Joy

It was a HARD week, seriously! Work was overwhelming, school was busy, we’re talking multiple nights at the library past midnight, and nothing compares to the heartache we are feeling for our friends that suffered a devastating loss. So we’re supposed to find joy in the journey which can sometimes be a daunting task. One day last week I was so upset (about all of the above) and I called Brandon and left him a VM. He wasn’t supposed to be home for hours, but he came home early, burst though the door and said he was home to “rescue me”. A few other things that have brought me joy this week:

More great, strolling up and down every isle, grocery store finds!

Marzetti's has a new Cream Cheese Fruit Dip in individual 100 Calorie containers. Makes a great snack with a sliced up apple!

Welches has new 10 Calorie individual bottles of juice, super good when I’ve had one too many Diet Cokes!

(Neither of these pictures are what I was looking for, but they'll do.)

MSU was victorious over Michigan in the big house, the first time since 1990. Hoyer was 17-of-29 for 282 yards and a season-high three touchdowns. I think my letter motivated him. Thanks to Ken for hosting (and for feeding us). A little trivia for you MSU fans, we currently hold all 4 rivalry trophies, until the Penn State game of course!

They are once again ranked number 22 in the nation. Go Green!

And last but certainly not least, business is booming so my dad called and said he is flying me home so I can be at the office to get everything situated with our new accounts. I though it was going to be Thanksgiving before I got to go home, so I’m thrilled and I can’t wait to see my family, eat Port of Subs, and I know Brandon is secretly excited to be able to stay late at school without feeling guilty.

I Hate Recycling

I prefer to not be a Debbie Downer and keep my posts positive...however…I was once a naive Nevadan that would look at the side of my aluminum can or plastic bottle and think, wow, if you live in MI you can get 10 cents for all your cans or bottles, that would be cool (especially considering the number of cans my mom, sisters and I would go through).

I imagined a clean recycling center with a friendly staff that would take your cans, count them out and hand you a wad of cash at the end. This is SO not the case.

The first few times I shopped here I didn’t even notice the extra $1.20 that was tacked on to the end of my receipt for each 12 pack. What a sad day when I realized you actually pay an extra 10 cents, and only if you choose to collect sticky old cans that cannot be crushed, stand in line in the back room of a grocery store with all the homeless people trying to make a buck, and feed your cans individually into a machine do you get your money back.

So we had a brilliant idea…while we’re home for the summer we’ll collect all of our cans from our family and we’ll drive back to MI with tons of cans that we didn’t pay the deposit on and actually make some money. I have a thing about needing a picture for my posts, so I was googling, and found this…

Suspects Arraigned In Pop Can Smuggling Ring

DETROIT -- Authorities said they arrested 10 people and seized more than $500,000 in cash after breaking up a smuggling ring that collected millions of beverage containers in other states and cashed them in for 10 cents apiece in Michigan. The 10 people were arraigned on charges ranging from false pretense, a possible 5-year felony to running a criminal enterprise, a possible 20-year sentence. The scheme defrauded the Michigan Bottle Deposit Fund, whose proceeds are used to pay for environmental cleanup efforts.

What!?! There goes that idea.

CT, MA, ME, NY, VT, HI, IA, and OR have the same situation, only its 5 cents. I would have to think long and hard before I moved to one of these states!

Dear Brian Hoyer,

I’m glad you’re a 5th year senior, because you’re not a very good quarterback, and clearly we need a new one. Seriously, 37 yards!?! Do you know why you got put back in the game in the 4th quarter? I certainly don’t. Please give Kirk Cousins my best. Although he threw an interception and fumbled, he is a freshman and threw for 161 yards with a TD (the only touchdown). I’ll allow you to redeem yourself at Michigan next week.

Best,
Mandy

It was a sad day, but coach Dantonio said it best, "Five turnovers? That's a loss. Missed tackles? That's a loss, but we're a 6-2 football team. We have to move on."

I'm in L-O-V-E

with these diaper bags! So stylish!

When we decide to have a baby Brandon should buy me one as a "thanks for carrying my child" present, don't ya think?

I've Been Tagged (Holy Cow, Again)

The rules of the tag are as follows:

1. Link the person who tagged you. (Thanks Em!)
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write 6 random things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let the person know you tagged them on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when you've posted.

Random fact #1- I love to buy new cleaning products and try them out. If I see a commercial for something, you can bet that next time I’m at Target I’m going to pick it up. Most recently I purchased new Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel Discs. So far, I’m thrilled with my purchase. Here is part of my current collection:

Random fact #2- I don’t like buying clothes on sale. Usually the sale items are in the back of the store, a huge mess and you have to search for your size. Usually I feel like I’m just buying the thing because it’s on sale, not because I love it. I should probably get over this since my husband is quickly accumulating law school loans. However, this does not apply to mark downs. For example, there was a sweater at GAP I loved. I didn’t buy it right away and next time I went in it was hanging in the exact same place with a sticker over the original price that was $15.00 cheaper.

Random fact #3- Whenever Brandon and I are talking about our future children I use the words, she and her, because I know we’ll have girl. I’m so convinced, when me and my sisters picked baby clothes our Grandma knitted for our future children, I subconsciously only picked out girl stuff. On top of that, there’s the Christensen Family Curse. Brandon’s Grandpa Christensen has 6 daughters, and all of Brandon’s male cousins (that were born into the family, not married in) have had girls: Nate- 2 girls, Justin- 2 girls, Chris- 2 girls, Ryan- 1 girl, Trenton- 1 girl, and Devon- 1 girl. Count ‘em, 9 girls.

Random fact #4- Brandon and I started dating when I was still in high school! (He loves it when I tell this). We both went to Green Valley when he was a senior and I was a freshman. We actually didn’t meet until after his mission when I was doing independent study my senior year and attending the University Ward. My good friend April that I cheered with at Green Valley introduced us at the University Ward FHE. He was even at my High School graduation.

Random fact #5- I’m a huge fan of small food. Appetizers. Tapas, mini desserts- love them! There’s an excellent Tapas restaurant in Las Vegas, if you’re a fan as well you should check it out. I don’t love comfort food- meat loaf, chicken pot pie, stew, you get the idea.

Random fact #6- This stint in MI is the longest I have ever gone without seeing my family. That includes when I was at school in Provo. When we finally get to go home right before Thanksgiving it will have been 108 days! There is definitely more here to distract me than I thought there would be which has made it easier, but going so long without seeing them has been harder than I thought it would be.

I tag Holly and Katee and 4 others that are dying to participate.

A Few Thoughts for Your Friday

I don’t think people should wear scarves with short sleeves. What, your neck is cold but your arms aren't? Doubt it.

McDonald’s Monopoly is back! Quick story… McDonald’s has the BEST Diet Coke. One day a few years ago I went through the drive-thru and got one and it had Monopoly pieces on it. I went back to my office and decided to play the online game. I rolled the dice, landed on free parking and won a brand new 20GB IPod Classic. I know, so exciting. I have yet to repeat my winnings, but every year I get a few Diet Cokes, play the online game and try to win.

Lately I’ve been a crafty lady (that’s was I call creative people). I’m attempting to make my own version of the Pottery Barn message center. It requires assistance from my missing husband, so it may take longer than I’d like to complete. This is what I’ve done so far… a photo of the final product will hopefully be posted in the near future.

The other day when Brandon and I were grocery shopping we saw these crazy looking aluminum bottles. Come to find out, “Pepsi began U.S. distribution of aluminum bottles of Mountain Dew with a series of 12 limited-run designs created by young artists and personalities called Mountain Dew Green Label.” If you like Mountain Dew it can serve a dual purpose as art, how

convenient.

I'm It

Since I don’t have anything original to offer, I thought I would participate in the blogging world’s version of the chain e-mail, “tag”. Kara (my sis-in-law) tagged me twice, since I like her, I'll participate...

8 Favorite TV Shows...
1. So You Think You Can Dance
2. American Idol
3. One Tree Hill
4. Grey’s Anatomy
5. Gilmore Girls (It’s only reruns, but I never get tired of it)
6. The Office
7. The Hills
8. Project Runway, Top Design, Top Chef, Real Housewives (insert ANYTHING on Bravo here)

8 Favorite Restaurants...
1. Carrabba’s
2. PF Changs (or its cheaper counter part, Pei Wei)
3. Port of Subs (I miss you!)
4. Café Rio
5. Chevy’s
6. Mitchell’s Fish Market
7. Elephant Bar
8. Cosi

8 things that happened yesterday (Monday)...
1. I was so sick (with a cold)
2. I drove Brandon to School
3. I made fish tacos (I thought were mediocre, but Brandon liked them)
4. I worked…a lot
5. The Hills was on and Spencer was as psycho as ever
6. I did laundry
7. I picked Brandon up
8. Brandon and I got groceries (don’t be jealous of my exciting life)

8 things to look forward to...
1. Seeing my family!!
2. Selling my house
3. The Hogge’s Halloween party
4. Going home for Thanksgiving
5. Christmas
6. Colton coming home from his mission
7. A Vacation
8. Brandon making it through his first semester

8 things I love about Fall...
1. Fall candles
2. Football
3. Leaves changing
4. Apple cider
5. Halloween
6. The smell in the air
7. Thanksgiving
8. Pumpkin desserts

8 things on my wishlist...
1. To see my family
2. Have a baby (one day)
3. That Brandon will succeed in law school
4. Pay off our student loans (one day)
5. To go to Chicago again
6. To sell my house
7. That Brandon will get a great internship this summer
8. Overpriced Coach snow boots (I wish my sister could have them too!)

How To Play This Game of Tag:
1. Post these rules on your blog
2. List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself
3. Tag 3 people at the end of your post by leaving their names

3 Joys:
1. My husband
2. My family
3. Fridays (Brandon gets done early, I don’t cook dinner, we go do something fun)

3 Fears:
1. The economy right now
2. Brandon not being able to pass the bar or get job
3. A member of my family dying

3 Goals:
1. To cook dinner at least 5 nights a week
2. Figure out how to live on less
3. To live in the moment

3 Current Obsessions:
1. Blogging, reading blogs, peer pressuring people to start blogs
2. Cooking, baking, my new Kitchen Aid mixer
3. Winter clothes

3 Random Facts:
1. I make up weird names for people...Brandon is Mister Sister, McKenzie is Mac-a-doodle-doo, Katee is Sissy Pants or Seester (you get the picture)
2. I will only use Big Sexy Hair hairspray and have a year supply
3. Every time I walk into a public library or Barnes and Noble I have to pee…without fail

I Now Tag 3 people:
1. Holly Wallace
2. Jamie Helgesen
3. Anyone else who feels inclined to play…

Homecoming 2008

On Friday night the main street through East Lansing was shut shown for the homecoming parade. I love parades, school spirit and living in a small town (temporarily). We love Las vegas, but you can't do things like this in a big city...

Of course the cheerleaders were my favorite and I have to give a shout out to the Young Republicans and the GOP bus.

Saturday at the homecoming game the Spartans were victorious yet again! We defeated Iowa 16-13 after the defense made a key fourth down stop in the fourth quarter.

Michigan State in now ranked number 23 in the nation...GO STATE!

Holla!

This is a shout out to my sisters who have toyed with the idea of blogging and should definitely just do it, because the blogging world will be a better (if not funnier) place with them in it...

Holly...

is a nutrition guru beginning a new adventure at BYU with hilarious tales of online dating and boys in Provo. She is a master baker, fashionista, and political activist (perhaps she'll share the emails she writes to Nancy Pelosi). Who wouldn't want to read this blog!?

Katee...

is a recent high school grad, debater extraordinaire, talented fiction writer and knows more about anything and everything than anyone I know. She has opinions on a myriad of topics that we would all be so lucky to read in her little corner of cyber space.

McKenzie...

is and artist to the 2nd power. She can create something from nothing and is skilled in photography of all kinds, mixed media, and other forms of art I don't know the names of. She's an awesome guitar player and has a gift for finding the latest and greatest in music before anyone else.

I miss you guys!