Faaaaaashion Show II

Yesterday I had a rare day off with the even more rare occurance that I didn't have too many errands to run. So after dropping a friend off at school early in the morning I hit up Le Ross ["the bomb diggity!] and The Maxx on my way home. As is turns out Tuesday is the day that Ross marks down all Juniors and Women's Clearance so I got some super great deals! I paraded around a Fashion Show to show off my new clothes to Jordan and get his opinion ["oooohs" and "aaaaahs"] and he snapped a few shots for me to share with Natasha who is the Number One Fan of my fashion blogs!

I got this cute Skeleton Man-Vitruvian Man casual top for only $2.50. 

I can wear it around the house to cook and clean, run errands, workout or just casually out and about! 

JAZZ HANDS! 

Sparkly sequence top to pair with a skirt for church or Girls Night Out! 

Kiss me! 

This top is so much brighter in person and made me think of dressing myself circa early 1990's! 

I got this classic black V for only $3.99. It's cotton and spandex for super comfort. 

This lightweight grey cardigan was also only $3.99!! 

I plan to wear it over my plain colored dresses with a belt to create a new look for an old dress! 

Also these skinny jeans were only 13 bones --I'm a Maxxinista! 

One more lightweight super sheer cardigan-- I just couldn't resist at those prices! 

Plus it'll go with anything; over a dress, with a skirt or casual with some jeans. 

"Please, NO autographs!" 

This top was about the most I spent for one single item [besides two pairs of jeans] at only $6.99! 

So, FYI-- Ross and Tar-jeeeeey mark down their Womens Clearance even cheaper every Tuesday. Good to know. Not sure about TJMaxx, but they always have such great sales anyway! I left with everything I didn't even know I needed-- except one very chic black blazer, a staple piece my closet definitely could have used, which was very sadly too big for me. Insert sad, pouty emoticon. In total I spent about 60 of my very hard-earned dollars and got two pairs of jeans, two cardigans, one tank top and about five new tops! What a steal! 

[Only down part of my shopping experience; I made the unfortunate mistake of browsing the perfume aisle and had a headache for the rest of the day to show for it!]

Esther & Magic Man

While Jordan and I were visiting California after Christmas time, we saved two baby turtles, Esther and Magic Man, from the perilous evils that awaited them on the corner shoppe in China Town. We saved them from the fate of being cooked into turtle soup or worse yet.. becoming the first/trail pet to some kid like Sid or Darla! We traveled them across the California/Utah border without any effort at all! Really, we had then fully visible in the center console between us and were never even stopped. [I should take up smuggling illegal immigrants and make me some cash money! Kidding.] We have since made them a happy little home in their tank atop our bookshelf!

 Last night I had the pleasure of cleaning the turtle tank [after it hadn't been cleaned for a month-ew!]

We initially bought 7 baby guppies for the tank as a treat to go with their daily feedings. We figured they could eat the fish whenever they liked and it would be good fun for them to chase them around... well 7 have turned to a few dozen! We may have introduced the guppies too early, when our babies were too small to know what to do with them, because they have since adopted a "fish are friends" mentality and haven't seemed to have eaten any and the fish keep multiplying!! When I clean the tank I try to save as many little guys as I can, but the tiny pinpoint sized babies don't always cooperate and last night I lost two down the drain. [Sad Face.]

While I was cleaning Jordan was doing homework and hanging out with our little babies. I snapped a few shots of them on Jordans new iPhone before we put them back in their nice new crystal clean clear tank. 

Giving each other loves!

Magic Man on the left and Esther on the right 

She takes after Mommy and eats everything in sight! 

Nobody likes the dentist...

I walked into the dentist with an appointment for a $90 filling and walked out $539 less rich because of a ROOT CANAL! Yes, this happened. And I was livid at how it all went down.

Explanation... 

Six months ago I got my dental insurance discount card and set up a routine dental exam; the doctor did new patient x-rays and took inventory of all my teeth and any cavities. Now it was six months ago, but I distinctly remember being told that I had 2 small cavities which should be filled in the next few months. No major deal. I'll admit my own stupidity, laziness and frugality in waiting until one of them started to become a problem to deal with it. However-- I was told that they were small cavities that should be filled in the next few months. Not needed to be ... or else.

Here is how today went down... 

Show up early for my appointment, they can get me in at 8 instead of 8:30 [great!], dentists assistant Keely asks if there are any problems, I explain a toothache I've been suffering the past few days, she takes some x-rays. Enter dentist. He numbs me, starts picking and drilling at the tooth, says there's some decay. I'm still under the impression that I'm here for a filling. Afterall-- I've never been to dental school and nothing he's doing seems any different than any other filling I've had filled. He picks at it for a while and takes a few more x-rays, says it's a pretty deep cavity because it got under the original filling I had there already from years ago. I guess this is doctor code for "you're gonna need a root canal." Because at this point, while he's out of the room, patient hopping, Assistant Keely comes in hands me a clipboard and says, "You'll need to sign here for the root canal," just like that "for the root canal." Uh? What root canal? Nobody said anything about a root canal. Nobody discussed this with me, nor discussed any of my options with me. At this point I run my tongue over the tooth and notice a significant portion of the middle is missing and the whole tooth seems to be hollowed out.

I guess he didn't really leave me any options, huh?

I look at the assistant and ask, "How much is this going to cost?"

"I don't know" she stares blankly at me...

[I stare back baffled at her response.] 

... "Do you want me to find out?" 

[Oh, no! No need. Just bill me for it later!]

"Yes, please."
She comes back to tell me it's gonna be $428.         Of course! 

"...and it says here that they often need a cap? Will I be needing a crown at some point in time?"
"Yes, we suggest that, the temporary filling we will do today will only last so long."
"How much is that going to cost?"
[Can you guess what she said??]

"I don't know...." 

[I stare at her beyond annoyed]

"Do you want me to find out?"

"Y e s . . . p l e a s e ."

Well the crown is going to cost somewhere around another $400-500. 

My lucky day. 

Jordan is in class, so I just text him a brief summary of what has happened and he insists I get the root canal done and not to worry about the cost. [My wonderful husband.] I sign the form, but feel so uncomfortable not having even been give the chance to discuss the options I may have had to look around at other dentists and compare prices before continuing with the procedure he has apparently already started. Look at it this way; I'm basically in a doctors office complaining about chronic headaches when my skull is cut open for brain surgery-- 'Oh yeah, by the way we're gonna need to operate.'  ...'and it's gonna cost you a small fortune.'

When I leave I just sit in the car and cry for a few minutes because I am so furious at having just wasted $500 for something that more than likely could have been prevented. I was baffled that at no point was the procedure DISCUSSED with me, nor was I even given a chance to consult with my husband about our financial ability to have the procedure done, etc. I'm not terribly confrontational in every situation, so once the dentist came back into the room I simply asked him how a small cavity could have quickly become  a necessary root canal. He said I had had two small cavities and one big one. I corrected him, telling him the information which he had told me six months ago and asked if the fact that I had a deep cavity that needed immediate attention had been made clear to me, if - it would have been an easy fix to fill and never would have gotten to this point had it been taken care of with more urgency on both our parts. I could tell he was caught off guard by my blunt blame and question, he backpedaled and said that nothing can really be said for sure and it might have happened anyway. 

Doubtful. 

As I said, though-- I accept my portion of the blame for not just having had the cavity filled within a few weeks of the initial appointment and instead waiting for any sign of a problem to finally deal with it. However, I know that he did not explain the "small cavity" [which magically turned into a deep cavity] to be an immediate concern and he should have.

After I cooled off a little I called the office and talked to one of the front desk attendants and told her my complete disdain for the manner in which the whole morning had panned out. She was very apologetic-- and granted, I didn't expect much-- [not like she was going to shell out a discount or refund my money]-- I had, after all signed the slip and granted my permission to be operated on, knowing the cost. I complained about his bedside manner and pointed out that I felt swindled into a situation which at the time of it being presented to me-- had no real other options than to walk out with a gaping hole in my tooth-- leaving a procedure half done. 

So... my dentist is a used car salesman. 

Wait, at least used car salesmen wear ties. 

Worse. 

Needless to say, I will be looking for a new dentist. [And leaving a very bad review on google, yahoo and whatever else I can get my little typey fingers on!]

Lowering Your Expectations!

In church on Sunday we talked about "lowering your expectations," okay-- so the chapter was really on the scriptures; but the great thing about church is that each individual can take from the lesson what she or he specifically needs and apply it in real life situations. Sister Sorenson at one point made a comment that all we really need to do sometimes is "lower our expectations" which more positively translates into "setting realistic goals!" She was talking about family scripture study with her four children emphasizing that she can't expect to get through a whole chapter-- and if she sets that unrealistic goal for herself then she is only disappointed when it inevitable isn't achieved.
We inherently think that lowering our expectations is a bad thing, but what I realized from Sister Sorenson's comment was that there are times when we need to set realistic goals for ourselves and allow ourselves pride in small accomplishments. This is something I struggle with daily. Simple tasks are daunting when I set too high of goals. Example: Today was my day off and I had a list of 9 things I needed [wanted] to get done... I got 3 1/2 of them done. I've learned to do the easiest things first, leaving the harder tasks for later. In doing this, sure, I may be putting off the big stuff, but I'm also building up to them. I am definitely a checklist personality and so getting 3/9 of my checklist done earlier in the day gave me more confidence to at least get started on the others. It's like doing a puzzle; nobody in their right mind starts in the middle, only an insane person with a lust for masochistic behavior would do that! You're most definitely setting yourself up for failure [or at least making the objective much harder on yourself than necessary.]
I used to [and it's still a habit I'm trying to kick] think I had to get everything done at once or it was not worth even starting. If I didn't have time in a day to separate the laundry, get it in the wash, dry it, get it out of the dryer while it's still hot before it wrinkles and get it folded, or hung and put away-- that it was not worth even starting. You can see how this mentality leads to a whole lotta nothin' gettin' done! [My poor, poor Jordan.] If I couldn't get all the dishes washed dried and put away then I wasn't even going to waste my energy on half  completion. When I looked at life that way it was so daunting! I had to realize that each step in and of itself is it's own task.
Setting realistic goals will surely help in all areas of life. I catch myself feeling as though I need to know all the details of life that aren't even written yet. Worrying so much about making those middle pieces fit before I even have an edge to connect them to. So as of today, I'm adapting a one step at a time puzzlers mentality!
And that's a good way to look at life, right? Build your solid edge and everything inbetween will eventually fall into it's proper place.

..and "What to Expect When You're Expecting"

Tonight Cami and I went to see "What to Expect When You're Expecting." It was cute. Long. Maybe longer for Jordan-- he stayed home and watched Cami's 3 year old daughter, Addi! I told him it was good practice for when we're expecting! [I also try to trick him into carrying my giant purse to church sometimes by telling him it's good practice for the diaper bag we'll one day have to lug around! He rarely falls for this!]
The movie was really sad at parts and I teared up multiple times because-- well, I'm a woman, for one. Ha ha. And because I just can't wait to have a little baby nugget of our own! It seems like everyone's pregnant lately and Jordan and I have officially caught the baby bug!

When I am pregnant I am hope to be a Sklyer, so fashionable even while preggers! ...
[Plus I've always had a major older man crush on Dennis Quaid!]

My Mothers Day outfit

[Very June Cleaver, Leave it to Beaver of me!] 

I'm going to be a "magical pregnancy unicorn!"

...but most likely I will be a mentally unstable Wendy! Ugh. Look out Jordan! 

My Asian Nephew

[We stole an Asian baby!] 

This weekend Jordan's sister, Bailey came out from Canada, with her adorable little baby Kaiden. Kaiden was born on the same day Jordan and I were married, so I vowed him to be my arch nemesis forever, but damn it-- he is growing up to be so cute!

[Smart Asian] 

My mother-in-law asked if my glasses were so big to prove I was so smart? Of course! Mine are extra big because I am extra smart. And so are Asians... we decided to perpetuate the stereotype and have Kaiden wear these glasses while we asked him complex math questions! 

[Hey baby, don't eat my baby!] 

We already saved our baby turtles from becoming turtle soup when we rescued them from a China Town street vendor, but here he is after my little turtle-- a bite sized morsel for a bite sized Asian. 

["Giddy-up you stupid White American!"] 

Kaiden riding Jordan-the-bucking-bronco!

Jordans family was only out for the weekend, so we got to see as much of them as we could, but it wasn't much between work, homework, church and the hour drive to Salt Lake. I guess I'll have to finally get my passport and go see that cute little munchkin again. Plus Bailey's due with her second in November, so that'll give us an excuse to cross the border. I'm hoping for a girl and wondering if she'll look more like Bay than Kai does?? He looks like an exact replica of his daddy, to me anyway... but they all look alike don't they!? Ha ha ha, I only kid! I kid! I can only say it because they're family. And because Bailey is just as bad as I am about it... "riiiiiiiiiiiice!" 

Hope we get to see them again soon! 

When I die and they lay me to rest...

Dragon and I attended a semi-distant relatives funeral this past weekend and it got me thinking about my own. Who says that? I do. And after telling Dragon some of my requests he told me I had better "put that in writing!" because none of my family would believe him if he tried to make my funeral so atrocious-- I said, apparently you don't know me very well-- because this is exactly what my family and closest friends would expect from me in my final wishes. So, here are a few of the details I hope can be fulfilled when I'm gone...

*Everyone MUST WEAR BLACK!

I do not want one of these modern day funerals where people think black is too morbid and they say they are celebrating my life instead of mourning my death. I want you to celebrate, but mourn in only one way-- your clothing. All black please. I am old fashioned in this way, girls veil your faces with those cute little birdcage veils... as always, even in death I will appreciate your fashion statement!   

*I want a slideshow! 

If you know me, you know I'll never miss a moment to have all eyes on me! I'd like a slideshow with pictures of me with family and friends through the ages, as well as little video clips intermingled within. These should be funny clips that will make people laugh remembering all the good times we had! 

*Lets not try to convert! 

Don't use my death as a means in which to preach the gospel! Though I'd like the service to include a history of my beliefs and the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as information on the atoning sacrifice of Christ-- which will be my saving grace; I'd prefer it all to relate to my life somehow or people simply become uninterested. And nobody likes sitting through a funeral feeling disconnected completely from the one they've lost. 

*NO wake. 

I never liked getting up early anyway so let me sleep! [bad joke.] 

Not entirely sure what my stance is on open casket/viewing/wake. I still am not sure how I feel about people viewing my dead body after my spirit has left it and it is very naturally starting to decay physically. I believe my body is merely a physical vessel in which to protect my soul, but I recognize those who love me are in some way attached to my physical being and may wish to have closure which may only come from seeing me that way. However, it is an image one cannot shake and I'd prefer to leave this world with an imprint of liveliness and joy not a sad painted on face. So... you'll have to get back to me on this one for a final decision. 

*Burn baby, burn! [Disco Inferno!]

I kinda like the thought of cremation. I am not sure what my churches stance on this is, but believe my own opinions may matter more, for it'll be the final decision I make, right? I hate to think of all the land that is used up by 6'x6' plots of dead people. Useful for nothing. Graveyards are a nice place to go and remember someone we love, but wouldn't it be better to go to a place where we had a nice memory with them instead?  I like what the little boy said about building underground skyscrapers, in "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," burying people on top of each other far underground instead of at ground level. 

*"Spirit in the Sky!"

Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" is a must! Maybe like right when I'm being lowered into the ground. It has to be a surprise [although I just ruined it right now] so it should be played at a really quiet moment when no one is expecting it. "Never been a sinner, I never sinned, yeah I got a friend in Jesus!" Everyone who is crying will just start laughing and it will be great! 

*Uh-uh-uh-mayyyy-ziiii-iiing Grace...

I believe I shall not outlive my little brother, so Mattie-- you must pipe Amazing Grace over my casket. 

[I love you.]

*Memorialized.

I'd like a memorial the night before the funeral, for just family and close friends to come and share stories about me. Connect with each other through your connections to me and enjoy the company and stories those who knew me best have to share! 

*What to do with all those FLOWERS!? 

Send an arrangement home with each of my kids. One can go over my freshly covered grave and the rest need to be sent home with Dragon and are to surround his bed so he will be so sad when he goes to bed without me. [Jordan just laughed at me for plotting to be so mean to him, but I think it's funny! And he should mourn me! So, future children-- or Sara and Melissa-- make sure this happens! ;) Only half serious!] 

...and the other one Jordan said you'd never believe if he told you... 

*Taco Bell! 

I will leave a small sum to be applied for a Taco Bell catering... or perhaps an In-n-Out truck! Ha ha. I mean, it's already sad enough that you've lost me-- no need to torment you with funeral potatoes and casseroles that may have eyes! 

In all seriousness, I am not trying to be crass or insensitive to the subject of death. But the only way to live life is to be able to laugh at oneself and I believe this holds true even in death. So remember me as the girl who took nothing too serious! 

Everything and Anything... for the Cure!!

Race for the Cure!
Walk for the Cure! 
Blog for the Cure!

Yesterday was the Race for the Cure in Salt Lake, so Jordan and I joined and made a weekend out of it! My wonderful hubby did all the planning and booked us a room at Little America in Downtown Salt Lake, right near the Race's start. We were just a few blocks away, so in the morning all we had to do was roll out of bed and stroll on over.
I took a half day at work on Friday so Jordan and I could finally have a real weekend together. [This almost never happens!] We headed out to Salt Lake early Friday evening and had dinner an Italian place that had rave reviews, but turned out to be much less than satisfactory. [Sorry, babe.] It was a small 'Mom & Pop' place where the servers wore whatever was fashionable [one girl work shorts, a tank top with vest over it-- never a fashionable idea and a fedora to top it off... ugh, do you yet know of my utter hatred for fedoras? They work for no one.] and were just 'too coo for school'... a little too cool for my liking! We were seated outside and then ignored for about 20 minutes until our waitress was finally told we were waiting. I guess we weren't cool enough to be acknowledged by them. None of the appetizers looked too appetizing so we just went with salads and pasta for dinner. Jordans house salad looked great and my caesar salad was really good. I only ordered chicken alfredo, so I can't have expected something amazing, but as far as alfredo goes, it was just regular good. I felt bad because Jordan wanted it to be a nice meal, which it was-- nice, just nothing to brag about. We skipped dessert and walked over to City Creek, a new outdoor mall. It is huge and fabulous! Biggest H&M I've ever seen! Jordan tried on some suits, but nothing stuck his fancy, so we left empty handed.
The hotel was really nice. It is so good to just have a night away from home-- even if it is just SLC. We had the luxury of hot tubbin' it and cable tv! Ha Ha! We don't even have a tv at home, so it was nice to just relax after dinner and watch a little "Monster-In-Law," [which I forced upon Jord!]

We had to get up pretty early for the Race, which started at 8:30 [Yuck!] and even earlier if we wanted to score any FREE SWAG and enjoy the festivities!

  My Grandma had Breast Cancer, which is why my family started walking.

This was Jordan's first Race and it was just the two of us since our friends Ryan and Amber were out of town. I hope one day Jordan and I will be able to do it with my family because it is more fun with a larger group, especially a rambunctious group like my family! I was a little emotional at the start of the race when they were playing "I'm Gonna Love You Through It" and "I Run for Life." Cancer is so scary. It has affected my family in a strong way; whether our pennies and dimes will ever add up to find a cure, we can only hope. Gathering together with SURVIVORS and others who have been affected by it helps us feel bonded to others in love.

Jordan collecting all his free stuff!

"We gots our hurr' did!" 

...and our faces painted. 

[Jordan was going to get a full dragon across his face blowing fire, but he chickened out. I don't know why?] 

"On your mark, get set... GO!"

We were about halfway through [5k] when this little girl lapped us like crazy! She was about 4 and she came jogging along side her parents, looking like she was barely hanging on still.. so cute! You know when you're so done running and your head and upper body is just way ahead of your feet-- [ha!] that was her! But she kept at it and jogged all the way out of our sight!

Cancer affects everyone, no matter what age, race or gender-- it does not discriminate. One of the things I love about the race is seeing so many different people celebrating life or running in memory of loved ones lost. 

Woo hoo! Made it! 

Can you guess who's time is who's? 

I pushed Jordan out of the way at the last second so I could stumble in first! He says that since he had to carry the backpack the whole time that adds a ten minute headstart to his his time! 

Puh-leeze!

...and afterwards-- Doughnuts for the Cure!