My list of songs...

Day 10 - songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad

This is a tough assignment! I have so many songs that I constantly listen to for all those situations, BUT I will try and list those that are usually at the top of my list.

Happy: I love the beach, the sun, being warm, this is one that no matter what will always put a smile on my face! I also can't help but tap my foot to the beat! "Soak Up the Sun" - Sheryl Crow

Sad: This is one that I have always enjoyed especially when I am sad after a relationship ends. This just is a song that gives me hope that there is a someone out there looking for me. I especially love the song when I hear Ella Fitzgerald singing it because she captures the emotion so well... "Someone to Watch Over Me" - Gershwin

Bored: When I am bored I sing anything broadway and dance! This is one that I like because you start off quiet and soft and by the end you are just belting it out with passion and heart! One of my favorites "Gimme Gimme" - Thoroughly Modern Millie

Hyped: This one was pretty easy! I love this song, I have been made fun of for this song, but it is a super easy song to jam out to when I am all HYPED up! :) "Crazy Horses" - The Osmonds

Mad: This might seem to some like a weird "mad" song but this one really is so I can jump/dance around and do some awesome Rocky punches in the air to a sweet beat! "I'm Blue" - Eiffel 65

Proud

Day 9 - Something you're proud of in the past few days.

That would have to be the Silent Auction - I really am proud of the way that it ended up looking. I am proud of the help I received!

I am just grateful to see that I do have a little bit of creativity! I thought that my sisters were the only ones that received that gene! :)

That's It - I Quit!!

I have always considered myself a pretty good friend, but in a friendship I expect to have it go both ways. I am tired of being the good friend that will go out of my way (because I really enjoyed the friendship) to make sure you know that I still care - even when I don't hear from you for months...

Then I heard this song from Adele and I realized that I just needed to quit and move on... If you don't want to put forth the effort to be my friend then why should I?? If I am not worth a quick email, text or phone call then what is my friendship worth to you? Which is sad, because I am a pretty good friend to have around! ;)

I Quit!!

Gala 2011

Gala Time!!!

I was lucky enough this year to have help with the Silent Auction from Molly and Erin! I was able to pick everything and as I was cruising around the various linens, I found one that just caught my eye and an idea was planted!

I received approval for my idea and presented it to my trusty helpers. I was thinking of using peacock feathers this year and pulling the beautiful colors from the feathers to create a nice antique and elegant look. Molly came up with an idea of how to present the actual items and I took charge over the decorations. I was informed that we would have some high profile people this year viewing the silent auction and therefore it needed to look wonderful! This only helped to heighten my level of anxiety!!! I am a bit of a perfectionist and this just made that go into overload!

We worked until our fingers were blue, printers hated us, and we saw all three staff shifts in the HSC/SCC. I was exhausted when Wednesday, September 7, finally arrived. Because of the crazy rainy weather it was decided to pull the Sponsor Reception into the Card Room and therefore push my Silent Auction into a Solarium. I was nervous to have it so far away, but it worked out well with the lighting and staging for the auction.

I ran home and threw on my dress, fixed my hair, added darker makeup, and met Erin to carpool back to work together. Erin and I had our yearly picture in front of the ice sculpture - this is the third! Crazy!!

Now, so you can see how the Silent Auction turned out - I have posted some pictures. There are pictures showing Molly and I wearing the Tiffany & Co. necklace and bracelet that were being auctioned off as well. They were a beautiful set and I would have loved to put the starting bid of $800 on them if I could have... Maybe next year!

This year I believe the Silent Auction looked the best EVER! I know that I couldn't have done it without the wonderful help and ideas from Molly and Erin! They helped to make me laugh when I was ready to bite! They helped calm my nerves when I thought the tablecloth wouldn't look good! They also spent hours and hours of running to and from Michael's all because something wasn't exactly how I was picturing it. We made a great team! THANK YOU!!!

Goals

Day 8 - Short Term Goals for this month and why.

I am a list person, I love to be able to check things off my list and have it look like I accomplished a ton of things. Some of my lists contain things such as "File Claims for this month" and other times they are things like "Eat Lunch."

But these are simple goals for the month.

1 - Exercise every day
2 - Eat better
3 - Drink Water
4 - Only two (2) Diet Cokes a week

Gonna do it! My simple goals! :)

I am who I am today!

Day 7 - Someone/something that has the biggest impact on you.

I know that I talk about this alot, but I just can't explain how much this has changed my life. My earliest memories are of listening to music, singing lessons, watching my oldest brothers sing, singing in church, watching musicals, etc.

Every where I have turned, I have had music right there with me. It is able to describe every mood I have ever been in with words that I feel sometimes reach into my very soul.

I remember one time last year when I was in a very dark place, I was struggling to face things from my past and I felt alone. Someone played this song and it touched me so deeply - "You Are Loved" by Josh Groban. I was moved beyond words, tears started falling down my cheeks and I could feel the love from everyone I knew. All of this from a song that was 3-4 minutes long!

I remember listening to classical pieces on the radio with my dad and we would both start conducting the orchestra. Or when I was younger, I would go out and feed the chickens and sing the song Belle sings after Gaston asks her to marry him. I would then run up the hill behind the house and start singing my own songs about life - I was such a dramatic girl! :)

I love when you enter a church and you can hear the organ playing. I don't know if it is because my father has always played the organ and taught me to play. I get chills when it is being played and the whole room is filled with the beautiful sound! My favorite place to listen to the organ is the Tabernacle, the pipe organ there is like none other! Ever since I was a child I have wanted to play that organ! If I ever find a genie that will be my first wish.

When I went to college and started to lose the hearing in my left ear, I thought my life was over (apparently my being dramatic didn't end when I was a child)! I cried for days, okay... weeks, and was angry!!! It wasn't until I was talking with my friend Trevor that I realized what an idiot I was being. He simply told me that I still had one good ear and to quit crying about it!

I love that music makes sense! It uses both your right and left side of your brain. I love that it is always surrounding us - grocery store, elevator, cell phone, on hold, movies, television, theme parks, video games... so many places!!

I believe that my love of music came from two very musically talented parents. My father who sings, plays the piano and organ. My mother who sings and showed us the fantastic world of musicals and broadway! Thanks to both of my parents who worked so hard to make sure I went to clogging, band, piano, voice, show choir, B-Bar-D, guitar. I am one very lucky girl! :)

But the talent doesn't stop there - my siblings have great voices, play piano, guitar, flute, clarinet, guitar, harp, write their own music, or have introduced me to artists/genres that I wouldn't otherwise know about. Seriously - how can one person be so lucky!?!?

Music has helped to shape me into the person I am today - it has had the greatest impact on my life. It has given me ways to express myself when words fail. It has always been there even when I don't even remember my own name! Music has and always will be a major part in my life!

Superhero?

Day 6 - Favorite super hero and why.

There are so many superheros that I have loved over the years, but there is one well actually four, that claim the title of favorite!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Turtle POWER!

I grew up watching these turtles fight crime, eat pizza, and tease their master Splinter.

They taught me about the importance of fighting for what you know is right. I loved watching Michelangelo complain about being hungry all the time. But, my favorite Turtle was Donatello, purple mask, usually the last to turn to violence. He was what I considered to be the smartest turtle because he usually thought of different ways to solve the various conflicts they came up against.

I also admired the love that they obviously had for Splinter. He was their "father" and taught them everything. He taught them that no matter what they faced they could always defeat it together.

I loved that series! :)

Oh the Places You'll Go!

Day 5 - Picture of somewhere you've been.

I loved the story by Dr. Suess called "Oh the Places You'll Go!"

I have posted a few of my favorite phrases from the story...

"Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go."

"You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you."

"You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!"

The picture I have posted is of Surfer's Paradise, Australia. I don't think there is a more beautiful place on earth!

I have been so many places in my life and seen so many wonderful and not so wonderful things. But, no matter where life takes me and who I'll meet along my way I will suceed - I will indeed! Because it is 98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed!

It's my BIRTHDAY!!!

I have finally reached the eternal age of "29" - I say eternal because I am now the same age as my Aunt Pam who has a son a couple of months younger than me. Pretty soon Cody, myself, and Aunt Pam will all be enjoying the final year of our roaring 20's... Or the start of the final year!? :)

I was very surprised to walk into my office and see such a wonderful surprise of a newly decorated office, my favorite snacks begging me to eat them, and the best birthday sign I have ever seen! I will post pictures of the days events - still going to a happy hour with my awesome co-workers and then hanging out with the roommies when I get home.

Very excited for tomorrow because I will be having a Wii dance party to celebrate the good times!! Before, I am bent over and crippled unable to move! :)

Pics will be posted soon! Thanks for the wonderful birthday!!!