because the walls are lined with boxes of paper and stamps and the table is covered with projects in progress. And, for any other crafters out there you know the tendency to have several projects that are always in progress so the clutter never really ends. I still need to transfer my craft stuff to the desk but I'm happy that I at least have made progress in getting some sort of organization system.

A new look...and a big thanks to Susan!

2008-02-16T18:15:00.000-08:00

So you probably noticed that I now have a new look to my blog. I have a new banner, template, and photo all courtesy of Susan. She is THE BEST!

Good News Minute

2008-02-03T21:26:00.001-08:00

So, in my ward's Relief Society we have a "Good News Minute" when sisters can share momentous occasions such as engagements, birthdays, new jobs, major accomplishments, etc. I thought it would be fun to occasionally have my own GNM to update you all on the big news of those I care about.

First, my good friend Kirsten Adams just got engaged last night. She is one of the most amazing, talented, caring, and beautiful women I know and she was an awesome roommate. I am so happy for her!

Kirsten and Dallas

Second, there are a few birthdays of good friends and family members. My sister-in-law, Ann, celebrated her birthday yesterday. She is such an awesome mom and to some of the cutest kids in the world too! She is so smart and fun to be around and I have loved having her as a friend and a member of the family. On the 5th is the birthday of one of my best friends (and practically a member of my family), Caroline Hidalgo. Caroline and I go way back...she was around even before I entered the awkward-looking stages that I fondly refer to as "The Dark Ages." She graduated from West Point and got married this last summer and in a few weeks she and her husband will be deployed. She has been a great friend for many years and I know for many more to come as well.

Caroline and Miles

Third, I ran twelve miles yesterday...yes you read that right I said twelve as in 12. That is more than I have ever done before at one time. I still have not broken the maximum in one day for me which is 13. One summer at BYU I took a jogging class and I had to run 75 miles by the end of the term (roughly 7 weeks). I got behind the last week so I had to make up 15 or so miles by Monday so that last Saturday I went running four times in one day for a total of 13 miles. It was so hot and I remember I would run and then come back and lay on the floor for an hour and then go back out. I looked pretty hideous by the time I was done. The good news is that I ran the final 2 miles on Monday morning before class so I got all my miles in and got an A in the class.

Finally, I am headed to Anaheim, CA at the end of this week for the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Trade Show. I know, I know...life is really rough when you have to stay at the Hilton right next to Disneyland for 5 days and check out craft booths and classes for work. I also get to see William for a bit and since my family members all live so far away it is a treat when we can get together.

Well, that is it for me but if you have any good news that you would like to share then please leave a comment because I would love to hear about it!

Bittersweet...but mostly just sweet

2008-02-03T09:56:00.000-08:00

Eloquence during emotional moments has never been a gift of mine so it is with great hesitation that I try to put into words some of my thoughts and feelings of this last week. Come to think of it, President Hinckley was very good at mastering his words and accurately expressing his feelings. Even now I am reminded of the many ways that he is an example to me.

I learned of President Hinckley's passing by way of a text that I saw when I turned my phone on at 5 am on Monday morning. Alone and in the darkness of my bedroom I laid in deep thought and emotion. I realize that some of my friends may not know what I believe about the life-after-death topic. I believe that there is life after death and that families are eternal and that dear friendships are eternal. There was a life prior to our coming to earth and there is life after we leave it. Our knowledge and love for others are things that we can take with us and the best part is that we can acquire more knowledge and love along the way. I believe the concept of eternal life to be true and though there is a lot that I do not yet fully comprehend, I can honestly say that I know it to be true.

President Hinckley was a great person and I will especially miss his wit, charisma, and smile. But, I cannot say how happy I was when I first thought of the wonderful reunion that he must have had with his beloved Marjorie. As any descendant of Fred and Norma will tell you, it reminded me of my sweet Grannie and the same type of reunion that must have happened when she rejoined Grandpa Fred. The sweetness extends even further when I think of the wonderful life President Hinckley led and the knowledge I have that he was a living Prophet of God on the earth in our time and that the keys and means to Jesus Christ's restored Church remain on the earth even with the passing of such a great leader. Though there have been many tears in mourning, for this last reason I am not sad, but happy and grateful.

Cards, etc.

2008-01-24T18:08:00.000-08:00

So, the past few days I have been in the card-making mood and it was a good thing because my nephew, David, has a birthday coming up, I need to get started on my valentines, etc. Here are some pictures:

David's Birthday Card

Valentine #1

Valentine #2

Ruff Day

The Lean Cuisine Story

2008-01-14T21:29:00.000-08:00

So, here is a true story about my wild and crazy Friday night last week.

Last Friday I went to the movie theater after work to see "The Bucket List" with Venessa, Dani, and Nicole. (By the way, it was a good movie and it has an excellent new song "Say" on the soundtrack by John Mayer) On my way home I stopped by Smith's because someone told me I might find the new book club book ("The Book Thief") there for only ten bucks. Well, they didn't have the book, but they did have Lean Cuisines on sale. I like to take Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice meals to work because they are super cheap and I'm monitoring my calories more now that I'm in full training mode for the marathon. Anyway, I filled up my little basket with a variety of Lean Cuisines and headed to the self check-out. It was while I was scanning and bagging that I looked over and noticed two couples staring at me with pity/amusement on their faces. I then realized how ridiculous and pathetic I must have looked...alone at the neighborhood Smith's on a Friday night at 8:30 stocking up on Lean Cuisines (aka the brand of choice for single, weight-conscious females everywhere). I just started laughing because I realized how ridiculous and pathetic I must have looked to those people. I like that I can laugh at myself because it makes everything so much more fun.

Oh, and lest I come off as misleading, I actually do own my own reflective vest but it is for running purposes only and I have never taken it with me to work.

I Make No Guarantees...

2008-01-11T07:05:00.000-08:00

...that if I get this puppy I won't give it an obnoxiously cute name like "Wicket" and carry it around in a handbag.
...that I will actually run all 26.2 miles of the SLC marathon. I can tell you right now that there will definitely be some walking breaks.

...that I will not try to play "Rock You Like a Hurricane" on guitar hero at Susan and Jeremy's even though they have threatened to beat me up if I do.

...that I will be nice and let you make fun of me the next time we have a fire drill. I'm on the Safety Committee, ok? They asked us to wear the vests and sweep the floor to make sure everyone got out safely. It isn't my fault that nobody else on the Safety Committee remembered to put their vest on so I ended up looking like a loser in front of all of Stampin' Up! Did you seriously think I bought my own reflective vest and I keep it with me at work in the off chance that I will get to use it? Please, I may be weird but I'm not that bad.

...that I will eventually finish (or at least get past page 30) of last month's book for Stampin' Up! book club.

...that I will spend more time discussing the primaries than last night's episode of Celebrity Apprentice. This is the one I actually feel guilty about.

Selfish Motives + Lots of Friends = Cheesecake Party!

2008-01-06T19:02:00.000-08:00

On New Year's Day I had a bunch of friends over to ring in the new year with fun and a whole lot of cheesecake. It all started when I was at my department's holiday outing to The Cheesecake Factory and I started to stress when deciding which flavor of cheesecake to order. After several minutes I finally made a decision but I also came up with an answer to the Miss Congeniality-esque question of how I would describe a perfect date. I decided that my idea of the perfect date would be for the guy to take me to The Cheesecake Factory and he would order every kind of cheesecake on the menu and we would proceed to taste them all. Well, I would never expect a guy to spend that much money on me and it would be ridiculous to think that anybody would ever actually do that. So, in true Annie-is-too-independent-for-her-own-good fashion (or so says her parents), I decided that I wouldn't wait for some boy to make that dream come true and I would just do it myself and turn it into a party.

After much anticipation, January 1, 2008 finally arrived and I got to order and pick up a slice of every kind of cheesecake available at The Cheesecake Factory (check out the list below). I was fully expecting the employees on the phone-in-your-order line or at the bakery counter to give me weird looks or say something about my odd request but nobody thought anything of it. I mean, who calls in and orders a slice of everything? When I was picking up the loot I even asked them if anyone had ever done this before and they said no and didn't even act at all like it was something cool or interesting. I guess you could say it was a little anticlimactic, but I still got to walk out of there with 30 slices of cheesecake so I got over it really fast.

Having now tasted pretty much all that The Cheesecake Factory has to offer, I feel quite comfortable with giving myself the title of "The Cheesecake Expert." The only trouble is that after my party there are about 30 other cheesecake experts in town now so I guess my services aren't quite so unique. In any case, if you are planning a trip to The Cheesecake Factory anytime soon and you want to talk cheesecake with me then I would love to help you out.

And now for the list:

ORIGINAL
FRESH STRAWBERRY
WHITE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY TRUFFLE
GODIVA CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
TRES LECHES CHEESECAKE
FRESH BANANA CREAM CHEESECAKE
DULCE DE LECHE CARAMEL CHEESECAKE
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CHEESECAKE
VANILLA BEAN CHEESECAKE
ADAM'S PEANUT BUTTER CUP FUDGE RIPPLE
CHOCOLATE OREO MUDSLIDE CHEESECAKE
CHOCOLATE TUXEDO CREAMTM CHEESECAKE
DUTCH APPLE CARAMEL STREUSEL
BROWNIE SUNDAE CHEESECAKE
CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE-DOUGH
KEY LIME CHEESECAKE
LEMON RASPBERRY CREAM CHEESECAKE
CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY TRUFFLE
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE-DOUGH CHEESECAKE
SNICKERS BAR CHUNKS AND CHEESECAKE
CRAIG'S CRAZY CARROT CAKE CHEESECAKE
OREO CHEESECAKE
CARAMEL PECAN TURTLE
COCONUT CHOCOLATE CREAM
WHITE CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER
There were also a few other specials that aren't on the online menu but I can't remember what they are now so they must not have been that good.

Oh, and in the very slim chance that there are any single guys out there that read my blog then I hope you aren't bugged that I stole the best date ever idea right out from under you. If it makes you feel better then just remember that cheesecake isn't the only way to win me over...the other way is with flowers. You would think it would be quite obvious since I want to own my own floral business someday but oddly enough no guy I have dated or gone out with has ever taken advantage of. I think I prefer the flowers to the cheesecake anyway because I don't feel strange pulsing in my chest and right arm after enjoying the loveliness of flowers like I did with the cheesecake. Which reminds me--look forward to my next post for an update on the marathon training of the out-of-shape girl named Annie.

Movies make me nappy and sappy

2007-12-29T16:25:00.000-08:00

So, I am notorious for falling asleep during movies. If you have ever been my roommate or, for that matter, have ever tried to watch a movie with me then you probably already knew that. I guess it all started when I fell asleep during "Milo and Otis" at the theater at Lindsay Alston's sixth birthday party. However, I just recently realized that I also have a tendency to cry during movies...almost all movies. For example, I am watching "Hook" on TV right now and I all of a sudden got teary when Robin Williams was giving his little speech at the hospital dinner to the other orphans and Grannie Wendy. I mean, I even cried during "Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement" because Julie Andrews started singing and she hardly ever sings anymore. I am ridiculous, I know.

In related news, this year was the first time that I have been able to make it through all of "A Muppet Christmas Carol" without falling asleep. But, watching the whole movie made me realize how touching the story is, especially the part when Scrooge's girlfriend is leaving him and sings about the love being gone. I used to never cry about anything but now it seems like it doesn't take much to get me teary.

I Love Tag

2007-12-02T18:34:00.000-08:00

Star tagged me and I am excited to play. I don't know if I can come up with 6 little known facts/habits about myself but here goes. Oh wait, the rules...

The rules:

1. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
2. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

The facts/habits:

1. I think I am OCD. Here are a few examples: If one hand gets wet then I have to get the other wet and then dry them both; On any given day I have walked back to my car/house door at least once to make sure I locked it; About twice a month I find myself on my way to work but then I turn around and drive back home to make sure I have turned off all appliances; I like it when the sofa cushions are perfectly arranged. I think the weirdest example is that I can't stand it when there are paper towels on the floor in a public restroom and I will almost always clean them up. I know that it is unsanitary but I can't handle the mess!

2. I don't think I ever really grew up because lots of my favorite things are probably the same as your average 4-year-old girl. I love food coloring, sprinkles, Capri Suns, straws, getting mail, American Girl stuff, the color pink, and anything Disney.

3. I honestly believe in deja vu and I know that it happens to me rather frequently. You can try to convince me that it is just my mind thinking too fast or whatever the common rationale is but I'll still think that it really happens.

4. Martha Stewart is my idol. Ok, if family, church leaders, and people I actually know don't count then she really is the next in line. I think she has impeccable (Russ - does that work for the perfect word? P.S. I really like that fact about you) taste and she is a very creative and intelligent woman. I know that she went to jail and that she probably isn't the nicest woman ever, but she did her time and we all have things that we could be better at. She has probably done more for preserving domestic arts than any other famous woman I can think of. Since domestic arts-type stuff are one of the things I think about when I don't have to think about anything else then you can probably understand why I love her so much.

5. I constantly find myself analyzing the business aspects of just about everything. I will be at a restaurant, retail store, you name it and I am thinking of ways that efficiency could be increased or how something could be marketed better, etc. I love it. I especially love it if other people will talk through it with me and also get excited about making an analysis. It does scare me that some day when I have my own business that many people will be analyzing what I do but I hope that they will share their thoughts with me because they will probably be very good and I should use them.

6. I absolutely LOVE flowers! Flowers are a way of reminding me that Heavenly Father loves me because everytime I see them it lifts my spirits. However, I can't stand to watch flowers die so that is why I almost always give them away.

Ok, so now I get to tag 6 more people. It may take me a few days to actually tag them on their blog but here are my 6:
1. Emily Olsen
2. Susan Child
3. Kristina Werner
4. Angie White
5. Ashley Myers Hendersen
6. Amber Quilter...you don't have a blog but you should start one

Miss Rodeo America

2007-12-02T09:47:00.000-08:00

So, I haven't posted in a long time and I have learned from Timbaland that it is too late to apologize. So, I will offer a peace offering instead...a picture of my Rodeo Queen costume! This year I tried do convince all of Product Development to dress up as Rodeo Queens and some of them actually did! Take a look at the pictures and take a guess at which girl had her Mom make her costume?

That's right...it is the sassy Americana one second from the right. Word on the street is that her Mom spent over 3 hours sewing on star-shaped rhinestones by hand to her chaps. Her Mom must really love her! Unfortunately this picture was taken before I had my sash and "Don't Mess with Texas" belt buckle on (thanks Bryant!). But, you get the idea.

Here is a shot with our Rodeo Queen smiles. Jen (second from the left) is so authentic that it almost scares me.

A REAL Basket toss

2007-10-16T19:46:00.001-07:00

basket toss gone wrong

2007-10-16T19:45:00.003-07:00

Basket Toss

2007-10-16T19:45:00.001-07:00

Free Weights and Nosebleeds

2007-10-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

Based on the title you are probably thinking that I have a good story about accidentally hitting my nose with a dumbbell while doing some bicep curls or something. Well, sorry but that didn't happen. I do however have a great story about a giant bruise I got from the ab machine back in high school weight training if you ever need a good laugh.

So, a miracle happened yesterday...I went to the gym at 5:30 in the morning to work out. That's right, not only did I actually GO to the gym, I went to the gym BEFORE work! Really, it is a miracle. Amber got a gym pass to 24 so we decided to go together in the mornings. I woke up and didn't see the light on in her room so I thought, "Oooh, hopefully she won't wake up and we won't have to go." But, sure enough, right after I said that her light turned on and I thought, "Dang it all!!!" But, it is actually an amazing feeling to get in a workout at the start of the day. I didn't make it today though because I fell asleep without setting my alarm and Amber didn't dare wake me up. Apparently I must be some scary beast of a cranky girl if you try to wake me up because she refuses to do it.

What did finally wake me up this morning was my daily nosebleed that occurs every morning. Evidently my nose is the only part of me that doesn't like the advent of autumn and it protests by thinking it is too dried out, giving me allergies, and starting nosebleeds at totally inconvenient moments. That reminds me of a funny story. My senior year in high school I was a cheerleader and since I was one of the "bigger" girls then I was a base when we would do stunts. We were at an away football game and while doing a basket toss stunt our fly (the girl you throw in the air) got skewed in the air and I had to dive under her to make sure she didn't hit the ground. Her bony behind crashed down right on my nose and it immediately started gushing blood...right onto my cute little cheer shell that had a big white part on the front. I was crying and bleeding and good old football-dad-on-the-sidelines-with a-camera-Rod Herbert started taking pictures of the whole fiasco. I just wish I could have been one of the people in the stands so I could have been the one making fun of the crying cheerleader with the bloody nose.

If you don't know what a basket toss is, here is a visual for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rv6BQaRxk4&mode=related&search=

This is how it is NOT supposed to look...it is really painful just to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrG9IaqgsnU&mode=related&search=

Finally, I don't know why this crazy girl agreed to do this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bCZdCMyWQg&mode=related&search=#

All in a Day's Work

2007-09-28T21:30:00.000-07:00

So there were a few things about today that made for some news in the life of Annie. First, I went to the Scrapbook Expo and I observed the culture and behaviors of my fellow paper-crafts consumers. Second, I had a date and after it ended I still had enough time to catch 2 episodes of What Not to Wear. If you know me at all then you know that there are probably good stories to accompany both experiences. I'll leave it at that.

Justin Timberlake is "My Love"

2007-09-26T20:56:00.001-07:00

Right now I am taking a jazz/hip-hop dance class at a cute little dance studio in Sugarhouse. Unlike last year's tap class, this one is actually for adults so I don't feel so much like an idiot. Wait, I spoke too soon. We just finished learning a dance to Justin Timberlake's "My Love" and there were many times when I felt, and looked, like an idiot. It was bound to happen when I had to watch my white-white self do a body roll while trying to hide what my sister refers to as my "dance face." But, it was fun and I decided to not care about what I looked like and do the Annie version of rockin' out. Oh, and don't try to be funny and ask me to show you my dance...at least not unless you are willing and able to sing My Love for me on the spot.

In related news, I had a dream last night that somebody tried to set me up on a blind date with Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys but I wasn't really interested and couldn't fit it into my schedule. Random. Where did that come from?

You're a pretty girl...ouch!

2007-09-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

Right now my ward calling as an FHE group leader has been a lot of fun, that is until I totally made a fool of myself in front of my friends and half the residents at the retirement center tonight. After no one volunteered to have their group plan an FHE activity at the center this last week I was asked late last week if my group could volunteer and so I of course said yes. I was actually pretty excited until I realized that I could not think of any good ideas for an activity and with only 2 days I didn't think that was enough time to put together the typical "program" or "performances" that the coordinator had suggested. After chatting with Emily I came up with some fun games but they totally bombed and I was left looking like an idiot as everybody filed out of the room towards the refreshments and I could hear them asking their friends why there wasn't a performance this time. The best part was when a sweet older woman who had just shushed her friend for saying that the activity was "not what she would have planned" then turned to me and with a slight side tilt of her head said, "Hmm...You're a pretty girl." I know she meant to be nice but I feel like she was really just trying to make me feel better for being the poor thing that planned the stupid activity for everyone. It probably wasn't as bad as I think it was but still I believe the proper term is "Ouch!"

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

2007-09-17T21:35:00.000-07:00

I'm back! After four months and a lot of trips around the country I am glad to be home. What, might you ask, was the inspiration behind me starting up my blog again? Well, I could say that I finally caved in to peer pressure but the actual reason is that my roommate is out of town and I don't really sleep when I'm alone in my house so I figured that posting on my blog would be a good way to pass the time. We'll see how long I can keep this up.

The weather has started to turn a bit chilly and autumn is on its way. We all know what that means...that's right, Halloween Oreos are now available in the grocery stores! Halloween is my favorite holiday and Halloween Oreos are by far my favorite treat. Caramel apples, candy corn, fall-colored M&Ms are all great but nothing beats the orange food coloring and creamy goodness that is the Halloween Oreo. If you haven't tried them then you should definitely add these to your grocery list or, even better, stop by my house sometime and I will be more than happy to share!

I'm too excited to sleep

2007-05-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

You know, the little kids and the dad say that on the commercial for Disneyland. I'm actually really tired (go figure) so I don't think sleeping will be a problem, even though I am xcited.

The last time I said that I was too excited to sleep was when I was with Susan and Jeremy and I really was going to Disneyland. This time I'm not going to Disneyland but I am going to California! Amber and I are leaving tomorrow morning to go to LA for the weekend. We are going to visit William, walk around Hollywood, see Wicked, tour UCLA's campus, and maybe even go to the pier or beach. This was a sort of spur of the moment trip....well, we decided to go two weeks ago but that is almost as close to spur of the moment as I get.

This week has been pretty eventful. I had my little tap dance class demonstration on Wednesday and Amber and Susan's family got to watch me make a fool of myself with the 6 other girls in the class...nevermind that the other girls are only 8 years old. I also decided to go on a trip to NYC over my birthday weekend with a coworker and Amber. We are going to see 3 Broadway shows, go to museums, go to the Manhattan singles ward, and shop! I am excited and really looking forward to it. I would say that I wish it was October now but I really don't and my reasoning is three-fold. First, I don't want to miss the sunny weather time between now and October. I really like the summer and I have been looking forward to this weather for some time now. Second, I have a lot of fun stuff planned for this summer (tickets to Les Mis, visiting my family in Tucson, the SU! company party at the zoo, swimming, training for my marathon, etc.). And third, I heard the Green Day song "Wake me up when September ends" the other day and I was looking forward to listening to that song in September. Ok, I know that sounds like a really lame reason but I seriously did just think about how it would be a shame to jump straight to October and that was something that came to mind.

So, so far my blog is pretty boring. Sorry about that. I think I talk best when I can use my hands and typing stories or comments really doesn't allow for that...and you wouldn't see the hand motions anyway. It really is a shame because I have so many funny stories to tell you. Hmm...I'll work on something for next time. Until then, have a great day!

I'm having fun!

2007-05-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

Look at me! I have a blog page and everything...our little baby is so grown up!

I used to make fun of Emily when she first created her blog page because it sounded like such a nerdy thing to do (no offense to all of you--I meant that in the most loving way possible). But then again she did make fun of me for getting into the whole card-making/scrapbooking world before I left for college and now she is the one that is the Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I guess it takes one of us to try something new and then the other will eventually catch on. One of us definitely needs to try to only call after 9pm MST because I am going WAY over my minutes and it is getting to be expensive.

So, why did I name my blog bunnies? It is sort of an inside joke and it isn't really a funny story so I won't bore you. I am a very good storyteller and I usually know when to hold back and this is one of those times. Anyway, if you are really interested then email me, or post, whatever you do on these things and I'd be happy to tell you. Otherwise, I hope you come back often and that you enjoy reading things I have to say. My life may seem normal and boring but I like to highlight the funny moments...sometimes it is the only way to make them enjoyable. Well, until next time I hope you have a great day!

P.S. If you think that Emily's blog is better than mine then I understand...but she has a kid so I'll blame it all on the fact that baby Reid is too cute for me to even have a chance.