One of my favorite Christmas gifts.

I don't know why, but I've wanted a globe for a long time. Kev acquired a big map from work this summer that we tacked up in the living room, and it satisfied my globe craving for a while.

Additionally, I picked up a France atlas at WSU's book sale this fall and plan to use the maps for all sorts of projects (in the past I've made great use of maps customizing frames).

For Christmas, I hit the jackpot. Kev did some thrifting and surprised me with this absolute beauty.

Its condition is exceptional, and the globe rotates perfectly on its axis within the wooden frame. I love it so much that I put away the Christmas decorations earlier than usual so I could have space to display this. It complements the existing decor in the living room and it just makes me happy to look at it.

Merry Christmas to me.

A new twist on Farr's ice cream.

On Thursday night, my mom, Kev and the babies (Aspen and Maddie) went to the Riverdale dog park. After Maddie had a load of fun sniffing other dog bums and running around, we piled back in the car and stopped at the new Farr's ice cream shop on the corner of Riverdale Rd and Wall Ave.

Stop reading this post and get over there right now.

As soon as we walked in I commented that it seems to be the Farr's ice cream for the new generation. The tables are topped with industrial metal and there is a completely different vibe than the old-school versions of the two other Farr's shops in Ogden.

This Farr's offers a selection of delicious soft-serve ice cream with dozens of topping options. Ice cream lovers such as myself can pick a cup and mix/match flavors and toppings to our hearts' contents. The soft-serve is weighed and billed by the ounce so you can choose how much bang you get for your buck.

I mixed orange creme with strawberry and then I died and went to heaven.

If you like soft-serve, custard and/or frozen yogurt, then I recommend you visit this new Farr's. I believe there's one in the Orem area as well (Sophia, check it out for me and have some soft-serve for dinner, will you? I know you like that). The best part for me is that you're invited to sample the flavors and the cups they offer for the task are HUGE. Like, I almost helped myself to a handful of samples and called it good.

Please go, and tell me what you mix up.

You may call me a hypocrite if you'd like.

I don't like the smell of roses. Also, I think they're kind of plain. It's funny that I think that about roses because my favorite flower is a daisy- which is extremely plain.

Regardless of how I feel about roses, I still accept them. Kev gave me a rose once, and only once. Poor guy.

His dad also brought me a few roses when he brought over the Irises last week. This single red rose did such a good job of convincing me of its beauty that I ended up putting it on my bedside table.

Tricky little flower; getting the best of me. I guess you can say I'm a sucker for flowers, regardless of what variety. I'm telling you though, the fresh flower bug really did catch me in May. I'm afraid I can never go back to NOT having blooms in my house. It's one of my new favorite things.

Who doesn't love free date nights?

One of my favorite things to do is spend quality time with Kev. We just cancelled our cable (YIKES!) this week because 1) we're cutting back on expenses; and 2) we don't need to waste our time in front of stupid TV.

On Monday we went to the Ogden Amphitheater to enjoy the free concert and family movie. We only went once last year and I regret that we didn't take advantage of the opportunity more consistently.

The weather was perfect and we ran into the dog who made me adopt Maddie.


It was so good to see that little schnauzer and his mom Kerry. Kev and I left Maddie home because she's sometimes a toxic cloud of aggression in public places and neither one of us had the energy to keep her corralled.

Next week they're showing a Star Trek movie, and the week after is The Blindside. Let me know if you'd like to join me and Kev!

Be sure to enter Friday's giveaway!

I wish I could find this in stores.

I can only find this onesie online and it's so disappointing because I want ot redeem my "in-store only" coupons.





Maybe it's a good thing though. I don't want it to appear that we're trying to persuade our child too soon to appreciate good music. She may need to wait a few years before she's ready for Pink Floyd.

For the car lover in you.

Kev is selling both of his Subaru Justys. If you're interested in the stats, head over to KSL classifieds and check them out here. Please spread the word so I can get them out of my driveway and into someone else's!

Gettin' the juices flowin'

I told Kev I want to consider making a mobile for my pilates buddy.

The part that he's supposed to care about? I want to make it with rock climbing holds. Kev has a lot to choose from, and he even suggested using alphabet or number holds. Cute, huh?

We'll have to see what ends up working. After all, I don't want to do a shoddy job and end up clobbering my pilates buddy with a porcelain letter "A" as she rests in her crib. I'm thinking regular holds will work best since their holes are drilled in the center and can easily be hung to hang interesting-side-down for baby's viewing pleasure.

Have you ever made a baby toy or accessory out of non-traditional materials?

Ribbet Ribbet, sip it.

One of the last times Kev and I visited IKEA I picked up a couple of these Mata frog bowls (in blue and green) for pennies in the "As Is" section. I also got one of the sippy cups. It's weird that we'll now have to accumulate child-friendly dishes. I'm not exactly sure where I'm going to store everything in the kitchen once baby's needs go beyond a boob, a spoon and pureed fruits and veggies.

Look no further.

I was just telling myself I'd like to get a pair of sports sneakers that aren't white (even though I love my white sneakers with hot pink laces). I got a $10 off coupon from DSW for Valentine's Day and found these amazing Rocket Dogs on their website.

The number one reason I love Rocket Dog shoes is the comfort. I have never had a pair of their shoes, even sandals, that are uncomfortable after a long day. I love them. I may just have to head to Layton and put my coupon to good use on a V-day gift for myself. Afterall, Kev said that this year he'd actually like to celebrate by doing something other than our taxes.

He's such a romantic.

This one's for my family.

It was tradition in my family to give everyone a copy of "Tommy Boy" when it came time to leave home.

My family LOVES that movie. Kev is also a big fan, but he needs to work on his quotes.

When I showed him this onesie, he told me immediately to buy it. How can I resist when I've been given "permission?"

Until my pilates buddy leaves the nest, this onesie will have to be an acceptable substitute for receiving a copy of the movie.

Good movies.

Kev and I both had MLK day off so we went to a matinee. I thoroughly enjoyed "Sherlock Holmes." I'm a big fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and I even took a Holmes class in college. It was a full semester of reading the stories and watching ancient copies of the movies and comparing the two. Easiest class ever. I liked the volumes of stories so much that I bought my own weathered and worn copies as soon as the class concluded.

During the movie, Kev commented that he's really glad Robert Downey Jr. cleaned up his act. Me too. Otherwise we wouldn't have the Holmes movie or Iron Man (so excited that #2 is coming soon!).

Another movie we liked is "Invictus" with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Kev took me and Sophia to see it while she visited during the Christmas Holidays. Such a great movie. I love when a movie can uplift you with its message- especially when it's based on a true story (like "The Blindside" I think I've mentioned before). Thank you, Nelson Mandela for being a leader in South Africa and helping the nation move past apartheid.

If you get a chance to see some movies in the near-future, check these out. I'm sure they'll be playing soon in $3/$1 theaters. Kev and I are lucky to have a great one down the street from our Pink House. Like we need more incentive to see movies together.

Free is the best option ever.

The DewTour and Verizon Wireless are hosting a FREE Dashboard Confessional concert tomorrow night on downtown 25th Street. Thrilling, I know.

I'm so excited I might pee my pants. That might be a good thing though, since the concert is outdoors. It'll warm me right up!

Simple pleasures

I'm home sick today. I should say I came home sick today. After two hours at work I realized I was not going to successfully carry out a full day.

I've been snuggling with my puppy and a Sprite all afternoon. My favorite thing is to see Maddie get up from her blanket nest and stretch her hairy little chin up to the ceiling. She notices someone walking by and starts to growl but it ends in a yawn. It's so precious that I can forgive her heinous dog-food breath.

Unfortunately I have to kick it back into high gear soon because there is so much going on this weekend. My siblings are having our Secret Santa exchange tomorrow and there is a requisite Saturday trip to Lowe's scheduled as well. Plus I have to visit IKEA so Kev can try out a couch I love. All the festivities and chores need to be done in time for me and Kev to get back up to Ogden before 4pm so Kev can work a show at WSU.

Perhaps I can have a Sprite drip installed to help calm my stomach while I get things done. Or maybe I can sneak a few bites of the homemade bread that's baking for a party this evening. Nothing like food made with love to make a body feel better!

Let your light shine

I've always wanted to try body shimmers. I remember using glitter STICKS in junior high to decorate my face to the max, but I have since matured in my tastes. This Mary Kay shimmer has caught my eye and I've actually added it as the first item on my Christmas list. Actually, it's the only item on the Christmas list I'm making for Kev.

I even have a coupon for him to use.

Little pleasures

Before Kev lost his job, I had ordered this spicy dress from Forever21 and used a "free shipping" coupon to really make it worth my while.

Even though I felt like I should return it once we discussed Kev's job situation, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I had already tried it on and fallen in love with it. I wear a black, DownEast Basics Wonder Tee under the halter and the outfit really comes together.

It's my comfort for having a jobless husband again, judge me if you will.

Man on Wire

Kev asked me to watch Man on Wire with him this week. I had no idea what it was about when I sat down to paint my nails and watch the show with him. I thought it was about rock climbing. The obscure title threw me.

First of all, it's not a rock climbing movie. Second of all, it has a significant amount of French subtitles, so choosing to paint my nails was a bad idea. Although I can pick up a lot of French vocab (I studied for three years in college) I am no good at stringing all that vocab together to understand everything by ear.

Regardless of missing some of the comments in the movie, I still loved it. I love French. I love their accents. I loved the idea of Phillipe's life, even though I don't love his reckless view of life and death.





To Philippe, it's just like breathing. As a circus performer he is comfortable with crowds and heights and feats unimaginable to many. But the fact that he can just write off a fall from 1/4 of a mile like it's no big deal astonishes me. Completing that dream of his changed him forever. He became someone instead of just a tightrope walker. He fulfilled a dream he'd schemed since he was 17 years old.

How many of us can say the same? What were you dreaming of at 17? Are you where you thought you would be?

There's always music on Mondays.

Ogden City hosts music in the amphitheater downtown every Monday night. There's usually a movie following the performance as well. After Kev and I had creamies (and Maddie played tug-o-war with his popsicle stick!) we headed out for a night of music.

We're really glad that Kev's mom Linda, who performs with a band, reminded us that there's actually something to do in Ogden on a Monday night.

I guess we look like really nice people because the cutest little boy in the whole world came over to pet Maddie and talk with us. He was so excited to tell us that he was wearing Wolverine underwear. I was excited to hear it! Kev and I love Wolverine so much we'd probably wear his underwear too.

We also got to meet this little guy, Rex. He's a 3-month-old rat terrier, which is what breed we believe Maddie is. Kev was overjoyed to see a mini-version of his dog. He often tells me he wishes he could've known Maddie as a puppy. It's pretty cute.

I bet they'd be even cuter if they had matching Wolverine underwear.

Out of the Wild; The Alaska Experiment

Kev and I love this show. It airs Tuesday nights on the Discovery Channel at 10pm E/P. We watch the free reruns on demand on Sundays.

First of all, most of the participants are originally east coasters. That means they have accents. I love their accents. It reminds me of home.

Secondly, I get so wrapped up in their plight to trek across Alaska in search of what may end up being a completely dilapidated shelter with no food or a place to sleep away from the elements. I love getting that involved in a show.

It's heart-wrenching to watch them share a field mouse between 7 people. And they're always so cold. I feel so badly for them.

The show also gets bonus points for not being a typical "reality" drama. It feels pretty real, so even if it's 100% staged they're doing a great job.

I think it's taking a short hiatus right now, but when it's back I'm looking forward to seeing how they do at their next shelter. Check it out!