Shiprock, New Mexico: Part 1

Last week in HSM we had our first missions experience in New Mexico working with the Navajo people of Shiprock, New Mexico. We had such an amazing 5 days in Shiprock. I am so so proud of all of our students and how hard they worked. Of course there was lots of laughter and large amounts of bonding.

I miss my friend...

There are many reasons that I love and adore my friend Ange. One big reason is because she is not scared to be silly as me - and often rivals me in her level of silliness. Sometimes we miss her so much at our different weekly TV watching that we skype her in so we can hear her laugh.

Happy Birthday Ange!

Away We Go

I can NOT wait to see this! I hope it as good as it looks.

3 years ago today...

...Jonathan took me golfing and on the ninth hole opened a golf ball with a ring inside of it. He asked me to marry him!
EVERYDAY God confirms in small or BIG way that Jonathan most definitely the one for me.

I love you Joe!

It is all about being prepared...

My favorite website Fred Flare is delivering again!

I am all about being prepared, and these are really perfect for that.

I mean surely one day I will need birthday candles on the fly.

First comes love...then comes marriage

My two favorite things just got married.

I came back from lunch today to some Paul Frank goodies on my desk from Katie. When I asked where she got them she told me she bought them at Target. I literally danced around the office. I knew that some changes were on the horizon for Paul Frank, and although sad I was hoping that meant Target was the next stop for my favorite little monkey. Guess I was right!

After I danced around the office I went to Jonathan's office to tell him. He thought this sounded more like bad news than good news...considering I already spend so much of my time, and so much of our money at Target.

More Just Like Audrey

Just posted 10 new headbands and hair pieces on the Just Like Audrey Etsy Shop. Check them out and tell your friends.

Dreaming of Chasing Rabbits

Watch the video of Bizkit the Sleep Walking Dog.
I think I would be terrified if Pizza slept walk.
I don't get why he doesn't wake up when he is barking.

The Process of becoming a Witt

When you get married the men have it way easier...they don' t have to change their name. Today, after 2 1/2 years of marriage, I am no longer a Dearden. The only thing remaining on my list for the last year has been my log in for my computer at work. It officially became "rwitt" today.

So I guess there is no turning back at this point. I am a Witt.

It's a Pease in a box*

So Phil came in my office the other day to ask me a question(well every day really) , and immediately Josh Pease followed him. I don' t know if Pease was interested in the question Phil was going to ask or if he was trying to get away from someone or he just needed a brain break, but he just walked right in. So I asked him if he thought he could fit in a random suitcase that happened to be in my office. He replied "No". Then I challenged him to get into a blue plastic tub that was in my office, and he took said challenge.

Then Phil whispered "Can I knock him over?"..as if the plastic tub that didn't close all the way was sound proof. I gave him permission, and so he did knock him over.

This is a good example of little moments that happen at work every day.

*You're welcome!

Thank You Hillary

"I'm her mom"
"No she's not"

I heart Crockpot Wednesdays

Today when I was putting dinner in the crockpot for tonight I found this frozen piece of chicken shaped like a heart. I thought that was pretty appropriate considering I have an appliance crush on my crockpot and try to use it whenever I can.

Unnecessary Items

Over at my favorite website See Jane Work they sell some unnecessary items. Like these leather bound dictionaries and thesauruses. Although unnecessary they are SO pretty. I would LOVE to have them on my bookshelf one day. Sometimes you just need a really pretty unnecessary item to bring you short term happiness for a day!

I heart ichat

One of my favorite things when we got a new computer was being able to ichat with people. I used to call Jonathan all the time when he was on the laptop in the living room from the our computer in the office, and much to my enjoyment he would answer and ichat with me for a couple minutes. Yesterday I was ichatting with Ange and Courtney. and the whole time I was such a nerd saying. "Isn't technology SO cool?" They were just there to make funny faces and use effects. I guess that part is pretty fun too!

Just Like Audrey

Katie and I have been talking about it for awhile, and today we finally did it. We started an Etsy shop called Just Like Audrey.

Check out the shop here, follow us on Twitter here and read the new blog here!
Let us know what you think!

I heart road trips

I think I would LOVE to see Carhenge...almost more than I would like to see Stonehenge.

I heart Ella Fitzgerald

My favorite Pandora station is my Ella Fitzgerald station. At some point in my work day I turn it on...usually when I plan on sitting at my computer for an extended period of time. It is so relaxing and such feel good music. So my cute friend Katie, knowing my love for Ella, let me know that she saw a billboard for a play at the Laguna Playhouse entitled Ella. I would totally love to see it, but I need to find another Ella lover to come along with me.

I heart RYS RDE

RYS RDE is sick. Really really sick. We're talking terminally ill. We took her to the car doctor today and found out is going to cost way more to fix her than she is worth. So today Jonathan decided we were exchanging cars, since I drive way more than him and he would rather be in it when it dies. So I moved my stuff into his car, and his stuff into my car.
And I cried.
Now don't get me wrong. If/when we get a new car I will happily drive it, but the Trooper has been my partner for six years. It is like saying good-bye one of my best friends. Oh man...I could cry again.

I heart US History

About a month ago I decided I was going to learn all the Presidents in order. I knew that Allison would be interested in learning them as well. So I bought a chart of the Presidents and we decided we are going to learn a President a week until we have them all memorized. So every Tuesday I am going to email Allison with the President's name that we are learning, a fun fact about them, and their Vice President. Anyone else up for the challenge? I can easily add you to the mailing list.

And the Oscar goes to...

I saw fewer nominated movies in 2008 than I did in 2007, but did MUCH better than I did last year when it came to my ballot. I definitely made sure to do my homework, and out of the 13 people watching with us Josh, Jonathan and I all got 19 out of 24 categories right - all coming in first place. My first place prize was the movie Short Circuit...an oldy but a goody.



In keeping with our Oscar tradition everyone brings food that is themed to the nominated movies. We contributed Sean Penne Pasta, and Tropic Thunder (a delicious punch Jonathan concocted that was a mix of juices and tonic water with lots of cut up fruit inside).

There was also...A Slice of Revolutionary Road, Brownies with Chocolate "Frost"ing / Nixon, The Curry-ous Case of Benjamin Mutton, and Twinkies from Wall-E

My friend is home!

Got to spend all day Tuesday with Allison as she reacquainted herself with America. SO good to have her home.

I heart Fonts

In the last year I have really become a lover of fonts. I am positive I can credit this to my friend Allison who has been a love of fonts for many years. I have always heard of those websites where you can upload your handwriting into a font, but I found one this weekend that does it for free in less than a minute, and has every possible symbol available on the template. Needless to say (free was the magic word for me) I uploaded as many fonts as I could think of, and then I wrote open ended letters to test them out.

I heart Checklists

I found this amazing website called Printable Checklist. It is an amazing way to make a checklist. I am all about marking things off of a list. This is why I love love Post-its and Notebooks of all kinds ('love' might be too light of a word, maybe 'obsessed with' would be better). I especially love when I am putting an actual check in a box instead of crossing something off.

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm just going to say it.
I love Valentine's Day.
I used to hate it and think it was merely a Hallmark holiday, but I have had a change of heart. I love getting flowers. I love getting candy. I love getting cards. I love going out to dinner. I love Valentine's Day.
I will be spending Valentine's Day 2009 with 150 high school students in the snow of Big Bear, However, I will still be in love with every second of the day.
I hope you feel loved this Valentine's Day.

Fun facts about Valentine's Day:

The lovers' holiday traces its roots to raucous annual Roman festivals where men stripped naked, grabbed goat- or dog-skin whips, and spanked young maidens in hopes of increasing their fertility.

In the Middle Ages, there was a belief that the first unmarried person of the opposite sex you met on the morning of St. Valentine's Day would become your spouse.

About 190 million cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine's Day the second-most popular greeting-card giving occasion.

65 percent of households send greeting cards on Valentine's Day.

73 percent of Valentine Day flowers are bought by men, while women buy 23 percent of Valentine flowers.

About 45.8 percent of U.S. consumers will exchange Valentine's Day candy. About 75 percent of is from sales of chocolate.

Americans will spend about $14.7 billion in retail sales on Valentine's Day in the United States.The average U.S. consumer is expected to spend $103 on Valentine's Day gifts, meals, and entertainment, down from $123 per person in 2008.

I heart Making Headbands

I guess my headbands from last month were a hit. People were telling me how much they loved them, and lots asked if I could teach them make them. So Hillary, Katie and I headed to Michael's on Wednesday to see what we could find for our creations. Through some joint efforts we came out with some really cute things. Long after all the girls left Katie and I continued seeing what we could make.

We ended up making 8 different hair pieces (2 went home with Hillary). They cost about $1.50 each to make, but I am sure we could sell them each for at least $10! Watch out Etsy here we come.

Have Your Cake and Eat it Too

I found this vintage cake tin on Bed, Bath and Beyond. I was immediately in love. I would be willing to take three things off of my counter in order to have this sitting out in my kitchen. Sigh!

Do you want bacon with that?

Jealous? Do you want bacon on your blog?

This is my confession...

So I love gnomes.
I am just putting it out there.
I am not obsessed. I am not asking you to buy me any gnomes or gnome paraphernalia. And I definitely don't plan on my backyard looking like this.

I just like gnomes.

I found a fellow gnome lover in my friend Ange, so when she said she was going to be traveling for weeks at a time I wanted to be able to see all the places she would be visiting. So I thought what better way than through a blog. Enter Norm and Archie.


Sometimes Courtney and Katie make fun of us, but they are just jealous.

You're welcome.

Might As Well Face It

The doctor told me I need to drink less caffeine.
I decided I would kick my caffeine addiction cold turkey, and then once I got over the 2pm caffeine withdrawal headaches I would attempt to drink "less" caffeine. So I stopped drinking Diet Coke and coffee, and replaced it with tea - hot and cold.
I am pretty sure tea has caffeine in it.
So I am basically in denial.

I guess I need a new plan.

Thursdays in the Refinery

Spent today working in the Refinery. I had Bible Study around lunch time, camped out in the Diner with Ange (did work) and Courtney (did homework) and then walked around the building a couple of times during Refinery Hours to see what students were hanging out. It was a nice a little break from my office. I think I am going to make it the new norm for Thursdays.

...Is Fear Itself

This quote has come in handy so many different times this week...

Taken from Design Crush