A Serious Game of Jenga....

before

jenga

after

I'm still trying to figure out how one would go about moving an entire building.  All I have been able to determine so far is that it must take a lot of careful digging and concrete cutting, some serious lifts and a lot of steady hands.

I was so intrigued by what I saw yesterday when I was out to dinner with a friend that I decided it deserved a second look and some photographic documentation.

So it's obvious that they've removed all the windows and filled them with cinder block, but what about the interior?  Are there braces holding the floors/ceilings up?  Or is the entire building full of blocks and mortar?

There is such a thing as too big

So I saw this commercial and thought this was a local company advertising, but to my surprise.... they have a billing address in Connecticut.  According to the "testimonials" it looks like big hair is loved by people across the nation - not just in my area.

https://www.bumpits.com/ .... oh, and they're called "Bump Its"... not "Bum Pits"

A Steak Out

My roommates and I ventured across the border to purchase a few "items" for an upcoming birthday and Chinese New Year.  While on the other side of the border, we decided it would only be fitting to indulge ourselves with mass quantities of meat.  Although this town's nicest restaurant required reservations... we were some how able to slip in and be seated at one of many vacant tables.  Here is the evidence of our gluttony:

RE: ocho

i've been tagged.... so here we go:

Tagged by Jenna:

8 TV shows I like to watch:
1. The Office
2. Eli Stone
3. The Starter Wife (don't judge me)
4. The Soup
5. almost anything on HGTV
6. House
7. hmmmm....... i probably should say the news, but i hate the news in Utah
8. .......uhhhhh

8 things that happened yesterday:
1. sewed new kitchen curtains
2. went shopping with my roommates
3. got lost in SLC with my roommates - not really, it was more of a scenic drive
4. went to lunch at Stella with my roommates
5. watched Eli Stone (i love TV on the internet)
6. made an apple pie with Amber for the party
7. aforementioned apple pie was dropped on the ground as we arrived at the party (no names mentioned)
8. enjoyed friends' company at the soup and pie party

8 Favorite places to eat:
1. PF Chang's
2. Takashi
3. Venice/Chianti
4. Don Jose's (sad it's now closed)
5. Chipotle
6. Cafe Rio
7. Pei Wei
8. grilled panini from Wild Oats

8 things I’m looking forward to:
1. new job
2. skiing this winter
3. snowshoeing this winter
4. a warm vacation this winter
5. going home for Thanksgiving & Christmas
6. kissing my niece's chubby cheeks when I go home
7. playing with my hilarious nephews when I go home (and kissing their cheeks - if they let me)
8. New Year's Eve - I just have a feeling it's going to be good this year

domestications

I must admit that I have become quite accustomed to life without a full-time job. "If you have the means, I would highly recommend it. It is so choice." (can anyone name the movie?) So to flaunt my time as a lady of leisure... here are a few of my crafty accomplishments:

1. a few hand-knit items; a couple others are hopefully being enjoyed by their new owners.

2. my new belt rug - which helps to cover the rather unsightly bedroom carpet

3. a re-finished sideboard/cabinet of sorts for the dining area (my roommate started the re-finishing, which I completed when she grew tired/busy)

4. re-finished kitchen table (another one my roommated started)... we got this table from a neighbor who had literally POURED lacquer over the table... it took hours of sanding and scraping... and although it's not perfect, i think it has a great "antiqued" look - oh, the table runner and curtains were another "crafty" addition

5. re-finished kitchen chair - my roommates are working on their chairs for our "shabby-chic" kitchen collection

low-class confession

Now I know this may not be the classiest of confessions... but I think I'm okay with that... I must admit that I love Big Lots... It's kind of a guilty pleasure that I know I can trace back to my grandma. When we were little and visiting my grandparents in Arizona, my grandma would always give us "mad money". We could use this "mad money" on anything we wanted.... as we got older it was for gas money, or cab fare if a date was a dud, or a little splurge when shopping. So when we were young, my grandma would take us to Big Lots (then Pic'N'Save) where we would buy a new little purse or cool markers that had an "invisible pen" for writing secret messages. I'm sure my dad loved it when we'd return with even more stuff to fit in our suitcases for the trip home.
Not that I would recommend Big Lots for food items or cosmetic-type purchases - I'm not really sure how the expiration dates work out - but it is great for party accessories, dish towels, some kitchen gadgets, etc.
On a classier note, I did go to The Gateway yesterday and tempted myself with the idea of purchasing a MacBook.... perhaps it will be my Christmas present.

the summer of mandy returns, except - it's the fall

so once, actually twice, there was "the summer of mandy" - the first was in 2002... i had just returned from a spring-term study abroad in europe and had about 7 weeks of summer before returning to school. one of those weeks would be spent in hawaii with my best friends at our best friend's wedding... so with only 6 weeks at home, and no real prospects of employment (the seasonal positions had been filled for weeks) i was able to spend that time at home being crafty - i worked on the only real scrapbooks i've ever compiled for myself, went to classes at the health club with my mom, realized that i aspire to be a "pool mom" and re-finished a cedar chest that is now proudly displayed in my parents' room.

the second "summer of mandy" was in 2003 - yes, i had back-to-back summers of "leisure" (should be read so as to rhyme with 'pleasure' - much more lush that way) - this time i was a new resident in arizona... upon arriving in arizona just a few weeks before "the start" of an arizona summer (AKA- temperatures well-exceeding 100) and my sanity being questioned for the timing of my move... i came to realize that an arizona summer is quite enjoyable if you're living in a pool - especially a fabulous pool like my aunt & uncle's. but don't worry - i also improved my sewing skills at my aunt's workshop where i learned about making amazing window treatments, pillows and bedding. my cousin taught me some valuable skills while helping to "fix-up" some of his rental properties. and i even learned that it is possible to get a black-eye from the water if you hit it face-first at just the right speed and angle.

i am happy to say that "the summer of mandy" has returned - except that it's the fall... "the fall of mandy" just doesn't sound good. i guess i can go with "the autumn of mandy". after months of debating, praying, crying and just trying to feel happy with the difficulties at work, i decided that it would be best to leave my current employment, take a little time to re-group and search out new opportunities. in taking this time to re-group i have quite a number of projects i've been contemplating/planning for months. here's a list with a few of my favorites:

1) make throw-pillows for my couch that will be delivered shortly (skills from t.s.o.m. 2003 being put to use)

2) make this fabulous rug i saw online (see below)

3) resume my knitting projects and possibly try to sell here

4) find out who my 3rd-great grandparents are... this may require a trip to italy... a sacrifice i'm willing to make

5) attend classes at the gym regularly (skills from t.s.o.m. 2002)

6) improve my drawing skills by creating a portfolio of floor plans & elevations

7) contact the salt lake county clerk's office to help with election day

i just hope a new job won't get in the way of these great projects ;)