Sock Monkey!

I bought my adorable niece a sock monkey for her first birthday and it really made me want one. But I was thinking it would be fun to make one! Thoughts? I've found a few tutorials/resources to use, but I was hoping someone out there might have already made one before.. ? Here are a few options:

I could make one with the original plan and materials using SockMonkey.Net's kits. Upside is that it will look like the original! Downside is that it's a little pricey, $22 for the pre-sewn kit, and $17 for just the materials and the instructions.

I could just find some socks I love and make them with other tutorials found online. Such as: Web Goddess or Rockin' Sock Monkey Tutorial. My confidence in my skills is pretty lacking at the moment, so I will probably make a few before I'm satisfied with the end result. So begins the search for the perfect socks for my monkey!

Encouragement, advice, and well-wishing is much appreciated. I need the motivation!

Toodles!

Edit: Apparently, Penny LOVES her sock monkey and they are best friends now. If I can figure out how to make them well, this might be might be my next go-to for gifts for kids/babies! There's a cute one that I can make out of the smaller socks, so that would be good a baby.. WAHOO!

Random Wednesday

Sorry to start off on a negative note, but... A dog in the neighborhood got into our backyard and killed 8 of our 10 chickens, 6 of which were babies.. Cody called the cops, followed the dog, then let the owners know they would be speaking with the cops soon. They owe us for damages (the chickens lost, plus the coop the dog destroyed getting to the chickens) and they were charged with "dog at large" and "dog-attack on a domestic animal". I understand that dogs will be dogs, but people shouldn't let their dogs run wild around the neighborhood. And our chickens weren't running free in the backyard, they were penned up and it took the dog a lot of effort to get to them. *sigh*

My allergies are pretty bad, but I think that's because I got so used to working in a warehouse and not being out in the elements as much during the day. Now that I'm in and out of my car at the peak allergy time-of-day (at noon and then again at 5pm), I'm getting hit pretty hard. Time to pony-up the dough for Zyrtec, I guess.

Still no pass to the Provo-Rec, but hopefully soon. Cody doesn't want to get them until he has more time to go, and he just has lots of yard stuff to do right now. Considering how cheap it is, and that we're paying yearly, I don't feel the same way, but whatever. I did got on a loooong run on Monday from my house to the new north park in Spanish Fork (a little under 5 miles when I take the running path along hwy 6) and it KILLED ME! I'm just now recovering from the soreness. Note to self: I need to GRADUALLY work a longer run into my life.. Good heavens!

It's SUMMER! The weather has been so nice.. I just need to get out and enjoy it! Cody and I are planning on going camping a few times, so I'm pretty excited about that. Work has been pretty good, still looking for something with an earlier schedule. I'm just glad AMP is such a good gig, or the hours would drive me crazy. I can't believe I've been working for Nu Skin and AMP for two months already..

Well, that's all for now, not a whole lot going on in my life. I'm working my way through LOST on Netflix, so that's been fun. I'm just at the end of season 2 and it's starting to get confusing, so I need to pay closer attention! Oh, LOST..

PERKS!

Alright, I completely forgot about the discounts offered to Nu Skin employees until a few days ago and I'm super excited about one in particular! We get a discount with the Provo City Recreation Center (next to Provo High) and I am planning on getting that and then going swimming at lease once a week (lap swimming, not just using the diving board!) and then hopefully using their cardio equipment as well as attending their zumba class when I have a better work schedule. I'm not making any promises or advertising any goals just yet, but it's extra motivation when it will be cheaper for us! Cody is pretty excited as well. He's been wanting to go the gym recently, but it's so darn expensive! I've always been a gym-snob because I've never wanted to pay money for something I can do outside on my own for free. But I definitely see the benefits of going to the gym as opposed to just hoping the weather is nice enough for a run (definitely a gamble here in Utah!). I'm still working two jobs (1-5pm at NuSkin's employee store and 5:30-9:30pm at AMP security doing data entry) and I actually like both jobs. I wasn't expecting AMP to be much fun, but it's turned out to be quite laid-back with awesome co-workers. I definitely dislike the late work schedule, but I'm lucky to have found both of the jobs in the first place, so I'm grateful. I feel a little bad for my first entry about being annoyed, but at least I was wrong, right?! (lol)

Also, Cody and I are starting to feel more optimistic about maybe starting our family in the next year or two. We're just feeling better about our finances and it's been a great realization to come to. This isn't an announcement of any kind, so don't rush to conclusions! What you could do is tell me about any work-from-home opportunities that are legit, mmkay? That would be SUPER helpful! I'm pretty happy where things are though. Even though I don't really like my daily schedule, I'm getting into some good routines and I feel a lot more comfortable. I hope everyone is doing well, thanks for stopping by!

Toodles :)

P.S. I'm thinking my blog needs a remodel, so hopefully I can do that soon!

Goal Accomplished!!

That's right, I donated my hair! I actually cut it last Wednesday, but I felt like I should mail it off before I talk myself up on here. I wasn't even planning on doing it last week, but I went to visit my mom and had her measure. So, when she said it was long enough, I just said, "let's do it!!" I've just been waiting so long to get this done and I'm so excited to say I accomplished one of my goals. It's the shortest I ever remember it being, so it's been an adjustment for me. Cody wasn't too happy about it either, but he'll survive. My showers are noticeably shorter! Also, I finally broke down and bought the fleece for my very own blanket! I've been telling myself I will make myself one for about a year now so I finally did it! It costed a lot more than I had originally planned, but I deserve it! I'm going to finish it today and I will hopefully get some photos up. Here are the before and after shots of my hair, so prepare yourself! SHOCKING!!

Here we go..

My baby brother is in the MTC as of now and I will see him again in two years! I was able to go to lunch with my parents and Jeremy earlier today, and honestly, the lunch was a good (and yummy) distraction from the inevitable goodbyes. I wasn't crying until he hugged me and said he loves me. I was lucky enough to have 30 minutes before I needed to be into work so I could sit out and enjoy the sunshine (and compose my stinking emotions). I feel a little dehydrated, but otherwise, comforted. He is going to be an incredible missionary and I couldn't be more proud of the young man he has become. I'm excited to write to him and hear about the experiences he'll be having while serving the Lord and His people in Salta, Argentina. I have a missionary blog going for our family here and I will be putting photos, letters, and updates on there as they come. Today, I get to have my tears, but I'm going to do my best not to dwell and just be happy and proud to have such an awesome little brother out in the mission field.

I LOVE YOU JEREMY!!

Lovely Post of Nothingness!

So I got it in my head that it would be fun to get those Jovy Fruit Rolls, (from the produce section of my friendly neighborhood Macey's), and put them in my drawer at work to eat occasionally. Nice idea, right? Then I proceeded to eat them all while I was on my shift today. I'm talking like, four Jovy's, can you believe it?!

I've been trying to think of good things to blog about lately while I'm here, and I've just run blank! My life is just not exciting right now, mmkay? I'm not too broken up about this, mind you, seeing as how whenever I feel bored, something NOT so fun happens (i.e. lay-offs, etc.) Do you see my point?

I saw my cutie-pie neice Penny today and it was glorious. I enjoyed talking to Heidi and laughing at the faces Penelope was making at me. I didn't hold her, but she is mobile enough that as long as she is watching me or smiling at me, I'm content. Who am I to confine her curiousity? Plus, she no longer cries when she sees me. Improvement, no? I say so!

Oh! Hot topic for me recently is the fact that my baby brother will be leaving to the MTC on the 25th! I can't believe it, really. I'm fairly certain I will shrivel a little from withdrawals when he's gone. He and I haven't always been so buddy-buddy, but REALLY! He is just the coolest ever and my music knowledge will suffer without his expertise. Interested in reading his letters while he's gone? Well, hop on over to the Boren Missionary page! To join the ranks with Jeremy, will be my cute cousin Ashton Roney in July, to Anchorage, Alaska! I mean, my heart is close to bursting with pride that my little brother is going out, but do you understand my lonesome sigh? Alas, those two years will probably fly by, am I right?

Welp, I'm headed off to my other job, more alarm systems! I'm almost done with my training (about time!!) so the next few weeks should be fun!

Here we go again...

***DISCLAIMER*** I am super grateful for everything I have. For a husband who works so hard to provide for us. For supportive family and friends. For jobs that are available in this crappy economy. For ice cream. So I hope I don't offend anyone with this post. I am aware and grateful for the many many blessings in my life, I just need to vent. kthnxbai *****




Yep, I got laid-off on the 7th and it was great.. Sarcastic? Yes. BUT at least this time it wasn't my fault. The company had to let more than a few people go, so I didn't feel as bad. At the same time, while I look for permanent employment, I realize how much I miss my job. It was hard work, but it was easy. And I really liked my co-workers. And I made a good wage! I've had lots of interviews, but for now I've settled on working part-time for Nu Skin in their employee store (YAY!) and part-time for a security-alarm company doing data-entry. I'm super excited to have my foot in the door at Nu Skin! My Dad has been working for them for quite some time and so I've always wanted to work for them. What a great company! The alarm gig shouldn't be too bad since most of the phone talk will be with the salesmen and technicians. Not too excited about sitting at a computer, but it's better than being unemployed.

One frustration though, in the interview with the security company, they never said anything about having to get a license and that they would pay for it. They also failed to mention that in the event that I quit (before the "seasonal employment" time is up.. also didn't say it was seasonal) I have to cough up the $120 for the license. I guess this is my bad for not knowing I would need that since security companies are popping up all over the valley. But at the same time, I wouldn't have pursued the job if I had known that. A little snobby? Maybe. And I'm sure Cody wouldn't have appreciated me turning down work. But now that I'm into the training and doing the job, I know that as soon as I can get Nu Skin to take me on full-time or if I can find something better to replace it, I will want to quit this security company. I understand why they make you pay for the license if you leave.. That would be really expensive for the company to pay for everyone until they find something better. But I would've liked to have been told that in the interview.


Is that unreasonable? So, now I'm learning all of this stuff that will be worthless to me if I find something better (I have an interview tomorrow morning that I will take if they'll take me; it's for a shipping assistant!!!) and I'm just feeling pretty annoyed. Did I mention that if I keep up with this work schedule, I will work from 1pm-5pm for Nu Skin and then 5:30pm-10pm at the security job... Oh and no one gets Saturdays off. Moral? I'm mad that I lost my job. I'm mad!