Bad day worse

What I expected

I love pedicures. If you are on my bad side, or want to be extremely nice, treat me to a pedicure. The sad thing is, that even though at one time I was able to go every other week, due to my now busy schedule, I rarely get one every quarter. It's like a world changing event needs to occur in order for me to get one, things like a new Pope getting elected, Lance Bass coming out of the closet, Aaron doing the dishes, or passing 5 freaking kidney stones, you know the important things.

So after a very long, painful, and tiring week, I decided that I was going to get one NO MATTER WHAT!! So, after talking to Aaron and figuring out my day, we first decided to take the girls to the mall to play on their playground they have there. While I was sitting and watching all the kids that should be on ADHD medication run around like a bunch of crazy banchies, I thought to myself - "Self, why am I sitting here? I should wonder the mall and find a pedicure place and then I can go home and take a nap." Now I knew I was taking a risk, because I have only gone to ONE pedicure place in the valley, and I have been a faithful patron for over 3 years. Lover Nails and Spa on Stapley and Baseline. They are AMAZING. They don't charge extra for the salt scrub, hot lotion, or hot towels. They do an amazing job, their massages are out of this world, and all for the low price of $18. SCORE!! But being a foolish person, I go to the mall place.

Let me start out by saying this. I got there at 4:11 and left at 4:35. Yeah. The old lady who did my "pedicure" first started by filling the tub with really hot water. I told her it was too hot and she said, "Okay" and didn't fix it. Second, she pulled my feet out, washed them with the shampoo like stuff and then towel dried them and pulled out the nail polish I chose. (I always choose "No I'm really not a waitress red") I stopped her and asked if she was going to trim my nails and scrub my feet. She was startled and went "Oh". So she trimmed my nails (a blind man who is shivering could do a better job) then proceeded to paint again. I stopped her again and asked if she was going to clean up my toes and scrub the bottom of my feet. Once again I got an "Oh". She pushed the cuticles back and lightly scrubbed the bottom. Whatever. Mean while, the lady next to me is getting a pedicure by some dude, and he is cleaning up her toes and actually giving her a pedicure. After my scrubbing, she then painted my toes. The lady next to me - she was getting lotion massaged on her legs and feet. The dude was going to town. Me - nadda. I asked the lady about the lotion, and she said "Oh - I forgot, you nails too wet". Well, she could have taken off the nail polish, I mean, it was all over my toes. She didn't stay on the nail very well. I'm sure she doesn't stay within the lines when she colors either.

So after being frustrated and angered, I went upfront and she handed me the bill. Twenty-Seven-freakin-dollars. I laughed and told her I wasn't go to pay that. She said "Tip?!" I told her again I wasn't going to pay that amount. Then some dude came over and asked the problem, I then told him about my pedicure - or lack there of - and he told me sorry and that she was still in school. Umm - doesn't Arizona require you to be licensed first? So he charged me for a nail painting, I took their card, and on Monday, I am calling the State Board of Cosmetology to complain. I pray I don't end up with some flesh eating disease!!!

Lover Nails and Spa - expect to see me in between conference sessions next Saturday - open invite to all!!!

What I got

Bawl Baby

Did anyone else watch ER and cry? I'm such an idiot. I swear. I have watched this show from day-freakin-one and I feel like I know the docs personally. I miss them during the summer and wonder what they have been up to. I even wonder how Nurse Hathaway(Julianna Margulies) and Dr. Ross (George Clooney) twin girls are. I know - totally lame retard. What can I say?! Just deal with me over this last season. I can't believe it is going to come to an end. I know I will probably need therapy by the finally, and a truck load of tissue.

If you missed it go to Hulu and check it out.

Life is grand

I wish it was a rino making itself cozy in my back - instead, I'm the proud parent of 5 kidney stones - I gave birth to them sometime early Tuesday morning at the ER. But don't fret folks - it gets better - I still have one left to pass. Joy. I just want to give a shout out to modern medicine, cran-grape juice (thank you Fry's for having it on sale this week) and the heat pad I own. We have become the bestest friends!! I now hope that I can go on with my life and not deal with these stupid things again.

P.S. Have you heard of levoscoliosis of the lumbar spine? I haven't. But apparently according to the CAT scan I did at the hospital, I have a severe case of it. Levoscoliosis is the diagnosis when the spine has more than a 10 degree out of alignment and it is normally easy to spot in children from their posture, and if treated early can be fully corrected. This explains my side pain and pain that is constantly shooting down my right leg.

Summary of this blog: I'm a medical freak of nature this week. Stay tuned for next week's post : I have elephantitis in my heal - no wait - I just really need to use my pedegg.

It really is worth the $9.99 it cost - especially when the ladies at the pedicure place try to charge you Five Dollar for the acid heel crap that takes time away from them massaging your feet. Invest in one.

Until next time.......

Ready, Set, Bake

Great NieNie Cookie Sale

I am participating in a bake sale for Christian and Stephanie. Landra Jacobs is the brains behind the project and all bidding will occur at her website. Click HERE to go check it out and bid.

I am baking my ever-so-yummy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (you know your mouth is craving them, I've been told they are a circular form of Heaven) and my ever-so-yummy and soft Peanut Butter Cookies!! So go check it out - if you are here in the Phoenix Metro Area, I will deliver and double the order!!

Bidding starts at $20 and begins at EIGHT AM Arizona time and ends at NINE PM Arizona time. Bidders will be notified by email what goodies they won, and the final price. Bidders then need to send funds via Paypal straight to Nie, and forward the receipt and mailing address to Landra Jacobs. She will then pass the info to me and I will mail / deliver your yummy cookies.

So - why are you still here reading this?! SCAT go check out the cookies and start bidding!!!

It's really a Holiday

Did you know that today is an International Holiday? Can you guess what day it is? Come on, guess........ fine, be that way - parrrrty pooper!

It's Talk Like a Pirate Day!!


That's right - tharrr is such a day. If you need help learning how to talk then check out this video - they you can be successful today in yarrr adventures!!

P.S. Happy Barrrrthday Cory!!! You ol swashbuckling chum!!

Great Fundraiser

HEY!! Want to do something really fun that would help out Christian and Stephanie Nielson? Bounce U is having a fundraiser on Saturday, September 20th, most of the day. They are not charging the normal price, instead they ask of a donation. ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE NIELSON FAMILY!! You need to call and reserve a time slot for all those you wish to take bouncing. (We are going from 9am - 10am).

Contact: 480-733-5232

Location: 4255 E. McDowell Rd.
Suite 101
Mesa, AZ 85215

THANKS!!!

Lets go GNO - (you have to listen to Hannah Montana to understand GNO)

Last night my friend Stacey and I went to the Concert of Hope for Christian and Stephanie. Loved it! While there we got to watch several amazing performers including my cousin Aaron Ballard. Here is a clip from one of his performances:

Sorry it's so shaky, I was trying to be discreet about my videoing. If you notice the ear at the bottom right - that's Christian's dad's ear. We got to sit behind Christian and Stephanie's family. It was so funny because it was like -"OH MY I know her from this blog, or I know him from that interview." It as if we know everything about their families and they know nothing bout us. I wonder if they get freaked out when strangers come up and start talking to them about things they posted.

SHHH - don't tell Aaron, but they had a silent auction - and well - we'll just say I made them at Enrichment Night.

How could one refuse?! Here is my justification - Tiffany has never, and I mean NEVER has worn shoes on her feet. Since she has tactile defensiveness on her hands and feet. We have been doing occupational therapy for her hands and they are pretty much in the okay - there are still a few textures that freak her out, but anywho - her feet - she can not stand to have socks, shoes, you name it on her feet. Which is a total bummer since I'm a baby shoes collector - (add it to my list of collections - I should post a blog on all the things I collect - remind me to do it) - back to the shoes - anywho - I figure that she is going to start walking soon and she will need to wear shoes, so why not start her off in style with some bling bling converse? I even went so far to tell Stacey that I need to find a dress she can wear these with. I'm nuts - I know, but it's for a good cause! They also had a camouflage apron there - but I just set the pen down and walked away - it was hard, but I did it!

After the concert Stacey treated me to Neilson's Frozen Custard - yummy. It was so much fun to get out and have a girls night on the town - actually it was nice to get some time to talk to an adult. And FYI - I have found a soul mate in Stacey - she too does not like the Twilight vampire books. That's right - we are both- ehhh on them. Sorry, I know that was too much info for you to handle - but it's true. Please dont' TP or egg our houses after learning this info.

On a side note - I *heart* the Wiggles.

They give me about 22 minutes of pure silence and entertainment for my daughter and niece. I am able to take a power nap, do dishes, or even sit here and blog. Tiffany loves them the same way Ashlee and Elle did, so it has been fun to dust off the old VHS's and the VCR and pop them in when needed. I can't wait until I can take Tiff to their concert and see her excitement. When we first moved back to AZ from TX I took the girls to their concert. Ashlee loved it - Elle thought it was too loud. All in all - I wouldn't mind going again for my kids.

Mi Vida Loca

So Breann - do you remember this?

Ahhhh - the fun we had in your sister's car when we were 14 and everyone was gone. hmmm - the good old times! The Deco Dances, the football games, and hanging out and watching movies! LOVED IT! Remember Pocahontas, and all the nicknames we had for everyone? I can't remember them either - I guess it's just a sign that we are getting old!! One more year until the big 3-0!! YIKES!!

In case you don't know Breann - let me introduce you to her ...

This is Breann. She is an amazing friend, daughter, sister, aunt, and all around human being. Isn't she hot?! I met her while staying with my Granny one summer in Snowflake. We hit it off and became instant buddies. I found someone I could be a goofy old dork with and would appreciate me and my insanity. Plus her family thought I was a saint (had them totally fooled didn't I?!)

Breann was born with Cystic Fibrosis and every year she helps out the CF Foundation raise money in hopes of finding a cure for it. She can't say no and is always willing to jump in with both feet and help out in any way, and that's for everything she does. She has such a strong testimony and even though she has been given some crazy curve balls in life, she has taken them with stride and just plowed on through. She is my hero and one of my bestest friends. She just moved out of state and I totally am missing her. Any ways - that's Breann.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHORT STUFF - SURE DO LOVE AND MISS YA!!

To move or not to move.....

So Aaron and I have always wanted to get out of the city. We have always wanted to live up in the mountains, preferably near Eagar, Arizona. Well, it has always been a subject and an idea that has been always "in the future". Well, it looks like we may have already hit the future. We have found a great job opportunity for Aaron and he had applied for it. He is totally excited about the possibility of moving up there like real soon.(He thinks like before Halloween). Me, I'm a tad worried, scared, yet totally excited. I hate moving, and now that I finally have my beautiful house and I am able to make it mine, the thought of leaving it and starting fresh, totally freaks me out. However, the cooler weather is a total bonus. PLUS it snows there. Hello - SNOW!!! I dunno, he may not even get the job, but still, it is fun to think, plan, and worry about it!

Mrs. Blogstocker

Hey Stacey - yes you! (I can totally see the stunned look on your face and you slightly shaking your head) I have searched high and low for your blog site. I have gone into uncharted territories of blogging and still came up empty handed. Email me your blog site..please...pretty please...with a cherry on top!! sarahdoster@gmail.com



Thanks!!!

P.S. Don't forget about our hot date on Wednesday to the Hope Concert for Christian and Stephanie!! I'll have my peeps contact your peeps on the details.

Really?! Dang that's a long time!

Then

Now


So 11 years ago yesterday (Sept. 6th) I got hitched to Aaron, and ever since then I ask myself "What the hell was I thinking?! Getting married at such a young age?!" Yes folks, I was 18 years old. So young, so stupid, so glad I did it! I wouldn't change my life for the world. 11 years later I have three beautiful daughters, a cat, grey hairs, and a minivan (that I hate). We have endured moving to Texas, a 14 month deployment to Iraq, the insane birth of Tiffany, and all the other fun ups and downs that a marriage brings.

Today instead of going out and spending alone mushy wushy time together - we decided to hang out with the girls and do family activities. Here is our day.


We went to Chandler Mall, and treated Elle to Build-a-bear for her good behavior and for reading so many books!!
Meet Pandie

Ashlee got to pick out some stuff for her Build-a-bear. She chose a sleeping bag and pajamas. She wants to take it with her when she goes and does her sleep study (another post on this issue).



Tiffany attacking some poor kid because she wanted to play with this alone! I was rather funny.

I got a blue tooth for my cell from him (hurray!) and I got him a ratchet screwdriver, a leveler, a transformer, Eternity cologne, and some shoes. This is him modeling off his new shoes:





I love Aaron so much. He is an amazing father, husband, and friend. I only wish he would put pajamas on Tiffany at night. I ask him every night to put them on her, I even get some out along with a diaper and hand them to him before I got to work. When he doesn't, this is what happens:


Needless to say, HE got the joy of cleaning a wet baby, a wet crib, and wet sheets!! Oh and she peeded on him when he got her out! Ha ha!! Happy Anniversary honey!! I sure love you!

P.S. No new cake stand purchases today.

All the other stuff

Okay - before I am inundated with anymore phone calls and text messages - I'm not pregnant. Let me repeat that in my megaphone to the crowd out front "EHM - I AM NOT PREGNANT".

So lets move on. I guess that the baby subject would be a good one to start with. Babies. I keep having dreams that I have twin boys. It is driving Aaron nuts because I have named them and I talk about them. He hates the names. So what -he can get over it. So I told him I would post the names and see what everyone else thinks. Now remember - I'm a tad odd, so just because you wouldn't use the names, you need to focus on whether or not you can see my kids with these names.

So if I ever have twin boys they will be named:

William and Waylon (yes like the old country singers)

If I ever have a girl and boy twin they will be named:

Johnny and June (yes like the old country singers)

If I ever have twin girls they will be named:

DaisyJo and Pernie (yes like their great grandmothers on Aaron's side).

Next up - the kidneys. Mine suck. I guess the reason I'm not getting preggers is because the big guy knows my body is not ready. I keep having horrific pains and they are filled with stones. At one point they were worried that they might be failing due to a high protein count and all the stress put on them from the last pregnancy. Right now I'm just waiting for all my blood work to come back with more answers.

Surgery - Tiffany needs surgery on her intestines. Here's how it works - when babies are still in that amazing spa called the womb the last thing that develops is their digestive tract. Hers apparently didn't quite develop all the way, that's what happens when you check out of the spa early - so we are back to having horrific and I mean horrific pooping problems. It sucks. So please keep her in your prayers as we head off on this next chapter of surgeries. Yes - it's plural. More than one to fix this issue. I'll post when I know when, where, and such so that you can send me See's Chocolates.

Paint - I want to paint my laundry room orange. I think it will match my 30 year old baby blue Lady Sears dryer really nice.

And finally lunch - I love the Easy Mac. You cook it in the microwave and 3 minutes later you have the perfect amount of Mac and Cheese to feed yourself and your destructive 15 month old. Have I mentioned that she is a climber. The other two didn't climb - so this is a very difficult issue for me. ARG - she climbs on the couch and breaks the blinds, she climbs on the chairs to get on top of the table. She climbs in the dishwasher when I'm loading it. I caught her trying to climb on the toilet the other day. The child needs to stop. And she has 12 more Sundays until she can go to nursery!! (Actually only 10 if you figure in General Conference and Stake Conference - but who's counting)

I think that is it. Oh wait - I have two new things I totally love. Spacebags and the Greenbags. I'm out of control when it comes to the vacuum and an empty Spacebag. I can't stop filling them. I need to be careful not to place a child or the cat inside. Tempting sometimes.

So that's all. It's all kinda boring to be honest. Oh yeah - totally bought two more cake plates - please don't tell Aaron. I'll post pics later. I really need to get into cake stand anonymous!

Short blog - Footlose is on TV

Okay, so here is the happenings of the Dorks. Where to start, where to start?!

Well, we celebrated Ashlee's 6th birthday. Hip Hip Hurray!!! I can't believe she is already six. I swear it was just yesterday that we were living in Texas, my water had broke on a Friday afternoon at the Wal-Mart (next to the eggs) and I went home, showered, and went to the hospital. ONLY to have her two days later. It's a long story. I'll publish a book about it someday. I'm just going to post pictures for the rest of the post - I love Footlose and MUST go dance along.

Ashlee wanted spaghetti for dinner. So put on my favorite apron - thanks Jodi (FYI - I have an obsession with aprons, I have way too may. At least two for every holiday, including MLK day - yeah that's right I have an MLK apron - you are sooo jealous)

Since I live in the land of the heat, I do most of my baking and cooking in the middle of the night. Since I was making homemade spaghetti and homemade meatballs, I decided to cook late. The girls wanted to stay up and help.....

They didn't last long.

Tiffany enjoying the spaghetti the next day.

YUMMY!

My other obsession is cake stands or cake plates. I have way to many of those. I have been banned from purchasing any more. Shhhhh don't tell Aaron, but I had to get this one, I couldn't refuse. It was calling my name. "Buy me, Buy me, a cute orange Halloween cake will look cute on me." Tiffany agreed, so I bought it.

FIREWORKS - Central Christian Church had fireworks over labor day. Aaron's buddy invited us, so we went.

Enjoying the free ice cream.

I couldn't stop playing with the fireworks setting on my camera. It was way too much fun.

The end.

P.S. I'll get to the food, kidneys, baby, surgery, paint, and lunch tomorrow.

Concert

A Free Concert in Honor of Christian and Stephanie Nielson
Donations will be accepted. Wednesday, Sept. 10th, 7:00 pm Mesa High School Auditorium(Silent Auction with slideshow held in foyer) Some of those that are performing include: Jordan Bluthe, Aaron Ballard, Michelle Baer, Debbie Conn, and Linsey & Tyler Maxson.

I'm also hoping that the old member of Twice Around (Christian's old high school group) will show up and sing some songs. (yeah, I had crushes on all of them - just like everyone else!!)

I am currently uploading all the bazillion pictures I have and I promise to post tonight after work, all the fun events that are going on in my life. Heres a little preview - - - food, kidneys, baby, surgery, paint, and lunch.

I know you are now going to check every hour to see if I updated . . . mwaa haa haa haaa!