Christmas is fun

I was bad and didn't take any photos until Owen and I opened our presents after getting home from Palm Springs. So we look a bit beat up and tired. But we got some cool stuff. I got a rad book and a nice necklace and a big giftcard to a spa from my honey! He got an ipod and a rally cool teapot and some new jammies. Oh and hand made elvis pillow cases. All in all it was a wonderful christams. We didn't have to be anywhere so we did what ever we wanted it was great. I even did a few haircuts and everyone loved it. So it doesn't get much better then that!

Your 1950s Name is:

Naomi Peggy

What's your 1950s Name?

CHRISTmas

I love this time of year. Really busy running around and shopping. I really love the time we have to ponder on our Savior! He is one of my favorite people and I am so greatful for all he has done for me. This year has been a jam packed year of blessings. From giving me patience to endure school and my job. For allowing me to do so well at State Board, getting my license, and 1 more amazing year with Owen! I know he is there for me and I am never alone! So I hope through this season you all will stop and remember the reason for the season.

Beat

So I am finding myself beat. Working 40 plus hours is hard work. I have so much to do! So I am trying really hard t stay on top of everything but I am fighting the lack of motivation. So I want to drop into bed everynight. I am hoping that after the holiday season is over I won't be working 40 hours at the salon. I feel bad for my tenants who never see me. I know a balance will come. I am looking forward to christmas. I think the idea of not working for a few days is awsome. So I will try to be better about blogging.

Christmas

I am right there with you Jen, I love to decorate. My house is no where near as fabulous as yours but I am beginning to buy things I like. Owen and I decided to get a mini tree this year. It is silver and I can't wait to put it up. Owen says wait until December. So I will. He isn't much for decorations. I do it for me. So our church had an enrichment activity where the women in the ward donated items to have a service auction. I donated a hair cut. Others made bread and cookies. Some made blankets and pillow cases. The list goes on and on. So I bid on a coupon that said "Holiday Floral arrangement" for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I won. I got the chose between the holidays. I picked Christmas. Susan the women that was going to make it. Asked me if I would like a wreath. I said yes. She then asked me what colors. I sad Blue, Pink, and Silver. What I got is amazing!

I was wanting a nice nativity scene. I looked on ebay today and found a lot of ugly sets. I went to the thrift store and this is the set I found. I am quite pleased:) I have a way with thrift stores. I find some pretty cool stuff!

New Project

So I found the perfect sewing machine! I love it. I am enjoying this fancy new machine because my Mom thought it would be nice to help me get a new machine. She is the best! So here she is with all her bells and whisels. I can sew with or without a foot pedal. It has a start stop button. So cool. You can select the speed you want as well. I am in love. And smooth during sewing.

I have started a new project. Thanks to Mom again I am trying a new quilt pattern. Twisted sister. It was tricky with the first block but I seemed to catch on pretty fast. I have 10 or so blocks donw and I only have worked on it a few hours on 2 different days. My last quilt was polka dots and this one is Rockabilly! Fun. I want to do a western one and I have the fabric to do the pattern Happy hour. So I am booked up with quilt projects:) It is really a lot of fun. If you want to learn you should take a class. I have only taken 1 class. I will show pictures of my progress.

I wish there was Thanksgiving twice a year! The food is so good and being with friends and family! I wish the US would slow down. It was so cool to seee everything closed. I wish it was like that every sunday. Well that won't happen but I can dream. So I hope you all had a fun and relaxing day! Now that we all stuffed ourselves be careful when excerising! I hope you like my poem:) An those of you that are going out on Black Friday to shop, your crazy!

Tagged...

So I guess you all really want to know about about silly me.

So ten years ago... was 1997! My last year of high school. I was just beginning to come out of what I call the ugly duckling stage. I was feeling good and excited to be done with school. I was working at Albertson's bagging groceries. I was working hard and saving money to go back to Europe on a back packing trip. Alone! I was living at home still with my brothers. Who drove my almost crazy at times. I drove a blue station wagon with fake wood paneling from the late 80's. I wish I still had that body! But I'm not doing to bad for 10 years out. So I have included a picture of me that appeared in the school news paper. My Senior prom picture and a drawing a friend of mine did of my senior picture. Sorry for the bad photos I had to take pictures of the pictures. I mean 10 years ago we didn't even know what digital was:)






Five years ago: 2002


It is a blur in my mind and couldn't really find any pictures from that year... I know that I was attending SDSU. Spending tons of time in the Jewelery studio and working at Belmont and Zocalo grill. I was supper busy. That's probably why I don't recall much. I know I was single and dating a lot. Hanging out with my girls, Mandy, Michelle and Emily. Man I miss them.





One year ago...2006


We celebrated 2 years of marriage and had a blast in Big Bear for a long weekend. We went to see Owen's family in Bellingham, WA for the Fourth of July. That is the best. Blowing up stuff and making sparkler bombs. The 4th at Owen's parents is crazy. They live on an Indian reservation and so the Indians sell fireworks. Some all year and some starting in May. So everyone has fireworks and sets them off all the time. But the night of the 4th is so noisy and fun!


I also started beauty school. The best decision I ever made. I am so glad that I found the right career for me!

What I would do with a million dollars?

1. Buy a house!
2. Buy a 1957 Chevy wagon.
3. Take us to Europe
4. Own my own Salon
5. Build Owen a really big garage for all his toys
6. Give money to charity
7. Put someone through college.

My Favorite shows:

1. Lost
2. House Hunters
3. Animal Cops
4. What not to wear

5 Places I rather be:

1. Germany, With Owen Of Course
2. Fiji, W/ Owen
3. In a house I owned
4. On a scrapbooking cruise with all my BOG Girls!
5. Magic Mountian

Favorite Snacks:

• Cheese and cracker
• fiddle faddle
• cookies
• nuts any kind
• tuna salad

Tag you're it:

• Olea
• Jessica
• Ben
• Natalie

No Time

So now that I have a new job I have no time. I am working 40 hours a week at the salon on top of managing the apartments. I start at 6am and hit the pillow around 10:30 and am running the whole time. I am so excited to have so many wonderful friends and clients that keep me so busy. But tonight I am watching a movie in bed. I probably will fall asleep but either way is a plus. I got a new sewing machine and can't wait to use it but no time. I took it out of the box and that's it. I didn't even have the energy to go see my BOG girls tonight:( So I hope to blog more once I have caught my breath. Kisses and hugs:)

I Have a License

Nov. 8th forever recorded in time. I went and conquered! Kelly and I left around 11 am on Wed. got to Glendale around 1pm. Went to the kit company and checked my kit. I got more towels and paper towel. Really they are called SMAs. Then we went to the hotel. The Golden Key. It was cute. Construction all around us but by 4 or so it was quiet. We then went to the Glendale Galleria. This huge mall. I bought a pair of pumps. In typical Melinda fashion. i got them on sale and they are rad. So then we went and ate Mongolian BBQ. So good. You pile your bowl has high as you can get the food to balance and that is your portion. Some people had so much food. It could have feed 4 people.

Then we went back to the hotel and I gave Kelly a mani and a pedi. She asked me questions out of my state board review book. I read another study guild from cover to cover. We tried to watch Legally Blond but the vcr didn't work in our room. Oh well. So we got ready for bed and turned out the lights. Of course I toasted and turned for a bit and finally drifted into sleep.

5:00 AM Bep bep bep... I'm up.

Now the butterflies have found their home inside me. So we get ready go eat and then headed to the kit company to get my kit. Oh and my very cute white lap coat. I wish I had a picture. Then we went into 710 South Central Blvd. up to the 4th floor and was herded in to a hall way with everyone and there models. We then filed into a room and they assigned you a station. I got really lucky. I was in a room with 8 girls and the examiner was really nice. Well I felt she was nice. So that put me at ease.

7:45 You may begin...

Prep Disinfection

Thermal press n curl

Haircut with scissors

Soft perm

Pedicure

Silk rap

Break for 20 min.

P.D. test

Tint going lighter

Finger wave SB Set

Makeup

You get 4 hours and 15 min to do all of that. A lot of people don't finish. My goal was to finish everything and I did. I had the perfect rhythm and finish everything with only 5 minutes to spear. But I didn't make any mistakes. Then they make you clean and pack up your kit. Dismiss the models and then it was lunch time/ return the kit. So I think I ate my Subway BMT in 3.5 min. flat. I was so hungry after the morning test. I felt a head ache coming on. I thought I need to eat and I did. But I thought it would go away. No it hit me hard when I was on question 40 out of 100. It was one of those head aches you get that blurs your vision. It sucked. So I said a prayer, sucked it up finished and reviewed my test. I knew 90 of the questions I got right and only guessed on 10. So I knew I had passed.

Then the waiting game. They announced the results at 3 pm. So I had to wait 45 min. between finishing the test and finding out I passed. I knew there was no way that I had failed. But you thinking that and have a license is two different things.

There are 2 stacks of papers. The first stack has a pink paper on the back. Those people didn't pass. The other stack is the stack of incenses they give to those who pass. I was the 3 or 4 person to get called up to receive my license. You must leave the building right away and you have to be quiet because they are testing other people at that time. So you are just waiting to get downstairs so you can scream and shout!

What a day! Kelly was so much fun and the perfect model. Thanks Kelly. I couldn't have done it with out you. Let's celebrate!!!!

You May Begin

So I am leaving town today with my model Kelly! We are on our way to LA. I am nerves but confident. I know all my hard work will pay off. So pray for me that everything will go according to the plan. So tomarrow at 7:15 am the words will be said, "You may begin." That is when my heart will start to race. I will take a deep breath, and jump into taking this long test!See everyone when we get back!

Ahoy matey

Halloween is the best day ever. Well at least we enjoy it. We were Sailors. Owen Said tonight, "I have always wanted to see you in a sailor outfit." So now he has:) Last night we made goody bags for our friends and trick or treaters. We got dressed and went on a Halloween tour. We set out to treat our friends. They all were so thrilled to have us show up. We where a hit, I think. We made it by our church parking lot where they held a trunk or treat. Nicole and Jenn were totally like awesome. Nicole's niece was dressed like Elvis. By far my favorite little kid costume this year.

I hope that everyones sweet tooth has been satisfied tonight!

I love Balboa Park

This past weekend we went to Balboa Park with our friends Andreu and Shawna. They treated us to an IMAX movie. It was pretty neat. I want to go back and see the one about coral reefs. It's like you are watching a movie on the inside of a bubble. Before the movie we went walking around. Tried to go to the photography museum but they where closed early for a wedding they were going to have there. My favorite is the photo booth inside the gift shop. We wanted to take our picture in the black and white booth but like I said they had closed. So we went over to the botanical garden. They have some awesome flowers. I love the huge orchids they have there. We want to go see the Dead Sea Scrolls the next time we go. They say this is the only time to see it, once its gone it is going into storage.

Picture 2 is in front of an Angle Trumpet tree outside the garden.

Picture 1 is inside the garden.

It's Done

I have sewn all the binding by hand yesterday and today and it is DONE! I am in love. It came out quite nice I think. I have fabric to start the next one. I have chosen cherries on a black background with black and white checker and a red and white piece and cheeta print with a black back. I can't wait to start that one! I smell an addiction coming on!

Money Money

This morning I had to call the owner of the salon where I had a lead on a job. So we could talk details. I start on the first at 8:30! Training. So I will work 5 days a week. Everyother Saterday I can take clients and after my reception shift during the week. So I am so happy because I get to work on commission but still be making an hourly wage for working the desk. Which will be great because this means, Money Money! I am so excited to see how much money I really can make. We have lived on such a little budget for so long it will be so nice to have a little more wiggle room. We all wish for that! I am so excited to be getting so close to be working behind the chair! For pay, working for free SUCKS! I love the location of the salon. I am going to be working at Denise Barrow Salon. It is on 5th Ave. Near Balboa Park. So pray that everything go well for me on the 8th of Nov. when I go to take my State Board!

Sewing

I have been working on a guilt for the last 2 weeks and it is finally coming to a finish. I a so excited to have it done. It is all polk a dot. As soon as it is done I will post pictures. It is hot pinks and aqua blues. I love circles and have found quilt patterns that allow me to express my love of circles. Sewing is so much fun. It's art that is functional. I have made many things on my old Singer sewing machine. My mom gave me my early early christmas present for 2008. Money for me to get a new sewing machine. I just want a machine that will last nothing with a 1oo bells a wissles. If you quilt and have any patterns you wouldn't mind sharing let me know. It is so much fun. I have been on a big sewing kick. I have sewn 3 pillow shames, a table runner, my quilt, and some pillow cases. once you start you see things in the store and start to say,"I can make that!" It would be cuter and better quality and probably cheaper to make then to buy.

See's Candy

Let me just say, See's candy is my favorite! I love the key-lime truffle. The carmel patties and well all of them. I like bitting into a piece of chocalate just to be comforted with the amazing taste bursting in your mouth. You all should try See's!

Viva Mexico

I have to say the a week vacation does a body good! I had sooo much fun getting away. Even though Owen stayed home to hold the fort down. I needed it bad. I finishe school and was ready to drop. My mom invited me to come down to the boat. So I did. I slept in, watched at least 2 movies a day and sewed on a bunch of projects that I had hanging over me. I got all of my sewing done. So know I can start more. I need to start to scrapbook a little more. I am getting behind. So in Mexico I realized a few things. For one it humbled me. The Mexican people live with much less then we do. They are paid so little but everything costs about the same as it does in the US with the exception of food. Life is simple there. I should be greatful for all I have and not focus on what I don't. For example a house. My apartment is BIG compaired to the homes I saw. I have no worry about where my water and gas come from, its just there.

Another lesson is to be prepared. My mom is so organized and she plans and keeps lists. I should use what I have (food) before I run to the store. My mom writes on all her dry food when she bought it so she knows how old it is.

Owen asked my mom to take pictures of me in my swimsuit on the black sand beach. They came out so nice. I framed one for Owen and he was super happy. He missed me a lot. More then I thought he would. He said life isn't the same when I'm not here. That says it all. So now it is time to get back to work and study and I will be going to school the next 2 weeks to drill for State Board.

- Pics: My mom & Bill's boat

Desert landscape

Pangas-fishing boats

The end is coming

I never thought school would ever end but in fact the end is coming. I have learned a lot and hope it is enough to pass state board! Which is Nov. 8th. I have to go to Glendale to take my big test and if all goes according to plan I will have my licence that very day. I am happy to be finishing. I now have another accomplishment, oh does it feel good. And I did really well academically. I am the first of my class to graduate. And that is due to good attendance. I love learning and am sure I will find something else I want to know about.

So I will just say it now, if you don't see me much until after the 8th you now know why:) Thanks for all the support and love.

Wanda Jackson

On Saturday I went to the Adam's Ave. St. Fair. We went to go see Wanda Jackson. So was so amazing! She is the first woman of rockabilly! She is in her 80's and still rock'n out. I hope I am still rock'n as hard as she does when I'm her age. I think it is so cool she came to San Diego and gave a free concert. I felt really lucky to see her perform. She started touring with Elvis and even dated him for a year. She had so many great stories. I feel like I traveled back into the 50's. She wore a white tassel shirt that only she could get away with wearing. But then again what does the queen of rockabilly suppose to wear when she is in her 80's? I bought her new cd. She made a cd titled Rememering Elvis. It is a good listen. As Wanda would say,"Rock On!"

3 YEARS!

I am in love with my life! I have been married for 3 years. It has been so much fun. I love my husband. He is the best thing I have. I know from the beginning life will be fun with Owen. Between the motorcycles and love of guns it gave Owen the edge I liked. He makes me feel so loved and specials. I am so lucky. I thank the Lord everyday for him. He make me want to be better. If it is this good for eternity, I won the Lottery!