29 November 2010

Noteworthy

All during Thanksgiving we kept hearing that two girls from Scott's home ward were on a float during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Since we didn't see them on Thursday (I'll have to go back and watch on DVR!), I decided to look them up on YouTube today. Katie and Courtney Jensen are apart of an all girls a cappella group, Noteworthy, from BYU that competed in the first season of NBC's show, The Sing Off.


Anyway, found this video of Katie and Courtney singing and love it! Thought I would share.

26 November 2010

Tis Best Black Friday

Sitka, Alaska wasn't exactly Black Friday central growing up. So, the first time I ever even heard about Black Friday was on the news. Sales were up, sales were down, someone was shot at a ghetto WalMart for taking the last gaming system, etc. I tried Black Friday shopping when I was first married and realized I really just can't avoid sleep like that. Physically impossible.

What I'm saying is, this post isn't about my shopping finds. I know... the post title is deceiving, but it is accurate. I've been in a movie posting mood this week. This one is from TisBest, a philanthropy network and charity gift card site. They went out and interviewed Black Friday shoppers last year to ask them who was the most difficult to shop for, and what was the silliest gift you've ever received.



My mom is definitely the hardest to shop for. She has everything and doesn't want much, so that makes it hard to find something meaningful to give her.

And the silliest gift I've ever received...

... Scott put Comet (the can of cleaning powder) in my stocking one year. I was pretty outraged, until he told me that he had put the comet in there because he bought it to clean out our bathtub so I could soak. I do love and good hot bath, and Scott had included some new bath concoctions in my stocking as well.

25 November 2010

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving


I am grateful for:
-A super smart and hottie husband
-Loving parents
-Siblings
-Temples
-To be in sunny Sacramento surrounded by fun family
-Good grades and stimulating discussion in my master's program
-That we are finally going to medical school and for options
-That my Heavenly Father loves me and knows how to direct me 
-The scriptures that teach me about my Savior, Jesus Christ
-The awesome food that we are going to eat today
-and the nap that I will take afterward!
 
Happy Thanksgiving!

24 November 2010

Nephews

 I like to steal Amy's phone pictures! Kaden said he was the Indian and Scott was the turkey, which is just so true!

Nephews are funny! This is not to say that I don't LOVE my nieces on both sides of the family. I DO! In fact, I need to spend more time with them. They are so adorable and polite! And nephews are different breed! As I've had some time to spend close to Amy's sons lately, I've noticed how funny little boys really are!

Here are just a few things I have laughed about lately with Kaden, Sterling, and Jackson:

-The other day I was bringing one of the boys home from school and he was in a very talkative mood. I didn't need to ask many questions, or even add much to the conversation. He just went on and on, happily, about the individual powers of the characters on Star Wars. Specifically we are talking about Star Wars lego game on the Wii. "3PO's okay, but he can only open doors. That's it! R2D2 can open doors and fly the star ship." Yeah... I really don't remember the specifics.

- At dinner, the boys were sitting around the table asking each other "Would you rather" type questions. I asked Amy if she had ever played this with them before, and she said she has no idea how they could have learned it. These were the options... "Would you want to fall off a tree into the road where a car was driving, or swing from a vine and land on a monkey?" They would giggle at first, and then in very serious tones, go around the table and answer. Next one, "Would you want to sit in a dark room with Sterling for a long time, or eat the rest of your dinner?"

-Jackson just learned the phrase, "I don't like that." He's been saying the phrase ALL THE TIME now.

Amy: Jackson, d'you want to go home?
Jackson: I don't like to go home.

Big Curt: Jackson do you like the orange potatoes? (orange is his favorite color)
Jackson: I don't LIKE orange potatoes! (Sweet potatoes are NOT his favorite! That one had much more emphasis and some tongue sticking outage with the potatoes still attached.)

Then we tried tricking him... thinking he didn't know the difference between I like and I don't like.

Me: Jackson do you like cookies?
Jackson: I LIKE some cookies!!!

Didn't work. He wanted to eat cookies for dinner instead.

23 November 2010

Thanksgiving Daily


I am so grateful to belong to a church where the teachings inspire me to be more thoughtful and improve.

22 November 2010

It's So Time to Start Sewing

I was going through my Google reader this weekend and found this amazing gem of a site - New Dress a Day! As usual I find these gems way too late! Yet I am STILL so impressed and inspired! This post is one of my favorites, but there are so many to choose from. I feel like Marisa Lynch, the designer/seamstress, creates fashion way out of my league, especially since my sewing skills ended back with 1990s simple square baby quilts for charity. What charity project was that, Mom?

None-the-less I recently was giving a new church calling or Relief Society Activities Committee Assistant Leader... I know it's a ridiculously long title. In my first conversation with the newly called activities committee leader, she mentioned that the Relief Society is being encouraged to go back to the basics with activities because our sisters don't know how to sew or can. So I have new-found inspiration, motivation, spare time, and I know the perfect tutor. Word has it that a certain mother-in-law was once the costumer for BYU's Young Ambassador group and infamously sewed children's Halloween costumes, like, oh let's say, a Watermelon.

Check out the designer/seamstress behind New Dress A Day on the Early Show:



With a $1 price tag, I feel like my only barrier is design. But I have three awesome sisters-in-law in California and tons of fashion inspiration to help me with that part! If I can learn the skills, then maybe I can start with something like this remade from thrifty material. Christmas Craft, Chandlers?

18 November 2010

Garage Saleswoman

My sister-in-law Amy is moving to a new home at the end of this month and is trying to pack up all of her things. There comes a point were you decide you just need to end your hoarding and let your possessions go, and that point often comes when you're thinking about how you would move them. So I convinced Amy to have a garage sale, because I told her I grew up garage selling with my mom. Of course, I didn't mention that it was really my mom who was the expert! Seriously, my mom is a master pricer/negotiator when it comes to throwing her own garage sales. I just sold the baked goods and popcorn. Moving on...

Saturday came and Amy had laid out all of her items for sale. My request for no early birds was ignored as expected, but the only downside was that some kids toys went to a good family at a fraction of what they might have gone for because they weren't priced beforehand. No biggie! I advertised on Craigslist and put posters around the area. I'm not sure what worked best, but people came in waves and money was made.


And do you know how we made money? Because Amy is a master sales woman! If someone was interested in a puzzle, Amy would count the pieces for them and then play it with them to make sure they liked it. Then when she saw the love in their eyes and they asked how much for the game, she said, "$5." Slight exaggeration? Maybe, but Amy was satisfied with her earnings at the end of the day. The only disappointment was that more of the furniture didn't sell. There's still a beautiful black hutch, humongous TV, and set of three furniture items remaining. Some of the littler items were left as well when we closed up shop at noon. But everything is still priced... and it went so well! So, Amy said, "Let's do this again next week."

Weather permitting, you can find us out again this Saturday trying to pawn off Amy's belongings on unsuspecting victims. This time, though, we wont try to sell the cat.

16 November 2010

Med School Update: Second Interview Call

So first of all, Scott's interview went great at Rocky Vista University. He loves the school and really enjoyed sitting in on a manual manipulation class. I already know that Scott's really cut out to be a D.O. because the first thing he wanted to show me when he got on Friday afternoon were the techniques he learned during that one class. When Scott finished his interview on Thursday, RVU said that the group of applicants who interviewed that day were really impressive. He was in the last group to interview during the first cycle of interviews (Fall). This put him at an advantage, because they informed him that decisions would be made on Monday as to whether or not he would be accepted. Yeah! That was yesterday.

So yesterday morning, Scott receives a call from an unknown number and he answers the phone. It wasn't RVU like he was expecting. Western University was calling to offer Scott an interview for their new campus opening in Lebanon, Oregon! We are very excited! This invitation helps Scott feel good about his application and it will offer another perspective of Osteopathic programs! It doesn't hurt either that I feel great about moving to Oregon. Scott will interview at the Oregon campus, that is in the final stages of construction, in early December!!!

Then.... wait for it... he received another unknown call and answered it. This time, it was RVU! Now you only get a call if the answer is really REALLY great! Otherwise they email you. So when he picked up the unknown phone call we were sitting together in the living room, and he put the phone up so I could hear a little bit. I heard enough to know that my husband was offered a spot in Rocky Vista University's class of 2015!!!! I cannot put enough exclamation points there! The wait is over! My husband has been accepted to a medical school!

I definitely did a little victory dance while Scott finished up his phone call. Then every few minutes I like to yell out, "We're going to medical school!"

To seal the deal with RVU, we need to make security deposits to save our spot during the next two months. We do have a little bit of time to consider the decision before the first deposit is due, which will involve some research as the school does not currently offer federal loans to students. So Scott and I need to have a BIG money conversation. :(

I have to say though, it's just so relieving to know that all of Scott's efforts this past year to improve his application have really paid off! No matter where we go, we at least know that next year we'll be in medical school for sure and Scott will one day be a doctor!

15 November 2010

Ogling Clothes Lately

Lately I have been itching for some new clothes, so I've been iWindow shopping. Not sure how I came across it, but I found ModCloth.com. Am I way behind on the times?! This is the first time I've seen the AmAzInG selection at ModCloth. I HEART looking through all their longer dresses and wondering if I would look good in any of them...

Like this one:
and this one:

Seriously all so cute and so many to choose from. I'm also loving this outfit from MikaRose:

I think it started when I went with my sister-in-law Amy to Dressbarn. I know, right? I'm never lucky enough to find anything cute in there, but Amy says it's her secret weapon. Anyway, she found this uber cute Christmas party dress and it looks amazing on her!
But really dresses are the least of my worries right now. Every day when I get up in the morning I search through the clothes that aren't in permanent storage to find something long sleeved and warm. I know, I know! I've become a wimp since moving to California. But you'd be surprised at the morning chill factor here! No snow, like Utah or Colorado, but it feels like there very well could be. My feet always feel cold! I guess then, I'm saying I need better socks... or maybe tights to go with a new dress!

12 November 2010

Christmas Crafts

So my sister-in-law Sara had a great idea for this Christmas. She suggested that each of the women in the Chandler family put together a craft for one of the days that we are together for the Christmas holiday. It's like a family Super Satruday! I'm so excited!

So excited, in fact, that I've been keeping my eye open for good crafty ideas that I could facilitate. Here's my thoughts so far:

Christmas Wrapping Wreath from the red thread blog

Felt Flower Pillow from Classy Clutter blog

or
Poinsettia Pillow from Censational Girl blog
Paper Napkin Tile Decoupage Coasters from Curbly blog
Or

This Family Tree I saw on etsy and on a blog, but the etsy store now appears to be closed.


Which craft do you like best?

Do you have any other crafty ideas?

11 November 2010

Med School Update: Interview at RVU

After a less than tip-worthy arrival in Denver, Scott is at this moment on his way to Rocky Vista University for his first medical school interview!

Picture from our trip to RVU in July

Good luck, Schnookims! I'm praying that good things will happen. But really, how can the admissions committee resist his impressive charm?!

10 November 2010

Bowling Birthday


Monday was my nephew Jackson's 4th birthday! All week before we were asking him, "Hey Jackson! Where are we going for your birthday?" and he would jump up and down and say, "Birthday bowling! Birthday bowling!" Amy kept telling me that we HAD to be there because we couldn't miss seeing how excited Jackson got about bowling. She warned that he spends the whole time jumping up and down flapping his arms in front of the lanes. We were not disappointed! In fact, all of Amy's kids enjoyed bowling, and Kaden even enjoyed dancing to the ghetto music blaring over the system.





Not only was Jackson super excited to turn four and celebrate it in the bowling alley, but he beat us all! Granted that was with bumpers and an extra push after his little granny toss was loosely shoved down the lane. He still beat my 92 pin score, and after two games Jackson's and my combined scores of two games were equal. Scott, however, was able to pull it together during the second game to pull out a 166 point addition to his first measly score.


Happy Birthday, Jackson!

09 November 2010

Creative Efforts for Big Curt

I had the urge to whip out my camera this morning on my way to work. The leaves are just starting to turn colors in the Sacramento area, and it's the second week in November!


Big Curt, my father-in-law, is the owner and principle agent of an Allstate Insurance agency here in Elk Grove, CA. Part of the awesome deal we have in coming to live with my in-laws for a few months between schools, is that Scott and I are both working for Big Curt and Allstate to help him meet his goals for this year. Scott is doing what he does best, being personable in sales, and I am doing what I do best, marketing genius! My first project is the Curtis Chandler Allstate Facebook fan page and getting more fans there hopefully through email marketing. I'm still learning all the tricks that Facebook can do and that Allstate will allow (which isn't much)... but wanted to brag for myself on these extra tabs that I whipped up for the page.


If you are logged into Facebook, you can click on the above post picture it will take you directly to the fan page and the AWESOME Welcome image I created. And if you live in California and need insurance, give Big Curt a call! Sorry, had to throw that in. I also created a Refer a Friend Form for current customers and fans. There's still so much to create and plan, but it has definitely been fun so far to use my skills.

04 November 2010

Spooky Halloween

As we are currently behind in everyhing, I am posting about how Scott and I carved pumpkins... as Trick or Treaters were coming to the Chandler door this Halloween. Of course, sports had to be in the background as Scott worked!


The pumpkins went straight from Scott's hands to the special table outside where they could be admired by all trick-or-treaters and neighbors. I can only take credit for the scrumptious seeds. Scott is particularly proud of the bat pumpkin.

Then today I introduced my nephew Sterling to my mac. At first, we had to start off slow. (Ignore the messy room.)

But then he really got the hang of it!


Pretty Spooky, huh?

01 November 2010

Med School Update: First Interview Call

On Scott's birthday he received a call from Rocky Vista University in Parker, CO to inform him that he has been selected for an interview! This is definitely the most excited news we have received so far in Scott's med school application process. We always knew that most interviews take place in the Fall but last year we never really received word at all.

The admissions woman who called congratulated Scott on the excellent job he did of raising his GPA and MCAT score from the last time he applied. We visited this school in July, so they are somewhat familiar with Scott's story. I am so proud of Scott and knows that this means we will be hearing more about interviews in the near future!

What a great birthday present for Scott, huh?