Mandi A to Z

Today while eating my yummy breakfast burrito and going through my reader I stumbled upon this at Meet Virginia.  Morgan at Meet Virginia has been on my reader for a LONG time.  She is probably one of the first blogs I started to follow.  She is just beautiful and always has great content!  If you have never read her blog I suggest you do!

A. Age: 28... gulp... I will soon be 29
B. Bed size: A queen, our room is too small for anything larger.
C. Chore that you hate: Hands down I DESPISE cleaning the bathroom.  I have four guys in my house (three little boys and their dad) Let's just say it is pretty gross.
D. Dogs: We have a chocolate lab named Zazu.  Like the bird from Lion King (we adopted him)
E. Essential start to your day: Diet PEPSI!!!!
F. Favorite color: I have a thing for turquoise.
G. Gold or Silver: White gold or Silver
H. Height: 5’3" and a half.  Yes the half is VERY important.
I. Instruments you play: None that I know of. 
J. Job title: I am HOTEL 6 in this joint!  For those not familiar with the military that is like top rank.  In seriousness I am a stay at home momma!!!
K. Kids: Yes I do, Three boys ages 6,3,and 2
L. Live: The great state of Utah!!!
M. Mother’s name: I have three mommas.  My real mom Naomi, my step-mom Andi Jo and my fake mommy Judene.
N. Nicknames: Mandi is actually my nickname.  For all legal purposes my name is Amanda
O. Overnight hospital stays: Yes for each of my kids. Also I had my appendix taken out when I was a kids.
P. Pet peeves: When people make noises when they eat, ie: smacking lips, eating with their mouth open, taking too big of bites...Just thinking about it pisses me off.
Q. Quote from a movie: Give me a liter o Cola.  SUPER TROOPERS!!!
R. Right or left handed: Righty.
S. Siblings: I have 2 brothers and 4 sisters.  I am third to the oldest.
U. Ultimate Vacation: It doesn't matter where just as long as I am having fun and the Army doesn't call the SSG.
V. Vegetable you hate: LIMA BEANS. bleh....
W. What makes you run late: Sleeping in, and children.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Geez too many to remember.
Y. Yummy food that you make:  The SSG loves when I make roast.
Z. Zoo animal: The elephants.

5 Questions about me!

1. Do you prefer sweet or salty foods?

It really depends on my mood.  I really like chocolate covered pretzels that give me the best of both worlds.

2. Name your 3 BEST personality traits!

I have a good sense of humor, I am true to my friends, and pretty happy.

3. Name your 3 worst personality traits!

I am SUPER bad at procrastination, I stick my foot in my mouth ALOT, and I worry too much.

4. Do you collect anything?

Bones, haha I am kidding.  No I don't collect anything.

5. What is your favorite season of the year?

Hands down FALL, I love the warm but cool air, leaves changing, the smell of fireplaces.  Plus Halloween is in the fall and I love me some Halloween!!!

Linking to:

http://nightowlcrafting.blogspot.com/2011/09/hoo-are-you-54.html

It's the little things

Really it is the little things that count.

Today I am going to post things that I am truly thankful about no matter how small or silly they may be.

I am thankful for diet pepsi, it's sweet tasty goodness is just what I need after losing a battle to my kids on cleaning up the toys.

I am thankful for coupons.  They save me money on things like 8 jars of peanut butter.  That way I will never promise Peanut Butter Jelly time and realize I do not have peanut butter.

Little Army men, I am thankful to you being on the floor.  You keep me up to date with my super sneaky ninja skills in the middle of the night.

I am thankful for you Lego Indiana Jones for keeping my three year old entertained why I ran around taking pictures of random non sense.

I am thankful to dead flowers in planters outside my house.  It reminds me that I have no business planting flowers since they always die.

I am thankful to pretty shoes.  That is all that is needed here.

I am thankful for Scentsy.  That it keeps my house smelling so fresh and clean even though there are three little monsters who live here.

I am thankful for little boys in dirty shirts.  I will never question whether or not I have enough laundry to start a load.



Halloween Decor and Mr. Mailman

Halloween is pretty much the best holiday ever.
Think about it, what other day can you dress up like a serial killer.
Walk around the street with a knife. (fake of course)
Knocking on people's doors
Asking for candy
And not get the cops called on you?
Uhhhhhhh..... Halloween.
Needless to say I started early this year.

Allow me to introduce you to my Halloween door hanger!

While I was testing this out, the mailman came by. 

He probably thought I was some crazy lady cause I was taking pictures of my door.

That had a huge BOO on it.

Side note: I live on a street the mainly has old ladies on it.... PRETTY quiet in these parts.

I am sure that if it was a cell phone and it was actually near Halloween he would have thought nothing of it.
But since I was using my actual camera and it is still the beginning of September he was thinking

'Wack a doo' in his head.

I might have to act normal for a few days.
For the mailman's sake.

But who am I kidding? 

Normal is boring.
I would rather be his funny work story.

Linking to:

Running With Glitter

Sew Can Do

Boerman Ramblings

Lil Luna

Blue Cricket Design

Someday Crafts

http://nightowlcrafting.blogspot.com/2011/09/hoos-got-talent-66.html

 



A Little More Me Please....

I have had a moment.  A moment where I don't feel like me on my blog.
A moment that I understand why I have been away for so long.
Why do I try so hard to be something I am not?
I feel like that I am trying to impress someone who isn't here.
My friends like me for who I am so why isn't that enough?

In my wandering through blogland tonight I came across this blog:


 This post right here hit close to home.
It was like she was telling my story about being in high school.
My high school was upper class. 
My family was middle class. 
I didn't wear designer clothes or drive a fancy car like most kids in my class.
I tried SO hard to fit in with the popular girls.
I didn't, no matter how hard I tried.
In blogland I kinda feel the same way.
I try, don't get what my expectation was and go into hiding.
But this blog is for me, for my family, for my friends.
I am still the awkward girl, and I don't care those who love me love me!!!!
I would like to have a bunch of followers but honestly if only one person follows me then I have reached my goal. 

So here it goes all or nothing!!!!

Trying new things {Crockpot style}

We have been in a funk.
You may have been in the same funk as us. 
A dinner funk.
We rotate through the same meals week after week.
Which can be nice since I can buy a little extra and make it stretch into the next week.
But there is only so many hamburgers and hot dogs this lady can HANDLE!!!

Enter crock pot.
I am have to admit I kinda have a crush on it.
(shhhh don't tell the SSG)
Oh boy crock pot is the best.
Through some ingredients into it and then just wait until dinner time and scoop it out!
No rushing around making dinner.
Very few dishes to clean afterwards.
Mr. Crock pot, you are my hero.

Tonight we tried a new recipe.
Which is pretty scary to me.
I don't like spending money on food that I don't know if we will eat.
But orange chicken, that I know my six year old will eat.
I went for it.

I got the recipe from this blog
It turned out okay. I would give it 3 stars out of 5.
I think next time I will take down the ketchup a little.
And not use the cheapest orange juice concentrate I could find.

{Craftiness in the afternoon}

Here is a riddle for you.
What do you get when you cross one six year old in school and a cheap train set keeping two toddlers entertained?

Answer???
One crafty afternoon, that is what!!!
I have been wanting to do something new for my mantle for a while now.
The shutters I had up were kinda getting old for me.
I have been in love with stamped burlap pillows for a while.
However with three boys who like to destroy everything they weren't really an option for me.
So this is something I whipped up this afternoon.
It is simple, it is clean, it is just LOVELY!!!!

Even the SSG loved it.  That is bonus points in my house. 

Bonus question.  Do you think it is too early for Halloween crafts???? 

Linking up to:
Blue Cricket Design
Lil Luna
Night Owl Crafting
Someday Crafts
Boerman Ramblings
Somewhat Simple
A Glimspe Inside
Simply Designing