Consumer Alert

Did you know that these innocent looking scented reeds can destroy all surfaces within seconds?



During the basement construction, mine were rattled off of their perch, splattering these "natural oils" onto my couch, carpet and coffee table. Luckily I was close by and reacted within seconds. Unfortunately, these things work like acid and there was nothing I could do. They ate through the finish on my table and stripped my leather instantly. Also, our awesome warrantee for the couch only covers food and beverage..... "I'm sorry mame, but your policy says nothing about "oils". ( thanx to PMS, I cried on the phone with this nice woman)




When I called up Pier 1 to tell them I thought their product had caused significant damage in my home, they told me that they have had numerous complaints, but that there is a warning in the packaging. My bad...... I guess the rest of the nation actually reads the warnings on their room fresheners..... I just assumed that there would not be such a destructive product put into open containers for people to place in their homes. I guess the rest of the nation knows not to place them near anything, on anything, or around anything that is not made of steal. As for me, I am left with only the satisfaction of having my opinion "noted" as "I think your product stinks" , and a reminder that things are just things and that accidents can and will happen.

Beware the oils.......beware!!!!!

Birthday Assessment

So.....here I am, 33 today.


No makeup, after a workout.....a very common state for me.
Not a huge milestone, but certainly inching higher into my mid-thirties. It's a normal day today. Kids to school, taught some yogamotion, had a protein shake for lunch (because the water is turned off for construction). Just a calm birthday with time to think about where I am in life. Ten years ago, I was super pregnant, ready to become a mom for the first time. Oh, how my life has changed since then! I like who and where I am as a person better now, but there are certainly things I had more or less of in my twenties that I did not appreciate.

Here's my assessment of the changes.

I have:
More self-confidence
Less free-time
More ambition and desire to learn
Less time in which to pursue the above
More self-control
Less control over my surroundings
More humility
Less control over how I am perceived in public (kids are not good at "faking it" to save face)
More faith and a deeper understanding of what a gift the gospel is
Less tolerance for those around me who mock that which I call sacred
More friends
Less casual acquaintances
More appreciation for silence
Less annoyance at chaos
More people for whom I am responsible
Less ability to keep my brain on track and focused
More below
Less on top
More wrinkles
Less acne (though I still have some ----totally WRONG)
More age spots
Less worry about my stick- out ears
More people that I admire
Less people that I can't stand
More knowledge
More peace
More joy
More hugs
More family
More to loose
More to love
and more to look forward to

So I sit here, un-showered, full of my protein shake, fine to be 33 (more or less :)

First day back!

Just one resolution.....

I started making a list, but I realized that there is one thing that I need to fix the most. If I can do this one thing, I know that everything else will fall into place. So for 2010, and hopefully every year after, I resolved to reading the scriptures daily. I am always amazed at the difference when I do, but after a while, I get lazy or prideful and stop. I have never consistently read for more than a few months at a time. THIS IS MY YEAR!!!! I need the direction and peace so much, that I will just focus on the one. So far, I'm 100%, 2 days down!

Twelve "official' Years

12 years ago we made it official. We tied the knot and started on this crazy journey. In reviewing our story, I was more stunned by a few other numbers. We have been "an item" for 16 years, and given the fact that I am turning 33 in a few weeks, Jason has been my main squeeze for over half my life. I also realized that fore almost 8 of the twelve married years together, I have either been pregnant or nursing. Now, THAT is some commitment on a husbands part. Our stats to date:

2 boys
2 girls
1 dog
four states
3 houses sold
Melissa 0 speeding tickets, Jro.... many more than that
appx. $250,000 in school loans
a mortgage and 2 cars to pay off
way too many chicken dinners
0 trips without the kids (soon to be remedied)
less than 10 totally successful Family Home Evenings
countless crack ups
100s of hours watching "the office","the amazing race" and "survivor"
a few tears
a few make-ups
over 200 pounds gained and lost by yours truly
and most of all
ZERO doubts that we made the right choice.

It isn't always pretty, but I like where we've been and so curious to see what's in store for the next twelve.