Day 3: Odyssey of the Mind World Comp. 2015

It's been an amazing day!

Saw a lot of great teams.  Laughed and chuckled.

I had to be on site by 7:30 am and we didn't finish until 6:30.  The 2nd judging day is always the longest, but it's amazing how fast the time goes.  Time flies when you're having fun?  It really does.

It's hard to believe tomorrow is the last day.

Goodnight :0)

Day 2: Odyssey of the Mind World Finals 2015

What a day!

I'm sitting here at the hotel room desk, contemplating whether I should write this blog post or not.  I'm so tired, a good tired, as I look at the clock and read 10:32 PM.

Today was the first day of judging and we've already seen so many fun, creative teams.  Two more days to go!  I don't want time to fly so fast.

After judging I went on a quest: trade all the rest of the pins I bought.  In total I brought 14 UT pin sets.  Last year I didn't bring enough.  This year I brought too many!

In the hotel elevator I met an official from British Columbia, and after I saw her pin (so beautiful!) and she saw mine, we quickly got off the elevator to do a quick trade.

And after some nurishment I wandered back to campus to find trading spots.  The stadium outside the flag/parade ceremony was a bust.  A group of people from Iowa led my friend and I to a dorm, which was a bust because it had already been infatuated by Utah.  Then after a pleasant walk with some kids to the International Center (in which I did a quick trade with one of them), we beheld all the rows of pin towels covering the grass and on tables, kids scurrying from one pin collection to the next.

After a bit of time I walked away with only one single, solitary UT pin.

And for that I am happy and thrilled for my little stash.

Now I must head to bed.  Tomorrow is a long day, and I can use all the sleep I can get!!

Goodnight :0)

May 2015 POPSUGAR Must Have Box Review

 "Colorful, California Sun, Glowing Skin, Fresh Flowers"

These are the words that inspired this months box.

  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.

 The reveal.

 Kitsch Tri’d & True Y-Shaped Necklace, $32.

I love the packaging.

 This was the spoiler they released last month.  I wasn't so sure when I saw it, because of the style, and when I tried it on my assumptions were right.  This necklace hangs funny.  It might look good if I had a black shirt with a rounded neck, but as it stands I won't be getting much use out of it, unfortunately.

 Middle Kingdom Mini Plum Vase in Coral Red, $20.

This is a really slick vase.  It's not my style, and at this moment I don't have a use for it as I have other vases I use and like.  Maybe it will grow on me.  Maybe it's good to switch up my style and try new things.  Maybe I'll gift it . . .

 Sage & Row Bare Shave Cream, Value $17.

I tried this shave cream and really like it.  It's paraben and sulfate free, which is nice, and the scent is pleasant, which is thanks to the lavender.  Is it sad that one of my favorite items in the box is shaving cream?  It's nice finding a new product.

Travel size Batiste Dry Shampoo, Value $4.

We've been getting a lot of travel size items lately, which is strange for a subscription box that prides itself for having full size items.  Technically travel size is a smaller "full size."  But still I'm getting ready to pack (I'm writing this on Tuesday and posting on Thursday) for a trip to Michigan for the Odyssey of the Mind Worlds Finals, in which I volunteer, and all these travel like items are actually coming in handy.  This dry shampoo will really come in handy on the trip.

 Sisters of Los Angeles Surf Sand Love Beach Towel, $40.

Is this beach towel worth $40?  No, but this is a nice item to have and I'll be getting a lot of use out of it.

 Here's a picture from the info card showing what it looks like all opened up.

 Hammond’s Candies McCraw’s Flat Taffy, $1.

I'm glad they included a snack which rounded the Popsugar box items out to 6, though I unfortunately don't like banana flavored candy.  Hopefully my brother liked it.

Overall this was an off month for me.  Hopefully June will be more my liking.  That's apart of the risk and surprise when it comes to these boxes.

 And here's The Olaf Cat being curios.

:0)

 June Spoiler theme and item.

The June box is currently on sale.  Use coupon code MUSTHAVE5 to save $5!

Day 1: Odyssey of the Mind Worlds 2015

I can't believe it's that time of year again.  Where has the time gone?  It seems like only yesterday I was in Iowa helping out with the 2014 World Odyssey of the Mind finals.  And here we are in 2015, Michigan, a whole 3 days of crazy creative compitions, celebrating the love of thinking outside the box.

I love this program and what it encourages children to do: think, create, learn, teamwork, ingenuity, perseverance, etc.

And for the next three days children young and old will be creating and performing a years worth of hard work.

The opening ceremonies just took place.  It's so much fun seeing all the crazy hats, seeing where all the kids are from, and seeing their excitement.

So here's to the next three days!

I'll try not to have too much fun :0)

Pitch Perfect 2, mini movie review

Rating: 3.25 out of 5 Stars

Beca, aka Anna Kendrick, is in her senior year of college, and her thoughts aren't on the a capella group The Bellas she helped revitalize her Freshman year, but on post-graduation ambitions and goals.  The Bellas need all the help they can get since losing their national tour to the Germans, thanks to an unfortunate event taking place in front of the actual President of the United States, who makes an appearance in the film.  The only way The Bellas can be reinstated as a performance team is to win the international championships, but to do so they must beat the European champions from Germany.

Hmmmm, so what did I think?  Personally I'm not a fan of the original Pitch Perfect movie.  I don't care for the vulgar type of humor present in both films.  Doesn't tickle my funny bone.  But I expected this type of humor in the second film, so there were no surprises, and I knew full well what to expect.  This movie is cut from the same cloth as the first, quirky with the same amount of fun vocals and musical numbers, which are the highlight.

Final consensus:  If you like the first movie you'll love the second.

A lot of people seem to like it because, as Box Office Mojo reports, Pitch Perfect 2 has grossed $74,426,390 in its first 4 days, which is HUGE, compared to the first Pitch Perfect movie which only grossed $5,527,983 in its first 4 days.  Big difference.

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for innuendo and language.

 

Payson Temple Open House

 A few years ago I did a blog post about my siblings and I visiting the Brigham City Temple Open House.  An open house is when the public can come see an LDS temple before it's dedicated.  Recently the Payson temple completed construction, and for the last couple weeks the temple has been having an open house.  Last week my family paid a visit, and I've got to say, it's not good to have favorites, but the Payson temple is my new favorite temple.

This is the very last week for the Payson Temple Open House.

The Indianapolis Temple will be having its open house from July 17 through August 8, 2015.  Registration starts July 3rd.

 My niece looking out the window of the meeting house classroom instead of watching the video.

 Who knows how many opportunities I'll have to take pictures with my Grandparents.  Got to enjoy each and every moment.

 The artistic theme for the Payson Temple is Utah Flora and Apple Blossoms.

 In many of the rooms you can see the stain glass windows, which are gorgeous and beautiful.  I love the Celestial room.  My Mom didn't want to leave.  I had a hard time leaving that room, as well.

 My little niece looking through the Family Search pamphlet.

All of us together :0)

Smells Like Time

It's Saturday and I'm back to Spring cleaning.  It's a pretty fun way to spend the weekend.  Heh, yeah . . . :/

(I do have some fun activities planned this afternoon, so it's not all work. :0)

But I just stumbled upon an old bottle of perfume my Great Grandma gave me a couple decades back.  There's no date, so I don't know how old it is (the old Avon label being my only clue), but it sure smells bad.  A few years ago I opened it and accidentally spilled perfume on me.  Stunk for days!  So now I'm handling this bottle like it can explode at any moment, the lingering pungent smell as my punishment.

I can't let that happen!

So I'm at a quandary: How do I properly dispose of the liquid waste?  Dump it down the toilet and risk stinking up my bathroom?  Ehhh.  Dump it down the sink?  Nope.  I'm not pouring it into a trash bag.

Outside over some cedar chips?

Decisions, decisions.

Happy Mothers Day

 

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine,
desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." ~ Washington Irving

I feel so blessed to be descended from some truly amazing women.

From my Granny I saw an example of Christ like love.  Her ability to love was extraordinary.  Everyone she met she wore a smile (she was named in High School as the girl with the most beautiful smile).  I miss her dearly.

From my Grandmother I've learned the importance of being a peacemaker and forgiveness, for which I struggle with both!  Her ability to forgive and forget, humility in the process, is beautiful.

And from my Mother I've witnessed incredible courage and selfless service.  With all she's been through, her faith in the Gospel and Christ, unshaken, is so inspiring to me.  Her strength to be strong in crises has taught me so much.  And my Mother's ability to selflessly serve and forgive is incredible.

Thank you to the beautiful women I call Mothers.

Thank you for your incredible examples and love.

My Favorite Things This Week

Right now I'm doing some major Spring cleaning, as in completely overhauling everything I own, and finding things I haven't seen in years, which is why I haven't blogged in the last several days, since all my spare time has gone towards organizing.

But every so often I venture online to find some amusing things that make me smile.  Here are my favorite amusements this week.

This MEME:

This Moment:

As my brother clicked away on his laptop.
Robbie: Hmmmm, I can see why Pinterest is so addicting.
(I was sitting chillaxing on the couch when he said this, and I got quite the belly ache from laughing!!)

This Kid performing an amazing Yo-Yo Routine:

 This Truth:

 This Blog Post:

How to understand an introvert {explained by Introjis}

Because it's true!!  And I relate.

This Bike Parking Craziness in Japan:

This Moment:

I told my nieces I once felt an earthquake (Northridge), and my younger niece asked if I fell into lava. Heh, the education of Mindcraft.

We also talked about how scary crickets are and how they like to play hide-in-seek.

These Words of Wisdom:

C'est Fini