Sunday, May 31, 2009

Now We're Talking!!!



It's official. I am dying to see this now. All apprehension gone. November cannot come soon enough.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Image via DeviantART

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Perspective

Today has been a wee bit of a struggle for me. Just a wee bit, mind you, but after the months of this unexplained, unprecedented contentment I have been experiencing, it's throwing me for a loop. Is this really what my life was like every day? No, it was worse.

Today my old friends--self-doubt and inadequacy--crept inside my brain in their oh-so-subtle way to wreak havoc on my general well-being. The good news is, my new friends--confidence and self-assurance--were still there in the background, cheering me on and telling me I can kick my new friends out the door any time I want.

Nothing horrible has happened to me, life just got busy and I can't seem to keep up, a feeling I don't particularly do well with. Also, some other minor speed bumps here and there have me questioning, once again, myself as a mother and as a person. Blech. I have not missed this at all.

And then I read this. I only started reading her blog a few months ago, but it never--NEVER--fails to inspire me. I love her honesty. I love that she doesn't hide the fact that she is struggling from the world. I love how hard she tries to remind herself of the blessings she does have, even while she's suffering from pain that I can't even imagine.

Perspective.

Friday, May 22, 2009

THIS WEEK IN HOLLYWOOD: Fashion Police

Tyra Banks

I'm pretty sure my mom wore this in 1987.


Leighton Meester

Soooo happy to see the no-pants trend is catching on.
Curse you Mary-Kate! Curse you and your ridiculous ideas about fashion!


Michelle Monaghan

The designer of this dress found inspiration after taking
a little pink pill from a very shady character at a party.


Katy Perry

....and then immediately designed this skirt.


Lindsay Lohan

I know that celebrities can pretty much wear anything they want, no matter how out-there or hideous, and the masses will call it "trendy" and "avant-garde." But sometimes, I think they're just messing with us. Like Lindsay going out in a flowered jumpsuit and daring us all to voice the fact that she just didn't feel like changing out of her PJ's that morning.


Fergie

She found the perfect solution to preventing another humiliating accident.
Harem pants. Hard to get wet circles on the crotch of your pants when it's down at your knees.

She rocked those pants when she parachuted into this event.


Blake Lively

I'm pretty sure my mom wore this in 1987. To the beach.


Diane Kruger

Obviously she came straight from her audition as Humpty Dumpty's wife.


Brad Pitt

Nothing says "sexy" like a man in a pale pink suit. The winter scarf mans it up, though, so it's okay. We'll just overlook the fact that he has it tucked into a white dress shirt.


Natalie Portman

I'm pretty sure I wore this outfit....in 1987.


And of course, no Fashion Police TWIH would be complete without our favorite Lady GaGa


I cannot believe I have never thought to pair my Michael Jackson jacket with my leotard and fishnet stockings.


....or my sparkly gold granny panties and bra with a simple jacket.
Genius. Pure genius.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

What's Wrong With This Picture?


Someone call 911 cause Adam got ROBBED!!!

Monday, May 18, 2009

First, I'd Like to Thank the Academy....


Wow. I'm a little bit speechless. At the risk of sounding unbelievably cheesy and annoying, I have to say what a lucky girl I am. I was spoiled rotten beyond belief this weekend and I just kept wondering if there is such a thing as too much perfection. I don't think so. My birthday was perfect.

All 3 wishes were granted. I was willing to consider a day without rain or severe wind a "nice spring day" but I didn't have to settle. It was the most GORGEOUS day I could have dreamed of.

I didn't throw up, or ever feel like throwing up. Always a plus.

And as you all know, my third wish was granted in abundance, by you. THANK YOU!!! You all went above and beyond the call of duty and I can't tell you how much excitement I had throughout the day checking in to see what the number was up to, seeing who had commented and who had come out of the woodwork, and reading the wonderful things you had to say about me. Not to mention laughing my rear end off at the hilarious dialogues. Thank you to my most dedicated commenters who took my challenge and ran with it! Thank you to all the people who came out of lurkdom to comment for the first time! That was awesome. And thank you to everyone who said the kindest, most wonderful things about me. It really did make my day and I'll never forget it. And I think it's safe to say that Alissa wins the award for most comments. Yay for lots of comments!

And on top of all that, breakfast with my sisters and mom, shopping and lunch with one of my very favorite people, dinner and a movie (my favorite kind of date) with my sweet husband, and, the grand finale, the mother of all birthday celebrations, a mega-watt Oscar-themed surprise party extravaganza thrown by all my friends and family. It was, undoubtedly, a night I will never forget. Thank you a million times over to those involved.

I officially love being 30!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Thirty, Flirty and Thriving

I'm not freaking out about entering the 30's.
I'm freaking out about leaving the 20's.
Major things happened in my twenties.
I met my eternal companion.
I got married.
I had a baby.
I had another one.
I bought a house.
I bought another one.
I made friendships that changed my life.
I discovered blogging.
I got published (sort of).
I learned monumental things about myself.
It was a good decade.

And now I am starting a new one.
Ten years ahead of me.
A blank slate.
What will it bring?
Another baby?
Another house?
Published for real?
Only time will tell.

Now that I'm old and wise and have a plethora of worldly experience under my belt, let me share with you some of these jewels of knowledge I've obtained.


  1. Life is full of surprises. If you go on vacation 8 months pregnant, you will come home with a baby.
  2. Judging comes back to haunt you. If you judge someone for doing something, you will inevitably end up doing it yourself and looking like a complete hypocrite.
  3. Never say never. You may think you'd never get engaged to someone you've never met, but deep down inside, you know it's the cool thing to do.
  4. Your kids teach you things you never would have guessed. Like, eyelashes are not necessary.
  5. There are consequences to breaking the rules. If you slip across a toll bridge without paying, it doesn't mean you got lucky. You will get a ticket in the mail.
  6. Friends come and go, but family is forever. Forever. Even if they won't speak to you or let you in their house, they're still stuck with you for the eternities. Whether they like it or not.
  7. Miracles do happen. Apparently you can give birth...twice...and still have no idea what a contraction feels like.
  8. Faith can move mountains. You can do everything possible to prepare for the worst, but when it comes down to it, it's really just between you and the Lord.
  9. Fame is fickle. Enjoy your five minutes. Even if you think you're hot stuff because your words are on the back of a book, life has a way of putting you in your place about ten books later.
  10. Soulmates are real. Because not many other people would come home to no dinner, no clean clothes, a messy house and a sleeping wife and tell you you're the best.
  11. Friendships change. And that's okay. Not many people understand this. In the end, you gotta surround yourself with the people that make you happy.
  12. Dieting sucks. Because chocolate will never be healthy and broccoli will never taste good.
  13. Parenting is hard. Because even when you think you're doing good, your son's preschool teacher calls to discuss the bruise he left on his best friend's chest when he punched him.
  14. God is love. At the end of the day, your beliefs and your relationship with Christ is what will get you through the next one.
  15. Your parents were right. As much as you hate to admit it, they really were.
  16. Life has a way of keeping you humble. It's hard to have a big head when you're driving a monstrous minivan with square patches all over it.
  17. Sometimes there's no scientific reason. It's quite possible to feel like death on a stick for five months and never find out why.
  18. Some things never change. If nuts made you gag as a child, they can still make you gag at 30.
  19. Comparing is never good. You may have a cleaner house than me, but I can still flip you off with my second toe.
  20. Some things just are. You may hate it with every ounce of your being and try to hide it from all the world, but you know the truth--under all that color lays a head of hair that is no longer blonde.
  21. Math is hard. It is possible to fail Math 95...three times. I don't know anyone personally that has, I'm just sayin'...
  22. You gotta be true to yourself. You're only hurting yourself by pretending to be someone you're not. And really, you're not fooling anyone.
  23. Expect the unexpected. You may think you wanted to have five kids, but maybe after two you realized you're just happy you've kept the two you have alive this long.
  24. You just never know. When you were ten and someone asked you what you thought your biggest challenge in life was going to be, you probably didn't answer, "Throwing up."
  25. Tender mercies are real. Like meeting Blake Lewis on an airplane.
  26. You can only do your best. And somehow learn to be happy with yourself for doing just that.
  27. Be kind to others. Jesus said love everyone, treat them kindly too. When your heart is filled with love, others will love you. Nuff said.
  28. Kids keep it real. Like when you get dressed for the day and put on makeup and they ask you why you're "all fancy."
  29. Passion keeps life interesting. Be passionate about something. Even if it's a teenage vampire.
  30. Life is good. Really, it is. Because all that crap you've had to go through was just to make the good times that much sweeter.

And..................................comment!!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Make a Wish


So, I'm not one to make a big deal about my birthday.


Ha! I couldn't even type that with a straight face. When it comes to birthdays, I am like a five year old kid. I get giddy, I think the entire day should be about me, and I look for little birthday surprises around every corner. I blame my mom. This is what birthdays were when I was growing up, and my 30 year old body doesn't know any different. And I love that.

I have three wishes for my birthday this year, and I don't think that's asking too much. None of them cost money and these three simple things would guarantee me a fantabulous birthday. Two of these you have no control over, but one of them you do.

My first wish is the same thing I wish for every year, and I always get it: A beautiful, warm, sunny spring day. However, this is the first year I've talked about it before my birthday instead of on it, so knowing me I probably just completely jinxed myself.

My second wish would not normally be something I would even think about on my birthday but due to events that occurred on my previous birthday it has made the list. I wish for a puke-free birthday. No sickies whatsoever, but specifically no vomit. That would make for one stellar birthday in my opinion.

And finally, my third wish. This is for you to grant. Yes, you. I decided that for my birthday I would love, let me repeat, LOVE to get as many comments as I possibly can. This means:

a) A comment from those of you that I know are reading and have never commented (and I know you are because many of you have told me). Let me know you're here!!

b) A comment from all of my faithful commenters, and.....

c) As many comments as you feel so inclined to leave me. The more the merrier.

It doesn't matter what you say, just comment, and please, don't be anonymous, because I want to know who you are.

And that's it. That's how you can make 1/3 of this girl's birthday wishes come true. It's all in your hands. On Friday, May 15th, I will do some kind of post and that is the day I would love the comments. (Not this post, although of course I always love comments.)

Aren't birthdays the best?!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Birds, Bees, and Believing

No Teaser Tuesday this week. Sorry, Ashleys. Hopefully next week.



Lately I've been feeling contemplative. I have sensed a difference in the direction my blog posts have taken recently. I've noticed that it works like that for me. Instead of daily mood changes, I go in spurts that can last months. When Twilight hit theaters last fall, it was almost impossible to blog about anything that wasn't Twilight-related. Then, last summer, when Bill was working and I was alone at night I was very dark and depressing and it was hard to do fun, happy posts. Anyway, my point is, lately I've been contemplative. Things seem to be happening in my life that put me in a state of awe and wonder and I can't seem to stop thinking about life in general and how it is constantly changing. I know....deep.

So, my baby girl recently turned eight, the age of accountability. I'm about to turn thirty, as I mentioned yesterday, the age of the "grown-ups." Payson is almost six, which is like, a kid. Where did my baby go?

It's like the Perfect Storm. With these three milestone ages all hitting around the same time, suddenly we're dealing with very grown-up things and I feel like I've wandered unknowingly into another dimension. First came this conversation last week. Then, yesterday, two conversations took place that rocked my world. First, that same little curious boy asked me how his newest baby cousin "came out." Although I had little hope that I'd get away with it, I answered that "the doctor took it out." But my almost six year old has reached the age where vague, non-answers aren't cutting it, and he needed to know not only exactly how the doctor took it out, but where it came out of. After his questions last week, and now grilling me about this, I knew it was time for real answers, although I never would have guessed in a million years I'd be having this conversation with my five year old boy, before my 8 year old girl. But he is asking a lot more questions than she is. So...I had to tell him, and believe me, hearing the words come out of my own mouth was very, very strange. But the look on his face was priceless.

Then, Macy came home from school and asked the second worst question for a parent to hear: "Is Santa Clause really real?" Boy, was I not expecting that one. She said that a lot of kids at school don't think he's real and she just really wanted to know the real truth. That last part got me. I knew I had to tell her. I can never deny my children the truth if they genuinely ask for it. If I thought she was asking with the hopes of being told what she wanted to hear, I might have tried to keep it going, but the way she worded it, I knew she wanted the truth, even if it hurt her. There were littler ears around at the time so I told her we'd talk about it later (which probably could have been her first clue to the answer she would get, but I guess an 8 year old doesn't pick up on things like that). She asked twice more after that, more proof she was ready to know the truth. When I put her to bed, she asked again, and I called her dad in (she may have started to suspect at this point) and told him she wanted the truth, and he gave me the signal that he agreed she deserved it, so we told her. She laughed. Laughed. I have dreaded this moment her whole life, not because I would be robbed of that magic at Christmastime but that she would be broken-hearted and feel betrayed and question her trust in us. And when the time came, she laughed. "It makes me laugh to think that people still believe it when it's not true," she said. Uh....like you, 30 seconds ago? But I was sooooo relieved and proceeded to tell her about the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny as well. She laughed some more, especially at the thought of me and Daddy tiptoeing into her room at night and trying to wedge our hands under her pillow. I could tell she felt very grown up at knowing the "secret" and excited to help keep it for her little brother. It was actually a very bonding moment between us.

Soon (very soon, I am guessing) I'll be buying her her first bra and actually having to explain what the "special hug" is. (Which, btw, is a complete joke, we don't really call it that.) And having to tell Payson that there are nicer ways to show a girl you like her than by punching her. It's all just happening so fast. Too fast. It's so true what they say about raising kids: Don't blink, or you'll miss it.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Thinking About...


*Mother's Day. Spoiled rotten by husband, doted on by kids, loved every second of it. Perfection.

*Fabulous weekend. Eating out, watching movies, yard work, eating ice cream, sleeping in, hanging with friends.

*Fashion. Realizing the trend is NOT to match. Struggling to adapt.

*Diet. Working hard (with the exception of aforementioned eating out and ice cream), seeing results. Changing perception of myself. Loving it.

*Friends. Wonderful new ones, cherished old ones. Silver and gold.

*Blessings. My cup runneth over.

*Turning 30. Still feeling 15.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Jaspurr

Since the sweet cuddly kitten phase didn't last long, I'm grateful that Jasper ended up having a fun personality. So that I still love him when he's drawing blood and making my kids cry. He sleeps in the funniest positions and he is overly fond of enclosed spaces and being covered up...like, completely.

As a young kitten he was super curious about the computer. He always had to see what was on the screen and never failed to crawl onto the keys and fall asleep. That was adorable for about five minutes.

I can't keep him out of the dryer, even when I'm throwing wet clothes on top of him.


Michael Jordan's got nothin' on him. You whip a ribbon through the air, and this cat defies gravity.


Our own little version of The Brady Bunch

He could care less that he outgrew his cat bed a month ago. It's still his sleeping place of choice.

Just yesterday he burrowed under Payson's backpack for a nap.



He also:
  • Works his way up the side of our bed, between the sheets, and takes a nap under the covers. Makes for a fun game of "Where the heck is Jasper?!"
  • Is a complete water snob. He won't drink out of his cat water bowl, but meows at the sink until I fill up a Tupperware container full of fresh, cold water for him.
  • Is obsessed with our linen closet. It doesn't matter where he is in the house, if he hears the door open he is over there and up onto a shelf faster than you can say "aw crap." The only way to get him out is to bribe him with treats.
  • Bites our hands, then licks them real quick, to make sure we know he was just playing and not really attacking us.
  • Has a secret hideout under our bed, where he pulled the fabric cover off the box spring. He goes there when I vacuum and when we get mad at him, and I am highly suspicious that if I were to check under there, I would find several things that I am missing.
It's hard to remember what life was like before Jasper.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Say What?


Conversation at our house night before last:

Payson: "How do babies get in tummies?"

Silence.

Bill: "Uhhhh......."

Macy: "Yeah, how do they?"

Me: "Ummmm.....remember we told you Heavenly Father puts the babies in the mommies' tummies?"

Payson: "But, do you just ask Him?"

Bill, under his breath to me:
"Yeah, or you're just reckless."

Macy: "Yeah, do you just pray? Or do you say out loud 'I wanna baby?' "

Bill, laughing: "See, there's this 'special hug'...."

Me, intercepting: "There's something special that mommies and daddies have to do when they're ready, that we'll tell you about when you're a little bit older."

Macy: "Like when I'm ten? Cause I'm ten in two years."

Me: "Sure, when you're ten." Or twenty, whatever.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Teaser Tuesday


I felt like a mouse running through one of those cardboard mazes. I didn’t have to think about anything I did. My body just…went. The difference was that, unlike the mouse, there was no hunk of cheese waiting for me at the end. No reward of any kind for making it through. In fact, there was no end at all.

© A. Leppert 2009

Monday, May 4, 2009

It's Great To Be Eight

On Saturday Macy become an official member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was giddy with excitement to be baptized.


I got a little verklempt watching Bill baptize my baby girl in the same font that I was baptized in 21 years ago. (BTW, he is wearing socks. He doesn't have albino feet.)


It was so awesome that Macy got to be baptized with two of her friends. These three are in the same church class and the same class at school.

Chandler, Kenzie, and Macy

It was such a special day made even more special by the friends and family who came to support Macy. Thank you all!