The Culprit

If anyone has been wondering why I haven't blogged since Christmas, well here is one of the main reasons.Isn't she beautiful. Ryan gave me a Nintendo DS for Christmas with Brain Age 2. I'm addicted. It has daily training as well as Sudoku which I'm now addicted to as well. I get it now, there are so many people hooked on sudoku, and now I finally understand why. I also learned that you can't play it right before you go to bed or you can't sleep.

A Very Merry Christmas

I wanted to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas. If I don't talk to you, know I'm thinking of you.
Ryan, Ike and I will be Opening presents at home in the morning, then off to his parents for more presents, breakfast and we get to talk to his brother Matt who is on a mission in Hawaii. I made breakfast (coffee) cake, an old favorite, and sweet potato casserole for lunch, my new favorite. So I'm looking forward to everything the day has to offer. I didn't get Ryan a train set this year so It won't be quite as exciting as last year, but It will be a day spent with family and talking to and thinking about family that isn't near. I love you all, have a wonderful day.
This illustration is by "Boomy" Valentine, what a great name. Image found on Today's Inspiration

Grandma Goodmans Tree of Delights

This my favorite of all of Ryan's mom's Christmas decorations (she has a lot of them). It was made by her mother at a homemaking meeting or something like that. All the lady's brought their old jewelry to make this cool tree. It's fun to look at all the cool old jewelry in the piece. And it even lights up, so pretty.

Classic

You can't front on David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing Little Drummer Boy. I have to say it's one of my favorite Christmas songs from when I was young and still now. I was listening to it again today and I have to admit I got chills. The part where it says. 'every child must be made aware, every child must me made to care, care enough for his fellow man to give all the love that he can.' something about having a child now and raising him in a 'time of war' makes it all the more poignant.

I was listening to this song with my sister-in-law Emily and she said they must have done this song like Nat and Natalie Cole after Bing was dead. I said, haven't you ever seen the video. It's a vivid memory from my Christmas's growing up. So I thought I would included it because like the song it too is classic. I can't believe Bowie got away with asking if Bing was the new butler.

Another one of those days

Yesterday I left the house with no make-up on. It took me two trips to the bathroom at work before I even realized it. I never forget to put make-up on. Good thing I'm naturally beautiful! Then today I almost did it again. This time I didn't even have my hair brushed or make-up on and was ready to load up Ike and leave. What is my deal. The other day in the shower I had to think, did I put conditioner in my hair? I felt and yep I had, no memory of it. It's either the holidays or my sleep deprivation but I need to get with it. Anyone else having mental lapses?

How many 5 year olds could you take in a fight

18

Looking for payday loan?

This is wrong for so many reasons, but you have to admit you are curious.

My score is probably a little skewed since in reality I probably couldn't hurl a 5 year old at another. But I've worked at a kids camp and there were days when it was awfully tempting.

***Follow this link instead http://www.howmanyfiveyearoldscouldyoutakeinafight.com/

Ninja Skatboards Rule!

One of my favorite Christmases was the year I got my Ninja Skateboard! I thought I was so cool and had delusions of becoming the first woman (girl) pro Skater. I tried so hard to master the handstand where you hold the board on your feet. Only problem was my board weighed about 20 pounds and was hard to lift with one hand. I never told my parents but I found the skateboard in the water heater closet a few weeks before Christmas, sorry for snooping. I guess it was payback for that perm. Needless to say it all makes for a great picture.

Am I done shopping?

I feel like I haven't bought anything this year for Christmas. I only have 2 more things I'm planning on getting. Even though like most people, I feel like I need to buy more. More of what? I don't know. I think Ryan's communism is rubbing off on me, I feel like consuming less this year. Just having a simple Christmas with a few meaningful gifts and spending time with family. Does anyone else feel this way this year. I'd like to think I'm becoming a better person but really I think it's just because I'm broke.

Why organic ketchup really is better for you...

This is an email I got today, I thought it was kind of intriguing. Turns out Organic ketchup packs three times more lycopene than the regular stuff and almost twice the level of flavonoids. I guess if you use the natural color instead of Red #4 you actually get the nutrients.
This was sent to me care of Realage.com where you can take a test to find out what your real age is compared to your calendar age. I'm .3 years older than my actual age (that's Point 3, not 3 whole years). Surprising I know since I look much much younger than I actually am. I'm working on eating more organic and healthy, it's going to be my new years resolution. I dated a guy who would only eat organic and I pretty much thought he was a fruit cake, but I'm starting to learn maybe there is something to it. Thankfully it's become a lot more accessible, I don't have to just shop at Wild Oats to find it anymore. Brittany will be happy to know they even have Western Family organic products.

Bookclub 2 electric boogaloo

We had our second Blogger Book Club meeting, because of the Holiday's we didn't actually read a book to discuss but instead just talked about everything under the sun. It was a lot of fun. There was a lot of good food and good conversations with some cool new friends. I've become known as the David Sedaris girl, and I can't participate in the Twilight and Harry Potter talk, and I'm ok with that. Next month we are reading The Thirteenth Tale which I need to get started on because I'm slow, and I don't read very fast. I got to car pool with Hannah so It made the drive out to West Jordan go by much faster, thanks!
Thankfully Ryan was willing to watch Ike for me last night, even though he is taking his last final ever tonight. He's the best.

SPT- Ornament Tradition

Do you have an ornament tradition? how about a favorite ornament? for this challenge, focus on the ornaments that actually hang on your tree, on how much joy can be found in something small.

This is one of my favorite ornaments on my tree because my Dad made it for me. It's kind of hard to tell but it's a little birdhouse ornament which works perfect with my bird tree. I've already done several posts on ornaments this year and mentioned my new ornament exchange tradition and Ryan's Karl Marx ornament. I guess I could get him a new communist leader ornament every year, that would be fun. jk.

These are the ornaments I really want though. My grandpa had them on his tree and they remind me so much of him. I loved his tree. I went over one year to help him set up his Christmas tree. So we went out to his garage and got a box out and brought it inside. He said well I don't need much help, he opened the box, pulled the little tree out and voila, it was already decorated. He just kept the ornaments on year to year. No wonder it always looked the same. I wish I knew who had his tree now, I'd pay good money to have it, even though you really couldn't put a price on it. Instead I need to hunt down and buy some of these cute elves.

If you want to start doing SPT's just go to Lelly's blog http://lellysmusings.blogspot.com/ She gives out the assignment a few days before then posts her SPT with links to everyone else's on Tuesdays (obviously). Anyone can do them and it's always nice to be given an idea for a blog.

How Sweet

Holly got me this cute Christmas decoration. She thought I would like it because it has the reindeer on it that I picked out for my ornament. She was right I love it and it looks so cute on my shelf.

A Ryan, I mean Charlie Brown Christmas

I don't think I've watched A Charlie Brown Christmas since I was a kid, therefore I didn't pick up on the subtle satire and social commentary. I read an article in last months Vanity Fair about Charles Shultz. It was interesting to learn how closely the strip followed his life.

Charlie Brown reminded me of Ryan with his view of Christmas at the beginning especially this quote.
"my own dogs gone commercial, I can't stand it."

Quick Clarification

My name is Marjorie, I generally go by Marj, if you are over 60 feel free to call me Marjie. When I started this blog my friend Sarah was about the only one who read it and her blog was about the only one I commented on. When mentioned in her blog she referred to me as Midge (Barbie's best friend) so for continuity I made my blog name Midge so when I left comments it would make sense. My blog has since become more far reaching so I thought I had better clear this up, inspired by the fact that when talking to my sister Cate (formerly known as Cathy) she mentioned the wonderful lady I was named after asked if I had changed my name to Midge with the comment that "she said she loved her name and would never change it". No I haven't changed my name, and no I never will. My sister Rainey (formerly named after my Aunt Roberta) changed her name a few years back as well, so I can see where she might assume we are all going to up and change our names in my family.
I recently met some woman in the blogging world at a book club meeting and there again I had to introduce myself as Midge and Marjorie. Yeah it's confusing, I'm sorry. But that's how it's going to stay so figure it out. For years on lds single I went by Dlux and at parties or on dates I would have to introduce myself twice. I've found that blogging is a little like singles sites except now I'm searching out moms instead of men. And honestly I prefer it that way.

SPT - Christmas Card Holder

A day late and an image of me short. This weeks SPT was about where and how we display our Christmas cards. I just happen to have got this cool card holder at Tai Pan last time I was there with Emily for 10 bucks. Since I haven't gotten any cards yet this year I have last years displayed, but hope to add more soon. The SPT included a challenge to do something nice for a mail carrier. Instead I decided to humiliate my dog. I don't know how those two things correlate except that I'm mad at my UPS driver and I'm taking it out on my dog.

Ornament Exchange

We started a new tradition in Ryan's family where the girls do an ornament exchange. We decided to meet at Food For Thought it's a "luncheon-boutique located in the heart of Draper’s Town Center", it's in a cute little house they remodeled at 12640 S. Fort Street. They had yummy steamers (steamed milk and flavoring) that we all enjoyed with our lunch. Holly had my name for the exchange, she gave me this cutest deer ornament that I love. Ok so I actually picked it out myself, it reminds me of ones my grandpa had on his tree. Brittany gave Emily a picture frame ornament with her lovely face in the frame, of coarse that was a joke. It was a really good time, especially since Grandma offered to watch Ike and Jace for us. I can't help it, I love this time of year

Good Luck

Ryan has a big test today. His friend Jason Yancey has been text messaging little inspirational messages for weeks now, and yesterday he sent Ryan these flowers. Message reading "70% success in life is showing up good luck tomorrow GIG! What a good friend.

That's not Santa

it's Karl Marx. The father of communism not father Christmas.
Why is Karl on our Christmas tree?
It might have something to do with this comment from Ryan.
The White Man said...
Don't start unpacking your Capitalist decorations yet. Actually, can we top the tree with a Karl Marx angel?
November 14, 2007 1:39 PM
Well I couldn't find a Marx angel, not really sure why. So I settled for just an ornament. Kinda of like Chrismukkah, I wanted to meld my capitalism with his socialism.

I'm going to be in trouble

When things like this get delivered to you at night. It's not even December yet. It was delivered by a group of about 8 singing carolers, with Oskar barking along. I ended up putting Ike to bed at 8pm and amazingly he didn't wake up with the commotion. I can only assume they are neighbors, there were a couple cute scouts and some friendly looking ladies so I'll assume all the treats are safe (even though the sugar cookies are stale). Seeing as how we didn't get anything last year I'm not worried about getting overloaded with treats. But it's the holidays and treats are going to be everywhere. I'm researching diets now for January.

My first book club

It was a lot of fun. I feel so mature being a member of a book club. Maybe that's an odd thing to feel mature at age 32, but I've always wanted to join one. Now that I'm a mom I started seeking out some new mom friends and came upon Hannah who let me tag along to her book club. It was fun to hang out with women my age and talk about interesting things. Since it's a Blogger Book Club (BBC), a lot of the girls have blogs that I've looked at on occasion and therefor recognized. A few even knew who I was and my preferences for David Sedaris and the like.
The book we read was The History of Love, which I think we all agreed was a dumb title but a good book. It turns out to be written by the wife of one of my favorite authors Jonathan Safran Foer which it had a lot of similarities to Extremely loud and incredibly close. I definatly recomend it, even to men who will unboubtedly be put off by the title.
Ryan made a huge sacrifice by watching Ike last night so I could go and putting off studying. Thank you sweety.

Am I Done?

You decide.
Here's a close up. The balls look kind of blue but they are a soft turquoise, and yes those are birds.

I think I looks prettier without the flash, you can see the lights better. I have more ribbon and more turquoise bulbs but I can't decide if I should use them. Being that I haven't slept for more than 2 hours straight for the last 2+ weeks the chances are it's done. But I'd like your input.

Last Years Tree

I'm anxious to post this years tree but it's not quite done yet. I decided to mix things up a little bit. I can't have the same tree every year right? It still has birds but I'm doing just red and turquoise this time. Ryan said I wasn't allowed to decorate till Dec. 1st but I defied him this year, I just couldn't wait any longer. Keep posted for this years tree, I should be done soon.

Happy Crazy day

Ryan's family is a little cookoo, but fun. They spent all night last night making these for every one's place setting.

Pies glorious pies. Don't i look cute hanging out with all the pies. there were 7 adults for dinner and 6 pies were made. You do the math, my tummy hurts.

Jace, Ike and Christian little Pilgrims.

Be Happy - Thanksgiving!

"Thanksgiving is a delightful day for turkey and the like, but you will have a happy time if you enjoy lucky strike!
Well I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving! Preferably without their lucky strikes, but if you can russel up a magician or fortune teller there's no telling the happiness that can by had. I wish I could read their quotes too, if anyone else can let me know.

Not sure...

how I did it, but I ended up with both my bra and panties on inside out today. I don't recall ever putting a bra on inside out, and having both in one day, well I guess I'm losing my mind.

SPT - Me and my shadow

This weeks SPT (self portrait tuesday) was about getting away and thinking about what you are thankful for "give thanks for all that you have been given, all that you have given in this past year.." Then taking a picture of our shadow during that time.

Well getting away by myself now a days includes Ike, so he is part of my shadow now. I am very thankful for that. The thing I've given this year that I'm most thankful for is giving birth to my cutest baby boy. I'm thankful for my husband who I'm more in love with every day. I'm thankful for my house, that is cozy and warm, and cute, I have to say. I'm thankful for Oskar, even though he annoys me most of the time. I'm thankful for my family even though they live all over the place. Last but not least I'm thankful for Ryan's family who I've become closer to this year and who I know is always there for me.

Jen has been reporting on what she is thankful for in every post this month, it's fun to read and reminds me what I'm thankful for. I have to say I am thankful for blogs this year, I've enjoyed doing it and I've enjoyed keep up with friends and making new friends.

I'm thinking of being nice

Maybe it's just that time of year, but I was shopping yesterday (at Ikea) and thought for a change of pace maybe I should try to be nice to people. I feel I've perfected my 'standoffish' persona while shopping. They don't even try to help me at The Gap. I avoid eye contact, don't smile, head the other direction if I see a sales person approach, and heaven forbid I get in an elevator with someone, the elevator controls suddenly become very interesting. But now I have a kid, and yes the cliche is true everything changes. People talk to me, it's weird, and I'm expected to talk back to them. Yesterday on the elevator I even initiated a conversation. That's what sparked this idea of 'hey what if I actually was friendly with people'. Now don't get me wrong, I am a very nice person, just not usually to total strangers, I don't know why, just never have been. So here's the question, Should I start being nice, and talk to people, or is it best just to stick to myself.

Capes, Fashion trend of the future...

from the past. Who doesn't want to feel like a super hero or Queen. I totally want this dress to walk around my back yard in. I'm predicting and/or inspiring capes making a fashion comeback. They would be perfect for winter but can easily translate to spring. I have a floor length winter coat that feels like a cape and I love it for that reason.

Am I a dork, perhaps.

My Hooter Hider was the inspiration, after I feed Ike I like to move it to the back and continue wearing it for as long as I can get away with. Maybe challenge my nephew to a super hero race (he always wins). After watching The Royal Tenenbaums I predicted that Pink for men was going to make a come back. I think we can all agree that has happened. Dork, or inspired genius, you decide.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Enjoy your quesadilla's [kesa'diʝa], in Costa Rica!

Christmas Mouse

Picture removed for Jen, sorry for the nightmares.

In our house. I saw a mouse a few days ago in the kitchen so I bought a few mouse traps and put peanut butter in one and blue cheese in the other, neither of them trapped the mouse. I get home tonight and I see it on the floor, it freaks me out for a min, then as I got closer it wasn't running away. I had a glass on my counter so I put it over it and put a big cookbook on top of it. I'm leaving it for Ryan to deal with now. It's not dead but it's not exactly active, maybe there was some poison in the trap that he ate and didn't trap him. I know a lot of you are probably creeped out right now. I had a pet mouse when I was in kindergarten, I think they are kind of cute, but I do get freaked out a bit at first I'll admit, I don't want a wild mouse running around my house. I'm thinking of it as a Christmas Mouse and am imagining it with a little Santa hat on, that way it seems festive.

SPT - my first one!

Self-Portrait Tuesday

So we get assignments every week on what we are suppose to take a picture of ourselves doing. Our assignment this week is to record some of our holiday preparation we are doing already. My goal this season is to get a cute picture of Ike for Christmas cards. I'm terrible at sending out Christmas cards but now that I have a cute son to brag about I have the motivation to get some done. I got this cute dollar shirt at target, it says Naughty or Nice but of coarse Ike is going to be nice this year, so that is all you can see. The problem with this shirt along with the outfit I have for him to wear in the picture is that they are too big for him. Either he will have to have a growth spurt really soon or I will have to rethink the pic. Either way I'm sure it will be cute. I can't wait to unpack my Christmas stash and start to decorate. I bought a few things on clearance last year so I'm not even sure what I have, which is part of the fun!

Thanks again to Hannah who I keep stealing ideas from.

I'm just really happy...

that's all.
I realize that most of my post aren't very personal. I've always had a hard time sharing personal thoughts with people. I think every guy I dated at the BYU tried to analyze why I don't talk very much by the end of the date. I've learned to take pride in my 'listening skills'. I've also had a fondness for the adage 'don't throw your pearls before swine', my name means pearl and I think I've taken that parable a little too much to heart. Not that I think people who read my blog are swine by any means, I just don't tell people things that I don't think will understand me.
That being said there is not a lot in my life to report on. I'm just really happy. Ike gets cuter every day, and since Ryan's been taking ambian he likes to cuddle. Ryan has made me happy since we started dating. For our first Christmas together which was about the time we really started dating. I gave him a book and inside I wrote, 'you make me happy'. I still feel that way about him. I'm a lucky girl. I'll work on being a little more personal from now on, but no promises because it's not in my nature.

I do however like sharing things that interest or entertain me. So continue to keep an eye out for more of that to come.

Watch Sicko!

I don't care if you Like or Hate Micheal Moore, if you are a Liberal or Conservative, you need to watch this movie. Yeah he grandstands and he's bias, but someone needs to inform people about what is going on in their world. Why does every other first world country have free medical coverage. Yeah there wait times might be longer and their facilities might not be quite as nice, and I'm sure other problems, but they are free. 50% of bankruptcy in the US is because of medical expense. I won't go into all my gripes here, just watch the movie, it will piss you off I promise.

Cowboys and Indians

Ryan informed me a few days ago that he wants to get a Tattoo. He's always been anti Tattoo so it's hard to take him serious when he says something like that. This is the tattoo he wants. It's from an vintage comic book Johnny Thunder. Ok so it's kind of cool, I mean if you are going to get a tattoo it's better than a dragon or Taz. I told him he needs to write into LA Ink and have Kat Von D tattoo him. His comment was 'I want to tattoo her not the other way around'. The chances of him going through with this are pretty slim but I'll let you all know if he does.

When I feel like I'm Old...

I've got a few blogs to check in on. I was listening to The World on NPR today and they had a story of a woman in Spain who is 95 who blogs. http://amis95.blogspot.com/ it's mostly Spanish but still I was impressed. Her first entry says "Today it's my birthday and my grandson, who is very stingy, gave me a blog." Apparently another woman heard about her and decided she would start her own blog trumping the 'oldest blogger' status by 13 years. That's right she's 108 years old and blogging. She lives in Australia, check her blog out http://www.allaboutolive.com.au/

This has to be my favorite picture of the day, it's titled Olive with Guiness.

I can't wait to get Bitten

I'm a sucker for cheap fashion. I've been sustained on Target clothes for the past year. Then one of my favorite store Forever 21 just opened up at the University Mall and The Gateway. Now I don't have to make special trips when I'm in Vegas and California to find it.
Then on the way to work this morning I heard an add that said the store Steve & Barry's was coming soon! If you aren't familiar with this store (I personally haven't been to one) it carries Sarah Jessica Parker's new line Bitten where everything, including jeans and jackets, is under $20.00 bucks. How cool is that. Amy got me a cute T-shirt and ring from there when she was in New York and I was envious that she got to shop there. It's opening in Murry in the Vanwinkle Shopping area, hopefully in time for Christmas. I can't wait!

These are a few of my favorite things

My friend Hannah just did a cool post about how her husband makes these kind of cool wood turned pens. This is one my dad made for me.

I thought I would show off some of my favorite things he's made for me. I feel lucky to have so many pieces from him. I love finding new places to put them in my house. One of my favorites is one I made with him the tall center one on the encyclopedia. It was neat to watch him at work. I guess my help was that I asked him to make it and watched him at work. He's in Costa Rica now so it will be a while before I get some new ones but I look forward to what he makes when he gets back. Sorry none of these are for sale, they are Mine, All Mine!
I asked my dad to make me some birds since it's my current obsession. He thought he would be funny and send me this buzzard instead. Very funny dad. You still owe me.

Time flies by

It was a little over a year ago that Sarah took me to another David Sedaris reading. It was my third or forth time seeing him. Yes I'm a little obsessed. I tried to explain once at work that I was going to see my favorite author read. They were very confused. I've recently been included (after a little begging) in a book club. We are currently reading The History of Love, which is so far really good. On our to consider list for next month is Me Talk Pretty One Day by My David. My sister Sharon emailed me today saying it was one of her sons favorite books, sweet! David was as charming and / or neurotic in person...

He drew a picture of me throwing up in Sarah's book. When I told him how appropriate that was since I was pregnant, instead of the usual congrats and what not he asked me what my last name was. I told him and he didn't really have much to say after that. I expect nothing less. His show was brilliant as ever, can't wait for his return and next book.

Side note: Sarah was so twitterpated with him she bought the wrong book for him to sign. It's worth having a second copy just for the pic of me.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Remember when I made this card for you a million years ago. It's been along time since our first date at Red Rock. You are one of my dearest friends. Have a wonderful Birthday you deserve it.

A Joyous Halloween

One and All!

Thanks Kat for the cute picture comment!

What's your AQ

I've been fascinated with Autism lately, I'm not sure why. Having a baby boy has made me more concerned about it since for whatever reason it affects men more than women. There are a lot of different theories out there about what causes it but I'm being very cautious with immunizing Ike. He won't be getting his first shot till he's six months old and then only one per month. Why risk it.
This morning Tiffany that I work with sent me an interesting link about finding out how Autistic you are. Go HERE to take the test, and HERE to read the article about it. I thought I would score higher than I did, I only got a 10 on it. I had never thought of Autism in terms of adults having it. Supposedly we are all autistic to varying degrees, who knew?

Cupcakes Anyone?

Don't Sarah's cupcakes look delicious. They are my new specialty. I've recently become obsessed with making cupcakes and thankfully friends keep having birthdays so I have an excuse to make them (I make sure to taste test every batch before I give them out) Thanks Sarah and Kellee for getting older. Kellee actually gets younger every year it's a scientific anomaly.
I made these cupcakes for Tiffany at work a while back and they were a big hit at the office, especially with the shop guys I don't know why. I'll pass on the recipe, 1 strawberry cake mix, Strawberry frosting and one strawberry malt ball for the top of each. Easy Peasy. I knew Sarah would appreciate them as well because she loves pink (wink wink).