Google Me!

This is a true story that happened a few years ago while Doug and I were on vacation. I've told this story several times and feel that it's worth sharing here on my blog.  As I write this, I am determined not to embellish or exaggerate when sharing my experience. First and foremost, I will not use the names of those involved to protect the innocent...Me!

My friend shared with me that her sister in law was a writer. She did not go into detail about what books she wrote, just that she was a writer.  I thought this was interesting.  I knew that I would be meeting this writer and was curious as to what she wrote. 

So, on a beautiful Utah summer day, Doug and I were visiting with our friends and the writer would be there as well.  It was a nice gathering of people, about 35 were there. We had a nice BBQ, tractor rides, horse riding, buzzing around on the quads, kids running around playing, along with chickens doing what chickens do.  You couldn't ask for a nicer day.  

After eating, the adults sat around in the lawn chairs relaxing and visiting.  This was my golden opportunity to open up a discussion with the writer. I said, "I understand that you are a writer." She said, "Yes". "Well", I asked, "what do you write?". Her response to this day still surprises me and to those I share this experience with, she said, "Google Me!".  I was stunned!  In my mind I was thinking, "Really? Are you kidding me? Who says that? Google Me?"

What I find more fascinating is that I did not Google her!  That comment made me so not interested in what she writes.  After all, she's not world famous! She's no Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, etc, if she was I would have recognized her name from the beginning!

The moral of this story is, when someone asks what you do...don't say "Google Me"!

Bragging Rights!

This is the first time I've have posted more than one wedding on my blog in one post! Well, I've been frustrated lately and have been feeling a little down about my talents.  So, why not share it here!?!?

My Niece Sabrina Bissett's Wedding Day June 17, 2000

Mary Washburn's Wedding Day May 17, 2005

  Wes and Mary Filhart

 I made a lei for Wes and a lei bracelet for Mary to keep with the Island Theme!

My Nephew Landon Magnusson's Wedding Day August 12 , 2005

Landon's Bride ~ Natalia

Bridal Bouquet is silk.

My Nephew Justin Magnusson's Wedding Day April 16, 2008

Justin and Katie Magnusson

Bridal Bouquet is fresh flowers.

Shannon Green's Wedding Day April 16, 2010

Parker and Shannon Leavitt

Shannon made her own fabric roses. They were absolutely stunning!

The bridal bouquet is "One Of A Kind"!

Lyndsee Lenkersdorfer Wedding Day May 2010

CW and Lyndsee Walker with Lyndsee's parents, Alan and Vickie Lenkersdorfer,

Jaimee Lenkersdorfer (sister) and Jeremy (brother in law) and Kaylee (sister) Baldwin

Bridal Bouquet is all fresh flowers.  

Yellow calla lilies, Orange and Hot Pink Roses!

Jaimee Lenkersdorfer's Wedding Day March 2011

Seth and Jaimee Carpenter

 Bridal Bouquet created with all silk flowers! Stunning!

My Niece Alisa Magnusson's Wedding Day March 12, 2012

Alexander and Alisa Lake

Alisa has two bouquets. The bouquets pictured above are silk.

The bridal bouquet pictured above is made of fresh flowers.

My Neice Heidi Magnusson's Wedding Day April 4, 2014

Tim and Heidi Borgardus

Heidi's Bridal Bouquet is made of silk flowers

Michele Morris' Wedding Day April 25, 2015

Sheldon and Michele Hassell

Bridal Bouquet is all fresh flowers!

Never Again!

I'm feeling a little down at this time, due to a wedding I did recently for a friend's daughter.  I don't think she was too happy with my work and decided to take her bouquet to someone else to "fix it" or someone else that "understands her vision".

My frustration is this!  When a bride shows you pictures of what she wants...let's say a bohemian look, garden look or even a Victorian/vintage look...that's what you do! BUT when you have the bride watching you make that "look", says she LOVES IT and says "make it BIGGER"!  What do you do?  MAKE IT BIGGER!  She LOVED it...and took pictures that night.

A week later it was expressed to me, by the mother of the bride, that the bouquet was TOO BIG and TOO HEAVY, so she wants it smaller and tighter.  Well, the BIGGER it is the HEAVIER it gets! Keep in mind that she wants the "garden look", not structured...she wants it to look like she picked it out the garden. When making a vintage/garden look the flowers are different lengths and NOT a round nosegay. Well, the bouquet was made with the help of the mother and sister!  Let me tell you it is NEVER good to have family involved in the workroom when doing wedding work! There are too many ideas and opinions which makes it VERY DIFFICULT on the designer. The mother then says to me that her daughter wants it tighter!  When making it tighter the flowers get lost because not all flowers are the same length due to the bride wanting the "WILD LOOK".

Needless to say, I go to the wedding reception.  I greet the bride and to my surprise the bouquet is totally different.  It is a NOSEGAY with additional flowers added to it. The brides comment to me is "my husband added the flowers for me and I LOVE IT!" I'm glad she loves it, but her husband didn't do it!  It was taken to another designer and remade because the bride changed her mind!  Lesson learned: Never do a wedding for friends when the bride, mother of the bride or any other family and/or friends of the bride are involved in the creating of the bouquet.  It makes for a disaster!

Up and Down!

Well, here is my story and I'm sticking to it!  I did begin watching what I was eating after my last post!  I lost 8 pounds!  Yay me!  But, the holidays came and the 8 pounds found me again!  So, here I am back to it again!  This is the story of my life!  Until then...Eat Healthy!

Gilbert Arizona Temple Open House

Today Doug and I toured the Gilbert Arizona Temple.  We took Vicki McCann, Matt McCann and Sarah McCann with us.  The temple is breathtaking located on the corner of Greenfield and Pecos in Gilbert, Arizona.  Here are a few pictures of the exterior.

The decoration around the temple is the agave bloom.  

The temple is adorned with this design on the inside as well.  

It's absolutely stunning!

It's Time For Change!

Over this past year I've lost 40 pounds.  I was feeling terrible, sluggish, tired, achy and just plain frustrated.  So, I made some simple changes.  First, I stopped drinking diet sodas.  Second, I limited my sugars and carbs.  Now, did I ALWAYS watch what I ate? No, because I'm human and like my treats/goodies.  But with time I did slowly lose 40 pounds.  Even though I've lost some weight, my scale still says, "You Need To Lose Weight!"

Now what to do?  I'm not losing like I was.  Here I am again trying to figure out how to get the scale to continue to move in the right direction!

My weight has always been an issue throughout my life.  I was a "Chunky" child. as a teenager I was "Heavy" and of course, it filtered into my adulthood into the "MORBIDLY OBESE" category!  Sometimes I think weight is not just what you put into your mouth, but it's what in your head!  The feelings that are carried from your life and the different struggles that we endure.  Emotions play a "BIG ROLL" in weight.  Self esteem, feelings, life's challenges and every day stress.  How can one manage all of these, get them under control, and move forward to a more healthier lifestyle?  My personal thoughts are to begin one day at a time.

With that being said, it's time for ME!  It's time to do what's best for ME!  Today is a new day and the perfect time to focus on health and happiness.  Of course, I'm beginning at the most challenging time of the year.  The holidays are fast approaching and it will be one of the most difficult times to resist all the amazing treats/goodies that I so love!  Yet, do I love the treats/goodies more than I love myself? It's time to put myself first!

Vincent's first time to General Conference

Since Vincent is now over the age of 8 he can go to General Conference. 

General Conference, Saturday, October 4, 2014

Uncle Doug and Vincent

On the Frontrunner from Saratoga Springs, UT to Salt Lake City.

We are so excited to share this experience with Vincent, Sabrina and Josh.

After lunch in the Garden Room, mother and son shared this moment.

Vincent and Sabrina getting a breathtaking view of the Salt Lake Temple 

from the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

A must see!  The beautiful Tabernacle Organ on Temple Square.

We visited the Visitors Center on Temple Square.

Vincent with the Christus.

 Sister Missionaries from around the world sharing the gospel in their native language.