Build Your Own Sonic Screwdriver Party

 For Christmas my Siblings and I got to build our own Sonic Screwdrivers.  Our parents bought 3 Personalize Your Own Sonic Screwdriver sets and 2 Trans-Temporal Screwdriver sets, so that we would have 5 sonic screwdriver cores with a lot of parts to play with.  (Both sets are compatible with each other.)

Come on, it's fun pretending to be a Time Lord!

 A Sonic Screwdriver core, which lights up and has 8 sound settings.

 Robbie and Steven.

 We were going to wait to have our Sonic Screwdriver party, but Robbie was so excited he dove right in.  Actually, he didn't know we were going to wait to build them together, but that's cool, because I didn't want to wait, either.  We all dove right in and started trying out different combinations.

 The little manual for the Trans-Temporal Screwdriver.

 Steven and Krista.

 Steven showing his creation.

 Our five Sonic Screwdrivers.

 I love the way Steven's Sonic Screwdriver lights up.

 I only have one Sonic Screwdriver core, but I thought it would be fun to have two Sonic Screwdrivers and share the core between them, or even mix-and-match.

 I love the Steampunk feel.

 These are all the dejected leftovers.

 So I built 4 more.  Though, I must say, not all of these pieces fit together well.  So between 5 sets there were a few loose pieces that wouldn't tighten.

And on another topic, one of the gifts I got my Siblings for Christmas were Marvel comic coloring books with their own set of crayons . . .

. . . Because you're Never too old to color!

Sick in Bed . . .

"The weather outside is frightful!  But the fire is so delightful.  And since we've no place to go.  Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!!"

This Christmas tune is a pure reflection of what's going on outside.

I live in a snow globe!

In other news I'm sick.  I caught the cold my brother Steven still has.  Funny enough last Christmas everyone in my family but him was sick.  This Christmas everyone but him was healthy.

Then last Saturday I started getting the "I'm getting sick" feeling.  It happens every single time without fail.  A feeling of uncontrollable thirst, and no matter how much water I drink I'm still parched. Then, sure enough, I'm in full on cold or flu mode within 6-9 hours.  As a positive, because I get such warning I'm able to crank up the immune boosters.  Mainly zinc, beta carotene, and essential oils.

Meanwhile I'm not going to stress.  It's nice watching the snow and knowing I don't have to go out in it.  Freshly fallen snow is so peaceful.

(As a note, one of my New Years resolutions is to not get sick at all in 2015!  This year has been ridiculous.)

Santa's Dreaded Letter, an Original Poem

My guess as to what Santa is reading:

"Dear Santa,

Twas the Night Before Christmas and all through the house, nothing was stirring, not even a mouse, for you went to bed just before dawn, hoping to nap when you stretched and you yawned. You slept through the night so no presents were left, so all the good families thought there was a theft. They woke and they anguished, the stockings were bare, the police were then called to vent their despair. The children then cried, “There's no Santa at all! We thought you were real when we went to the Mall!” The elves have all quit, the Reindeer’s have fled, even Rudolph has left to escape all the dread. I'm sad to inform you that Christmas is dead. You went and killed it when you went to bed.

Sincerely,

Head Elf Rasmuken,

December 25, 2014"

This was the daily spont posted a couple days ago on the Utah Odyssey of the Mind Facebook page, so I thought I'd have a little fun and write a quick poem.

Merry Christmas!!

Hope your day is full of fun, laughter, and family

Santa's Worst Present Ever

 (Sketch by BYU's Studio C)

And you thought you have a hard time finding your special someone a present!

Santa totally takes the cake :0)

Or takes the cookie?

Heh . . . 

Well, as Kermit would sing, "There's One More Sleep Till Christmas."

(Honestly my favorite Christmas Song of all time)

And all my presents are purchased, but in need of wrapping!

BTW, the traffic was crazy yesterday!!!

And today's going to be crazier!

Merry Christmas Eve

Silent Night (2012), Movie Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

There are so many gallant stories about music.  Handel composed his Messiah oratorio in only 24 days.  Beethoven composed his extraordinary 9th Symphony with its magnificent 4th movement after he had lost his hearing.  These are just some stories to marvel and wonder, but sometimes the most memorable stories worth sharing aren't the ones that come with blazing trumpets, but are carried softly on the wind, rocking like a gentle lullaby.

That's how the 2012 movie Silent Night--written, directed, and produced by Christian Vuissa--is told, like a heartfelt melody swiftly taking us from one tender moment to the next.

Joseph Mohr is young and full of hope when he arrives on assignment in the small Austrian town Oberndorf to serve as assistant Priest.  It's the early 19th century, and the Catholic church has just started allowing church service to be given in German instead of the traditional, not understood Latin.  Joseph loves this change, and he enjoys encouraging those who do not regularly attend church to come and hear the word of God in their native tongue.  He also invites some local tavern goers to join the church choir.  Joseph is full of love and enjoys serving everyone, but his ideas are met with opposition, which later tests his passion.  Yet through it all he writes the beautiful words to Silent Night, a Christmas carol now loved all over the World.

This is the story of Silent Night and the men who wrote the song.

There are so many wonderful Christmas classics that I love to watch every year.  The Christmas Carol (Muppet Style), A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Grinch who Stole Christmas, to name a few.  Silent Night is a beautiful movie about faith and the love of God.  It's more quiet and soft spoken then the other movies I mentioned, but during Christmas isn't it nice to settle down and remember what Christmas is all about?  Love, service, and remembering the birth of our Savior.

Silent Night is a beautiful movie that I won't just watch every Christmas, but all year long.

I bought the video from Deseret Book, where it's still on sale for $9.99.

December 2014 POPSUGAR Must Have Box Review, My Thoughts

 Wow, it's been awhile since I've done one of these!!!

I had to take a break from this subscription for financial reasons, but it's Christmas, so I thought I'd spoil myself with a Popsugar box.  Plus, I was going through Popsugar withdrawals.  No joke.  I really was!  So I was delighted today to find my December Must Have Popsugar box delivered, just in time for Christmas.

POPSUGAR Must Have is a monthly subscription lifestyle box for gals.  The cost is $39.95 a month, free shipping, but it's cheaper when you subscribe with a 3, 6, or 12 months subscription.  On any month you can receive goodies for home, a book, fitness, snack, makeup, pampering, fashion, etc.  You never know what you're going to get, only that it will be fun and worth around $100, give or take a little.

 

Coupon code REFER5 saves you $5!

 The first look.

 Each month Popsugar provides a really nice pamphlet describing each item.

 Williams-Sonoma Cupcake Mix in Vanilla Bean, $14.95.

I've been inside Williams-Sonoma many times, there's one close to where I live, to look through all the pretty kitchen supplies and look at cooking goodies.  I've always wanted to buy and try out a mix, but they're incredibly expensive.  Example, this mix is $15 for 12 cupcakes!  I'm so very excited to try this cupcake mix.

 Smashbox Be Legendary Long-Wear Lip Lacquer, $24.

This color is dark!  But after blotting, this color turned out really nice.  I'm a sucker for lip gloss, haven't worn lipstick in ages, but the problem with gloss is that it fades quickly.  I put this color on a couple hours ago, and you can still see it, which is nice.

 SPUN by Subtle Luxury Speckled Metallic Scarf, $62.

This scarf is gorgeous!  This scarf is also available online in Pink, but I'm glad we got the grey, as it goes with more outfits and has a feeling of sophistication.  The specks of gold is so much nicer in person.  With all the nice scarfs I've gotten from Popsugar, I really need to learn how to wear them!  Thank goodness for YouTube.

 Sparklepop Sydney Necklace, $42.

Another item that's so much more gorgeous in person.  The chain is really long, which is a nice style, but I prefer shorter chains.  Thankfully the chain is long enough to easily wrap it twice for a layered look.  Oh, and the chain is 18K gold-plated!  And the crystal is so beautiful and brilliant.

 Canvas Dauville Platinum Bowl, $29.

This is a really nice, chic bowl.  I love the metallic.  Just the right size for a small snack or to hold jewelry, which you can tell from the picture with my rings.  I think the mirror like reflection is really fun.

Knot & Bow Parcel Tags, $4.

Parcel tags, just in time to wrap presents!  Actually, I'm thinking of using these for my scrapbooking.

I love this box!  This is tied right right up there with the November 2013 box, which remains my favorite, so I'm so glad I splurged and got this December box :0)

My Brothers Say the Darndest Things

So I was busying myself around Facebook when I found this little conversation my brothers shared back in June.  It was something I completely forgot, but is incredibly amusing, so, naturally, I have to share here.

(While filling in a giant hole with dirt and rocks under the main walkway in front of the house.)

Steven: This hole is huge.. I bet we have trolls living under these steps and we are suffocating them.

Robbie: I bet you're right!

Steven: I suppose we will know if by this time next year and there is a giant hole again.

Robbie: What we need are pixies! Do you think they still sell them at Walmart? You know, the little ones in the bottles.

Steven: I think so.. isn't it in their Magical Weapons section? Or wait .. Do they still have that.. Did they get rid of it?

Robbie: No, I think it's still there.

Steven: Ah, it's one of those sections that you can only find if you know where to look.

Robbie: Haha, isn't it in isle 3 and 3 quarters? 

Still makes me giggle.

And on the topic of Robbie, I found this tiny conversation I had with Robbie one afternoon while watching TV.

Sarah: Hey Robbie, as an INTJ you have the personality type of Batman.

Robbie: Dang right. Just look at me. All dark and brooding, and a playboy on the side.

Heh, and on the subject of Batman, I have to share this snip-it between my sister-in-law Krista and my 3 year old niece. 

Niece: Mommy?

Krista: What?

Niece: I... I am Batman.

Krista: :D Really?

Niece: Uh huh.

Krista: Cool. 

That's too funny.

Hope you got your giggle for the day, courtesy of the Stufflebeams :0)

Christmas at Temple Square

 Last night my family headed down to Salt Lake City to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square.  It's one of those quintessential things everyone who lives here does this time of year.

 My brothers.

More brother pics!

Michael sporting the movemeber beard he grew this year and decided not to shave off.

 Krista!

 My adorably cold niece.

 The nativity scene with the Christus in the background.  Actually, it was really cool going up to the Christus room, which is in the visitors center, to see a statue that represents the resurrected Christ, and then looking out the window down below and seeing the birth of Christ.  I love the symbolism, coming full circle.

 Last weekend Mom and I went to City Creek, which is next door to Temple Square, to walk around and have a girls day.  We never made it to see the lights at Temple Square last Saturday, because it started raining.

 The fun Apple Cider display at Deseret Book.  You can buy a cup for 50 cents.