mandy's madness

Serenity at Walmart

2011-04-11T20:41:00.003-06:00

I made a discovery today.

One that will forever change my life.

I loathe grocery shopping. Everything about it. And of course the most economical place to shop near me is walmart. Of course it is. And since I live my life the way I do, I am there several times a week picking up the2 things I forgot the time before, the cycle never ends. Today was a more significant trip though since my kids are home all week with nothing better to do than snack, snack, and snack. Cord had ten pieces of toast today. You get my point.

As I walked through the parking lot I happened upon my ipod so i popped in my earphones. It was like walking into another world. All of the tension I normally feel when I walk through those doors was gone. I didn't take them out once the entire time I was there and it was the most peaceful hour of my life. I actually mosy'd. I didn't even care that I got into the longest line with what turned out to be the slowest checker, maybe because I wasn't strategically analyzing every line predicting which one would go the fastest. and then getting angry when mine inevitably doesn't. I was simply relaxed, and didn't even notice the loads of inconsiderate people and kids around me screaming and pushing and begging.....

So next time your out, and wish someone else would do your dirty work for you, reach for your listening pleasure and enjoy instead. slow paced albums work best.

I highly recommend Adele's 21.

Not just for medicating through Walmart come to think of it but because it is pure bliss.

It's a spring miracle.

where would I even start

2010-07-28T22:40:00.002-06:00

I had to log into my blog to leave a comment on a friends blog, and to my astonishemt, alarm and i'm not gonna lie amusement, i haven't blogged in well over a year. Anyone who really knows me completely understands why, but it is a rather sad commentary on my life I have decided. So to appear a little more "sane" (I almost put "normal" HA HA HA HA HA) I will ATTEMPT to jot something down a little more often than every 18 months or so....
This should get me buy for at leat 2 months don't ya think???

amateur

2009-04-20T20:13:00.018-06:00

SOOOO, I have always had this intense love of photography, even though I know NOTHING about it. I have recently had an opportunity to take a photography class and I am LOVING it. The last class was a location shoot... I took Cole as my guinnea pig and considering his attention span is UNDER five minutes, it actually went pretty well. And only 1 trip to find a bathroom. What I have learned the most is that I have ALOT to learn and have a feeling I will spend MANY years continuing this education. Here are a few of my favorites, keep in mind these are "UN" Photoshopped, that class is tomorrow night....

Star Mill

2008-12-15T23:08:00.030-07:00

I have a well known love of antiques. Any kind really, i'd kill for the nice stuff, but the old junky stuff usually laying out in the yard or the flea market is the kind that really holds a special place in my heart. What I wouldn't give to spend my days searching for fabulous pieces and carefully placing them in a shop of my own, but that is a whole other epilogue. So my favorite "local" place is Star Mill in American Fork. I love everything about it including the ecclectic owner Daniel that I could spend hours talking to. He has a story for everything. So I get his monthly card and it says there is going to be a Santa Parade, the same day I had decided to take my kids down and take their pictures on his property (he charges a whopping $15 and it is photography paradise). So we get up and go down in the morning to check out this parade, and I stumbled into the most magical morning. It really was a parade. There was a float and 4 fire engine and then Santa and Mrs. Claus were brought in on a sleigh pulled by beautiful horses. They were escorted into the old house on the property which is also filled with antiques and we waited in line to go in and see the "real" Santa. The kids got to sit on his lap and we took our own pictures and they gave out big candy sticks. He had tables EVERYWHERE of used children's books and the kids got to take as many as they wanted home. There was hot Chocolate and a beautiful old Fire Truck that they gave rides around the block on as well. It was the perfect family outing, like something out of a novel. We went Christmas shopping after then home to get dressed for pictures and pick up Capone. Then back for our "unprofessional" shoot, and dinner at Cafe Rio after. Great Memory, thanks Daniel.

Happy Birthday Mom!

2008-12-15T22:30:00.014-07:00

SOOOO, I finished my Christmas shopping way too early this year (a feat I have NEVER accomplished, I am usually crying in TOYS R US 3 days before Christmas) so decided that instead of just enjoying my time to do nothing, I would throw a suprose party for my mom's, eh hem, 58th Birthday. Sorry mom, I know you will hate me for that. My mom share's a birthday with my brother CHris, therefore has never really had any attention of ANY kind for her birthday. Also, if any of you know my mom, you know that she does EVERYTHING for everyone else and never takes in return. Time to turn the spotlight and give her a little for once. She was actually suprised, even after john sent a text to her instead of me saying we are just getting here! Luckily she didn't clue in. It was mostly family, but several of their friends drove out here, whcih I was so grateful for since i don't exactly live close to most. The only thing missing was Troy...

SUPRISE!

ODE TO JODES...

My mom is NOTORIOUS for not being able to keep her eyes open in pictures...So obviously this one was staged, with my mom being left out of the joke of course. We are so amusing.

Thanks Iracema, for keeping Phils spirit there even though he couldn't be.

The only down side to throwing a party FOR my mom is that she couldn't make the cake, and there is nothing in the world like one of her cakes. They are so good you eat till you literally want to thrown up, I am serious, every time. We never learn our lesson.

~HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM ,WE LOVE YOU!~

Thanksgiving

2008-12-15T21:52:00.008-07:00

Okay, I am well aware that i haven't blogged for almost four months. Let's just say I've been busy and move on. So I won't go back over what everyone's missed, we'll just start with Thanksgiving and go from there. So this was my first Thanksgiving with out my kids, ever. I was a little worried about being alone, and then Troy called me the day before and told me he was coming Thanksgiving morning. Good suprise. So I got to spend 2 days with him, too short but what a great 2 days it was, just being together. We spent Thanksgiving day at my mom's and had way too much inappropriate fun, only a special few will understand what that means. Let's just say Thursdays will never be the same, if you watch the Price is Right that is....

New York

2008-08-31T21:23:00.010-06:00

Troy took me home to Rochester with him last week and we had a blast! We went for a week....I can't remember when I had that nuch time off last, it was bizarre not taking care of everything and everyone for 7 straight days! My store did not even call me once which was seriously a sign that the end is near....
We spent the first few days with ALL of his family. And I mean ALL. Grandamas, Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Godparents their kids and grandkids....you get the picture. They ALL live right there in the same area. Everyone lives on huge pieces of beautiful property and some even live in their parents and grandparents original homes. We went to Lake Ontario, drove over the Erie Canal a million times, went to everyones houses, saw Troy's High School where he was a soccer "STAR", and rode a 100 year old carousel that his grandparents have ridden every year for who knows how many years. That was just for starters. Then was the wedding, which was the reason we went that weekend. One of Troy's friends got married, it was actually joe's sister....if you go back in the archives Joe (and kis wife Kristie are the ones we went to Vegas with in may). We spent the majority of the rest of our trip with Joe and Kristie, including a 2 day trip to the Canadian side of Niagra falls. It was incredible!! Definitely a trip to remember....
Here are some of the highlights.

The street his Grandparents live on

Niagra Falls from our room

The rest are from the "Maid of the Mist"

The Carousel

Eagle Mountain Utah Home For Sale

2008-08-29T18:45:00.009-06:00

Know anyone in the market?....

Presented by: Lisa Willden - 801-913-3553
List Price: $224,900
MLS# 826716
Stat: Active
Ref # 1
Address: 3939 PARKERS PL
Type: Single Family
Style: 2-Story Conventional
City: Eagle Mountain, UT 84005
Project: RANCHES
Prop. Tour: Tour
NS/EW: 7560 N / 3939 E

[Photos Off]
Tot Sq Ft: 2572 Tot Beds: 4 Tot Baths: 3.00 Family Rms: 1 Fireplace: 0 GarPort: 2 0
Yr Built: 2000Taxes: $1,092Acres: 0.10HOA Fee: $30Under Cnst: NoFin Bsmnt: 10%
Exterior: Aluminum/Vinyl
Lot Facts: Fenced Part, Sidewalks, Sprinkler - Auto-Part
Features & Info: Outdoor Lighting, Porch Open, Sliding Glass / Closet-Walk-In, Dishwasher, Disposal, Master Bath, Range Oven Free Std.
Inclusions: Ceiling Fan, Microwave, Range
Remarks: Picture perfect! Darling 2-story...Incredible floorplan w/four bedrooms upstairs, huge family room on main & room to grow in basement. Upgrades galore...Glazed cabinetry, tile, fresh 2-tone paint, arches, pergo, wainscoating, light fixtures & tons more!

Sale Extended....

2008-07-08T16:02:00.002-06:00

So the 25% off sale started again today and will go until next Monday due to inventory levels being OUT OF CONTROL. I have gobs of kids product.....come get it, the deals are amazing....

Jam Packed Weekend...

2008-07-08T15:42:00.003-06:00

So we had another crazy weekend. The fourth always ends up like this though, it comes with having a child with a birthday so close to it! We just had a fun day as a family at home on Friday, yardwork, pool, etc. Then we went and watched the Fireworks at Thanksgiving point that evening....We went plenty early but it was already crazy when we got off the freeway. So we quickly took a right instead of a left, pulled down the side road across the freeway from it, backed the car in and set up camp! IT was FANASTIC! We didn't have to fight the crowds and actually felt like it was just us even though the whole street ended up lined up with cars! When the fireworks started the kids sat on the roof of the car on a blanket and we sat in the open back and it was totally relaxing! Besides the fact that Cole decided that he had to pee just as the show started, typical. Best part was the traffic leaving took no time at all! Saturday Troy and I took Cord and his friend Robbie to Lagoon for Cord's friend party (he got to choose 1 friend to go). We went later in the day and it was SO MUCH BETTER! it was cooler and the lines were shorter and they were great when it got dark!!! Then to round it all off on Saturday we had a family party for Cord at my mom's! It was chaos, but he had a great birthday!!!

Liv's Recital

2008-07-08T15:30:00.003-06:00

So we packed as much as we could into one day! Coming off of working overnight for inventory, we did Pinewood Derby first thing in the morning then moved onto Liv's activities! She had a recital she had to be at that evening, so Troy and I took her to lunch at Mimi's while the boys were at Chad's. We had a great time just the 3 of us, I don't get to take them out individually enough. Then home to get in makeup and costume then off to the Franklin Covey Performing Arts Center in Provo. She did amazing of course! This is as good as it gets though cause we could'nt take any pictures inside!

Pinewood Derby

2008-07-08T15:13:00.005-06:00

I'm SO behind! We'll start with Pinewood Derby. This was Cord's last year to participate....I can't believe he will be 12 next year, I have entered a whole new phase of parenting.....we are getting so old! Troy helped Cord with his car this year and he took 2nd! Considering Troy had never even heard of Pinewood Derby before I'd saythey did pretty good. Cord is just NOT competetive by nature, so I think it even suprised him a little bit. He was really just there for the ice cream sandwich afterward! To make it an even bigger victory, he lost to a kid who's dad is the grand daddy of cars and even has workshops every year at his house to help other kids with theirs. According to Troy, we have a couple years to master a 1st place car before Cole gets in now. He's slightly more competetive.....

Cord's is the red car...

Sales Update....must read

2008-07-02T19:21:00.002-06:00

Okay, it just got even better. We marked down kids, baby and adult today and here's the inside scoop....starting tomorrow thru Sunday ALL sale (Adult, Body, Kids, Baby, Maternity) will ring up an additional 25% off.
Must go to the GAP tomorrow.
FYI I am only in my store till one tomorrow and out the rest of the holiday weekend so please shop at my store, but if you do I will miss you!!!

Sale....

2008-06-25T23:29:00.002-06:00

It's that time again......
Summer Sale Event started at all GAP stores in the US this morning.
Come get your goods.

ps...this afternoon I put out LOADS of fabulous sale denim for girls and boys at Gateway. Come get it for back to school before all I have is the full price stuff...

Progress....

2008-06-14T21:30:00.003-06:00

Here's the latest......

Yard Update

2008-06-02T08:23:00.003-06:00

SOOOO.....here is an update on the yard. It seems like it was going so slow for so long, it is fun to see some quick progress. I am all about the instant gratification so I have struggled with the delay in seeing results here! But we finally are and you can see how nice it is turning out. Troy got the tramp level and moved down saturday and the kids had friends over and slept on it finally! The have been waiting forever to do that, it brought back so many memories for me! Great way to start their summer vacation. I am hoping to finish the rock pavers today. The longest part is hauling them down from the mountain, i feel like a pioneer. Thank goodness I have a car though...
Still a little ways to go after that, rock wall and plants around the trampoline, plants along the wall by the patio and around the white fencing containing the ugly air conditioner, somehow get the grass pretty again, and I am ambitious and I am going to do moss between the pavers......it'll be all summer for this one!

Projects

2008-05-30T17:42:00.007-06:00

So I am in major project mode, anyone who knows me well is not suprised I am sure. Well, I should clarify, in my head I am in project mode and the list is growing exponentially, but in reality I am putting everything off!!! SO I thought maybe if I put some of them on here I would be more excited to get the afters on and thus get something done! We'll see if it works. If it does I will start blogging my weight loss as well. HA!

So this is really Troy's project....my backyard has always sucked and is totally non-functional. These were taken after we already started but they will give you a good idea of how bad....can't wait till the after on this one!

I got this amazing antique buffet (as well as a matching one that is twice as long) from my aunt in Seattle several years ago. They were in her garage and she was gonna toss them....lucky me.....

But they are in need of some refinishing. I have always envisioned them a creamy white and distressed so project number 4,562.

I have been on the hunt for a floor lamp for my entry way when all of a sudden I remembered this FABULOUS antique lamp I found at DI last year. It's just been sitting in my basement. A little white paint and I am searching for the perfect shabby lamp shade.....

I have loved this color in my kitchen, but I think I am ready to tone it down with a more muted green...

Happy Birthday Troy!

2008-05-30T17:19:00.006-06:00

Oh to be 26 again....

We have actually been celebrating it for a week....but here are the pictures from "cake" with my mom and John on Monday. He had a birthday weekend in Vegas, family party on Monday, I took him to our favorite restaurant Takashi on Wednesday, and I took the kids up to his place downtown and suprised him for his actually birthday last night!! The kids and I took him sushi, again, a cookie cake and his gifts and had a great time! They thought he lived in a hotel...He lives above the Gateway.....ah kids.

Vegas......

2008-05-27T21:10:00.009-06:00

Went to Vegas for Memorial Day weekend and had an amazing time!!! I met Troy's friend's Joe and Kristie for the first time....they all grew up together in Rochester, Joe and Kristie have been together since they were 15 and got married last year. They were so much fun and we didn't want to leave on Monday! We did a ton while we were there....2 shows, dinner evey night, walked every square inch of the strip a couple times, shopped, rode the roller coaster, celebrated 2 birthday's (Kristie and Troy) and Troy won 5000 nickels.....

2008-05-12T17:31:00.008-06:00

Who knew water bottles could be this entertaining?

Of course Troy had to get in anyway he could.

Love those freckles....

Mother's Day

2008-05-12T17:12:00.005-06:00

I hope all you Mothers out there had a wonderful Mother's Day! Mine was fantastic. Troy came down and spent the day with me and the kids (Chad brought them home to me before church so I could get the day with them). I got new perfume from the kids (Troy) and then my mom and John came over for the afternoon. We watched the game, of course and then had a fanastic late lunch. For any of you who have never had Chicken Salad from the Lion house I highly recommend it, you can buy it by the pound. And of course if you are going to break your diet nothing like doing it the right way with cheesecake! We spent the rest of the afternoon goofing around in the front yard then watched a great episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition. What a perfect day with the family.......

David Archuletta

2008-05-11T13:19:00.005-06:00

So I thought I would be the oldest one there, but to my suprise there were quite a few "older" women there. Maybe I shouldn't mention that they were the mother's of the 17 year olds? What ever. I went with the intention of just getting a quick picture or 2 for my kids and a friend who's a fan and lives in another state because to tell you the truth, I like David....a lot......but I really have been rooting for the other David (Cook). Till Friday that is. I made friends with the 3 adorable 17 year old girls and their mom that were standing behind me and suddenly I got caught up in the excitement of it all. As we waited an hour, sometimes in the rain, the anticipation built and finally he was there. It was total hysteria, and he was just adorable. About 5 minutes in amid the screaming I watched him look next to him and mouth 'mom' (His mom was there, and yes I was that close) and he just lost it. He started crying. Not in an embarrassing way, he was smiling the whole time and did end up turning around to try to compose himself, but in a I'm finally home and this is what is waiting for me i can't believe this is my life sort of way. It was in that moment that I decided. I want him to win. There is just a completely different feeling between the 2 Davids and I now see how completely cocky David Cook seems. On some level he can be, because he IS good, and he IS ready to be a star. But no matter the outcome at this point he will be, as will David Archuletta.... so let this humble kid with just pure raw talent shine for those last five minutes in ten days and let's all watch proudly as the tears stream down his face......

Spring Break

2008-04-29T14:58:00.008-06:00

It was a QUICK trip, but we had a great 3 days in St. George over spring break last week! Got to spend time with Grandparents and old friends, the weather cooperated, the kids had a blast and Mandy even got an evening out with her girlfriends (Thanks Kenon and Kristi)!

cole's tae kwon do

2008-03-24T21:13:00.003-06:00

Troy enjoyed his first time using movie maker way too much.....

In Memory of Rob

2008-03-16T18:46:00.004-06:00

I recently had a dear friend pass away. While my oldest friend Patti and I were roomates in Provo I was fortunate enought to watch her fall in love with the most wonderful man named Rob Epperson. He was truly her soulmate and they have had a beautiful family of 5 kids over the past 12 years. Rob passed away last week from very sudden cancer and I attended his heartbreaking funeral on Friday. It was devastating to see the loss that family has endured, yet it is a remarkable story of faith as well. Please take a moment to read their journal on their website, start from their first entry and work your way forward. It will change your life......

This is a picture from the last time I saw Rob when they came to visit me on Easter of last year.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/robepperson

My baby is 6...

2008-03-16T18:31:00.003-06:00

We kept the festivities for Cole a little more low key this year. I was slightly burned out by the end of all of this, it has been a crazy month. Cole chose 2 friends to join him at the Living Planet Aquarium, it was fast and easy, not too expensive and the kids loved it. It didn't hurt that their was a 7-11 across the street so we stopped for slurpees after. Apparently that makes any outing a success.

Liv turns 9!

2008-03-16T18:03:00.003-06:00

I can hardly believe she is getting so old so fast. But she is turning into the most beautiful girl in every way! We had a joint Family Party for her and Cole since their birthday's are so close together. Then she had a High School Musical Slumber Party with 5 friends.....they has a BLAST!

Beautiful Kids

2008-03-16T17:49:00.007-06:00

Some recent pictures of the kids from their 'family'/ engagement pictures they has taken with Chad and Jen. The kids' turned out amazing!

And if curiousity (most of you know what I am talking about) gets the best of you you can see the rest @ fausetphotograhpy.blogspot.com....

Puppy Love

2008-01-24T20:47:00.001-07:00

Meet 'Capone', the newest member of our Family.

He is a 6 month old Black Lab Great Dane mix and the kids are having so much fun with him!!

GAP sale

2008-01-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, here is your Gap connection ya'all.
Last minute clearance sale started today to clear out all of our winter merchandise cause we have WAY TOO MUCH. All sale at ALL GAP stores is an additional 25% existing sale prices (and theya re slready cheap) off through Monday. Though I can tell you just from experiencing my store today that it will be gone by Saturday. I don't know how other stores are sitting but I have plenty of Adult and Body product, some Kids and TONS of BABY. And at Gateway we price killed it which for all those of you who aren't familiar with this term means we cut the lowest corporate markdown price ending in .97 in half and then you get the % off on top of that. Great time to come in and get some goods. And if you happen to be in my neck of the woods (I know you will freeze your a** off) come see me at the GATEWAY!!!
PS...Utahns: Southtown GAP is closing January 26th. They might not have as much product as the other stores.....

Christmas Eve

2008-01-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

what a mess.....

but so much fun.....

and dang they were good!

three EXCITED kids

i'm a blogger

2008-01-02T20:48:00.000-07:00

I guess I'm gonna join the bandwagon on this one. Not sure how great of a blogger I will be seeing as how I have ZERO free time, but I suppose it will keep me more connected than I have been since I NEVER get to catch up with friends and family! So here goes nuthin.......