Geek Alert!

So for the past few months I have been OBSESSED with getting my home organized. Labels and all! I have a new love for Dollar Tree.  I even have dreams (plural)  about organizing my house! Such a nerd. I feel like it is something cheap, quick, and helps my home function better and I hopefully yell and stress less! I have never, I mean ever, been the organized, clean-freak. I'm still not nor will I ever be a clean freak. I wish I was. I have to live and expect some clutter - especially with kids. Right? However, I aim to live simply. Like that saying, "A place for everything and everything in it's place." Anyways, this has been my life and as I said before, obsession, so I am blogging about it. Lame I know.

Shake Rattle & Roll

I know many people do not understand this side of me but I have been in love with loved Elvis since I was a young teenager. Don't judge. I don't know where or how it started but it's a love affair that has stood the test off time! haha. My mom found out that "Elvis" was coming and we went as a late birthday present to me. SO HAPPY! We had so much fun!! He did such a great job. His voice was so close to identical that it was freaky and he even moved like him. (as he should since it's his job) But he was good. I was very happy. The old guy sitting next to me even said with all the imitators he'd seen, which was several, this guy was the best. The cute handicapped girl in front of us was a doll! She was an even bigger Elvis fan than me! She had been to Graceland twice. Jealous! Her parents hadn't told her what concert they were there to see so when the announcer said Elvis would be out in a minute she was just beside herself. She was ecstatic. It was such a fun night. Even my mom left a fan. Mission accomplished.

Waiting for the concert to start. So excited!

I love a man in uniform.

A very daring, bold move to wear a white swimsuit under all that bright lighting. 

Blue Hawaii baby.

The black leather has always been my fave but this outfit did not do the original justice. 

This is my favorite photo. Who doesn't love the awesome white jumpsuit. Right?!?!

4 No More

My baby turned 5 last week. Hard to believe. This year we just did family parties. It was pretty low key. It was nice. Friday we surprised him by taking him to the Monster Truck show. As we got closer to the Energy Solutions Arena we asked if he had any idea what we were doing and he said both the Monster Truck show and the Jazz game. He didn't know for sure until Bill pulled the ear muffs out of the trunk. Bill said the look on his face was totally worth it! He was so excited! Even Stella was cheering and screaming.



Saturday we had a party with the Duffin's and then Sunday we partied with the Robbins'. Lots of food. Lots of noise. Lots of presents. Lots of love for T-Boy.




Time really does go by so quickly. It seems like just yesterday I was feeding him his first bottle in the hospital. And now in only a few months he will be off to Kindergarten. Unreal. I absolutely love this little man and I'm so glad to have him as my son. I am so blessed to have the life and family that I do. Tristan brings so much joy, laughter and fun into our home. Happy Birthday Bubba!

Very Pinteresting

So I will be the first to admit I am totally and completely addicted to PINTEREST. I can (and do sometimes) spend hours on it! It is a website that inspires me to create new fun things, cook new foods, find fun activities to do with the kids, print church ideas, get organized, etc. Facebook has gotten less and less appealing to look at. I don't need to know what some people are doing every 2 hours. I do like it to feel connected to people I don't see very often since I am horrible at calling. My sister said she heard a saying that Pinterest is where people go to like people they don't know and Facebook is where people go to dislike the people they do know. That made me laugh! I am not a creative people by nature so I love people that are and I love them even more when they teach me how to do what they do. Anyways... Here are a few of my creations minus anything I've cooked.

The Help

I don't normally blog about movies even though I absolutly LOVE movies. However, I am adding this movie to my top 10 all time favorite movies. It is funny, moving, inspiring, anything you could want in a movie. Almost all of my favorites are based on history or true stories. This movie reminded me of just how thankful I am that my children do not have to deal with the challenges that black people had to face not too long ago. I know there will be people who will think and say ignorant things, but I know because of the passion and courage so many others had our challenges are much smaller. I can't wait to see it again!

Day 30!!!

I finally made it! It took me 2 months (instead of 30 days) but I have finally completed my 30 day blog challenge. I am suppose to post a new picture of me and 3 good things that have happened since starting my blog challenge. Here's my self-portrait:

#1 - We had an amazing trip to California

#2 - I finally got my own desk at work after being part-part time for 7 years now

#3 - Stella graduated the first grade and Tristan has mastered riding the kids 4-wheeler

OK, technically that was 4 things, but I'm counting the kids combined as one. Ahhhhhhh. Sweet sigh of relief.

Day 29

Something I could never get tired of doing:

I never get tired of listening to my kids laugh.
I never get tired of listening to my favorite music.
Seeing new things and places. Something I want to do more of!

Day 28

My favorite movie(s):

I guess if I had to pick an overall favorite movie it would have to be Braveheart. I saw this movie 6 times while it was in the theatre. I LOVE war movies and this one is full of history, action, and a great love story. This was before Mel Gibson was crazy and is one of my all time favorite actors. He is in almost every favorite movie of mine. I also love We Were Soldiers & The Patriot. Other movies on my list would be A Beautiful Mind, Gone with the Wind, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the classic, Dumb and Dumber.

Day 27

A picture of me one year ago and now:









One year ago

Today

So? Have I changed much? Maybe a few more fine lines.

Day 26

A picture of somewhere I've been:










Bill and I went to Kauai on our honeymoon a hundred years ago. Someday I'd love to go back and do more. We pretty much just hung out. We loved to drive around the tiny island and just take it all in. Everything there is so lush and green. It's a little piece of heaven.

One of my more recent adventures. Last year and this year we were able to go to Disneyland. I love everything about it (well, except the prices & crowds)! Nowhere else on earth can a grown man get away with wearing Mickey ears without getting his butt kicked. For me it is one of the happiest places on earth! Next year??? I hope.

Day 25

What's in my purse???

The question should be what isn't in my purse!

Isn't it cute? The kids gave it to me for Christmas. I love it!

Here it is. All my dirty secrets. I have about 5 lipglosses, lotion, tissues, sanitizing wipes, hair things, wallet (w/o money), brush, pens, a notebook, gum, IBuprofin, and a redbox movie.

Day 24

A photo of something that means a lot to me:

These pictures for me go hand in hand. My home and the temple. I think home truely is where the heart is. I want my home to always be a safe place where my children look forward to being. This is where we have built most of our memories together and spend our days. Even though I don't have the biggest, best furnished home, it is a place that I love and I'm grateful to call my own.



The temple is where we became a forever family. That is something that is most important to me. One thing that has been a blessing of adopting our children (among so many!) is the opportunity we had to kneel across the alter from one another and have our beautiful children sealed to us. Those are my most precious memories! This picture represents what we believe in and strive toward. It's always an ongoing process, but something worth working toward, I think.

Day 23

15 Facts About Me:

I am skipping day 22. I am suppose to write a letter to someone who has recently hurt me and I just can't think of anything I would dare write on my blog! You know who you are and you know what you have done and you should be ashamed of yourself. If you are feeling guilty right know then you know it's you I'm talking to. Totally kidding! Nobody has hurt me lately and I am glad for that!

All about ME!

1. I have been married to the man I love for 11 1/2 years and love him more than I did back then!

2. I couldn't have created 2 sweeter, more beautiful children if I tried. I love being a mom.

3. I want to go to Italy. I have wanted to for as long as I can remember and someday I WILL go! And I want to know the language when I do go!

4. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

5. I love the movies! I consider it a hobby. I love to go to them. I love to rent them. I even love the previews. And I love to eat funnel cake fries while I'm watching them.

6. I'm crued. And I wish I was sorry about it.

7. I want to do humanitarian work in Africa. Someday I'll do that too.

8. I want to have a hobby that I'm really good at! I have several that I'm OK at but nothing that I'm GREAT at.

9. I'm messy. But not to the extent as when I was a teenager. Just ask my sister.

10. I'm addicted to sugar and diet coke. But you know that from a previous post.

11. I love the outdoors. I love camping, 4-wheeling, going to the beach, sitting by a campfire. Pretty much just taking in the magnificence of it all. It's amazing to me sometimes!

12. I like to make people laugh. It makes me happy!

13. I'm also a magazine junkie. I use to buy them all them time but now I've discovered checking them out at the library. That has helped me broaden my variety of reading and save tons of money. I would rather read a magazine any day over a book. I don't have the time or patience to read a book lately!

14. Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year. I love the anticipation of Christmas. Wrapping presents while drinking hot chocolate and watching A Christmas Story for the 50th time. Having dinner with my family. It's the best!

15. I often let my fears of the unknown hold me back and I wish I didn't. I'm not one of those people who think "that will never happen to me". I'm in fact the exact opposite! I don't know why but I am.

There. Random thoughts. That was actually really hard for me! It's hard to narrow down 15 things to share about yourself.

Day 21

A photo of something that makes me happy:



These 2 faces are what make me happy (90% of the time). Some people wonder if they are ready to have kids and how they could ever stand being home with them day after day. I love my job as a full-time mom! It's what I have always wanted and better than I ever expected. That's not to say that I don't have my challenging days - because I do. Every parent does! But I am grateful that I have the opportunity to stay home with them, teach them, watch them grow to become the little people they are today! I love these kids and I never grow tired of them!

Day 20

The meaning behind my blog name:

Lame. Duff Stuff. Not too hard to read into. Not much rhymes with Duffin except muffin so hence 'Duff Stuff'. Let it soak in people.

Day 18

Chocolate & Diet Coke. My two greatest loves and what I crave the most. My day is not complete without these two things. Preferably dark chocolate. Not a huge fan of white chocolate tho. Too sweet.

Day 17

A photo of my family:



Me and my loves. I am so blessed!

Day 16

My celebrity crush:



Oh yeah. That's right. I have loved Eric Bana since Blackhawk Down & Troy. He is delicious. He is my #1 for sure! Other good contendors are:







Who's your celebrity crush???

Day 15

Something I don't leave the house without:



I must say that since I started doing a photo a day 1 1/2 year ago I have my camera on me 90% of the time. It's rare that I go somewhere without it. I love my camera. It takes great video too!

Day 14

A T.V. show I'm addicted to:

My all time favorite shows would include Friends, Frasier and the Golden Girls. However, I rarely watch those and have little time to watch t.v. these days anyways. Here are the following shows I am addicted these days.



I love The Biggest Loser! I love transformation and people trying to live the best life they can.



The Office is hilarious! I will miss Michael Scott though.



This show cracks me up. Their accents remind me of all the annoying people that call me for medical records. I knew this show would be funny ever since I saw the commercials.



I like Tori and Dean and have watched their shows for the past few years. Right now they are helping plan peoples weddings: Storibook Weddings I think they are funny, and so creative.