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Welp...I did something really crazy this week.

I bought myself a house. 

No more renting, loud downstairs neighbors, not being able to leave my apartment when its snowing because of the RIDICULOUS driveway, scrapping ice off windows, making my guests sleep on the couch or floor, etc.

I'm SUPER excited that the whole house-buying process is OVER.  It was by far, the most stressful thing I've done all by myself.  I can see why people wait to do that until they are married...mainly because you could talk to each other and help each other feel better about it all...or blame each other when things go wrong.  HAHA.  Just kidding.  But that is funny to think about.  Some days, I would get ice cream for lunch and cry in my car.  Other days, I couldn't care less about what was going on.  It was too stressful and I shut down.  I started breaking out like I was in high school again.  And it was exactly as my friend Morgan said it would be:  "Everything that can possibly go wrong, will go wrong.  Just remember that it will all be okay in the end."  I am so glad somebody today me that.  I had to tell myself that at least once a week, more like 10 tens a week.  Insanity.  I am very proud to say that it is over.  I made it! Even if I did cry all morning today at work, I am happier now.

My house is a three bed, two and a half bath town home with a garage to make all my dreams come true.  And there is counter space to make cookies, in case anyone is wondering.  I redid a bunch of my current furniture and bought other stuff as well.  Can't wait to be all unpacked and good to go.  I think it will be one of the best things I've done for myself.  And lets face it, money does buy some happiness.

My nieces are stoked to have their own room, and my sewing machine is equally excited to have a room to share with the other crafting stuff.  So much fun!

Maybe I'll post some of the stuff I've redone soon....until then, happy I bought a freaking house day!

Janalee

Vacations!

Actually, I mostly live without vacations, but when I do take the plunge and go on one, I have so much fun!

This trip we went to Las Vegas! 

Vegas kind of a funny destination because I don't smoke, gamble, drink, or hook up with random people.  Being LDS in a place like that is hilarious.  For instance, this dude named David put his arm around me and said, "Girl, where you from?"  I said, "Utah."  Then he makes this face like he just drank sour milk and says, "OH!!"  Excellent.  He was super funny and I'm glad we talked to him and his buddy, Goliath. 

And talking about alcoholic beverages with people was entertaining.  One girl who was a bartender said, "Don't drink Mai Thais or Long Island Ice Teas, they are for cheap girls."  Then one of the waiters said, "You should drink a Mai Thai!"  She yells, "No, don't tell her to drink that crap!"  They were hilarious.

We went to Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque Du Soleil.  I loved it.  In all honesty, it was the best show I have ever experienced.  All the good things from growing up came back to me.  I was so blessed with two older sisters who taught me the importance of Michael and his music.  They also crimped my hair, but the MJ stuff makes up for that torture.  I remember like it was yesterday when my dad and oldest sister got into a big fight about Michael.  "Michael Jackson wears little girls panties" was a statement my father made.  Kim was devastated.  She left the table and went to her room and didn't come out for a long time.  It.  Was.  Serious.  My middle sister, Annie, inspired the song, "Smooth Criminal" so that is pretty awesome.  We danced to Scream in the performance teams at Dansworks.  Michael Jackson.  Michael FREAKING Jackson.  I love his music.  Never fails to make me happier.  In fact, I just got the ringtone of Bad to wake me up in the morning.  Needless to say, I've been waking up a bit happier.

The bottom picture was right before the show was starting and I could not contain my happiness.  Oh my.

The original sequin socks and shoes.  WOW.

I am continually blown away by the fact that I got to go to this.  So freaking great.

In the Venetian (UGH) we saw living statues....I thought the living statues were going to be nice...wrongo bongo. I thought they would be like British soldiers, unable to move or talk or chase you down the hallway at a hotel. I was sorely mistaken. Ps...I didn't even know the lady was in the picture below until after I was done taking it. SO creepy.

Quite possibly the worst/best photo.  I was terrified.  I felt like a trapped child.  Looking back on it, it was hilarious.  In the moment, I really had bad feelings toward stilt man and flower girl.  Not to mention, Stilt man really did chase me down the hallway while I said, "Leave me alone!!"  Wow.

All in all, Vegas was a fun vacation.  I think I should go on more vacations than once every 5 years or so.  It couldn't have happened at a better time though.  I was so stressed and felt like nothing was going to work out, but getting away really helped me to clear my head.

Memories

So, this past weekend was my 10 year high school reunion.  SO weird its been that long.

On our actual anniversary date of graduating, I got really sad.  I thought about how much life has changed, how much I've learned and done, and how life doesn't always go the way you think it will.  I thought about all the friends and family I have lost, how I thought I would have everything figured out by now in life, that love would be easy and so would life.

To any high schoolers out there...Life is hard.  It is fun.  It never turns out the way you expect it to.  Even when you are 28, things still get thrown at you that you haven't gone through yet, and you keep learning.  It can be frustrating sometimes.  However, I believe that is the battle of life.  Learning to find happiness, even in the midst of crap.  That sounds weird, but whatever.  I'm serious.

Anyway, back to the reunion part.

The whole morning and afternoon before it, I put off getting ready and was just super nervous.  I watched Project Runway and Psych and finally decided to get ready.  I picked up my friend Juli and we were both kinda nervous, but then we agreed that we are both happy and no matter what other people think of you, that is what is important.

It ended up being super fun.  I loved talking to the people I went to school with, seeing where life has taken each of us and listening to wonderful music all night long.  We had food and won prizes (which I totally spaced until just barely!), but we mostly just talked with each other. 

I guess the point of this post is to say that even though I don't have everything in life I want and that life doesn't go the way you expect it to, it still works out.  I love how different it turned out for me.  And I still have life to look forward to.

We ended the reunion with a group photo, which I don't have, but will post when I do get it.  Until then, here are some fun photos from the night.

Ready for a good time!

Shandi and Bobby

Matt and Mitch - I tried to get them to by Chasers from the bar's vending machine...

Juli!

Photo of the night winner

Silly Sally

What a fun night!  Thanks for everyone who came and made me laugh!  It was great seeing you!

Janalee

Fun

So, the other day, I took my niece on one of our monthly dates.  This week was Maggie Moo's.  But first, a car wash. 

Not very good quality, but you can still see how cute she is!

We did the car wash thing and then ate delicious ice cream.  I think I'm getting old because I have started getting flavors like butter pecan....

Before our date, I had a good hair day: 

After Maggie's, we went to my house and Savannah helped me some projects, including this one:

It is a box that I bought at Joann's and we painted it together that night.  It will hold things like remotes.  I think it turned out purty good.  Then we just sat and talked and it was freaking great.  Love her.  I asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  She said, "A SWIM COACH!  ....Or a doctor.  Or a waitress."  HAHAHAHA.  I said, "What kind of doctor?" 

This is where I generally wait with the highest anticipation.

"A doctor that Michael Jackson would go to for his nose."

"Oh, a plastic surgeon."

"Yeah, or a waitress.  Which one would pay more money?"


AWESOME.

Anyway, next up is yet another craft I've been working on, and it is finished.  I'm excited to hang it up!

 Do you know what room I'll hang it in?

Wow.  Well, I guess that is all for now.

Peace out, girl scout.

janalee

Cool Crafts

So, my Grandma Jensen passed away in October 2010.  When we were going through some of her things, I saw this spice rack circa 1960 she had and decided I wanted it.  It had the original spices in it, and after some soaking and a few dishwasher cycles, it was clean.  I couldn't figure out what to do with it, and I knew I wasn't putting anything back in those containers, so I put it in the spare room and there it sat until a week ago.  I was trying to figure out how I could paint it to make the ugly brown color into something I would want to look at everyday.  I looked on Pinterest and found that people were selling their vintage spice racks for $35 and up!  I was amazed!  Anyway, I found some ideas and finally decided on an accent color for my kitchen/living room. 

So this is what it looked like before, but a bit darker, and I accidentally peeled off all of the stickers when I was washing them...

Now, this is the after...I think I'll hang it under this other cute thing I made for the kitchen...

I shoulda done the picture straight on, but you know, I don't even care...

Anyway,  what do you think??  I think it looks better and will be kind of a cute decoration.

In other news, I am going to my high school reunion this weekend.  TEN YEARS??  What is happening to me?  Oh well...I'm still pretty fun.

Have a wonderful day.

janalee