Utah Interior Design

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Thanksgiving Stories and Traditions

I’m getting really excited for the holiday next week. I can’t wait to eat a ton of turkey and pie…not necessarily in that order. I’ve been thinking of what kind of traditions I want to start with my family and I think a girls night out the night before would be a ton of fun. I think some girl time is called for (because you all know that somehow all the boys end up outside playing football while dinner is miraculously getting cooked inside.) We’ll see if I can put something together…maybe a movie night, maybe a scrapbooking night, maybe a game night. Anyway, I was looking for some fun family traditions online and came across this cute story on CNN and wanted to share…

Brandi Hofmann of Minonk, Illinois
When I was 40 weeks pregnant with my first son, I visited almost daily at my grandparents’ house. Mainly I would just visit with Grampa who was sick at the time so Gramma could get some things done around the house.

One day he told me about a Thanksgiving morning back in the mid-60’s. He had just let their dog Caesar outside so he could do his business in their small town. Usually the dog came right back but on this morning, Grampa had to yell for Caesar to come home. After a few minutes of yelling for the dog, it finally came home carrying an entire Thanksgiving turkey in its mouth. Someone must have baked it and set it outside to cool off. My Grampa took the bird and buried it in the yard and never told a soul (my mom and her sisters would have told someone and it would’ve been all over town) until he told me more than 35 years later. He died a few days after he told me the story and each Thanksgiving I am asked to retell the story after dinner.

If I Ever Become a Famous Singer…

Sesame Street is the first place I’d go. I love these clips.

Ken Lee

Seth and I have been laughing about this video for a few days now, so I decided to share it. My favorite part is "tulibu dibu douchoo."

Absentee Voter

I just realized I will be flying home from Washington D.C. on election day, so I’m going to be an absentee voter this year. I’m kind of sad because I love getting those "I Voted" stickers. They make me feel like I have done my duty as a citizen of this country. Ok, really it makes me feel cooler/smarter/more informed that all the people who don’t have one. I didn’t realize this until I read Freakonomics . One of the authors’ studies says that the main reason people vote (especially in small towns) is because they want people to see that they are voting (or see that they are not not voting), not because they think their vote will actually change anything. And that is why I think the person who thought up the "I Voted" stickers is a genius. The poll workers see that you vote AND your coworkers see that you vote. Brilliant.

Cheap Centerpiece Ideas

On HGTV.com there are a few good ideas for decorating your table on the cheap. Exactly what we all need right now. I love that the main things in this picture are the apples, leaves, and candles. I just happen to have a few candles hanging around, beautiful red and gold leaves are in abundance, and apples will look pretty and then taste great once I’m done using them for decoration. Great ideas HGTV!

Autumn Kitchen Table

I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond yesterday and found a really long table cloth that will fit my table when I have both leaves in (for $5) and some nice dinner napkins ($6 for 8). I’m trying to make my table look like it is ready for fall. I have a pretty good start, but I need some more ideas. I’m thinking about getting some beautiful glasses that would look good in my cabinets with the glass doors, but I need to find some cheap/free ideas. I’ll let you know if I come up with anything.

(The table runner is from KOHL’s and the pumpkin is from Tai Pan.)

I’m Back!

I realize it has been well over two weeks since I last posted…but there are no apologies here! I’ve been having a blast on vacation and then been gettin’ back into the groove of things. Here are a few pictures (and captions) from my trip.

Me, Seth, Kristen and Rob (great friends and good travel buddies) in front of the gorgeous Spanish fort El Morro in San Juan.

Rob, Kristen, Me and Seth looking down on Puerto Rico’s East side from El Yunque, Puerto Rico’s rain forest.

Me and Seth in front of one of El Yunque’s gorgeous waterfalls.

Seth basking in the healing waters of El Yunque (which happens to be the only rain forest in the US National Parks System).

View from the condo we rented.

We went scuba diving on Culebra Island, which is about an hour and a half ferry ride from Puerto Rico. I was sprawled out across four chairs in the middle of the boat and woke up to Seth sitting like this.

The boys got along so well that they went home wearing matching dive shirts. So funny!

I’m sad my break is over, but am excited to be back! When I left it still felt like summer, but I definitely came home to fall. I’m going to break out the few fall decorations I have. I love the warm autumn colors. They make my house feel so cozy.

Warning About Roberts Coupons!

I just went in to Roberts today to buy something I saw advertised in their mailer. (An embossing envelope for my Cuttlebug , if you must know.) I was excited because they were 30% off and they always have the 40% off one item coupons hanging around the store. I never hold on to the coupons I get in the mail because I always know I can get them in the store, too. Well, they have just changed their policy! You need to bring your coupon in to the store now. They were nice to me and still gave me 40% off, but said they are going to be sticking to their policy from now on. Just wanted to pass on the info so you can make sure to take your coupons in to the store. I know I would be mad if I didn’t get as fabulous a deal as I was expecting.

Maybe I’ll show you the cricut cards I plan on making with my new scrapbooking tool.

The Importance of a New Perspective

Sorry about the lack of posts so far this week. I just went on a last minute trip to a conference about festivals and events. It was the perfect thing for me to get excited about Lavender Days for next year. Over the next little while we are going to step back and look at the event to make sure it is the best festival we can possibly put on…and that doesn’t mean the most jam packed crazy festival out there. We need to be good at what is most important to us. Isn’t it nice to step back every now and then and take a look at something from a different perspective? It is so refreshing and it makes me excited and happy.

Sometimes I feel like I need to attend a conference like this just for regular life. Don’t you?

He’s In

My brother signed the contract on Sunday and moved in yesterday! Eek! This is the first time in four years that Seth and I have lived with anyone else. So far it is going great. Daniel was able to go with us to Lowes tonight to pick up some shelving for a few cabinets. Yes, we just got new cabinets and the four pantry cabinets didn’t come with any shelves. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. Once we get those in my kitchen will be fully functional! It has been a long time in coming. I feel like getting on my roof and shouting, "Hall-le-freakin’-luja!"

In other, random news:

I’m inheriting chairs and a table from my grandma. I’m excited because they are old and beautiful. The table is a bit rough so I’ll probably use it in my craft room until I decide to refinish it.

I got my August Fields fabric samples in the mail today. I’m in love, but I have to see what my husband thinks of them before I actually buy anything.

I also got a $35 rebate in the form of a gift card from Lowes today. I’m hoping to spend it on some sort of light fixture for my dining room.