smart and funny

AND cute. too bad hes gay. i honestly cannot remember how i found his now defunct blog, but i love what he has to say and how he says it. i like his post about celibacy . he makes some good points. i usually forward these gay mormon things to my gbf(gay best friend), but he takes real issue with lds gays who choose to be celibate in order to stay in good standing with the church. he thinks being celibate is denying your gay-ness. he doesnt use the word gay-ness, of course, but you get what i mean.

just about sums it up...

"Moral discipline is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard. It rejects the self-absorbed life in favor of developing character worthy of respect and true greatness through Christlike service (see Mark 10:42–45)."

D. Todd Christofferson, "Moral Discipline," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 105

is it in the water?

seems like many of the blogs that i read have been slow to post or making comments about how the dont feel like posting. i thought it was just me. i seriously have no less than 6 posts in the draft stage, but dont seem to have the motivation to complete them.

i really dont make specific new years resolutions, but i generally look at the new year as fresh start and a chance to refocus on the things i want and need to do.

the prospect of some of these things are kind of fun, but the majority of them are kind of tough. you know, the grown up, get on with it details of life. i find myself teetering towards depression, yanking myself back, and pulling a scarlett ohara--you know, "i cant think about it know, i will think about it tomorrow".

sounds like life, huh?

smc loves make up!

lots of us use the new year to start a myriad of make overs. some of us need to make over the inside; trade out old, bad habits for new, more favorable ones. build character and make ourselves better people.

sometimes all we need is a fresh coat of paint. some might scoff at the benefits of changing or updating your look, but i am here to tell you it feels great!
recently i bought two new maybelline(a brand i rarely use)mascaras. walgreens was having a buy one get one free sale and i jumped on the chance to try out their new "lash stiletto". i really like this mascara! it went on so smooth, not a clump to be seen and it actually curled my lashes! seriously, my lashes stick straight out and sometimes even a regular eyelash curler doesnt do the job. i have pretty long lashes, but this stuff fulfilled its promise and made them even longer. almost touching my eyebrows long. they looked really good, not scary or spidery at all. the only thing it didnt do was give a shiny look-which was ok with me.

the second tube of mascara i got was the volume express. it delivered on some extra volume, but i thought it would be a little more. still liked it, just will keep looking for another mascara to really thicken up my lashes.

so....2010 has my baby blues framed beautifully thanks to maybelline and walgreens.

happy new year

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man (or woman)." --Benjamin Franklin

wow

Do I exist for my own personal happiness? No, my whole existence is devoted to her, even in spite of her. And by what right should I have dared to aspire to her love? What does it matter, so that it does no injure her happiness? My duty is to keep close to her steps, to surround her existence with mine, to serve her as a barrier against all danger; to offer my head as a stepping-stone, to place myself unceasingly between her and all sorrows, without claiming reward, without expecting recompense. . . Alas! If she only allow me to give my life to anticipating her every desire, all her caprices; if she but permit me to kiss with respect her adored footprints; if she but consent to lean upon me at times amidst the difficulties of life.

~ Victor Hugo about Adele Foucher

smc cooks for Christmas

i have 2 sets of friends that i usually dont get a chance to get together with until after Christmas. this works out well for me because it gives me more time to finish putting together gifts. gives me something to do on a lazy Christmas day when i dont feel like picking up all the tattered gift wrap and crushed bows left about the living room.amongst these friends, we usually give little token gifts, but the thing we most look forward to is the exchange of the goodies. we all have our specialties, but besides my loved-by-all biscotti, i made a few new things that everyone went crazy over. i made some old fashioned chocolate syrup by alton brown and put it in some cool looking vintage jars. i had stopped making chocolate truffles years ago, but when i saw this interesting recipe by the pioneer woman, i just had to try it and i am so glad i did. everyone loved them! the dark and milk chocolates are balanced just right and the few grains of sea salt add an amazing layer of flavor.
i did a few more things, but my favorite was that i "brewed" my own vanilla. got a couple of vanilla beans and a jug of vodka and i was good to go. everyone has been impressed with their little bottles of the amber liquid with a vanilla bean soaking inside. kind of fun shopping for vodka in a small, mostly lds town.